Exciting day! Yesterday marked Mr. C and my 2nd anniversary! Wooo! Time flies when you're in love! ;-)
Then, this morning, bright and early after a loooooooong and tiring 8-day journey to Iowa and back, we had our orientation meeting with Gladney staffer Judy H. She was so helpful and full of good information and suggestions. While the amount of paperwork needed to fulfill our dossier (the massive bundle of private and public information about Mr. C and myself that will accompany our request to adopt form to Ethiopia) is daunting and even a little frightening; we know it will all be worth it when we're holding our precious new baby in our arms. "Keep your eyes on the prize", so to speak!
We've got lots to do: getting our home study in order, filling out final adoption requests with Gladney, finding friends and co-workers who are willing to fill out background information questionnaires on Mr. C and myself, deciding on god-parents, etc. So, I'm going to get to work; BUT, I heard about this super cute new Sesame Street Muppet that sings a song to all the little brown girls and boys out there who are having issues with not loving their hair so much.
Mr. C and I have been doing TONS of research on African hair and skincare routines; and we have decided, quite ardently, that we absolutely do NOT feel comfortable pouring harmful chemicals on our child's hair to make it supposedly "more manageable" for ourselves. However, we know that we are living in America where (especially for girls) the standards of beauty are often severe and unattainable (ie: Barbie). So, when I heard this song preaching the glories of natural African hair, I was almost giddy! Apparently, the head writer at Sesame Street has an adopted daughter from Ethiopia as well - small world, eh?!
You'll have to check it out yourself; but watch out, I swear, it'll get stuck in your head! Enjoy!
Hope you're having a great day!
*mandie*
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Grateful Thinking
Since we got the phone call from the adoption agency, I've been thinking a lot about our future child's birth mother. For certain she will become pregnant within the next few months. I wonder about her situation, her circumstances. Is she okay? Is she in a bad situation? Who is the father-to-be of her child, our child? Is she young? Is she extremely poor? Does she have a job? An education? So many questions. Many that may not ever be answered...
I have started praying for her daily. No matter how painful this experience has the potential to be on either side, I will never forget how grateful I am to this brave woman in Ethiopia who is going to provide an adoption plan for her child that he/she may become a part of my forever family. I have been feeling SO grateful these past few days thinking of this woman, the birth father, the birth family, and Ethiopia as a country and it's willingness to allow foreigners like myself to adopt and love their children.
So, today, I am thinking only grateful thoughts. I am amazed that from one family's potential sorrow and pain, another family is made whole and happy. I hope and pray for the best possible situation for our relationship with this brave woman and her family. I hope I get to meet her. I hope that I get to tell her how grateful I am. I want to hug her and promise to her that I will forever love and cherish our child.
God works in miraculous ways, and I feel as though I am about to take part in a miracle! What a gracious, compassionate, fantastic God we have!
Love and More Love,
*mandie*
I have started praying for her daily. No matter how painful this experience has the potential to be on either side, I will never forget how grateful I am to this brave woman in Ethiopia who is going to provide an adoption plan for her child that he/she may become a part of my forever family. I have been feeling SO grateful these past few days thinking of this woman, the birth father, the birth family, and Ethiopia as a country and it's willingness to allow foreigners like myself to adopt and love their children.
So, today, I am thinking only grateful thoughts. I am amazed that from one family's potential sorrow and pain, another family is made whole and happy. I hope and pray for the best possible situation for our relationship with this brave woman and her family. I hope I get to meet her. I hope that I get to tell her how grateful I am. I want to hug her and promise to her that I will forever love and cherish our child.
God works in miraculous ways, and I feel as though I am about to take part in a miracle! What a gracious, compassionate, fantastic God we have!
Love and More Love,
*mandie*
Thursday, October 14, 2010
It's Starting!
We got a phone call today - not "THE" phone call; no, it's much to early for that! But, an exciting phone call nonetheless. Our first phone meeting with Gladney got scheduled today for this Tuesday. Crazy!
I find it amazing that in one moment, you're just a couple; and in the next, you're on your way to being parents - for real! It's not just something you've been hoping for and dreaming of and talking about - it's GOING to happen!
