Thanks Mom!

A few weeks ago, I met my Mom so I could swap my nieces with her.  They were heading home after being with me for a few weeks.  I thought I was just handing them over, but Mom had other ideas.  She got my nieces.  I got a van load of junk she's been saving for me for 35 odd years.  Things from Kindergarten, things from High school, things from my crib, things from my first (yes first) Commissioning. 

 I'll admit, some of it was kind of cool.  It was fun to look at my old yearbooks and see faces and names that I've been trying to put together for a decade now.  It was awesome to see my Sunbeam sash, with all it's little badges.  I had to wonder if I really ever fit in that tiny thing.  The crocheted blanket my Aunt made me with my name on it.  I remember that used to lay on the end of my bed when we lived on Virginia ave.  and I used to wrap up in it on Saturday mornings early while I watched back to back, black and white Shirley Temple shows.

It's the old school papers that gave me pause.  Some I actually remembered, the "Personality of the week" where all my little friends told the teacher why they were my little friends.  That was sweet.  My family album (the one I drew myself), that was just a little sad.  Don't worry, you're not about to read that I've have repressed memories or anything else.  I've just always talked myself into thinking that my lack of self confidence came on when I gained weight.  Apparently not.  It's been with me since I was four, at least if you take stock in psychology today.

I'm not trying to work myself into a depression, I'm just wondering why people don't pay more attention to good kids, who don't know how to get from mediocrity to excellence?  Kids that don't have an easy brilliance, but aren't "Squeaky Wheels" either.  The ones who maybe aren't dressed the nicest, but still have plenty to offer if you would just ask.

Do me a favor, next time you meet one of the "Little Binks" of the world, stop and spend some time.  It won't make the great kid any less great, it won't make the trouble makers any more bothersome.  But it may make the quiet self conscience kid a little more encouraged to do better and not give up.

Okay, lecture over, I have to get to the garage and throw away all this musty garbage.  Sshhh!  Don't tell Mom.

Vitamin D is for Me!

10 days till I board the boat (only 6 till vacation starts).  I'm so excited.  This is gonna be the longest week ever!  I don't care, now there is light at the end of a very long tunnel.  April is a busy month isn't it?  I have vacation, Mission Training (DLOTS), TOAC, TYWC, and Bill has Management conference.  In April I'm in the office for a total of 8 days.  That's gonna be rough, but I'll be well rested after a week of sun, sea air and Shelley commiserating by my side. Anyone else going to TYWC? 

Everyone's been asking about the adoption, well we filled out our immigration papers and filed them, got fingerprinted and now we wait on them to return it to us.  I'll keep you posted.  I wish this were one of those things where the level of energy you put into it pays off in speed of process, but it isn't.  We work on everyone elses time, which is frustrating, but I suppose necessary.  Still though, I WANT MY BABY NOW!!  Just for prayer purposes and stuff, we are adopting a little girl (we don't know her and don't know what she looks like yet), toddler age, and we plan on naming her Sophie.  So when you pray, pray that Sophie is being well cared for, that God will whisper in her little ears and heart that she has parents that love her and they are coming for her, and that we'll all bond and be like 3 peas in a pod who were meant for each other.  Oh yeah, and pray that she likes dogs too.  Our bed's gonna be really crowded.

Love you all!

Bink

Good Grief! I thought I'd done this.

   I've missed xanga.  It's more personal don't you think.  The other "ones" don't let you share as much.  Sadly, Xanga doesn't let you throw cows at people.  So we need "synergy" here I think.  Anyway, let me tell you what's going on in this neck of the woods..  Our adoption process is going well.  Our home study is DONE!  I think that was the most tedious part of the process.  Now I just have to get everything translated and handed in.  Then the waiting game begins.

Here's some cool things that have been going on in our life, besides adopting.  I've been trying to reconnect with some of my High school friends.  So for a few weeks now, I've been cyber stalking people.  Apparently this is a very common practice.  I was starting to worry about my sanity for a while, but mental help (for this occasion anyway) is not required.  I actually tracked down a few and had great catch up conversations with them.  It was soooo cool.  Oh to have big pink hair, rubber mini skirts, and combat boots again!  Reminiscing is awesome sometimes.  I say sometimes because, twice and by  2 different people it was brought to my attention that I had really done a terrible thing to someone and I never really made amends. So, I did more cyber stalking, and found an old boyfriend who I really mistreated (I was a sinner-leave it at that).  I sent him an amends letter last week.  I read it to Bill first, then we both cried, then I said a little prayer for this dude and mailed it. 

Anyway, I'll let you know how it turns out.  Don't worry, I put a P.O. box return on it in case it turns out badly.

Love you all!

Bink

Hold On!! Only 10 days to go!

Has this not been the roughest season ever?  It has not stopped raining for...oh, I don't know...A MONTH!  I feel lucky for this weather compared to poor A/OK, try doing kettles in that mess.  But anyway, kettles are down (But remember, God will provide what we need),  there is not an inch of my builiding that is not being consumed by Christmas, and I even have to have church tomorrow with about 10 bikes parked in the backof the Chapel. Some of my favorite volunteers wanted to put completed family bags on the pews and were getting pretty fiesty when I said "Absolutely Not", when they asked why, I reminded them that we have church on Sunday.  Oh yeah! 

But I got the best Christmas present of the year on Tuesday...ourArmy approval for adoption!  Whoopee!!  I'm SO excited.  Thank you Commissioner!  Thank you Personnel Sec.!  Thank you, Divisional Commander!  You guys ROCK! 

Well, I have to get back to work now, I want everything done today, so I don't have to work on the Sabbath and can have one day of soaking in Christmas and the Beauty of my Saviors birth before distribution day. 

Merry Christmas Dear Hearts, and God Bless Us, Everyone!

Bink

It's been a while...

Well I've had an interesting fall.  In October I went on an awesome "Fact Finding Mission" to the Republic of Georgia and Romania.  It was fantastic.  I've really been praying deliberately over whether we are supposed to serve there.  But for the time being we are asking for permission to adopt a little girl from there.  I'm gonna be a Mama!  I've been practicing my Georgian too so at least she won't be overly overwhelmed with English. I'd love to tell you all about it, but that would take for ever and it's Christmas and I know you don't have time to read a novel.  Call me!  I'll tell you everything.

When I got home, I was so whooped.  But my Home League (who by all accounts ROCK!) picked me up in Knoxville, and dragged my sorry hind parts to Gatlinburg for a great weekend we had been planning since last year.  We had a hoot!  We ate plenty of pancakes, walked and shopped till we dropped and ate with no cutlery at the Dixie Stampede.  Don't even ask about how good we are at stampeding! 

I was home for about a week and then headed off to TOAC, which was really good and really informative.  I love things like that, it forces me to look at every issue from every angle and side.  Then my little brain motor starts to run and of course it fills my couch with all sorts of good conversations with Bill.  (Just to give you some insight into what he has to deal with, my side of the conversation always starts with "When I'm Commissioner...")  Go ahead and say it...."Poor Bill!" 

And now I'm home and it's all about CHRISTMAS!!  Every year I've done Angel tree or Toy shop I've always felt a little strange about the things we do; Stuffing bags to capacity, holding on to bags until they have a huge cache of gifts etc.  I always think that these practices run completely the opposite of what is preached from the pulpit on Sundays..."It's not the presents, it's the Gift of Salvation." or "Materialism vs. Sacrificial living".  I wonder what would happen if I only gave out board games and pizza coupons, so that families would (hopefully) spend time with each other?  Or skipped presents entirely, and gave out booklets full of ideas on how to connect and spend quality time with their kids?  Hmmm....does it ever make you wonder?