Summertime

I am so excited that it is Summer!
A lot has happened the last few months. Our adoption is moving slowly but surely. We hope to hold our baby girl this fall. We also are considering starting the adoption process for more children right now. We might have four or five children before we know it. We will see what happens!

A fifth grade position became available at work and I applied for it and got it. Yea!!
I spent this week moving out of the fourth grade classroom and into the fifth grade. I felt like I was on the Clean Sweep show. I had a toss pile, a give away pile and a keep pile. A friend of mine from church, Molly, helped me move my room. She was a tremendous help. Thanks Molly!

Rick and I had a spectacular vacation at Bald Head Island in North Carolina. We hung out at the beach, went for walks, and drove around the island in a golf cart. Our golf cart ran of battery power when we went too far. Rick had to push us a few times!!

We were also able to visit Rick's parents and extended family. It was a good time.

Why??????!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, so three weeks ago, we received notice from our adoption agency that we would have to redo all of our adoption paperwork because the adoption has taken so long and our paperwork is only good for 15 months in the U.S., not China. If we don't redo it, then our daughter will not receive a Visa to come back with us. UGH!

First, I was really angry! I wanted to be able to blame someone, but there was no one to blame, it's just the adoption process. I did ask God why too? I asked him if he hated me. Why is our adoption process taking so long, why so many glitches? I love and trust God with all my heart, but some things I just don't understand and probably never will on this earth.

Next, I became really sad. So sad, that I couldn't even sleep. I would lie in bed and cry and worry. I continued to work. My students were awesome. I think children can sense when your down, even if they don't know why. I must have looked like crap though. I thought my make-up was covering up the dark circles under my eyes, but when both my bosses asked me if I was alright because I looked tired, I guess the make-up wasn't doing the job.

I was really stressing because I had to depend on other people for most of the paperwork- doctor's appts., police appts., insurance agency appts., etc. I have a hard time depending on other people because I can do jobs so much faster and better myself. Or at least that's what I like to think. :)

I shared this news with few people because I simply didn't want to talk about it because it hurt so bad. The few I shared with, shared with others, which is ok and I was overwhelmed by the cards, bookmarks, flowers, money, phone calls and visits that I received. Thank you to all my family and friends for the support. It means more than you will ever know. God speaks through other people sometimes and I believe this is how he was speaking to me. He was telling me he did care, and he would take care of me.

Well, all the paperwork is re-done now and it feels GOOD! We should be getting our baby girl this summer.
I am looking forward to my Spring Break coming up. I hope to get some sleep.
Vicki

Little Joys

Life can be busy and sometimes little joys can be forgotten. Here are some sources of joy in my life. I am so blessed.
*I trust in the Almighty God
*I have an awesome husband who made me a delicious turkey with mashed potatoes and green beans for dinner today.
*I have a wonderful family
*I am going to be a mom soon
*I have good health
*I have a loving and supportive home church group
* I have great friends
* I have kind neighbors
*My students gave me two dozen beautiful, pink roses just because they like me for a teacher
*I have a good job
*I just received a raise at my job
*I got my braces off!
*I have a reliable car
*I have a beautiful home
*Rick's parents made a surprise visit from North Carolina
*looking at nursery themes

Thank you, Lord for blessing me. Help me to not become negative and bitter when life is hard. Help me to always be positive and always trust in you. You are God, my Savior, my friend.

-Vicki

Poofs and Whammys!

I was visiting with a friend during the Superbowl and she was telling me about someone she knew who it seemed everything worked out perfect for. She needed a car, and Poof! someone gave her car, she needed a job, Poof! she had a job, she wanted a baby, Poof! she was pregnant. After this story, I said, God must think she cannot handle very much. I think he thinks I can handle a lot because my story goes like this: My car broke down and Whammy! I was without a car for six weeks, I have my house sold, and Whammy! the buyer backs out, I long for a child, and triple Whammy! I have to wait longer. We laughed because we all know life is hard, but God is good. :)

Rick and I received our monthly adoption update today. We are in the last step of the process and getting very close to receiving a picture of our precious daughter(s).

