I did it ...

So in my last blog post, I dropped a little bomb and told you all I was starting my own consignment sale business.  For some reason, that statement seems overwhelming now, now that it's all over. I've been preparing mentally for the last 6 months on how I can start this little investment and not break the bank, get it all organized, and follow through without a hitch! Ya know what?  I think I did it! 

I really don't know how to explain it all in one blog post. So here goes.... I first mentioned my invested adventure in a blog post, back in January. Read it if you'd like. :) I've wanted to have my own sale for quite a while now. I was in our garage one day, this big space that houses all our "stuff". 

And this garage had all this "stuff" in it! 

Just as I mentioned in the January blog post. I had a thought, can I have a consignment sale in here? How in the world can I do this? Will anyone come or will it be a big flop?! Well, that's all it took for me to put my little pea brain to work this last 3 months.   

I have a pretty awesome cousin named Matt. Hi Matt! :) He has a degree in Computer Science. Oh yeah? Awesome! So I emailed him and asked if he could set up a web site for me. Sure thing, notta problem! We emailed back and forth, he pointed me in certain directions, suggested ideas, and voila! Check it out!  I LOVE my web site, and he made it seem so easy, which it is, for me! So, I have my own web site! Any time I need to make changes, I'll email him, and he gets to work.  (Really I don't know how hard it is, but he makes it sound so easy to do.) Great job Matt ! 

Long story short, I just had my first sale last week and it was GGGRRRREAT!!!  I hate to jinx myself but it really wan't that hard. I'm a true thinker, so much that I have to sleep to get away from the constant thinking, organizing, overboard, OCD brain of mine when I have an idea of something I really want to do! lol   Remember, I've always wanted to do this, and I imagine I'd secretly worked out some details a while ago, all I had to do was really make them happen. Got the building - check, figured out where all the stuff can go - check. Thank goodness for my parents and their garage! They stored some cars, neighbors stored our motorcycles - thanks Frieda and David! :) And our other neighbor stored our law mowers, thanks Jerry! Then on to transforming our garage into a consignment sale shop.

I needed racks to hold clothes. I had bought 10 four sided racks, and I soon figured out, they were not going to work at all.  I needed something better.  So I asked for my dads help. He's a carpenter, plumber, electrician, mechanic, all rolled up into one!  I showed him a picture of what I'd like my racks to look like, and of course he made them, no problem! Thanks dad! :)

They worked great! So I maximized the space I had to hold A LOT of clothes. Thanks to the hubs for hanging the pipe to hold the bigger clothes.  And thank you Lowes, love me some Lowes! Mike, the hubs, figured out how to hang pipe from the ceiling to make a very long rack. It worked great also. I maximized space - loved it! 

I advertised, advertised, ADVERTISED! I made signs and put them in the small towns on both sides of us. I put an ad in the local paper, and put fliers EVERYWHERE! Oh, and of course Facebook. Pretty soon my consignor list grew, but would I have enough? Still a little worried at this point. Then the consignor drop off appointments came, some didn't show up, some did. All their items were hung up, placed in their appropriate sections. I borrowed a few tables, had a lot of my own, figured out how to set them up and maximized the other end of the garage for all the items. 

My consignors came through.  Once I had all their items in the garage, it looked great!! I didn't have as many consignors as I'd liked, but the ones I did have were amazing ladies. They had the cutest items, I had to keep telling myself not to oooooo and ahhhhhh over all the baby stuff and keep working!  But it was so hard when you're looking at all that cute stuff! 

Sale day came Friday morning. By the end of the day, I was tired and my cash drawer was getting full! I had an even better response than I could have imagined.  I had a sign up sheet for those who wanted to have a mailer sent out to them for a notice of our fall sale. All the comments were positive, "glad to have one in our area", "great to have one close to home", even had a few, "wish I'd known before hand, I would have signed up!". Wow! It was so awesome to hear all the great comments! Really helped ease my worry. And everyone was so nice. 

So now the sale is over and I have to say, I did way better than I thought I would do.  Lots of people came, lots commented on the set up in the garage, said it looked organized, neat, etc. So after it's all over, I can really say, "I can do this, I really can!" 

Can't wait till the fall sale, I'm ready, bring it on! :)

Here's a shout out to the grandparents:  Thanks mom and dad, Gale and Jimmy and Mike's mom and dad, Carolyn and Vernon!! Without all of you, this would not have been possible! Mike and I appreciate all you do to help us out with Tay and Aiden and the support. We are so thankful you're such a big part of our lives. 

Busy as a little Bee

Hello. Remember me?

Yep, that's me, been just as busy as a little bee in the spring!! I'd love to post tons of pics and blog all day, but there just isn't enough time in a day these days! Although I will post this as a little hint of what I've been doing lately.

