Ellis Island

The day after Christmas, my parents and I went to New Jersey to see my sister and her family. We had a good time. We went to the movies, played games, went to Target for the after Christmas specials, went to a great Vietnamese restaurant, and I finally got to Ellis Island. My sister and I have tried several times to get to Ellis Island. Both times we tried from the New York City side. Two summers ago, we walked down to Battery Park with every intention of going to Ellis Island until we found out there was about a three hour wait for the ferry. We said forget it. We went shopping at Century 21 instead. So this time we stayed on the New Jersey side and we had about a 15 minute wait. It was impressive, as was the Statue of Liberty. As I walked in all I could think was about the millions of people whose hopes all came together in that one place. I could picture in my mind what it was like to walk into this place 100 years ago, carrying with you your most prized possessions and carrying in your heart dreams of a future that you couldn't realize in your country. For many of us, this is the story of our ancestors. I can see in my mind that even as they dreamed big dreams they also were scared of the future. Would they be able to make it? Would other people accept them? Would they be able to learn English? Makes me think about when my husband came. He had just a few possessions that he could bring with him, an optimism of the future, and worried about his future. Like the people 100 years ago, he has had to work hard in his new country and he dreams of a better future for his daughter. Makes me also think of a very divided issue in this country, illegal immigration. The only thing I can think is that the reason that they risk everything to cross that border is they dream of a future that they can't realize in their own country and hope for a better future for their children. It is the same story as those who came through Ellis Island. It doesn't make what they are doing is right but it makes you think about why they do it.

Pumpkin

I never thought I would say this in my lifetime but I think I finally met a cat that I actually like. My sister has a new cat named Pumpkin. They got her about a month ago. Their last cat, Abby died about a year ago of old age. She had been around for about 16 years. They weren't thinking of getting a cat until a friend had cat that just had kittens. So when they saw Pumpkin the whole family feel in love. I think I did too. She is really playful, very friendly and looks a little bit like the cat above. The funniest had to be when my mom walked into the bathroom and there was Pumpkin peeking up from the bathtub. Her eyes were as big as saucers. I guess Pumpkin never imagined that someone would come in and close the door. As soon as my mom opened the door for Pumpkin she ran like the wind. She is too cute!!!

From Camille

After Christmas, my parents and I went to visit my sister and her gang. Her daughter Camille and I had a great time playing a marathon Monopoly game, going to the movies (Water Horse - a must-see for kids) and she even exercised with me ( we did some kickboxing - lots of fun!!!) She is about the sweetest girl I know. She is thoughtful, considerate and lots of fun. So is her brother Nate but this is about Camille. Well, she had written an essay for me about me and I wanted to share it with the world or at least the select few that are reading this. Here is Camille's essay entitled My Special Person:

My special person to me is my Aunt Tia. She is very kind and generous. She plays games with me. We like to play mini-golf in North Carolinea. When we go there she swims with me in the ocean. She takes me to see movies. She likes to do my hair in fancy styles. I think a good gift would be Sophia. She is the child Tia is adopting from China. Tia would be a good mom because she is a librarian and is around kids all day. Tia has been waiting for Sophia for 2 years. That is why Tia should have Sophia.

That is so beautiful just like my niece Camille. Thank you Camille. Hope your birthday party on Saturday is lots of fun!!!

