Korean Adoptee Seeks Birth Mother

A little hard to watch - I feel his anguish ... and am saddened that someday my kids will have the same issues to struggle through. Adoption is about creating families, but also about losing them ...

The Lady and the Chocolate

Tyra Banks Segment on "Good Hair"

Excerpt from the film "Adopted"

Good Hair - The Movie

One day, comedian Chris Rock's daughter came home and asked him, "How come I don't have good hair?".

The result of his attempt to find the answer to that question is: Good Hair - The Movie.

The Three Bears - the true story!

A far more accurate account of the events of that fateful morning....

Baby bear goes downstairs, sits in his small chair at the table. He looks into his small bowl. It is empty.'Who's been eating my porridge?' he squeaks.

Daddy Bear arrives at the big table and sits in his big chair.He looks into his big bowl and it is also empty. 'Who's been eating my porridge?!?' he Roars.

Mummy Bear puts her head through the serving hatch from the kitchen and yells, 'For God's sake, how many times do I have to go through this with you idiots?

It was Mummy Bear who got up first.
It was Mummy Bear who woke everyone in the house.
It was Mummy Bear who made the coffee.
It was Mummy Bear who unloaded the dishwasher from last night and put everything away.
It was Mummy Bear who swept the floor in the kitchen.
It was Mummy Bear who went out in the cold early morning air to fetch the newspaper and croissants.
It was Mummy Bear who set the damn table.
It was Mummy Bear who walked the bloody dog, cleaned the cat's litter tray, gave them their food, and refilled their water.

And now that you've decided to drag your sorry bear-asses downstairs and grace Mummy Bear with your grumpy presence, listen carefully, because I'm only going to say this once....

'I HAVEN'T MADE THE F ....................... PORRIDGE YET!!!

I *love* Pearls Before Swine ...

Mother & Child Reunion - Ziggy Marley

Parenting - Ever Had Days Like This???

To realize ...

To realize the value of four years:
Ask a graduate.

To realize the value of one year:
Ask a student who has failed a final exam.

To realize the value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.

To realize the value of one month:
Ask a motherwho has given birth to a premature baby.

To realize the value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize the value of one minute:
Ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize the value of one-second:
Ask a person who has survived an accident.

Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member: LOSE ONE.

~ Anon

The Tired Dog

An older, tired-looking dog wandered into my yard.
I could tell from his collar and well-fed belly that he had a home and was well taken care of.

He calmly came over to me, I gave him a few pats on his head; he then followed meinto my house, slowly walked down the hall, curled up in the corner and fell asleep. An hour later, he went to the door, and I let him out.

The next day he was back, greeted me in my yard, walked inside and resumed his spot in the hall and again slept for about an hour.
This continued off and on for several weeks.

Curious, I pinned a note to his collar: 'I would like to find out who the owner of this wonderful sweet dog is and ask if you are aware that almost every afternoon your dog comes to my house for a nap.'

The next day he arrived for his nap, with a different note pinned to his collar:

'He lives in a home with 6 children, 2 under the age of 3 - he's trying to catch up on his sleep. CanI come with him tomorrow?'

~ Anon.

Words for Women to Live By

1. Aspire to be Barbie - the bitch has everything.
2. If the shoe fits - buy them in every color.
3. Take life with a pinch of salt... A wedge of lime, and a shot of tequila.
4. In need of a support group? - Cocktail hour with the girls!
5. Go on the 30 day diet. (I'm on it and so far I've lost 15 days).
6. When life gets you down - just put on your big girl panties and deal with it.
7. Let your greatest fear be that there is no PMS and this is just your personality.
8. I know I'm in my own little world, but it's ok. They know me here.
9. Lead me not into temptation, I can find it myself.
10. Don't get your knickers in a knot; it solves nothing and makes you walk funny.
11. When life gives you lemons in 2009 - turn it into lemonade then mix it with vodka.
12. Remember where ever there is a good looking, sweet, single or married man there is some woman tired of his bullshit!
13. Keep your chin up, only the first 40 years of parenthood are the hardest.
14. If it has Tires or Testicles it's gonna give you trouble.
15. By the time a women realizes her mother was right, she has a daughter who thinks she's wrong.

~ Anon.

Before I was a Mom ...

Before I was a Mom ,
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom ,
I had never been Puked on; Pooped on; Chewed on; Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom ,
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests,
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom ,
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom ,
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment, or the satisfaction of being a Mom .
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

~ Anon.

Meet the Imagination Movers

Pearls of Wisdom

Are we Done?

Yes. Our family is complete.

I believe I told Ian this (tho it is a little blurry) as we drove home from the airport after I landed home with Ebba - you know, the Trip from Hell? I was not terribly rational then (too tired), but the decision has remained firm, and I think we are all content with it. After all, we are on the older side of parenting (I'm 44 and Ian's 51).

I am very much enjoying the purge that is accompanying Ebba growing out of things. As Mei Le grew out of clothes, I was hesitant to pass them on (feeling unsure about whether we would adopt only one child). But now I am purging with a vengeance. I have about 6 plastic tubs full of clothes for Ebba to grow into ... and with 5 yrs btw them, I may always have a few on hand. However, I suspect Ebba may catch up by a size or two as the years go by. Plus, as they reach tween- and teen-dom, they may become less receptive to "previously-owned" clothing (the staple of our current wardrobes - me included!).

A Quiet Saturday Morning ...

... yeah, right.

Dust if you must ...

Remember ...

A layer of dust protects the Wood beneath it. A house becomes a home when you can write 'I love you' on the furniture.

I used to spend at least 8 hours every weekend making sure things were just perfect - 'in case someone came over.' Finally I realized one day that no-one came over; they were all out living life and having fun!

NOW, when people visit, I don't have to explain the 'condition' of my home.
They are more interested in hearing about the things I've been doing while I was away living life and having fun.

If you haven't figured this out yet, please heed this advice. Life is short. Enjoy it!

Dust if you must ... But wouldn't it be better to paint a picture or write a letter, Bake cookies or a cake and lick the spoon or plant a seed,
Ponder the difference between want and need?!

Dust if you must, but there's not much time . . . .
With beer to drink, rivers to swim and mountains to climb,
Music to hear and books to read, friends to cherish
And life to lead.

Dust if you must, but the world's out there with the sun in your eyes,
The wind in your hair, a flutter of snow, a shower of rain.
This day will not come around, again.

Dust if you must, But bear in mind, old age will come and it's not kind. . .
And when you go - and go you must - you, yourself will make more dust!

~ Anon

Motherhood

Just a Mom ... !

A woman, renewing her driver's licence, was asked by the woman at Registry to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. 'What I mean is, ' explained the woman at the Registry. 'Do you have a job or are you just a ...?' 'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman. 'I'm a Mum.' 'We don't list 'Mum' as an occupation. 'Housewife' covers it,' said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, 'Official Interrogator' or 'City Registrar.'

'What is your occupation?' she probed. What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out. 'I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.'

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and Looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, In bold, black ink on the official questionnaire. 'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest, 'just what you do in your field?'

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, 'I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn't), in the laboratory and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out); I'm working for my Masters (first the Lord and then the whole family), and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to disagree?), and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers And the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.' There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern.

I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mum.'

~ Anon.