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Showing posts with label Questions and Answers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Questions and Answers. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Where in the world is C.C.???

Not to worry. I am over at my friend Sneaky Momma's place...

My Guest Post

I'm her Secret Sneaky Friend this week... and I didn't even spoil the secret!!! Come on over, and check it out! :-)

Oh, and if you are visiting from Sneaky Momma's, WELCOME!!! I hope you will come back often! :-) Feel free to look around. Here are a few links to get you started on my story...


Living in His JOY, HOPE, and PEACE...



***Don't forget to pray for someone today!

Thursday, April 30, 2009

24...

hours. In less than that, we will be on a plane headed back to the United States.

Wow, time always goes so quickly when we come here to visit, and as much as I love going home, I also hate leaving this home.

So, just a few things before signing off to spend this last bit of time with our family here.

The answers to the last of your questions.

dmelen said...

Thanks CC for the contest. Does DT have a lot of family in Romania?

ANSWER: Yes! D.T. has a LOT of family here in Romania!!! :-) He has 2 sisters, one brother, their spouses, children, and soon to be their children. My goodness, this family multiplies quickly! Unfortunately for all of us, D.T.'s father went home to be with the Lord in 2000. D.T.'s mom still lives here, and it is always so hard for us to say goodbye. Would you please pray for all of us these next few days as we leave here and adjust to being separated again?
dmelen said...

Why did DT come to the US?

ANSWER: Following the Romanian revolution that brought down communism in 1989, D.T. and others were offered scholarships to come to school in the U.S. That is the official reason D.T. came to the U.S., but I know that God had His hand in directing D.T.'s steps.
Sparkette said...

Okay I follow you. I don't really know what I am missing out on this post for some reason.

Although. Firefly wanted to ask you if you were on the Honor Roll when you were in school. (I told her what you said in your comment the other day :)

ANSWER: Sparkette, please tell Firefly, that "Yes, I was on the Honor Roll when I was in school. Although, I did not always have perfect grades, I tried to do my best." Of course, still today I have this bad habit of trying to be perfect, and I always irritate myself because I am not. Perfect, that is. Ahem. ;-)

Well, I guess I will let that be it for now. If you still have questions about Romania or want to enter my contest for some really cool Romanian stuff (including chocolate!!!), you have less than 24 hours! Once our plane hits the ground, I will have my sister close the contest.

Please be in prayer for us... and especially for D.T.'s mom.

Living in His JOY, HOPE, and PEACE...



***Don't forget to pray for someone today!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Um... whats wrong with this conversation???

D.T's mom who knows no English to D.T. as he is on the computer answering emails: Lucrezi? (Romanian for "work?")

D.T.: Just a little bit.

*****

Not much going on here. Just lots of visiting and lots of relaxing. :-) Tomorrow we plan to head out into town to get some shopping done! Then, this weekend, one of D.T.'s nieces will be getting married... to a young man from Texas! Ha! Oh, the cultural differences in this family!!! ;-) After the wedding, I will share with you how Romanian weddings differ from those in America. It should definitely be interesting for the groom's family!

*****

Aren't these flowers lovely? A neighbor brought them upstairs from her lilac tree in the back for D.T.'s mom.


*****

Questions & Answers!

You asked...
He And Me + 3 said...

How long did DT live in Romania?

Answer: D.T. was born in Romania and lived here until 1990 when he came to America one week shy of his 23rd birthday. He's been living in America ever since, although we have been back here to visit Romania quite frequently - I think this is the 9th time since we got married in 1996.

*****

I'd like to leave you tonight with a Romanian blessing that graces the hallway in D.T.'s mom's home...




House Blessing
Where there is faith, there is love,
Where there is love, there is peace,
Where there is peace, there is blessing,
Where there is blessing, there is God,
Where there is God, there is no want.

Living in His JOY, HOPE, and PEACE...



***Don't forget to pray for someone today!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

The one where C.C. cuts her own hair...


because she fried it with the melted flat iron she didn't realize was melting.


Of course, then she buys one that works on the European electrical system without a transformer since apparently that doesn't work!


*****

Wonder what I do on vacation here???

It's so nice to have a massage therapist for a sister-in-law! Hehehe!!! :-)

*****

Something you always see everywhere in Romania, but not as much in America (except maybe in very large cities or European districts)...


Something you always see in America, but almost never in Romania...



*****

An answer to your question...

Several of you asked if D.T. and I have ever thought of adopting a baby from Romania since he is from here.

Well, when we first got married, the answer to that question was a resounding "Yes!" At that time, we thought that we would definitely adopt a baby from Romania. But... then a few things changed that answer and caused us to move in the direction of domestic adoption.

