Memory of a Neighbor

Once in a while a memory will come back to me in odd bits, one leading to the next, until a big picture emerges that I hadn't contemplated much before. That happened to me this morning as I was practicing piano.

As I was going over "Threads of Love," I was suddenly brought back to another piano, one that I used to play at my neighbor Phyllis' house. I hadn't taken any piano lessons at that point, but Phyllis would encourage me to play by ear. That's what she was: an encourager.

Bucket List Lesson Number One

I've shared my bucket list with you, and you know I'm taking piano lessons. As goofy as it seems for a 40-something woman to be taking piano lessons, let me tell you that I really enjoy it—so much so that I almost called my piano teacher yesterday and asked her for an extra one because I've practiced so much this week. Yes, goofy. I warned you.

A Hope and a Future

Call it a mid-life crisis. Call it anything you want to.

The last couple of months, something has affected me. Is it my new almost-daily commitment to reading my Bible? Is it my recent weight loss? Is it my excitement for the future: first, a cruise with my sweetheart, and next, some trips to Ethiopia to adopt one or more children?

Christmas Newsflash (Don't Get Too Excited)

This morning I finally decided to get out and hang the evergreen roping I purchased at the greenhouse. The result always looks pretty decent, if I do say so myself.

From when I got married at the young age of 19, my mother would always compliment me on the rare occasion when I'd bake something. "My, aren't you a Betty Crocker!" she would exclaim. The last few weeks, as I've been making my own bar lotion, bath fizzies and gift wrap, I've felt like Betty's daughter Martha Stewart. (And up until about 30 minutes ago, I was feeling pretty good about that.) This, my friends, is not normal.

Now, for an Attitude Shift

I was wrong...about everything.

You'll probably be hearing that from me often–—daily—–as we go through this adoption process.

As we go through the various workshops, literature, and videos that are required of adoptive parents, it sometimes feels that every reason for adopting is the wrong reason. Your children are growing up and you have room for more? Don't look for a child to fill your needs. You want to help others? Don't think of yourself as some savior. You have infertility issues? Don't look for a child to fill the grief of not having your own biological children. There appears to be no right reason for adoption.

Do the Right Thing

When I was in high school in the mid and late eighties, lunchtime was rather chaotic. The whole student body would stand in the school hallway, jockeying for position at the front of the crowd as one harried teacher would call out which class was next to get into the cafeteria. Being in close proximity and being teenagers, there was your regular amount of horseplay...as well as some that crossed over the line into bullying.

One day as I stood against the lockers, I watched an underclassman become the victim of pinball, when students take turns pushing the kid back and forth to each other, and they verbally taunted him the whole time. Now, because of some circumstances in my life at that time, I happened to know more about this boy than others did. He came from a troubled home. He alone was responsible for the family finances, the shopping, and other aspects that parents should really be handling.

Weathering the Drought

Living in the Midwest, it seems like every casual conversation involves the weather. "What do you think of the heat?" "Dry enough for ya?" "Think we'll get any rain this week?" Worse yet is when I find myself in at a table or in a car with a couple of farmers and hear nothing except tractors, land, or the current repair agenda.

A Few More Details about Adoption

First, if you are tired of hearing about our adoption process, stop reading this blog right now. I have a feeling that my blog will eventually morph entirely into a record of our experiences in this process.

Our caseworker (a wonderful person, by the way) recommended that we start filling our family and friends in about a few things. Here's your rundown:

Playing My Part

Last night I had a dream. I was back in my high school band during a concert and was sitting next to my friend Kristin as the band performed an energetic piece of music. Kristin and I weren't playing, though. We had a problem: no sheet music. We glanced at each other in a panic, and that's when I noticed that her trombone had two mouthpieces.

And Now an Announcement from the Blogger...

Okay, so I'm struggling. I've had a secret for some time now (okay, a couple of months), and if you know me at all, you know that I'm pretty much an open book. If something is going on with me, you and my other twenty best friends know it, too. That's why all of this has been a little difficult.

So here's the announcement: our family has applied for international adoption through Bethany Christian Services.