If even just one person finds this blog post helpful, it will be worth it. I continue to be amazed at how hard it is for the thousands of parents who adopt children internationally to get this necessary information. I'm no expert but I've been through the process successfully myself.
If you have adopted a child from a foreign country and your child came home with an IR-4 visa in his/her passport (not an IR-4), you will need to "readopt" your child in the United States in order to get your child's Certificate of Citizenship.
Each state handles the readoption process differently and in our state (Maryland) each county handles it differently. For our readoption process, we basically had to run through the domestic adoption process.
To determine what you need to do to readopt your child(ren), go to the Child Welfare Information Gateway website - http://www.childwelfare.gov/
Click on the link for the National Foster Care and Adoption Directory - http://www.childwelfare.gov/nfcad/
You can go directly to the Directory but you might find other helpful information at the main site so I posted that link, too.
Select your state and the information you want to know - for readoption info, check the box for "State Foster Care and Adoption Officials." On the resulting page, find the contact info for the State Adoption Program Manager or similarly titled person. Contact that person and they or someone from their office should give you the details you need to know for readopting your child in your state.
Good luck!
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
After 1, After 2
After "1" (right after removing the bushes and organizing the debris - this was the "After" picture in a previous post)
After "2" (after washing the green matter off the wall and removing the debris entirely)
Our next step is probably to take care of that awesome walkway. We might do a poured concrete sidewalk - less money and easier to do than a nicer-looking paver-type path. Definitely nicer than what's there now.
After "2" (after washing the green matter off the wall and removing the debris entirely)
Our next step is probably to take care of that awesome walkway. We might do a poured concrete sidewalk - less money and easier to do than a nicer-looking paver-type path. Definitely nicer than what's there now.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Mother's Day Interview
For Father's Day, I always interview Kevin and write his answers down as a gift for Andy (and a source of embarrassment for Kevin in the future.) This year, Kevin's kindergarten teacher did a similar thing for the mom of each kid in the class.
Q: What is your mom's name?
A: Dianne [correct]
Q: How old is she?
A: She's not 40... maybe like 50? [correct answer: 35]
Q: How much does she weigh?
A: I think she's 300 pounds [correct answer: less than 200]
Q: What is her favorite food?
A: Pizza! [correct]
Q: What is her favorite color?
A: Dark blue [correct]
Q: What is her favorite thing to wear?
A: Every day she goes to work she has to wear pants. [correct in that I'm not allowed to wear shorts to work]
Q: What is her favorite thing to do?
A: Work with my dad [lots of correct answers; this is one of them]
Q: What is her favorite kind of music?
A: High School Musical [correct answer: pretty much anything EXCEPT music from a musical; I think Kevin joked this answer on purpose because he snickered when I read this one aloud.]
Q: What is your mom's name?
A: Dianne [correct]
Q: How old is she?
A: She's not 40... maybe like 50? [correct answer: 35]
Q: How much does she weigh?
A: I think she's 300 pounds [correct answer: less than 200]
Q: What is her favorite food?
A: Pizza! [correct]
Q: What is her favorite color?
A: Dark blue [correct]
Q: What is her favorite thing to wear?
A: Every day she goes to work she has to wear pants. [correct in that I'm not allowed to wear shorts to work]
Q: What is her favorite thing to do?
A: Work with my dad [lots of correct answers; this is one of them]
Q: What is her favorite kind of music?
A: High School Musical [correct answer: pretty much anything EXCEPT music from a musical; I think Kevin joked this answer on purpose because he snickered when I read this one aloud.]
Monday, May 19, 2008
Before and After
Before
After
I know that the "After" picture is supposed to look nicer, but we're just not there yet. We removed 5 juniper bushes that have been growing like weeds since we moved in and which Andy keeps "trimming" into bowling balls despite me telling him that juniper bushes are supposed to be scraggly. When they're scraggly and this big, they're really in the way, though.
We plan to put butterfly- and hummingbird-friendly plants in this space but we first need to figure out how we want it edged.
Pulling out the bushes was so much fun. Andy tied a rope around the bottom of the stems/trunks and then we hooked the rope to the car and then I hit the gas. Out came the bushes! We really wish we could've videotaped that process but safety was of the utmost importance, so neither of us could hold the camera while it was going on.
After
I know that the "After" picture is supposed to look nicer, but we're just not there yet. We removed 5 juniper bushes that have been growing like weeds since we moved in and which Andy keeps "trimming" into bowling balls despite me telling him that juniper bushes are supposed to be scraggly. When they're scraggly and this big, they're really in the way, though.