First, in 2003, Romania issued a Moratorium, officially closing their doors to all international adoptions. The goal was to clean up a very corrupt adoption system, to ensure the protection of Romania's children from being taken advantage of, and for other political reasons surrounding Romania's entrance into the European Union. The Moratorium was intended to be temporary but has never been lifted.

Additionally, knowing a lot more about adoption now than we did back then, I'm not sure that either one of us is prepared to handle the attachment challenges that may come with a child who has spent a significant portion of their infancy and young life in an orphanage. That probably sounds cold. I know that if God put us together with such a child, He would equip us with all we need. However, I'm just not sure He's calling us to that right now.

*****

So, that's it for now. I may just make my midnight bedtime before turning into a pumpkin! Really struggling with this time change!!!

Please continue to be in prayer for Stellan!

Living in His JOY, HOPE, and PEACE...



***Don't forget to pray for someone today!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Will it happen?

Will I actually complete a blog post today? and not just in my head?

I'm having a bit of blogger's block right now.

Ok, here goes.

We arrived safely on Saturday afternoon (Romania time) following a very smooth 4-hour drive to D.C., a 9+ hour flight to Switzerland, a 2 hour flight to Bucuresti, and a 1 hour drive to D.T.'s mom's apartment.

Is it any wonder I looked like this on the plane?


And can someone tell me why a guy can be tired, and still look like this? It's just not fair!



Alas, we did arrive,


and since then, we've been trying to adjust to the time change,



eating,

Oh my goodness, we are going to have so much more weight to lose when we go home!

visiting with family,


celebrating Easter (Romania is mainly Orthodox, so the country celebrates a week later than in America)

"Hristos a înviat!"
"Adevărat a înviat!"

People who attend local Orthodox churches walk home after midnight services on Easter,
bringing lit candles with them as a symbol of bringing "the Light of the world" to their homes.


and my birthday,

I've had three cakes so far for my birthday here!
This one the first night.

This one on my birthday yesterday.

And this one tonight.
La Multi Ani! ~ Happy Birthday!


and playing Santa Clause to D.T.'s best friend's boys.

Who's the OCD one now? ;-)



Yes, the big boys had more fun putting the nerf gun together
than the little boys got to have playing with it!


Like I said, everything has gone pretty smoothly with this trip so far. Well, except for the bottle of hair stuff that broke open and spilled all over one of the suitcases. And the flat iron that overheated, smoked, and melted from too much voltage... oh, but not until after it fried a piece of my hair. Yeah. I know. Nice.

So, let me answer one of your questions!!!
Amy said...

Just curious -- what kind of stuff do you take over there? Does his family have American stuff they really like for you to bring? Enjoy some good chocolate for me!! ;)

Answer: It's kind of funny because we always bring stuff that they can't find in Romania and we always take home stuff that we can't find in America. Sometimes, they are the same types of things (chocolate, deodorants, etc...), but we prefer what one place has over the other. For instance, we always take his mom things like Polygrip because the comparable products they have here in Romania are not always as effective. We always bring candy and presents for his best friend's children. We also usually bring lotions from B@th & B0dy W0rks for all the women. I mean, what woman doesn't like that, no matter what country she's in?!? :-) Lots of other stuff, but too much to list! You get the idea. ;-)

Well, I guess that's about it for now. I think now that I am caught up for the most part, I can do some smaller posts on a more regular basis. Tomorrow - more answers to your questions!

Oh, and I will tell you about something you are likely to see in Romania, but very seldom in America and something else that you always see in America, but almost never in Romania. Any guesses??? :-)


Living in His JOY, HOPE, and PEACE...



***Don't forget to pray for someone today!

Friday, April 03, 2009

A race?

I love a race! And the starter gun is about to go off! 14 days and counting... until...

ROMANIA!!!

Yikes! We've got so much to do! Shop, pack, shop some more, and try to stuff.it.all.in!

And, then there is THIS weekend. Tomorrow, we get to meet my bloggy friend and soon-to-be in-real-life friend, Sparkette. SO excited! :-) And, then... I have a surprise for another friend soon, but I can't really share that yet. ;-)

So, I was thinking... there are so many things D.T. and I enjoy purchasing in Romania. With all the things we buy here to take there, our suitcases are usually just as full on the return trip! LOL!!! Seasonings we can't find here. Chocolate. Porcelain. Chocolate. Did I mention chocolate?

Ahem.

Where was I? Oh, yeah... I was thinking. I should have a contest so that I can share a sampling of all the lovely things we bring back from Romania! Y'all game?

