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You're not going to believe it. I've switched again. I know, I know. I KNOW!!!

To follow my trip, cut and paste. You know you want to.

http://dandiesinthesunshine.blogspot.com/

Controversial?

Doubt it, but thought I would peek an interest due to my post title.

Last night I happened upon a site where someone left a comment about how our society is so focused on "I want it now" that it's basically no wonder we feel somewhat rushed in the adoption process. That the longer it takes, the more anxious we become.

To the folks that say that, I respond with a gallant "no shit." The longer it takes, the more anxious I become. And it's not because of the said societal focus. In fact, when I read this particular comment, I thought one might even begin to think that the person who becomes anxious about the time this process takes is being selfish. Or has strayed from their faith because they want their child NOW.

I don't know everyone's story. I know a few stories, and I know my own. And guess what. I've wanted to love and cherish a little one for a long time. A long time. And I'm tired of waiting. I want my baby NOW. Indeed, I have other interests. I have other things I dwell on. There's other things I want in our fairly materialistic society. When I'm hungry, I want pizza. And I typically want that NOW. WITH a Michelob Ultra on the side. And maybe a salad with real ranch dressing.

But wanting my child, and feeling anxious when more and more boulders fall in my path, well, that's a completely different kind of want. There's really no comparison.

So to those of you who think we should all sit back and relax knowing that things will happen as
they should, I invite you to walk in a couple different sets of shoes. As for my own: this nasty set of green crocs featured upon my red-painted toes have walked through the painful journey of infertility. They moved on to the hopeful journey of adoption. And now they are walking through the piles of uncertain articles and stories of countries essentially closing their doors on international adoption. These crocs are carrying someone who is praying to God on a nightly basis that Ethiopia remains an open and available country. That we make it there in time to pick up our little one. The little one who we know and believe "it" is all worth.

A few updates....

I'm feeling rather drab this evening, but it's been a while since my last post so I decided to jump on the old horse and give it a go.

I'm thrilled to see how many folks are going to the Union! I'm sorry to disappoint, but since Lori was able to use such well-versed gangsta language in her comment, I've decided to hang my thong bikini up. Sorry, folks, really am. I was so excited about the whole thing, but then Lori had to come around and use her strong language. For rizzle. Now I'm working on finding the body glove swimsuit. It will be so awesome.

Great news- I found out yesterday I passed that test I took a couple weeks back. Now I'm officially highly qualified when it comes to teaching the linguistically diverse student. I'm even going to get myself a certificate. Aren't you jealous?

On the adoption front- things are looking good in the paperwork department. Our dossier is basically complete; we're just waiting to hear from CIS. My understanding is that our home study is currently getting state certified (well, maybe not currently) and will then be sent off to CIS. We've been told that the process typically takes 6-8 weeks.

In regards to class completion (CORE stuff)- we were able to take the basic baby care class last week and have signed up for the 12-hour seminar in Denver for the weekend of May 9th. That's right, Denver folks. Be sure to raise your hands high up in the air and wave them around like you just don't care- because we're coming to your pad. Get ready, cuz this party's getting started. Attachment theory, here we come!

Officially official

As of 9p.m. last night, it became official. The plane tickets were purchased, the confirmation email sent this morning. Blog Union, here I come! Now if I can only find my thong bikini....

The webs we weave

The past couple of weeks in first grade have been spent reading the infamous book, Charlotte's Web. Now we're watching the movie that was produced in 1972 (to heck with the newest version, to heck!). Truly one of the saddest cartoons ever. In fact, if there was ever someone to blame for my becoming a vegetarian, it would be a man by the name of Walt Disney. My heart broke, absolutely broke, over stories such as Charlotte's Web, Bambi- even Cinderella (who would want to actually kill a mouse after having seen how much they helped a friend in need?).

You might think I'm kidding about this. But I assure you I am not.

Some might say that Charlotte's Web is a story about friendship, hope, compassion. But let's not forget. I tend to be half-empty when it comes to that glass sitting over there on the counter. How about all the bacon and ham talk? And even though Wilbur's story ends well, what happens to the pig named Uncle after he won his prize at the fair? Do you think he was treated like a well-loved companion? Doubt it. Chances are pretty high he ended up in one of those hot dogs you were all talking about a couple posts back.

