Spelling Champ

Spencer is turning into a real Spelling Champion.

Adoption News. . . from US Dept. of State

I just saw this from the Department of State. It sounds a little more promising then I originally thought. But I do not know what child we would be matched with by this Dec. 15 deadline, we have been told for over a year now that "there are no children 0-18 months available for adoption." I wonder what will happen. I can't help but wonder if we will be matched with an older child or a child with sever special needs and if we "decline to travel to Kazakhstan to bond with the children with whom [we] are matched" they end the process for us?

I don't know what to think. At least it looks like this will come to an end, either way.

http://adoption.state.gov/news/kazakhstan.html



Kazakhstan

Adoption Alert

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Office of Children’s Issues
_________________________________________________

November 24, 2010

According to the Government of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Education plans to match all families with pending adoption dossiers with children before December 15, 2010. Once these matches are made, the adopting parents will be invited to travel to Kazakhstan for the mandatory three-week bonding period with the children. Adopting parents who decline to travel to Kazakhstan to bond with the children with whom they are matched will not be able to proceed with an adoption in Kazakhstan under the existing adoption process; their “pending dossier” will be closed.

Adoption News. . . hope you are sitting down

We got some news today. I hope you are sitting down, it is not good. However, it is a relief at the same time.

Apparently our in country facilitator went to a meeting in Almaty on Monday. At this meeting they were talking about the families who are still waiting to travel to Kaz. As you may recall, when Kazakhstan stopped accepting new applications in May 2010 they said families that were already in the process would be "grandfathered" in under the old process. And since our paperwork had been in country for a year, we certainly qualified.

So, at the meeting they decided that there are still too many families who are waiting. The Kaz government has decided that if a family is not in country and bonding with a child by Dec. 15, 2010 their dossier will be returned to the US and they can apply again under the new process once it is in place some time in 2011.

Our agency is trying to get an extension for their families, but I don't know how likely that is. Also, even if we did get an extension, there are no children available. I would see it as putting off the inevitable. Why get a 30-day extension when in 30 days no children will be available?

It is bad news, there is no doubt about it. We have been preparing for this sort of news. At least it is not a total shock and there is still a slim chance that something could come of it. At the very least this yo-yo of "we might get 'the call' at any minute, so be prepared" will be gone and we can just move on and find what is best for our family.

At least we still have our domestic adoption. That is something at least. Our profile is posted: http://www.adoptionformybaby.com/Dave_and_Karla.html and our agency has just been amazing to work with. They really are professional and caring. But with the domestic adoption it is all about the birthmother's choice and we could be chosen tomorrow or in 5 years. I guess I should be used to the uncertainly by now.

For those keeping score at home:

Adoptions completed: 1
Adoptions in process: 1
Failed Adoptions: 3

I will keep you posted on what we hear, but it isn't looking pretty.

Winter Wonderland Status

It is Thanksgiving week and we have achieved "Wonderland" status around here. We got our first good snow storm last night and woke up to find plenty of powder (9 1/2 inches.)




Dave has the entire week off and we have lots of great plans for the week. . . besides shoveling the driveway.

This week we will put up our Christmas tree and decorations. Since we will be visiting family for Christmas it will be nice to enjoy the decor for a month. I can't wait to put up my nativities! My sister Sandy also found a cool second-hand Christmas train while she was here for the opera. I want to put under the tree this year. I am so excited to set it up, Spencer will go crazy for it. The train will make its debut this week.

And of course Thursday is Thanksgiving! I am so excited. I have finally solidified the menu . . .

