I was on scrapping hiatus for a while because of the giant adoption application. However, now that it is turned in I have started scrapping again. I did some stuff this weekend, that I will post soon.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Scrapbook page
I was on scrapping hiatus for a while because of the giant adoption application. However, now that it is turned in I have started scrapping again. I did some stuff this weekend, that I will post soon.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
I'm Back!
So it has been al ong time since I blogged, kinda been out of the loop on it. So I will fill ya'll in about the adoption:
Sam and I went to the orientation and it was awesome. There were 5 couples there and two of them had adopted before and were coming back for thier second child. Thier expereinces were invaluable, since they had gone through it. One couple had also adopted from Lutheran and another from Catholic Charities and was now going with Lutheran (we never found out why they switched by the way) They gave us a ginormous binder filled with things to read which we went over in the orientation. We also watch a film about multi- cultural families. We played a game that helped us become aware of our surroundings and how diverse it was or was not. It was intersting. It surprised me because Sam and my world was not as diverse as I thought. They had just hired a new social worker, so this was her first time doing this orientation and it went well, I thought. We all got to ask a lot of questions, which was good. I was surprised the group was small, but then Sam and I figured out by the direction of the orientation that this must be the group that said yes to a child from a different race/ethnicity. Along with this big binder, came a big fat application. It took forever to fill out. In fact it comsumed my life, hence why there was no blogging. They ask many personal deep questions (including our sex life....woah, woah!) We even had to do a floor plan drawing of our house. Dad helped with this, since I have no skills in that area. I took off a week and so did mom and dad just so we could clean the house and stage photographs of all the living spaces, kitchen and bedrooms in our house. It was intense, but we got through it. The application is now in. We have been fingerprinted which is being sent to Protective Services and the FBI and then back again. We are waiting on one more of our friends to come through with their reference and then things should be good...hopefully. They sent us the financial agreement which read like a contractual binding agreement. According to my lawyer sister it is; do not let semantics fool you. I have asked the social worker to clarify many points on the contract and she has been great on answering. My sister thinks that getting all this in a rider would be a good idea. I will ask and see what they say. Oh, I forgot the staff switched mid-stream during all this. Ahh! The gal we met with when we were first thinking about Lutheran went on maternity leave and the social worker at the orientation left for another job. The new social worker has been here for about two weeks, but is already on top of things, which is a good sign. So in the meantime, I need to be working on my "dear birthmother" letter and scrapbook....This is what the birthmom will see. No pressure. Only the most important letter and scrapbook of my LIFE!
Sam and I went to the orientation and it was awesome. There were 5 couples there and two of them had adopted before and were coming back for thier second child. Thier expereinces were invaluable, since they had gone through it. One couple had also adopted from Lutheran and another from Catholic Charities and was now going with Lutheran (we never found out why they switched by the way) They gave us a ginormous binder filled with things to read which we went over in the orientation. We also watch a film about multi- cultural families. We played a game that helped us become aware of our surroundings and how diverse it was or was not. It was intersting. It surprised me because Sam and my world was not as diverse as I thought. They had just hired a new social worker, so this was her first time doing this orientation and it went well, I thought. We all got to ask a lot of questions, which was good. I was surprised the group was small, but then Sam and I figured out by the direction of the orientation that this must be the group that said yes to a child from a different race/ethnicity. Along with this big binder, came a big fat application. It took forever to fill out. In fact it comsumed my life, hence why there was no blogging. They ask many personal deep questions (including our sex life....woah, woah!) We even had to do a floor plan drawing of our house. Dad helped with this, since I have no skills in that area. I took off a week and so did mom and dad just so we could clean the house and stage photographs of all the living spaces, kitchen and bedrooms in our house. It was intense, but we got through it. The application is now in. We have been fingerprinted which is being sent to Protective Services and the FBI and then back again. We are waiting on one more of our friends to come through with their reference and then things should be good...hopefully. They sent us the financial agreement which read like a contractual binding agreement. According to my lawyer sister it is; do not let semantics fool you. I have asked the social worker to clarify many points on the contract and she has been great on answering. My sister thinks that getting all this in a rider would be a good idea. I will ask and see what they say. Oh, I forgot the staff switched mid-stream during all this. Ahh! The gal we met with when we were first thinking about Lutheran went on maternity leave and the social worker at the orientation left for another job. The new social worker has been here for about two weeks, but is already on top of things, which is a good sign. So in the meantime, I need to be working on my "dear birthmother" letter and scrapbook....This is what the birthmom will see. No pressure. Only the most important letter and scrapbook of my LIFE!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
NEWS!