The Bad News: The time frame has increased once again. At this point, our agency informs us we should receive our baby's (ies) picture in May and leave for China in June.

Common Questions:
Why is there another delay? There are many orphanages in China but they are not all approved for adoption. The Center for China's Adoption Affairs is working diligently to get more orphanages approved.

More wealthy families in China are adopting now. These families are priority over American families.

Are you and Rick angry? Angry- No. Sad - yes. Rick and I did not start this process on a whim. We prayed, researched, prayed, studied, prayed and sat down with six agencies before deciding which country and which agency to go with. God made it very clear to us , to adopt from China. We were both extremely comfortable and happy with the Great Wall of China agency. Our social workers are awesome. They are extremely understanding and they are there anytime for us. I mean literally anytime. I have had break downs at midnight and e-mailed one of my social workers. She responds back within 15 minutes and always has the right words to make me feel better! God is in control. We trust Him.

The Good News: It looks like I won't have to miss any work. We have more time to paint the nursery.

Thanks for your prayers. They are very much appreciated.

-Vicki

Good Friends, Good Times

I had today off from work in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. I watched a special on Martin and then the phone rang. It was my best friend, Tanya from Indiana. She said, Your home! I was hoping you would be.

Tanya's husband gave her a neat Christmas gift. She could go wherever she wanted for a weekend away from her three children. She chose to come see me! Out of all the places she could have gone, I am very honored she wants to spend time with me in cold Michigan. We are going to have so much fun. We are going to get facials and Tanya is going to make dinner for us at my home. Isn't that cool? It will be like having Rachel Ray at my house. I think maybe I'm the one on a vacation. (Tanya does know that I do not cook and she probably doesn't want some processed food I would heat up. :))

This afternoon, I was able to hang out at the mall with my sister and this evening, I will have quality time with my husband.
I'm so excited. This has been a splendid day! The real world will be back tomorrow.
-Vicki

I Have So Much

I put away more Christmas stuff today. I am now finally done. As I was cleaning, I thought to myself, why do I have so much Christmas stuff?

Rick and I went to Calvin College this week and watched a film about Poverty. On Saturday, we went to a convention in Grandville which also focused on Poverty. Ok, so I don't feel so good when I think about all the things I have. I have a lot. I have a lot I do not need. There are people in this world who have nothing - literally nothing. I saw people in the film, digging in a garbage dump for things! No human being should have to dig in the garbage to live. It made me feel so sad and so guilty at the same time.

I do nothing to help those in need except give them money. Giving money is nice but I think God is calling me to do more than that. I need to start giving my time. I need to come along side those in need and develop relationships with them.

Rick and I are listening to see where God would lead us in this endeavor.

-Vicki

Rick and Vic's 2006 in Review

My brother in law, Jerome, teased me that I was a typical blogger - two to three posts and then nothing! Then, my friend, Charity gave me a hard time too. Well, I don't want to be typical blogger, so one of my New Year's resolutions is to be faithful at blogging! Here's for you, Jerome and Charity! (Ok, so I still have not mastered how to easily put pictures from my camera onto my blog, so I'll add some later)
I decided to start off 2007 by giving a quick review of 2006. I like to talk, but I will try to be brief in listing our ups and downs of 2006 on our Pulaski Life Adventure.

January-February 2006 - Rick and I spent the time recovering emotionally and financially. Emotionally, we found out our adoption was going to be delayed. We want to hold our baby girl in our arms so bad. Financially, we had to make a big payment for the adoption and then my Audi A6 decided to break down on us. Not a normal break down, the engine took a poop on us! Many dollars later, a new engine was put in, the car ran like new, and we traded it in!

