Thankful Thursday

"Keep your eyes open to your mercies. The man who forgets to be thankful has fallen asleep in life. "

Robert Louis Stevenson

No pictures. Just a quick list. Not sure when I did one of these last. It has been a while, that's for sure.

I have been thinking about things I'm thankful for and here are some that I'd like to share today:

I am thankful for health insurance, easy access to doctors and medical care, and people who devote their life to medical care and research. I have been to the doctor three times in one week (twice was adoption related and once was not) and I can't imagine not having access to the care I need. I never want to take that for granted.

Some of you may know I currently have shingles. I am thankful I got to the doctor fairly early and didn't wait like I'm prone to doing (Mrs. It's Not a Tumor). They are very painful and uncomfortable but I am managing fine thanks to medicine, as referenced above. I always figured I would get them but thought it might be a little later in life. Hopefully, this will be the one and only time. Perhaps my body is trying to tell me I've been a bit too stressed????

I am thankful for Lindy's honesty. Lindy has her flaws--like we all do--but I have always been impressed with and appreciative of her truthfulness. Last night she was a constant flow of true, from-the-heart discussion about Kindergarten. She shared her anxieties and worries and I loved that she felt comfortable to share what was on her heart and mind. I pray we'll always be able to keep the lines of communication open--even when it comes to the tough stuff. I also pray I'll have the wisdom to parent her.

I am thankful for the little, teeny, tiny glimmer of hope I got yesterday from our adoption agency. Even if we found out today who mei mei is (which we aren't), we would still be several months away from bringing her home. However, yesterday made it seem not. quite. as. far. I've truly been without hope for a really LONG time. I definitely relate to the first half of this verse: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." Proverbs 13:12.

And on a little more of a shallow note, I'm thankful I FINALLY found an AFFORDABLE pair of RED mary janes for Lindy Li. I mean we're supposed to rejoice in ALL things, right? Well, I'm rejoicing over these shoes! She hasn't had a pair since she grew out of her little red squeaky shoes we bought in Guangzhou and I have been trying to find some ever since. I won a pair of See Kai Run shoes once as part of a giveaway and chose a pink pair instead of a red pair. I finally found this pair on Land's End for $14.99 and free shipping. They are leather and the perfect red! I will admit I ordered the next size up, too. I am a bargain shopper and do my best to stock up on things, too. They are kind of a casual mary jane but they'll still work for dress up, too.

What are you thankful for today?

Black and White Wednesday

Watermelon, everywhere,
On my face and on my hair.
On my fingers, on my toes,
Watermelon on my nose.

This may SEEM funny,
But it's best in my tummy!

This may LOOK funny,
But it's best, in my tummy!

~~Author unknown~~

Oh the bliss of REALLY, COMPLETELY, THOROUGHLY enjoying something from start to finish. How often we take the little pleasures in life for granted. Do you have something you thoroughly enjoy? I'd love to hear about it!

Now I need to get back to trying to catch up on Lindy's blog and her sister's, too.

Come visit if you have the time.

If you REALLY want to see some amazing black and whites, click on the link below.

Crazy Love

Last Saturday night my long-awaited Valentine's Day present from Don came to fruition. We got a babysitter, went to a nice dinner at Piatti, and headed to the AT&T Center to see Michael Buble' in concert. Five months is a LONG time for a girl to have to wait for a present but I've had more than one time in my life where I've had to wait, so I consider myself an old pro when it comes to the waiting game. Bitter, party of one, your table is ready.

Sorry. I digress. I had our babysitter take a couple pictures before we left the house because I'm trying to get better at remembering to have pictures of us taken together...

I changed them to black and white and if you saw the combo we had on in color, trust me, you'd thank me for it! Don used to sneakily color-coordinate his outfits with me before church or other occasions when we'd be seen together. He didn't do that on Saturday and we CUH-LASHED in a big way! My apologies to anyone who sustained a headache or psychadelic reaction from seeing my zebra print dress, red accessories and wedge sandals (I packed flip flops in my purse to walk back to the car in because I'm OLD and can't do heels), and Don's CONSTRUCTION zone orange shirt all together. Oh yeah, did I mention I forgot to change out of my lavender and white print handbag? Yikes, where's Stacy and Clinton when you need them? However, the name of Michael's tour is Crazy Love and boy did we fit that! Please don't get me wrong...I LOVE Don because he is not AFRAID to wear color.