Appitizer
Brie en Croute with crackers

Meal
Turkey, brined with a seasoned apple brine
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Prosciutto Asparagus Spirals
Spinach and Cheddar Souffle
Artichoke Parmesan Sourdough Stuffing
Green Salad with pear and vinaigrette (mother-in-law is bringing)
Grandma Wakley Rolls (mother-in-law is bringing)
Sinful Sweet Potatoes (sister-in-law is bringing)

Dessert
Apple Pie
Pumpkin Cheesecake (sister-in-law is bringing)
Chocolate Cream Cheese dessert

I love cooking and trying new recipes. So, there are couple of new recipes I will be trying. But the one I am most excited about is a cute name place holders. Check it out:



I thought Spencer could help make it. It should be fun. I got this idea off Our Best Bites. My favorite food blog, it is amazing. They are publishing a cookbook in Feb. and I must have it! It has lots of wonderful recipes. The Artichoke Parmesan Sourdough Stuffing is from there. I can't wait to try it.

Well, lots of grading and school work this week too, but I will manage to sneak some fun in :)

Sunday

Just a little update about our week.

I taught Relief Society today, it was a "solid medium." I usually have about 25-30 min. for my lesson. The last couple of months I have had more material then time, so I really wanted to have a concise message this month. Sure enough. . . I made the wrong choice.

I had almost 50 min. for my lesson today. Yes, almost double the time. Oh well. . . you just have to roll with it. Everyone was good about making comments, but I only had so much material to cover. It could have gone worse, but when I practiced before teaching, it went a lot better. At this point, I will take a "solid medium."

South University is going well. Thursday was the first day of class and I think I am going to really enjoy it. It is a fast paced course, but the technical aspects are great and I love the way the course is designed. Unless something crazy happens, I think this will be a long relationship. I could see myself teaching here for years to come.

The next month is going to be quite busy for me with my 3 classes. Because this is the first time teaching at South there is a lot of work to find my groove. I have great hopes for it though. Tomorrow I will grade their first speech! How long has it been since I quipped those sweet words. . . "I heard it in a speech." Ahhh I can't wait!

Busy Bee

I have been a super busy bee. I am so grateful for all the comings and goings lately. It has given me something to focus on rather then our stalled adoption.

This week I have been working on setting up my new Public Speaking class. It has been great. For my class, students will record their speeches and upload the files for me to grade. I love it. I always thought that teaching public speaking online would be a real challenge, but with technology it has made the class transferable to a virtual class room. I even got to put together an intro. video for my students to watch. I put it together with iMovie. I added photos and music with my video footage from the flip.

I think I am really going to love teaching at South University. They even have a 401k plan for part-time employees, have you ever heard such a thing? I am way excited to start teaching. My class starts next week, on Nov. 11.

I am still teaching two classes for Western and it keeps me hoppin'. I am also taking a 4-week orientation course for South, it is time consuming, but has great information that I know I will use. I am also still doing the Adjunct Leadership Academy, another great (and time consuming) professional development course.

So. . . lots on my plate : ) Who has time to count the days we have been waiting for Kaz? . . . (2 years and 2 1/2 months. . by the way.)

Super Bowl Excitement

We are getting geared up. The 50 inch TV with surround sound, is ready to go. I have my "gourmet" pigs in a blanket* poised to go in the oven at any moment. We have our tortilla chips and nacho fixin's prepped. You can feel the electricity in the air. . . My heart is pounding in my ears. . . Is it? Can it be time already?



Election night, 2010!

Around here we do not gear up for the Super Bowl or any other menial sporting events. No my friends. . . election night is King! We are ready for some action! We love some hanging chad drama around here, and can't wait to see how it all plays out! We have all the accouterments big fans need, maybe next year we will paint our faces :) Of course we both already voted by mail, now we see!



*What is a "gourmet" pig in a blanket you ask?

4 hot dogs
1 package crescent rolls (8 count)
Cheese (we like Munster, Swiss and provolone)

Topping:

1 egg
1 T. Miracle Whip
1 T. Course ground mustard
dash of hot sauce

Slice 4 hot dogs in half, then cut a slit lengthwise for cheese.
Wrap them in the crescent roll and whisk together the topping and brush over.

Bake at 350 for 12-15 min. on foil lined pan.

225 calories each