Deck the Halls (and living room and porch...)

Inspired by the long Thanksgiving weekend, Steve helped me decorate the house for Christmas on Sunday. Since we have a lot going on over the coming weekends in December, we figured we'd get it done early so we could really enjoy it for the next four weeks. The tree makes the house smell SO good! I love it...

It's looking quite festive if I do say so:

A day in the life...a meme

I give you money and send you into the grocery store to pick up 5 items. You can only pick one thing from the following departments…what is it?

1. Produce: pistachios
2. Bakery: sourdough bread
3. Meat: chicken – it works with anything!
4. Frozen: blueberry Eggo waffles
5. Dry goods: honey nut cheerios

Let's say we're heading out for a weekend getaway. You're only allowed to bring 3 articles of clothing with you. So, what's in your bag?

1. my comfy black track pants
2. tennis shoes
3. a hoodie

If I was to listen in on one of your conversations throughout the day, what 5 phrases or words would I be most likely to hear?

1. “…you get it!”
2. "potty outside?”
3. "Seriously!”
4. "wait…I have an idea"
5. "I just want to check my email quick..." (yeah, right!)

So, what 3 things do you find yourself doing every single day, and if you didn't get to do, you probably wouldn't be in the best mood?

1. cuddling with my puppies
2. zoning out in front of some kind of electric box
3. coffee in the morning

Sweet, you just scored a whole afternoon to yourself. We're talking a 3 hour block with nobody around. What 5 activities might we find you doing?

1. watching a movie i've seen a million times before
2. getting a pedicure…
3. …and/or a massage
4. taking a nap
5. reading a trashy celeb magazine

We're going to the zoo. But, it looks like it could start storming, so it'll have to be a quick visit. What 3 exhibits do we have to get to?

1. penguins
2. giraffes
3. apes

You just scored tickets to the taping of any show that comes on t.v. of your choice. You can pick between 4, so what are you deciding between?

1. The Office
2. Chelsea Lately
3. Grey’s Anatomy
4. Little People, Big World (LOVE those Roloffs!)

You are hungry for ice cream. I'm making you a three scoop sundae, what flavors can I pile on for ya?

1. Kona Koka Rum (from The Husky Deli in West Seattle – aaaahhh!)
2 .Mint Chocolate Chip
3. Toffee Heath Bar crunch

Somebody stole your purse…in order to get it back, you have to name 5 things you know are inside to claim it. So, what's in there?

1. Driver's license
2. Cell phone
3. Lots of chapstick
4. Tums (in an Altoid tin…lol)
5. Advil

You are at a job fair, and asked what areas you are interested in pursuing a career in. Let's pretend you have every talent and ability to be whatever you wanted, so what 4 careers would be fun for you?

1. owner of a doggie daycare
2. radio deejay
3. travel writer
4. kindergarten teacher

If you could go back and talk to the old you, when you were in elementary school, and inform yourself of 4 things, what would you say?

1. Don't be so sensitive. It's a waste of energy. Just smile and forget about it.
2. Don't compare your mind, body or life to others. It's our differences that make us interesting.
3. Your sister is your best friend! Be nicer to her.
4. Don't waste time on bad jobs or relationships...if you don’t like what you are doing, only YOU have the power to change things. The past is the past, take some risks and live for today!

Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving I am giving "Top 10" thanks for (in no particular order):

1. The fact that I was accepted into the singles adoption program last December.
2. That I was able to complete my dossier before the May 1 deadline.
3. For my family - with whom I spent a TERRIFIC long weekend at the beach!
4. My friends who continue to support me thru the ups and downs of the adoption process.
5. All my new "cyber friends" that I met through this blog this year!
6. Old friends I've reconnected with in 2007.
7. Steve and his dog Killer, for coming into mine and Luna's lives :)
8. My team of colleagues who together succeeded in opening a brand new hospital this year.
9. My continued health and financial stability.
10. My daughter Lia, who may now just be a tiny spirit, but who keeps me focused on being positive and keeping the dream alive - even through the long wait ahead!

Today we will host a small Thanksgiving dinner with Steve's mom and brother. I will leave you with a few more pics from the beach trip:

My sister, my dad and I...(love this pic! Steve is such a great photographer...)


The view from the deck at the beach house where we stayed (gorgeous!)


Me - ladybug crocs in hand - walking on the beach. Can I go back now?


HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

We're Heeeeeere....

YAY! Loving the Oregon Coast....barefoot in the sand (in 50 degree weather!)

7 months!

Yep - it's true...

...and only four more days until our vacation on the Oregon Coast. YAY!

A Leap of Faith...

Today at church, the sermon was about taking "A Leap of Faith"...Needless to say, this hit home for me in so many ways...

One year ago this week, I started this blog - and I mailed off my application to CCAI to try and obtain one of the last single's adoption spots available. Amazing. I feel so different (better) than I did last year at this time. Last year I was nervous and worried about all of this working out. This year, I KNOW it will work out eventually (even if the long wait seems unbearable sometimes!)

Today I added some additional squishes to Lia's Quilt blog. All of the official "exchanges" are over now with my various adoption chat groups. I am still looking for some squishes from my friends and family (hint, hint) and am hoping to acquire most of those around the holidays, so that I can hand off all the sewing to my mom around the first of the year. Thanks again for offering to put together Lia's quilt mom!

I also found out this week who my "secret pal" has been for the past six months... MARCY has been such an amazing friend and supporter - thank you so much! In fact, I have received so many incredibly kind gifts from Marcy, my bib exchange friends, my sister and my mom in recent months...I can barely keep up with posting pics of all the cute things I've received, but here are a few more pix: