10 Months!

Today, we've been on our agency's wait list for our little girl TEN MONTHS!  Our estimate was a 12-14 month wait.  No one has told us it will be any different, but I'm keeping an eye on referrals and I just don't see how that will happen in the next 2 to 4 months.  I feel a bit discouraged, and at times it feels like we're just joking about this whole thing.  We talk about "when we go to Taiwan", but in the back of my head there is a tinge of "yeah right... we're never going to Taiwan!".

Then, I have to tell myself- "Don't get discouraged!  You're not even at the 12 month mark, yet"

The adoption community calls this whole process a "roller coaster".  So, yes, one day I'm fine with it all (and very good about trusting God's timing and plan) and the next I'm super emotional about this daughter who has now lived in our hearts and dreams for nearly two years saying "Where is she already?!!"

And, um, apparently I talk to myself a whole heap about it!

Anyway, ten months closer, right?

(oh, and don't think I forgot about the adoption questions you asked, Mary and Amy... I just haven't got complete answers yet!)

Sailboat Map Painting

When I did the three map-like Hidden Name Paintings for the Kelso boys, I felt like I wasn't quite done with that technique.  I loved it, and just had to try my hand at it again.  This painting is the result.  No hidden letters, which Dean was a bit disappointed with since he has truly enjoyed hunting them out!  But, there is a whimsical whale, some silly mountains, and a calm sea with a sailboat.  As this was not a commissioned piece, there is no where to send it off to.  No owner to claim it.  I've posted it in the Etsy shop.  (but, it might look nice in the kids' bathroom, as well....hmmm...)

Painting specs:

- Yarka St. Petersburg pan watercolors, coffee wash, and india ink

-9x12" image size

- main colors: blues, greens, red, orange, and browns

Hidden Name Painting- Alexandra

Here is another Hidden Name painting I was commissioned to do.  The young girl on the receiving end was adopted from China and is quite enamored with dragons these days.  Her favorite colors are blue, green, and red, and she doesn't care much for girly-girl things like princesses.  I do hope she likes it!  Have fun seeking out the letters, A-L-E-X-A-N-D-R-A.

Painting Specs:

- 8x10"

- Strathmore watercolor paper

- Yarka St. Petersburg pan colors, with pencil and India ink lining

Preparations

We aren't gone yet, but knowing that we'll be gone for a chunk of time in the near future certainly has me feeling like I need to get things in order. 

I'm working hard on Mamamade.  We're lining up some fantastic new participants, and everyone has such talent.  Pretty soon there will be new posts to the Mamamade blog (linked in the sidebar)- you'll want to watch for Mama bios, sneak-peeks at merchandise that will be available, and loads of good pictures!  For those of you outside the Nashville area, plenty of our Mamas are on Etsy or have online shops.

Personally, I'm also trying to prepare new pieces for the sale and find that every day, ideas pop into my head.  I truly feel like God has ushered me into a time in my life when this talent He's given me will be used.  I don't have a total picture for the long term, but I'm certainly moving forward as opportunities become available.  The painting I posted about, Bond of Perfection, sold at artstream.  Such good news!  And such a good cause!  I'd like to do more charity paintings.

So, it's not snowing today.  This is a big disappointment to Grant as he did all he could to bring the white stuff our way.  His teacher joked that you can get it to snow if you do a snow dance and wear your pjs inside out the night before.  In a fit of silliness last night, he did an awesome breakdance and turned his pajamas wrong side out.  We woke up this morning, checked the weather and got so excited when we saw how low the temperature was going to be.  Sadly, the white precipitation icon beside the temp. was *hail* and not soft flakes.  We'll see.  :-)

Now, in preparation for our trip, Eric has upgraded our camcorder to an HD model.  This has caused a huge stir up of old footage.  We're not the type of family that re-watches what we take.  I think we just like knowing that the videos are there.  Of course, a quick skimming of the past 10 years was just enough to bring on SERIOUS waterworks!  Oh my goodness!  I was bawling last night.  There was video of us visiting as our first house was built, there was footage of me in my HUGE FAT pregnant-with-Grant stage!  You may not believe it (maybe you might?), but I was ginormous.  Wow.  There was newborn footage.  And in there were two (sadly) short snippets of my mom.  And it hit me, that all these great moments that I was getting sentimental over came AFTER my mom died.  I hate that she has missed it all.  Well, she was there for our wedding and when we knew we were pregnant with Grant- but that's it!  Gosh I hate that and I miss her like crazy.  Monday will be eight years since her passing and I guess it just might be a hard week for me.  Normally, I'm alright, and I feel that my grief is well worked through- that the Lord brought me through that and has given me strength and support.  But, I still have sadness over her not being with us.  Whew.  Okay then.  Where was I? [good sigh, and wiping tears away]

