tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-201464202011-04-21T20:20:11.091-07:00Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.comBlogger3561100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-9363248051466349392007-08-16T13:21:00.001-07:002007-08-17T10:37:44.550-07:00

This post has been a long time coming because I had to be very sure before I wrote everything down and shared it with all of you.Earlier this year I came to a fork in the road of my life. On one side of the fork, I could continue to wait for my referral for a daughter from China.On the other side of the fork, I could marry the man I love and have a family with him. I couldn't do both, though,

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com62tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-81700050229073849592007-08-16T12:59:00.001-07:002007-08-16T13:17:22.608-07:00

This has been a wonderful and exciting summer. I have had the opportunity to travel this summer for a total of twenty-eight days, and I've been to Sonoma Valley, San Diego, Madrid, London, Kauai, and San Francisco. It's been so much fun, but I am so happy to be home.Michael and I just returned from a short visit to San Francisco and Sonoma Valley. It was very warm in Sonoma Valley, but a wee bit

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-78552729409896084322007-08-12T08:03:00.001-07:002007-08-12T08:13:08.409-07:00

Upon coming home from my vacation, I had a ton of mail, and in that pile of bills, catalogs, and junk mail was the final package from my faithful secret pal. Turns out my SP is Stacey Cashion from Tennessee, and she and her husband Jason are waiting for their first child, Jadalyn.Stacey, I love the personalized blanket and burp cloth, and the adorable romper. Thank you for all of your

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-76355376696881274732007-08-06T09:59:00.000-07:002007-08-06T10:14:54.776-07:00

Early yesterday morning we drove to the end of the road here in Kauai. You can't drive all the way around the island. The road dead ends at Haena State Park and Ke'e Beach. It was already busy by the time we got there because there was a canoe race going on, and many spectators (and photographers) were on the beach to cheer their teams on. Nevertheless, we found a parking spot and got in the

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-55802487165088672112007-08-03T09:51:00.000-07:002007-08-03T10:16:04.132-07:00

America World is pleased to announce the receipt of 7 healthy female referrals today! Families receiving referrals were logged into the China Center of Adoption Affairs on November 16 of 2005 (group 238). The little girls are currently located in the Hunan Province and range in age from 16-19 months. Please join us in congratulating these families, and in praying for them as they prepare to

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-40991702044976969452007-08-02T16:04:00.000-07:002007-08-02T17:57:10.494-07:00

I finally got in the ocean today! It was wonderful, of course. Our beach is great for swimming and snorkeling, but I've only seen about ten people on it at any given time. There are beaches to the north and south of us packed with tourists, so I'm glad we get to enjoy a nearly empty beach. Last night at sunset, we all took our beverages, towels, and cameras down to the beach and watched the sun

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-50321477305883365232007-07-31T12:36:00.000-07:002007-07-31T13:01:17.976-07:00

We arrived in Haena, Kauai yesterday afternoon. My parents and I had a lovely drive up the coast from the airport to the community of Haena. We took in the lush vegetation and amazing ocean views along the way. We gleefully explored our rental house upon arrival. It is just like something on HGTV! Every room has been beautifully decorated. The ginormous kitchen is fully stocked with all kinds of

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-64596933842001903462007-07-28T14:23:00.000-07:002007-07-28T14:26:50.429-07:00

I'm packing up my swimsuits and sunblock and heading for Kauai!I'll post from there next week.

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-24458437705992701572007-07-23T17:59:00.001-07:002007-07-23T18:11:42.262-07:00

Sunday evening my sweetie and I drove down to the Mont@ge Resort & Spa in Laguna Beach to attend a vow renewal ceremony for some dear friends of his. From the road, you hardly notice the place. But once you're inside, this is the view from the balcony of the lobby. It nearly took my breath away. The clouds had moved in across Southern California yesterday, and there were sprinkles in some places,

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-34401412015415236512007-07-22T08:41:00.000-07:002007-07-22T09:02:06.917-07:00

Ian and LiLi's mom (I think she's password protected?) honored me with the Rockin' Girl Blogger award a few days ago. She said:I will also give the award to Joannah who is another awesome blogger! I just love her blog and the way she makes me smile! She has one of the most beautiful blogs out there!Thank you, Debbie for your kind words!I'd like to pass on the Rockin' Girl Blogger award to three

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-44495253178662725452007-07-19T16:52:00.001-07:002007-07-19T16:57:36.203-07:00

Today:Summer School ended,and I had a wonderful facial (compliments of my last class).Tomorrow:My sweetie comes home from Europe!Eleven days from now:I'll be in Kauai with my family.I'm a happy girl!