Christmas Vacation

Merry Christmas! Yesterday at 11:45 it was official, Christmas vacation had begun. Yippee! 11 days of being able to do whatever I want. Staying up late, hopefully sleeping at least past 6:30, reading books, making cookies, going to my parents, seeing my grandma, going to my sisters, going to the movies, shopping, playing with my niece and nephew, playing games on the computer, exercising at 1:00 in the afternoon instead of 5:00 or later, and any other great idea I can think off. Started vacation by going to my friend Jill's daughter's birthday party. She turned 2 on Thursday. She was so cute. After each gift she went up to the person, signed thank you and then set the present down by that person. She was so precise with the gift wrap. The smallest piece torn off the package went immediately into the trash bag. Then all the cards were stacked in a neat pile by Julie. It was really precious. Francine brought Kylie (6 months). We all clamored to hold her. Luck for me I got to hold her when she was getting fussy for the bottle. So I got to feed her. After the party, I headed up to my parents. Today we are picking up my 94 year old granmother. Before, we bring her back, she has a long list of errands to do. Her lists of errands would tire even the hardiest of people so I am always amazed how she keeps on going as if she just turned 60 or something. Most 94 year olds are snoozing the day away. My mom goes up once a week for a day of errands. The other days she goes to see her brother who is in a nursing home. She walks down the street and catches the bus. I should live so long and so well. Tomorrow, we are taking her to the movies, which she adores doing. So my vacation is off to a swinging start. Ah time to relax.

Studying Pays Off.

Just got Jimmy's grades from the fall semester. YEAH!!! He got a 4.0. All A's. I am so proud of him. He worked really hard. I am so impressed because I don't think I could go back to school and do it all in a foreign language.

Not Sure of a Title

It has been a tough couple of weeks. So, I haven't been that up-to-date on the blog. There has been a lot going on at school. Then there is Christmas. It has been hard to go to parties and to write Christmas cards with the message - Still no baby from China. When people ask? Can't say. It will be worth the wait they say. I have been waiting 12 long years. First, what ever you do - don't have children you could risk an unborn child's life and your life. So getting over that grief took years. So then when we were ready to think about adoption. Guess what? You are in kidney failure. You need a kidney transplant. So I got my kidney transplant. They said you will be able to have children but wait a year. So I waited a year. Started trying - stopping having periods. Guess what you are in Menopause? OK, let's try the adoption thing. Let's go with China. They are reliable, predicable and list of great attributes went on and on. So we put our name in. Guess what China slowed down to a snail's pace. I may have to wait almost another year. All I want to do is cry and cry. I don't think I can take it much more. I am trying to be strong but I think this is even harder than the year I had kidney failure and it took every ounce of strength to put one foot in front of the other every day. There is my rant for the day. Sorry but had to get that off my chest. If I write any more I might offend some people.

Christmas Letters

During Christmas, I like to read books with a Christmas theme. This year one of the books I selected was called Christmas Letters. The premise of the book is a love story. The main character's job is as a writer. During Christmas she writes people's Christmas letters for them. I would love it if someone wrote my Christmas letter. I actually have only done one form style letter. Usually, I just write a brief review of the year in the card. I would love to return to the big long Christmas letter. The reason I don't is that I never know what to include. I just don't seem to have to the knack of making my vacation turn into something found on a brochure. I can't make my life's little moments sound like my crowning achievements. Some people can. I love reading them. It sounds really interesting, I can peek into their life. Somehow, my going to Trader Joe for groceries, growing my hair really long for Locks of Love, and my ability to do my own taxes doesn't seem to translate into good reads. Maybe next year.

Gift of the Magi?

The Gift of the Magi is one of my favorite stories. The husband and the wife want so much to give a gift to each other that has a lot of thought behind it. Unfortunately, money is tight so they have to think of a unique way to be able to give the gift of the other's dreams. The husband wants to give a comb for the wife's hair which is long and beautiful. The wife wants to give a watch fob for the husband's pocket watch. What do they do? The husband sells the pocket watch so he can buy the comb. The wife sells her hair in order to buy the watch fob. It is a great expression of love. Each sells their most prized possession in order to get the other something. Each makes a sacrifice. I wonder in today's world of credit cards whether people are making that sacrifice. Sure, I can get my husband a fabulous gift but if I can't pay for it in the end, did I make a sacrifice? No not really. What did I do? I put our families financial future in jeopardy. It makes me think of my parents also. I remember growing up money was tight. We weren't poor but we weren't rich. So, Christmas time, my parents didn't buy each other lavish gifts. It wasn't until I was in high school that my parents started to make good money and it wasn't until I was in college that their gift of the magi moment. Both, called me individually. They couldn't wait to share with me what they bought for the other. My mom called and said"Guess what I bought your dad for Christmas? I decided to go all out." I couldn't guess. "A watch," she said. She was so excited. Then my dad calls, "Guess what I got your mom for Christmas?" Let me guess, I thought...a watch. Instead I said " I don't know." "I got her a watch," he said. I couldn't wait for that Christmas morning to see their face when they realized that they had bought for each other the same thing. It still makes me chuckle, and think a little about the gift of the magi and giving a gift in love.

