Mission: New Activities

A fellow parent got through to Haiti..no news for me and my girls, some movement, just not for us. So I need to continue to try new activities to help distract me from the WAIT.....

Emotionally Exhausted

Ok, I just read more hang ups to expect along the way in the adoptions. Will it ever end?? We didn't receive news last night because no one could get through. It wasn't for lack of trying, just no one got through?? Then I read that there are hang ups at the very end, taking months for VISAs to be granted..this is a US issue. I am either really emotionally tired, which I am, or I have run out of patience, which I had little in the first place, or maybe I am just now becoming realistic, which I hope isn't the case. I don't know for sure, except that it is almost a year since I had started this process, and not much closer to home coming for either girl....ok enough whining..I think I am just really emotionally tired and need a break from everything for awhile. So I will just keep pounding my body physically with running and lifting, since I feel strong in that area, and it helps keep my mind off of the process, at least for a little while anyway...

Race Day Photos

I am in the light blue shirt with black pants (in front of woman in pink). This is about the time, before 2 1/2 mile mark, that my side ache came on with a vengeance!! I was able to shake if off by mile 3. But it was still down hill with each passing mile. It wasn't my best time ever, but it wasn't my worse either..it just felt like it was the worse time ever.

IN the Snow

It was warm today, so we played IN the snow today. The word In is the key action. Tuks has sled through, walked through, ran through the snow, but until today, never IN. In the past if she had fallen down, she would freeze and I would have to get her up, but today we worked through all her fears. She was crawling IN, walking IN, lying IN, eating it IN, falling IN and getting up from IN, and she couldn't get enough of it. I had forgotten the joy of snow. It had been many years since I was around such a young child and quite frankly I forgot my joys of it from my childhood. It all came back today, and it gave me a visual of what future winters could hold for us as Tuks gets older and she has sisters to play "King of the Mountain" with... Again a lovely day in Snowville.....

It was also a reminder of our view of things when we view from a far, or read a lot about a subject, versus getting involved and in addition to reading, gain experience. It makes life so much more interesting when we are IN the middle of it..

Spring Calls

Black-capped Chickadee(sparrow sized)










White-breasted Nuthatch(sparrow sized)



























Pileated Woodpecker (crow sized)..Many times I have been able to watch their mating dances around tree trunks.





These 3 birds, from my yard (I didn't take pictures) are vocalizing new calls, which tells me spring is close, even though the amount of snow leads me to think differently. I always listen to the birds. They are more correct than any other indicator I have come across.
This is also good news that I like to hear.

Hopeful for News Today

We are to hear news from Haiti today/tonight. Many families are hopeful that their files have progressed into the next step. I may receive Cheetah's IBESR number. This photo captures my attitude as I anticipate the arrival of the news, and how I feel as I recover from yesterday's race........

Can one have it all??

First off, my apologies for no pictures lately. My camera's batteries are dead, and frankly I haven't had time or interest in getting new ones yet. So, it may be a while longer before there will be new pictures of Tuks in action.

Today, I ran a 5-mile race at noon. My friend E came over and brought Tuki to watch her Mama dieing.....It wasn't pretty. I hurt more in this race than I have ever in any other race I have ever ran. Good thing it wasn't my first or I would give up the idea of racing again...ever!!! It was a sunny, warmish day and over 800 people ran the course. There was a hopping party after and Tuki, E and I had a good time, then we came home, E bought, and then we ate; PIZZA. After, we took the dogs for a walk while Tuki had a wagon ride, and finally we visited neighbor A.

Tuks is sleeping, Mama is tired, and hopefully E had a good all around day as well. All is cozy in Snowville...........

A friend told me that it is impossible to "have it all".i.e. be prepared to run a good race, be a single Mom, prepare healthy meals, work full time, on and on it goes, etc., etc., etc., ..what do you think???????