Some of may have already seen this on Facebook or Twitter, but just a quick note. The adoption agency called and we are part of the intake of adoption families they are doing for this year! Our orientation is Saturday. Woot! I 'll keep ya posted.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Explore
So I am taking Shimelle's Explore class. This class is a little more free and introspective. It is a class concerning the ideas of exploring and adventuring. I am enjoying it. This a bit from our first week:
Then we were asked to make a playbook, that would become part journal, part collage book to store our ideas about us and our crafting philosophies.
Then we started talking about the idea of maps and the various journeys we are going on in our lives. This led to using maps on scrapbook pages and writing about more than the obvious on our pages.
One idea was to make circle embellishments using the maps. These are the ones I made above.
Then we were asked to explore the idea of perfection and get a picture that represents it. I choose this one above. It's kids responding to bubbles being suddenly blown into the air at a birthday party. When the bubbles arrived there was a collective gasp and just...well pure joy at the curiosity of it all. To me this was a perfect moment.
We were asked to do a self portrait
The we were to write our greatest adventure on a post card and mail it to ourselves. I chose one of the Griffin and Sabine postcards. If you have not read this series of books, please do so they are beautiful. I wrote about studying abroad in college and how that effected my life and outlook.
All of these assignments culminated into a project or scrapbook page. Here is mine. The picture is of my sister exploring the river in Concan, TX
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Notes for Today
1) I got an email from the adoption agency and they said that they would let us know this week if we are part of this year's intake of adoption families. I am excited and hopeful. We have been waiting a long time, folks~
2) Funny bumper stickers on a car at Infusion Center:
"Drop tuition, Not bombs"
"Love = <3+<3"
"No, I am pretty sure guns kill people" (This is in response to the many bumper stickers around Texas that say, " Guns don't kill people, people kill people" )
3) Taking Shimelle's class called Explore. So far it seems very free love and introspective, which is kinda what I need right now. Yea.
4) People, it is raining! We have been in a serious drought for some time now. The upper part of the state was on fire it was soooo dry. Down here in the south of Texas its just hot. Like 100+F kinda hot! The rain did cool us off a bit. I love it and I had almost forgotten what rain smelled like.
2) Funny bumper stickers on a car at Infusion Center:
"Drop tuition, Not bombs"
"Love = <3+<3"
"No, I am pretty sure guns kill people" (This is in response to the many bumper stickers around Texas that say, " Guns don't kill people, people kill people" )
3) Taking Shimelle's class called Explore. So far it seems very free love and introspective, which is kinda what I need right now. Yea.
4) People, it is raining! We have been in a serious drought for some time now. The upper part of the state was on fire it was soooo dry. Down here in the south of Texas its just hot. Like 100+F kinda hot! The rain did cool us off a bit. I love it and I had almost forgotten what rain smelled like.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
More 12X12
Shimelle is doing a class all year over at 2 peas called 4X6 Photo Love. I just now started doing it with June being my first entry. I have now been going backwards to complete the assignments just for fun. Below is one I completed based on the May layout.
The layout below is from a beach trip some friends and I went on several years ago. One of our friends brought her daughter. It was the first time she had been to the beach.
The layout below is from a beach trip some friends and I went on several years ago. One of our friends brought her daughter. It was the first time she had been to the beach.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Scrapbook Sketch
Over at Shimelle's blog she does a weekly scrapbook sketch. It is a no stress and just for fun type thing. This week I gave it a try. I shrunk it down to a 8X8 vs. 12X12 layout. The reason is because my pictures were a small photo booth-esque strip. I actually printed the strip from a program from Shutterfly called Wink. I think they stopped it as of June 30th, so tears for that. In my previous post, I used my ASB trip for my 10 Things on the 10th post. That reminded me that I had a photostrip somewhere of the ASB pictures. I did indeed find them and that was the focus of my layout. Does anyone know of a new service that will print photos to look like photostrips from photo booths?
Sunday, July 10, 2011
10 ASB pictures
It's the 10th and I am following along with Shimelle and crew. 10 things on the 10th. The pictures below are from an Alternative Spring Break trip I took with some university students. ASB trips are where students give up their break to have transformative experiences through volunteering. Lives are changed forever. At the very least they help and change a community through volunteering and relationship building. This was a while ago, but it is a trip I reflect on a lot. We went to Mexico and worked in orphanages. Head on over to Shimelle's blog to link up if you would like to share your 10 Things or to see others 10 Things!
