I Was A Witness To A Miracle Part III

But, being a big Internet junkie I told her to take the networking aspect to the Internet. I have met some lovely ladies through the chat rooms and networking boards since I move here. In fact that was how I met her, and thought what better way to get the word out. Someone could possible know of a young girl that wanted to give up a baby for adoption.

I suggested to her that since the Yard Sale site had massive hits each month (6,000,000) it might be the place to start for her networking for a baby.

Well, she posted an entry on the site that they were a family that were looking to adopt. No specifics other than they loved each other and wanted to add a bundle of joy to complete the family.

Can you imagine the total shock they received when less than 24 hours after posting the message they received an email from a local gal who was 7 months pregnant and wanted to give up her baby to adoption. She had been working with another couple who backed out at the last minute and now she was desparate to find another couple to adopt the baby.

Everyone was floored.

The families met, the specifics were given. The craziness persued. The home studies, the legal documents signed and filed.

Then the wait for the baby to be born.

She was born in the middle of July and is beautiful.

The adoption process went smoothly and is just about finished.

I truly was a witness to a miracle. And to think it all started with a wisecrack about the local Yard Sale site. We now have our littlest Yardsaler.

We call her Sunshine.

I Plan On Re-reading The Book Club Choice

Yesterday was a beautiful Summer day. I spent most of it either sitting in my van or outside on the patio at the Club. Reading. And waiting.

Son # 2 has a job now and is in training to actually start working. His training is all day long and I didn't want to drive back and forth from home to come back to pick him up. Gas prices keep going up and since gas is also rationed it just didn't make sense to burn it up for no good reason.

One of the girlfriends I met here told me about the Club and how she spends many days hanging out there doing just the same thing because of logistical planning. So with a little planning and a good book I stayed up on base.

Actually, I rather enjoyed the time away from the chat boards and the online games. I recently joined a book club and was savoring the monthly book choice while waiting for the Son Creature. I savored the book so much I finished it yesterday afternoon and it left me drooling for more.

I went to the library this morning and picked up three more books and plan on reading them in the next few days.

Then I plan on re-reading the book club choice to savor the book again.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

My Baby Is Really Growing Up

We took the boy out looking for a car.

He needs to get a job and we will be attending a job fair this week to find one. There are 90 positions to fill and the Services people are hoping that maybe 50 people will attend the job fair so its pretty good odds that the boy will get a job.

That said, we found a really good used car on the Lemon lot that will fit his needs.

He test drove the car and it is sweet for him. A little pricier that he wanted, but a good car. He called the dude back after coming home and talking to his father and me and decided that he wanted to get the car.

Heavy pacing and anguish in the house, he is growing up. "How can I afford the money? I don't have a job. That's a lot of money. I have never bought a car before."

The "First National Bank of Momma" will help.

He made the decision that he really wanted the car and insisted on calling the dude back and negotiating the deal. Coached of course. The deal was accepted and it is affordable for all. Sweet.

So Wednesdayis the drop dead day.

Job Fair, purchase car, get license, and good growth of son.

My baby is really growing up.

I Will Keep Ya Posted On That One

OK, I know its been forever since I have posted, but I have one of my dribs and drabs sorta posts to do. Life is really crazy lately. Got lots of stuff to fill ya in the next few days.

The boy has definately settled in. We are past the honeymoon period and at each others throats. Not really, but are acknowledging that he needs to make some decisions about where his life is going to go. And get out of each others space for a couple of hours each day. Momma loves him, he loves Momma, we both need a little space.

I can't blame him. He is living with the Momma 24/7 and I drive him nuts. I keep telling him its a short trip and he just rolls his eyes.

He has been living on his own for the past year so living with the parents again is a tad stressful. Ya think????

He doesn't have a car and can't drive ours so he cleaned up the bicycle in the shed to get away at times. The only problem is that we live on a mountain. Fun going down, not so fun going up.

Good news is that the public transportation in Germany is really good. We will investigate public transportation this weekend.

The really good news is that the Dad and he went down to the fest by the Ohmbachsee this evening. I kinda wanted to go but the climb up the mountain to get back home scares the Bejesus out of me. Once again, going down is cool, the climb back up is scary.

