When I can’t fall asleep at night, I go through the alphabet for the things in my life I am grateful for. Lately I’ve been having a really hard time falling asleep. I think it is the stress of the adoption but who knows what else is on my subconscious. Anyway, I read about this gratitude thing on a meditation website and I vowed to try it. You need to think of things that you are thankful for starting with the letter A. It is definitely more interesting than counting sheep!
The first time I did it, which was just over a week ago, I was horrified that so many things on my list were food. I am a total foodie so I'm sure you are not surprised! So, for the past few nights when I’m lying there and can’t fall asleep, I tried doing the list without any food on the list. Here is what I thought of last night:
A-Adoption
B-Books
C-Courtney & Caroline (my nieces)
D-Dogs
E-Empathy- I am an empathetic person and believe not everyone possesses empathy
F-Fortitude-God knows this has gotten me through many challenges
G-Gimpy Girlfriends- Where would I be without my support system? Cyndi- I love ya!
H-Hingham & Health- I’m grateful to have grown up in such an amazing town. Thanks mom! I’m thankful for everyday on this beautiful earth. When you’ve faced death in the face two times like I have, you really appreciate life and good health.
I-Independence. It took me two years to gain it and I treasure it. J-Job. Although I don’t love my job. I still have one and it pays my bills and offers me financial freedom. I also work with a great group pf people.
K-Kyle- I am so blessed to have such a wonderful man as my husband
L-Love. I am blessed with so much of this!
M-Money& Mothers- I don’t have a lot of $ but enough to live a decent life and it is certainly a comfort to be somewhat financially stable. You’ll know how much I love my mother!
N-Nephews. Boy do I love all five of my nephews! They are all so unique and special in there own way!
O-Openness. I don’t like secrets!
P-Perseverance-without it who knows where I’d be.
Q-Quiet. I love my quiet time.
R-Rosie. Best dog ever!
S-Slide board. Without this adaptive equipment I would not be able to be as independent as I am.
T-Tami-I wish we lived closed
U-Umbrellas
V-Vans & Vietnam. It took me over a decade to cave in and get one but boy was it worth it. I love my van. I don’t miss taking my wheelchair apart, especially in the rain & snow.
W-Wheelchairs. What an amazing invention. Who knows if I’d still be here if they were never invented? Vietnam because it is where we hope our child will be from
X-Xerox machines- ok, this one is really lame. I struggle with this letter the most. I do appreciate Xerox machines though. They make my job a lot easier!
Y-Yellow Labs-Kyle said this does not count. What do you’ll think?
Z-Zest-I am thankful for the people in my life that have a zest for life, including my own zest for life.
I did it… no foods mentioned.
I challenge all of you to do the same. It really gets you thinking and makes you think of what is really important in life.
If anyone has any tips on falling asleep at night, I’d love to hear them. As soon as the lights go off, my mind starts to wonder. Ugh!
Hugs to you all.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Gratitude A-Z
Monday, March 24, 2008
Easter Pictures
Here is a shot of Rosie with Kyle before we left for my sister's house. I wanted to showcase her pretty Easter scarf! How cute is my Rose????
Here is Rosie and her momma snuggling :) 
Deirdre & meSarah, Caroline & Lauren- 3 out of our 6 nieces!
ladies! We miss you Dotz!!!Just a little snapshot of our day. Overall it was a great day. The company and food we fabulous as always. Megan & my brother-in-law are the best hosts and always make everyone feel right at home. It was a really bummer to have to go back to work today. I brought in the cake leftovers that my sisters made us take. They think Kyle is just a bottomless pit and always try to pawn all the desserts on us. I brought half of the delicious coconut cake to work and everyone loved it. Of course I had to have a tiny piece. When oh when will I get some self-control???
Tonight we are having Easter leftovers (Ham with raisin sauce, augratin potatoes, peas and apple sauce.) Aunt Mo, don't be too sad. We missed you!!!!
