7 years ago
Saturday, July 7, 2007
This I Believe - Adoption
NPR has a segment called "This I Believe" where people write essays about their life experiences. While we were in Utah, John and Dawnette shared one of the essays with us. It's about a couple who is waiting to adopt and have come to believe parenthood is a gift. It reflects many of our own feelings, but the feelings are expressed so well that we had to share it. You can listen to it or read it.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Some highlights from our trip
Day 1 - Woke up at 3:41am. Spent about 14 hours in the car - Marc, me, and my Mom and Dad - before arriving at Matt and April's near Ogden, Utah. April fed us some delicious tortellini soup with spinach and sausage, which really hit the spot after eating snack foods most of the day. Visited there with April and 2-year old Kelly for a while, before heading up to Smithfield to see Dawnette and family.
Day 2 - Woke to the smell of blueberry pancakes and bacon. YUMMY! We were introduced to their two new baby kittens, one white and one gray/black. Since they could only keep one of the kittens, they offered to let us have the gray one. We decided to name him Watson. (They later decided on "Sherlock" as the name of their kitty.)
Attended the Logan temple with Mom, Dad, Dawnette, and John.
Played soccer in the front yard with McKayla, Dennison, Truman, and Malachi. Went on a nice little hike up the canyon with everyone, and spotted tons of dragonflies. When I tried to point them out to 2-year old Malachi, all he noticed was the dog poop on the trail. :) Ended the day with an ice cream cone from Casper's. Oh, while we were waiting at the car for the others, Marc taught the kids some karate moves. Here is Malachi showing his stuff.
Day 3 - We relaxed at home most of the day. Played more soccer. Went shopping with my big sister, Dawnette. She and I ended the day with pedicures. I believe self-pampering is a healthy activity! I tried to convince Marc to join in, but he was too busy watching a movie on his new laptop. Oh well, next time. :)
Day 4 - We met up in Ogden with four of the eight siblings for a family picnic with Mom and Dad. After eating lunch, we chatted, played with the kids, and tossed a football and softballs with each other... until we were all so hot that we returned to Matt's house for Popsicles and air conditioning.
Drove down to Provo with Mandi and Adam. Had dinner at Guru's and watched part of Casino Royale.
Day 5 - Went to Church. Hung out with Mandi and Adam all day. Played with Watson. Went on a walk with Marc, and then later went on a walk with my little sister, Mandi. Mom and Dad arrived later that night, excited to enter the MTC the next morning...
Day 6 - Bid farewell to Mom and Dad, well for a couple of hours anyway. They checked into the MTC and got their name tags and then came back for lunch with us, before attending more meetings in the afternoon.
Don't they look so great?!!
Marc, Mandi, and I did a little shopping and then later played Skip-Bo. Marc and I checked out the mural that my Dad painted at Mandi's work, and then took a stroll around BYU's campus. We made French Bread Pizza for dinner and Apple Crisp for dessert. Jamie and his family joined us from Idaho that night, which was a treat! With it being our final night in Utah, we really soaked up the time with everyone. We enjoyed some much-needed quiet moments with Mom and Dad.
Day 7 - Woke at 4:45am. Shared hugs and kisses and tears. It was hard to leave the state where both of my sisters live. In my ideal world I would live across the street from both of them, or at least around the corner. Hopefully one day!
Mandi, Dawnette, and me - both my sisters are expecting! :)
It was even harder to say good-bye to Mom and Dad. They'll be in Australia in just a few days - on the other side of the world for a year and a half. But, I'm so proud of them... and it gives us an excuse to make a trip to Australia! :)
It took us about 12 hours to drive back home to California. We listened to a book on tape that Mandi let us borrow - Outlander - which actually made the trip seem to go faster. What a relief to finally get out of the car. Watson traveled really well.
After arriving home, we cuddled Einstein before introducing him to our new kitty, Watson. Here's a video of their first introduction. (DISCLAIMER: Please ignore our annoying, high-pitched kitty-talking voices.)
And, then this is the following day, after we had given Watson a bath. The first clues that Einstein and Watson are going to be good buddies.
As you can see, we had quite the trip! We had a fantastic time in Utah. It was great to spend time with two of my brothers and two of my sisters and their families. And, it was wonderful to have some time away with Marc. There really isn't anyone I'd rather be with than him. I love our time together!
Day 2 - Woke to the smell of blueberry pancakes and bacon. YUMMY! We were introduced to their two new baby kittens, one white and one gray/black. Since they could only keep one of the kittens, they offered to let us have the gray one. We decided to name him Watson. (They later decided on "Sherlock" as the name of their kitty.)
Attended the Logan temple with Mom, Dad, Dawnette, and John.
