Really Quick update

So...this is going to be super quick cause I've got a meeting in 5 minutes....just wanted to share that we have a meeting/interview this coming Tuesday regarding the 9 month old boy. I'm not sure what this all means seeing as we've never made it to the 'interview' stage...but nonetheless we are excited and praying hard! ;)

Keep Treading Along....

So I have hope again. It may not make sense how things seemed to turn around so quickly so I'll explain a bit. We applied for the 2 children months ago....were told we'd hear in the beginning of January....but didn't until the last week of January. During those 3 weeks or so of obsessively checking e-mail and carrying the phone with me around the house, it was very stressful for me. But last weekend I had a very 'blue' weekend and had some really good cries...mainly because I just knew that we weren't chosen since we hadn't heard anything yet. So when Thursday came and my worker called me to let me know she had finally heard back from teh other agency....I wasn't overly emotional. Only because I had kind of dealt with the heartbreak the prior weekend. So my worker (whom I love by the way) let me know that we weren't chosen, talked to me about how upset she was about how long the other agency took to answer our MANY messages regarding the children. THen she told me she'd call me back the next week to talk some things over with me. This was our conversation.

Worker: So I'll call you back next week since I need to talk to you about something
ME: What is that you have to talk about...you can tell me now.
W: Well I think you should take a couple of days to process this bad news you just recieved.
ME: OH...thank you for thinking of that...but I already had my 'Boo-Hoo' on the weekend since I figured the answer was 'No'...so you can ask me whatever you'd like
W: Are you sure?
ME: Oh yes! (completely not knowing what she was going to ask me...but I was hoping!)
W: Alright...we have a 9 month old boy who is in need of a foster-to-adopt family.
ME: Are you Freakin' kidding me????? (and then I burst into tears)

Then she went on to tell me about this little guy....and how we still will need to be 'chosen' to be his foster-to-adopt family etc. Now...I told someone all this and they thought I was odd because my emotions had changed from being excited/hopeful about the 2 children...too now being excited about this little guy...and it made no sense to them how that could happen so quickly.

Truthfully I'm not really sure either....but it happened. I had my realization/cry fest on the weekend and had been accepting the fact that the answer was going to be a 'no' for 6 days. Then I get the phone call that makes it official. But then I get a glimmer of hope...some sunshine again. And even though I'm not looking forward to playing the 'waiting game' for the next couple of weeks....the hope that I have makes up for it. ANd yes...it is quite possible that my hope will be shattered within the next 2 weeks....but I know that God has a plan for our family. I may not understand it...but I trust it. It's hard at times, and at times I cry out in anger/frustration/sadness...but that's okay. He loves my honesty. :)

So I guess we'll see what is in store for us...and who knows...maybe someday in the next 2 weeks our lives will change. :)

FRIDAY

BOOK


I had read Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin a couple of years ago. It is a perfect 'Beach Read'...you know the kind that doens't take much thought, but is still really entertaining. That is the best description I can think of for this book. It's just a fun read. Emily Giffin has a sequel to this book as well entitled 'Something Blue' which I also enjoyed a lot. Her 3rd book Baby Proof was not a favourite, but her 4th book Love the One You are With I really enjoyed as well. Here is a blurb abotu Something Borrowed from Amazon.ca.

An unexpected love affair threatens a long-lived friendship in this soap opera–like debut from Atlanta ex-lawyer Giffin. Since elementary school, Rachel and Darcy have been best friends, with Darcy always outshining Rachel. While single Rachel is the self-confessed good girl, an attorney trapped at a suffocating New York law firm, Darcy is the complete opposite, a stereotypical outgoing publicist, planning a wedding with the handsome Dex. After Rachel's 30th birthday party, she knocks back one drink too many and winds up in bed with Dex. Instead of feeling guilty about sleeping with her best friend's fiancé, Rachel realizes that Dex is the only man she's really loved, and that she's always resented manipulative Darcy. Rachel and Dex spend a few weekends in the city together "working" while Darcy's off with friends at a Hamptons beach share, but finally Rachel realizes she'll have to give Dex an ultimatum. The flip job Giffin pulls off—here it's the cheaters who're sympathetic (more or less)—gives Dex and Rachel's otherwise ordinary affair extra edge. Rachel would be a more appealing heroine if she were less whiny about her job and her romantic prospects, and rambling dialogue slows the story's pace, but this is an enjoyable beach read—one that'll make readers cast a suspicious eye on best friends and boyfriends who seem to get along just a little too well.