Black Friday

The Friday after Thanksgiving is perhaps the biggest shopping day of the year. Some people don't leave their house because the stores are crowded and the roads are jammed. I for one love the day. There is such excitement in the air. I get my first taste of the spirit of Christmas. Of course there are long lines, you say. You know it never bothered me. I am a daydreamer by nature. So, I can while away the time thinking about other thoughts. What cookies should Mom and I make this year? What am I going to buy my grandma? Always a dilemma because she doesn't want anything. The ideas I come up with, I feel like are the same ideas I have every year. Who wants to be predictable? I think about how am I going to get everything done. I always do, but waiting in lines is a chance to mentally organize myself. Unless the line is outrageous. One Black Friday, Jimmy, my grandma and I got up at some ungodly hour to go out shopping. We went to one of the local malls, then Best Buy and then another mall. So we make it to Best Buy. There were so many people I couldn't see straight. I think the line went around the store three times. It was incredible. We left and went out for breakfast. Lines, thousands of people and eating out for breakfast ~ it doesn't get any better :)

Dad

My dad sent me some pictures of the fishing trip with the guys down to the Outer Banks, NC. I liked this one the best. You can see how much fun he is having!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Thoughts

Thanksgiving is almost here. Thanksgiving is usually my first indicator of how fast the school year is going. If you say, "wow I can't believe Thanksgiving is already here", it is going really fast. If you say, "I thought Thanksgiving would never come", then the school year is going at a snail's pace. Let me tell you it is going at warp speed. In my estimation, it should only be about the middle of October but here is near the end of November.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. You spend time with your family, eat yourself silly, and lounge around watching football games and talking to the ones you love most in the world. What could be better ~ not much. This year, it is going to be My mom and dad, grandma, my cousin and her family, and Jimmy and me. Diane and Doc won't be with us this year. We will miss Diane and her lively conversation. We will see them next year.

Everyone has their favorite part of the meal. Some people would love to main line gravy if they could. Some enjoy the mashed potatoes. Others, it is the sweet potatoes. For still others, they love corn bread. Almost everyone loves the tryptophan filled turkey. I like all of those except for maybe the mashed potatoes. Sorry people I just don't like them. What I do like most of the Thanksgiving meal is the Stuffing. I fill about half my plate is filled with stuffing. Nothing better than my mom's stuffing.

So I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. Here are the recipes that I am going to make for Thanksgiving at my Mom and Dad's.

Whipped Sweet Potatoes and Bananas with Honey


You can roast the potatoes and bananas ahead of time, then put it all together just before serving. Then heat it up in the oven.
5 medium sweet potatoes, scrubbed 4 bananas, unpeeled 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature 1/4 cup honey Kosher salt 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 cup dark brown sugar 1 1/2 cups pecans, chopped
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Prick the sweet potatoes all over with a fork, put them in a roasting pan and roast for 30 minutes. Toss the bananas into the pan and continue roasting for 10 to 15 minutes, until both the bananas and potatoes are very soft. Remove the pan from the oven but don't turn the oven off.
When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, scoop out the flesh into a large mixing bowl. Peel the bananas and add them to the bowl along with 1 stick of the butter, and the honey. Season with salt and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until everything's well combined and the mixture is fluffy. Spoon into an oven-proof serving bowl and smooth the top.
In a separate mixing bowl, use your fingers to rub together the remaining stick of butter, the brown sugar, flour, and pecans until the mixture is the consistency of coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the crumb mixture over the sweet potatoes and return to the oven. Cook for about 20 minutes, until the crumbs are golden. Serve hot