Anyway, I just started the book "Water for Elephants" and so far it is really interesting. I'm trying to get caught up on my backlog of books!!!
Hope everyone is doing well.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Happy Easter from Rosie
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Must Share This!
Pictures soon to come with Rosie and her Easter scarf. My sister Maura said I should use the word "scarf" not "bandanna" b/c she thinks scarf is more girlie and Rosie is such a girlie!!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Photo of Rosie & Cait from St. Patty's day
Hi All,
Just a quick post to show a recent picture of Rosie & I from a work St. Patty's day celebration. Please notice Rosie's St. Patty's Day bandanna and my groovy necklace. I also have a shamrock bracelet and sox on but you can't tell in the picture. This picture is a better shot of my new haircut than the previous ones I posted from my cell phone. Rosie has a bandanna for every holiday. Last night Kyle put her Easter bandanna on her. She looks so pretty!!! Anyway, not much to report. Hope everyone has a great week!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Happy St. Patty's Day ,Cait's New Do and a Yummy Sunday dinner
Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone. Below are a few shots of me with my new hairdo. It really isn't that different just shorter in the back. I also don't have as many layers as I have for the past few years and she also straited the back. The pics were taken on my cell so they aren't the best quality.
Ravioli with Balsamic Brown Butter (yummy and super easy)18 to 20 ounces store-bought ravioli (cheese, mushroom, or squash) ( I bought the reduced fat & could not tell the difference)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter ( I used 4 instead of 6)
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup toasted, chopped walnuts ( I used more!)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan -(I used crumbled blue b/c it makes the sauce delicious and creamy)
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the ravioli and cook 4 to 5 minutes, until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally. Drain ravioli onto a large serving platter.
Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan cook the butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally. When the foam subsides, and the butter begins to turn a golden brown, about 3 minutes, turn off the heat. Let cool for about 1 minute. Stir in the balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.
Transfer the ravioli to the pan saucepan with the balsamic brown butter. Sprinkle walnuts and Parmesan over the top. Serve immediately.
Friday, March 14, 2008
The Long Awaited Adoption Update
Vietnamese Law governs the requirements for the documents that need to be submitted.
Below are some of the documents that are required:
Application to Adopt
Copy of Applicant's Passport picture page (one for each applicant)
USCIS Form I-171H or I-797C approving applicant's I-600a orphan petition
International Adoption Home study
Medical Clearance/Recommendation from Physician (one for each applicant)
Criminal Clearance/Background Check from local police station (one for each applicant)
Financial Statement
Marriage Certificate
All documents must be certified and authenticated in the U.S. before they are sent to Vietnam. One trip is required to Vietnam.
Our Agency
We decided on a placement agency a few weeks ago and we went Also known as VORF. Check out there website for more info:
The Vietnamese Children
Vietnamese orphans eligible for adoption will be 2 months of age and older. Most referrals will be for infants under 1 year of age who have been cared for in orphanages. Could these babies be any cuter??
TravelOne 2-3 week trip is required by the government of Vietnam. Families will travel in small groups to Vietnam, and will be escorted and assisted throughout the process by our English-speaking coordinators.
What next?
Well, we need to get approval for the I-600A and start the Dossier process. This weekend we need to get our pictures taken for our passports and if time permits go to the post office on Saturday morning to apply for passports.
Miscellaneous
Other than adoption stuff, we have a date night planned for tonight. We are going to dinner and a show at the IMAX Theater in Boston to see “The Alps.”
For more details check out the following link:
http://www.mos.org/exhibits_shows/imax&d=2448
They just recently renovated the IMAX Theater and Kyle was perusing the new schedule and came across “The Alps.” Hopefully it will be good.
