As we all know, I have a tendency to spend (way too much) time sitting here at work surfing the Internet. That's never been a secret. John always likes to ask me "What do you do all day???" My typical response being "I honestly don't know. Sit around? Dust? Read blogs?" And then I will usually tell him about an interesting/funny/stupid/lovely blog I came across that day. There are usually at least 1, if not more from each category every single day. Then I sit for a minute and think about how I hate feeling like I am wasting so much of my life just sitting here and not doing anything and then I get over it and life goes on. So if you have a blog, I've probably seen it. I'm starting to feel like I've seen every blog out there and while a ton of them are a huge waste of my time (no, not yours!) I do occasionally come across a really great blog that makes me so happy and adds mass amounts of goodness to my day.
Anyway I have this *thing* for adoption blogs. Adoption books. Adoption stories. All things adoption, really. I always have. And I assume it's either because my mother was adopted, or maybe it's because at some point in my life I will make the decision to adopt? I really don't know. But once again that's besides the point and I just really love adoption stories and a lot of people use blogging as a way to document their journey of going from childless to parenthood.
Anyway! I just came across this blog that made me cry, and I wanted to share it because I know you could all use a good cry as well. The way the birth mother came to find them is almost unbelievable. Or I should say it's amazing, for a better word.
This post
And this post
Are the ones that gave me tears. Congratulations to Que and Brittney, and to their loving birth mother for making the most selfless of all decisions.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
On a friendlier note...
Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland ,Ohio
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it..
9.. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it..
9.. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
Monday, August 10, 2009
Phone rings at 4:15-
"*** Credit Union, this is Mallory."
"Hi Mallory, what time do you close?"
"We close at 4:30 every day."
"Oh ok. Shoot. So that's in like 15 minutes?"
"Yes."
"Hmm. Ok well can you wait for me? My car broke down so I can't drive myself, and my ride is on their way so I will be there in 20 minutes, tops."
Feeling irritated "Yeah, I suppose that will be fine."
Sorry but COME ON. I like to go home at the end of the day as much as the next guy. 5 minutes is pushing it, but I'll let it slide this time.
Sitting waiting....waiting....
Phone rings at 4:41 "Hi Mallory, it's me again. My ride just got here so we will be there in 15 minutes, ok?"
I'm thinking to myself... 15 minutes?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME WOMAN?! I DON'T FEEL GOOD AND REALLY DON'T WANT TO SIT HERE WAITING FOR YOU FOR 30 DANG MINUTES AFTER I'M SUPPOSED TO CLOSE.
So I respond "Actually I have to shut down my system within the next 4 minutes so that's not going to work."
"Ok well I will be there in 15 minutes so just pull out $300 from my account right now and I'll sign the receipt when I get there."
And because I'm way WAY too nice for my own good, I reply "Ok..." And hang up.
I know... I can be kinda rude huh? But I think asking me to wait for a half hour after closing is pretty darn rude itself, and when I've been sitting here with cramps and a headache all day long, day dreaming about my comfy couch and sweat pants I'm not exactly a woman you want to be messing with!
She just got here: 5:00
"*** Credit Union, this is Mallory."
"Hi Mallory, what time do you close?"
"We close at 4:30 every day."
"Oh ok. Shoot. So that's in like 15 minutes?"
"Yes."
"Hmm. Ok well can you wait for me? My car broke down so I can't drive myself, and my ride is on their way so I will be there in 20 minutes, tops."
Feeling irritated "Yeah, I suppose that will be fine."
Sorry but COME ON. I like to go home at the end of the day as much as the next guy. 5 minutes is pushing it, but I'll let it slide this time.
Sitting waiting....waiting....
Phone rings at 4:41 "Hi Mallory, it's me again. My ride just got here so we will be there in 15 minutes, ok?"
I'm thinking to myself... 15 minutes?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME WOMAN?! I DON'T FEEL GOOD AND REALLY DON'T WANT TO SIT HERE WAITING FOR YOU FOR 30 DANG MINUTES AFTER I'M SUPPOSED TO CLOSE.
