I have ten amazing nieces and nephews for whom I am very thankful:
1) C: C is like a deep fall sky blue: kind, thoughtful, creative, rich with faith.
2) W: W is like the reflection of sunlight off of water: almost too bright see directly, warm, funny, smart.
3) K: K is like the green of a leaf bud just opening in spring: so alive, so beautiful, and with the promise of so much inside of her.
4) H: H is like red. He is curious and sure.
5) J: J is orange like a campfire. His intelect and his passion burst like sparks all around him.
6) G: G is yellow like hope. She lights up a room.
7) H: H is like green summer grass. He is strong and real. His smile is genuine, and he has enthusiasm that is contagious.
8) M: M is rich, deep, shiny brown like soil meant to grow good things, and like his mother's beautiful hair. He is an old soul with a good, true heart.
9) A C: A C is turquiose. She is unpredictable and fun, trusting and adventurous.
10) C: C is like a pink rose. She is pretty and sweet, but storng and confident.
I have such happy nieces and nephews. They are healthy, safe and adored by many people. I am thankful for them.
10 days down, 50 to go.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Saturday
Thankful for:
1) Scotty's sweet friend, A.
2) The way mushrooms pop when you step on them.
3) The Science Center in Greensboro.
http://www.natsci.org/
4) The movie Garden State. I really love it.
5) Sunset Caye at Folly Beach.
5) Holding hands.
6) This kid's album from my childhood that formed my adult psyche, I realize now.
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/05/27/173317.php
7) Roller coasters.
8) An electric toothbrush.
9) The dishwasher.
Everyone is still celebrating in Viet Nam. Wouldn't it be exciting to be there now? I hope someone is holding Daniel right now. 9 Days.
1) Scotty's sweet friend, A.
2) The way mushrooms pop when you step on them.3) The Science Center in Greensboro.
http://www.natsci.org/
4) The movie Garden State. I really love it.
5) Sunset Caye at Folly Beach.
5) Holding hands.
6) This kid's album from my childhood that formed my adult psyche, I realize now.
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/05/27/173317.php
7) Roller coasters.
8) An electric toothbrush.
9) The dishwasher.
Everyone is still celebrating in Viet Nam. Wouldn't it be exciting to be there now? I hope someone is holding Daniel right now. 9 Days.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Today
Today has been a difficult day, imagining Daniel and missing him in the midst of uncertainty and lack of control with the I600 process. I suppose it is on a day like today that I should really muster some positive energy to see us through. So, here goes:
Today I am so thankful for
1) Scotty's imagination: "Mamma, this is called a fufu andand and it has two motors that go underwater but they don't hurt fish and he goes bthhbvvvvv. Then if it goes in the sand under the water it SHOOTS (onomatopoeia here) the sand waaaaaaaaay up in the air like this bchwow..." etc. etc.
2) The lesson I have learned: I know when to ask for help, and when I do, I often get it.
3) My wild child in 4th period said "Thank you for editing my club form; we got it", and he smiled his big, irresistable smile.
4) The color blue.
5) Baby breath.
6) Slinkies.
7) New socks.
8) Bob's big "Flying Nun" deerlike ears that move in all different directions according to how she is feeling.
8 days
Today I am so thankful for
1) Scotty's imagination: "Mamma, this is called a fufu andand and it has two motors that go underwater but they don't hurt fish and he goes bthhbvvvvv. Then if it goes in the sand under the water it SHOOTS (onomatopoeia here) the sand waaaaaaaaay up in the air like this bchwow..." etc. etc.
2) The lesson I have learned: I know when to ask for help, and when I do, I often get it.
3) My wild child in 4th period said "Thank you for editing my club form; we got it", and he smiled his big, irresistable smile.
4) The color blue.
5) Baby breath.
6) Slinkies.
7) New socks.
8) Bob's big "Flying Nun" deerlike ears that move in all different directions according to how she is feeling.
8 days
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Happy Tet!
Goals:
1) Have all positive interactions today.
2) Grade all papers that are lurking in my school bag.
Thankful for:
1) Whole Foods. I could just spend the day shopping there. It smells good; it's pretty; the food is tasty; they have cool stuff.
2) The greenway behind our house that goes to the park in one direction and Scotty's future elementary school in the other. The path is like a story waiting to happen.