Cranberry – Pistachio Muffins

1 corn muffin mix
1 large egg
1/3 cup milk
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup chopped unsalted pistachios
1 ½ tsp. grated orange zest
Garnish: dried cranberries and chopped pistachios

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Coat 6 star shaped disposable foil baking cups or 6 muffins cups with non-stick spray.
2. Prepare muffin mix with the egg and milk as the package directs. Stir in cranberries, pistachios and zest just until blended.
3. Evenly spoon batter into prepared cups. (If using foil baking cups, place on baking sheet.) Sprinkle cranberries and pistachios on top.
4. Bake 15 minutes or until golden and wood pick inserted in centers comes out clean.

Doughnut Cake?

As many of you know, I have a sweet tooth. When Birthday treats come around, I usually partake. In fact, Jill always tells the kids to save the piece with the most icing for me. So anyway, one day, a friend of mine was telling me about this bakery in Butler(Stanley's) that makes a doughnut cake. I was intrigued. So on Monday morning, Julie brought me a piece of the doughnut cake. It was a doughnut only 50 times larger. It was a glazed doughnut on steriods. Then decorated up like a cake. The best part was it was sinfully delicious! Yum-o!!!! Thanks Julie :)

Election Day

Don't forget to vote today!

Sad Halloween

Last Halloween, my next door neighbor was about to celebrate her first wedding anniversary and about to deliver her first baby. Through all the tricker-or-treaters, we talked about the baby and my adoption. We were excited about how much fun it will be this year to take Brady and Sofia around to the neighbors in their costumes. We even made a pact that the husbands would have to stay behind and hand out the candy while we went around together. What a difference a year makes. Sofia never came. Brady came and what a joy it has been to see him grow and change. Then in February, his dad (Corrine's husband) went in to the hospital. He had a tumor on his esophogas and spots on his liver. He went through chemo treatments. It looked like things were headed in the right direction. He was looking healthy. He had to go in for surgery. Once they opened him up, they sewed him back up and said the cancer is back. He would have to go through chemo again. They were hopeful until this Saturday. He was taken to the hospital. He might not live to next week. So this Halloween, Corrine did not get to take her son trick-or treating on his first Halloween. She is facing something no one should face at such a young age. Their life together was just beginning. Everytime I think of how tragic it is, it is all I can do, not to cry. He is only 35 years old. They have only been married for two years. His son is only one years old. He was one of the good ones. He was a gentle giant. He was tall and robust. He was friendly. Our kitchen windows face each other. During the winter, when I couldn't see Brady all the time, Chet would bring him to the window so I could see him. He always had a smile and a kind word. Life is so precious. It makes you stop think about how we should live in such a way that we don't take life's moments for granted. You never know when your life might be cut short. So don't forget to say "I love you" to your someone special and tell them that you are glad they are part of your memories.

Girls Weekend Pictures

Dana, Julie, Jessie, Jill, Me and Carol

Jessie playing the bird whistle

Feeding the Horses

Jessie feeding the horses

Girl's Weekend

Almost a week, has gone by and I haven't written about Girl's Weekend. I guess some weeks are like that. My friends and I went for a getaway weekend. We were able to use my parent's house in Slippery Rock because they were away visiting my brother in Seattle. We had a blast! On Saturday afternoon, we took a walk down to a neighbor's barn. At first Jessie (Jill's little girl) was a little scared of the horses but once she warmed up she loved it. We went into the barn. She was fascinated by all the cats that kept showing up. We headed back up to the house were we whiled away the hours talking. Then we decided it was time for karaoke. Although I can not sing well, I like to act like a goof and sing karaoke. It was so cute Jessie would sing into the microphone. In the evening we played games and talked some more. About 9 o'clock, we decided it was time to make our campfire in the firepit. Unfortunately when we went outside, it was raining. All we could think was no smores no mountain pies. How sad are we, after we spent the day gorging ourselves we still wanted to eat smores and mountain pies. So the day was saved when we just brought our outdoor activities inside. We made a cozy fire and soon the fire was blazing enough for smores and mountain pies. With our bellies full, we called it a night. The next day, we got up early so we could make it back to watch the Steelers beat the Bengals!!!