We made jewelry
Singing and dancing
Jewelry making
There were sweet babies! Here I am holding one.
Hanging out and posing for the camera
The group including the nuns that ran the place and the kids that were around that day
Hanging out in the stairwell
Someone said, "Let's make fish faces!" so we did.
We made art
Blowing bubbles
Tuesday, July 05, 2011
YEA! Layouts
OK, I finally got around to doing and photographing some layouts. I am still trying to figure out the best way to photograph a layout. I always seem to get reflected light in my pictures and have to take many shots, until I get one without reflected light. Also, my layouts seem far away. This may be because I am use to zooming in when I take photographs. You can't exactly do that and get the whole layout in the picture. I may have to re-visit Shimelle's class. I believe one of the lessons was on this very thing. Any advice blog readers?
I was experimenting with some washi-esque tape here. I found it in the dollar bin at Michaels.
This one I actually did some journaling. Woah, woah. This was my first Alternative Spring Break trip I took with university students as the acting advisor. ASB trips are when you use your school break to volunteer. Here we are in New Orleans.
This is the first 12 X 12 layout I have done in a long time, much less a double pager! I was following Shimelle's 4 X 6 Love class on Two Peas. I was going off her sketch/layout. I tend to freak out with all the space a 12 X 12 has in front of me. Hence, my favorite layout size is 8 X 8. However, I did enjoy making this 12 X 12 layout a lot. Maybe sketches can help with the fear of negative space issues (:
Journaling on above layout: On the journaling block: "UT forgot to order robes for their first graduating class of law students. The students at the time decided to wear white and sunflowers." On the brown strips below: "Tradition continues to this day" On the brown strips above the Four Seasons picture: "brunch before graduation" On the brown strips by the wilting flower picture: "someone froze all the sunflowers and they wilted!"
This is the first 12 X 12 layout I have done in a long time, much less a double pager! I was following Shimelle's 4 X 6 Love class on Two Peas. I was going off her sketch/layout. I tend to freak out with all the space a 12 X 12 has in front of me. Hence, my favorite layout size is 8 X 8. However, I did enjoy making this 12 X 12 layout a lot. Maybe sketches can help with the fear of negative space issues (:
Journaling on above layout: On the journaling block: "UT forgot to order robes for their first graduating class of law students. The students at the time decided to wear white and sunflowers." On the brown strips below: "Tradition continues to this day" On the brown strips above the Four Seasons picture: "brunch before graduation" On the brown strips by the wilting flower picture: "someone froze all the sunflowers and they wilted!"
Monday, June 27, 2011
I have been....
I like the update post on this blog, so I thought I would give it a whirl.
I have been....
I have been....
- attending a funeral
- contemplating a patio make over
- worrying about cleaning for the homestudy
- anticipating that adoption intake call
- watching True Blood
- organizing my scrap stuff
- hanging with my sister
- thinking about possible vacations
- celebrating my grandma's 85th birthday
- attending card camp
- scrapping with friends
- learning to give myself shots (for osteoporosis)
- eating from taco trucks
- working summer orientation at UTSA
Friday, June 10, 2011
10 Things (I love about summer)
Over at Shimelle's blog is a new project called 10 Things. The idea is on the 10 of the month you blog about 10 things. You can do anything. You can do pictures or words or whatever inspires you. Today I am going to blog about summer, my favorite season!
1) Sunshine. I am fair skinned, but love the warmth of the sun. Sunscreen is a must accessory.
2) Swimming. I love being in the water and I love to swim. (I use to be on a swim team)
3) Bar-B-Ques. Love the smell of mesquite bar-b-que and the fun and friends that come with it.
4) Vacations. Our anniversary is in the summer, so we always take a trip in August. Also, as a kid we always took our family vacations in the summer.
5) Sundresses. I love it when all the new sundress styles come out. I love the loose free kinda dresses.
6) Walking barefoot just because you can. (In TX, you may want to be careful because sometimes it is too hot and you will burn your feet.)
7) Ice Cream. Really you can eat this anytime, but in summer it is much more refreshing.
8) Outdoor Festivals/Concerts. Yes, it is hot. However, the food, the fun and the music are worth it. Just bring sunscreen and a large hat!
9) Schliterbahn. This is a ginormous water park in New Braunfels that I love!
10) Tubing/Camping. Again camping can be hot, but that is why you spend your day sitting in a inner- tube floating down the river. Floating Ice chest is optional. Usually, in my world, tubing and camping go hand in hand. Although, they can be done separately.