Well, I think that I covered everything. Please let us know that you are actually reading this by leaving us comments. It really makes our day when our friends respond. Thanks Kerri for being a loyal responder. Tami-where have you been???? Have a great weekend everyone!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Cupcakes & FreeCycle
Hi All,
Yesterday we went to our annual Corn beef & Cabbage dinner at the McCarthy-Egan's house. For those of you who don't know who the McCarthy Egans are they are like my 2nd family. Megan McCarthy-Egan is one of my oldest friends (from grammar school) and her parents are like my 2nd set of parents. Over the years, my mom has become good friends with her parents so Klou (my mom)was there too. Anyway, I decided to make cupcakes for the party and Kyle suggested I do something to make them somewhat St. Patty's dayish hence the green sprinkles and green jellybeans. The came out great and were just so pretty that of course I had to have Kyle take a picture of them :) It was taken on my cell phone so it isn't the greatest quality. I also have to add that this was my first time ever making cupcakes, so I was pretty impressed with myself. I have to give Kyle credit for frosting them as he did a great job. He's much more of a perfectionist than me with certain things. They were a big hit and really delicious.
We had our last visit with our Social Worker today. Now the waiting game begins. We have to wait to hear back from the U.S. government to get approved to adopt a foreign born orphan. Once we get that approval, we both have to get fingerprinted. We are also working on getting our passports. We are making progress and are both really excited :)
My friend Tony sent me the article below that I pasted from The Boston Globe. I thought it was really cool and wanted to share it with everyone. Basically it is a site that lists free stuff that people want to get rid of. Check out the site and see if they have a group in your area. I looked up our area and there is a group in Weymouth, which is the next town over. I thought this might be a good thing to check out to see if you need anything. Joie since you are a new homeowner you might be able to find some stuff for your house. Who knows? Check out the link & article below.
Don't toss it, Freecycle it
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March 5, 2008
Kathy Ann Purdy of Beverly used to be a yard-sale devotee; now she's a Freecycle fiend. Purdy was working on a house renovation a few years ago when she heard about the website - "a place to give or receive what you have and don't need or what you need and don't have," according to the site. She went online and scooped up free beds, furniture, new carpet, and a stove, among other things.
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Today Purdy, 44, checks the site daily. "It's addictive," she says.
She and her husband, Michael, have also found a five-piece cherry wood bedroom set, a snowblower, patio furniture, a sink and toilet, even seashells that became wedding favors. They've also contributed items, such as an antique writer's desk and a gothic-style bed.
When Purdy heard about a young Beverly couple who lost everything in a fire, she posted their plight on Freecycle, and they got almost everything they needed. "It makes you feel like you've done something great for a neighbor," Purdy says.
It's also a way to do something great for the environment. According to founder Deron Beal of Tucson, Ariz., Freecycle keeps about 400 tons of trash out of landfills every day. Beal started the site in 2003 when he was working for a nonprofit group helping people who were down on their luck. The group accumulated a lot of excess stuff as it collected donations, and one day Beal e-mailed about 40 friends to help him find a home for it. Word got around, and the network of 40 became 800. Today, he says, "We have 10,000 local volunteers, including 500 leadership coordinators, 4.5 million users, and one staffer - me."
As Beal knows all too well, "The mass of waste in our culture is mind-boggling." So the next time you're thinking of hauling a chair or TV out to the curb, consider adding it to the free cycle instead.
[Harriet Blake]
GREEN TIPS: Send questions and ideas to hlblake@aol.com.
© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.
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Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Go Green!
Spring.... That favorite time of year. It hit almost 60 here yesterday! Time to say, "Goodbye" to winter. We are so ready.
We'll be posting the latest on our adoption journey soon! Just a quick post to encorage everyone to " Go Green." Try doing some of the things listed below to do your share.
Top 10 Tips for Greening Your Home
1) Make your fridge efficient. In many households the single biggest electricity user is the refrigerator. You can reduce the energy drain with a few simple tricks. Cleaning the coils every six months will help you use less energy and save money. (Flip up or remove the kick plate or toe grill, and clean with a vacuum attachment or bottle brush. Make sure to unplug the fridge or turn off its circuit breaker first.) Keep the fridge set between 38 and 40 degrees and the freezer between 0 and 5 degrees — the settings where it's most efficient. Learn more about efficient appliances at www.energystar.gov.