Family Photos

Nate with his Eiffel Tower made from Legos
Camille and Grammy with Halloween Gingerbread House

My Niece Camille with her Halloween Gingerbread House

Cookies

At Christmas, my mom and I spend a weekend baking Christmas cookies. It is about this time of year, we start thinking of which cookies are going to make the list to bake. Every year there are a few standards like sugar cookies, molasses and date and nut bread. Then the other cookies are ones we always choose different ones. Slowly through the years, ones have become standards. Three years ago, we made a black forest cookies that was out of this world good. It is now one we make every year. Last year we made a bar cookie with raspberry jam and dark chocolate chips that we really like. I think that one will be making it back on to the list. Then there are ones that don't make it back even though they were good. We made an apricot empanada. That was good but too much grief. We try to have a mixture of chocolate, nut, fruit that way they aren't all chocolately. Here are two cookies that are up for contention. They are the Boot Tracks Cookie and the One Nutty Date Cookie. Here are the recipes:

Boot Tracks

1/2 cup salted butter

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2 Large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup whole-wheat patry floor

6 tablespoons cocoa powder

2 tablespoons canola oil

1/2 teaspoon espresso powder(optional)

Confectioner's sugar for dusting

1. Prehieat a nonstick (not Belgian) waffle iron.

2. Cream butter sugar in a medium bowl. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add flour, cocoa powder, oil and espresso powder(if using). Beat until thoroughly combined.

3. Drop the batter by rounded teaspoonfuls about 1 inch apart onto the preheated ungreased waffle iron. (to avoid burnt fingers, use two spoons, one to scoop and one to scrape dough onto waffle iron.) Close and cook until cookies are puffed and cooked through, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Waffle irons vary so watch closely and don't let the cookies get too dark. Transfer to a wire rack to cool until just warm. Dust the cookies with confectioner's sugar while still warm.

Variations: Instead of confectioner's sugar, drizzle cooled cookies with melted bittersweet and/or white chocolate. Or make a peppermint drizzle. Mix 1 cup confectioner's sugar, 4 teaspoons water and 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract.

One Nutty Date

1 Cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup smooth natural peanut butter

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

8 ounces pitted dates, chopped

1/3 cup walnuts, chopped

Drizzle

8 ounces white chocolate chips

1 tablespoon canola oil

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Beat brown sugar, butter, peanut butter, and cinnamon in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until well mixed. Add egg and vanilla; continue beating until well mixed. Reduce speed to low. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; beat until well mixed, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary. Stir in dates and walnuts. Refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour before baking.

3. Using a small scoop (1 3/8 to 1 1/2 inch) and drop balls of dough 2 inches apart onto an ungreased baking sheet. (If you do not have a scoop, shape the dough by hand into 1 to 1 1/4 inch balls.) Gently press each ball to flatten slightly.

4. Bake the cookies until the edges are lightly browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the wire racke to cook completely.

5. To decorate: Place white chocolate and oil in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave on Medium, stirring every 30 seconds, until the chocolate is melted and smooth. To drizzle, dip the fork in the chocolate then wave it over the cookie to create a lacy finish. Let the chocolate set for at least 1 hour. Variation: Instead of drizzling, dip the top side of the cooled cookies in melted white or dark chocolate and spinkle with chopped walnuts.

Sounds delicious to me!

Gardening

Jimmy and I love to garden. In spring, we notice the first sprouting of our perennials. We find a lot of joy in seeing things that we have planted bloom and continue to bloom with care of the plants. I love to watch the parade of white butterflies the flutter about all summer long. Even weeding, let's me see up close the beauty of the garden. It is this time of year when plants are giving their last hurrah that I find so sad. Plants that I have nutured for months now are slowly dying. Yesterday, we did a final weeding and cutting back of plants. We put in our potted plants. So now the wait begins for my beautiful garden to return.