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-51438474248459220582007-07-14T10:02:00.000-07:002007-07-14T10:58:40.478-07:00

Well, my time in Madrid and London was wonderful. Getting there and back was challenging - especially for my suitcase. But despite my missing suitcase (eventually found), I managed to enjoy most every moment of my time there.Madrid is a beautiful city! In some ways it really reminded me of Paris, so I've taken to calling it the "Poor Man's Paris". Madrid has amazing architecture, impressive

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-56696750906090512582007-07-13T13:17:00.000-07:002007-07-13T13:48:36.867-07:00

America World is pleased to announce that we received 9 healthy female referrals from the Hunan Province today. The girls ranged in age from 7-8 months old and were all located in the Chenzhou Children's Welfare Institute. Please join us in congratulating these families on their exciting day!!Wow! Notice how young those kiddos are? They'll get to celebrate their first birthdays with their Forever

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-86258929229734151492007-07-03T16:36:00.001-07:002007-07-03T16:44:06.897-07:00

Happy Independence Day!I am so blessed to be an American. It is with a grateful heart that I celebrate our nation's birthday tomorrow. As much fun as it is to travel around the world and see new places when I get the chance, I believe this is as good as it gets this side of Heaven.Enjoy the day! Have fun and be safe. I'll "see" you when I return from you-know-where. ;-)

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-71102138408890037982007-07-02T20:16:00.000-07:002007-07-02T20:44:58.921-07:00

Last Saturday, my dear cousin Jon married the lovely HyeRin (pronounced Heddin) down San Diego way. Here's the beautiful couple just after the wedding:Jon is quite a bit younger than I, and so I remember him from some of his earliest days. In my opinion he was the cutest baby boy ever, although his brothers were pretty cute, too. My sister and I really doted on him, and he had the sweetest nature

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-19260054237489136272007-06-27T14:27:00.001-07:002007-06-28T17:55:53.151-07:00

Earlier this week it looked like I was going to get a free trip to London and Madrid next month. I was SO excited at the possibility, but as of an hour ago it isn't going to happen. My sweetie will be on tour for twenty days in several European countries starting Sunday, and he suggested that he use his miles to fly me over for for a few days. However, since it's summer and since we've waited

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-2247577734374235222007-06-23T19:35:00.001-07:002007-06-23T19:44:35.433-07:00

RMJ tagged me for this one. She wants to see the contents of my purse. Well, okay, but I don't think there's anything out of the ordinary inside.My purse is a Vera Bradley. I have a small collection of these now. I love the fabrics they make their products with, and the designs are great. My favorites are the designs that have interior pockets for my cell phone and other goodies.So what we have

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-32634135223746869062007-06-23T19:32:00.001-07:002007-06-23T19:34:29.835-07:00

Hi there, Secret Pal!Thank you so much for the Fisher-Price Snuggle-Kins panda. This toy is super cute, and it sure looks like a lot of fun for a little one to tote around and care for.I so appreciate your thoughtfulness each month. Your packages always bring a smile to my face.Love to you,Joannah

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-16710254685598204142007-06-20T15:32:00.001-07:002007-06-20T16:01:20.998-07:00

Northern California is so beautiful! I just got back from a quick trip to the wine country with my sweetie, Michael. I wish I could have spent the whole week up there, but I had to report to summer school this morning. Sigh...We stayed along the Russian River under the Redwood trees. There is nothing like a drive down a two-lane road, with the river running alongside the road, and the Redwoods

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-50846641691375830472007-06-16T09:23:00.001-07:002007-06-16T09:38:59.466-07:00

Yesterday was the last day of school! Yippee! As wonderful as that group of kids was, it's good to be done and head into a (hopefully) relaxing summer vacation. I'm teaching new fourth graders at summer school, which starts on Wednesday. But, with the school day there being a little more than four hours, my afternoons will be free and I'm looking forward to having more time to do the things I

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-26823789614109987442007-06-12T16:20:00.000-07:002007-06-12T16:33:18.834-07:00

It's the last week of school. I just finished my report cards and cumulative folders today. I still have some paperwork tasks to do, and I need to pack up and take down some things in the classroom. I have kept the kids busy the last two days with movies and board games. That allowed me to work on the report cards and cumulative folders. Even so, they are pretty wired. They can almost taste their

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-36380410605316743112007-06-08T15:50:00.001-07:002007-06-08T16:06:00.147-07:00

Tonight I will complete my first week of bootcamp. It's been challenging, but it's also surprisingly fun! I have been befriended by another bootcamper who is also a teacher. She has the gift of gab, and talks to me almost non-stop the whole class. This is a wonderful distraction for me! I just listen and make a few comments whenever I can - between gasps for breath. Hanging with her really helps

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-39651218829275739812007-06-07T16:36:00.000-07:002007-06-07T16:49:50.178-07:00

From my agency:We are writing to let you know that unfortunately, America World did not receive referrals today for our next group of families logged in on 11/9/2005 (group 237). We did receive one referral for a family of Chinese Heritage. We know that your hearts were full of hope and expectation of a referral this time around, and our hearts break for you all, because we know that the wait has

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-55277294555505630272007-06-04T17:33:00.001-07:002007-06-04T20:46:44.142-07:00

My first session of Boot Camp starts in just an hour and a half. I'm a little nervous to tell you the truth. I went over to the owners' home yesterday to be weighed and measured. While I was there, I spent a little while talking to another woman about my age who has been attending this boot camp since January. She goes to the 5:30 am session! Yikes! Anyway, she had nothing but good things to say

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-34816610791542777242007-06-03T08:55:00.001-07:002007-06-03T08:59:14.221-07:00

This site was recommended on my agency's Yahoo group recently. I just checked it out this morning, and I think their products are darling! They appear to be handmade, and the fabrics are so cute. Go see what I mean!