MOVIE

This season I also watched the movie It's Complicated . I have loved all the movies I had seen that were by Nancy Meyers (The Holiday, Something's got to Give). So I figured I would enjoy this movie. Plus it included Meryl Streep - who is unbelievable, Steve Martin - who is just funny, and Alec Baldwin - who I happen to think is hysterical. He is just perfect for this part. I actually did enjoy this movie. It wasn't my favourite of the 3 movies Nancy Meyers has done, but it was definitely enjoyable. Plus it did have me laughing out loud quite a few times, which is a must. :) I would recommend watching this movie if you want a 'fun' movie to see. :)
Here is a blurb about the movie from it's website.

Jane (Streep) is the mother of three grown kids, owns a thriving Santa Barbara bakery/restaurant and has--after a decade of divorce--an amicable relationship with her ex-husband, attorney Jake (Baldwin). But when Jane and Jake find themselves out of town for their son's college graduation, things start to get complicated. An innocent meal together turns into the unimaginable--an affair. With Jake remarried to the much younger Agness (Lake Bell), Jane is now, of all things, the other woman.
Caught in the middle of their renewed romance is Adam (Martin), an architect hired to remodel Jane's kitchen. Healing from a divorce of his own, Adam starts to fall for Jane, but soon realizes he's become part of a love triangle.
Should Jane and Jake move on with their lives, or is love truly lovelier the second time around? It's...complicated.

SONG/ARTIST

While watching the movie 'New Moon' I discovered this song - Lykke Li - Possibility. I loved it. There isn't an official video for this song...so I just posted this one.


RECIPE


Last week I tried this recipe - Olive Garden Soup . It was DELICIOUS!!!!

FINALLY!!!

We FINALLY heard an answer regarding the 2 children we applied for. We were not chosen. We were suspecting that seeing as it took so long to hear back from the agency. It's just upsetting that they took so long in getting back to us. They've already chosen a family a week ago...you'd think they could have returned one of our 5 messages in the past week.

Now to add to the never ending waiting of our lives....we are now being considered for a foster-to-adopt situation with a 9 month old boy....so more waiting. :)

BOOK

This christmas I received the book The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks . Nicholas Sparks is my favourite author. He is the genius behind the books that inspired the movies The Notebook, A Walk to Remember, Message in a Bottle, Nights of Rodanthe and the upcoming Dear John.

I had heard that he wrote this book knowing that it was going to become a movie and that Miley Cyrus was going to star in it. When I first heard that, I was let down...only because any time I have ever seen Miley Cyrus on screen she always annoyed me...something to do with her low voice. So I wasn't thrilled with the idea of her playing the lead. However I wanted to read the book still since all of his books I LOVE. And this one was no exception. It definitely wasn't one of my favourites of his, but I still couldn't put it down. It's odd though, because if you've ever read one of his books you always know that you'll be in tears at the end, so can usually guess what is going to happen roughly...which usually annoys me to no end about books. However with his books, it doesn't bother me one bit. He just writes about love so beautifully. Not in the 'over the top' way...but in the 'oh my, that is the sweetest thing I've ever read' kind of way.

Here is a blurb about the book
Seventeen year old Veronica "Ronnie" Miller's life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alientated from her parents, especially her father...until her mother decides it would be in everyone's best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him. Ronnie's father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church.
The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story of love on many levels--first love, love between parents and children -- that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that love can break our hearts...and heal them.