These pictures are just the tip of the iceberg from what I've been into. I've been working very hard, taking every last minute I can to get this party started! It takes A LOT to start a consignment sale business when you're "starting from scratch". Ever wonder where that saying came from? 

I've been working on every detail, trying hard not to forget anything, make sure I've covered everything, and just plain BUSY! As some of you know, I'm that kind of  schizo that tries to think of every detail. I don't like surprises, I want everything thought of and covered!! Man, I must be nuts! But, you know what,  I am loving every minute of  it!! :)

(stay tuned, more to come....)

He gets it ...

It's weird to me sometimes. When I think back, almost five years ago, when we started this journey of adoption, I really didn't have a clue as to what it would be like to have another child in this house and love him.  Think about that for a minute....... We started our journey to Aiden five years ago, first saw his picture in July of 2010, and now it's almost been a year since we first met him and brought him home. It just doesn't seem possible.

Back to what I was saying, five years ago I could not have possibly imagined what it would be like to have another child in this house and love him.  I really couldn't imagine the feelings of another child being here. I never wondered if Aiden would  like us, love us, or even tolerate us!  I always knew he'd be okay. Really didn't think about any of it.  When we were in South Korea waiting to meet him for the first time and pick him up, it was really nerve wracking, and he was very upset leaving his foster parents and going with us. He cried himself to sleep when we returned to our hotel with him, he slept for two hours, and then woke somewhat happy.  At that time I was expecting the worst (it's the only way I can prepare myself in those type situations - expect the worst and hope for the best, that way I'm somewhat prepared).  But Aiden did so well from that point on. Please don't  think our life with him has been a piece of cake this last year, but Aiden really took to me the first day in South Korea.  After that day, I knew he'd be okay, he'd love us, and we'd most certainly love him.

So over the last 11 months, Aiden has blossomed. He didn't talk much in the beginning. He was 14 months old when we brought him home. He had been hearing Korean spoken his whole life up to that point. So, yeah, how could he understand any English, much less speak any of it? But as time went on, he understood more and more.  He still didn't say hardly any English, but he understood nearly all we were saying to him.  Back in September of last year, Aiden started saying a few new words every now and then. The more time that went by, the more he'd try to say. Yah! He was trying to speak English. I was kind of glad to see this. On one hand, I was glad to see he'd actually understood English before he tried to speak it, meaning he understood what words meant what. And he felt comfortable to try, which was awesome to see.

The one word Aiden wouldn't say for a long time was, "mommy, or mama".  Up until that point, he'd never called me that. And you'd think this would have worried me, but it really didn't.  I just felt as though when he was ready to call me that, he would. I knew he'd know exactly what it meant and why he was calling me that.  We would show him pictures of all of us, point to our pictures and ask who we were. He'd only point to Taylor's picture and say, "Tay Tay".  We'd point to Mike's picture or mine and he wouldn't say anything for a while. We would say mama or dada and point to our pictures, he'd still not say anything.  But soon,  Aiden would soon call Mike dada, or dadee, but still not call me by name yet.

I think it was around November and December that he really started saying mommy to me, calling me that to get my attention. And it surprised me! Really it did.  The first time he called me that, I looked at Taylor and said, "did he just call me mommy?" She said, "yes, he did".  Actually, I was very happy to hear him call me mommy.  At that point, I knew he knew, I was his mommy and what it meant.  He's so certain when he says it too.  My first thought wasn't, "finally", it was more, "awww, he knows I'm his mommy" and he "gets it". He totally gets it!!

I always knew Aiden would love us, in due time, just as we would love him. For some people that love doesn't come right away.  I was one of those people.  I could never imagine what it would be like to love Aiden. It just wasn't happening back before we met him. I had to meet him, hold him, live with him, and grow with him before that love was there.  Don't misunderstand when I say that love wasn't there. I didn't know how to love him yet.  I loved him as a child of mine, but it wasn't until I got to know him, that my love for him was a solid, "you are my child" kind of love.

Now, we'll point to our pictures and ask who we are. Point to Mike, he says dada, point to me, he says mommy, point to Taylor's picture, and of course he says Tay Tay. It's really amazing to me how much love this kid has in his heart! He gives hugs all the time and is the most loving little guy! So now I know for sure, he loves us, we most certainly love him, we are his family, he is our son, Taylor's little brother, and he gets it! He totally gets it!

The letter ....

I can think of 10 things I really need to be doing right now, dishes, working on my consignment stuff (seems endless at this point) but feel the need to blog. And I'm sure only a true blogger would understand what that feels like.  Okay, so here goes ....