Do you have a favorite part of summer? If so, please share!
1) Sunshine. I am fair skinned, but love the warmth of the sun. Sunscreen is a must accessory.
2) Swimming. I love being in the water and I love to swim. (I use to be on a swim team)
3) Bar-B-Ques. Love the smell of mesquite bar-b-que and the fun and friends that come with it.
4) Vacations. Our anniversary is in the summer, so we always take a trip in August. Also, as a kid we always took our family vacations in the summer.
5) Sundresses. I love it when all the new sundress styles come out. I love the loose free kinda dresses.
6) Walking barefoot just because you can. (In TX, you may want to be careful because sometimes it is too hot and you will burn your feet.)
7) Ice Cream. Really you can eat this anytime, but in summer it is much more refreshing.
8) Outdoor Festivals/Concerts. Yes, it is hot. However, the food, the fun and the music are worth it. Just bring sunscreen and a large hat!
9) Schliterbahn. This is a ginormous water park in New Braunfels that I love!
10) Tubing/Camping. Again camping can be hot, but that is why you spend your day sitting in a inner- tube floating down the river. Floating Ice chest is optional. Usually, in my world, tubing and camping go hand in hand. Although, they can be done separately.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Gone Country
I took about a week or so off because my brother was in town and I love hanging out with my sibs. Steve came to town because our cousin Neal was getting married. Neal is Texas born and raised and loves everything country, so naturally his wedding reflected this. I loved all the details in their wedding. My favorite was the decoupaged boots. Here are some pictures. Enjoy!
The happy couple at the reception
The girls all wore boots with their dresses
The centerpieces! Love <3
The men wore boots, jeans and the vests matched the girl's dresses
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Color Combo Blog Hop
Today we are doing a color blog hop with Amy, whom I met through Shimelle's Beyond Blogging for Scrapbookers class. The theme is color. I enjoyed his blog hop because it really made me look at color in my everyday life and I was suddenly looking everywhere for our combo of colors. The rules were that you could do anything that represented the color combo (scrapbook page, card, photo, etc.) Here is our color combo:
Here is my photo to represent our color combo:
Here is my photo to represent our color combo:
If you arrived from Ade's blog you are in the right place! If you are here and didn’t come from the Ade's blog, I am listing the blog hoppers below, so you can go start back at the beginning. Now let's head on over to Sara's blog and see what she has for us! Thanks for joining us.
http://airbs.blogspot.com/ You are here!
!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Pinata Fiesta
Last Saturday was my brother-in -law's birthday party. (Happy 32!) We had two pinatas to celebrate. The first one was for the kids and was full of candy. The second one was for the adults and full of tiny alcohol bottles. It was awesomely creative. It was a nice night to be outside enjoy bar-b-que and laugh with friends/family. I see a layout in the future with some of the new American Crafts Zing! It definitely needs to be a bright and happy layout (:
My nephews celebrates that he knocked the head off the kid's pinata
My brother-in-law taking a swing at the adult pinata
In the end we put the head on the mail box, just because we could.
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Family Blog Hop
This is a rare photo of us and the dogs. Our dogs hate cameras and don't want to be anywhere near them. Although this is not the best photo, I love it alone for Wally's expression. (Wally is the small dog.) I feel as if Wally is looking at his big brother incredulously and thinking, " I can't believe you are actually posing" (:
Now hop on over to Patricia's blog and see a picture of her family.
Our blog hoppers: (in case you get lost)
Margie: http://xnomads.typepad.com/blog
Melissa: http://www.melissagross.blogspot.com/
Carol Ann: http://www.scrappingthoughts.com/
Ruth: http://www.chattycraftyartypig.blogspot.com/
Jo: http://www.mrsbeee.blogspot.com/
Sharis: http://www.airbs.blogspot.com/ (you are here)
Patricia: http://patoliveira.wordpress.com/2011/05/05/lets-start/ (go here next)
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
Blog Hop
I will be particIpating in my first ever blog hop at 9am CST on May 5th. The theme is that you post a recent photo of your family. It can be whatever you define as family.
This blog hop is in support of a grander project that one of my fellow classmates in the Beyond Blogging for Scrapbookers class is working on. Margie is doing a photo a month for a year of her family. I think it would be interesting to see people change over time. A lot can happen in a year!
Anyway, I hope that you stop by my blog on Thursday May 5th to see photos of our families and to give inspiration/support to Margie to keep going on her mission of family x 12!