Menopause The Musical

My mom and I went to see Menopause the Musical on Saturday. It was a hilarious. We laughed the whole way through the show. The woman who wrote menopause the muscial took old songs and changed the lyrics. From the moment the four woman walked on stage to last song, the audience was laughing, cheering, and having a good time. As you would assume most of the audience was women. I think I only saw three men. I actually felt sorry for those three men. Maybe the wife wanted to let them know what menopause was like. Either that or the men were really angry at their wives that night;) Anyway, Menopause the Musical comes to a town near you I recommend it.

Magnets and Life

Some people like magnets on their refrigerators and other people don't. I am one of those people likes them. Mine refrigerator is full of them. I have some shaped like shoes, some like bottle caps, some that are Dilbert cartoons. I have the words you can make into sentences. I have some that even serve a purpose such as let me know the number to my favorite pizza place. My favorite one though is one I got in the mail. It has a cartoon boy that is pulling all these different faces under describes the feeling represented such as happy, smug, disgusted, ecstatic. Then there is a little magnet. It is shaped like a picture frame. It says I am. Then the fun part is you put it over the one you are feeling. For the longest time it has been over the one that says frightened ~ hey it amuses me. Well, one day standing at the frig. deciding what I wanted to eat. I stared at the magnet. I thought it is time I change it. I had a hard time. What was I feeling? Angry? Hopeful?Confused? Frustrated?Hysterical?Enraged?Sad?Anxious?Depressed? Happy? Gee I could honestly say yes to all of those. How can someone be angry, hopeful, anxious, sad and happy all at the same time? My emotions run all over the map waiting for the adoption. It is hard to put on the happy face when all you want to do is mope and complain. I could do that but what purpose would it serve? It won't bring her faster to me. Besides, she needs a mom that is strong not one that is going to cry at every turn because she can't cope with life's ups and downs. Anyway, my wise(don't tell her I said this it will go right to her head) mom always said the day is what you make it. If you think you are going to have a happy upbeat day, you will. If you think you will have a crappy day, you will. So go out there people and have an awesome incredible day!!!

Shopping

This weekend, Macy's had their Shopping for a Cause. For $5 dollars, you received a coupon for 20% and a $10 off coupon. My good friend Suzan works for a great organization that does a lot of good work for the needy of Pittsburgh. It is called East End Cooperative Ministry. Always one for shopping and helping those in need, I bought a couple. Needless to say, it was the beginning of a great shopping weekend for my husband and me. We decided to make a day of it. So off we set on a day of shopping and driving around in the country. We started out in Monroeville. It was a great place to start because Talbots outlet is there and they were having a $5 sale. They had racks and racks of clothes for $5. Needless to I went a little crazy. Hey for 5 dollars you can go a little crazy!!! So, three pairs of shoes, a couple of pants, jackets, and shirts later, I was a happy camper. My husband says I shouldn't tell people the great deal I got on clothes. I say it is in woman's dna. They have to let people know, "this original cost $198 and I GOT IT FOR $5, CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!!!!" So with our shopping and driving in the peaceful countryside, it was a great weekend. What could be better you ask? Ambridge Pizza you say ~ we picked up on the way home. Oh yeah it was a great weekend.

Jack, Kate and I at Autumn Leaf

Jack scaring Kate and I!

Kate and I wearing our princess crowns!

Jimmy's first steps in the world of teaching

For those that don't know, Jimmy is going back to school to become a teacher. Tomorrow, he is coming to my school to do some observing. It has been fun watcing him go back to school. This summer, he took his first class with one of my favorite professors, Dar Huey. With lots of questions and reassuring , he made it through ~ getting an A. He has three classes this semester. Gone is the hesitant student but one with confidence having made it through the first class. In one of his classes he has to go to school and make some observcations. So, tomorrow he dives head first into the world of kindergartners and funny things that they do. He gets to see the balancing act you have with the older students. You have to be relatively cool but also have authority when there is misbehavior. The fun of third graders before they become jaded fourth graders. I told a sixth grader yesterday that Jimmy was coming. He said "Cool he is fun." I maybe biased but I think so too.