We plan to put butterfly- and hummingbird-friendly plants in this space but we first need to figure out how we want it edged.
Pulling out the bushes was so much fun. Andy tied a rope around the bottom of the stems/trunks and then we hooked the rope to the car and then I hit the gas. Out came the bushes! We really wish we could've videotaped that process but safety was of the utmost importance, so neither of us could hold the camera while it was going on.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Haute Cuisine
I'm eating a bowl of cake. It's not a cupcake or a slice of cake, it's a bowl. You could think of it as a big cupcake with an unpeelable paper.
I have a 12-cupcake pan plus a 6-cupcake pan. The problem with that is a regular recipe or box mix of cake makes 24 cupcakes. What to do with the leftover batter? I could eat it that way, but the raw eggs concern me in such a large quantity. I could wait for the first batch of cupcakes to bake and then refill a pan with the rest of the batter. That requires more patience than I have, all that waiting for 15 minutes and then waiting for another 15 minutes.
Friday, May 02, 2008
Conversation
A friend at work (K) walked into my office unwrapping a large box of protein/energy bars.
K: Here, I owe you an energy bar.
Me: No you don't. I only gave you one - I've eaten plenty of yours.
K: But it was your last one, it was special.
Me: No it wasn't, I had 3 left.
K: And you only gave me one?
Me: Yeah, so you don't owe me anything.
K: Ok. So do you want one?
Me: Sure.
K: Here, I owe you an energy bar.
Me: No you don't. I only gave you one - I've eaten plenty of yours.
K: But it was your last one, it was special.
Me: No it wasn't, I had 3 left.
K: And you only gave me one?
Me: Yeah, so you don't owe me anything.
K: Ok. So do you want one?
Me: Sure.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Not much makes me happier than feeling independent with a brain full of chemicals induced by exercise
It appears that I went for a bike ride today. But that's not Kevin in the trailer.
It's groceries! And more of them than I thought I would be able to get home from the store.
I admit to limiting myself to 1 gallon of milk instead of my usual 2 and only 2 boxes of Coke instead of anywhere up to 6 that I would usually get when at the store with a car but I still think that I got quite a bit of stuff into the trailer and to our house by only my own muscle power.
And doesn't it figure that the way to the grocery store is all downhill while the ride home is all uphill.
It's groceries! And more of them than I thought I would be able to get home from the store.
I admit to limiting myself to 1 gallon of milk instead of my usual 2 and only 2 boxes of Coke instead of anywhere up to 6 that I would usually get when at the store with a car but I still think that I got quite a bit of stuff into the trailer and to our house by only my own muscle power.
And doesn't it figure that the way to the grocery store is all downhill while the ride home is all uphill.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Andy's is not pink with flowers on it
While Andy didn't want a blue kayak, we are "function over form" people (and he didn't want to wait 9 weeks to order the orange or army green version.)
We've been out twice in our kayaks and it's been a good time. Andy tried sitting in the back seat with Kevin in the front but the front portion of the boat was out of the water. The boat stays flat when Andy rides in the front/middle with Kevin in the back so I think he'll stick with that from now on. Now he's on the hunt for an appropriate fishing rod holder that mounts effectively to his kayak. I suspect that once he finds that, I'll never see him again except for those rare occasions when he feels the need for a shower with real soap.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Sewing With Dianne
Hello and welcome to today's show. On this exciting episode, Dianne will display how NOT to sew a simple pair of shorts for her son.
What could be easier than sewing a pair of 4-panel shorts with an elastic waistband? A no-sew fleece scarf, perhaps? Not much, that's for sure! But stay tuned as we learn the many disasters lurking within the pattern, fabric and bobbin just waiting for their chance to spring loose!
At this time the producers of this program would like to state a warning that viewers with weak hearts may be susceptible to holy outbursts ("Oh my Goodness!", "My Word!" and such) when viewing these graphic images.
Behold Exhibit A. The ungathered gathering of the elastic waistband. In Dianne's defense, it was her first time ever sewing an elastic waistband. But still.
Exhibit B. This is a prime example of how not to sew a hem. Nowhere in the instructions does the pattern call for pleats and yet Dianne creatively added approximately 5 (one of them might be a wayward dart) to the hem of this garment.