This blog hop is in support of a grander project that one of my fellow classmates in the Beyond Blogging for Scrapbookers class is working on. Margie is doing a photo a month for a year of her family. I think it would be interesting to see people change over time. A lot can happen in a year!
Anyway, I hope that you stop by my blog on Thursday May 5th to see photos of our families and to give inspiration/support to Margie to keep going on her mission of family x 12!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
The Royal Wedding
I've been obsessed with the Royals for sometime, so obviously I was super excited about the royal wedding. Our family went to the Lion and the Rose to watch the wedding festivities. They were having wedding coverage all day. The food is good and pretty authentic. We arrived complete with hats and were sitting right by a giant screen. Our timing however was a little off, because the Spurs were also playing and this was the game that determined their future, so half way through the wedding coverage we got cut off with the Spurs game. Spurs mania was rampt in the pub, so there was no chance that they were switching back to the wedding coverage. We finished up our dinner and decided to go home to watch the rest of the coverage on BBC America. I was a little sad that the wedding pub party was not exactly as advertised and I probably built it up in my head (where were the prizes?!) In the end though it was fun to hang out with the family.
The ladies with their hats (Mom's hat is the hat she wore to my wedding in Scotland)
This is a great picture of Dad. Love his hat!
The ladies with their hats (Mom's hat is the hat she wore to my wedding in Scotland)
This is a great picture of Dad. Love his hat!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
layout
I am taking two online classes at once. Which in retrospect was a little much for someone who has not taken many online classes before. Anyway, I am learning and being inspired lots, so it's a good thing. Below is one of the layouts I did for Kelly Purkey's Sketchbook 3 class.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Blog goals
So I am taking an online course called Beyond Blogging for Scrapbookers:
http://www.shimelle.com/classes/1001/online-scrapbooking-class-beyond-blogging-for-scrapbookers/
One of their prompts was to write goals for your blog. Here are mine:
Get connected to crafty folks
Get my name out there
Work on my header
Create my own blog designs vs. using other's designs.
Create sidebars/corners of stuff in neat little boxes
Better ways to archive
More concentrated journaling with themes.
...Basically, kick my blog up a notch!
Shimelle (our instructor) suggested these:
Do you want to blog more often?
Write posts that feel more special or important?
Increase the number of readers?
Have more conversation in the comment section?
Get your family to read and interact via your blog?
Start to make money with your blog?
Use your blog to help get on a design team or other scrapbooky thing?
Use your blog to help organise the stories you want to scrapbook?
I think those are awesome, too.
http://www.shimelle.com/classes/1001/online-scrapbooking-class-beyond-blogging-for-scrapbookers/
One of their prompts was to write goals for your blog. Here are mine:
Get connected to crafty folks
Get my name out there
Work on my header
Create my own blog designs vs. using other's designs.
Create sidebars/corners of stuff in neat little boxes
Better ways to archive
More concentrated journaling with themes.
...Basically, kick my blog up a notch!
Shimelle (our instructor) suggested these:
Do you want to blog more often?
Write posts that feel more special or important?
Increase the number of readers?
Have more conversation in the comment section?
Get your family to read and interact via your blog?
Start to make money with your blog?
Use your blog to help get on a design team or other scrapbooky thing?
Use your blog to help organise the stories you want to scrapbook?
I think those are awesome, too.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Scrap Poll
Good morning all!
In reference to the organizing scrapbook supplies on my part, I wanted to do a survey specfically about organizing paper. (Yes my favorite thing ever is pretty papers and I have a lot) Anyway, I want to see what my readers thoughts were on paper organization. Please take the time to fill out the poll below:
In reference to the organizing scrapbook supplies on my part, I wanted to do a survey specfically about organizing paper. (Yes my favorite thing ever is pretty papers and I have a lot) Anyway, I want to see what my readers thoughts were on paper organization. Please take the time to fill out the poll below:
Monday, April 18, 2011
Ideas
Hello Readers!
So as you have seen in the previous post I am in the process of clearing out my scrapbook room in favor of the nursery (getting ready for the home study). I still really want a scrap space of my own, but I am struggling on what that new place will be and what it would look like. I want a space that can be organized and tucked away, especially since there will be a kid in our future. I am toying with the idea of having supplies in more than one room, but I don't want things in every nook and cranny of the house. I am looking for ideas, so I turn to you dear readers. I am wondering what your creative spaces look like? Is there a defining piece that brought your nook together? Where do you scrap/create in your house? Where do you store your stuff? Please leave any ideas in the comments section of this post. Thanks in advance for your help!