My emotions are all over right now...so happy and yet nervous (read post below); but it's all good things. I feel so much peace about this process. Before, I was feeling so low and almost depressed about our situation. Now, I feel so much joy. I cannot describe it perfectly enough now, I hope to be able to in time.
I will try to write an update after our meeting on Tuesday. We've been in Iowa vising my parents and helping with the family business. So, it's going to be wild coming back and jumping right into a meeting. I'm so excited, though, I just don't care! Eeeeee! :-)
To Be Continued..........
*mandie*
Friday, October 8, 2010
Nerves!
Isn't it so strange how you can want something so badly? Like you ache in your heart for it? And then, this happens to me nearly 100% of the time, as soon as I get close to what I've been wanting - BAM! I get a sudden rush of nerves and anxiety!
I'm feeling that way today. We sent in our information to Gladney Center for Adoption out of Texas (they have an office near us that is in Oklahoma City) - it's "official" that we're "officially on the road to adoption". Wow. As soon as I clicked "send" I turned to Mr. C and said, "What have I done?! I'm not qualified to be a mother!" He just laughed a bit and said, "Really? I don't feel nervous at all." That is why God brought this man to me - we are opposites, and we each needed the tempering force of balance that comes with our relationship. (Opposites do attract!)
So why Gladney after thinking we were going to go with another agency last year? Well, we wanted an agency that was a little closer to home (Missouri); and we have had the pleasure of hearing some first-hand accounts of families that have been brought together via Gladney's efforts. It means a lot to hear these success stories when you're not only adopting, but are going to be first-time parents (which can be terrifying and exciting all at once). These generous families who were willing to share their adoption stories made it very clear to us that Gladney was the way to go.
But now we have to be accepted by them! What if they don't like us? What if they think we're incompetent? What if they sniff right through our strong facades and see how truly frightened we are of screwing everything up in the parenthood department? Will this deter them from allowing us to have a child? Will our dreams of parenthood be thwarted once again?
I know these are irrational fears, but I am scared of the thought of being possibly turned away. I suppose I feel this way mostly because I feel as though I specifically have been "turned away" in a sense when it comes to motherhood in general. I mean, for whatever reason, I am not able to conceive a child biologically; so, what if that was God's way of saying I'm not "good enough" to be a mother in general - not to a biological OR adopted child? The idea of this brings me to tears. On one hand, I realize how ludicrous this probably is. On the other hand, I let my insecurities on this matter flow freely.
I have wondered why I feel so insecure about this issue and not many others in life. I'm a musician - trying to "make it" in arguably one of the world's most difficult professions has never daunted me. I have always known that God gave me a gift, and that I was going to get to use it...no matter how long I had to struggle to "get where I wanted to go". I have acted in tons of regional theater productions since the age of 11 - never a bit of nerves, always knew I'd be fine - I'd be great! I'm currently writing my first comic book series, and I have hope daily that it will go far. But I go to become a mother and suddenly I'm a different person. Where did all of that confidence and faith in God go? I'm more than a little ashamed of my reaction. :-(
Mr. C says that this is not the time to be nervous. This is the time to be excited. The time to be nervous is when they place a crying infant in your arms, and you are officially a parent - ha! He's so much more laid back than me in nearly all life matters. I often wish I could be more like him in that respect.
I suppose I just needed to get this off of my chest. I'm nervous. I am. I'm scared of rejection. I'm frightened I won't be a good enough mother, and I desperately want to be a good mom! I'm nervous about what people will say when they see me holding my adopted child. I haven't fully thought through what I'm going to say or how I'll explain things, etc. How do I tell my parents that they'll be grandparents; but not to a green-eyed, red head that looks like me, but rather a brown-skinned, curly-headed angel that I hope they can love as much as I already do?! It's all so much right now. I feel a little over-whelmed, but I wouldn't change anything for the world! I can't wait to embark on this journey toward parenthood; I'm truthfully very excited under all of these nerves!
Anyone who's adopted before or become a parent for the first time recently, how did you deal with the nerves? Or were you "anxiety free"? Haha! Wish that was me!
Blessings and Much Love,
*mandie*
I'm feeling that way today. We sent in our information to Gladney Center for Adoption out of Texas (they have an office near us that is in Oklahoma City) - it's "official" that we're "officially on the road to adoption". Wow. As soon as I clicked "send" I turned to Mr. C and said, "What have I done?! I'm not qualified to be a mother!" He just laughed a bit and said, "Really? I don't feel nervous at all." That is why God brought this man to me - we are opposites, and we each needed the tempering force of balance that comes with our relationship. (Opposites do attract!)