Autumn is coming

Most people know fall is coming by the changing of the leaves, squirrels running around with cheeks stuffed with acorns, and people decorating their homes with pumpkins, mums, and corn stalks. At my house we have an entirely different gauge. Autumn is the beginning of the fight for the bed covers. The weather turns colder and it is everyone for themselves. I tug, then he tugs and so on. For most of our married life, I have been on the losing end of the battle ~ waking up in the middle of the night to find myself shivering without so much as a sheet to cover me. Unfortunately for him, last year he let me in on a little secret. He and his brother shared a bed growing up. Luis suffered much the same fate that I did. Now I do what Luis does, I put a death grip on the covers. I hold on and don't let go. Last year's battle went to me!

Autumn Leaf Festival

What a fun weekend! Craft fair, parade, funnel cake, carvival rides, and spending time with family~what could be better. JJ, Jack, Kate and I went up street on Friday. It was so hot but we had fun going to our favorite spots. Then coming home to grandma's for a great meal of chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, broccoli salad, and califlower with cream cheese. As Rachael Ray would say "YUM-O!" Of course my grandma said she just can't cook like she used to. If could cook like that I would think I was doing great! On Saturday when Jimmy and I came up, there were now 15 of us! Fourteen of us went up for the parade. Thanks to JJ who got up early we had fabulous seats. We even got to see the ZemZem's crash right in front of us. For those that don't know what Zem Zem's are. They are part of the Shriner's. They ride these little cars. Some are antique looking, some are sporty. Then they do all the intrique riding. It is everyone's favorite. After the parade we went back to my grandma's for yet another amazing meal. I had a great time with my cousins. I had so much fun playing with their little kids. So much fun that I need a vacation!

Nate's Birthday!!!

My nephew is 12 today!!! I still remember the day he was born. We were all so excited. It was my first nephew and my parent's first grandson. It was Columbus day and my mom had off that day. So when we got the call early in the morning, my mom got in her car and speed away to Harrisburg. Probably in record time. When she got home that night we made her go to the hour developing just so we could see him. I remember when he learned to say tia, when he gave his preformance when he was two, when I went down when Camille was being born and how he cried when I had to go back to Pittsburgh. So many memories...beach, mini-golf, riding a camel. It is hard to believe that he is all grown up. I still see the little boy...a little boy I love with all my heart.

The Weekend is coming a little early this week. Tommorrow I am taking the day off to go to Clarion. I can't wait spend time with my cousins, Aunt Mary,Uncle Dave, and my grandma. It is Clarion's annual Autumn Leaf Festival. I have been going since I was a child. It is so much fun. The last couple of years I have been going on Friday too. JJ, Aunt Mary and I spend the day uptown at the Craft Festival. It takes up about 8 blocks of main street. We have a blast talking, laughing and most of all eating. There are tons of vendors selling all kinds of delights. My cousin always goes for Vinnie's Pizza. I always mix it up. Some years it is wings other years it is stromboli. On Saturday is the parade. I never tire of the bands, all the little dance and roller skating teams and my personal favorite the Zem Zem's. I love the sites, sounds, the smells. All of it reminds me to take life a little less seriously and to just go out enjoy all that life has to offer. To remember to slow down and to be child like in my delight of life.

Waiting For Sofia

It has been many months (25 months) since my husband and I started this journey for our Sofia. We began our paperwork in August 2005 and once everything was completed it was February 2006 before all the paperwork got to China. In the meantime, we have waited and waited. It has been heartbreaking for me to wait. There are have many times I have been reduced to tears. Crying for this child, I have waited not only 25 months for but a lifetime. I don't like to talk about the heartbreak with people because I don't want to come off as ungrateful for the full life God has blessed me with. I have a husband that I love more than words can describe, a job that is enjoyable to go to everyday, a home, food on the table, and my health. What more could a girl ask for. Just a little girl to call my own. Our time will come I know. This blog will be a way for me to talk about my everyday life, my days when I think the wait will go on forever, and at last our journey to China for our Sofia.