I will keep ya posted on that one.

Just As I Have Always Done

I am no longer alone during the day.

Son # 2 arrived Monday afternoon. Fresh faced and excited about the prospect of living in Germany.

His father and I put together the studio section of the house for the boy. Actually the most of the third floor, so he could have some private living space. I found a bed on a local yard sale site and fashioned a room partition out of a clothing rack and a couple of hanging, closet sweater holders. Add in a covered off-season clothing storage bag.

Viola.... a room divider. Shaky at best, but it works for now and he has a private sitting room area along with his bed.

We will figure out the other small stuff when we come to it.

But..... the boy is having the time of his life.

We took him up the street Wednesday for a schnitzel dinner; he grinned the whole evening. Da Toni, the owner greeted him like he was the long lost son who had recently returned and was missed greatly.

I sent him outside to help one of the neighbors with a really labor intense chore and he was invited to stay for a beer afterwards.

He will find his own way, much the same as I found my way. I am just here to help guide him along the journey.

Just as I have always done.

A New Type Of Adventure

I am looking forward to having one of my boys back with me. Us really. My baby, Son # 2, who is coming over to come live with us.

I had, we had, originally envisioned a 4-5 year, 2nd honeymoon. This isn't gonna happen.

My Son # 2 is a fledgling and is OK, but just not getting to where he needs to be at the moment, so we invited him to come here to live for awhile. He is planning getting a job and then join the service and we want to ensure that he gets steered in the correct direction while doing so.

I am so very proud of the choice that he is making and also glad he has grown up enough to ask for help in making this choice.

I miss both my boys and am looking forward to spending some time with Son # 2 while making this transition.

This may be a new type of adventure.

I Asked Her If It Would Be A Raspberry Beret

So I am packing to go to Paris.

The "Rent a Kid" is so excited she is shaking.

We have our tickets booked and paid for the ICE (a very fast train to get us to Paris in 2 hours versus a 5/6 hour drive.) train and our hotel. The hotel is very near the Eiffel tower. Just off the METRO line. Most places in Paris are just off the METRO line. Gotta love living in a city with a METRO.

Our planned agenda include the Louve, Notre Dame, the Eiffel tower, Monmartra, and the Left Bank.

We will be in the heart of Paris so everything is just in walking distance.

The kid wants to buy a beret. I asked her if it would be a Raspberry beret. She said what?

Not a clue. I guess I am just old. I couldn't even find a Prince Youtube vidio to show it to her.

Butt Side Up And Breast Side Down

I've been doing a lot of cooking recently. Its a little over the top, considering that I am now cooking for just two people. I also have the problem of not knowing how to cook for just two people. I still cook as if I have two growing, very healthy appetited, teenage boys in the house. True, I am learning to scale back, but really some recipes just can't be cut down.

Anyway, I have been cooking.

This past Friday I made Italian sausage and pepper sandwiches with a nice side salad. Of course since the grocery store only sells previously frozen Italian sausage packages, I have to cook the whole package. I usually eat one sausage and Spousal Unit will eat two. That leaves several to be baggied up and put in the fridge.

Saturday we were out and about most of the day and also went for dinner. There is a new place we tried. A Chinese restaurant the next town over that was actually rather good. I love how, here on all the tables, there is a small jar/container of Sambol Olek along with the soy sauce. Sambol Olek is a fiery hot sauce that we slather on most of our Chinese food. I really love mixing it with soy sauce and dipping my egg rolls in it. I also love it with fried rice.

So I didn't cook on Saturday, but I went all out Sunday.

While visiting in California, my adorable Step Mother-in-Law who doesn't cook, purchased half of a roasted turkey breast. She then proceeded to introduce me to turkey and avocado sandwiches. I fell in love.

To make a long story short, on that scenario, I have been craving more turkey. And I just happened to have a turkey breast in the freezer. I pulled it out to thaw several days ago and roasted it last night. I also made stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and a tossed salad.

Thinking that soup also sounded good I pulled a smoked ham bone out of the fridge and simmered that most of the day for some soup stock. I have the start for a 15 bean soup which is always good on a Winter's night.

