100th blog post

It is blogger tradition that the 100th post be 100 things about me. So, here we go!

1. I try to live my life with passion and simplicity.
2. I am the youngest in my family.
3. Red is my favorite color, closely followed by green and yellow.

4. Most of my house is green, brown, and red.

5. It took me 2 years to find a couch that I liked.
6. Our house was built in 1927.

7. My favorite room in the house is our porch. It's the cat's favorite, too.

8. When I was in 5th grade my dream was to be a missionary to Czechoslovakia.

9. When I was in 9th grade I wanted to be a veterinarian.

10. When I was in 12th grade I wanted to be a Physician's Assistant.

11. I finally decided what I wanted to "do" with my life when I was half-way through grad school. 12. I made the right choice.

13. My middle name is "Anna", after my great-grandmother, who was born in Czechoslovakia.

14. I twirled the baton in 2-4 grade.
15. I was in my first horse show when I was 18 months old.

16. When I was in high school, I had 2 horses, 9 sheep, and an orphan calf all living in the same small pasture.

17. The calf's name was Joshua, Son of Nun. He was named by my youth pastor.

18. I have wanted to adopt since I was about 12.

19. I watched one of my sheep give birth to triplets.

20. I once grew a sunflower that measured 19 inches in diameter.
21. I grew up in the country, but the city is my home.

22. Bryan and I met on a Christian dating website.

23. Our first date was to a Twins baseball game.

24. Our song is Take Me out to the Ballgame.

24. I accidentally blew out our unity candle at our wedding. We didn't take it as a bad omen.

25. My favorite time of year is when the lilac bushes are in bloom.

26. I changed schools 5 times when I was growing up.

27. Research suggests that I was "at risk" because of this.

28. I graduated at the bottom 1/3 of my high school class, but at the top of my class in college and grad school.

29. My advisor in grad school told me I wouldn't make a good school counselor, and should consider a different profession.

30. I am a good school counselor.

31. My grandma Lydia is one of the most influential people in my life. She died almost 5 years ago.

32. My favorite book to read to Brett is Just in Case You Ever Wonder by Max Lucado.

33. I have held well over 20 part time jobs in my life.

34. I failed my drivers exam on the first try. The examiner actually took cover at one point.

35. My first car I bought was a white Dodge Daytona. It had spoilers.

36. The shortest time I ever owned a car was 6 weeks. It was totalled.

37. I took the ACT 3 times over 5 years and got the same composite score each time.

38. My top 3 political issues are poverty, education, and the environment in that order.

39. I have 11 nieces and nephews, ages 0-16.

40. Topics for science projects as a kid: mold, ants, caffeine, photography.

41. I have had 13 hamsters in my life.

42. I am deathly afraid of rats and mice.

43. I am also afraid of getting trapped under a bridge.

44. My favorite game on Price is Right is Plinko.

45. Bryan refuses to play games with me because I hate losing.

46. My least favorite household chore is washing dishes.
47. I like to hang my clothes on the clothes line to dry.

50. I am an absent-minded person and am easily distracted.

51. I once told Bryan roses are the "generic" flower to give.

52. He has never given me roses.

53. I have been to 3 other countries: Mexico, Canada, and China.

54. I have lived in 4 states: South Dakota, Missouri, Texas and Minnesota.

55. I have a fantasy baseball team called the Eastside Dandelions.

56. I beat Bryan, Chad, and Adam every year.

57. I really enjoy decorating cakes.

58. On average it takes me 5 hours to decorate a cake.

59. I have spent over 30 hours decorating a single cake.

60. We hope to have 3 children: 2 adopted and 1 biological.

61. If I could discover a way to end bullying in schools, Bryan and I would never have to work another day in our lives.

62. I asked Jesus into my heart when I was 6 years old.

63. He still lives in me, but it sure wasn't a very welcoming place to live during the teen years.

64. I once made an exact replica of a school pass on my dad's computer.

65. He found it. But not before I had distributed copies to all my friends.

66. I once received a detention for being late to detention.

67. My first major in college was Social Work.

68. I have a bachelors degree in Church Ministry.

69. I could have become a licensed minister when I graduated, but decided I did not agree whole-heartedly with all the doctrines of that particular denomination.

70. While working toward my bachelor's degree, I interned as a children's pastor and also at an inner-city sidewalk sunday school ministry.

71. I have had brown, bleached blond, and fire engine red hair. Sometimes it was a combination of more than one of those.

72. I also had purple hair once. That was an accident.

73. Last year I taught myself balloon twisting. It's fun.
74. I did not go to my senior prom.

75. I did not go to my graduation from college or grad school.

76. I receive mail and phone calls from both the Republican and Democratic Party.

77. I have not decided which presidential candidate will get my vote yet. There's still hope, Dad.
78. I subscribe to Adoptive Families magazine and American Baby (because it was free).

79. I don't like to read books but love information.

80. I love documentaries.
81. I obsess about saving energy, money, and children.

82. When someone asks me for money, I usually give it to him. Who am I to judge?

83. My two favorite holidays are the 4th of July and Halloween. What beats playing with fire and dressing in silly costumes for candy?

84. I don't like talking on the phone or going shopping.

85. I do most of my talking and shopping via the Internet.

86. I have never kept a journal before. Blogging is great!!!

87. I enjoy gardening and canning my produce.

88. Weeds only bother me when my mother-in-law is coming to visit.

89. When I was on a field trip in 5th grade, I fell into the Mississippi River while chasing a frog. My teacher had to pull me out of the water and she slipped and fell in the mud.