We had a great dinner and on the way to the concert I started messing around with my little, lightweight, old point and shoot digi camera.




You can't tell we don't get out much can you? I'm pretty sure I saw some of my spinach salad on one of the pictures of me. Oops...Like I said, we're sooo crazy...

It was a great evening! The opening act was a group called Naturally 7 and let's just say they've mastered the art of beatboxing. I was going to call them an a cappella group but that really means without the sound of instruments and this group made ALL the instrument sounds WITH their voices, so I guess beatboxing is a closer description or perhaps a vocal band. It was super entertaining and they were very talented.

Then Mr. Buble' came on and he is wonderful live and in concert! I am not an avid concert-goer but I know that live and recorded don't always sound the same. However, he sounded incredible live. I was really surprised by how talkative and personable he was and how much he interacted with the audience. I am sorry I don't have any pictures to share of the adorable Canadian swooner live and in concert. I assumed cameras wouldn't be allowed, so I didn't bring mine. For the first time, I snapped a couple of pictures and video clips on my phone--a feature I didn't know I had--and now I don't know what to do to get it off of there...(Seriously, we don't spend a lot of money on technology and gadgets in our household!) Anyway, I'm pretty sure any picture I took on my camera looks like the psychadelic blur of our previously referenced outfits in color...But his website was so kind to let me download these.



I know I may be over emphasizing how dreamy he is but, honestly, I really was just glad to be on a nice, fun date with my hubby and am truly thankful for his thoughtful present to me AND the means to be able to have a night out on the town together.

Warning: Shameless self-promotion...I'm trying to catch up on Lindy's blog and will be blogging a thing or two on mei mei's soon. Check them out--if you want--for more news about what's going on with our family.

Pictures from Port A

We just got back yesterday evening from a brief stint at the beach with Don's youngest sister, Anne, and her family. Lindy was super thrilled to spend time with her Colorado girl cousins--Livi (5) and Sadie (3)--and we were thankful to have the chance to visit with Anne and Robbie.



It was great to get away from the to-do list and live without a set agenda for a few days. Well, I guess beach time, pool time, and putting away seafood technically are agenda items but you get my drift...

Didn't you get the memo, Don? NO to-do lists or agendas!

There! That's more like it. Some people PAY big money for a mud exfoliation treatment. It is much better FREE and at the hands of preschoolers.

I've been super frustrated with my photography skills (or lack, thereof) lately. I see more and more pictures I want to take and perfect backdrops but I'm not successful at seizing the moment or the driver seems less than thrilled to stop and let me out to explore. I also really, really, really wonder how one takes great beach shots without trashing one's equipment?! Perhaps I should have asked that BEFORE my trip and not after. Between the severe humidity, wind, sand, and splashes, I was a nervous wreck and probably took fewer shots at the beach than ever. I also couldn't see a thing through the viewfinder!

Anyway, for those of you who HAVE been successful at capturing beach shots, I'd love to know how you lovingly protect your equipment and get it to cooperate, as well as get so many wonderful shots despite the elements. (Mine fogs because of the humidity!) Is the key just to keep shooting and not spend so much time trying to search out the angle, settings, etc.??? I decided on day one, though, that I wasn't going to dwell on it and pout about it. Instead, I'm just choosing to be thankful for the memories I captured, not critique them too heavily, and keep trying to get better.

Uncle Robbie and the girls

A beautiful sunset!

A night at the WINDY ballfield! Life is sweet in the cheap seats.

Walk softly, but carry a big shovel!

It's a good look for her, don't you think?

Sadie might just be on a future cover of Sp*rt's Illustrated...

Anne, this TOTALLY counts as working out and lifting!

One word for all you future beach goers--REAPPLY!

No words...
...needed...
...about my loves...

Excited about a treasure--a dead crab.

I am kind of excited to have a TIMELY blog post, for once. Now back to my piles of laundry...Oy vay.

Hope you are having a fun and festive summer!

BTW, blogger, why are you italicizing this when I'm asking you not to?!

What makes you cry?

"A woman wears her tears like jewelry." ~Author Unknown

I am deviating from all the blog posts I have told myself I'll post and writing something completely random...

