Monday, November 29, 2010

Cyber Monday

I totally took advantage of Cyber Monday shopping today. Just finished buying ALL of Kate's Christmas and even helped out Santa a little as well. Gotta love the Disney Store's 25% off on my entire purchase plus free shipping! Wahoo!

Sunday, November 28, 2010

The Law of Abundance

I am feeling AMAZING! I took the advice of a dear friend and started giving away some of Kate's baby things to people I know who can use them right now.

You see, I believe in the Law of Abundance. In my understanding of it, all things are available to us. The Earth, contrary to some political parties, has an over-sufficient supply of all things and that supply is available to us - especially if we understand the law and how to work with it. 

  1.   17 For the aearth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be bagents unto themselves. 
    2.
    16 Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the afulness of the earth is yours, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which climbeth upon the trees and walketh upon the earth;
       17 Yea, and the herb, and the agood things which come of the earth, whether for food or for braiment, or for houses, or for barns, or for orchards, or for gardens, or for vineyards;

      18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the abenefit and the buse of man, both to please the eye and to cgladden the heart;

      19 Yea, for afood and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to bstrengthen the body and to enliven the soul.

      20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to aexcess, neither by extortion.
I believe the law works best when you give of your abundance to others. When you find yourself in need, and you are always giving of what you have, you will receive what you need. This is a spiritual law that I believe God uses to bless us. I've learned various aspects of this from a mentor, other friends, my mom, other family, The Secret, and Oprah.

Anyway, I've been holding on to Kate's baby things and all her clothes that she has outgrown because I thought I would need all of it for "the next one". I was telling my friend that one of the reasons I am so impatient to have more children is because of all the stuff I am saving for the next child. I want to use it or move on and get rid of it. Before I could even finish my thought she said, "Get rid of it then!" And she was right. I believe in the law of abundance but in this aspect, I haven't been following it. I have been holding on to these things and my actions have exhibited my feelings of scarcity. I've been through a journey with all this so it might not make any sense to anyone but me.

The point is, I pulled bins out of the downstairs storage room and gave them to several dear moms who I thought could really enjoy Kate's special things for their own children. This was incredibly healing for me. I felt rejuvenated as I let go of these things that were in essence weighing me down. Now I feel free. I am not finished giving, I have more bins to go through, but these things will soon have a new life in other people's homes. Don't worry mom (not that you have time to read all of this!), I will keep Kate's crib, a few favorite things, as well as some essentials for babysitting purposes.

But I feel at peace!

Yes, I feel that element of fear that this feeling of joy, peace, and contentment won't last forever but I feel confident this time that God loves me and that He has a purpose for me and a plan. I know that if I just hold on my way, I will, in time, understand. So bravo to my circle of people who have helped me this far through my journey. I am filled with gratitude for my friends and family who have, in their own way, expressed their love and support. I hope I will soon return the favors.

And hey, maybe you guys can tell me more of what you know about the law of abundance.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Mommy & Me: Music Makers

 We had such a fun time at our Mommy & Me activity last week. "Miss Erin" put on a fun program and all the little ones loved it. I especially love having an excuse to be silly and a chance to see the little ones sparkle.
Oh, and we have so much beautiful snow! I love it.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Kate's Thanksgiving Preschool Program

 Kate with two of her Preschool classmates - Michael and Henry
Kate has 11 other children in her class. She says her best friend is Claire, who is the little sister of Kate's best friend from last year's preschool class. She has a lot of other friends but Claire is evidently the one she plays with during free time. I love Henry on the right of Kate in the picture. He is so adorable. When I pick Kate up from preschool and we start walking away he calls out, "I LOVE you, Katie!"  One day last week, I went to pick up Kate and saw Henry crying by the wall. He was pitiful. Kate's teacher told me that he was so upset because he couldn't stand in line with Kate because it was someone else's turn.
 They sang cute songs. This one was about emotions and the faces they see in mirror. {Cute Henry again.}
Scott, Julie, Kate
Scott was able to pull away from work {one benefit of being self-employed!} and he and I were just giggling through the whole program at this cute bunch of kids - and our super-doll-face, Kate.

Time for Big Girl Panties

I'm so confused today. All day I've been mulling through my mind all the options I have and I just don't know which direction to go. I feel lost and I wish someone else could make these decisions for me. I've decided that this is ABSOLUTELY the LAST month that I will EVER try to have a baby. At the beginning of the month, Scott suggested that we give it 6 more months before we consider adoption again but after the last couple weeks, we both agree that we are DONE.

But I still have all the hard choices to make of whether to adopt, or foster, or not do anything at all. This is so hard and so personal and I don't even know which direction I'm headed. I don't know what the RIGHT decision is. I have a feeling that this will be a lot like my college decision - when I was trying to decide which degree to pursue I was in a cunundrum and I couldn't choose between three degrees and I finally heard my mom say, "Maybe it doesn't matter." And that bugged me at first because I wanted so badly to do what I was MEANT to do. But it gave me the freedom to just make a choice and I graduated. So, maybe this is the same thing. Maybe whether I adopt, foster, or just have Kate doesn't really matter. I could probably pick one out of a hat. In fact, I might just do that tonight.

With all of these thoughts today I began to feel an urgency to research and pursue a Master's Degree. I feel like this should wait, at least the classes and coursework, until Kate is in first grade, 2012. But thoughts came to me of things I want to research now so I can prepare and get everything ready. This is not what I had planned at all.

I had some conversations with my family over the last weekend (all of which say they are too busy to read my blog). And I mentioned to them what I am going through and I think they thought I needed to put on my big girl panties and just be grateful for what I have. I know they can't understand why I'm having such a dilemma with this. While bucking up and braving the hard with a cheerful face is a good idea, I don't know how to stop the wanting, the feeling of loss, and the impression that I am not as blessed.

Argh! I need to get over this and I just don't know how. This is getting so old and obnoxious. It is consuming me. I feel completely annoyed. I think I need to go CLEAN SOMETHING! I will begin in the bathroom.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

"Everyone Has A Wii"

That's what a neighbor boy told me today.

He asked Kate, "Do you have a Wii?"
She said, "No."
So the boy said, "Every boy I know has a Wii."

All I could do was chuckle. {Has everyone else my age already made this connection? I remember thinking how poorly named that gaming system is when it came out but having this little boy say all that reminded me.}


"Wii" just sounds so much like the word we used for potty talk as kids. You know, "wee" and "wee-wee".

Mommy & Me: Mrs. Cavanaugh's Chocolate Factory Tour

 Front Row: Another Katie, India, My Katie, Elliot, Archer
In the back is India's little sis, Maya, Celine, and John Michael

We went to the chocolate factory with some of our neighbor friends and moms. Kate was so excited to go with her friends and talked about the chocolate factory with everyone we saw for two days.
 We were watching a cool movie on the history of chocolate and the process from cocoa bean to chocolate treat. All the while, the kids made cute comments like they were watching fireworks, "Ewww", "Yummy," "Mmmm."
Elliot, Kate, Archer, Kate, India
After we saw all the different areas of the factory through upstairs windows, we watched the I Love Lucy Episode when Lucy and Ethel are working at a chocolate factory. No matter how many times I see that episode I slap my knee and laugh hysterically.

We picked out a bunch of treats after the tour. Kate bought one of those Jelly Belly rats and a huge, gold-wrapped, chocolate coin. I bought an 8 oz. package of Mindy Mints to share with Scott! YUM!