TAGGED!!

I have been tagged by Melissa who is adopting Sunbeam from Guatemala. Sunbeam will soon be home too!!
Anyway, I have to list 8 interesting things about myself. It may take me awhile to finish this post.

1. I have been to all states except Vermont. My mother and I love to travel in the summer and we usually do a lot of driving.

2. I live with my mother and she is my best friend. I lived in Palm Beach County, Florida for about a year and a half after college but moved back home. My dad died almost 10 years ago so this living situation has worked out well. Rent is cheap too!

3. I do home daycare with my mother for a living. We have 12 children every day. I also am Sparks director at my church on Wednesday nights for the Kindergarten thru 2nd graders. Mom and I also work in our church nursery every Sunday during 2nd service. I must like kids.

4. I have 3 older sisters and 1 younger brother. I have 15 nieces and nephews. I have 26 great nieces and nephews and 1 due in January. I have 1 great-great nephew.

5. In 1983 I won a 7 day, 6 night trip to Hawaii. I had just turned 19. My mom and brother went with me.

6. I have a Yorkshire Terrier named Maggie. She sleeps with me, follows me through the house and lays by me if I am sitting on the couch. She is going to be extremely jealous when Johanna comes home.

7. I am terrified of flying!! I hate it!! Can I take a boat to Guatemala?

8. I was a huge Wizard of Oz collector but have sold almost all my collection to pay for my adoption.

I am tagging Kelly, Courtney, and Annie. Looking forward to seeing what is interesting about you all.

Blog Changes - YAY!!!

I have had to make some changes to my blog. These are changes I am very happy to make. "Becoming Family" - Baby William, "Worth the Wait" - Olivia Grace, and "Waiting For Brody" - Brody Boy, have been moved to ADOPTIONS COMPLETED!! I am so happy for these families.

I also have the pleasure of adding the blogs of four new friends who are currently adopting from Guatemala. If you haven't already, check out these new blogs. They are "Adopting Ariana", "Bringing Home Ava Bella", "Anthony's Adoption", and "Isaac Charles McGee".

To Guatemala For Christmas

I had so much fun shopping for Johanna yesterday!! I am already wanting to shop some more and send down another package after the first of the year. I bought all size 3/6 months clothes and I sure hope they will fit. Below are the things I bought and a few I got last year after Christmas on clearance when I knew I was going to be adopting a baby.
"Grandma's Little Angel" outfit

"Baby's First Christmas" outfit with bib and hat

Fisher Price pastel key-like baby toy. I got this yesterday at Kohl's and loved that there was a whole collection of pastel toys. I also got the stacking rings in pastel but will keep them here until Johanna comes home.

Christmas sleeper and two bibs

"Baby's First Christmas" Stocking

This is an outfit I got on an online site. It is Italian.

These are "First Christmas" pacifiers. Believe it or not, I want my baby on a pacifier.

I saved the best for last. I couldn't find a dress exactly like I wanted but I found about six dresses at Kohl's that I liked. I showed them all to my mom so she could help me decide which on to get. It came with tights with hearts on them and I also got little black shoes.

Happy 4 Months Johanna!!

Today my sweet baby girl is four months old. I was hoping to get Pre-approval for her birthday. I am so ready for her to come home. I did some Christmas shopping today for the package I am sending down for her. I will post pictures tomorrow.

I love you Johanna.

Christmas Shopping

I do have a lot to be thankful for but this year am skipping the traditional Thanksgiving celebration. Mom and I are hitting the road tomorrow. Friday morning we will join the crowds of people shopping in the malls!!!

I will be looking for a Christmas dress to send to Johanna and other gifts for her. My friend Shannon is taking some things down for me. Hopefully she will be going down to pick up her baby girl Analise in the next couple of weeks.

Too Much Stress

I have had the most stressful day and it had nothing to do with the adoption. One of my niece's passed away this morning. She was a step-daughter of one of my sisters. She wasn't in real good health but this was a complete shock to allof us. She left behind five children ages 10 to 18. The four younger ones will probably have to go live with their father about an hour away.

I also have a nephew who is 16 who is about to go into the hospital. He has been anorexic and has lost so much weight. We are pretty close and it hurts me to see him hurt and to see how scared he is.

Well, if I can make it through this week I should be able to handle this adoption process, I think. Now I just need some good news, like PA.

PRAY FOR THIS FAMILY!!

I got this from another adopting family's blog. Please pray for the family below.

I just got an e-mail from one of my friends who is in China right now. One of the families in her group has experienced a tragedy that is so hard to comprehend. The wife Sandi and her husband Dennis have been married 18 or 19 years, and this is their first child. Hannah (who is being adopted in China) is their daughter, and they were preparing to return to the States when Dennis fell ill.
Dennis was struggling to keep his blood glucose levels in check while in China and fell in to a diabetic coma yesterday. He died in Guangzhou two nights ago.
Sandi’s mother and brother are trying to get emergency visas to get to China to help out, and now there is concern that the US government (via the Consulate in Guangzhou) would deny Hannah’s visa to return to the States with her mother, as her father’s death affects the status of her adoption (on paper only, though).
Please pray for Sandi, Hannah, and their shock & grief. Please pray that the Consulate would not deny Hannah’s visa and that they would be able to return home unhindered, and for all arrangements for Dennis’ body. I ache for them….this just seems unfathomable! PLEASE PRAY!

Pregnant? NOT!! - Just fun!!

Below is a link for an online pregnancy test. I am going to have a 14 pound baby boy and Arnold Schwartzeneggar is the father. (I know I probably didn't spell the last name correctly.) My mom is going to have 13 pound baby girl and the pool guy is the father. She is soooooooo lucky!! You will understand if you see the pool guy.
http://www.thepregnancytester.com

World's Greatest Grandma

Yesterday my mom and I were setting up for garage sale when I came across something. There was a HUGE box in the garage under a table. I thought it would be a good box to set some items on. I had no idea where the box came from. Then I realized it was a new box with something in it. My brother and sister-in-law often store Christmas presents at our house so I thought that was what it probably was. I asked my mom where it came from. She got this silly look on her face and replied, "Oh, I don't know. Where did it come from?" Then I read the box. Below is a picture of what Mom secretly bought. She really will be the greatest Grandma!

On Angel's Wings to Guatemala

I am so excited!! I found someone to take a package for me to Guatemala. It was going to cost me about $200 to Fed Ex the package to Guatemala. Today I Fed Ex'd it to Indiana for $42. The Hart's are going to take it to Guatemala and give it to Victor. Victor is going to get it to my attorney. My baby Johanna should have it sometime the week of November 12.
Thank you so very much to the Hart Family for doing this for me. I hope you have a wonderful visit with your baby girl!!