So why Gladney after thinking we were going to go with another agency last year? Well, we wanted an agency that was a little closer to home (Missouri); and we have had the pleasure of hearing some first-hand accounts of families that have been brought together via Gladney's efforts. It means a lot to hear these success stories when you're not only adopting, but are going to be first-time parents (which can be terrifying and exciting all at once). These generous families who were willing to share their adoption stories made it very clear to us that Gladney was the way to go.
But now we have to be accepted by them! What if they don't like us? What if they think we're incompetent? What if they sniff right through our strong facades and see how truly frightened we are of screwing everything up in the parenthood department? Will this deter them from allowing us to have a child? Will our dreams of parenthood be thwarted once again?
I know these are irrational fears, but I am scared of the thought of being possibly turned away. I suppose I feel this way mostly because I feel as though I specifically have been "turned away" in a sense when it comes to motherhood in general. I mean, for whatever reason, I am not able to conceive a child biologically; so, what if that was God's way of saying I'm not "good enough" to be a mother in general - not to a biological OR adopted child? The idea of this brings me to tears. On one hand, I realize how ludicrous this probably is. On the other hand, I let my insecurities on this matter flow freely.
I have wondered why I feel so insecure about this issue and not many others in life. I'm a musician - trying to "make it" in arguably one of the world's most difficult professions has never daunted me. I have always known that God gave me a gift, and that I was going to get to use it...no matter how long I had to struggle to "get where I wanted to go". I have acted in tons of regional theater productions since the age of 11 - never a bit of nerves, always knew I'd be fine - I'd be great! I'm currently writing my first comic book series, and I have hope daily that it will go far. But I go to become a mother and suddenly I'm a different person. Where did all of that confidence and faith in God go? I'm more than a little ashamed of my reaction. :-(
Mr. C says that this is not the time to be nervous. This is the time to be excited. The time to be nervous is when they place a crying infant in your arms, and you are officially a parent - ha! He's so much more laid back than me in nearly all life matters. I often wish I could be more like him in that respect.
I suppose I just needed to get this off of my chest. I'm nervous. I am. I'm scared of rejection. I'm frightened I won't be a good enough mother, and I desperately want to be a good mom! I'm nervous about what people will say when they see me holding my adopted child. I haven't fully thought through what I'm going to say or how I'll explain things, etc. How do I tell my parents that they'll be grandparents; but not to a green-eyed, red head that looks like me, but rather a brown-skinned, curly-headed angel that I hope they can love as much as I already do?! It's all so much right now. I feel a little over-whelmed, but I wouldn't change anything for the world! I can't wait to embark on this journey toward parenthood; I'm truthfully very excited under all of these nerves!
Anyone who's adopted before or become a parent for the first time recently, how did you deal with the nerves? Or were you "anxiety free"? Haha! Wish that was me!
Blessings and Much Love,
*mandie*
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Buy Cute Baby/Kids Clothes - Support Ethiopian Adoption!
There's always a price to pay - for everything. Whether in physics, commerce, alchemy, or adoption, there is always a price to pay for what you desire.
Mr. C and I desire a family. It's been hard for us to conceive biologically; so, we're going back to our Plan A (yes, adoption was our original Plan A, people!). And you know what? We're really excited!
Something we're not excited about? Cost. Now, as I said above, we're perfectly aware that there needs to be (and should be) a price to pay for any and every thing that is truly worth being had (I also want to point out that a child will be paid for physically, emotionally, and financially whether being birthed or adopted). So, we do not find this process outrageous; but we have to admit, we're feeling the strain already.
We know it will be okay in the end - God does not place desires in your heart that are beyond your means (in any way) unless he already has a plan for providing those means to get you to those desires. So, we know deep in our hearts that God will find a way for us to afford this.
Already, we have put our heads together to think of ways we can make this payment or buy those tickets, etc. One way to supplement our adoption fund is through art. We both love art and graphic design; so, we put our minds together to create a line of t-shirts to sell at CafePress.com.