3) The yellow daffodils that bloomed next to the creek in our back yard. They are early for spring, but just in time for Tet. I am going to enjoy them outside instead of cutting them, though (bad luck to cut things today!).
4) The lovely mirror that always hung in my grandmother's house that is now in ours.
5) This book http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~stephan/Steinbeck/east.html . Meaty, gripping. Characters that tug at the very center of truth. Delicious.
6) What a long walk with music can do for my perception.
7) Hot showers.
7 days.
1) Have all positive interactions today.
2) Grade all papers that are lurking in my school bag.
Thankful for:
1) Whole Foods. I could just spend the day shopping there. It smells good; it's pretty; the food is tasty; they have cool stuff.
2) The greenway behind our house that goes to the park in one direction and Scotty's future elementary school in the other. The path is like a story waiting to happen.
3) The yellow daffodils that bloomed next to the creek in our back yard. They are early for spring, but just in time for Tet. I am going to enjoy them outside instead of cutting them, though (bad luck to cut things today!).
4) The lovely mirror that always hung in my grandmother's house that is now in ours.
5) This book http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~stephan/Steinbeck/east.html . Meaty, gripping. Characters that tug at the very center of truth. Delicious.
6) What a long walk with music can do for my perception.
7) Hot showers.
7 days.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Six Days Down
I am thankful today for
1) Pie: apple, pecan, peach, banana cream. Mmmm Mmmm. I like pie better than cake.
2) This book: http://www.mostlyfiction.com/humor/robbins.htm made me feel so free when I was in college. Then I read parts of it again later, and it made me remember how it felt to be that free. Tom Robbins's books are like brain candy.
3) TinkerToys. Scotty got this http://www.target.com/Tinkertoy-Jumbo-Builder-Set-Pieces/dp/B00004TFRN/sr=1-1/qid=1202342380/ref=sr_1_1/601-2134766-2642564?ie=UTF8&rh=k%3Aclassic%20tinker%20toy&page=1 for Christmas, and they are so much fun. I have a great time playing with them too. We built a MASSIVE robot tonight.
4) Double rainbows.
5) The prospect of this election acting as the dawn of something really positive in our country.
6) A good, deep, spontanious, contagious, uncontrolable laugh.
Day 6
1) Pie: apple, pecan, peach, banana cream. Mmmm Mmmm. I like pie better than cake.
2) This book: http://www.mostlyfiction.com/humor/robbins.htm made me feel so free when I was in college. Then I read parts of it again later, and it made me remember how it felt to be that free. Tom Robbins's books are like brain candy.
3) TinkerToys. Scotty got this http://www.target.com/Tinkertoy-Jumbo-Builder-Set-Pieces/dp/B00004TFRN/sr=1-1/qid=1202342380/ref=sr_1_1/601-2134766-2642564?ie=UTF8&rh=k%3Aclassic%20tinker%20toy&page=1 for Christmas, and they are so much fun. I have a great time playing with them too. We built a MASSIVE robot tonight.
4) Double rainbows.
5) The prospect of this election acting as the dawn of something really positive in our country.
6) A good, deep, spontanious, contagious, uncontrolable laugh.
Day 6
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Day 5
Thankfulness:
1) One day some years ago I was walking into school when I passed a one of my big, tough high school boys getting out of his dad's car. His dog was also in the car. No one else was around. The boy reached in the window of the car and hugged his dog while he said, "I love you, dad". And then he didn't seem so big and tough to me. Suddenly, many of my students who seemed unreachable and unruly became sweet, precious, worthy children to me again, and my passion for teaching them was renewed. I am thankful for that moment and that boy.
2) Mac and Cheese (Annie's is the best).
3) My sister P. who is faithful, kind, and an amazing mother.
4) My sister A. who is smart, thoughtful and funny.
5) My brother J. who has is always trying to take care of everyone. He is generous, successful, and one of the most transparently feeling men I have ever known.
I am so lucky to have P., A. and J. I cannot really imagine my life without them. They are central to who I am.
1) One day some years ago I was walking into school when I passed a one of my big, tough high school boys getting out of his dad's car. His dog was also in the car. No one else was around. The boy reached in the window of the car and hugged his dog while he said, "I love you, dad". And then he didn't seem so big and tough to me. Suddenly, many of my students who seemed unreachable and unruly became sweet, precious, worthy children to me again, and my passion for teaching them was renewed. I am thankful for that moment and that boy.