Well, the directions said that the turkey needed to be in the oven for 2 1/2 - 3 hours for its size, considering that I stuffed it. After the allotted time I got out my handy-dandy meat thermometer and tested it for doneness. 160 degrees. Drats. It needed to cook til 190 degrees. Back into the oven for more cook time.

A couple of hours later I tested it again. 175 degrees. This can't be right. So I had Spousal Unit start carving the breast after it rested. Looked great. I threw the thermometer in the trash and will buy a new on in a few days.

On the up side the meat was moist and succulent. Its a good thing that I now roast the turkey butt side up and breast side down.

If I Last That Long

I made it home. I am deadbeat tired. I still need to stay up for several more hours so I can get over the jet lag in the shortest time possible.

I got up at 5:00AM Thursday morning for my flight out of San Diego and arrived 9:15AM Friday morning. These old bones are crying for bed. Can't give in just yet. It is 1:17PM right now and I want to make it to 7:00.

Some random thoughts:

• Spousal Unit was at the airport to pick me up. He seems really glad that I am home. I am really glad to be home. I enjoyed my visits, but it was time to be home.
• The flights were very timely in their take-offs and landings. No frantic dashing through airports this time around.
• The weather here is grey and rainy.
• I miss the San Diego climate already.
• I do not miss the St Louis artic freeze.
• I do miss the hot tub.
• I got to read a couple of books on my flights.
• The Newark to Frankfurt flight was mostly empty so I had three seats all to myself. I actually got to snooze a little bit.
• Spousal Unit wanted to go out to dinner tonight. I kinda nixed that idea. I know that I will be flat out jet lagged by then.
• I figure a salad and cheese fondue will be nice for dinner. If I last that long.

I Will Miss The Gal On The Corner

My visit was entirely too short. I really enjoy my time with my SMIL, Ma, and the time has just flown by.

We did a little shopping. I picked up several new outfits, in anticipation of my getting a job when I get back home. Major bargains.

We did the Lowes, Home Depot stops to get some things around the house for her.

We spent today doing yard work. I am continuously amazed about doing yard work in the middle of January. The flowers here are blooming.

Oranges are ripening. The kumquats are also ripening.

Tomorrow I will be boxing up my purchases to take to the Post Office and packing my bags.

We are going to spend the night in San Diego at an airport hotel to avoid the traffic for my Thursday morning early flight.

I will also miss the gal on the corner though, dressed as the Statue of Liberty.

It Is Beautiful

I arrived safely in San Diego. My SMIL, Ma, picked me up at the airport. I didn't have any of the trauma that I had during my trip from Frankfurt to St. Louis. The weather was/is glorious and I immediately had to change my clothes from burrrrrr cold to ahhhhh warm.

The day I arrived also happened to be my father-in-laws birthday. Since the airport is in the downtown area, Ma asked me if I wanted to go visit him. I did. He passed away in late September and I still miss him. He was a good father-in-law to me.

Spousal Unit, being in the military for many years, had known that his father was eligible for burial in a military cemetery and asked Ma if this was what she wanted for Papa Charlie. She agreed and they chose the military cemetery at Fort Rosecrans. The fort is located on Point Loma.

One of the views from the site.

Another view from the cemetery. I have spent a lot of time in San Diego over these past 30 years and have never before been to this site. It is beautiful.

Life Is Really Good

Well the adventures continue. As if I ever expect them to stop.

Spousal Unit got us all up, had coffee ready for me and started loading the van. The plan was to get on the road at 6:00am to beat the Monday morning traffic, the Staus (traffic jams) for which Frankfurt is infamous. We all finally pile into the van and take off at 6:15. As we are backing up I notice snow on the windshield. Yup, its snowing and we get to brave Frankfurt traffic.

Actually the drive up wasn’t too bad. Traffic was moderately heavy, but tolerable. We parked and went in separate directions to check in. We met back up and got final hugs and kisses before splitting up again for our flights and having Spousal Unit go back home.

I was able to board the plane in a very timely manner. And then the waiting began. The snow continued to fall and we were unable to push back until the plan was de-iced. The de-icing truck would be arriving in 45 minutes, stated the Captain. The Captain was correct. The de-icing truck did arrive in 45 minutes, but then it needed to de-ice us. So an 1 ½ after we were supposed to push back we finally did. Then we sat in the take off queue for another hour.