Exhibit C. It's hard to see what's going on here what with all of the wrinkles at the top of the shorts, but look lower, near the hem. The arc above the hem was a simple mistake of catching the fabric from underneath when finishing off the inside edge with a zig-zag stitch. Proper patience and perseverance were displayed during the ripping out of the seam but people! The twill! It does not forgive!
Thanks for joining us for today's episode of "Sewing With Dianne." Tune in next time when will be heard such comments as, "How do you make a button hole there?" and "You want me to do *what* with the crotch seam?" Don't miss the fun!
What could be easier than sewing a pair of 4-panel shorts with an elastic waistband? A no-sew fleece scarf, perhaps? Not much, that's for sure! But stay tuned as we learn the many disasters lurking within the pattern, fabric and bobbin just waiting for their chance to spring loose!
At this time the producers of this program would like to state a warning that viewers with weak hearts may be susceptible to holy outbursts ("Oh my Goodness!", "My Word!" and such) when viewing these graphic images.
Behold Exhibit A. The ungathered gathering of the elastic waistband. In Dianne's defense, it was her first time ever sewing an elastic waistband. But still.
Exhibit B. This is a prime example of how not to sew a hem. Nowhere in the instructions does the pattern call for pleats and yet Dianne creatively added approximately 5 (one of them might be a wayward dart) to the hem of this garment.
Exhibit C. It's hard to see what's going on here what with all of the wrinkles at the top of the shorts, but look lower, near the hem. The arc above the hem was a simple mistake of catching the fabric from underneath when finishing off the inside edge with a zig-zag stitch. Proper patience and perseverance were displayed during the ripping out of the seam but people! The twill! It does not forgive!
Thanks for joining us for today's episode of "Sewing With Dianne." Tune in next time when will be heard such comments as, "How do you make a button hole there?" and "You want me to do *what* with the crotch seam?" Don't miss the fun!
Saturday, April 19, 2008
It's pink with flowers on it
Andy and I tried to give each other kayaks for Christmas. Unfortunately, not many stores have much of a selection of kayaks during the winter so we ended up waiting until there were more available to test at least by sitting in before making our decision of what to buy.
Today I got my kayak! The model I chose is women-specific, which is not what I planned, but it worked out for various reasons. I had my choice between turquoise blue, lime green and hot pink. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the hot pink so that's what I went with. Look at it!
When we got it home I wanted to practice taking it off the car rack all by myself. I had a moment of concern here, but it turned out well.
Kevin was very helpful as I tried to regain my balance.
Kevin knows how to max and relax.
Andy was going to get a tandem so he could take Kevin along but I think we can see here that it'll be just as easy (and cheaper) to strap Kevin to the bow of my boat.
Today I got my kayak! The model I chose is women-specific, which is not what I planned, but it worked out for various reasons. I had my choice between turquoise blue, lime green and hot pink. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the hot pink so that's what I went with. Look at it!
When we got it home I wanted to practice taking it off the car rack all by myself. I had a moment of concern here, but it turned out well.
Kevin was very helpful as I tried to regain my balance.
Kevin knows how to max and relax.
Andy was going to get a tandem so he could take Kevin along but I think we can see here that it'll be just as easy (and cheaper) to strap Kevin to the bow of my boat.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Party Politics
Kevin's birthday is in 2 weeks so we've been planning his birthday party. It'll be at our house and the rain plans include games and activities inside, so I put a limit on the number of kids invited.
I told Kevin he could invite 5 friends from his class and asked who he'd like to invite. He immediately named 2 kids and then stumbled on the others because although he's friends with everyone in his class, he couldn't remember which ones like soccer. And having a soccer party means inviting people who would enjoy it, of course. (how nice of him)
At dinner tonight, I gave him his last chance to pick the school friends he wants to invite. Over the past week he's given me about 10 names by naming different kids each time I ask who he wants to invite. Today he came up with another new one, "EB."
"Why did you decide to invite EB? You've never mentioned her before."
"I know, but today she asked me if I'm inviting her to my party and when I said 'no,' she gave me a mad face."
Andy and I looked across the table at each other. "Well, I guess that's as good a reason as any to invite her!"
I told Kevin he could invite 5 friends from his class and asked who he'd like to invite. He immediately named 2 kids and then stumbled on the others because although he's friends with everyone in his class, he couldn't remember which ones like soccer. And having a soccer party means inviting people who would enjoy it, of course. (how nice of him)
At dinner tonight, I gave him his last chance to pick the school friends he wants to invite. Over the past week he's given me about 10 names by naming different kids each time I ask who he wants to invite. Today he came up with another new one, "EB."
