"Life Comes at You Fast"

Chances are that if you own a TV and have turned it on at any time in the last 2 years you have seen the Nationwide commercial using this catch phrase "Life Comes at You Fast". My personal favorite is K Fed going from Britney's boytoy to working at a fast food joint. Right now they are running an ad show a love stricken couple driving down the highway in a convertible. Her long red scarf wraps around his head and he can't see to drive. They end up driving off the road and landing in a field. It ends with the two of them exchanging loving looks despite the fact that the car is trashed.

Life does comes at us fast and sometimes you just want to grab the oh shit bar (the handle located near the passenger's head in any automobile) and slam your feet on the floorboard and say "slow down!". I think for those of us in the adoption world, especially Chinese adoptions, things seem to move slowly but do you ever take a step back from the situation and examine it with new eyes? Recently there have been some changes in my life and in the way I view MY world. I feel like I have just recently gotten a snap shot view of my future...and it isn't anything like I planned or imagined. It doesn't make it bad. It's just different. Given the choice I would have chosen the path of least resistance...the shortest route between two points...I would have gone the same generic way everyone else has. But what would that route have taught me? Nothing, probably. This route has definitely tested my faith, tested my beliefs and made me leave my comfort zone. Maybe it is as Robert Frost said "...two roads diverged in a road, and I--I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."

"Put on your big girl panties and deal with it"

That sign is hanging in the office I share with Terri. She is a feisty woman that I have grown to respect for her wisdom, but also her sense of humor. And she is right, sometimes you just need to put on your big girl panties and deal with it. And that is precisely what I have done, figuratively and literally. As I mentioned in a previous post, I needed some guidance with a decision and I think it is finally made. So tonight, I went to Target got myself some big fat briefs, just in case this girl has a hard time dealing with it. I'm not going to post what decision I have made, nor what my dilemma was so I hope the two or three out there that know will keep it to themselves. At some point I am sure I will delve into it, but not right now.

Work is going well. I've been very busy and I have learned to dread Thursday. They aren't horrible days, but it is nothing but meetings and my butt hurts! I have been very conscientious about going to the gym because I am doing so much sitting and I am snacking more than I used to at work.

Kristen, her mom, my mom and me (does that make sense?) have embarked on a "Miles to China" adventure. We are documenting the number of miles we are walking, cycling, ellipticalling, rowing...well, you get the point...that takes us to China. Our goal is to have a combined number of miles that match the distance. It is 6,787 miles from here to Beijing and 6,515 miles from Janesville to Beijing. So far I have racked up 17.5 miles since the beginning of the month. Whoo-hoo! I'm sure my mom will kick my a** though because she walks 3 miles/day 6days/week. She is a machine.

Yippee!! Congrats to the new families that were created today. I am so incredibly happy for you. It certainly is good to see China referring a larger group. They made it through 8 days this time!

On a personal note, please say a prayer for me this week. I can't really delve into the details at this time, but sometimes you feel pulled to certain places in your life that you really didn't see coming. This does not deal directly with adopting MayLing, but it could impact it so please pray that I have clarity this week. And for the wickedly curious, I am not withdrawing my dossier, so don't get too excited.

West Baden Springs Hotel

On Saturday Michael and I took a day trip to French Lick, Indiana and got to see the newly renovated West Baden Springs Hotel. It is often referred to as the "eighth wonder of the world" for it's natural mineral springs and for the incredible dome in the hotel. It is/was the largest dome in the world and was built in a year's time. This hotel is incredible. I couldn't help but gush when I saw it. It is enormous, breathtaking, and slightly eerie. Even though it was bustling with people, it was deathly quiet in the hotel and on the grounds. It gave off an eerie sort of Overlook Hotel vibe (check out "The Shining"). All the rooms circle the dome and many people had balconies facing the dome and doors that were wide open. Michael even commented that he expected to see a jumper fall from a window. The hotel was incredible, but creepy nonetheless. After the hotel we went to the casino. Evidently in order to meet criteria for having a casino in the state of Indiana you must be on water. So what did they do? The put in a tiny man-made pond and parked the casino in front of it. Yeah, a bit weird, but an ingenious way around the rules.

After that excitement we had to check out the Winery. I was impressed that it was so good for a small town. Not only did they have the winery, but they put a restaurant and a store in the warehouse as well. Overall, French Lick is well worth the gas it took to get there.

Don't forget to "Fall Behind" tonight!

China Adoption Blog Gathering Anyone?

I'm sending this in conjunction with Kristen:

Is anyone interested in getting together to celebrate our upcoming adoptions? The wait is very difficult, we all know that. So let's do something to support one another and just have some FUN! So, adoptive Mom's to be, let's do it. If you are interested in having some fun, leave me (or Kris) a comment, your e-mail, or a link to your blog and let's see if we can get something organized for January or February.

Guess what Mama's Getting for her 9 month LID?

Nine months. That's pretty significant. It's the last of the single digit numbers that I know. It is also the average length of time that a woman is pregnant. So what am I don't to mark this momentous occasion?
I'm getting a HIGH SPEED CABLE MODEM. That's right folks, I'm gettin' modern. For fear of sounding like a hillbilly, let me explain that I did have DSL until I moved into this house a year ago. I'm actually closer to work (which is in the middle of the town), but I'm not city limits. And since all my neighbors are old and no one else is squeaking about wanting DSL from AT&T, they have no reason to update the phone lines. It really irritates me because people to the north, south, east and west of us have DSL. Darn old people...they don't even own computers. I really need to have something fast because my work laptop requires a secure remote access when used off site and it takes FOREVER to load when hooked to a dial-up phone line.

More LID news...I learned that I will be in Dallas when I celebrate my 12 month LID. I'm pretty bummed about that. I really wanted to have a small party at home, celebrate Chinese New Year (not sure exactly when it falls next year, but it fell close to my LID this year), and reflect on the year behind and the year(s) coming up. Now I will be stuck in Dallas with strangers. I will also miss Valentine's Day and as my sister so gracefully pointed out, "So what? Do you think you are going to be dating anyone then?" Well, no, but I like to spend that time with my friends or soaking in the tub with a box of chocolates sitting near by. I guess I can still do the latter in Dallas.