Adoption Road

Whew! It’s been forever since I’ve posted. I think I’ve let social media consume me, posting all my pics and stories there. But tonight, as I sat struggling with some family issues, I realized my blog offered a whole other outlet. It’s more like a diary of sorts.

So here goes:
Dear Diary,
I have a heavy heart. Our adopted son is in a season of struggling. To be honest I shouldn’t be surprised, it was bound to happen at some point, right? It’s just strange because everything’s been going relatively smoothly the past 5 years since he came into our lives at the age of 12. Obviously there’s been some hiccups and issues to work through, but I thought at 17...we’d made it through any seasons of major trials.

Well I was wrong. We’re in the thick of it. And when things begin to unravel in your child’s life, you begin to wonder,
“Where did I go wrong?”
“What did I or didn’t I do?”
“Have I failed him in an area?”
“Did I not show enough love or spend enough time?”
You get the point, I can go on for days about the different thoughts and feelings that run through my mind.

So tonight as we sat and talked at dinner, I decided to ask him. I wanted to know if I’ve failed him in some way, if there’s something he needs that I’m not doing. What can I do to make things better? I let him know that I wanted to apologize if I have let him down, because as a parent, I’m not perfect and make mistakes too.
He didn’t tell me anything specific that I’d done wrong, but that conversation opened up the flood gates. It allowed him to feel safe enough to let out some very difficult personal things (he had a very rough childhood and had been in and out of the foster care system). The things he shared made me realize that he needs more help than I can offer.
And that’s okay.
I can’t be all.
I can’t do all.
And I need to remember...it’s not all about me anyways.
But with the information he provided, I can do something to get him to the right people who can help. I can lift him up to The LORD in prayer daily.

My son has had it rough. And while I’ve only had him for a short period of time, relatively speaking, I can’t magically erase the past for him (while I wish I could).  So I’m thankful The LORD helped my normally closed off, reclusive son, open up  (because you know I was silently praying for help to say the right things and ask the right questions.)
Adoption isn’t always smooth and easy. The trials and baggage that come along with these precious children can be difficult. But through it all, nothing is more gratifying than sharing your life and love with a child GOD has placed in your care.

It’s going to be okay...GOD is in the business of moving  mountains of impossible.

Summer, Waves & Surfing

Huntington Beach, CA Pier
(double click pictures for larger view)

this little guy was walking with his grandma
& wasn't too sure about the crab he found!


always so much to see at the beach

have to stretch...before surfing

Catalina Island in the background

Newport Beach, CA

While Jullien was here visiting/recuperating, he was finally healed up enough to go surfing. Unfortunately, the waves weren't cooperating, but when you're a surfer, you learn to make due...which is exactly what he did on this day. It took us a few stops (Newport Beach first & then finally ending up back where we started in Huntington Beach.)

Normally he likes to avoid the pier crowd & head down to the cliffs, but when the waves are small, the pier usually has the largest waves...so he battled the line-up (tons of surfers paddling for prime position) and caught a few.

Welcome to summer surfing in Southern California!

Wearing Gas Masks?

Recently I heard that Israel was bombed. I have a dear blogger friend, Duta, who I was worried about. She's a wonderful lady who has an amazing blog. She posts pictures of places she visits along with very interesting stories. Stories that as American's, we only hear about on the news (which often gives a somewhat unrealistic view.) Her latest post shows a picture of her wearing a gas mask in 1991, and hiding out as stud missiles were heard all around her during the Gulf War.

Please stop by her blog "Places with Character" and see the pictures & read her story. It truly touched me & made me realize just how sheltered we really are here in America.

I Was Rescued

Most of us take technology for granted. I can remember when there were no computers/cell phones/I Pads/I Pods. I know that makes me sound ancient, but just think about it...it was only back in the 80's.

We used to spend our time playing family games, (Trouble, Operation, Candy Land-my personal fav) and actually played outside (Hide-n-Seek, Mother May I, Red Light Green Light, Kick Ball etc.) We even walked to and from school, and would never think of yelling at our parents for being late to pick us up.

AWWWE the good ol' days!

Fast forward to this past Friday. We spent the entire day moving into our new home and scheduled the cable company to be at our new home on Saturday. The clock ticked past the time they were supposed to be here. My hubby called & found out that...surprise...they had messed up our order and accidentally canceled it. After about an hour and several transfers, the best that they could do was re-schedule it for Tuesday.

Now lets count...Saturday (1), Sunday (2), Monday (3) Tuesday (1/2 day). Okay that's three and a half days of living in the stone age...no television, emails, Facebook, Blog, Twitter, Hubpages or phone, just silence.

I went back in time...and I didn't like it one bit!