MOVIE

Craig and I watched Food Inc. a couple of weeks ago. I had heard from others that it was a very interesting documentary. I happen to love documentaries - well those that are done well and on a topic I'm interested in. :) I found this movie incredibly eye opening. I had heard a lot about what was in the movie...but it's one thing to hear it, and then another to see it played out for you. After watching this movie it took me a good 1 1/2 weeks to eat meat. And we have now decided to buy all our meat from a local, organic farmer. And come summer time I will be shopping mostly at our local farmers markets when possible. I think everyone should watch this movie. It doesn't mean you will become a Vegetarian who only buys organic food....but it only makes sense to learn about what we are eating.

Here is a little blurb about the movie

In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.

Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield's Gary Hirshberg and Polyface Farms' Joel Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising—and often shocking truths—about what we eat, how it's produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here

SONG/ARTIST

I first heard of Matt Morris after my cousin sent me this video of him singing on The Ellen Degeneres show. It was love at first sight. Such a beautiful song.
Matt Morris - Bloodline.


RECIPE
I tried making couscous for the first time this season and it was delicious! This it the recipe I used - Company CousCous

JUDAH This is Judah impersonating THE HULK.....and this is the face I see about 90% of my day....always as THE HULK....or a Lion...the faces all look similar. :)

Wednesday

BOOK

Currently I am reading the Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr. By Clayborne Carson. I like to read 2-3 books at one time and lately have been enjoying reading a biography at all times. They have seemed to be the type of book, for me at least, that I can put down. Meaning....it's not as easy as a read that most fictional books are, and usually gives me more to think about/register. I've always been interested in MLK Jr. for the obvious reasons. But since Judah has come home I really wanted to know more. So finally I opened up the book and started to read. It's a well written biography I think, it's easy to read and easy to follow. When I read Malcolm X's bio, it was harder for me to follow who all the people/names were. However in this book I'm following quite well. I am about 3/4 of the way through and am thoroughly enjoying all that I am learning about this great man.

MOVIE

This past weekend I went to see Avatar with Craig. I myself didn't have to much interest in seeing it, but had never seen a 3D movie, so I thought it might be neat. I had heard so much about this movie and how fantastic it was etc. etc.
I will say that I didn't really enjoy it all that much. It was alright, but I have no desire to see it again. And for a person who thinks nothing of watching a movie 10 times, that says a lot. :) I will say that watching a movie in 3D was really neat and I"m excited about other movies coming out that are in 3D (Alice in Wonderland anyone!?). And yes the special effects and scenery in this movie were amazing. It really was beautiful in that sense. So I guess in the sense of special effects etc. this movie was amazing. However the story was so obvious. It is exactly what you think it will be from the 2 minute trailer. The same old story we've seen a thousand times, just this time some blue people are thrown in. So that was a let down.
HOwever...many people loved this movie....this is just my opinion. :)

SONG
Thanks to Grey's Anatomy again for this one. (as well as Vampire Diaries - yes I watch that show...I'm not ashamed. :) ) The song is called 'The Weight of Us' by Sanders Bohlke . THere isn't an official video for this song...so I put up the song with images of Owen and Cristina....cause well, I felt like it. :)


RECIPE

I made this recipe for Christmas Brunch and it was delicious! French Toast Bake

JUDAH

This is a picture of Judah on Christmas Eve after recieving his HUGE amount of gifts pertaining to Super Heroes. It amazes me how he just knew that these were for boys and they were cool. He's never seen a movie or tv show of a superhero...yet he is in LOVE with all things super hero. No barbies in this house. :)

Tuesday

BOOK

So another book that I read during the holidays was East of the Sun by Barbara Bickmore. My Grandmother gave me this book quite a few years ago. After recieving it I read it right away and loved it. THen for whatever reason this holiday I felt like re-reading it. And loved it yet again. Here is a little write up about it found on Amazon.