So I respond "Actually I have to shut down my system within the next 4 minutes so that's not going to work."
"Ok well I will be there in 15 minutes so just pull out $300 from my account right now and I'll sign the receipt when I get there."
And because I'm way WAY too nice for my own good, I reply "Ok..." And hang up.
I know... I can be kinda rude huh? But I think asking me to wait for a half hour after closing is pretty darn rude itself, and when I've been sitting here with cramps and a headache all day long, day dreaming about my comfy couch and sweat pants I'm not exactly a woman you want to be messing with!
She just got here: 5:00
Friday, August 7, 2009
Glitter toes!!
Have you heard of this exciting new discovery called glitter toes??
There is really no denying that I am in love with all things that sparkle. If it's pink AND it sparkles... well then I have got to have it! It drives John a little nuts, and I get it from my mom. I also get my feet from my mom, but that's a whole 'nother story ;O) Just kidding mom... I love our feet.
Anyway, I was really excited when my mom invited Tara and I over to get glitter toes, because I had heard pretty good things about them. Never had seen them, but they seem to be all the rave around here. So Wednesday night a lady who does them met us all at my mom's house, and after much debate over what color to chose, and a lot of mind changing (there were like 40 different colors/shades/sparkle factors to chose from, it was not easy! Loved this pink and that pink and the other pink, but the purple was super pretty too. And THEN look how cool the blue is! But mom says the gold looked awesome on that one lady... but this reddish pink one is sooo 'me'! Oh look at that one!) eventually we each ended up with beautiful shiny new glitter toes. We were shocked to see how it's done too. First a layer of 'gel', the dump on then glitter, then another layer of gel to seal the deal, and VWALAH! Glitter toes. No nail polish involved.
I woke up Wednesday morning and honest to goodness, the very first thought in my head before I even got out of bed was "I can't wait to see how my toes sparkle in the sun!" Seeing your toes sparkle in the house doesn't even take a stand next to how they look in real sunlight. They really catch your eye. Like a brand new engagement ring, I would even dare to say.
Anyway, here are the little beauties! They sparkle like there's no tomorrow, and they 100% will not chip because they are coated with gel. You actually have to file the glitter off once it grows out and you don't want them anymore, which will probably be a pain, but I'm thinking totally worth it!
There is really no denying that I am in love with all things that sparkle. If it's pink AND it sparkles... well then I have got to have it! It drives John a little nuts, and I get it from my mom. I also get my feet from my mom, but that's a whole 'nother story ;O) Just kidding mom... I love our feet.
Anyway, I was really excited when my mom invited Tara and I over to get glitter toes, because I had heard pretty good things about them. Never had seen them, but they seem to be all the rave around here. So Wednesday night a lady who does them met us all at my mom's house, and after much debate over what color to chose, and a lot of mind changing (there were like 40 different colors/shades/sparkle factors to chose from, it was not easy! Loved this pink and that pink and the other pink, but the purple was super pretty too. And THEN look how cool the blue is! But mom says the gold looked awesome on that one lady... but this reddish pink one is sooo 'me'! Oh look at that one!) eventually we each ended up with beautiful shiny new glitter toes. We were shocked to see how it's done too. First a layer of 'gel', the dump on then glitter, then another layer of gel to seal the deal, and VWALAH! Glitter toes. No nail polish involved.
I woke up Wednesday morning and honest to goodness, the very first thought in my head before I even got out of bed was "I can't wait to see how my toes sparkle in the sun!" Seeing your toes sparkle in the house doesn't even take a stand next to how they look in real sunlight. They really catch your eye. Like a brand new engagement ring, I would even dare to say.
Anyway, here are the little beauties! They sparkle like there's no tomorrow, and they 100% will not chip because they are coated with gel. You actually have to file the glitter off once it grows out and you don't want them anymore, which will probably be a pain, but I'm thinking totally worth it!
Just ignore my little sausage toes! I'm retaining water this week! Mmmkay?
