99 THINGS

I saw this on my sister in law's blog and thought Id post it to do something a little more fun and upbeat!

Instructions:

Copy the list, bold the ones you've done (with explanations if needed), share with friends.
You apparently can't bold on my blog so I'm making all of my bolding, RED. :)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a thunder and lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child - in process :)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb (does a calf count?)
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - fish
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Basic Human Trafficking Statistics

Trafficking in persons is modern-day slavery, involving victims who are forced, defrauded or coerced into labor or sexual exploitation.

It is estimated that at least 27 million people are currently enslaved around the world; many have been enslaved through being trafficked.

Approximately 800,000 people annually are trafficked across national borders. Around 80 percent of these victims are women and girls and up to 50 percent are minors. The majority of females are trafficked into commercial sexual exploitation. (2007 Trafficking in Persons Report, U.S. State Department)

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) now believes that the number of children trafficked each year is around 1.2 million. (2006)

That's two children per minute trafficked for sexual exploitation/slavery.

45,000-50,000 persons are trafficked into the U.S. each year; 15,000 of them are children. (ECPAT-USA)

The U.N. and other experts estimate the total market value of illicit human trafficking at $32 billion. (UNODC)

These numbers make trafficking in persons the second most lucrative crime in the world, second only to the sale of drugs. (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2006).

About $28 billion of this is generated from commercial sexual exploitation. (International Labor Organization)

Photo Courtesy of Amy Cheng Photography

Adoption Update/My Journal of Lameness

I spent most of Friday as an anxious ball of mess. Our next step in our adoption process was to come up with a considerable amount of cash and as usual, I quickly turned to a doubtful mindset. I insist on tormenting myself and making mental lists of all the reasons that we are unworthy of help. (It's really quite long). I am ridiculously quick to put aside all of the times we have miraculously been provided for. (But if you need a pep talk, I can totally give you a great one!)

Without boring you with all the details, I will let you know what transpired!

1. We got a LOAN! We even got a decent interest rate :)
   
2. My heart rate slowed.... I let myself breathe again.
   
3. The same bank that gave us the loan notarized all of our documentation for FREE! Nice.
4. My boys didn't demolish the bank... Yes, Liam had the NASTIEST gas EVER. Yes, Finn pooped in his diaper while we were waiting and smelled up their tiny office. Yes, my boys almost ate them out of lollypops. Yes, they harrassed other bankers. It could have been WAY worse...
   
5. We mailed the packet off and now await our notebook full of all of the Home Study/Dossier info.
6. I realize how great it is that I am NOT in control of this process and once again try to turn things over to the God who is...
   

Don't Miss Out on the FUN!!!

The BAG O FUN, that is!!

Our good friends, the Howertons (check out their blog HERE), just found out that they were approved to go and pick up their son in Africa! Their court date is in ONE MONTH!! They need help fundraising so our other good friends, the McQueen's (their blog) have put together a Bag O Fun to raffle on the behalf.

Here’s the Bag O’Fun:

Does it look like fun? Don’t be deceived- here is what’s inside:

PF Chang -$50 + Nordstrom - $50 + Itunes - $15 + Cold Stone- $15 + Jamba Juice- $15+ AMC Entertainment -$25+ Barnes & Noble - $25 =$175 OF FUN!!

Here’s how this will go:

Raffle tickets are 1 for $5, 3 for $10 or 8 for $20.

Go HERE to buy the raffle tickets. Leave a comment here about how many raffle tickets you purchased. And Thursday at 11pm (PST) we’ll randomly select a lucky raffle ticket and announce the winner on Friday morning!

Now go get your raffle ticket because it will be FUN and because soon a boy who has no one will be part of a very amazing family…forever!

I've missed you...

I go in for the "Roto Rooter" Sinus Surgery this Friday and I have never been more excited for surgery. I feel this way for a couple of reasons...

1) I have been having sinus problems/feverish/achy/in pain on and off (mainly on) for the past year. The thought of having my sinuses cleared out actually sounds heavenly and I am feeling like I am kind of lucky to be able to have a go at relief.

2) I get to SLEEP and take prescribed PAIN MEDICATION for a couple of days. I have to rest and recover. Don't get me wrong, I know that I will be in some pain and discomfort. But being FORCED to rest is just what I need.

3) The last time I was in the hospital was to push a watermelon sized baby out of my you know where. "Recovery" included nursing every couple of hours, not sleeping, getting screamed at (by my dear Finny) and getting back to work as a mom. This seems gloriously different and I'm down right hopeful!

Sleep, glorious sleep. Oh how I have missed you, my dear friend.

** Disclaimer: I KNOW that there are moms out there in need of WAY more sleep than me. I am friends with these hard working women. Many of them have more children and have jobs too. I love them and know how lucky I am to be sleeping through the night right now. I am not whining about being tired. I am excited to get to sleep! :)

It's Back!!!

Registration is UP and space is limited!
Visit www.TeeOffAgainstTrafficking.com

You can register to participate as a Golfer and
join us for a beautiful Luncheon and Silent & Live Auction
OR you can sign up to participate in our Luncheon and Auction Only.

Our location has changed this year and it is REALLY amazing. Check it out.
The Golf Club at Echo Falls

Get a group together or sign up on your own and help us
STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING!!

Fighting Off Fear

Jesse and I just received our first packet of paperwork for the adoption and I am having a hard time not feeling a little bit overwhelmed. I knew that we would be dealing with a LOT of paperwork and that we need to fundraise a LOT of money but seeing it all on paper threw me just a little bit.

I am now giving myself the necessary pep talk. I will be:

1) Taking it one step at a time.
2) Trusting God with our finances and fundraising.
3) Remembering all of the reasons we started this process.
4) Dreaming and praying about our daughter.

I am still pretty nervous but I can't WAIT to meet our DAUGHTER!