I received an email last week from Holt International, South Korea,  forwarded from Angie with Holt International in Oregon. Holt in South Korea's email said the "child's birth mother requested the child's updated photos, if the family can send them as an attachment, it would be very nice, thank you for asking."   And Angie went on to add this:  

These requests for updates from Birth Mothers  are becoming more frequent.  We see this request as very normal and shows the Birth Mother’s care and concern for Yeong-min.  This can be very significant for your child to know his birth mother thinks of him and wants to know how he’s doing.  We also want to be able to provide the Birth Mother with this update, as it helps to reassure and confirm for her the adoption plan was good for Yeong-min by seeing how well he’s is doing.  

Could you send us some updated photos which we can forward to Holt Korea and Yeong-min’s birth mother?  If you would like, please feel free to also write a letter giving an update on how Yeong-min is doing.  Any and all correspondence will go through Holt International and Holt Korea and no identifying information will be shared with either party (please do not include any identifying information on the photos or letter: eg K#, last names, email, address, etc).  We can’t guarantee Birth Mother will feel comfortable enough to respond, but it’s good to reach out in that way if you’re comfortable.

Yeah, ((I don't know why the background stayed white here, whatever))  wow .... I was a little shocked, at first. Wouldn't you be? I had read where other moms had sent updated photos, and a letter to Holt to put in their child's file telling the foster family and even the birth mother how their children were doing. So I was thinking, I probably should do this. But, it got pushed back some with all the other things in life taking precedence over it (bad mama!) Then I got the email.  Oh yeah, I thought, "got to get on this pronto!"  

The letter. How on earth do I write a letter to Aiden's birth mother!?!  How can I say the right thing, positive things, thanking her for giving up her child so we could have him, thanking her for giving him life, and what a joy he is, sorry you can't see it all?? Ugg! It seems like there's so much to say, but what's the right words to use? Careful, don't use anything negative, it all has to be positive, upeddy, happy right?

I posted on FB that I received an email about Aiden's birth  mother inquiring about him from Holt Int, how he's doing, and even requested pictures! I, myself, was so happy to see the request, seriously, I was/am still! But I was curious to see what kind of response I'd see on FB.  I had 63 "Likes" and 26 responses, all good! That made me happy!  I was a happy camper anyway, but this filled that camper all the way up happy!! :)  Actually, in all honesty it took me a day and a half to actually get to it. I wrote it in a hour one day this last weekend.  Aiden was sleeping, Mike and Tay were gone at that time. The silence was a good thing. 

Sorry not to indulge you curious ones, but the letter was written for Aiden's birth mother. It wasn't quite as hard as I thought it was going to be.  I found about eight pictures, I thought were appropriate, attached them to the emailed letter. 

To end the letter almost made me sad. It's almost  like a link between us, two mothers on opposite sides of the earth, that love one little boy. One cared for him 9 months, the other will get to care for him the rest of his life. Does that seem fair? No, it doesn't.  It's an unspoken promise I made in Korea when we were there. I vowed to give him the best care he could possibly get! I vowed to fill his heart with as much love as it'll hold. I promised that special little country he will always know he is loved and where he came from.  I know the letter and pictures will make her sad, but I hope she returns home knowing he's healthy, happy, and will live life to the fullest. And, he will know she loves him and made the hardest decision she's ever had to make for him.  

I've said before, Aiden is my savior, so to speak.  In my journey to him, he's helped me sort out my own uncertainties with my own adoption I've had all my life, till now.  He was such a revelation! Never did I ever think he would give me my A-HA moment!  For me to see,  feel, and grasp it, was such an eye opener for me. It was a very emotional moment, one I had to open my heart and absorb.  I'm so thankful for him, not just for being here, but for my life. It will never be the same, and I am so grateful! 

  

I've been published ....

When I  first started my Trail to Aiden Lee blog, September 1, 2010, I never thought I'd be blogging as much as I did, much less blogging period! But, I did, and I'm soooo glad I did! I have just about all the facts from our journey to Aiden, pictures, probably everything I wanted to keep from it, down on every post. After I'd gotten a few posts under my belt, I realized there was a web site called Blog2Print. I didn't really think about it too much at the time. I was still in the beginnings of the blog and had no idea where it was going or how far.

Fast forward to January of this year. The blog had served it's purpose on documenting our journey to Aiden Lee. So what else to do but start another blog, but what to do with the old one. Blog2Print baby! You can pick the picture you want to go on the front and back cover, color of the cover, etc! I was so excited to get this in the mail when it came!! Seriously!! It only took a little over a week to get it after it was ordered.

I was shocked to see how thick it was! Guess I blogged more than I thought I did. But that's awesome!!