2) Stop phantom waste Unplugging TVs, DVD players, computers, and other major electronics when they're not in use could keep thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide out of the air each year. Even when they're turned off, their standby consumption is about equal to running a light bulb continuously. To avoid the hassle of constantly plugging and unplugging, here's an easy solution: Plug several electronics onto one power strip and switch it off. As for small gadgets like cell phones, digital cameras, and hand-held vacuums —once they're charged, keep them unplugged until needed.
3) Light up right Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) are small fluorescent light bulbs that use at least 2/3 less energy than a traditional incandescent bulb and can be screwed into a regular light socket. Switching from traditional light bulbs to CFLs is a very effective way to reduce energy use at home and prevent greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change. Lighting accounts for close to 20 percent of the average home’s electric bill. Even though fluorescent bulbs cost more, you'll save up to $60 in energy bills over the lifetime of the bulb.
4) Flush water waste A whopping 40 percent of the water used in your home goes down the toilet. A low-flow toilet can cut the amount you use by half or more (and yes, it'll work just as well). A low-tech alternative: Put a brick or plastic milk jug filled with pebbles in the tank. The space it takes up reduces the amount of water needed to fill the tank, so you'll save gallons (and money) with each flush.
5)Fix drips and leaks Got a leaky faucet? Then it’s time to call the plumber. That slow but steady drip, drip, drip can waste up to 20 gallons of water a day. Extra credit: Replace standard faucets and showerheads with low-flow versions and save 20,000 gallons of water a year (based on a family of four). Other water-saving tips include keeping a pitcher of water in the fridge so you don't waste water waiting for it to get cold from the tap. Another tip is to turn the water off when brushing your teeth.
6) Use dishwasher smarts You can save up to 20 gallons of water a day by waiting till your dishwasher's full to switch it on. You'll save even more energy by letting dishes air dry on the racks instead of using the heat dry cycle. Plus, most new dishwashers don't need you to pre-rinse. Simply scrape off food and load, and you'll conserve another 20 gallons.
7)Adjust the thermostat The average home spends about $1,900 annually on energy bills. Heating and cooling accounts for as much as half of a home’s energy use. Turning the thermostat just two degrees up or down can save a lot of energy and money. Save energy by setting your thermostat dial to 68 degrees in winter and 72 in the summer. For winter nights, lower to 65 degrees and pile on the blankets. And if possible, opt for an energy-efficient fan instead of air conditioning during summer. For more recommendations, get a copy of EPA's A Guide to
8)Bring your own bag It takes 12 million barrels of oil, and 14 million trees, to make all the paper and plastic bags Americans go through each year. Next time you shop, take cloth bags (keep a few in the trunk to have on hand). Or just reuse — sturdy plastic bags or double-bagged paper ones hold up for months, and they're free. Extra credit: Reuse plastic produce bags, or pick up a few cloth ones available at many stores.
9)Break the bottle habit Making and even recycling plastic water bottles uses energy and releases pollution, and every year, millions of them wind up in landfill. It's not worth the waste, argues Gina Solomon, senior scientist for the National Resources Defense Council. "Bottled water is often just tap water with a fancy label and a high price, and it's not any better for you," she says. In fact, Consumer Reports found that about a quarter of bottled water comes from the tap.
10)Recycle It sounds old-fashioned to mention recycling — until you consider that an incredible 69 percent of Americans still don't do it. To learn more about the recycling process and recycling opportunities go to EPA’s site: http://www.epa.gov/msw/recycle.htm. Tip: Try to steer clear of food and products wrapped in excess packaging.
Kyle encouraged me by reminding me that we are doing well on the following:
There is still more we can do, but there is always room for improvement.
3) Light up right
5) Fix drips and leaks
6) Use dishwasher smarts
7) Adjust the thermostat
8) Bring your own bag
9) Break the bottle habit
10) Recycle
