More Single Reflections...

Okay, so I read this article online called 'The secret of successful daters' or something like that. Since I am missing a flirting gene, this peaked my interest. So, I clicked on it, and read along. The jist of the article is that a lot of singles have the attitude 'There are no good single men (or women) left'. The author was saying that's just not true, and he/she gave the reader a homework assignment for the next week. On the first day you had to make eye contact with someone you found attractive, on the 2nd day you have to make eye contact, and smile, on the third day your supposed to start small talk, so on, and so on, not necessarily with the same person just someone you encountered who you found attractive.

Well that is all wonderful advice but in my world I can go days where the only man I come in contact with is my Dad. Where are all these men this author is saying I'm supposed to be batting my eyelashes at?? Just something that made me chuckle.

Some of my favorite titles of books on Christian singleness (none of which I have read so I can't speak to their content), but the titles give me a smile.

"Table for One" (I have actually read this one & it's wonderful)

"If singleness is a gift what's the return policy"

"Living Whole Without A Better Half"

"If I'm waiting on God, then what am I doing in A Christian chatroom"

"Fine China is for Single Women Too" (I haven't read this, but it is an attitude I've embraced).

"If Men are Like Buses, Then How Do I Catch One?"

...and my favorite title

"Lord, widen my world, narrow my bed"

In my years of wrestling with God in my singleness I've always held firm to the belief that when He ordains the time, and the man He has for me, it will happen, and if His answer is 'No' for me to marriage than I know I can trust His sovereignty.

A 100 Acre Wood Celebration!!

Yesterday was the big 1 year Birthday party!! It was so much fun. I only cried twice... once when my Mom arrived, and we hugged at the door. A lot of times she & I don't need words we just understand, and then when I was thanking everyone for coming, and what a special day this was. Then it was all fun!!! Hold on for muchos fotos!!!

Madalynn is wearing a dress, and bracelet I bought her in Guatemala.

A new Pooh bear from Ga-Ga & Grandpa...

Madalynn with the Pooh eared cousins!!

I put together a photo collage of 2 pictures from each month from July 2007 to July 2008

Pooh & gang were ready for the party!

The favors that Kassie helped me make. We painted terra cotta pots a gold color, and wrote 'HUNNY' on them. Then filled them with Teddy Grahams, and Honeycomb cereal.

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET BABY GIRL!!!

Road Trip

Okay, so my last post about the 'Go-Go's' song got me thinking about road trip music. Please leave a comment with your MUST HAVE song for a road trip so I can build my play list for the drive to the Cape in a few weeks (okay... going to the Cape is a mini roadtrip... but you still need good driving music).



I'll go first, for my little Amy friend 'Get out the map' by the Indigo Girls!!!

BTW, one of my new recently discovered movies is '13 Going on 30'... if you've never seen it check it out... it's tooo cute, and the 2 Thriller dance scene numbers are great!!

Legacy of Adoption

I've been going through pictures of Madalynn from the past year for a couple projects for her birthday, and I looked at the ones with her birthmother again, and it just made me weep. I feel so blessed to have pictures, and information about her birthmother, and hopefully someday that will help Madalynn find answers.

I find myself overcome with moments where I can feel this ache & sorrow rise from within me, and I just start to cry. I wonder did God in some supernatural way join our 2 mother hearts, to feel each others emotions and bond us through His design. One of us to give her life, and one of us to teach her to live.

This precious woman gave me the most wonderful gift, that blesses me every single day, she brings such joy. My joy came at the sorrow of another. A woman I will probably never meet, and yet I long to tell her about her beautiful daughter. That she is growing, thriving, and the goofiest girl I have ever met.

I want her to know that this baby girl shows her determined spirit by pushing her way through an obstacle rather than going around it, or giving up.

I want her to know that the best time to get Madalynn to belly laugh is when she's a little tired, but not quite exhausted yet.

I want her to know that I feel so honored, and privileged to be this baby girls Mom.

I know on Madalynn's party & actual birthday her birthmother will be heavy on my heart too, and that's okay. But, those days will be days of celebration, and only happy tears.

I found this poem awhile ago, and it perfectly describes what's on my heart.

Legacy of Adoption

Once there were two women, neither knew the other

One you do not remember, the other you call mother.

One gave you a nationality, the other gave you a name

One gave you the seed of talent, the other gave you an aim.

Two very different lives shaped yours into one

One became your guiding star, the other was your sun.

One gave you emotions, and one calmed your fears

One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried your tears.

The first gave you life, the second taught you to live it.

The first gave you a need for love, the second was there to give it.

One gave you up—it was all that she could do,

The other prayed for a child—God led her straight to you.

And now you ask me through your tears,

The age-old question of all the years,

Heredity or Environment, which are you a product of?

Neither darling, neither ... just two different kinds of Love.

-Author Unknown

4th was a bust!!

No photo shoot in her red, white & blue. Weather wise 4th of July was a bust around here, although I just loved spending the weekend with my girl. Yesterday my 9 year old niece Kassie came over to help me make the favors for Madalynn's big 1st birthday bash next week, so it was fun to have a girly day, and just spend time with her too.

It is birthday central around here with all the preparations going on. Working full-time I'm finding I have to plan way ahead to get all these details done. I am so excited for the day to come. I've been waiting my whole life to plan a babies birthday party. Get ready for lots of pics next week!!

I have the fridge with the freezer on the bottom, and right now I can open the fridge doors, and they just clear Madalynn's head (I said head... not hair). I took these pictures b/c I'm curious as to how much longer I'll be able to do that.

This was Madalynn when I went to get her after her nap today... with her 2 best buddies 'Pooh Bear', and 'Katie Bear' (short for Catarina the town where she was born).

She also had her foot propped up on the bumper... which is typical...

Happy 4th!!!

The rain continued today so I was unable to do a photo shoot with Madalynn in her red, white & blue. I did give her some watermelon after dinner which is very 4th of July!!! I hope you are all having a wonderful 4th of July celebration!! Happy Birthday to this wonderful nation of ours!!!

4th of July

So, I had wonderful grand plans about my 4th of July blog post, and the pictures I would put up of Madalynn in her red, white & blue celebrating her 1st 4th, but alas, it was not to be. We showed up to the wonderful celebration at the former army post Ft. Devens only to be chased away by thunderstorms. After 1 hour in a car with an almost 1 year old baby who was getting, tired & hungry we cut our losses, and were quite disappointed. I hope to do a photo shoot tomorrow in her patriotic sundress, so I'll post pics then.

The former parade ground where the concert & then fireworks display were to be. I think my Mom said that my Grandfather worked in one of those buildings when he was stationed there.

The looming thunderclouds, and black sky.