Bickmore debuts with a historical romance loosely based on the tumultuous history of 20th century Africa amid the dismantling of European colonialism. The bloodshed accompanying the founding of Zaire, the increasing polarization of races within South Africa, crushing famines and even the beginnings of the AIDS epidemic are seen through the eyes of Liliane Wentworth, a young missionary who ventures to Simbayo, a fictional medical settlement in the Congo, and remains in Africa for six decades. Liliane is, at heart, a simple and well-told love story, though the only affections that death does not ultimately steal are her ties to Africa and the devotion of her granddaughter. Bickmore weaves the historical events around the central fictional narrative with great skill and restraint. Her characters are neither partisans nor zealots; their first intent, always, is to ease the suffering of those whose homeland is subject to the whims of rough climate and even harsher political conditions. Bickmore's prose is lean and unsentimental, her descriptions of Africa and its people compassionate but not condescending.

It's the story of a woman who goes to Africa to help a missionary doctor and the love she finds there, not only romantically but also the love she develops for the country and people she meets. I am a sucker for a good romance it's true...but I especially loved this one for it's strong male characters. Many times I read a book and am let down by the male character. I don't really know why that is. I think it has something to do with the fact that they aren't 'real men'. I don't mean 'men' in the sense of 'big and burly'....but men who know who they are and know what they want. And won't change because a woman asked them too. I'm all for a sensitive guy, but I like my guys manly too. :)

MOVIE

This season I also saw the movie 'The Blind Side'. (3 times actually. *cough cough*)


Here's a blurb about it

"The Blind Side" depicts the remarkable true story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher's presence in the Touhys' lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle.



First off...who doesn't love a true story? It always makes the movie so much better. Sandra Bullock did a fantastic job in this role. I was watching a YouTube clip of the real-life mom that she portrays in the movie....it was too funny to see just how well she became this woman for the film. Anyways....I watched this movie 3 times for a reason....it was fantastic. THESE are the type of movies that I would love to see more of. The type where you leave the theatre in tears...not because of your heart being broken...but because you remember that the human heart is capable of so much. It made me want to be a better person. It was clean as well. I think 1-2 curse words, no sex, no nudity. It was EXACTLY the type of movie I love to watch. The other day I watched 'The Ugly Truth' that was so horrible I can't believe that I didn't turn it off, or at least leave the room (I was watching at someone else's house). It was so dirty/rude, I could barely believe it. ANd I know that a lot of the comedies lately are rude/dirty...but this one wasn't even funny. I think it was supposed to be, but I didn't even have the desire to laugh. I thought I would at least enjoy it because my favourite, Gerard Butler, was in it....but he couldn't even save this movie. Truthfully I may be over my 'crazy crush' on Gerard due to the fact that he decided to star in this horrible movie.

Anways....all that to say that I wish Hollywood would make more 'clean'/wonderful movies like The Blind Side. I most definitely give it 5 out of 5. :)

SONG/ARTIST
Thanks to Grey's Anatomy once again, I've discovered this new group...and most importantly this song - Poison and Wine by The Civil Wars.


Turns out that I actually have been listening to the woman in this group for awhile now. Her name is Joy Williams and I have a couple of her cds. I just wasn't aware that she was now singing with John Paul White. This song includes all elements of a song that I love. It has a guitar in it...and sounds 'slightly' acoustic. It has fantastic lyrics that make my heart swell. And it's sad....I love sad songs. :)

RECIPE
I made this recipe a month or so ago and everyone loved it. Chicken Taco Soup And the best thing about it is it is made in the slow cooker....who doesn't love coming home to a dinner made already???:)

JUDAH

THought I'd add a picture and something that is new with Judah from the past month or so. This is a picture of Judah from 2 weeks ago. IT was shortly after Craig and I decided to give him a short hair cut. Judah has been learning how to write his name. Who knew a barely legibly 'J' could make my heart sing?? :)