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-8535403208626495202007-06-01T21:56:00.000-07:002007-06-01T22:02:59.749-07:00

Jen offered to send her readers five questions of her choice, and I signed up the other night. She kindly obliged and customized some questions just for me.So here goes…1) I know this question was probably addressed somewhere in your blog archives, but what made you decide to adopt? Why China?I decided to adopt because I was longing to have a child and I was stuck. I was in love with a man who

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-84887790804014239432007-06-01T21:46:00.001-07:002007-06-01T21:49:50.179-07:00

Secret Pal,Never fear, your package arrived a few days ago. I'm the one who has been slow to get this thank you posted. You really chose some fun items this month. I love the little outfit, the books, the stuffed animals, the clips, and the AquaDoodle. I appreciate your thoughtfulness.Thanks again!Joannah

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-25770268707101070912007-05-31T16:57:00.001-07:002007-05-31T17:06:03.784-07:00

Thursday nights there's a Farmers Market in town and last week we checked it out for the first time. Michael and I were late however, and most of the vendors were packing up by the time we got there, but we did manage to purchase some sweet and juicy oranges (the best I've had all year), broccoli, and some sugar snap peas. Tonight we'll be there earlier and we hope to bring home some beautiful

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-71884389402467308452007-05-26T15:45:00.000-07:002007-05-26T15:49:37.254-07:00

It's a long-awaited three-day weekend.The unofficial beginning of summer.A time to get away, or start up the barbeque and spend time with friends and family.It's also a time to remember and reflect.You can let our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan know you remember them and wish them well by visiting Let's Say Thanks.

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-77697976156619979542007-05-24T20:24:00.000-07:002007-05-24T20:54:41.939-07:00

Okay, I'm a big LOST fan. When the critics were complaining earlier in the season about the show, I couldn't really understand their complaints. I enjoy the mystery of the plot and gleaning a little more new information each episode. It keeps me wanting to know more. In some ways, LOST reminds me of the X-Files, of which I was a huge fan. I'm still hoping for another X-Files movie!I digress...I

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-45863879797760386132007-05-20T15:54:00.000-07:002007-05-20T16:06:06.942-07:00

This one's for RedMaryJanes.FOODOLOGY
What is your salad dressing of choice? Balsamic Vinegrette
What is your favorite fast food restaurant? Carl’s Jr. I love a Famous Star hamburger and fries there!What is your favorite sit-down restaurant? Kabuki
On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant? 20%
What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of? SushiWhat is your

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-46942138363347499212007-05-19T09:20:00.000-07:002007-05-19T09:32:56.897-07:00

Such is spring in Southern California. The sun doesn't shine until about 2 pm most days. It's awful. It's kind of chilly, too. I hate it. I really do. In a couple of weeks it will give way to June Gloom.Nice...Anyway, it really makes me feel sluggish and unmotivated. It feels like it's early morning all day.This weekend I need to feel energized and motivated. I want to clean the patio room and

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-7113414109845902132007-05-14T17:26:00.000-07:002007-05-14T17:36:28.774-07:00

Last night my sweetie and I tried Shabu Shabu for dinner at a new restaurant not too far from here. Shabu Shabu is prepared in a pot on a burner in front of the diner - by the diner! I ordered fish and vegetables. After the contents of the pot are boiled to perfection, you remove them and eat them with dipping sauces and white rice. It seemed like a very healthy way to prepare food and I thought

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-29754306152566478822007-05-12T11:57:00.000-07:002007-05-12T12:07:44.454-07:00

I love my mother as the trees love water and sunshine -she helps me grow, prosper, and reach great heights. ~Adabella Radici

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-80032675907841990512007-05-07T17:27:00.000-07:002007-05-07T21:20:26.782-07:00

While I was out of town, my ten month LID anniversary passed. I have searched and searched for a picture of ten ladybugs to represent this momentous occasion, but have not been successful. It really feels more like this many months anyway, doesn't it?I had a great time in Las Vegas. Stayed at the Hilton for the first time, and I've decided that it isn't my favorite place to stay. For such a big

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-64157406893905593442007-05-03T18:26:00.000-07:002007-05-03T18:27:42.672-07:00

Have a great weekend everybody!