March-April 2006 - We received an awesome deal on a condo on the Atlantic Ocean in South Carolina. The condo had 3 bedrooms, 3 full baths, a full kitchen, living room and huge balcony. We were able to stay in it for a week for $300.00! We brought our super good friends, John and Carole with us, so really it only costs us $150.00. It was a terrific vacation. There is nothing like waking up to the sound of the ocean and looking at it while sitting on a balcony eating peanut butter toast and drinking diet coke. That's the life!!

Rick and I bought two newer cars! First of all, Rick bought me a Toyota Prius, a hybrid car, to save on gas. He liked my car so much, that one night he surprised me and came home with a Prius for himself too! When he drove in with his new car I said, you need to take me out for dinner so we can discuss how we can afford two newer cars and so I can't get upset since we will be in public! Rick had a good explanation on how we were good financially and how we would even save more money by not buying as much gas. We enjoyed our dinner and we both were happy.

May-June 2006 - Rick and I celebrated 10 wonderful years of marriage. I am so blessed to have such a great husband. He loves and spoils me so much. He has been telling me lately, you won't be jealous when I spend time with our daughter and you don't get as much attention anymore will you? :) Of course I say, No!
We celebrated our anniversary by staying in our time share in Tennesee. The weather was beautiful and we got to do one of our favorite things - white water rafting! Well, for the first time ever in 7 years of rafting ( we consider ourselves to be experts - no guide. Guides are for babies) we took a drink! It was bad! I thought it was all over! Once I was in the balmy 42 degree water, I immediately knew what it felt like to be in a washing machine! After being spun around and then shot out to swim a half mile down river in an eight mile a hour current, bumping rocks like crazy along the way, I had a respect for the river like never before! When I washed up on a huge boulder, I looked for Rick who was shot out of the rapid in the opposite direction of me. He was swimming towards me. I noticed the force of the water had taken his sunglasses, his paddle and his pants!! After noticing Rick would be alright, our raft came floating by me. It's pretty scary to think how my human body went down river faster than my raft! To make a long story, short - I have now retired from rafting. I will teach our daughter how to paddle, and she can go on these adventures with her dad.

Another highlight in June, was I was able to visit my best friend, Tanya, in Indiana. We always have so much fun together. She has a wonderful husband and three beautiful children. We were roommates in college and I am so glad we have stayed so close.

June also meant it was time to go garage saling with my sister every Friday! We love it! It was the highlight of our week. I am blessed to have a sister who is also my best friend.

July-August 2006 - Our good friends, James and Charity had a baby girl. Her name is Adeline and she is gorgeous. We are so happy for them.

Rick and I had another exchange student spend the summer with us. Her name was Christina. She was from Spain. Christina loved to laugh and tease. She would always hide things from me or lock me out of the house. She was like a daughter to me. She went to a summer school where she would practice English. Everyday, when I picked her up she would talk to me for about a hour telling me about her day. It was neat. Students we have had in the past usually just said , fine, when I asked them how school was. Not Christina! She told me about what she learned and all the social problems or good things that were happening with her friends. I think she was a mini Vicki!

A not so fun part of August was I had three wisdom teeth pulled and braces put on. The only good part about all of this is I should have straight teeth in 12 months. :)

September-October 2006 - School started for me. Pretty much we just worked and spent time with friends and family on the weekends.

November 2006 - Vicki turned 35. This was hard for me. I was encouraged by the amount of cards, phone calls and gifts I received from family and friends wishing me a Happy Birthday. As one friend said, be glad you are alive! After that, I decided to get over it and enjoy life. A number doesn't mean anything (except on the scale!).

Rick's parents bought a home in North Carolina and moved there this month. We are happy for them and greatly miss them at the same time. We look forward to visiting them in person next June. In the meantime, we are thankful for phones and e-mail.

December 2006 - We met with some good friends of ours who are excited to start a home church with us. Yeah! We are praying that all goes well. We had a beautiful Christmas with both sides of our families.

We are looking forward to picking up our baby girl in 2007. Everything looks good for April.
-Vicki