Buh-Bye Tel*market*rs!

As of today, Canadians have the opportunity to sign up for the 'National Do Not Call List.' Yay! Hopefully this will decrease and possibly even stop all those bothersome calls. Information is available here. I had 4 of these yesterday so I'm looking forward to them decreasing. Lately they seem to call more often and even later into the evening. No more....yay!

Registration takes just minutes and can be done by calling

1-866-580-3625

from the phone number you wish to have added to the list.

Celebrating 30 Months Closer to Hannah!!

Wow!! 30 months! 2 1/2 years!! I can honestly say that if you'd told me when I started Hannah's adoption that my file would wait in China for 30 months I would probably have laughed right out loud! But it has, and that's ok.

Why? Because God has one child and only one who will be my daughter. Hannah. He knows her by name and every little detail about her. He knows her smile. Her eyes. Every crease in her tiny fingers. Every beautiful raven black hair on her tiny little head. He is using this time to prepare me to be her mother and to prepare her to be my daughter. It's not just any child in China that I'm praying for and waiting for but, the one and only child that God has already chosen to be my daughter and in His time, He will bring us together.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139: 13 - 16

I cannot tell you the number of times today that my heartbeat has raced with the joy and anticipation of knowing that I am coming down the final stretch of the wait! My hands tremble and a silly grin is on my face that just won't leave!! I'm anticipating that it will still be another 9 or 10 months before Hannah is placed in my arms but when it's been 30 months since my file was logged in China and 44 months since God laid it on my heart to begin her adoption, 8 to 10 is a relatively short time!

By next summer my little girl will be in my arms!! I will know her smile as if it were my own. I will look into her beautiful almond eyes! I will see every crease in her tiny fingers as they wrap themselves tightly around mine! I will know every beautiful raven black hair on her tiny little head as I gently caress it and tenderly kiss her sleepy brow.

Today I celebrate being 1 month closer to my precious baby girl! God has an amazing plan for our lives and I can't wait to see it unfold! Thank you to all of you who are loving us through this journey; encouraging me and most of all, thank you for your prayers for Hannah and I! More than anything, they are what mean the most. Love you.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!

Lots of Fall Fun in 24 Short Hours

Rebecca, Victoria and I have a few traditions as I'm guessing many of you have figured out. One of their very favourites, that they begin asking about in the spring, is our annual 'Apple Picking Sleepover.' We counted today and figured out that Victoria and I have been doing this for 9 years and Rebecca joined us just one year later so it's been an annual tradition for the 3 of us for 8 fun-filled years. Next year they'll introduce that tradition to Hannah and none of us can wait!!!

We started our 24 hours of fun with a pizza party at my parent's place and an impromptu photo sesssion in their backyard. After saving my pennies for a couple of years I purchased a new camera this summer and had it delivered to Mary-Mia's who taught me a lot. When I got home I got camera shy and it stayed in the box for over a month! Oops! A beautiful thunderstorm caused me to take it out of the box and I've been messing around with it ever since. Still have TONS to learn but the learning is fun.

Here are some of my favourite pics from last nights fun. As you can see I have 3 very willing subjects who were happy to have their pic taken.

My niece Rebecca. A most amazing little girl and I love her to pieces!!

Her best friend Victoria! These 2 are the very best of friends and I love seeing them together! I am so blessed!

Favourite photo of the evening.



The girls posing for a pic while my spectacular nephew Noah does what 4 year old boys do best...adds rabbit ears to the girl's pic.

Lately Noah hasn't been into having his pic taken so I was excited when he decided to pose for a few.

Sportin' Auntie Cathy's shades.

Even Mom got in on the fun. I love this pic of her! Can you tell we're mother and daughter? :o)

Still to come...apple picking pics.

Congratulations Alyson and Ford!!

Yesterday was a super exciting day! Precious little Alyzabeth An was introduced to her new Mommy and Daddy, Alyson and Ford! Hop on over to their blog and check out all their wonderful posts and see their beautiful little girl in action.

Ford is video taping each day and posting portions on their blog. Too cool and it makes is so much more real!

Also, please pray for this wonderful little girl. At 23 months she's quite aware that her little world has been turned upside down but is not really sure what has happend. She's also become a very normal 'velcro baby' to her mommy so Aly is feeling each and every muscle in her body. Please pray for them as they become a family and get to know one another and as this wonderful little girl's hurting heart begins the healing process.

CONGRATULATIONS Aly and Ford! Your daughter is wonderful!

Oops...

After a summer in which I attempted to eat numerous times at every ice cream parlor within a 10 km radius, I decided that this morning it was time to head back to the gym.

Alarm set for 5:17am - check

Got meself out of bed by 5:45am - check (I am queen of the snooze button)

Teeth brushed, hair brushed - check, check

Dressed in not-so-stylin sweats and t-shirt - check

Out the door at 5:55am - check

Arrive at rec centre at 6:02am - check

Notice I'm the only brave one to master Ike and dark morning at 6am - feeling pretty good about myself- check

Walk into rec centre and notice pool is missing something...water!! - check

Notice 'cage' is still around check-in place - check

See yellow tape across entry to walking track - check

See teeny tiny little sign that says rec centre is closed for renovations for 1 week...starting today! - check

Feel saddened by missing walking - ummm...nope!!

Quickly realize that I have 1 more week to SLEEP IN until 6:30am - CHECK!

Want to know what's kinda funny? After a 3 month exercise hiatus for all of us I'd talked a friend and her hubby to join me this morning. Oops!!

What were we to do? What any good Canadian would do at a moment like this...we took our nasty, sweat clad, barey coiffed, unmake-uped selves and headed to Timmys! We may have frightened a few people in the process but we had a great time anyway!