It has the Table of Contents, each blogs title, and what page it's on in the front. Each blog post has the full post plus all the pictures each post has, printed. Plus, all my friends' comments at the end of each blog post printed. I love that! I re-read some of my favorite posts after it came in the mail.

And of course I picked  our Finalization Day family photo to go on the back cover. Rather fitting I thought.

So there you have it. Trail to Aiden Lee has been published. Yeah, okay, I'm the only one who actually has a copy, but nonetheless, published! I could not think of a better way to show him what we went through to get him.  I will treasure this always and I hope Aiden will some day do the same!

One.Last.Thing....

After we finalized Aiden's adoption, you'd think all the paperwork, faxing, copies needed, visits, etc would be over. Ah, that would be a No! One last major thing is left. I sent off the forms and all the copies of legal stuff for Aiden's Certificate of Citizenship. Yes, he is a legal citizen now, but we  need this to prove he is, until it's done he'll be listed as a permanent resident, not a legal citizen. I may have some of that wrong, no mind. I think it'll change his "Immigration status" in the US.  All I know is,  we have to send all the required documents  to the Government one.more.time.  He'll need it at certain times in his life. It could possibly take as long as 12 months before we get it. I hope it doesn't take that long. I'm sure one day I'll get this big envelope in the mail marked US Dept of Homeland Security  a long time from now, totally forget we submitted this, and freak out because it says, US Dept of Homeland Security! What would you think if you got something in the mail that said that!?! I do need to get him a Social Security card also, but that can wait till this COC comes in....whenever that'll be! :)   I will be so glad to get this one last document!! Then I can add it to all of this!

I keep all of our Adoption paperwork, in the big binder and all of Aiden's legal documents in the smaller binder.  Glad there's only one more thing coming, the big binder is almost full! The seam has already split in the inside. 

Yes, I'm a neat freak! But you try going through an adoption process and need to find a certain document or copy of something in a mess of papers! It's just not possible! (( I guess it's possible, but not by my standards!!)) Okay, so I'm borderline OCD.  You get the picture! ;)

• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

My Blog Award ...

                                             


So I got this blog award! Kewl! Thanks to April, I have 3 rules to complete. Already tackled one of them, thanks girl! :)

1. thank the person(s) who gave this award to you.
2. list 7 things that people may not know about you.
3. pass it on to 15 other bloggers. (I passed it on to 12)


So, here goes: 7 things you may not know about me.

1) I am addicted to diet sodas and carbonation.  Seriously addicted, but I have controlled my addiction, down to only 1 a day. But I'd better have that 'one', or it's gonna get ugly around here! (Not even joking!)

2) I was our high school's prom queen, 1988. Now, it seems kind of silly now, but then, I guess I thought it was pretty cool.  I was never the popular girl. Just a girl that somehow fit in the middle somewhere. So that was a big shock when they announced it was me.

3) April - I TOTALLY agree with your #6! So I'll just have to go with this one.  I hate to be scared! Really, I hate when someone jumps out of the dark and grabs me or scares me. Really, not even kidding! And for those of you who think it'd be funny to do it to me just to see my reaction? Make sure you're fully covered by your insurance!

4) Most of my best friends, through my life, have been guys.  Don't like drama, hate it actually. Always felt more comfortable with guy friends. Go figure... ?

5) Always wanted to learn how to be the stunt car driver; like  in the movies.  I love driving hard and fast, when life allows. I'm not some crazed lunatic that burns up the streets all the time. My favorite car was my '88 Mustang 5.0. Ahhhhh, those were the days. But, I like driving this little ride too! That's me making a pass in Mike's '68 Fairlane, at Bowling Green's drag strip.

6) I ride a motorcycle. Never really driven one till I turned 40. Took a class at the local community college to learn how, and now I have my own and I'm a licensed motorcycle driver. 

The hubs is trying to get me to graduate to this one, which is his. But I'm just not ready yet. 2 wheels is a little bit more scary than 4! But I do love it! And it's something Mike and I can do together.

7) I wear my hair back in a pony tail every night when I sleep. This may not seem like a big thing to some. But I've done it for yyyeeeaaarrrssss now, I mean I can't remember the last time I went to bed and didn't pull my hair back. I hate having my hair in my face, period.  Actually, I don't like anything touching my face.

Okay, I'm supposed to nominate some blogger friends.  April - I'd probably nominate you again, and most of the ones you nominated, so I'll just quit while I'm ahead. Plus, I've got to get some sleep, I've been staying up later than normal lately, and now I'm paying for it! Soooo tired!

So there you have it. Some of what you know, and didn't want to know! Who knows what you know, and might never know, but whoever knows, will know for sure, ya know?  Yeah, okay, I'm going, I'm going .....