Some of the shirts are for adults, most are for babies and kids. There are extras like dog t-shirts and household items like aprons, clocks, journals, etc. available as well. Most of the shirts have to do with adoption and specifically Ethiopian adoption; but there are many items available that would be precious on any child.
We do want to stress that we have NO CONTROL over the pricing. We have decided to let CafePress.com do the market pricing for us while we merely take a percentage; so, if you feel that the pricing is too high, please let me know on this blog, and we will see about going a different direction as this is just a trial for us right now anyway.
Okay, I'm sure you're wanting to get a sneak peak of some of the designs we have online right now; but I want to quickly point you to our site! Just click this link to get to our store (My Pink Robot). Now...on to the cute kids shirts! Weeeeee!
That's about it for now...so many more ideas are on their way; so, keep checking out My Pink Robot for more adorable kid's clothes!
In my next post, I'm going to update you all on the super cute vintage finds store I've opened on Etsy under the same name as our CafePress.com store (My Pink Robot). I'm going to sell vintage baby and kids' clothes and toys, as well as wall art, and hand-embroidered wall-hangings for baby and kids' rooms made by ME! I promise they'll be super cute and worth your while to at least browse through!
May you all be as happy as I am right now! God bless you!
Mandie
*squeakerabudhabi*
Mr. C and I desire a family. It's been hard for us to conceive biologically; so, we're going back to our Plan A (yes, adoption was our original Plan A, people!). And you know what? We're really excited!
Something we're not excited about? Cost. Now, as I said above, we're perfectly aware that there needs to be (and should be) a price to pay for any and every thing that is truly worth being had (I also want to point out that a child will be paid for physically, emotionally, and financially whether being birthed or adopted). So, we do not find this process outrageous; but we have to admit, we're feeling the strain already.
We know it will be okay in the end - God does not place desires in your heart that are beyond your means (in any way) unless he already has a plan for providing those means to get you to those desires. So, we know deep in our hearts that God will find a way for us to afford this.
Already, we have put our heads together to think of ways we can make this payment or buy those tickets, etc. One way to supplement our adoption fund is through art. We both love art and graphic design; so, we put our minds together to create a line of t-shirts to sell at CafePress.com.
Some of the shirts are for adults, most are for babies and kids. There are extras like dog t-shirts and household items like aprons, clocks, journals, etc. available as well. Most of the shirts have to do with adoption and specifically Ethiopian adoption; but there are many items available that would be precious on any child.
We do want to stress that we have NO CONTROL over the pricing. We have decided to let CafePress.com do the market pricing for us while we merely take a percentage; so, if you feel that the pricing is too high, please let me know on this blog, and we will see about going a different direction as this is just a trial for us right now anyway.
Okay, I'm sure you're wanting to get a sneak peak of some of the designs we have online right now; but I want to quickly point you to our site! Just click this link to get to our store (My Pink Robot). Now...on to the cute kids shirts! Weeeeee!
 |
| "Meant to Bee" comes as shown above or as black ink on all white items. Several items are available - go check them out! |
 |
| "Trophy Child" comes in purple or bright red. Several items available. |
 |
| "Bee Love (ed)" comes as black ink on white items and white ink on black items. |
 |
| "Chosen"/Africa - comes in blue "Africa" items for boys and bright, baby pink "Africa" items for girls. |
 |
| "Fille" (French for "girl") showcases an adorable, pink, vintage teacup design on all products. |
 |
| "Garcon" (French for "boy") showcases a dapper, gentlemanly mustache design on all products. |
 |
| "I Left My Heart in Africa" - our "flagship" design. This is available on men's, women's, children's, and household items in black ink on light products and white ink on darker ones. |
 | |
| "Little Monster" Halloween design comes on everything from baby onesies to doggie t-shirts! Super fun for the month of October! |
That's about it for now...so many more ideas are on their way; so, keep checking out My Pink Robot for more adorable kid's clothes!
In my next post, I'm going to update you all on the super cute vintage finds store I've opened on Etsy under the same name as our CafePress.com store (My Pink Robot). I'm going to sell vintage baby and kids' clothes and toys, as well as wall art, and hand-embroidered wall-hangings for baby and kids' rooms made by ME! I promise they'll be super cute and worth your while to at least browse through!
May you all be as happy as I am right now! God bless you!
Mandie
*squeakerabudhabi*
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