Cheers!
So as you have seen in the previous post I am in the process of clearing out my scrapbook room in favor of the nursery (getting ready for the home study). I still really want a scrap space of my own, but I am struggling on what that new place will be and what it would look like. I want a space that can be organized and tucked away, especially since there will be a kid in our future. I am toying with the idea of having supplies in more than one room, but I don't want things in every nook and cranny of the house. I am looking for ideas, so I turn to you dear readers. I am wondering what your creative spaces look like? Is there a defining piece that brought your nook together? Where do you scrap/create in your house? Where do you store your stuff? Please leave any ideas in the comments section of this post. Thanks in advance for your help!
Cheers!
Saturday, April 09, 2011
changes
So I am currently clearing out my scrap room to make it into a nursery. I am a hoarder of things, so at times it is overwhelming. I am also not known for organizing. I really just don't have the knack. I always exist in a form of messy chaos that makes sense to me and no one else. I can find things, but others would be confused at my labeling system, since there is no logic to it.
Anyway, I started putting things in baskets, but I kinda have a lot and no scrap room, so I may have to let go of some things. Tear! Things that I am not ready to let go of I have been putting in big bins and shoving into the garage, until I can figure out what to do with it. I may be able to find other spots in my house for things. I thought about my bedroom closet or the laundry room. Of course there is tons of junk in both places already. It really comes down to Sam and I have a ridiculous amount of stuff. We are both hoarders. I am also not a fast cleaner. I always find something that triggers a memory and then I sit and think about it and usually decide to save it in a random drawer I 'll forget about later. Yea, you can imagine packing and moving go awesomely with us.
All those organizing shows say you should set timers, so it does not feel overwhelming when doing the cleaning. They also say you should lay out different sections to categorize your stuff. On TV the sections usually are categories like: sell, giveaway, and keep. I may try some of these techniques and see how it goes.
What I decide to give away I am going to give to the YWCA. Mom said they are going to do a scrapbooking class with the teens. They did it once a while back and they loved it. Even guys came. So at least I know folks will appreciate my stuff.
Wish me luck!
Anyway, I started putting things in baskets, but I kinda have a lot and no scrap room, so I may have to let go of some things. Tear! Things that I am not ready to let go of I have been putting in big bins and shoving into the garage, until I can figure out what to do with it. I may be able to find other spots in my house for things. I thought about my bedroom closet or the laundry room. Of course there is tons of junk in both places already. It really comes down to Sam and I have a ridiculous amount of stuff. We are both hoarders. I am also not a fast cleaner. I always find something that triggers a memory and then I sit and think about it and usually decide to save it in a random drawer I 'll forget about later. Yea, you can imagine packing and moving go awesomely with us.
All those organizing shows say you should set timers, so it does not feel overwhelming when doing the cleaning. They also say you should lay out different sections to categorize your stuff. On TV the sections usually are categories like: sell, giveaway, and keep. I may try some of these techniques and see how it goes.
What I decide to give away I am going to give to the YWCA. Mom said they are going to do a scrapbooking class with the teens. They did it once a while back and they loved it. Even guys came. So at least I know folks will appreciate my stuff.
Wish me luck!
Friday, April 01, 2011
Lutherans!
Ok, so we set up a meeting with the Lutherans and they look awesome! They answered all our questions and we met for about an hour. There were a few questions the gal we met with did not know,so she said she would get back to us on. She was getting ready to go into a meeting after us and some answers would be revealed there. One had something to do with cost. Ekkk. She said it was more about when to pay versus rising costs. They are quite a bit cheaper. The Methodisst were great,too. However, you can't argue with cheaper.
Thier next intake is in June/ July. They do them once a year unless there is a need to do more. They have a day long orientation session that explains all the processes in adoption and also general new parent stuff. The home study expeirence they do all in one super long day. The homestudy could be resolved in a month.
I could see us having a baby by the Fall. The reason I say this is we are more flexible on race and general issues than most. We are at least willing to weigh and look at most situttions, where others are not. They give us a profile of the birth family up front and then ask if we want to meet..that is part of the discuss part. The gal we met with said we can have plenty of time to do this. Even if a baby was born and there had to be a discussion we could still do it and the baby would just go into craddle care. Essentially a very temp. home/foster sitution. She said it is basically retired ladies rocking babies. Cute!
I am hopeful!
