Giveaway

Ok, so I haven't posted on here in quite a while, and honestly I'm not entirely sure I still have any readers. I saw this great giveaway though, and since my new blog is ultra-private I wanted to share this here on the good ol' public blog. Anyway, Shutterfly is giving away 50 free holiday cards to bloggers, just for mentioning them on a blog! So I think I have found my favorites - although just in case anybody on my Christmas card list stumbles across this, I won't say which one I picked out. Don't want to spoil the surprise! I can say, though, that I love the fact they have folded and flat styles. I was SO pleased to see that! I love photo cards, but always thought it would be nice if they were in the "traditional" folded card style. Now they are. YAY! Great assortment of classic, whimsical, etc - truly something for everybody!

Go here to check it out yourself!

I'll link to my absolute favorite, I wanted to post a picture but I wasn't able to get blogger to cooperate... here it is! I can't wait to put it together with one of my favorite pics of my guys & me!

I'm Moving

Well, at least the blog is. Since it looks like the adoption will be on hold for a bit, and since I haven't posted here since January, I thought I would put "To Build a Family" on hiatus for a while. However, you can still visit me at my new blog here if you want to keep up with my journey. Thanks so much to everyone for your interest, support, concern, etc. with all the ups and downs the past while - I hope to "see" you again at the new blog!

Better Late than Never....Right?

Ok, so I haven't posted since Christmas (or so). I realize I said I'd update before New Year's, but obviously that didn't exactly happen. My computer has been having tantrums, and there really hasn't been much going on in my life lately. Christmas was fun, though - lots going on, lots of family time, etc. Exactly how Christmas should be, in my opinion! It was a bit tough at times, because when I started looking into the adoption I had hoped to have LB home by now - or at least a referral! But, I haven't even got the homestudy done yet - life got a bit complicated, so things are still on hold. I try to keep having faith about it, but it gets rough sometimes.

Ok, enough whining! Really, life is good. I have a wonderful family, 2 beautiful nieces, and good friends. So actually, life is great!

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas to all of you! I promise I will post an update of sorts before the new year. Honest, I will.

Checking In...

Thought I'd post a quick update... yes, I know I haven't posted in about a month & a half. Anyway, work is still work - it's a paycheck, so that's positive (generally). I now get up at 4 am to leave by 5 to start work at 6. Only good part is I get off at 2:30 so I have my afternoons for whatever I want. Erica was in town a few weeks ago, which made for a busy weekend. I went to EMP (Experience Music Project) with her, Jordan, Allyson, and of course Evangeline. I liked EMP - lots of music memorabilia, instruments to play around with, etc. We didn't get to play the instruments though, very crowded - but I put Evangeline on this electronic drum table thingy... Not sure what she thought, but she liked the lights & stuff. Also, I am pretty sure she likes Jimi Hendrix. I was holding her while I listened to a couple tracks, playing around with sound mixing & stuff - she wanted the headphones so I tipped one a bit so she could hear the music. That child's face was SO funny! She tipped her head back, her eyes got real big - I think she's a little rocker (I'm so proud!). Ok, so maybe it was shock.... but Auntie can think whatever she wants, right? We also went through the sci-fi museum that's inside EMP. It was interesting as well, sci-fi is not so much my thing, but it was still pretty cool. Scripts, costumes, things like that - just fun in general. The next day (Sunday), The whole family (parents, sister, brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces & I) went out on my folks' new boat. I love being on the water, and it had been way too long. Poor Lucca had a cold, but slept most of the time. Evangeline seemed to enjoy it, except the life vest she had to wear. I swear the thing wanted to eat her! Sunday was a good day - out on the lake, beautiful weather - what more can a Seattle girl ask for? Since then, not a lot going on & this post is long enough so I think I'll wrap it up. I was going to post some pictures, but my computer seems to have other ideas. Oh well, another day!

Slight Progress

I've made a little bit of progress on the adoption front this week. I sent the missing final reference letter to a friend to fill out. I also had my fingerprints taken so those can be sent in this next week, along with my background check release forms. I also have the forms that expired re-signed & ready to send to my agency. See - progress! This means we will start the homestudy soon, which is a big step in the right direction.

I think sometimes I have to remind myself of the smallest steps in the right direction in order to avoid feeling like I've failed. I know it will all happen in God's time, that every delay is going to make sure that my child & I are ready at the same time, but sometimes it still feels like I already have failed. When I started this process, I had thought I would at least have my dossier sent to Addis by now. Instead, I wait. I see families who started after me that are now waiting for their referrals. I am thrilled for them when they complete each step, but it still stings. I wish so badly that it was me. But I know it will happen, I just need to be patient a little longer. At least, that's what I tell myself something like 40 times a day.

Well, on a lighter note - how about a picture of my beautiful new niece? Since you all can't answer me, I will figure that you'd love to see her. So here you go - Lucca Marie (for those of you who don't know my family, that's my brother - her daddy)

Another DeKoekkoek!

I have another niece. My brother Dustin & his wife Jenae had a baby girl today, Lucca Marie DeKoekkoek. I've seen a couple pictures, and she's beautiful (oh no, no auntie bias here). I can't wait to meet her - congratulations Dustin & Jenae!