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-91596126668434912742007-05-02T17:43:00.000-07:002007-05-02T17:46:03.805-07:00

America World is pleased to announce that we received 25 healthy female referrals today! Families receiving referrals were logged into the China Center of Adoption Affairs on October 27 and 31 of 2005 (group 235-236). The little girls are currently located in the Guangdong, Jiangxi, and Hubei provinces and range in age from 7 to 15 months. Please join us in congratulating these families, and in

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-23515371951016065362007-05-01T16:44:00.000-07:002007-05-01T16:52:09.819-07:00

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting Abbey for the first time. What a charmer she is! We started our visit off with her opening the birthday present I brought for her. She's only two, but she's a pro at the whole gift opening routine.After that, I put the camera away and just soaked in all her two year-old goodness. Abbey is very smart and busy. We played with her toys and read some

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-35267654210596408602007-05-01T16:37:00.000-07:002007-05-01T16:39:11.827-07:00

This month's theme was picture frames, and my secret pal did not disappoint. I especially like the sweet, pink frame - can't wait to see a baby picture in that one! The little bunny and the giraffe photo clip are super cute, too.Thanks so much, Secret Pal!

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-62745090862582260522007-04-27T18:15:00.000-07:002007-04-29T20:03:05.065-07:00

I just got a bad haircut and I'm very sad. I'm sure it would be a good haircut for someone else, but not for me. I'm not a short hair kind of girl. I like my hair at least shoulder length. This cut is very short.A wonderful friend and colleague cut my hair. She used to do hair for a living, and I think she always looks so cute and stylish. I thought she'd know just what to do for my hair. We

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-32508279906847127302007-04-20T16:13:00.000-07:002007-04-21T08:20:12.666-07:00

It's raining. It's pouring. The old man is snoring...We have had the weirdest weather over the last couple of weeks. Lots of wind storms and now a powerful winter-like storm. It's been raining since before dawn, and I don't think it's going to let up anytime soon. Consequently, I spent all but 30 minutes indoors with my students today. Ugh! Also, my gardener hasn't come in three weeks and the

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-79420451842973652262007-04-18T17:15:00.000-07:002007-04-18T17:18:10.523-07:00

By now, you've probably read this.Maybe I should sign up for a doctorate program to keep me busy in the meantime?On second thought, no way! I'll find something else to do.

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-59192746697335603872007-04-15T16:21:00.000-07:002007-04-15T18:26:49.167-07:00

I'm not even sure what an Avatar is, but now I've got one:She's kind of cute, huh?*********Update: I guess an Avatar (in Internet terms) is a representation of oneself. Mine came from my Yahoo account, and I was able to choose my preferences for its appearance. I don't know how it will be used. I was just messing around! ;-)

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-10289525880686609412007-04-15T07:46:00.000-07:002007-04-15T08:18:02.367-07:00

On Friday night, I had dinner with these terrific women. (I'm in the back row in the blue sweater.) Donna spent a couple months coordinating a Disneyland weekend for everybody, and it all got started with dinner at Mimi's Cafe. I was so happy to see Shelley again, and to meet Lisa and Donna, whose blogs I have been reading all along. It was also fun to meet new (to me) waiting moms. I didn't

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-69496209881389915852007-04-10T17:48:00.000-07:002007-04-10T17:51:36.239-07:00

"The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before March 31, 2006. The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-57162651915719734882007-04-09T18:32:00.000-07:002007-04-09T19:15:25.049-07:00

I had such a nice Spring Break. For starters, I ate my way through San Francisco with my good friend Teresa. She has moved to a neat neighborhood called The Richmond, which is adjacent to Golden Gate Park. Teresa tells me that it's the foggiest neighborhood in the city, but the sun came out every morning and the weather was just perfect while I was there. She is just one block away from the main

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-5753997770800284992007-04-07T09:04:00.000-07:002007-04-07T09:05:00.528-07:00

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-72007625858238937472007-04-05T07:38:00.000-07:002007-04-05T07:40:15.184-07:00

I'm still taking a break, but just realized that it's been nine months since my LID.No end in sight...

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-87515090698714982112007-04-04T15:32:00.000-07:002007-04-04T15:34:28.709-07:00

It's Spring Break, and I'm going to continue to take some time away from the computer. I'll tell you all about my trip to San Francisco when I start blogging again next week.Have a joyful Easter!

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-80992719306154295412007-03-26T16:34:00.000-07:002007-03-26T16:40:03.624-07:00

I was delighted to come home and find this beautiful bouquet of roses waiting for me at my nieghbor's house. They were sent to me by Terri to congratulate me on my master's degree. I am just so touched by her generosity and thoughtfulness. If you haven't checked out Terri's blog before, you should. She is a ray of sunshine and a wonderful example of faith. Her blog is funny and real. It's one of

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-25483109611793534492007-03-25T15:12:00.000-07:002007-03-25T15:21:44.660-07:00

The caption of this is supposed to read, "Well, Mr. Osborne, it may not be kidney stones after all." Ha!I've been bothered by a kidney stone all weekend. I think it may finally be on its way out, thank goodness! I've been guzzling water and cranberry juice like they're going out of style. I guess I should be grateful that the pain has been sporadic and that I've been able to manage it here at