Thier next intake is in June/ July. They do them once a year unless there is a need to do more. They have a day long orientation session that explains all the processes in adoption and also general new parent stuff. The home study expeirence they do all in one super long day. The homestudy could be resolved in a month.
I could see us having a baby by the Fall. The reason I say this is we are more flexible on race and general issues than most. We are at least willing to weigh and look at most situttions, where others are not. They give us a profile of the birth family up front and then ask if we want to meet..that is part of the discuss part. The gal we met with said we can have plenty of time to do this. Even if a baby was born and there had to be a discussion we could still do it and the baby would just go into craddle care. Essentially a very temp. home/foster sitution. She said it is basically retired ladies rocking babies. Cute!
I am hopeful!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Scrapbooking classes
So I took Ali Edward's Scrapbook On The Road class and loved it! See link below:
http://aliedwards.com/shop/project-classes/scrapbook-on-the-road
So I thought I would try some more classes. I came across the post below and I thought it gave some good info. to think about when thinking about which classes to take:
http://www.scrappyjedi.com/2011/03/upcoming-online-classes-im-taking-how.html#
So I am going to take these two:
http://kellypurkey.typepad.com/its_me_kp/2011/03/sketchbook-3.html
http://amytangerine.blogspot.com/2011/03/class-is-now-in-session.html
I will letyou know how they go!
http://aliedwards.com/shop/project-classes/scrapbook-on-the-road
So I thought I would try some more classes. I came across the post below and I thought it gave some good info. to think about when thinking about which classes to take:
http://www.scrappyjedi.com/2011/03/upcoming-online-classes-im-taking-how.html#
So I am going to take these two:
http://kellypurkey.typepad.com/its_me_kp/2011/03/sketchbook-3.html
http://amytangerine.blogspot.com/2011/03/class-is-now-in-session.html
I will letyou know how they go!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Friday, March 04, 2011
Travel scrapbooking
After reading about this yesterday:
http://amytangerine.blogspot.com/2011/02/many-pictures-of-mini.html
I recieved an email about this today:
http://aliedwards.com/shop/project-classes/scrapbook-on-the-road
Obviously, google is reading my mind!
http://amytangerine.blogspot.com/2011/02/many-pictures-of-mini.html
I recieved an email about this today:
http://aliedwards.com/shop/project-classes/scrapbook-on-the-road
Obviously, google is reading my mind!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Adoptive couple friends
Sam's friend he games with is adopting from the Methodist Mission Home. They decided and signed up. Sam's friend and his wife saved up half and the parents paid the other half. So they have a home study in March. Is it wrong I want to be these people and am a little jealous? At the very least they can give us the scoop on everything!(:
I did find out some dirt, though. When I asked about the price increase, I was told economy. However, Sam's friend noticed that there was a big dip down in adoptions last year (stat. nerd) Anyway, they finally got MMH to tell them why. They had a mother who found out you can get money for having babies from the government, so she rode it out got free health care from MMH and then changed her mind, so she could get the $$. She came back to the campus and convinced 7 other mothers to do the same. That means there were seven tearful hopeful adoptive parents crushed. It's one thing to change your mind because you just can't go through with it after all. It's another thing to change your mind for cash. Tear. Anyway, Sam's friend thinks that's why prices went up. Kinda of a weird circumstance. They still seem one of the better agencies. Just wish prices had not gone up.
Oh, the lady I was working with at the Lutheran place is going on maternity leave! (yea another thing. Sigh!) So I get to work with her supervisor. She will be the one we interview in March. This could be good, cause she probably knows a lot of stuff.
I did find out some dirt, though. When I asked about the price increase, I was told economy. However, Sam's friend noticed that there was a big dip down in adoptions last year (stat. nerd) Anyway, they finally got MMH to tell them why. They had a mother who found out you can get money for having babies from the government, so she rode it out got free health care from MMH and then changed her mind, so she could get the $$. She came back to the campus and convinced 7 other mothers to do the same. That means there were seven tearful hopeful adoptive parents crushed. It's one thing to change your mind because you just can't go through with it after all. It's another thing to change your mind for cash. Tear. Anyway, Sam's friend thinks that's why prices went up. Kinda of a weird circumstance. They still seem one of the better agencies. Just wish prices had not gone up.
Oh, the lady I was working with at the Lutheran place is going on maternity leave! (yea another thing. Sigh!) So I get to work with her supervisor. She will be the one we interview in March. This could be good, cause she probably knows a lot of stuff.