"Why did you decide to invite EB? You've never mentioned her before."
"I know, but today she asked me if I'm inviting her to my party and when I said 'no,' she gave me a mad face."
Andy and I looked across the table at each other. "Well, I guess that's as good a reason as any to invite her!"
Overheard
Sitting in church yesterday before the service started, I heard a guy behind me say, "This church has too many metaphors."
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Unexpected lessons from the Positive Coaching Alliance
Last night I attended a parenting seminar put on by the Positive Coaching Alliance. The goal was to teach parents how to help their kids learn life lessons through sports. It was very worthwhile and if you enjoy sports or have kids in sports, I recommend checking out their website for more information.
At the seminar, I saw an acquaintance who really confused me. I know this man through a friend and for the sake of this post I'll call him "Roger." I've seen Roger be a bit of a bully, I've seen him come down really hard on his kids for making mistakes, I've seen him be helpful to his friends and neighbors less than I thought was possible, I've seen him not reign in his kid when he was being unfair to a group of younger kids.... So, to put it simply, I've never liked this guy. And when I saw him at the Positive Coaching Alliance seminar, I admit I thought the heavens were about to crack open and deliver Jesus to me Revelation-style because nothing could be more disparate than Roger and being a good parent regarding sports.
After sitting down I thought, "Let's see the sparks fly when this guy hears that he should not put his kid down for making a mistake and that although winning is important, it's not everything." Pass the popcorn!
Much to my surprise, Roger and I had a nice discussion about being a good coach and a good parent in the ways that I know to be good. Then he was perfectly content, nay, supportive, of the goals of the Positive Coaching Alliance and I found out he had recently attended the PCA's coaches' seminar.
Wha?
If I only knew Roger from last evening and never before, I would think he was a totally different person. Seriously, 180 degrees from the guy I've known him to be to this point. Now I have to work on putting those two images together into one person.
Man, I hate it when God makes me start seeing the good in someone I've enjoyed disliking for so long.
At the seminar, I saw an acquaintance who really confused me. I know this man through a friend and for the sake of this post I'll call him "Roger." I've seen Roger be a bit of a bully, I've seen him come down really hard on his kids for making mistakes, I've seen him be helpful to his friends and neighbors less than I thought was possible, I've seen him not reign in his kid when he was being unfair to a group of younger kids.... So, to put it simply, I've never liked this guy. And when I saw him at the Positive Coaching Alliance seminar, I admit I thought the heavens were about to crack open and deliver Jesus to me Revelation-style because nothing could be more disparate than Roger and being a good parent regarding sports.
After sitting down I thought, "Let's see the sparks fly when this guy hears that he should not put his kid down for making a mistake and that although winning is important, it's not everything." Pass the popcorn!
Much to my surprise, Roger and I had a nice discussion about being a good coach and a good parent in the ways that I know to be good. Then he was perfectly content, nay, supportive, of the goals of the Positive Coaching Alliance and I found out he had recently attended the PCA's coaches' seminar.
Wha?
If I only knew Roger from last evening and never before, I would think he was a totally different person. Seriously, 180 degrees from the guy I've known him to be to this point. Now I have to work on putting those two images together into one person.
Man, I hate it when God makes me start seeing the good in someone I've enjoyed disliking for so long.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Low-tech funnies
I know this isn't iPhoto, but it's just as funny! What do you think people did for laughs before Macs?
The third time was not a charm
When I took the laundry downstairs today, I noticed a black piece of paper or plastic under the left side of the extra freezer. I was too lazy to do anything about it at that point so I waited until later in the morning (15 minutes before I was due to leave for a game of ultimate) to finally try to fish it out. I stepped on the edge of it with my shoe and dragged it out. Only, it didn't slide out. Rather, my shoe became both slick and sticky at the same time as I pulled it back and saw that the black thing was actually a dark red puddle - of blood.
I opened the freezer door and was not chilled by the cold air inside but was overwhelmed, instead, by the odor of rotting food. And lots of it.
This is the third time we've lost a "batch" of food. Once it was from Hurricane Isabel when our power was out for 5 days so we had to get rid of everything in the fridge and freezer. Then we had an older, extra freezer go belly up on us while we were out of town for a long weekend. Then today, I found our fairly new freezer with scads of food inside - much more than usual so, good timing - and an error code blinking on the thermostat control.
