I like to decorate for the holidays. Truly I just like to decorate. I actually think this is why and how I celebrate most holidays—it's all about the decorations. I do like traditions too, but I kinda think the traditions grew out of the fact that I was putting up decorations, so needed to come up with a way to justify them, ha! I collect little do-dads and place them around my home, in the corners and on my kitchen window sill. I'm weird like that. I think my grandkids (when I get some) will like this about me. It seems grandma-like don't you think?

Early in my marriage I had a little wood shelf that I painted barn red. I had no money, so I saved up and bought it unfinished. I called it our holiday shelf and I would tote it from house to house and hang it in a prominent location and then decorate it differently each month. I even took a tole painting class—yes, this dates me—when I lived in Utah, so that I could create little wood decorations to display on my shelf. It was DIY before DIY was cool. I'll have to see if I can find a picture to post!

The Question: What trophies, medals, awards, and certificates have you earned throughout your life? How many have you kept?

I'm choosing not to recollect (right now) all the trophies, medals, awards, and certificates that I have earned in my illustrious existence as a human being (ha!) but rather, detail and share one memory of an award that I have never forgotten. 

Nine years ago today, October 20th, my family (consisting of me, my husband, Geoff, our four sons and my mother and father) stood at the top of a set of escalators in the SeaTac Airport, near Seattle, Washington. We were waiting (anxiously) for our new baby daughter (sister and granddaughter) to arrive from Seoul, South Korea. Today is the day, it's GOTCHA Day! If you are an adoptive family, or you know one, then you likely know the emotion that is associated with remembering that day—that moment really—when a child is placed in your arms that you have never met, but in so many ways, have always known. It's hard to describe that first time that you hold this tiny person, the first time that you smell them, the first time that you know for 100% certain the two of you were meant to be. It's no more or less magical than giving birth, but it is a different kind of miracle, because there are so many other people involved in the process of bringing an adopted child to the life she did not choose, but will know for the rest of her life.Today, I'm particularly mindful of Addie's birth mother.

Wow! The day you look at your hands and realize you're old. Age spots and wrinkles and prominent veins and don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining at all. In fact, I'm very grateful for these hands and the stories they tell of adventures in cooking, cleaning, crafting and so much more.

Have you ever had a green smoothie that doesn't taste green?