Come on, play along!

Saw this here and thought it would be fun to play along.
Here are the rules: Bold the things you’ve done and post on your blog!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii - on my bucketlist
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyworld
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo - in the shower, not in public!
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child - definitely hope to accomplish this soon!
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables - on my bucketlist
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train - on my bucketlist
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked - people still do this???
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - today, ssshhh!
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon - a half-marathon is on my bucketlist!
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied - HAH
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke - see #10 above!
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant - really need to get on the ball with this one
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person - on my bucketlist
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China - soon, soon, Lord willing, see #15 above!!!
57. Started a business - a sign company with my ex many eons ago
58. Taken a martial arts class - been seriously considering this one!
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen - want to do this
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching - on my bucketlist
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving - on my bucketlist
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check - aarrgghhh
68. Flown in a helicopter - on my bucketlist
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt (still working on this one)
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person - even hiked to the bottom!
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous - didn't technically "meet" him, but frmr Senator Bob Dole once invited me to share his private elevator when I was lost in the State Capitol!
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby - will never know this experience.
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
Okay - who else wants to play?

thirty-six months

Just waiting...
Almost afraid to hope or think
Feeling numb protects my tears from flowing
Yet my heart knows, time will pass
Faith reminds me my daughter will find her way
And a family we will be at last.

May You Be Safe While You're Waiting

(author unknown)

May you be safe and sleep soundly through the night

May you be safe as you wake to the morning's light

May you feel my love from so far away,

May it comfort and protect you throughout each day.

I will pray for you my little one,

Until our time of waiting is done.

I will pray that the Lord keep you safe from harm,

Until the child of my heart becomes the child in my arms.

Positive Adoption Messages

Pro-Adoption Ad to appear on the finale of American Idol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIBZ-kJ6XAc

Foster Care Adoption Ad from the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption
http://www.davethomasfoundation.org/How-You-Can-Help/Just-A-Kid

Sometimes...

Sometimes I just need a little Pooh wisdom in my life:

Promise me you’ll always remember:
You’re braver than you believe,
stronger than you seem, and
smarter than you think.
~ Christopher Robin to Pooh

I kinda intentionally overlooked mentioning Mother's Day on my blog. My sister and I only had time for a quick visit with my Mom on Sunday. My family decided to postpone a MD celebration until we're not so busy next month. I loved my sister's saying, "we've got enough family events going on that pretty soon we'll be sick of visiting with our own selves, much less each other!"

My Mom is my confidant, my inspiration and my best friend. And the person who understood that this year, at this time, just staying busy with hobbies, projects, and running around is the best thing to cope yet another Hallmark holiday. But like Christopher Robin's advice to Pooh, we are "braver than we believe...and stronger than we seem." I really believe next year will be different.

"Most Friendliest"

May is a monumental month in my family with both my nieces graduating, one from college and one from high school. This past weekend kicked-off the whirlwind of activities with Allie's prom. She and her boyfriend are such good sports about having their pictures taken, and after a couple years of great photos, the pressure was on to capture a standout image again. After taking over 80 pix(!), here's a few of my favs.

It takes a village to get a girl ready, even Gracie the cat wanted to get in on the action.
I wanted them to do a dance with a twirl to show off the dress. It took a few tries to get there.

Awww...sweetness
My sister's latest fav technique, off-centering, came out very nice.
I love this artsy one and really think the tux rental place should use it on display. I asked them to lean against the wall and somehow this cute photo came out.

Allie was awarded "Most Friendliest," which she truly is with her beautiful inner spirit, wit, and outgoing personality. All of this from the little girl who was once too shy to leave her mother's side during kindergarten, to the beautiful young lady she has blossomed into today. Love ya cutie!

All pics taken with my trusty Kodak Easyshare, circa 2006, hoping for a grown up camera one day! LOL

Dipping my feet back in the water

I've taken some time off from the blogging world. Ok, that's an understatement. I totally went MIA from blogging in order to refocus, develop new interests and stay busy. Time away is good for the soul. I didn't want "life to happen, while I was busy making plans." I'll never understand the reasons for this wait, and yet, in my heart I know that this wait has made me grow as a person, in ways I never imagined and probably in some ways I didn't want to but knew it was for the best. I have more confidence in myself and my abilities, which I hope will translate into being a better person and a better parent.

Along the way, I've learned to deal blackjack, remodel my home with tile, paint and glaze cabinets, paint and distress furniture, and lots of manual labor.

My newest love though is sewing. It started with wanting a few new window treatments, which caused me to dust off my 20+ year old machine to see if it would even turn on. Gotta love a good 'ole Sears product! What started simply has turned into a new passion. I've learned to make tote bags and clutches. I browsed a few blogs (of course!) and fell in love with boutique-style children's clothing, especially when modeled by some Asian cuties. Now I'm shopping for a new sewing machine, one that will do more than just sew a straight line. Quilts squares, anyone? It may be time to refocus on that 100 good wishes quilt.