The good ol' days no longer seemed so good. I felt lost, disconnected from the world. I was sitting in a cave. The earthquake happened here & I couldn't even find out where it was centered, what the magnitude & the damage was. I felt like I was in a third world country, isolated and out of touch.

Okay so I exaggerate a little...but you try turning everything completely off for three and a half days.

You know you couldn't do it.

We are slaves to technology. We no longer enjoy, not knowing what is going on around the world & in our friends & families lives every minute of the day.

Our lives have become a "Real World Reality Show" for the whole world to see.

I'm happy to say that I received a knock at my door on Tuesday afternoon. He was dressed in a tan button down work shirt, navy blue pants, with a heavily loaded tool belt strapped to his waste & carrying a ladder. He had a bold bright red patch on his shirt which read those three magical words............

Time Warner Cable.

The cable guy was my knight in shining armor...coming to rescue me from my cave.

Hello T.V., Emails, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Hubpages...I've missed you!

Super Cop Kodak Father of the Year

My sister entered a contest to nominate my dad, Dave Bolda for "Kodak Father of the Year". He was voted as a top ten finalist, they sent her a Kodak video camera to tape some footage. They will soon pick a final winner...CLICK HERE to see the video of my dad sharing his life moments, while battling 4th stage lung cancer.

We figured the more views, the more likely he'll be chosen. So thanks for taking a moment to watch...he could win a trip if chosen!

A Big Step on Easter

My husband received a message from the Pastor of our church last week and said, "I wonder what John wants." I thought he was going to ask him something important because he doesn't call us that often. I just told him, "I don't know, just call him back and see."

He goes downstairs to call and a few minutes later opens the door to our room where I'm happily updating my Blog...his eyes are like saucers, "He wants me to share my life story/testimony on Easter. I don't know if I can do that. I'm not the type of person that can talk in front of people."
I told him, "Well, obviously they think you are the perfect person to talk on Easter Sunday. They would never have asked you if they didn't feel that your story would make a huge impact on someone. You have to do it!" He said, "I'll think about it." I knew he would end up saying yes, so I said, "Just pray about it."

Well guess what...he's going to do it. He's really nervous about it and has been working on it for a couple of weeks now. His story is amazing and I'm not just saying that because I'm his wife. If I had actually met him back when he was so wild, I don't know if we would be married right now. I will post his story on my Blog after the service. I don't want to spoil it for some of my friends who will be going to our church and who may read my Blog.

Please say a prayer for him that he will not be nervous and that the Lord will use him to touch someone's life.

Balancing the Computer and Family

I'm trying to balance my computer time vs. family time. This is a funny thing to have to think about, but I find myself on the computer a lot longer than I spend quality time with my husband and kids.

Whenever I have some down time, I love to get on the computer and write. Writing is my passion, it makes me feel complete. Being a mom often pulls you in so many directions that you have to find a few things that bring you happiness too. The problem I've noticed lately is that I'm a little out of balance. While I'm on the computer, my kids will be playing video games or up in their room watching t.v.

When they were little we were always doing things together. Times have changed...I sometimes forget about making time and continuing to build those special relationships. The kids are getting older and more independent. But I realized that this is still an important time to stay close (even if they sometimes push you away). I want to have a strong relationship with my teenagers. I need to find more balance in my life and stop escaping behind the computer.

I implemented FAMILY GAME NIGHT once a week, starting this weekend. I thought the kids would say, "This is stupid! I don't want to do this." I did a practice run yesterday and invited my 20 year son to play a game of Yahtzee with me and Elijah (we were the only ones at home). I didn't really think he would, but he sat right down at the table! WHAT...even a twenty year old craves quality family time?!!! My stepson came over last night and said, "When is family game night?" I think it will be a hit!

I'm excited to be able to have QUALITY time with my busy kids. Family is the most important thing, along with keeping the communication open. MY SOLUTION~LESS COMPUTER~MORE FAMILY TIME!

Blog Surfing

I don't know how many of you have actually tried Blog Surfing...if you haven't, you definitely need to! I have met some great people, traveled around the world~visited places I never thought I'd be able to visit. I even met one of my dearest blogging friend by doing this.

All you have to do is hit "NEXT BLOG' up at the top of your home page. If you don't like where you've stopped, then quickly continue to click "NEXT BLOG" until you land some place interesting. Sometimes you might get stuck (the blog you land on doesn't allow you to click to get off)...just click your page back (<) arrow at the top of your screen. It will take you back and you can start again. I haven't done this in a while because I've been so busy. But today, I was writing for my new blog "Bowl of Inspiration.". It is a blog dedicated entirely to encouraging, motivating and inspiring. I will be adding some really amazing stories/poems. I decided to spend some time "surfing" to see if anyone could use a little inspiration...with the bad economy, a lot of people are struggling. I hope to help people look at the positive things in their life.

