Hocus Pocus ... it's the end of week 2 ... how'd I do??

Well ... at the end of week 2 after being hypnotized .... I have lost 11 pounds. Yes... I am stuck at 11 pounds ... but I'm not complaining.

I still don't crave carbs. I still am able to exert will-power. I am still drinking lots of water. I am making better food choices...so am I disappointed ???? NO WAY !!!!! This is great !!!!!!

23 months and 1 week

I was flipping thru my calendar tonite. I found the notation in August that marks my 2 year anniversary of being DTC. Then I found the notation that indicated 2 years since my LID.

Funny thing is ... I remeber making the notes and thinking "Hmm....don't know why I'm making these notes...Mari-Grace will be there by then."
Isn't it remarkable how we, as humans, forget we are not in control !!!!

If I have learned anything from this adoption journey ... it has been pray with the faith that your prayers will be answered, but always remembering, sometimes the answer is yes ... sometimes it is no ... and sometimes the answer is simply to wait.

With each batch of referrals that come and go, I am reminded that my answer to my adoption prayer is to wait ... my child is not ready.

I will admit, sometimes, it feels like it is NEVER going to happen. But then I am reminded that God never breaks a promise...and I find peace in waiting, knowing that my child is with God at this time. God is preparing her .. to fit into my family. That brings tears to my eyes. What a great and wonderful creator we have.

So ... to those of you who are not handling the wait well....just remember ... God is in control, it is his time ... not ours ... and the child he creates will be a match literally made in heaven.

LifeBook writing

On Tuesday night, I was "inspired". I decided to take all of the information I know, and start compiling what I can for Mari-Grace's lifebook.



What is a lifebook? A lifebook is a book that will educate Mari-Grace on her life in China ... before the adoption. It is really difficult to remember this book is not about me ... or my feelings. It is designed to help her understand where she came from. It is designed to help her work thru the feelings and questions she will have growing up about her birth-parents and the country she lived in.



For any of you interested in creating a lifebook for your child ... there is a yahoo group I highly recommend. It is called ChinaLifeBooks. The moderators walk a person thru the lifebook creation from the introduction page to the end. They started at the beginning in January. The group discusses how to handle the difficult questions.
It has been very informative.

Now... you ask ... how can I create a lifebook when Mari-Grace isn't even here yet?

I organized my outline.
I made a list of the the things I want to include ... and on what page they need to appear on. I journaled the basics, and left room to add the details unique to Mari-Grace.

Of course, I can't put a lot on paper, but I can jot down ideas in an organized matter. I can organize papers, stickers, pictures, etc in the order they need to appear, then add details as I learn them.

It feels really good to have a sense of how this will work, it seems to be a daunting tasks for many families.

Let's just hope I can find the file when I'm ready to finish !!!!!

FACE BOOK ... HOW COOL

Ok, so I'm a bit slow when it comes to jumping into all of the computer land websites like my space and facebook.

Well...I've gotten on the facebook bandwagon finally. I've had contacts from High School...and even elementary school friends that I haven't heard from in 18 years.

One of the most exciting contacts I have made was with a high school friend. He is now married and has 2 of the most beautiful children from Korea.

Isn't it absolutely amazing how the world of International Adoption not only brings families together, sometimes it even re-unites old friends.

Hocus ... Pocus ... Kammy tried Hypnosis

Ok ... I always thought that people who were hypnotized to lose weights were crazy .. it didn't work ... no way ... no how !!!!

Well .. that was until my friend Judy was hypnotized in January. She has lost 38 pounds ... and is keeping it off.

So ... what the ?#$& .... I decided to try it.

IT WORKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok .. so maybe I'm just exerting will power .... BUT ... after being hypnotized on July 11 ...
I have lost 11 pounds .... that was my first week !!!!

I'm NOT craving sweets. I haven't had any potatoes, carrots, corn, pasta, bread, candy, cookies, etc since 7-11. I tried to drink a regular coke ... it was HORRIBLE !!!!! Tasted like drinking syrup.

So .. the diet....
It's basically a protein, low fat, low carb, portion control.
I eat meat and veggies with every meal.

AND ... I'm drinking LOTS of water. 3 liters per day ... that's a lot of water!!!!! (that's about 100 ounces ... and my goal is to get to 150 ounces per day)

So ... wish me luck.

Ava's Good Wishes Quilt

Well ... I finally finished the Good Wishes quilt for Ava.

It is small ... about the size of a square baby blankie.

It's not perfect by any means ... but I think it turned

out pretty well since it is only the 3rd quilt I've done.

July Referrals are here !!!!!

Well ... the July referrals arrived. Not a big group day wise ... but yet every day of referrals is a day closer to August 2006.

So .. how far did they go????

Congrats to families who LID's are from 1-21-06 to 1-25-06.
These families waited 29 MONTHS for referrals ... I'm at 22&1/2.

WE ARE GETTING CLOSER ... How much ... well ... who knows.

Happy 4th of July !!!

Freedom ... a word we often take for granted. Here in the USA, we are blessed to have many freedoms. We are blessed with having enough food for each meal ... and often times in bounty, to the detriment of our waistlines. We have the ability to work ... at the profession of choice ... to earn a living, and supply our basic needs ... as well as luxuries.

We have the freedom to speak our opinions without fear of prosecution. We can worship God ... or not worship as we choose.

I personally believe that we should thank God everyday for the freedoms with which we have been blessed.

Being in the process of adopting a daughter from China ... I think of freedom with a new perspective. My daughter will become a US citizen. By God's blessing, she will never know hunger ... poverty ... and she will have the means to accomplish all of her dreams.

So... when you eat those hot dogs and hamburgers ... and shoot off those firecrackers ... remember many men and women have given their lives so that we can be free today. Don't take it for granted. Thank God everyday for the blessings we have been given.

Happy Fourth of July !!!!!!!!