The Beginning

This will be a place to document what I am reading. I will comment about the books that I read also. Since I am a nanny, I will also talk about children's books also. I love reading. So this will be fun.

Fall into Reading Challenge.

Katrina at Callapidder Days( http://callapidderdays.blogspot.com/) is hosting the Fall into Reading Challenge from September 21st- December 21st.

Since I was a child, I have always loved to read. But as I have gotten older, I haven't had time to pick up a book. But I just joined a book club through my church. The ladies of the book club each hosts one month and picks the book for the month. For the month of September, the book was Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. It is a great book. It really shows the heart of God. We discussed the book last night. We had a great discussion on the book.


Here is my books ( Sorry it is a dark picture). But here is the list of my books.

1. The Power of Praying Wife- Stormie Omartian.
2. Healing is a Choice Devotional- Stephen Arterburn.
3. Enjoying where you are on the way to where you are going- Joyce Meyer
4. One Tuesday Morning and Beyond Tuesday morning- Karen Kingsbury.
One Tuesday morning is the book club's book
for October.
5. It's not about me- Max Lucado
6. Forgiven and Found by Karen Kingsbury
7. Waiting for Summer's Return- Kim Vogel
Sawyer.
8. Symon's Daughter- Don Ian Smith
9. A promise for Ellie- Lauraine Snelling
10. Enjoying your journey with God- Daniel
Brown.

I am hoping to get through this list hopefully. I know that I look forward to reading this books.

Update October 7,2006 I got a new book at the christian bookstore that I am adding to my book list. It is called Becoming a Woman who pleases God. It is by Pat Ennis& Lisa Tatlock

A couple of things for Hannah


I got this tea set for Hannah. I also collect tea pots and tea cups. I look forward to having tea parties with our children. I am blessed to have a husband who will go to tea with me. On our honeymoon, we had high tea at the Empress in Victoria. It was so much fun. There are also a couple of tea places near us which we go to when we have time.



I got these two dresses at Kohl's. I know I will not know Hannah's age until the referral. So I am getting 24 months dresses. I am trying not to spend too much money on clothes for Hannah. It is hard there is too many cute clothes for girls.

We found this doll at Costco. Since It is breakable, It will be staying in the box until we are starting a room for Hannah. It was must-have. It is on our fireplace. It reminds me of our daughter to come. I know in my heart that God has a daughter for us in China. I think of her every day. I am trusting that God will direct us to start the process in his timing. I am little worried about rumors that I have been reading on the Rumor Queen that China might change their rules for adoptive families. That you have to own a house. Which we don't. I am not sure what God has planned for Tom and I. But it makes me wonder how many families who really want to adopt are not going to be able to because of the rules. It makes me sad for the children who are not going to be able to adopt into a family who loves them for who they are.There are so many children that really need their own families. I don't understand the rules if they came to be. This string of rules might affect single woman who might not be able to adopt. Which makes me sad also. Anyway, I guess we will have to want to see what China is decides to do.

Our Trip to Monterey

Last Friday, Tom and I drove down to San Jose for my family annual trip. We went to Great America in Santa Clara for a full day of rides and fun. My dad and my brother actually went skydiving. Which is something I would never do. I would be so afraid of falling. But it was neat to watch Dad and my brother do it. We had a nice dinner back at my dad and my step-mom's house. Then on Sunday, we drove to Pacific Grove where we stayed at a hotel. We went on the 17 mile Drive. We stop at a viewing spot overlooking the ocean. We saw sea otters playing in the ocean. They were so fun to watch. We went to Carmel after the 17 mile Drive. We had lunch in Carmel. Then We went to the beach. It was wonderful day to be walking on the beach. We had dinner that night at the restaurant right next to our hotel. I had the best clam chowder. We had a fun dinner talking to each other. My step-mom asked us why we were so set on adopting from China. We tried to explain to her that we really feel that God wants us to adopt our little girl from China. She and my dad are both supportive of us adopting. Side note so is Tom's mom. I am grateful that our families are so supportive. Anyway back to our trip. after dinner we played a game, Scatteragories. It was so much fun. My family can be wacky. The Next day, we went to the Montery Bay Aquarium. I haven't been there in years. It was neat to see what they have added. I enjoy seeing the ocean animals. After the aquarium, We went to Big Sur and had lunch at a restaurant on a hill overlooking the Ocean. It had a beautiful view. After lunch, we went back to the hotel. My dad and step-mom had to take my brother and girl-friend to the airport to fly back to Washington. So Tom and I had time by ourselves to hang out in our room watching t.v. Then it hit me that we were in a hotel near the beach and we should go out and enjoy the ocean and beach. So we went on a walk to the beach. It is great to spend time with family. but it is nice to go for a walk with my husband. When we got back, my dad and step-mom were back, so we went out to eat. It is almost 1 in the morning, I need to go to bed. I have church in the morning. I will finish this tomorrow. But I will post this part now.

