O is for. . .

O is for Ocean!

from pinterest.com

I love the ocean. My dad grew up on San Diego very close to the beach (he could walk!) We visited California as often as we could (with 5 kids it was pretty expensive).  We loved going to see my grandparents and not just for the beach. My grandmother had an orange tree in the back yard and would give us fresh orange and banana fruit salad for breakfast.

One year my family went to see my grandparents for Christmas. My dad’s three sisters came too. There were tons of people and lots of kids. Every family had a four year old (so that’s 4) and there were 6 other kids. It was so much fun!

from pinterest.com

Both of my brothers lived in the Los Angeles area for a while. We enjoyed visiting them. The beach wasn’t as close enough to walk but it was close enough to go for a morning. One time we were at a beach (I don’t know which one) and we saw dolphins, pelicans and seals. It was wonderful.

When Jake and I first moved to North Carolina we went to Charleston, South Carolina. We found a “secret” beach and spent time strolling up and down the beach watching the waves come in and collecting shells.  So relaxing!

from pinterest.com

The ocean and the beach have so many great memories for me. What has great memories for you?

Come back tomorrow and see what P is for. . .

National Delurking Day

Well, I just found out that yesterday January 15 was National Delurking Day in the Blog world (who knew there even was such a thing- well I guess someone and I just didn’t get the email….)

And what kind of picture goes with that? A cat burglar type person sneaking about reading blogs? He doesn't seem quite right.

from google images

People with their faces blurred out? Also just not quite right.

from google images

Neither are that appealing...Maybe someone needs to do a button for it. . . any takers?

I know commenting is hard- I lurk LOTS of places. I don’t comment because . . . well usually, I don’t know what to say. (It is a sad excuse I know and I thought if it was smaller it would be less sad but it  isn't.)

I worry I will be misunderstood (since there are just words on a screen). I know what I meant but if someone doesn’t know me; something I say could be misunderstood and then there could be hurt feelings (not at all my intent). Or sometimes I don’t comment because “Great idea”  or "I feel the same way" just doesn’t seem like it says what I want said. But I LOVE getting comments- long ones, short ones, any kind. I bet most people are like me.  

So in honor of National Delurking Day (a bit late) I am going to make more of an effort to make a comment.  I’m thinking it might be a great way to get to know more blogging people and for them to get to know me! I'll add another goal to my list and start commenting!

Happy National Delurking Day!

Miracle Plants

I was watering our plants the other day and look what I found!

My dad rescued this Christmas Cactus and gave it to me this summer. They had it in a cup with water by their kitchen sink. My dad put it in the pot with dirt and wished us luck. It looked so pitiful when I got it that I didn’t think it would live.

I have it in a North facing window (hoping that it would slowly recover and get a bit stronger) and don’t spend a huge amount of time in that room. It is supposed to be a dining room but we use it as an office.

Hopefully, this means the plant is healthy and will live! The leaves look very healthy in the picture and there are many other tiny buds. I think it is a good sing the plant is doing well.

In other plant news, we are thinking of having a small garden this year. If we do things right we can grow several spring veggies and then fall veggies. I found a book at the library that says we can plant peas and spinach in late February and early March. Wish us luck!

Sunday Thoughts

National Adoption Month

from google.com

Today is the last day of National Adoption Month. I have not posted about adoption every day or even posted every day. I do think about adoption every day. I will admit that some days I feel sad. Sad we don’t have children. Sad we are infertile. But mostly, I feel blessed. I feel blessed that Jake and I found each other. I feel blessed that we get to go through life and eternity together. I feel blessed that no matter what happens, we can face it together.

from google.com

This month especially, I have had more opportunities to share our story and our desire to adopt. I don’t know if that is because I am getting better at sharing our story (I am a private person and tend to be shy) or more opportunities happened to come along this month or I noticed them more because I was watching for them.

 I have learned so much on this journey so far (thanks to all the bloggers out there! Sharing your story really helps!). I know I will learn more as we continue on the journey of adoption. Thanks for joining us!

from google.com

Letting Go

I like order and structure. I like to have a plan for the day or the weekend (or my life) so I know what to expect and what to prepare for. I have found that life doesn’t really work that way though. I have some control over my life but there are many things I don’t have any control over.

I have never really liked that quote. As I first read it, I thought it was saying just let life happen. Don’t make any plans because you can’t control what will happen anyway.  But as I have lived more of my life, I have realized that the quote may mean if your plan isn’t working or isn’t going to work let it go and get a new plan.

I planned to get married at 21 or so. That didn’t happen.  If I had forced the issue and made getting married happen I wouldn’t have met Jake. I wouldn’t have as great a marriage as I do now.  When Jake and I got married, we planned to have children right away. That didn’t happen.  We could be bitter and angry about our situation. We are sad but we know that we are doing all we can to find our family and live the life waiting for us.

Jake likes the curve balls life has thrown him.  He has said many times if his life turned out how he planned it would have been very boring. He also wouldn't be as happy.  I like to think that he is happier because he met me!

A Life Being Lived has a great post about this idea of being okay with life not goingI how you planned. Check it out here. She says what I am trying to say so much better.

June is Over?!?

How did that happen????

Today is the last day of June. Looking back, we got a lot done in June!

Adoption connected:

We got our profile up on Parent Profiles (see our profile here)

We started a blog (thanks for reading!)

We tweaked our LDS Profile (see our profile here)

Not Adoption connected:

my birthday

our anniversary (I can’t believe it has been 8 years already!)

 Father’s Day

 the end of the school year (that is always so much work- testing, paperwork, cleaning everything, etc!)

I moved classrooms

I read several books

June has been a busy month!  I have been thinking about what I want to get done in July. It is easy for the days to slide by with little getting done. I saw on another blog a list of things the blogger wanted to get done. I’m going to try the same thing!