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-35402387250428110422007-03-24T08:11:00.000-07:002007-03-24T08:32:52.685-07:00

So, here I am at the beginning of my first free weekend since I finished my program, and what are some of the exciting things will I be doing this weekend?Taking the car to Jiffy LubeMailing a packageTaking the dogs to the groomersLaundryGrocery shoppingI can hardly contain the excitement I feel! ;-)Hopefully, there will be time for a pedicure, a walk (or two), and some pleasure reading. I do

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-91580348073627937522007-03-21T18:12:00.000-07:002007-03-21T18:21:15.843-07:00

Yep, I've put another six miles on my walking shoes this week so far. Buffy has been my companion and she's been a real trooper. The weather was perfect for our walk today too - not too hot or cold. It feels good to come home and know that I don't have any school-related responsibilities, and that going for a walk is what I should be doing.Not much else going on right now. Just passing the time

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-19410821566752596832007-03-18T12:21:00.000-07:002007-03-18T12:26:19.265-07:00

I know spring is still a few days away, but I feel like it has already begun. I probably feel this way because I just submitted the final paper required for my master's class! After I post this, I am going to throw away/put away all the materials that are no long necessary because I am done! It will be a joyful start at some spring cleaning I intend to do this month.Now, I'm still waiting on two

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-38702236553292583012007-03-17T08:30:00.000-07:002007-03-17T08:48:55.640-07:00

Don't forget to wear green or the leprechauns might pinch you! I don't think I'll be seeing any leprechauns today, as it's not a school day. ;-) Even so, I'll partake in the wearing o' the green. There's a little Irish in me on my father's side. Maybe I'll download some Celtic music to listen to whilst I write me last two papers? Sounds like a fine idea.Yesterday, I had my first photofacial. I

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-50685220323034459302007-03-16T15:53:00.000-07:002007-03-16T16:03:34.915-07:00

This month's theme for the July Fireflies Secret Pal exchange was DVDs. My secret pal sent me these wonderful selections: I Love You Like Crazy Cakes (love the book!) and baby einstein: My First Signs. I'm really excited about signing with Jillian. I've seen so many other babies out there in blogland who are signing so well. It seems like a great way to give them some tools to communicate before

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-9351055696301119782007-03-15T17:36:00.000-07:002007-03-15T21:16:59.631-07:00

No, it's not, but I wish it were!I've just finished Conference Week at school and I'm wiped out. It's never coincided with the first week of Daylight Savings Time, and I think that made it especially draining for me. Anyway, I'm all done now and it's just two weeks until Spring Break, at which time I'll be heading up to San Francisco to visit my good friend Teresa, and meet up with wzgirl for dim

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-70348118873941905862007-03-11T17:34:00.000-07:002007-03-11T17:40:44.495-07:00

After finishing my paper this afternoon, I wanted to wander around the mall for a while. I find that walking around the mall is wonderfully mind-numbing at times. I don't even have to buy anything for it to work, but I did...That's the latest scent from Lolita Lempicka, simply called L de Lolita Lempicka. It's heavenly! I love her scents because they are so soft. I get many compliments on this

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-86821011878925361512007-03-11T08:17:00.000-07:002007-03-11T08:34:34.614-07:00

I'm usually thrilled when Daylight Savings begins. I love having more daylight at the end of the workday because I'm usually motivated to do more after work than I would if it were dark. However, I also like this time of the year without Daylight Savings because the sun comes up so early that it's easier for me to wake up and get going. So, I'm going to miss that.Yesterday, I wrote another paper

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-2565321564528915372007-03-08T17:00:00.000-08:002007-03-08T17:02:22.314-08:00

I found this over at Kathy's blog and decided to give it a try. I think it's a pretty fun idea. Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-22193338882764234262007-03-07T08:12:00.000-08:002007-03-07T15:33:52.714-08:00

Here's the latest on Miss Buffy:She came home last night. I was advised to put her on a boiled chicken and rice diet for several days. So, well past my bedtime, I prepared a whole chicken and a pot of rice for her. She was VERY HYPER when she got home, and it soon became apparent that she was insisting on being fed. She hadn't eaten in more than 24 hours and she wasn't going to settle down until

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-15529404032937792052007-03-06T16:35:00.000-08:002007-03-06T16:54:10.592-08:00

Today is Buffy's birthday. She is four now. That's 28 in dog years. She is spending her birthday back in the hospital. Her symptoms returned last night, and so we had to make another late night drive to the emergency animal hospital.I spoke with the veterinarian a while ago, and she is concerned that Buffy's bloat is caused by a physiological problem. She thinks Buffy's stomach may have some

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-57641492297002022332007-03-06T05:58:00.001-08:002007-03-06T16:39:55.379-08:00