What asian country should I visit?

China can satisfy your craving for many travel opportunities in one trip.You can hang out in modern Shanghai, walk along the great wall, or visit sacred mountains.

What Asian Country Should You Visit?

Jelly Belly Factory


We went to the Jelly Belly Factory today in Northern California which is a hour from where we live. We got there before the long lines. So we were able to go on Factory tour to see the jelly beans being made. It was so much fun. But what was special to me was all of the asian families I got to see. One of them had 3 boys. The youngest one( around 2) was so cute. I enjoyed watching them. Seeing the girls made me think of Hannah and what she will look like when she is that age:) Tom and I had lunch and shopped at the gift shop. Of course the tour is free, but you end up spending money with lunch and the gift shop. But the jelly bean hamburgers are yummy. Anyway, what a great day!

Updates from Selima and Tom


Life has changed since I last posted. I left my job as a childcare coordinator at a crisis center. Working at a crisis center is a difficult and changing job. I loved the people and children that I worked with. But the commute was getting to be too much. But I know God has plans for me. I am starting to help a friend start up her business. It is going to be a fun place for children to play. So hopefully the business will open up the beginning of October. But on the adoption front, I am really feeling that God wants us to start the process. I have few questions for the agency before we fill out the application. But I am starting to think of fundraisers to get the funds to bring Hannah home, hopefully the end of next year. I have a couple in mind. I am trusting in God that he will direct our steps towards Hannah.

Today I just got back from Women's Retreat near Lake Tahoe. What an experience that was. It was a blast to hang out with women from the church that I used to call home. Now I am a part of a new church plant. The ladies are incredible. I love each lady that was there. The speaker Kathi Lipp was so wonderful. She talked about that we are princesses. That Jesus wants to dance with us. He will led us. We just need to follow him. What a hard concept to let soak into my heart. But I am choosing to remember that. We got to wear tiera the whole weekend. That got alot of questions from the men who were also at the conference center. No we weren't together. We had a own separate building. We just saw men at meals in the meal hall.

When I got home, I changed my blog name. Our daughter will also be a princess. I got to talk to friends about adopting Hannah. They were so encouraging. I know ladies are praying for me and my husband and our precious daughter. It made me realize that adoption process and Hannah are in God's hands. I have nothing to fear. I am praying about what we should do now. I know that God will show us. I am so looking forward to the process.

Ladybug Sighting!

Today, when we got home, I noticed that the bush by our front door had a ton of Ladybugs.:) I took pictures of them. People will wonder how we took pictures of the bush. But ladybugs are significant to the chinese adoption community. It means good luck. It was so neat to see so many of them. I also am praying that my friend Christi and other ladies who I have been following their blogs will get their referrals soon. I am sure it is hard to be patient. But I know that God has his perfect timing.

I started this blog to document our lives and our journey to having a family of our own. We want to have children of our own which is in God's hands. But we also know that God wants us to adopt a little girl from China. We are not sure about the timing of all this. But God does. I am looking forward to seeing what he has in store for us.