Happy Halloween!!!

Here is Anna (Harry Potter), Jessica (Vampiress), Kristie (Prairie Girl) and Molly (Kitty). They all went trick or treating tonight in our neighborhood. We went 4 blocks up and down and came home with a huge loot of candy. Just for kicks I put it on a scale. Jessica had 5 lbs, 10 oz. and Anna had 5 lbs, 3 oz. of candy. Good thing they don't eat much candy, although Anna already took hers, put it in a rubbermaid container and put it "someplace safe". She's my hoarder. Also good is that all the candy I had to hand out went. They each only ate one piece of their candy before going to bed.

Pumpkins

We carved our pumpkins tonight. I haven't actually carved them for several years. It always seemed like such hard work. Tonight we carved all three of these in less than an hour. It went really well. It pays to use those special pumpking carving knives.

What Not To Do.

During the major rain we had over the last few weeks, the ground became very soft. We had the front part of our camper on a quarter inch piece of plywood. The support broke through the plywood and went straight into the ground. Today Joyce, my camping buddy, came to help get the camper back upright and better supported. "I am woman hear me roar!" We each got out our car jacks, figured out how to use them, and got the camper back up with no problem. Yeah! Then we put the support jacks under each side of the front of the camper and better supported under the front pole.

Then we visited for awhile, started watching a movie which my girls are now finishing, then had a nice supper. We didn't get the pumpkins carved, but had a nice relaxing day, so that was nice.

Um, Yum?

It was one year ago today that my dossier was sent to China. My DTC date. The girls made me supper last night and breakfast this morning. Leftovers they found in the refridgerator. They heated everything up to a lukewarm level. I ate it all with joy!

Then tonight while Jessica was at a Halloween party, Anna and I went to one of our favorite Chinese buffet places.

Pumpkin Picking Time

We went to our favorite roadside stand outside of a mall and a grocery store to pick out our pumpkins. We've gone there since Jessica was 2.

11 Months Since LID

11 months ago my dossier was logged in with CCAA. Hopefully I'm close to having it reviewed. Rumor has it that some December LID's have been asked questions. I don't know that I'm any closer to referral though. Since I started the whole paperchase, the wait has increased a month each month. A long wait with a lot of peaks and valleys. Most people in my boat seem to be in a valley right now. I've lost motivation. Hopefully it'll come back some day soon. Saturday will be a year from when my dossier left my agency to go to China. I'm in no position to go to China right now, but I really didn't think I'd be looking at probably another 2 years to referral at almost a year after my paperwork was done. Early in 2008 I'll need to start working on renewing some of my paperwork. I pray I won't have to re-do it twice, but if it takes 3 years for a referral or close to that, I will have to re-do it twice. Depressing.

Princess Penny Patinage

June 2, 1993 - October 13, 2007

My dog, my friend, my first baby died today. She was 14 years old and she quit eating and drinking 4 days ago. Bringing her in to have her put down was probably the hardest thing I ever had to do. I prayed Thursday and Friday nights that God would come and take her in the night, so I wouldn't have to make the call. I didn't sleep much Friday night from crying, knowing if she didn't die I'd have to get the courage to call the pet hospital.

She was the dog I wanted ever since I was 12 years old - my cream with apricot toy poodle who I could name Penny, because she was mine. She loved playing catch with a racketball. There was always just one with the right smell and taste. While waiting for me to throw the ball, she always had to have a stuffed rattle toy in her mouth. I'd buy baby toys because she like the rattle in them. She was very independent. A night owl. But when she wanted attention, she'd come and get it. Despite her being so tiny (7-9 lbs when she was healthy), she'd always stand her ground. She knew when to stand still and let another dog sniff her, but she was always in charge. Definitely an alpha dog. I loved her dearly. I bought my house for her. I got Dixie for her. When she became diabetic earlier this year and then when she couldn't seem to keep the weight on this summer, I knew she wouldn't make it to winter. I almost thought I'd lose her in August, then again a month ago. I did have 14 good years with her. She's out of pain now, and I'm sure she and Dixie are running around with my dad in heaven.

I wish I had a scan of one of the really cute pictures of her. I'll have to work on that. For now, I'll just repost the one I did on her birthday last June.

Goodbye November, 2005

CCAA has finished referrals to LID's through November 30, 2005.

Only 357 days worth of LID's in front of me.

I still expect it to take another 24 months or thereabouts for me, but I won't change my ticker at the bottom of this page until we see what CCAA does in early 2008.

I wonder how long it'll take to get to the 2006 referrals. One fast month would be nice. I've always heard November was HUGE and then the next huge month was March, 2006 LID's so maybe we'll get a mini speed-up for December through February. That'd be nice instead of the 5-7 day batches.

On the other hand, I really don't realistically expect a referral in 2008 any more, but my hopes are that it doesn't take until the end of 2009. I'd like to travel in the summer of 2009 so my girls don't miss school. This time of year wouldn't be too bad weather-wise either. I've only been to China when it's been very hot and muggy.

Amanda's Name

The meaning of the name Amanda is Worthy Of Love
The origin of the name Amanda is Latin

Info on this name: Amanda Bynes, actress. Amanda Plummer, actress.
Amanda is on 2015 favorite name lists

# 102 on latest SSA List *

· Amanda - Ace Troubleshooter
· Amanda - Boston
· Amanda - Waylon Jennings
· Amanda Crazy Wolf - Erica Wheeler
· Amanda Ruth - Rank and File
· Amanda's Dream - Teitur
· Crazy Amanda Bunkface - Sum 41
· Go Amanda - Steve Earle

The meaning of the name Joy (or Joi as I'm probably using) is Happiness
The origin of the name Joy is Latin

Joy is on 635 favorite name lists
3586 have rated the name Joy

# 507 on latest SSA List *
· Joy - Harry Nilsson
· Joy - Mclusky

Popularity of the female name Amanda
Year of birth Rank
2006 --- 102
2005 --- 80
2004 --- 67
2003 --- 55
2002 --- 46
2001 --- 39
2000 --- 32
1999 --- 22
1998 --- 19
1997 --- 16
1996 --- 13
1995 --- 9
1994 --- 8
1993 --- 8
1992 --- 3

You Made Me Smile Award

Cyndi nominated me for the You Made Me Smile Award. Thank you Cyndi! I'm still in a pretty down mood or rut, so the makes me feel good.

Here is what the person that created this award says about it: the thing that I love most about blogging is that I learn so much about a person just by reading their blog. I have met MANY wonderful people with wonderful stories to tell,and I am grateful every day for each person that I have the pleasure of crossing paths in life with.I wanted to create something special for the top ten people who have inspired me through their blogging; the stories they tell, and the lives that they lead with grace and dignity. I visit their blogs for inspiration and encouragement. Please grab your badge and wear it proudly, and pass it on because you inspire and encourage me, thank you.

It's hard to come up with new names since I've got a pretty tight group of people who's blogs I read on a regular basis and many of them have already been nominated as well. So I nominate Merrill and Joyce, and if you're reading this and your blog is on my list of October, November, or other, please consider yourself nominated! I check all the blogs I've listed every couple of days. And yes, I know I need to clean up a few that no longer exist or are now private.