Right, preparations.  We're trying really hard to prepare all five of our bodies for our trip.  No sickness, I say!  We're taking Airborne, staying away from sick people as best as we can, and have even begun taking apple cider vinegar.  Unhappily, I report that I have a cold today and I don't think we started our regimens soon enough.  Here's hoping that it is out of our system before our travel in March.  I can't see why it wouldn't be, unless we continue passing all this gunk around.  Yuck.  Though I feel greedy for a bit more snow, I am ready for the warm rays of sun that spring will bring- and health, and fresh air, and walks to the park!

Just Good stuff

*I'm really interested in trying this:

Fizzy Fruit

Eric and I saw a snippet about it on that food program with Marc Summers (of Double Dare fame).  Ah... here it is: Unwrapped.

* I was thinking about how we'd like to visit a few more museums while we're in London now that the kids are a tad older.  Victoria and Albert.  National Gallery.  We are even talking about doing the day trip to Paris again (via Chunnel)  and maybe going to the Louvre.  Eric and I began to discuss the realistic expectations we should have for three youngish children (7,5, and 3) in such a setting.  From there, my mind wandered on how to give my children a passion for the arts beyond art and craft projects we do at home.  How can I transition that into an appreciation for the art of others?  Then I read this lovely post by an adoptive mom blogger that is in my Bloglines.  So, my brain started churning and I got on Dick Blick and Amazon looking for Art History introduction type publications for children.  Then, I unearthed

  these.  

They have them for a number of different artists and I think I want them ALL.  One at a time, my budget says, but wouldn't that be great?!  To have them all.

* Lael has been tired and sick and just practically lifeless for a few days in row.  The debut of

 Ni Hao, Kail-lan 

could not have come at a better time!  the TiVo now has 4 epidsodes and she has been alternating between her beloved Dora and Kai-lan, temporarily distracting her from the yuckiness.  :-(

School Cancelled!

Hooray!  I'm very excited for Grant and for myself that he does not have to go to school today.  I love having him home, and with blustery weather outside and a chance of snow, it should be especially fun.  I'm about to get to work on a "special breakfast" of their choosing (waffles, pancakes, muffins, or french toast- basically anything that takes longer than I'm normally willing to make on a school morning).  We'll do some reading, some Valentine's prep, and maybe an experiment out of his Kitchen Chemistry set that he got from Aunt Angie and Uncle Tim this Christmas (highly recommended kit- super fun and super smart!).  Oh, and cocoa is a must!  Yay!

Last of the Kelso Hidden Name Paintings

This Hidden Name train painting is for O-W-E-N, and fits nicely in theme and tone with the others which is great, because they will be framed and displayed together.  I had such fun with this trio, and might experiment further with the techniques I used here.  Coffee washes are my new favorite- each painting I've done with them makes me smile- such a warm effect, and it creates little "rings" of color in unpredictable patterns when the watercolor is used over it.  Looking forward to delivering these to you guys and seeing them up on the wall!

Specs:

Hidden Name Custom Watercolor, 2008

roughly 9x12 inches 

Strathmore 140 watercolor paper

coffee wash, with Yarka St. Petersburg pan watercolors, and India ink pen

Hidden Name Painting for Ivan

As promised, here is another one of the custom paintings I was commissioned to do for the Kelso boys.  This time, it's for I-V-A-N.

Specs:

Hidden Name Custom Watercolor, 2008

roughly 9x12 inches 

Strathmore 140 watercolor paper

coffee wash, with Yarka St. Petersburg pan watercolors, and India ink pen

 

Hidden Picture painting for Aron

I painted three Hidden Name watercolor paintings for the Kelso family.  These images are of the one created for Aron, their youngest son (I'll show the others in future posts).  The first picture is of the full painting, and the remaining images are close-ups of the hidden letters, A-R-O-N.   Let me know if you have trouble finding the letters.