Landing 2 ½ hours late in Newark I had to go through Customs. Stood in the line and made it through in a breeze.

I collected my luggage and stood in the other Customs line and again, just had to breeze through. I left to recheck my luggage and found that area. Now luggage-less I look for the train to go to the "A" terminal. An agent directs me to the proper security line and I get in another line. Getting through security I proceed to my gate and sit down. Looking at my watch, wondering why they aren't starting the boarding. I ask a gal sitting next to me if this flight is going to St Louis. "Why no, its going to Orange County."

I panic.

I go to the counter and am told that my gate was changed and I need to go to the "C" terminal.

Running now, I take off and get back on the train and get myself to the "C" terminal. I have to go back through security. I have 7 minutes before the plane takes off. The Security x-ray scanner now wants to have me open my computer bag because she obviously has never seen a floppy drive before. Of course, since floppy drives are dinosaurs of the computer world I have never taken it out of the pocket. It does not want to come out of the pocket. I'm shaking so hard I can't get it out of the pocket. I get it out. She scans it.

I now have 2 minutes.

I run to the gate. Another gate change.

I make it to the correct gate and the door is closed.

I start to beg. Please let me on the flight. The plane hasn't pushed back. Please.

The agent said she couldn't do anything.

A man in the same situation said that another agent was checking to see if he could get on. This agent came back and said that he could get on. I just ran and gave her my boarding pass and got on the plane. Didn't even ask if there was a seat. Got to my seat and it was occupied. "I believe you are in my seat." She got up and I sat down. I made it.

I get to St Louis, proceed to the baggage area and get an unexpected hug. My gal pal is there to pick me up. Life is good.

She then says, "Oh, by the way. Spousal Unit called. The boys are stuck in Newark for an extra 2 hours. Can I call their friend that is picking them up to let him know?"

More panic. I have no cell phone. No numbers to call. We end up calling friends of friends, who call friends and am assured the boys will get a ride. At this point I can only pray.

We get to the house and exhausted I go to bed.

Later I got a phone call from Charlie, son #1, telling me that they arrived safe and sound.

Life is really good.

My SMIL Rocks

I am flying out at O'Dark Thirty in the morning. The boys are flying with me on different airlines and arriving a little later than me. I am going to spend a little time with some friends from my hometown, more time with the boys and do some errands that were left unfinished prior to my coming to Europe. Think..... major Walmart run.

I will be taking my laptop, but will be visiting with friends that have sporadic Internet capabilities. They steal, sorry, borrow wireless capabilities and sometimes I can't get on.

I will be in the St. Louis area for almost two weeks and then on to California for an extra long weekend with my truly awesome, forever young, delightful Step Mother-in-law.

Spousal Unit didn't marry a woman like his Mother. He married a woman like his Step Mother.

My SMIL rocks.

And True To Form, We Are Missing Socks

One of my Gal Pals emailed me last night and got all, "What's up with all the pictures and no writing"?

Well, taking pictures and just commenting on the photos is a lot quicker to put out a post. I have been really busy, with the boys' visit and have not found a lot of time to just sit down and throw together an actual wordy entry. We have been traveling and getting home late. The boys are also on the 'puter keeping up with their own lives. So lately a lot of pics and not so many words.

To update a little: The visit, thus far, has been very pleasant. I am really enjoying them being here. It is also strange to have the boys about again. Spousal Unit picked the house out for two people to live here. Thus, the house seems to be bulging with people when we are all home.

I am finding that doing laundry for 4 people again is a chore.

The laundry is mountainous. It takes about 3-3 1/2 hours to do a load from start to finish. I love how clean ever thing is, but the time to accomplish the load is so sloooooooooooow.

The machines are both front loaders. The dryer uses extraction for the water rather than a vent for the clothes. There is only one setting that we have found that actually gets the clothes dry. Heavens, some of the controls actually refer to ironing the damp clothes. Iron? What's that???




