Christmas Tree

Christmas tree is up. No, it's not you, the tree actually is leaning to the right. I can get it to lean a little in any direction, it's straight that I'm having issues with.

Thanksgiving tradition

For the past four years, my Thanksgiving morning has begun with a dip in my hot tub- most relaxing. If you're thinking "She OBVIOUSLY doesn't host Thanksgiving dinner if she has time to lounge in a hot tub", you're right. This huge undertaking goes to my mom. And no one does Thanksgiving dinner better than mom.

This very pleasing start to my favorite holiday almost wasn't going to happen this year due to a broken "FLO" valve. Well, the repair guy came out today and I'm back on track for Thursday morning. The water is reheating as I write. Of course, this repair came at a price. The hot tub repair guy asked to use my guest bathroom, no problem. After he left, I went in to put the hand towel in the laundry, no used hand towel. Okay, so maybe he dried his hands on his shirt. So, I look in the sink, no water - EEWW!! Now I need to go around and disinfect. In the end, a small price to pay to continue my Thanksgiving tradition.

Dolls for Ava

Ava's new dolls just arrived. I ordered the Barbie Chinese New Year Doll to honor her heritage and the Renaissance Princess doll to honor my Italian origins.

Renaissance Princess Doll

Waiting families dinner

Last night I attended my first FCC (Families of Children from China) Waiting Families dinner. This is a monthly get together of Arizona families that are somewhere in the adoption process for China. I met a number of people- all very nice. Hopefully, I'll see them again at another dinner and hopefully, there will be nametags at that dinner since I am the absolute worst at remembering names - a trait I'm sure I inherited from my mother.

Since yesterday was National Adoption Day, our group leader, Maria, handed out the following poem:

The Daughters of China, Tim Chauvin
There's an unseen tie that binds them,
A red thread that will not break.
They are woven in a tapestry
It took five thousand years to make.

Their eyes are wide with wonder
Tiny hands reach out to touch
The faces of the families
Who have wanted them so much.

The daughters of China, they fly across the seas,
Off to unseen places and possibilities.
They are gifts to those who cherish them
By those who just could not.
Acts of hope and faith and love
That we never will forget.

They were given up for reasons
That most will never know.
Now they're daughters to the families
Who have come to take them home.

And someday they'll too be mothers
And have children and a home.
Thread by thread they will tie the knots
To weave new tapestries all their own.

The daughters of China, they fly across the seas,
Off to unseen places and possibilities.
They are gifts to those who cherish them
By those who just could not.
Acts of hope and faith and love
That we never will forget.

Gift time

My September Secret Pal sent me these wonderful gifts. The "Windows to Color" book uses paintings by the masters to show color- how fun.



I'd also like to thank my August Secret Pal for the bath tub mat. It certainly does make the time go by faster sending and receiving these monthly gifts.

Rumor has it...

Let's face it, if we didn't have rumors, innuendo and total fabrication from fellow bloggers and chat groups, we'd have no info at all. So, to further the cause, here is what I've heard: the CCAA will be moving to a new office mid-November, the CCAA will be moving to a new office in January, there will be no April LIDs receiving their referral this month, there will be referrals for LIDs through April 11, LID to referral is 6-7 months, LID to referral is now 12 months. Hope this helps.