America World is pleased to announce the receipt of 19 healthy femalereferrals today! Families receiving referrals were logged into theChina Center of Adoption Affairs on October 19th and 24th of 2005(groups 233 and 234). These families waited roughly 16 months fromlog in date to referral. We also received referrals for 2 familieswho were expedited due to Chinese heritage who were logged in on

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-85351275014349727492007-03-05T16:16:00.000-08:002007-03-05T16:30:02.396-08:00

Warning!Some gross details ahead...I'm happy to report that Buffy was able to come home early yesterday evening. The veterinarian decided to induce vomiting, and that seemed to do the trick. However, she found bone shards in Buffy's vomit. She said that if Buffy hadn't had so much food backed up in her, that the bone shards may very well have punctured her intestines and made her septic. Well, I

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-34982058336197437922007-03-04T08:26:00.000-08:002007-03-04T09:01:14.210-08:00

Tomorrow it will be eight months since my LID. Time continues to pass quickly. I am grateful for that. Unfortunately, I think one of the side effects of the long wait for me is that I have become somewhat detached from the whole thing. When I began this process the wait was eight months long. Then it stretched to 12 months by the time I was DTC, and I was okay with that. But, as the wait

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-39670367832611931322007-03-01T16:46:00.000-08:002007-03-01T17:03:12.956-08:00

Over the holidays, I spent a Nordstrom giftcard on some L@ncome products and received a sample of this with my purchase:I really enjoyed the way it made my skin feel. It is designed to fight wrinkles and I'm not fighting too many wrinkles just yet (thank goodness!), but this product just made my skin feel so supple and hydrated. Well, I was hooked, and so when my sample was almost gone I was

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-38503242464199184562007-02-25T14:14:00.000-08:002007-02-25T15:10:15.904-08:00

...I blog. Terri tagged me for this one and really I hope I can think of five reasons for her.1. When I first began using the Internet to research adopting from China, I came across Julie's, Lisa's, Alison's, and Shana's blogs and I was inspired by them. As singles, Julie, Lisa, and Alison were traveling the same path I was starting on, and I was excited that there were other women like me in

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-38045067817540436742007-02-21T18:11:00.000-08:002007-02-21T18:20:50.326-08:00

Before I was stricken last weekend with food poisoning, I paid a visit to my dear grandmother (known affectionately as 'Tata') and she gifted me with this:She is the Princess Poet and I think she's gorgeous.I had blogged about these figurines a couple months ago and expressed a desire to have one someday. Well, my grandmother thought this would be the perfect way to acknowledge my impending

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-68473050917659218532007-02-20T10:21:00.000-08:002007-02-20T10:22:24.517-08:00

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-31150403535447312292007-02-17T08:37:00.000-08:002007-02-18T07:42:37.006-08:00

Many people want to be friends with the gracious and courageous Pig, who is sometimes called the Boar. The twelfth sign of the Zodiac sees the good in everyone and is able to make even casual acquaintances feel special through his attentiveness and sincere compliments. His ordinary—or even unpolished—appearance makes him approachable, and those who do befriend the Pig quickly discover he is kind,

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-10992874208920744092007-02-16T18:31:00.000-08:002007-02-16T19:05:25.734-08:00

Connie assigned me a letter, per my request. I was afraid that I wouldn't come up with enough things to write about, but I didn't do too badly after all. Here are some things I love that begin with the letter 'J'.James Taylor - I've lost track of how many of his concerts I've been to, and I have many of his CDs. His music is consistently good, and he always puts on a great show. His voice is like

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-9950651199240700872007-02-13T19:22:00.000-08:002007-02-13T19:25:26.798-08:00

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-27126813596732142602007-02-11T20:20:00.000-08:002007-02-11T20:32:07.911-08:00

The storm blew over without leaving much more than a half inch of rain, and so today I was motivated to get out of the house. My mom and I went to the orchid show in Orange County where we saw thousands of spectacular specimens of one of my favorite flowers. The variety of colors and shapes provided a feast for the eyes, and we were sorry that we hadn't brought our cameras. As tempting as it was

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-82930418074302919372007-02-09T18:23:00.000-08:002007-02-10T17:00:48.058-08:00

The good news?It's a three-day weekend.The bad news?It's supposed to rain all weekend.Looks like I'll have no excuses for not catching up on my studies. But there should also be time for watching some movie rentals. Any recommendations?**********************************I'm just back from the video store and I've got A Prairie Home Companion (love the radio show), The New World, and the last

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-73824372175615368212007-02-06T16:37:00.000-08:002007-02-06T16:51:40.462-08:00

Here are my wonderful nieces again. I posted this picture a while back when they were modeling their Halloween costumes. Rebecca is on the left and Sarah is on the right.I think both of these girls are beautiful, intelligent, and talented, but I want to let you know about Rebecca's latest endeavor. She has started her own business called BuggyAboutBeads.You see, Rebecca is a jewelry designer, and

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-923395519266856282007-02-04T07:56:00.000-08:002007-02-04T07:59:33.022-08:00

Tomorrow makes seven months since I was LID. I believe I have another twelve months to wait.

