Hallmark, Please Take Notice or You're Fired!

My Circle of Friends includes many families who have adopted, or plan to adopt, one or more children. This is a BIG DEAL. Promise!!

So when I went looking for an Adoption card at my local Stuffmart the other day, I was more than a little perturbed that not ONE card celebrating one of the most momentous occasions in family life was available.

I found plenty of the general run of the mill cards...
Birthdays, anniversaries, marriage, baby showers, engagement announcements...

There were other celebrated events represented...
Bar Mitzvahs (obviously being mailed out of our county - our Jewish population isn't huge here)
New homes (yeah, THOSE cards are flying right off the shelves these days!)
Moving away (Think my neighbors would get the hint, if I sent one to them?)
Moving back (Apparently some people LIKE their in-laws)
New job (Ha! Unemployment rate in our county is the state's highest, at 17.5%)

You can also find some great cards for your pets to send to each other, your friend's mother's brother's uncle who treated you like one of the family, coming out of the closet, and having your gall bladder xrayed prior to surgery to remove your heart of stone, and apparently these occasions are all MORE IMPORTANT THAN ADOPTION! More power to ya! I just want a dang adoption celebration card. Guess I'll make my own! It'll be prettier, anyway.

We didn't know it, but my sister and two of my nieces were waiting outside the courtroom when we finalized our adoptions last week. When we exited the door, there they were with balloons and stuffed animals for Dylan and Tiffany, and Hershey's Bars for the rest of us. Had my younger sister been closer than 1200 miles, she would have been there, too. They both had pictures of my kids on their Facebook pages within hours. Now THAT's what I'm talking about! It's a big deal!

Need Some Time Away?

Happy Anniversary to my oldest sister and her husband. They've been married for 33 years today.

If you're around Kimmell, Indiana, (Ft. Wayne, Goshen, Shipshewana, Nappanee area) stop in and see them.

Stay for a meal, or a night. They're pretty accommodating!

I Should Go to Bed Before Breakfast

Today is my sister and brother-in-law's wedding anniversary. 32 years ago, I was hiding in the basement of Hilltop Chapel crying my eyes out, because Deb was leaving me forever. Never again would I see her in her Gerber Baby Juice can curlers, make cookies with her, or hear from across the room the crack of her gum on her back teeth.

I don't see her very often now, but I'm pretty sure she uses a curling iron, she owns and operates a restaurant within her B&B, and she STILL cracks her gum.

If you're in the Nappanee/Amish Acres, Shipshewana, Auburn-Cord-Duesenburg Museum area this summer, stop by and see her.

I KNEW IT!!!

My sister's always watching out for me, so naturally she couldn't resist this. ;-)

I'll Let Others Speak Now

Pardon the lack of manners regarding language choice. Some things irritate people excessively. Click on the "Thanks, Tam" link and see for yourself.

Thanks, Tam!

If my ears work correctly, at about 3:54 on the video link, Mitt Romney says "This is stupid"...?? Why is it stupid that someone is trying to figure out how to save our economy?

Hit and run, Mitt!

Questions I Ask Myself

On my Top 10 List of Things I Like:

My husband, early bedtime for the kids, chocolate, warm cars, letters from friends, jeans that fit, coffee in the morning, Jimmy Stewart, the smell of Baby Magic, friendly neighbors, people who tell me the truth, political incorrectness, peeled fruit, juicy steak, finding money I forgot I hid, answering machines, mailmen who deliver to my door, Renew Lotion, tucking my daughter into bed at night, hearing my teenage sons say "I love you, Mom", watching Gabe's face when he considers letting go, forgetting I know how to count...

The Other List:

Back talk, government employees, the smell of anti-freeze, Rosie, computers that are rude, telemarketers, buying gas, driving, grocery shopping when I'm tired, grading school work, listening to people drone about things I don't care about and can't change but I can't escape the conversation, people who say voting doesn't matter - GRRR!!!, dial-up, Koolaide, when people use food stamps to buy junk food, getting to church late, burning food, realizing too late that I don't have enough eggs, stomach aches, going clothes shopping, not seeing my sisters often, not having enough money to help someone in need, being depressed, to-do lists...

People I admire:

My husband - he knows Who does, and does NOT, define who he is.

Russ and Cindra Coy - They speak God's truth and challenge me to live by faith.

My children - My oldest is compassionate, seeks God, and reasons beyond his age. My 2nd is stubborn, hard working, and comedic. My 3rd is loving, cuddly, and innocent. My 4th is creative, intelligent and intuitive. They make me want to be a better person.

Illa Mae Woolworth - she taught me the basics in Sunday School.

Mr. Edwards - he isn't afraid to let me see the tears on his face when he prays.

Bill Morton - he was a Godly example of patience and quiet wisdom.

Uncle Marvin - he's singing in Heaven and omitting the 2nd and 4th stanzas.

Gran-Gran - he always had time for me, and he smelled like pipe tobacco.



Who can I influence to do the right thing? Does anything I say fall on good soil? Am I helping others? Do my words have a positive impact on people's lives? How can I change to be more like Christ? Do I follow His way in everything I do? Can I show more love? Would patience go further than exasperation? Would I accomplish more by saying less? Is what I say from my head, or God's heart? Do I glorify God? Will my actions hurt my opportunity to minister? Am I being what God wants me to be? Do I give God my time? How can I be used, God? Here I am.

Sisters

People say we 4 girls all look alike. At times, I'd agree. Other times, not so much. Like here. Sure, Tam and I bear a remarkable resemblance, as do Deb and Teresa, but Tam and I don't look so much like Deb and Teresa. People really should be careful that the glasses they use have been thoroughly cleaned. Cameras, too!