90. For the rest of the school year, I was the teacher's "buddy" on all field trips.

91. Among my all time favorite movies: Sixth Sense, Jerry Maguire, Remember the Titans, Everyone's Hero, and Rocky Balboa. Interesting. Four of the five are sports related...

92. Favorite songs to sing to Brett: You are my Sunshine, I'm a little Tea Pot, God is So Good, Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus .
93. So far, I think physical pregnancy has been easier than paper pregnancy. But I haven't experienced labor yet.
94. My strangest craving has been for tuna. I had it for breakfast.
95. Bryan and I are set on a name if it's a girl, but are undecided if it's a boy.

96. I want to be the mom that's going down the big slide with her kid, not sitting on the park bench watching.
97. I also want to be the mom that lets her kid finger paint and make mud pies.
98. I have lots of unfinished projects.
99. We attend a church that challenges our beliefs.

100. I think every Christian should go on at least one short term mission trip. The ones I've been on have greatly impacted the way I live out my daily life.

county fair, etc.

I've been adding on to this post for a couple weeks now. So, this is what we've been up to lately-

Every year we try to go to the county fair. It was fun to take Brett this year! He was very interested in the animals at the petting zoo!

We also like to stop by the Lions' fundraiser bingo tent! We figure it's about time for Brett to learn to gamble! ; )
One of my friends just had a baby, so I took her toddler and Brett to an indoor playground. They both had so much fun, but I was exhausted after about 15 minutes. The ball pit was a big hit, but unfortunately none of my pictures turned out - the kiddos were just moving too fast!And finally, my cousin got married on Saturday. It was a beautiful wedding and the reception was a lot of fun. Brett makes a better (or should I say...more willing) dance partner than Bryan!

Brett even stole a dance with the bride! (Actually, it cost us $1.)We're all excited about our annual pilgrimage to Green Bay! We leave on Thursday!

It's a....

(Baby's face with hand by ear)

...baby.

The anxiously awaited day has arrived! Is Brett going to have a brother or sister? We don't know! We definitely wanted to know, but the baby was being too modest. So, we will just have to wait and see....grumble....

But it was exciting to see 'its' little beating heart, and little hand waving at us, and 'its' tiny foot covering 'its' --we-don't-know-what! Argh!

We also learned that the baby was measuring at about 20 weeks 6 days gestation, so my due date might be more like November 26th (day before Thanksgiving). I have an appointment next week to talk more about the ultrasound results with my doctor.

walking billboard

Sometimes I feel like a walking billboard.

Every time we step out our front door there's a likelihood someone will stop us to talk about adoption. We've been approached in church, at the service counter at a store, by our server at a restaurant, and so on... Don't get me wrong - adoption is one of my favorite things to talk about! But, we have always been very private and to ourselves. So it's a growing experience to be sharing our story with strangers.

When someone approaches, I always try to remind myself that I don't know this person's relationship to adoption. For some, it is a painful connection. I don't know if this person is just curious, has adopted, is hoping to adopt, was adopted, or has placed a child for adoption. Just a few weeks ago, I took Brett for a stroll around the neighborhood, and was stopped by a lady who had placed three children for adoption many, many years ago. I was so thankful she wanted to share her story with me.

Yesterday, Brett and I were riding the city bus when a lady inquired. The conversation started like most do with "testing the water" questions: Boy or girl? How old is he? and then Is he adopted? And then more questions about adoption that indicated she hoped to adopt. The lady was dressed in scrubs, middle aged and of African heritage, and because of her thick accent, I assumed she had been born in Africa. She asked if single people could adopt and I said yes. She wanted the contact information of the agency we worked with, and I didn't have it with me, so she asked for my phone number. This is the first time I've been asked for my phone number, but I gave it to her with little thought that she would actually call me.

As she got off the bus, I was concerned for her, as I often am when people share their desire to adopt with me. It seems like there are many who desire to adopt. But there are often so many barriers in the way that keep it from happening. Does she have the resources it takes to adopt? I'm not just talking about the money, although that is often a barrier. The process of adoption is not easy to navigate, and as with everything else when there is large amounts of money involved, there are people who are looking to take advantage of under informed or misinformed hopeful parents. The truth of the matter is, regardless of whether or not this lady would be a good mother, and regardless of the fact that there are so many children who need to be adopted, actually completing an adoption is a difficult process.

This morning, my new friend called me. I gave her the contact information of the local agency we worked with a silent prayer that they would be willing to help her. She shared more of her story with me, and I shared more of our story with her. I encouraged her to call again if she had any more questions.

I have often thought I should print out some "business" cards to keep with me and hand out when someone inquires about adoption. I just know that adoption can be overwhelming and there is so much to learn and think about. I know for us, it was a tremendous resource to have friends who had walked the road before us and I want to offer that kind of help to others whenever I can. Even if it means moving out of my comfort zone!

7 months old

Brett is 7 months old! Some of his favorite things to do are sing silly songs with momma, play rough with daddy, and go go go! He has learned to "give me five" and is scooting himself backward around the floor. He loves to eat, but not green beans. He thinks the strangest things are funny, like the cat jumping up on momma's lap, daddy calling him "skinny butt", and momma saying "yucky" when I change a messy diaper.

Mark Schultz - Everything to Me

The story behind the song...