Tomorrow I sleep in and next Monday we try again.

Toronto Star Article

I received a call from my agency rep on Wednesday of this week asking if I'd be interested in doing an interview with the Toronto Star as they were doing an article on the changing face of International Adoptions.

I was thrilled to be asked and couldn't say 'yes' fast enough! Leslie called Wednesday afternoon and we probably chatted for 15 to 20 mins. She asked questions about when I expected my referral; how long had I been waiting; when had I started the process; why China? and, my thoughts on the wait.

While it was exciting to be interviewed for such a large paper I was also concerned that they might somehow spin things in a way I hadn't meant. They didn't do so and I feel she captured me well.

You can imagine my surprise this morning when I went to the grocery store to find that the article written was the front page story for today!! There was a portion on page 1 of the paper and then a page further on in the first section of the paper was devoted totally to International Adoption and featured 3 different articles!

I believe Leslie gave a very fair view of the changing face of International Adoption. Even I was surprised by her statement that 1/6 couples face infertility issues and are unable to conceive the first year. Wow! That number is much higher than I'd ever realized.

It was fun to read the article and see what she had chosen to write from our interview but I tell you, when I saw Hannah's name in print is was instant tears for me!

I am glad to see that this topic is of such interest and concern and I hope that many who may never had a reason/opportunity to read about international adoption might have learned something today.

Park Fun!

Earlier this week Rebecca, Brooke, Shelby and I decided it was time for a Girls Night Out. We started our night out dining at a fine dining establishment...Mc*Donald's! After supper and lots of time in the play area we moved on to a local park. The shorter days remind us that fall is quickly approaching. We're enjoying this outside time while we have it.

Rebecca

Brooke

Shelby

3 beautiful girls! So blessed to have them in my life.

Gifts for Hannah

Yesterday Norma and I enjoyed a great day together as we travelled into Toronto and visited our friend Julie. Two years ago we also did this and even though Julie and I have had a few opportunities to get together since then this was the first time Norma was able to come along again. Good times! How fun it was to see Julie's daughter who has grown and changed into an adorable little girl! So cute and so creative. She entertained herself for much of our visit being creative with a shoelace and making jewellery for all of us over and over again.

Over the years Julie has also been amazingly generous with Hannah and has shared much of what her little cutie has outgrown. Yesterday she added:

a lamp for Hannah's nursery,

a cute little beanbag chair that matches the nursery bedding she gave Hannah last year,

a beautiful Pottery Barn Kids quilt for Hannah's big girl bed and...

a Learning Tower! I have secretly wanted a Learning Tower since I heard about them a couple of years ago and even moreso after spending time with Mary-Mia and the girls and seeing Rose and Marie in action on their LT. Hey BobBob, when you and Wela are 'in the neighbourhood' wanna stop over and pop some wheels on Hannah's new LT? LOL! You're always welcome!

Julie, thank you again for ALL you've shared with Hannah! Your generosity is GREATLY appreciated! Cannot wait for the day when our visit includes my introducing you to Hannah! You're a special friend and I'm so thankful for you.

Wheee!! Count 'em...9!!!

Yes!!! CC*AA matched 9 days worth of files this month! When I read it I literally began shaking! 5 of those days were part of Chinese New Year when little/no files were logged in but that's just fine with me. There are still 9 less LID's to cover before I'll see sweet Hannah's face!

9 days is the most LID's that have been covered in one batch in the past 18 months and this batch was also received only 22 days after the August batch which is the shortest amount of time between batches since I started keeping track over 2.5 years ago! Check out all those glass beads moving from the left jar to the right!

See...lots and lots to be excited about! Want to hear just one more thing that makes me smile today? Adding this batch to my stats and averaging it out currently brings my referral guesstimation back to April with travel in June. Yippee...we're getting closer rather than further away.

There are now only 42 more days to be matched before it's my turn for Hannah's referral. The bottom of my countdown jar is still covered with glass stones but it won't be for long.

Check it out...the right jar definitely has more than the left...yippee!!

Disney Fun!!

I have been sadly remiss in posting lately so am hoping to play catch-up over the next week or so. Here are a few final pics of the wonderful Disney trip Bridget and I took last month. Such fun, fun memories!!

This first one is someone I'm sure you all recognize, Mr. Potato Head. In the spring of this year a new ride opened at Disney Hollywood Studios called Toy Story Mania. This is a NOT TO BE MISSED new ride for the entire family. You'll probably want to arrive early, grab a FastPass and also hop in the standby line as you'll want to ride more than once for sure!! It's a great new 3D ride featuring the characters from Toy Story and using Disney magic you participate in old-fashioned games found at a fair. Can't say enough about this wonderful new ride!!

Day 3 found us at Epcot. As we were walking around the World Showcase we came upon a little cart that was selling umbrellas that could be personalized. It was so cool to look down and see 2 that were on display featured Hannah's name!

As we walked further around the World Showcase we came upon the China pavillion. I couldn't help but stop and have my picture taken in front of it! I believe my baby girl is either born now or will be born very soon. This was as close as I could to be at this time and it was cool just to be closer in my heart!

I picked up a little treat for my car while at the World Pavillion. My car is normally sporting a Mickey antenna topper of one sort or another. Currenly a China topper is proudly displayed on my car. I had it on during the Olympics but may switch it out now and save it for referral time. Silly I know...but you know by now that theres a whole bunch of silliness in me just waiting to burst out!

If you're ever at Disney and headed to the Magic Kingdom I highly recommend getting up and to the park in time to see their park openeing celebration. What fun! Here are a couple of videos sharing the excitement with you.




Am I ready to go back? You bet ya! Already saving for Hannah's first trip!! Have a Magical Day!