It's that time again - Secret Pal rounds are ending. I've had two terrific pals, each unique and special in their spoiling in their own way.
My Blogger SP8 pal revealed herself from across the pond. Amber is a mixed media artist who makes unique elemental dolls. How honored I felt to receive one of her incredible dolls in my final package!! She also sent me this beautiful handmade heart, which is now hanging from my computer desk so I can see it every day. Rounding out the package was yarn - oh, the yarn! Colinette, angora, hand-dyed laceweight and the list goes on... Making the package more special is the fact that Amber is going through a tough time right now. Even though she's struggling, she took the time to create, just for me. And that makes a pal feel truly special. Stop by her blog and check out her work!
My Knittyboard Secret Pal final package also came to me from across the pond, but in a different way. My pal sent me tea that traveled with her to the States all the way from London, along with some yummy looking Mexican hot chocolate mix. I can't wait to try them! Also in the package was origami paper, a picture frame, and wonderful feltable wool. Lastly was Found, a fascinating book I've been wanting to get my hands on for some time. I took it out of the package, squealed with delight, and immediately sat down to read it. Just like a cat, my husband shimmied up to see what all the excitement was about and so I left him with the book to get a drink. When I came back, he was curled up on the couch reading away, gripping the book's spine like a two year old unwilling to share. Several hours later, I got my book back with a request from him to thank my pal for "a cool book!". So, Nicole (Qeltic), thanks for a great read. But there's more - thanks for being such a terrific pal - the ecards, emails, gifts and blog comments have all made me feel like a princess. Consider me terribly, wonderfully spoiled.
Thanks to each and every one of you for your thoughts and encouragement regarding our decision to possibly move overseas. I really enjoyed reading about your move experiences, and appreciated your insight into the highs and lows of foreign relocation.
Sadly, after making contact after contact with immigration officials, adoption resources, and other adpoptive families, we have come to the conclusion that moving overseas during an adoption is perhaps ill-advised. Completing an adoption as an American living abroad can definitely be done, but issues surrounding visas, residency, renewal of expiring forms, finding a U.S. licensed social worker in a foreign country, citizenship, etc. all complicate what is a difficult process even while living here in the States. Although we have not decidedly ruled moving out, it may be wiser to do it a little further down the road. Like, after we have a room full of baby furniture to move, too.
Some years ago (ok, more than some), my hubby and I made the rash decision to pack up our stuff, jump in a car, and move across the country for me to go to school. Chalk it up to the impetuousness of youth - we'd never been there before - just chose the school based on the program's reputation and pretty pictures in a brochure. We had no jobs, not much money, and no place to live. It was one of the most terrifying, yet satisfying, things we've ever survived (and at the time, we swore we'd never do it again).
Funny how things come 'round full circle....hubby and I are thinking about it once more. An opportunity for change has presented itself, and it would mean a leap of faith, of reason, a tossing into the air of pretty much everything we've ever known. So, now we weigh the choices... could we? vs. should we? vs. hell yes.
If you had an opportunity to move to a foreign country, away from everything and everyone familiar to you, would you?
My Blogger SP8 pal revealed herself from across the pond. Amber is a mixed media artist who makes unique ele
mental dolls. How honored I felt to receive one of her incredible dolls in my final package!! She also sent me this beautiful handmade heart, which is now hanging from my computer desk so I can see it every day. Rounding out the package was yarn - oh, the yarn! Colinette, angora, hand-dyed laceweight and the list goes on... Making the package more special is the fact that Amber is going through a tough time right now. Even though she's struggling, she took the time to create, just for me. And that makes a pal feel truly special. Stop by her blog and check out her work!
lso in the package was origami paper, a picture frame, and wonderful feltable wool. Lastly was Found, a fascinating book I've been wanting to get my hands on for some time. I took it out of the package, squealed with delight, and immediately sat down to read it. Just like a cat, my husband shimmied up to see what all the excitement was about and so I left him with the book to get a drink. When I came back, he was curled up on the couch reading away, gripping the book's spine like a two year old unwilling to share. Several hours later, I got my book back with a request from him to thank my pal for "a cool book!". So, Nicole (Qeltic), thanks for a great read. But there's more - thanks for being such a terrific pal - the ecards, emails, gifts and blog comments have all made me feel like a princess. Consider me terribly, wonderfully spoiled.