2) Mac and Cheese (Annie's is the best).
3) My sister P. who is faithful, kind, and an amazing mother.
4) My sister A. who is smart, thoughtful and funny.
5) My brother J. who has is always trying to take care of everyone. He is generous, successful, and one of the most transparently feeling men I have ever known.
I am so lucky to have P., A. and J. I cannot really imagine my life without them. They are central to who I am.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Day 4
Goals:
1) Shots! We need shots: Hep A, Typhoid, flu. Scotty needs MMR, poor kid. Do we really have to?
2) Start gathering stuff to pack: diapers, wipes, meds, donations, toiletries, luggage.
Thankfulness:
1) NPR. I love NPR. Look at this amazing story I heard on the way to school the other day:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1781840
2) Old letters. This weekend, I found two letters that my grandmother had written me when I was in boarding school. They made made me laugh and cry. What will happen to history now that hardly anyone writes letters anymore? There is something about holding a piece of paper with someone's handwriting on it that is so unbelievably beautiful.
3) Chocolate syrup on vanilla ice cream.
4) The joy that comes from rooting for an underdog! Thanks for the great entertainment NY Giants!
56 days until day 60!
1) Shots! We need shots: Hep A, Typhoid, flu. Scotty needs MMR, poor kid. Do we really have to?
2) Start gathering stuff to pack: diapers, wipes, meds, donations, toiletries, luggage.
Thankfulness:
1) NPR. I love NPR. Look at this amazing story I heard on the way to school the other day:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1781840
2) Old letters. This weekend, I found two letters that my grandmother had written me when I was in boarding school. They made made me laugh and cry. What will happen to history now that hardly anyone writes letters anymore? There is something about holding a piece of paper with someone's handwriting on it that is so unbelievably beautiful.
3) Chocolate syrup on vanilla ice cream.
4) The joy that comes from rooting for an underdog! Thanks for the great entertainment NY Giants!
56 days until day 60!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Day 3: The Wait
Goals:
Same as yesterday.
Thankfulness:
1) Sunshine and warmth today. Trampoline time!!!
2) This book: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E00E4DC103FF93BA15752C1A9629C8B63
3) The opportunity to explore Taoism as I teach the Origins of World Literature Unit in my class:
“Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream"
Lao Tzu quotes
Same as yesterday.
Thankfulness:
1) Sunshine and warmth today. Trampoline time!!!
2) This book: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E00E4DC103FF93BA15752C1A9629C8B63
3) The opportunity to explore Taoism as I teach the Origins of World Literature Unit in my class:
“Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream"
Lao Tzu quotes
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Thankful During the Wait
We got our "Acknowledgement of Receipt" letter from CIS yesterday in a record setting two days post submission, so we are in the last phase of our adoption approvals! Wahoo! From now until we travel to bring Daniel home should be between two and three months, if all goes well.
I have decided on an excercise in creativity, productivity and thankfulness during the wait. Perhaps the time will be used more wisely in a positive momentum than a negative one. Thus, for day two, here are two goals and two things I am thankful for:
Goals:
1) Clean my house before the end of the weekend (top to bottom).
2) Look for news and e-mails only 3x per day. I know this sounds really pathetic, but it will actually be difficult for me. I am ashamed to have developed a cyber addiction.
Thankfulness:
1) The Museum of Life and Science in Durham is so much fun! We went today and met my little sister, who is in grad. school at Duke, and my mom. G gave me a year membership for 4 entrance passes for my birthday (which was yesterday :)), so we all got in for free. Check it out. It is a really amazing place.
http://www.ncmls.org/
2) My sister-in-law, the most organized and efficient woman I have ever met, sent me 6 cloth diapers yesterday! Now, I have 12 to start our collection. I am hoping to use cloth diapers exclusively. However, we have 2 different kinds. I guess we'll just see which we like best and order more of those after we return from Viet Nam. Here are the kinds we have:
http://www.fuzzibunz.com/
My friend, M, used these with her daughter, and she really liked them b/c they do not have velcro.
http://www.bumgenius.com/
This is the other kind, and they seem so soft and comfortable. We'll see, I guess.