Played soccer in the front yard with McKayla, Dennison, Truman, and Malachi. Went on a nice little hike up the canyon with everyone, and spotted tons of dragonflies. When I tried to point them out to 2-year old Malachi, all he noticed was the dog poop on the trail. :) Ended the day with an ice cream cone from Casper's. Oh, while we were waiting at the car for the others, Marc taught the kids some karate moves. Here is Malachi showing his stuff.
Day 3 - We relaxed at home most of the day. Played more soccer. Went shopping with my big sister, Dawnette. She and I ended the day with pedicures. I believe self-pampering is a healthy activity! I tried to convince Marc to join in, but he was too busy watching a movie on his new laptop. Oh well, next time. :)
Day 4 - We met up in Ogden with four of the eight siblings for a family picnic with Mom and Dad. After eating lunch, we chatted, played with the kids, and tossed a football and softballs with each other... until we were all so hot that we returned to Matt's house for Popsicles and air conditioning.
Drove down to Provo with Mandi and Adam. Had dinner at Guru's and watched part of Casino Royale.
Day 5 - Went to Church. Hung out with Mandi and Adam all day. Played with Watson. Went on a walk with Marc, and then later went on a walk with my little sister, Mandi. Mom and Dad arrived later that night, excited to enter the MTC the next morning...
Day 6 - Bid farewell to Mom and Dad, well for a couple of hours anyway. They checked into the MTC and got their name tags and then came back for lunch with us, before attending more meetings in the afternoon.
Don't they look so great?!!
Marc, Mandi, and I did a little shopping and then later played Skip-Bo. Marc and I checked out the mural that my Dad painted at Mandi's work, and then took a stroll around BYU's campus. We made French Bread Pizza for dinner and Apple Crisp for dessert. Jamie and his family joined us from Idaho that night, which was a treat! With it being our final night in Utah, we really soaked up the time with everyone. We enjoyed some much-needed quiet moments with Mom and Dad.
Day 7 - Woke at 4:45am. Shared hugs and kisses and tears. It was hard to leave the state where both of my sisters live. In my ideal world I would live across the street from both of them, or at least around the corner. Hopefully one day!
Mandi, Dawnette, and me - both my sisters are expecting! :)
It was even harder to say good-bye to Mom and Dad. They'll be in Australia in just a few days - on the other side of the world for a year and a half. But, I'm so proud of them... and it gives us an excuse to make a trip to Australia! :)
It took us about 12 hours to drive back home to California. We listened to a book on tape that Mandi let us borrow - Outlander - which actually made the trip seem to go faster. What a relief to finally get out of the car. Watson traveled really well.
After arriving home, we cuddled Einstein before introducing him to our new kitty, Watson. Here's a video of their first introduction. (DISCLAIMER: Please ignore our annoying, high-pitched kitty-talking voices.)
And, then this is the following day, after we had given Watson a bath. The first clues that Einstein and Watson are going to be good buddies.
As you can see, we had quite the trip! We had a fantastic time in Utah. It was great to spend time with two of my brothers and two of my sisters and their families. And, it was wonderful to have some time away with Marc. There really isn't anyone I'd rather be with than him. I love our time together!
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Utah Roadtrip
We just got back from a quick trip to Utah. We drove out there with my parents, to see them off at the MTC (Missionary Training Center). We were able to spend time with family, play with nieces and nephews, attend the Logan temple, have a self-guided tour of the latest renovations at BYU, hike up a Utah mountain, and send my parents off on another mission. It was a week packed with a lot of fun and tender moments with family.
Come back later for photos and other highlights of our trip! :)
Oh, and by the way, we also came back with a four-week old kitten, Watson. So far he and Einstein get along really well. We captured their first introduction on video. They're some handsome kitties!
- Megan
Come back later for photos and other highlights of our trip! :)
Oh, and by the way, we also came back with a four-week old kitten, Watson. So far he and Einstein get along really well. We captured their first introduction on video. They're some handsome kitties!
- Megan
Monday, June 25, 2007
Stevie One and Stevie Two
Today while I was surfing Youtube, I was able to reconstruct my childhood dreams. Youtube amazes me.
No, seriously. Bear with me here, and I'll explain. There were two "Stevies" I wanted to be like when I was a kid. Stevie One was Stevie Palmer, the kid in these two commercials:
OK, so he's not a celebrity or anything. But did you see all the cool stuff he could do? And all the cool people who came over to his house? He was AWESOME!
And yes, my brother and I eventually convinced my dad to pony up for an Amiga computer. It taught me some German phrases ("Guten morgen Hans") and I learned to imitate the sound of the Amiga disk drive by humming with my mouth closed.
Now "Stevie Two." Stevie Wonder was Stevie Two.
Hey, I know I'm not black. But as a kid, I knew that having that much funk would pretty much make up for any other shortcomings I might ever have in my life. Ever.
Also, perhaps someday I would be so famous as to need spanish subtitles.