I have a confession. I am a cryer. There. I've said it. I am a genuine, true blue "bawl bag." For the most part, I don't think I'm weak, extremely fragile, overly sensitive, or totally irrational. I have my moments but I did include a caveat at the beginning of the last sentence! I'm just VERY affected and moved to the point of tears about LOTS of things. Just this week I have cried at a few things--including hearing my Chinese born daughter singing, "Red, White, & Blue" the song they sang in preschool about the flag and hearing her chant "I am Proud to be an American and live in the USA." I cried as I watched Charlotte's Web--not just because of the story but because of the beautiful, breathtaking scenery, and the one that surprised me the most was boo-hooing at an OnStar commercial. I've lost it at Hallmark commercials and phone commercials but I was genuinely stunned when I found myself crying as I listened to a commercial of a panic-stricken mother calling OnStar to let them know she had locked her keys in her car with her young child. Some people could be all judgmental and think she was an idiot but as a mom I know things can happen in a blink of an eye and my heart hurt for that mom, so I cried for her. Subsequently, Don and Lindy both looked at me like I was a lunatic.

So I got to thinking about some of the times I cry and thought I'd fly my flag and list a few:

• I cry EVERY time I watch Sleepless in Seattle.
• Along with that, I cry at Father of the Bride and Father of the Bride 2 and MANY other movies--still.
• I cry at Taylor Swift's song "Love Story." Ha! You thought it was going to be "Teardrops on my Guitar!"
  
• I cry when I read I Love You Like Crazy Cakes, Shaoey & Dot:Bug Meets Bundle, and Love You Forever. Show me that blue cover of Love You Forever at a baby shower and I'm already digging through my purse searching for a tissue.
  
• I often choke back mega tears during an airplane landing (somewhere else other than coming home). Not really sure why. I think it is either because I am about to see a loved one I haven't seen in a while or I am usually going somewhere with some beautiful scenery and I'm overcome by seeing God's handiwork such as the mountains, ocean, lush greenery, fall colors...
• I cry when I see a bride.
• I cry when I hear beautiful and powerful music.
  
• I cry when we sing "10, 000 Angels," "Precious Memories," and "Because He Lives" at church because they really stir my emotions. The first song paints such a vivid account in my mind of Jesus' death that I really feel like I am there witnessing the horrific event that has given me life.
  
• I cry when I see dead animals. I don't necessarily lose it when I see the mushed up armadillos or possums but a dead deer, dog, or cat makes me sad to the point of tears.
• I cry each time I see pictures/videos of adoptive parents meeting their child for the first time.
• I cry when I watch a live production of something. It isn't always because what I'm watching is sad, really powerful, or life-changing. I think I'm in a heightened emotional state of excitement and awe over the talent I'm witnessing and then I'm overcome. It happened during Mary Poppins last year and Disney on Ice this year. Tinker Bell, really??? Strange? Wait. Don't answer that.
  
• I cry when I see the flag, a military ceremony, and military homecomings.
• I cry at goodbyes.
  
• I cry when I see beautiful things and think about people who are beautiful to me.
  
• I cry when I think about my memories of tree-lined streets during autumn. The colors, smells, sounds are so vivid in my mind. I guess I always loved that scene because I even wrote a poem about that very thing when I was in 8th grade.
• I cry when I think about how kind and generous so many people have been in my life and the many times I've received true sacrificial love.
  
• I cry when I try to do something and fail. In school it was math. In adulthood it has usually been a craft or kitchen blunder. I have a yummy, to die for chocolate chip shortbread cookie recipe that my friend Megan gave me years ago. I still haven't mastered that recipe but one day Don won't find me in the corner of the kitchen curled up in a ball crying and all my friends will feast on proper butter-filled shortbread that isn't in shards.
  
• I cry when I think about the hardships people have had to endure and continue to endure and I cry more when I realize that I'm so blessed but don't do a banner job showing God and people around me that I'm thankful.
• I think, therefore I cry. If I let my mind wander too far about a lot of things, I cry.

There have been times I've been kind of ashamed at how easy it is for me to cry. Through the years, though, I've learned that is how God constructed me and I'm okay with it. It is kind of part of who I am. I try not to judge people who don't cry a lot and hope that those people don't judge me.

Now that my remaining 3.2 readers are scrambling to remove this blog from their blog list or unfriend me on Facebook, I'm kind of curious to hear what makes you cry...

Sealed with a salty kiss~
L.