I decided to use cloth diapers for four reasons. First, there are some really nasty chemicals in disposable diapers:
"Of more serious concern are the toxic chemicals present in disposable diapers. Dioxin, which in various forms has been shown to cause cancer, birth defects, liver damage, and skin diseases, is a by-product of the paper-bleaching process used in manufacturing disposable diapers, and trace quantities may exist in the diapers themselves.6
And what about the material that makes "superabsorbent" diapers so absorbent? If you've ever used disposable diapers, you've probably noticed beads of clear gel on your baby's genitals after a diaper change. Superabsorbent diapers contain sodium polyacrylate, which absorbs up to 100 times its weight in water. Sodium polyacrylate is the same substance that was removed from tampons in 1985 because of its link to toxic shock syndrome.7 No studies have been done on the long-term effects of this chemical being in contact with a baby's reproductive organs 24 hours a day for upwards of two years." (http://www.mothering.com/articles/new_baby/diapers/joy-of-cloth.html)
Also, I used disposable diapers for Scotty. By the time he was potty trained at a little over 2yo, I really had some serious trash guilt.
I have had friends use them, and if a person has enough, the cloth diapers are really convenient and easy to use. Why not!
Plus, the cost of diapers is HUGE. Buying a bunch of cloth ones once (that can be sold on Craigslist.com if they are not terribly stained) is a small expense compared to the cost of buying them weekly. If your sister-in-law starts sending them to you, EVEN BETTER!
2 days down.
I have decided on an excercise in creativity, productivity and thankfulness during the wait. Perhaps the time will be used more wisely in a positive momentum than a negative one. Thus, for day two, here are two goals and two things I am thankful for:
Goals:
1) Clean my house before the end of the weekend (top to bottom).
2) Look for news and e-mails only 3x per day. I know this sounds really pathetic, but it will actually be difficult for me. I am ashamed to have developed a cyber addiction.
Thankfulness:
1) The Museum of Life and Science in Durham is so much fun! We went today and met my little sister, who is in grad. school at Duke, and my mom. G gave me a year membership for 4 entrance passes for my birthday (which was yesterday :)), so we all got in for free. Check it out. It is a really amazing place.
http://www.ncmls.org/
2) My sister-in-law, the most organized and efficient woman I have ever met, sent me 6 cloth diapers yesterday! Now, I have 12 to start our collection. I am hoping to use cloth diapers exclusively. However, we have 2 different kinds. I guess we'll just see which we like best and order more of those after we return from Viet Nam. Here are the kinds we have:
http://www.fuzzibunz.com/
My friend, M, used these with her daughter, and she really liked them b/c they do not have velcro.
http://www.bumgenius.com/
This is the other kind, and they seem so soft and comfortable. We'll see, I guess.
I decided to use cloth diapers for four reasons. First, there are some really nasty chemicals in disposable diapers:
"Of more serious concern are the toxic chemicals present in disposable diapers. Dioxin, which in various forms has been shown to cause cancer, birth defects, liver damage, and skin diseases, is a by-product of the paper-bleaching process used in manufacturing disposable diapers, and trace quantities may exist in the diapers themselves.6
And what about the material that makes "superabsorbent" diapers so absorbent? If you've ever used disposable diapers, you've probably noticed beads of clear gel on your baby's genitals after a diaper change. Superabsorbent diapers contain sodium polyacrylate, which absorbs up to 100 times its weight in water. Sodium polyacrylate is the same substance that was removed from tampons in 1985 because of its link to toxic shock syndrome.7 No studies have been done on the long-term effects of this chemical being in contact with a baby's reproductive organs 24 hours a day for upwards of two years." (http://www.mothering.com/articles/new_baby/diapers/joy-of-cloth.html)
Also, I used disposable diapers for Scotty. By the time he was potty trained at a little over 2yo, I really had some serious trash guilt.
I have had friends use them, and if a person has enough, the cloth diapers are really convenient and easy to use. Why not!
Plus, the cost of diapers is HUGE. Buying a bunch of cloth ones once (that can be sold on Craigslist.com if they are not terribly stained) is a small expense compared to the cost of buying them weekly. If your sister-in-law starts sending them to you, EVEN BETTER!
2 days down.
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