Anyway, combine Stevies One and Two and you have my complete, up-to-date, 2007 Self-Image. But maybe that's too shallow. Anybody know a prophet, or maybe some famous philosopher who goes by "Stevie?"
-Marc (in a funny mood tonight...don't take me too seriously)
No, seriously. Bear with me here, and I'll explain. There were two "Stevies" I wanted to be like when I was a kid. Stevie One was Stevie Palmer, the kid in these two commercials:
OK, so he's not a celebrity or anything. But did you see all the cool stuff he could do? And all the cool people who came over to his house? He was AWESOME!
And yes, my brother and I eventually convinced my dad to pony up for an Amiga computer. It taught me some German phrases ("Guten morgen Hans") and I learned to imitate the sound of the Amiga disk drive by humming with my mouth closed.
Now "Stevie Two." Stevie Wonder was Stevie Two.
Hey, I know I'm not black. But as a kid, I knew that having that much funk would pretty much make up for any other shortcomings I might ever have in my life. Ever.
Also, perhaps someday I would be so famous as to need spanish subtitles.
Anyway, combine Stevies One and Two and you have my complete, up-to-date, 2007 Self-Image. But maybe that's too shallow. Anybody know a prophet, or maybe some famous philosopher who goes by "Stevie?"
-Marc (in a funny mood tonight...don't take me too seriously)
Good dancing music
In my younger days, I loved going to dances. I couldn't wait to turn 14, so I could attend the church dances. I mostly loved those dances... except for the ones where teenage drama would take over. Fortunately I don't have to worry about that anymore! :)
For some unknown reason, one of my favorite dancing songs got stuck in my head last night... you know the kind of song that makes you want to get up and dance, no matter where you are or what you're doing. Since I don't go to many dances anymore, and the fact that it probably isn't played as much as it was 15 years ago, I now have a list of "dancing songs" that I like to blast while I'm cleaning the house.
So, here's the first that I'll share: Abba's Dancing Queen
Now, don't tell me you didn't get up dance... or at least really fight the urge to sway! :) Anyone else have favorite dancing songs?
- Megan
For some unknown reason, one of my favorite dancing songs got stuck in my head last night... you know the kind of song that makes you want to get up and dance, no matter where you are or what you're doing. Since I don't go to many dances anymore, and the fact that it probably isn't played as much as it was 15 years ago, I now have a list of "dancing songs" that I like to blast while I'm cleaning the house.
So, here's the first that I'll share: Abba's Dancing Queen
Now, don't tell me you didn't get up dance... or at least really fight the urge to sway! :) Anyone else have favorite dancing songs?
- Megan
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Saturday Morning Cartoons
Megan's out of town, and I thought I'd better stop sulking about it. I decided to practice some comic art. This is one of my hobbies, and I'm timing myself to see how long it takes to complete a full-color frame like this, just so I have an idea of what to expect when I make a "real" comic. Hey, maybe I'll turn this into a comic, but for now it's just words I picked that seemed to add to a practice image.
(Click to see full-size)
The thing that amazes me about comics is, you can use words to build an image that the reader can't see. You can't see a hatch, and you don't know what the legend might be, but the words force you to fill out the story inside your head.
Elapsed time: One Sherlock Holmes film and one movie about a smart dog.
-Marc
(Click to see full-size)
The thing that amazes me about comics is, you can use words to build an image that the reader can't see. You can't see a hatch, and you don't know what the legend might be, but the words force you to fill out the story inside your head.
Elapsed time: One Sherlock Holmes film and one movie about a smart dog.
-Marc
Thursday, June 21, 2007
praying, hoping, wishing...
For the most part, I am an optimistic person. While I'm not necessarily "bubbly", I tend towards finding the good, the positive. Today, however, I've found myself in a little bit of a funk, and a lot of emotions have surfaced.
Our life has been filled with adoption-related things for the past seven months or so - paperwork, interviews, more paperwork, and more interviews. That phase ended almost two months ago, and now we're in the waiting phase. Waiting for our prayers to be answered; waiting for the right young woman to find us; waiting for a baby to fill our home and hearts.
As I was sitting here feeling sad about our situation... four years of struggles and frustrations of trying to start a family, countless doctor's appointments, and now entering this phase that could realistically last anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of years... I started to think about others out there who are struggling with their own set of challenges. Heaven knows I'm not the only one with a heavy heart.
And I wondered specifically about the young woman who will eventually cross paths with us... and I wondered what she must be going through right now. Maybe she is struggling today. Maybe she is feeling scared and heartbroken. Maybe she is digging deep for all the courage and faith to make, perhaps, the most important decisions in her life. Decisions that I would never want to face.
And, if I knew that she were reading this right now, I would want her to know that I am praying for her. I would want her to know that, even though we haven't met, I think of her everyday. I would want her to know that I'm looking forward to meeting her and building a relationship with her. I would want her to know that there is and always will be a place for her in our hearts and family. I often find myself hoping that she is surrounded by loving arms.