And, after each load I have to pull out the container and dump the water into the sink. I am still deciphering the controls on the machines.
We also haven't figured out how to do a plain cold water wash. This setting is for 60 degrees Celsius. That's 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Done in an hour and 46 minutes.



And true to form, we are missing socks.

Happy 23rd

Twenty three years ago, today, I was in labor. It was a Friday.

My mom and dad had come to visit with us for Christmas, though Dad had to work on the Friday after the holiday.

I remember that on Christmas day all I hoped for was not to go into labor, because we had just finished Christmas dinner. Our traditional Christmas dinner is baked ham, scalloped potatoes and whatever else we felt like making. Ham and the scalloped potatoes for dinner is a tradition we still continue. It is also my favorite meal.

I was two weeks overdue and the doctors said that if I didn't have the baby during the weekend I would be induced on Monday. I was huge and extremely uncomfortable, really ready to have the baby. I also really really didn't want to be induced for the labor. My Mom had two of her three labors induced and she had said it was very uncomfortable.

Like labor needs to be any more uncomfortable??

Well here we were finishing up a really good dinner and I was happy in my tummy 'cause of the dinner. I just was scared I would start labor on a full stomach. Then, when I walked outside and saw that it was a full moon, I just knew that I would have the baby the next day.

I woke up Friday morning and knew that the labor had started. Dad was up already getting ready to go to work. I told him that he would be a grandfather that day. I got Spousal Unit up and asked him to take a shower. We couldn't go to the hospital with out a shower.

He just looked at me like I am crazy. At times I am a little crazy, with some of my requests. But he showers and we go to the hospital.

Two hours later, the baby is born.

Happy 23rd Birthday Charlie

Priceless

I have shoes to trip over in unexpected places.

I have more dishes to wash.

One exhausted son, attempting to get over jetlag.

Another exhausted son, also trying to get over jetlag.


Priceless.

My Boys Landed In Frankfurt

I just got a phone call. My boys landed in Frankfurt and are on their way here. I had been really worried that their flight would be cancelled or delayed because of the news of the latest round of winter storms stranding travelers in the Midwest.

My Christmas has just begun.

Flashbacks

Today, while sitting on the Yard Sale site that I use to amuse myself and keep me occupied in the mornings, I was refreshing the site for updated items and I came across this item offered for sale.

Its a Creepy Crawler factory. Kinda like an Easy Bake Oven for the for the non Suzy Homemaker set.

We had one of these when we were kids. You would squirt the liquid provided into the forms and then "bake it" to make all sorts of bugs and assorted insects in various colors. I loved playing with this toy and creating new creepy crawlers.

As I recall the liquid was called Goop, or Super Goop. For some reason, lost in a dead brain cell, I started calling my youngest sister, Goop or Goopie. The name stuck in our family. I still call her Goop.

She even named her blog The Super Goop.

Talk about flashbacks.

I Don't Think She Liked It

One of my new found friends just couldn't wait for pie. She dashed into the kitchen, afraid that something was going to make the pies disappear. She didn't believe me that I really made two pies.

My handsome, long suffering husband, Spousal Unit. He, being always the gentleman waits patiently for the possibility of a sliver of pie.

Behold the pies. I really did make two.

I don't think my gal pal likes the pie. She even got some on her nose.

I know she doesn't like crust. Some of the crust must have gotten mixed in with the pie.

I don't think she liked it. Do you?

Family, Friends, Food and Boys and Their Toys

Our host, hostess, and mom of the host, on her first visit to Germany. OMG... Shirley, the mom is one excited Grandma, and mom. Four little girls to spoil for two weeks, a little bit of travel and shopping are planned.

The Munchkins. I asked them to give me their best silly faces. They complied and then said to stop taking pictures 'cause they were hungry. Something about getting back into the kitchen and finishing the cooking.

The table. It was laden with awesome goodness. I went back for seconds. Spousal Unit had fourths.

Ah... here we have very happy Munchkins. FOOD. The German fest table is just the right size for the Munchkins. Normally the fest tables hold very large mugs of beer. I am really glad the Munchkins didn't ask for the usual.

Oh and lest we forget. The boys must have their toys. I guess the Thanksgiving day game isn't on yet.