Today while blog surfing I stumbled across an incredible person Pleasant-Drive Blog.
Her positive outlook on life is inspiring. I decided to put her in my friends so I can follow her blog from now on.

Make sure you try Blog surfing and don't forget to stop by my new Blog to get some daily inspiration to help you through your day!

Follow Wenda's Blog Blitz!

Help find Wenda...she leaves tons of clues. Her final stop is where you can get your $50.00 Victoria Secret gift card and Oprah’s Favorite Things list ~The Clarisonic Skin Care System ($200.00 value).

Hurry she is moving fast!

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY WEBSITE

I just had someone E-Mail me today regarding my Business Opportunity website...I realized that I haven't updated it in a while since CHANNEL 5 NEWS did a report on it. Make sure you stop by and check it out...YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED! It has something all of us ladies are DESPERATELY looking for. I know it has made a HUGE difference for me.

I don't usually promote my business on my Blog (other than the icon off to the side), but with all the new publicity it's receiving, I think it's only fair to share it with everyone! Click on over and check out the news report and live pictures!

Giving Away Photoshop Elements! FREE!

I thought everyone should know about the free giveaway over at my favorite blog site The Secret is in the Sauce. I have been taking pictures for a while now and trying to adjust the color with my I-Photo computer program (haven't been able to afford Photoshop). I clicked on to check into my fav site...and they are giving away the new Photoshop Elements! Yes...FREE! FREE! FREE! No strings attached, just visit the link above and you could be the lucky winner (sorry but I'm rooting for me.)

My mind has been racing at all of the things that I could do with this. I have a bunch of raw unretouched pics just waiting to be fixed!! Oh, not to mention all the pics I take for the church. I wouldn't have to doubt my ability if I had this. I could fix any flaws...OH MY DREAM...to be flawless.

So hurry over and leave a comment.....

AND THE AWARD GOES TO........

“ME…WHAT…I WON? Am I really the SITS Featured Blogger?” (shocked, jumping up, stumbling over a few people, giving high fives down the aisle…quickly approaching the platform…pause) “WOW…You like me, you really like me! Tiffany and Heather, you guys are amazing!” (pointing at them, of course they are sitting in the front row…that’s where all the important people are at the SITS Academy Awards.)

“I would like to thank my family, aka “The Orange County Brady Bunch.” The years of fighting, whining, complaining, and EVENTUALLY getting along has given me so much to write about.”

“To my husband, you have taught me patience. Your endless sighing, pleading, tossing and turning during my midnight SITS site stalking…umm, sorry I’m a little nervous, I didn’t mean to say stalking, I meant to say patiently waiting to be #1 on the daily SITS comment section.”

“OH NO…is that the music…who else ~ who am I forgetting to thank…The Secret is in the Sauce (SITS) family…you have been so much fun…laughing, inspiring and caring, you’re unbelievable! (music now loudly playing, shouting) Please everyone sign on to this amazing site...one day you may be standing up here…” (cut to commercial, walking off stage, mumbling) “Oh man, I forgot to tell everyone to leave a comment when they stop by…I knew I forgot something!”

Bloggerception...

Bloggerception is real and you probably have it too! I used to go through my day on auto pilot. Wake up, shower, throw my makeup on, pull my hair back (if I'm feeling extra spunky, curl it). Grab a quick bowl of oatmeal, eat standing at the sink, toss the bowl in the sink and run out the door. Drive to work, making a mental checklist of all the things that I needed to do. Halfway to work wondering how I got to the freeway, I don't even remember the drive there. Hope I didn't run any red lights...DEFINITE auto pilot! Work, go home, run the kids around, make dinner, sleep and start all over again. That was BEFORE I entered the Blogosphere.

My days are completely different now! I wake up and immediately start to think, "Hmm, what can I Blog about today. I get in the shower, making a mental note of any mishaps, slipping, tripping, no soap, shampoo etc. Everything is a potential story. Putting on my makeup can also be interesting, depending on what happens. Eating and running out the door can be a whole adventure that might be funny. Yes my BLOGGERCEPTION is on HIGH ALERT. Driving to work is no longer, "Who am I and how did I get here?" It's all about stalking, staring and watching everyone and everything...you never want to miss that perfect story (i.e. the guy with the parrots on his fingers as he drove to work).

Yes, before Bloggerception I would have missed this! My perception has increased, making me feel ALIVE, I am no longer, robot lady. Work also is a great adventure, never missing a single thing (and I am not a detail orientated person). Kids, hubby, friends, sisters, parents...no one is off limits to my Bloggerception.

WARNING: You do it, I'll notice, be very careful or you WILL end up a VERY INTERESTING, AMUSING, JUICY little story in my Blogosphere world!!