I don't know why things haven't worked out for us to have children. I don't know why God allows some things to happen but not others. I don't know why the plans for our lives don't quite turn out like we expect. But, I trust that He knows something I don't know. He sees a broader perspective of our lives, and He knows certain things that need to happen in a certain way. I trust that when the time is right He will allow us to cross paths with very special people, who will bless our lives forever. In the meantime, we'll be praying and hoping and wishing for that day to speedily come.
- Megan
Our life has been filled with adoption-related things for the past seven months or so - paperwork, interviews, more paperwork, and more interviews. That phase ended almost two months ago, and now we're in the waiting phase. Waiting for our prayers to be answered; waiting for the right young woman to find us; waiting for a baby to fill our home and hearts.
As I was sitting here feeling sad about our situation... four years of struggles and frustrations of trying to start a family, countless doctor's appointments, and now entering this phase that could realistically last anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of years... I started to think about others out there who are struggling with their own set of challenges. Heaven knows I'm not the only one with a heavy heart.
And I wondered specifically about the young woman who will eventually cross paths with us... and I wondered what she must be going through right now. Maybe she is struggling today. Maybe she is feeling scared and heartbroken. Maybe she is digging deep for all the courage and faith to make, perhaps, the most important decisions in her life. Decisions that I would never want to face.
And, if I knew that she were reading this right now, I would want her to know that I am praying for her. I would want her to know that, even though we haven't met, I think of her everyday. I would want her to know that I'm looking forward to meeting her and building a relationship with her. I would want her to know that there is and always will be a place for her in our hearts and family. I often find myself hoping that she is surrounded by loving arms.
I don't know why things haven't worked out for us to have children. I don't know why God allows some things to happen but not others. I don't know why the plans for our lives don't quite turn out like we expect. But, I trust that He knows something I don't know. He sees a broader perspective of our lives, and He knows certain things that need to happen in a certain way. I trust that when the time is right He will allow us to cross paths with very special people, who will bless our lives forever. In the meantime, we'll be praying and hoping and wishing for that day to speedily come.
- Megan
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
These Three Men
We are a little behind, but had to say something about Father's Day. There are three men who deserve my love and appreciation on Father's Day. Here they are...
Some things I love about my Dad... I love the way he whistles while he does the dishes or while he's puttering around the house. I love spending time with him in the yard. I love being in nature with him - camping, hiking, going on walks - it's where I feel closest to him. I love watching Frasier reruns with him - we laugh and laugh. I love talking with him about philosophy or politics or religion. I love the comfort of having his arm around me when life is hard. I love his sensitivity in knowing when I need his arm around me. I love it when he calls me by his nickname for me - Nutmeg. I love being "the spice of his life." I couldn't have been blessed with a better father.
And, I couldn't be more blessed to have Marc as my husband. Although we don't have any rugrats of our own yet, there is little that brings me more joy than watching how much our nieces and nephews love him. They literally climb all over him, and when they're ready to settle down, they love hearing his stories. (I love his stories, too!) Even the young ones, who you'd think aren't paying attention, become engrossed in his stories. He is very patient and sweet with them. He is going to be such a good father. There is so much that I love about him!
I never had the privilege of meeting Marc's Dad. But, I am grateful for the kind of father he was to Marc. I love hearing stories about him, and watching the way Marc fits so many of the characteristics of his Dad. I've decided that the person I'm most excited to meet in heaven some day is Marc's Dad.
These three good men are among my most favorite blessings!
-Megan
Some things I love about my Dad... I love the way he whistles while he does the dishes or while he's puttering around the house. I love spending time with him in the yard. I love being in nature with him - camping, hiking, going on walks - it's where I feel closest to him. I love watching Frasier reruns with him - we laugh and laugh. I love talking with him about philosophy or politics or religion. I love the comfort of having his arm around me when life is hard. I love his sensitivity in knowing when I need his arm around me. I love it when he calls me by his nickname for me - Nutmeg. I love being "the spice of his life." I couldn't have been blessed with a better father.
And, I couldn't be more blessed to have Marc as my husband. Although we don't have any rugrats of our own yet, there is little that brings me more joy than watching how much our nieces and nephews love him. They literally climb all over him, and when they're ready to settle down, they love hearing his stories. (I love his stories, too!) Even the young ones, who you'd think aren't paying attention, become engrossed in his stories. He is very patient and sweet with them. He is going to be such a good father. There is so much that I love about him!
I never had the privilege of meeting Marc's Dad. But, I am grateful for the kind of father he was to Marc. I love hearing stories about him, and watching the way Marc fits so many of the characteristics of his Dad. I've decided that the person I'm most excited to meet in heaven some day is Marc's Dad.
These three good men are among my most favorite blessings!
-Megan
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