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
This guy made me laugh....
His enthusiasm for weather is awesome!
http://www.weather.com/outlook/videos/cantore-surprised-by-thunder-snow-19541#19541
http://www.weather.com/outlook/videos/cantore-surprised-by-thunder-snow-19541#19541
Thursday, January 27, 2011
response
So the agency called me back. They said we could come into the program at any time. They said they had 3 birth moms right now that would be ready to look at folks with one mom due in Feb. Us and one more family would be the only ones shown because no one else was ok with african american moms. Yea, but I did lose a little faith in humanity. Really people? Its none of my business, but I am surprised that more people are not more open, but then again I am not surprised.
Then the bomb hit. The prices have gone up. Really up. I always just assumed I would be a stay at home mom. I still want to, but I also would like a kid before I am 80. They have a payment plan, but we can't make the payments if I quit. We make good money, but evidently not really enough to get a baby.
The price is high enough that we are going to look at other agencies. Back to the drawing board, I guess. I will re-call the Lutherans. They don't do sit down info. meetings, but will talk to you on the phone. I am going to request a sit down and see what they have to say. I just don't trust conversations over the phone. I can't see your body language and what you really mean. Some of Sam's friends were doing foster care through an agency in Austin I may check with them, too.
There have got to be cheaper places out there. Really, I am just kinda of sad. I just feel like once we get close to something a hurdle is thrown in our way. It happened with China, Ethiopia and now this. I just don't think it's fair, we are not rich folks and we just want a baby. That is all. Just one soft little baby. I know there must be a master plan and everything happens for a reason, but mostly I am just disillusioned and frustrated. I think I need to go take a bath and just go to bed early.
Then the bomb hit. The prices have gone up. Really up. I always just assumed I would be a stay at home mom. I still want to, but I also would like a kid before I am 80. They have a payment plan, but we can't make the payments if I quit. We make good money, but evidently not really enough to get a baby.
The price is high enough that we are going to look at other agencies. Back to the drawing board, I guess. I will re-call the Lutherans. They don't do sit down info. meetings, but will talk to you on the phone. I am going to request a sit down and see what they have to say. I just don't trust conversations over the phone. I can't see your body language and what you really mean. Some of Sam's friends were doing foster care through an agency in Austin I may check with them, too.
There have got to be cheaper places out there. Really, I am just kinda of sad. I just feel like once we get close to something a hurdle is thrown in our way. It happened with China, Ethiopia and now this. I just don't think it's fair, we are not rich folks and we just want a baby. That is all. Just one soft little baby. I know there must be a master plan and everything happens for a reason, but mostly I am just disillusioned and frustrated. I think I need to go take a bath and just go to bed early.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
decsions/waiting
I was going to do Project 365, but I have decided to wait. I was coming off of Dec. Daily and I think the combo of both were too much. I may save my Project Life kit and document the first year of my baby's life. The kit basically sets itself up. I just need to remember to take pictures. Somehow with a new baby I think I will be inspired regularly.
Speaking of babies....
So I got a call from the adoption agency on the 10th saying they want to talk with me about the prelimanary application we sent in and said that they were looking for people to be brought into the program in Jan./Feb. I called and emailed back..several times. I am at the point that I feel like a stalker and I am wondering if something else is up. There is only one person that coordinates domestic adoptions. Maybe the coordinator is at a conference or sick. She has been prompt with replies in the past. I think next time I may just ask the front desk what is up and see if they tell me anything. I am excited, but now conused on what is happening. I had some questions I wanted to ask on timing, but so far no respose. I guess this is the stressful waiting people talk about. Boo.
Speaking of babies....
So I got a call from the adoption agency on the 10th saying they want to talk with me about the prelimanary application we sent in and said that they were looking for people to be brought into the program in Jan./Feb. I called and emailed back..several times. I am at the point that I feel like a stalker and I am wondering if something else is up. There is only one person that coordinates domestic adoptions. Maybe the coordinator is at a conference or sick. She has been prompt with replies in the past. I think next time I may just ask the front desk what is up and see if they tell me anything. I am excited, but now conused on what is happening. I had some questions I wanted to ask on timing, but so far no respose. I guess this is the stressful waiting people talk about. Boo.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
World Heritage Sites
This person is awesome! My new goal (the other being visit all radio telescpoes in the world)is visting World Heritage sites!
http://www.worldheritagesite.org/checklist.php
Only 877 more to go!
http://www.worldheritagesite.org/checklist.php
Only 877 more to go!
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