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-80859582516780293042007-02-02T16:16:00.000-08:002007-02-03T09:37:35.831-08:00

America World is pleased to announce the receipt of 19 healthy femalereferrals today! Families receiving referrals were logged into theChina Center of Adoption Affairs on October 11th and October 12th of2005 (groups 231 and 232). The little girls are currently located inthe Jiangxi and Guangdong Provinces and range in age from 8 to 22months. We are also excited to announce that one of the

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-25158199539937006072007-01-29T16:15:00.000-08:002007-01-29T16:21:52.680-08:00

Take the Quiz here!You are Marianne Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! You are impulsive, romantic, impatient, and perhaps a little too vocal in your honesty. You enjoy romantic poetry and novels, and play the pianoforte beautifully. To boot, your singing voice is captivating. You feel deeply, and love passionately.Oh, too funny! I saw this on Seraphic Secret and had to take it. I think I'm going

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-12779809276193917582007-01-28T09:39:00.000-08:002007-01-28T10:04:30.127-08:00

I wish that were me down on the beach in Belmont Shore, but I'm holed up here at home working on a paper this weekend. I love this shot of downtown Long Beach. If you've never been here before, I must tell you that Long Beach is a great town. I call it a little, big city. It's the fifth largest city in California with nearly a half million residents.Long Beach is a college town. We have our own

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-38807977084367383532007-01-24T20:20:00.000-08:002007-01-24T20:28:17.225-08:00

I've been selling the textbooks from my master's program on Amazon, and I've been pretty successful, so far. Amazon gave me the option of taking my payment in gift certificates instead of making a deposit into my checking account, and that's when I thought I might be able to parlay my book sales into acquiring something useful for Jillian.So, today I cashed in my gift certificates for this snazzy

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-33501433811259562562007-01-22T16:34:00.000-08:002007-01-22T16:56:44.650-08:00

I received confirmation today that my homestudy update can wait until August. Both AWAA and Adoption Options are in agreement on that one. So, I'm happy this Monday to have that squared away. I'm not happy about all the money it's going to cost to do so, but I'll save that for another post. Thanks to each of you who commented over the weekend in response to my confusion. I appreciate your input

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-78929686027040896412007-01-20T08:40:00.000-08:002007-01-20T08:47:53.176-08:00

I'm a planner. Maybe you noticed that already? Anyway, I'm looking ahead the next few months of the year and I know that my paperwork will start to expire beginning with the home study in April. It's my understanding that in California the home study has a shelf life of twelve months. I thought I remembered my SW or AWAA telling me that I will need to update it this spring.So, yesterday I called

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-18238014301790310572007-01-18T18:10:00.000-08:002007-01-18T18:20:26.980-08:00

new girl tagged me for this one. I wish I could share something from a more entertaining or meaningful selection, but my pleasure reading is on hold until March 19th!So, here's how it works:1. Pick up the nearest book.2. Turn to page 123.3. Write down lines 6-8.4. Tag 3 people.Scary situations need not be dangerous if controlled, and they can even be fun. A private party can offer some thrilling

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-136557560271860962007-01-15T09:26:00.000-08:002007-01-15T09:40:09.862-08:00

Sometimes it's the little things that make me happy. For instance:I've got the day off work. Thank you, Dr. King!The sun is shining and the birds are singing - but they've got to be cold! (And don't tell me that it's not cold here. I know it's probably colder where you are, but it only reached 53 degrees in town yesterday, and that's cold for us! We're just not used to this. Our blood is thin.)My

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-82877748499268214762007-01-13T07:52:00.000-08:002007-01-13T08:09:54.609-08:00

...by Paulette! She sent me this darling purse/hand-warmer this week for Jillian. It's been so cold here that I think I might start carrying it around with me! Brrr....Paulette, thank you for being so thoughtful!

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-65788727434601792482007-01-09T18:26:00.000-08:002007-01-09T18:32:18.913-08:00

I walked into a fabulously clean house after work. My cleaning lady (bless her heart!) came for the first time today. My bathroom and kitchen are sparkling. My hardwood floors are shining. My wood blinds and mini-blinds are dust free and so are the baseboards. It even smells clean!I feel like a queen in my little castle.I can hardly wait for her to come back again!