Each time this happens, I think to myself, "Self - maybe this means you're not supposed to horde so much food. Maybe you should just buy food one week at a time." Then the sale papers come and I see that salmon is $4.99/lb and ground beef is $2/lb or a friend offers us a full deer worth of meat if we just pay the butcher bill or Kevin's school has a fund raiser selling frozen foods and then I go crazy thinking what a great deal! I should definitely do this because hey! I have an extra freezer!
I opened the freezer door and was not chilled by the cold air inside but was overwhelmed, instead, by the odor of rotting food. And lots of it.
This is the third time we've lost a "batch" of food. Once it was from Hurricane Isabel when our power was out for 5 days so we had to get rid of everything in the fridge and freezer. Then we had an older, extra freezer go belly up on us while we were out of town for a long weekend. Then today, I found our fairly new freezer with scads of food inside - much more than usual so, good timing - and an error code blinking on the thermostat control.
Each time this happens, I think to myself, "Self - maybe this means you're not supposed to horde so much food. Maybe you should just buy food one week at a time." Then the sale papers come and I see that salmon is $4.99/lb and ground beef is $2/lb or a friend offers us a full deer worth of meat if we just pay the butcher bill or Kevin's school has a fund raiser selling frozen foods and then I go crazy thinking what a great deal! I should definitely do this because hey! I have an extra freezer!
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Musical tastes of my 62-year old parents
Last week I compiled a music CD for my parents to use when they exercise. I wanted only to include music they don't already have but things that I deem "exercise-worthy" - if it keeps me on the treadmill for 5 more minutes, then it's good.
I was wary that they wouldn't like the Gipsy Kings and Offspring songs but was pretty sure they'd like Metallica and Linkin Park.
After my mom listened to it the first time, I asked if she liked some/most/all of the songs. Her response was, "'Crazy Train' has always been one of my favorites! Do you have an Ozzy Osbourne CD?"
Yes, Mom, we have a couple of them and you are welcome to borrow them. I'm sorry, but we don't have any AC/DC that you don't already have. (Yes, I'm being serious.)
I was wary that they wouldn't like the Gipsy Kings and Offspring songs but was pretty sure they'd like Metallica and Linkin Park.
After my mom listened to it the first time, I asked if she liked some/most/all of the songs. Her response was, "'Crazy Train' has always been one of my favorites! Do you have an Ozzy Osbourne CD?"
Yes, Mom, we have a couple of them and you are welcome to borrow them. I'm sorry, but we don't have any AC/DC that you don't already have. (Yes, I'm being serious.)
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
I'm not giving you one of those
Tonight I said to Kevin, "Tomorrow I need to make time to give you a b-a-t-h." He's heard me spell "bath" many times but apparently his head wasn't on straight tonight because he asked what that was. I suggested he try to sound it out and he thought for a few seconds and then said, loudly and proudly, "BITCH!"
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
February 14th
Too many people never get a chance to see
Love in their life.
I am blessed to live in it through the respect that you have for me and others.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Joy in their life.
I am blessed to see it in the crinkles around your eyes.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Peace in their life.
I am blessed to be hugged by it when your arms are around me.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Patience in their life.
I am blessed to bask in it through your quiet waiting while those around you spin for answers.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Kindness in their life.
I am blessed to feel it in the gentle touch of your powerful hands.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Goodness in their life.
I am blessed to swim in it when your eyes fill with tears of compassion.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Faithfulness in their life.
I am blessed to stand proud next to your integrity to others and their needs.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Meekness in their life.
I am blessed by your humility to let others "go first."
Too many people never get a chance to see
Self-control in their life.
I am blessed to experience your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness and meekness when it's so easy to be the opposite.
I could not ask for a more amazing husband to share my life with.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
Love in their life.
I am blessed to live in it through the respect that you have for me and others.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Joy in their life.
I am blessed to see it in the crinkles around your eyes.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Peace in their life.
I am blessed to be hugged by it when your arms are around me.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Patience in their life.
I am blessed to bask in it through your quiet waiting while those around you spin for answers.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Kindness in their life.
I am blessed to feel it in the gentle touch of your powerful hands.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Goodness in their life.
I am blessed to swim in it when your eyes fill with tears of compassion.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Faithfulness in their life.
I am blessed to stand proud next to your integrity to others and their needs.
Too many people never get a chance to see
Meekness in their life.
I am blessed by your humility to let others "go first."
Too many people never get a chance to see
Self-control in their life.
I am blessed to experience your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness and meekness when it's so easy to be the opposite.
I could not ask for a more amazing husband to share my life with.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
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