This past summer I answered phones for a horseback riding crew. They also happened to own a pig. Her name was Rose (note the word was). My plan was to steer clear of dear little Rose the week I was answering phones- no need for me to get attached to her. The truth of the situation was that I really wanted to free her. She had once been a free pig, but was captured during a hunt somewhere in Texas in order to feed a gaggle of friends come that following autumn. I tried to stay away. Really. But she escaped from her pen that first day I was there. She actually escaped. I drove up to the house to answer phones, and there was Rose, digging in the garden. How's that for crapola? I had to put her back in her pen. And then I had to try to make sure the pen would keep her, ummm, safe and sound until her owners returned. Let's just say that damn pen didn't work out, and I had to run after that pig several times every day. There were times when I felt utter despair about the whole thing. She loved running after me, rubbing her little snout against my leg. We became fairly good buds- heck, if you would have paid a visit there one of those days, you might have seen a girl and her pig friend running down a hill together. Free as the wind. Delight.

I tried to save her in the end by posting pictures of Rose and I around the owner's house- "see how great your pig is? Just like a pet! Surely you don't want to eat her!" But alas, my planning didn't work out and she ended up being a meal for a large group. Poor Rose. Poor, poor Rose.

So here I am. Reminiscing about a pig all because of two folks who went by the names of E.B. White and Walt Disney. So here's to you, dear Rose. May you be roaming in one heck of a fantastic manure pile with plenty of barnyard friends. With lots of green hills. And no talk of bacon or ham.

Katie Rose

I was fortunate enough to spend a good 8 hours with one of my favorite gal pals 15-month old daughter. This was the first time I have been in charge of a little one outside of the school setting since I was what, fourteen years old or so. I'm humbled enough (she's gone home now) to say that once she was dropped off at my house, I immediately went back to that feeling I experienced my first day as a kindergarten teacher. "Oh shit. I don't know how to do this. HOW CAN I BE TRUSTED WITH CHILDREN???!!"

The good news is that after staring at each other for about a minute, she smiled. And then I remembered how to move again. And move I did. We walked all over town today- I LOVE those packs one can sling a child into. Just like the backpack you lug around on hut trips. Only this one had a toddler in it- so there was a lot more motion and sounds than when one is just carrying a mere backpack. We went to the park. We went to the video store. We went grocery shopping. I swear I haven't exercised this much since the months prior to my wedding day. Wow.

Katie Rose is an amazing little las- kisses, musical voice, rosy cheeks, contagious smile. Pretty much perfect. And she was wearing this amazing little summer dress with a button-down sweater- and jeans underneath it all. I could dress her up all day long. That's right, Katie Rose, the camera LOVES you. And... POSE!

Hot dogs

My entire class (19 first graders) just so happens to be English language learners. Typically folks want to know right away if this means I know how to speak Spanish... sadly, I do not. I've certainly picked up some of the Spanish-language skills, more this year than my other years of teaching. I try speaking the language at least a little bit every day, but for the most part I am much better at understanding what is being said rather than conversing myself. It's embarrassing and not something I'm proud of- but it currently is what it is.

So today I was sitting with a small group of students who were working on their coin books. Out of the blue I was asked about what I eat and what I don't eat since I'm a vegetarian. Seeing this as an opportunity to brush up on my meat product "foreign language" skills, I forged ahead.

Me: "Uhhh. No carne. No pollo. No hamburgesa. Nooooo, hey, how do you say 'hot dog' in Spanish?"

Students: (scratching their heads- always adds a nice, solid dramatic flair) "Hmmmm. I don't know? Maybe 'hot dog,' like in English?"

Students: "Yeah, yeah... 'hot dog' like in English!"

One student: "Noooo. Maybe it's caliente perro!"

Me: "Caliente perro?"

Students and me: "Ha-ha-ha-ha, ahhh, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Caliente perro! HOT DOG!!!"

Phew! Good times in the first grade classroom!

So I get home a few hours later and I'm all, "Hey Jason, the kids and I decided just today that the Spanish word for hot dogs has to be 'caliente perro.' Boy were the kids and I cracking up about that one!" And you want to know what his response was? He gave a big roll of the eyes and called us bilingual dorks. Oh yeah? He's the dork. How can you NOT laugh at that joke? I mean, come on??? Right? Come on???