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-82895956417864415852007-01-08T18:17:00.000-08:002007-01-08T18:22:31.166-08:00

Well, it wasn't easy getting up before dawn this morning to get ready for work, but I managed. I even got out the door on time and found the traffic to be light. So, I was off to a good start.The best thing about my day today was when one of my students, Rebecca (who is such a sweetheart), came up to me and said, "I just have to give you a hug! I missed you so much during vacation." Then she

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-39239668986700343392007-01-07T20:39:00.000-08:002007-01-07T20:48:21.020-08:00

Christmas Vacation (yes, I still call it that!) is over... Sob! I have so enjoyed my lazy days. I think there were three or four days on which I was dressed before noon during vacation. I just really took my time each morning, drinking my coffee, reading blogs, and puttering around the house. It's been wonderful!Tomorrow morning the alarm will go off shortly after five and I'll be out the door at

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-3242637963423982922007-01-07T09:54:00.000-08:002007-01-07T10:03:21.698-08:00

Yesterday's mail contained two packages for me. One was from Amazon. It was the TurboT*x I'd ordered. Yes, it's just about time to think about taxes again. Fun times!The other package contained this baby carrier from Jen. What a wonderful surprise! The cool thing about the carrier is that it's designed to go in the water. I've never seen one like that before.Jen's blog is a must read for me. She

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-17540767021912801352007-01-06T13:34:00.000-08:002007-01-06T13:43:10.081-08:00

I know it's not much, but after one week using the Weight Watchers Online program, I've dropped two pounds. I ate way more than my points allotment last week (it was a holiday weekend!), but managed to walk 12 miles. I think that helped. Most of the days this week were just beautiful and I was motivated to get out and soak up the sunshine while it's here.I like the Weight Watchers site. It's

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-444259909234485112007-01-05T08:15:00.000-08:002007-01-05T08:22:01.583-08:00

...since my LID! I may only be a third or a fourth of the way through the wait, and I know in just a couple months I have to start redoing my paperwork, but for now I'm feeling optimistic.I found this quote about hope and it fits my mood today.If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all.

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-89265263880530345392007-01-04T13:23:00.000-08:002007-01-04T13:34:49.861-08:00

I am so excited because I just hired a cleaning lady!I've seen this gal coming and going from my neighbor's house for the last year or so. I finally got the nerve to go talk to her today, and she seems conscientious and trustworthy. She's going to begin cleaning my house every-other week starting next week, and her regular day will be Thursdays. How perfect is that? I'll get to start the weekends

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-48250077226210285042007-01-03T14:51:00.000-08:002007-01-03T14:56:22.137-08:00

America World is pleased to announce the receipt of 9 healthy female referrals today! Families receiving referrals were logged into the China Center of Adoption Affairs on September 9th of 2005. We also received a referral for a family who was expedited dueto Chinese heritage. The little girls are currently located in the Yunnan Province. We are also excited to announce that one of the families

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-58882647990056499242007-01-02T09:52:00.000-08:002007-01-02T10:19:44.710-08:00

Yesterday, I took a close look at the numbers RQ has for the months of September 2005 through June 2006. These are numbers that reflect a sampling of how many families have LIDs during each of these months.September 2005 - 378 (possibly referred January 2007)October 2005 - 464 (possibly referred February & March 2007)November 2005 - 519 (possibly referred April & May 2007)December 2005 -

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-27509114414610789012007-01-01T08:34:00.000-08:002007-01-01T08:47:42.918-08:00

Terri has invited us to blog about the things in our lives that bring us joy.I'm going to focus on the immediate. Right now I'm finding joy in the brilliant sunshine that is filtering through my kitchen window. That sunshine is such a mood lifter for me. I'm enjoying a delicious cup of coffee and some fresh squeezed orange juice. There's a whole new day ahead of me. Time for a walk with my dog.

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-30610417587493330602006-12-31T08:25:00.000-08:002006-12-31T08:48:33.604-08:00

We spend January first walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives, not looking for flaws, but for potential. ~Ellen GoodmanI must say that this past year just flew by! I have pushed more paper and typed more words this year because of the paperchase and

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-78978245875779967342006-12-30T17:11:00.000-08:002006-12-30T17:17:27.027-08:00

One more thing from yesterday...My mom and I came across a set of these Chinese figurines and I fell in love with them.They are made in Shiwan, China, and they are incredibly detailed. For example, each of the fingers on the figurines is separate from the other fingers. We saw one with a jade bracelet that was loose on the wrist - not attached to the figurine. We saw others with earrings like

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-71051808296252484862006-12-29T20:42:00.000-08:002006-12-29T20:50:05.268-08:00

Aren't these gorgeous? I found these Porcelina note cards today by Stephen Mackey. I purchased the first two, but found these other images on his website. I can't seem to find a website here in the US that's carrying them, but if I could, I'd purchase a few more.I think they are so sweet and enchanting, don't you?

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-1573496793470112492006-12-29T18:52:00.000-08:002006-12-29T18:57:59.430-08:00

I spent some time with my mom today. We browsed one of our favorite shopping districts and had a yummy lunch.Grammy purchased this bunny blankie for Jillian. It's so soft and cuddly that I want to sleep with it, too!

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20146420.post-35118158172001862882006-12-28T18:49:00.000-08:002006-12-28T18:53:14.871-08:00

This is a thirty-five minute interview on New York's public radio station with three experts in the China adoption process. I know it's lengthy, but I found it to be interesting, and that the three gentlemen in the interview were seemingly well-informed.If, for some reason, the player doesn't work for you, try this link:http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/episodes/2006/12/28

Joannahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12268912691024764398noreply@blogger.com5