TAGGED

Aves @ Call of the Phoebe has tagged me:

Here is what she said about me:

Smalltown Girl at Stumbling on Happiness, Another wonderful woman whom I have had the opportunity to meet and travel with. She is a constant source of strength and support.

Wow, that was nice! Thanks!
I have had the opportunity to meet the fabulous Aves! Even to travel with, internationally! She is a strong honest woman with an open heart. Fun, funny, smart, innovative, positive,loving, loyal, not afraid to speak her mind. Our oldest girls, who are still at the orphanage (not for long, God willing) are from the same part of Haiti, and they are great friends. I have a feeling that they will remain so Stateside, even with the distance. And so, I believe Aves and I will remain friends as well.

When I was first looking to adopt, her blog was such a source of inspiration and information. I learned so much about adoption and other people's experience reading her blog, which I did, (and still do) every day. I am so excited that her younger daughter Ve arrived home from Haiti last week!

here are the rules to receiving this award:

You have to pass it on to 5 other fabulous bloggers in a post.

You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions in the post.

You must copy and paste the rules and the instructions below in the post.

On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them.

My Five Biggest Addictions:

COFFEE: A true addiction. Nothing happens in my life without coffee. It is something that I relish every morning, that first strong initial hit of flavor. I savor that first cup, first thing, with either one cream or a tad of non-fat milk. I have a few cups, and then I am pretty much done for the day. I am not a person that drinks coffee all day long. Occasionally I will have an afternoon cup. I have access to all kinds of coffee in the work that I do, but I am not a coffee snob. I like Starbucks (French Roast, my favorite) as much as I like good old fashioned Folgers or Maxwell House. I will occasionally put a shot of espresso in my cup of coffee, but other than that, I could care less if I ever drink another cappuccino, mocha, or latte again in my life.

THE WRITTEN WORD: I have been an avid reader since I learned how. We did not have extra money floating around when I was growing up, but my mom did let me belong to a book club. Oh, getting those books was the highlight of my month! I did not have to try hard in grade school to say at the top of my class, and I often had one of my paperbacks disguised inside one of my textbooks, reading as the class went on. (Sorry Aves, it's true!) I read mostly fiction until adulthood. Now I read mostly non-fiction. It's just much more interesting to me. I still occasionally pick up a good read (fiction) but if it's good I can't put it down until I finish and will often stay up all night to do so. I also have journaled since I was about 9 years old and my mom gave me a locked diary. I never thought I would be doing it publicly, but here I am! I LOVE to blog, but the really personal stuff still goes in a private journal. It's fair to say I write more than I talk.

FABRIC: I love fabric. I have more than a closet full. I love to sew although I don't have time to do it much anymore. I plan on starting again soon. I don't love the process as much as I do the finished product, but I love the act of being creative. I love looking at fabrics, and imagining what should be done with them. I think that sewing for two little girls will be fun!

APPLIED ART: I love to paint. Walls, furniture, fabric, and images. I love color, and I love playing with color. In gardening and flower arranging, beading, even food. I never tire of learning about colors and textures and how they work together or apart. I also love photography. I tend to love other people's photography more than my own. Oddly, for my love of color, I often like B&W better than color when it comes to photography, but it depends on the subject matter.

MUSIC: I love music. The right music transforms me. The right music expresses my feelings better than I could say, or even write. Sometimes the right music brings to the surface things I did not even know I was feeling. I like most music except really vulgar ugly stuff. There seems to be alot of that out there right now. I thought it was me getting older, but I have had students I like and respect tell me it's true. Modern music in this day and age is not so good. Or inspiring. Even my 15 year old prefers to listen to classic rock. I love my MP-3 when I'm cleaning house or on an airplane. I also love to sing and I love to dance. My whole family is like this, so I blame it on heredity.

OK, HERE ARE THE FABULOUS BLOGGERS I AM TAGGING!

Janet, at Adopting T-n-T
She is my fabulous friend here in my home state who has helped me in this process in so many ways. Getting my dossier completed. Practical advice about adopting, about traveling, you name it! She has a huge heart for the children of Haiti!


This Mama, at 3+3=6

I have yet to meet this fabulous family, but they are taking on the challenge of a lifetime, filled with love and wisdom. Hubby just returned from Haiti and meeting the kids for the first time. Awesome stories!

Steph, at Adopting Gyrlande

Where it all started for me. Steph was the liaison for the orphanage I am adopting from, and a good friend to the director. She has been extremely supportive of everyone in this process, having brought her daughter home 2 years ago. I have yet to meet her, but on one of my future jaunts back home to Northern Cal, I hope to!



Sarah, at The Nelsons
A woman I have not met in person but who is in the same "group" with me at the Orphanage (our paperwork, is roughly in the same place). She has a beautiful family and has always been so supportive and helpful, to me as well as to others.

Jennifer, at Journey to My Ethiopian Children

My newest blogging buddy, adopting from Ethiopia. She has two older children, and is hoping to adopt two more from Ethiopia. She is a single mom, and lives in Northern Cal in the city where I graduated college. So we have alot in common, and maybe someday we will be able to meet!