Specs:

Hidden Name Custom Watercolor, 2008

roughly 9x12 inches 

Strathmore 142 watercolor paper

coffee wash, with Yarka St. Petersburg pan watercolors, and India ink pen

Jolly Old

We bought tickets to go to London soon to visit with my family.  Here's a shot of us last time, in Trafalgar Square in 2006.  My Uncle Steve jokes that each time we've visited, we come with a new family member.  Ha!  We've shown him, huh?  No referral, no second daughter= the same bunch of 5 Fadelys that were in England last time!  It would be wonderful to get to England once our newest little girl is with us, but at the same time, we certainly don't want to put off visiting my family too much longer.  If it is a year from now before we travel to Taiwan (big ol' guess...who really knows?), I guarantee that we won't want to fly on another big trip shortly after.  Then you're talking about Summer 2009, and summer flight rates are prohibitively expensive when you're buying 6 tickets.  It is likely that if we didn't go this spring, we wouldn't have a good window again until Fall 2009.  Too long- I miss my grandma.

Now, if you'll all join me in praying that Grant's passport arrives in time.  We jumped pretty quickly on some low fares, only to realize that his passport has expired.  The past two days have been full with trips to the passport office, and Costco for photos (cheaper!).  We paid the expediting fees, and hope that does the trick!

All the Little Children Consignment sale

For any of my local Nashville readers, a dear friend of mine, LaDonna, is the organizer of a seasonal consignment sale for children's clothes, equipment and toys.  Check out the website if you want details for being a consignor or if you want to shop the sale days!  It's coming up at beginning of March on the north side of town.

tagged

Tagged by Rebecca, here are my answers...

Four jobs I have had in my life:
-tutor

-chiropractic assistant (massage, developing x-rays, ultrasound...)

-administrative assistant in a doctor's office

-artist/mother/teacher/cook... whatever my title is now (?)

Four movies I could watch over and over:
- BBC's Pride and Prejudice

-Enchanted

- Funny Face with Audrey Hepburn

- ?

(I'm not really the movie one in the family)

Four places I have lived:

- San Diego County, California

- Middle Tennessee

Four shows that I watch:
- Project Runway

- Heroes

- Journeyman

- anything with Chef Gordon Ramsey

Four places I have been:
- Washington, DC

- England

- Paris, France

- New York City, NY

Four people who email me regularly:
- Spam

- my hubby

- Amy

- Mary

Four of my favorite foods:
- Avocados (especially in quesidillas with sharp cheddar)

- cheese

- chocolate

- lobster

Four places I would rather be right now:
- London

- Taiwan

- in a quiet house, in my comfy pjs, watching a movie, taking a nap, or knitting with coffee or cocoa and the great slippers my friend Kim sent for Christmas

- San Diego

Four folks I think will respond:
- No idea

Four things I'm looking forward to in the next 12 months:
- getting a referral for our daughter, and traveling to meet her

- seeing where God is taking my artwork

- our 10 year wedding anniversary

- having family move to Nashville

Four goals for the New Year:
- paint/ create more often

- continue growing as a better parent

- continue growing as a better wife

- operate in radical love, the way the Lord asks of us- without judgement, with fresh eyes, meeting needs

Four gifts I got for Christmas:
- massage gift certificates

- CHI hair straightener

- the company of family

- Grandma and Papa on video chat as we opened gifts (yay for their new iMac!)

Four places I want to visit:

Does "everywhere" count as one?

Four things you did not know about me:
- My friend Mary folds her plastic bags before she stores them for re-use and ever since she showed me I am compulsive about this.  That might change, as we've switched to taking our own cloth bags to the store.

- I don't like wind

- I used to iron almost everything (t shirts, jeans included)

- I was raised vegetarian

Four things I wish I could be better at:
- resisting sweet things

- patience

- gardening

- fashion

Four things I can cook without a recipe:
- any type of fruit crumble

- lasagna

- peanut butter and jelly

- fresh chicken stock

Four musicians that I really like:
- James Blunt

- Jeremy Camp

- Todd Agnew

- Sugarland

(I'm not really the music one in the family)

You're tagged if you want to be... just answer the same questions on your blog

Rain, Rain, Rain

When Eric got his iPhone for Christmas, he programmed the weather feature to display weather and temperature of a few cities: ours, hometown area in California, and Taipei, Taiwan.  Since then, he has often remarked that it is ALWAYS RAINING in Taipei.  I like the rain.  I'm not concerned.  Especially since the temperature seems to stay in the 60's.  I try to encourage, saying, "at least we likely won't travel in the summer when it's 100 degrees and humid".  Likely. [crossing fingers]

So, this morning, we're lying in bed and I told him to check the weather since I was really hoping school wouldn't be cancelled for Grant- he's got a field trip to the Children's Theatre that he was quite excited about.  Anyway, no snow here in Nashville, but it's still raining in Taiwan.  See for yourself.   The "it's always raining there!" conversation continued and Eric remarked

"We're adopting something with gills"