Wishes

I just read about a young man, 'Mighty' Max Low. He's 12 years old and has been battling leukemia since age 5. He hasn't attended his school in over a year. His parents, Greg & Bambi Low, were told to enjoy him while they could, because it looked like it was the end of the road on February 15.

However, now there is hope of a bone marrow transplant on the horizon. His own bone marrow showed no cancerous cells last Monday, and his father Greg is a 90 percent match!

Max has a wish - nothing outrageous. He doesn't want to meet a celebrity or some other extravagance. Max just wants to receive one million 'get well' cards! Please help fulfill his wish by sending him a card to the address below. I've read on one site that he has received thousands of cards so far, one of them from former President George Bush, Sr! She takes about 300 of them a day to the hospital for him to read.

Mighty Max Low
c/o Greg & Bambi Low
P.O. Box 111
Neola, IA 51559

Conversation with Monkey

Kevin: "Do you have a girlfriend, Monkey?"
Monkey: "Yeah."
Kevin: "No?"
Monkey: "YEAH!"
Kevin: "Oh, you do? Who is your girlfriend?"
Monkey: "Daniella...Elise*..."
Kevin: "You can't date older women!"
Monkey: "...Hayli...uhhhh..."
Kevin: "That's 3. That's enough! You don't need any more."
Monkey: "Nooooooooo..."


*Elise would be the mother of his friend that lives down the street. The very same Elise whose maternity pictures I took in December!

March Check In

Every month, we are required to fill out a check in form for Lifetime. We update any information that has changed (none. Who moves/changes jobs/does anything that will affect the home study while adopting?); what we've done to further our adoption plan (looking for a local lawyer this month, we got referrals from our social worker); and do we have any questions.

The answer is always the same. Do we need to send in more profiles? Is there anything that we can do on our end? Have we had any activity at all?!

We are good on profiles this month. We haven't had to send in more after our original 50.

It was suggested that we consider adding audio or video to our website. We are considering this, but it's kind of nerve wracking! What does one say in an interview to a faceless person that we have never met who is trying to make a humongous decision for a precious baby?

SOMEONE INQUIRED ABOUT US JUST LAST NIGHT! Lifetime has sent this mother, bless her heart, the paperwork and things for her to fill out. If she does make an adoption plan, we've at least made a blip on her radar!

I hope that we hear something. I find myself saying a quick prayer before I look at the Caller ID before I answer the phone! We are both waiting on pins and needles for this to happen for our family. I've had lots of dreams, all different scenarios and people, about meeting our second child.

I hope it is in His plan to happen soon.

Ash Wednesday

Today marks the beginning of the Lenten season - 40 days; from now until Easter - we should reflect, mourn and repent our sins to the Lord.

I've never participated in Lent before - mostly because the churches I went to as a kid didn't. Or if they did, I didn't know, because we didn't go very often. And then as I got older, questioning faith and participating for a time in other faiths (which most definitely influence me today) I didn't have a reason to.

The church we've started attending -where Monkey goes to preschool - does follow this practice. Tonight there are Ash Wednesday services, which I have never been to. I am nervous about going, mostly because I hate going to things alone and Kevin is working tonight.

I've decided to go along with all Lenten customs, and give up something; and also to DO something. The things I won't be doing is cussing. I cuss a lot, mostly in just normal conversation. Apparently, more so than I thought, because when I told Kevin this he laughed! Actually laughed! He told me, "It's supposed to be a sacrifice, something hard; not something impossible!" Then laughed some more. Oh well. I will just show him!

The thing I am doing, I will be keeping private until the Lent season is over. I will reflect on it here after I am done.

I think I won't give up my celebrating of Life returning to Earth; spring is wonderful! I love the new plants, flowers, trees getting leaves...and I love decorating with eggs and seeing new baby animals, the most prolific of which is bunnies. We saw bunches of them last night.

What are you doing or not doing this Lent season? What will you give up? If you are not Christian, what faith do you celebrate? What are your customs for the return of Spring, and Life?

Phone

I am starting to hate when my phone rings.

Every time it does, a part of me jumps into panic - where is the phone? Why is it never where I left it? What if I miss the call? Is it Lifetime?!

And then I find the phone and check the caller ID. So far, it hasn't been Lifetime. I want it to be them with news!

I am trying so hard to find and practice my patience (as I tell Monkey). When the time comes, we'll get the call. About the right situation, with the right baby(ies?).

I really wish I had a crystal ball.