Here's what you need to do to enter (each entry MUST have a SEPARATE comment):

one chance ~ leave a comment on this post asking me a question about Romania, D.T.'s childhood in Romania, or about his journey from Romania to America. Hey, I need something to blog about while I am there. ;-)

one chance ~ follow this blog and leave a comment on this post telling me so. If you are already a follower, leave a comment telling me so.

one chance ~ follow my other blog, The Body of Christ, and leave a comment on this post telling me so. If you are already a follower, leave a comment telling me so.

one chance ~ follow me on Twitter. Hey, we could have a mini game of Where in the world is C.C.? Ha! Oh, don't forget to leave a comment telling me so. ;-)

one chance ~ post about my contest on your blog, and leave a comment on this post telling me so.

Simple as that! And, if you want MORE chances? Think of more questions!!! Open season... as many as you can think of! Just be sure to leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry.

Contest will end when our plane lands back in the good 'ol U.S.A. Winner will be chosen in some random fashion.

Ok, gotta go get all the suitcases out. Seriously. We bought a LOT of stuff tonight. And I need a little sleep so I am somewhat coherent when I meet Sparkette and the kids tomorrow!

'Night all!

Living in His JOY, HOPE, and PEACE...



***Don't forget to pray for someone today!

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Answer #4... Heidi, I didn't forget about you ;-)

Ok, last question ~ last answer.

Question 4: Tell me about your favorite book or author. Why do you recommend them?

Aww, man, why does everybody ask me questions that dig at the heart of my existence? I think I am in a bit of a funk lately, but this question has had me really thinkin' for a while. So, thanks for askin', Heidi. Really. btw, how's the hair? ;-)

Enough stalling. My favorite book or author? Don't really have one anymore. Don't really read very much anymore. Head hanging in shame. Well, except for the Bible and my textbooks when I am taking grad classes. Oh, so NOT fun. For real. It's not fun.

When I was little, I used to LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to read. I would read at the dinner table, in the car, in my room. Wherever. Even when we went out to eat. How rude!

And now? Well, life has gotten in the way, and a lot of things that I used to LOVE, enjoy, and DREAM have kind of been neglected, er... pushed to the side, er... stuffed down in the deepest, darkest part of my being. Um, that's a whole 'nother post.

Ahem. What was the question again? Oh, yeah... book... author...

Well, when I do get the chance to read, I enjoy Henry Blackaby, Beth Moore, Carol Kent, ...
you know, people who write about things like how to Experience God, how to Get Out of That Pit, and how to live A New Kind of Normal.

How 'bout you? What's your favorite book/author? Anything good I should read to help me out of my funk or radically change my life? Heidi? You go first...! ;-)

Living in His JOY, HOPE, and PEACE...



***Don't forget to pray for someone today!

Monday, March 30, 2009

Answers #2 and #3... Someday...

Question 2: If you knew you wouldn't fail, what would you try??

Question 3: Do you have a hobby? If so, what is it? Why did you start blogging?

Wow. Those two questions really go together for me. Amazing! And just a bit strange. And perhaps a little emotional.

Ok. Deep breath. Here I go.

Because I struggle a lot with fear, especially fear of failing and fear of all the "what ifs" in life, chances are that if I knew I wouldn't fail, there are a lot of things I would probably try.

The first thing I would try if I knew I wouldn't fail is IVF. Yes, in-vitro fertilization. D.T. and I have always said that we would rather put any funds we could have spent on IVF (a gamble) towards adoption (a somewhat more sure way to build our family which would also provide a home for a child who needed one.) BUT... if I knew it wouldn't fail? Well... 'nuff said.

The second thing I would try if I knew I wouldn't fail is to write a book. I have always loved writing, which is one of the reasons I started to blog. Along with the fact that I needed someplace to vent. LOL! And to be held accountable to grow in my relationship with God. Oh, and most importantly, because I wanted to reach out and minister to others who may be experiencing some of the same things I have struggled with... multiple sclerosis, infertility, changed plans. Maybe someday I will write a book, but I am fairly certain there is far more of my story to come before that could ever come to fruition. Of course, I am not sure who would actually want to read it. ;-)

Hobbies? Well, aside from the aforementioned writing, I grew up playing the piano and singing. My husband and I actually sang together for several years in a group at our former church. Of course, he was the one who really knew what he was doing with a degree in music. Believe it or not, after our relationship began, it took me more than a year until I was even remotely willing to sing in front of him! Back then, I was soooo afraid of what he would think! Ha! After awhile, though, that wore off. :-) I was still just the amateur, but boy, did I love it! Now, I miss it. We just don't get the chance anymore, and I am ashamed to say that I haven't played the piano in almost 2 years! Probably has something to do with the fact that we don't own a piano. And the fact that my hands don't respond to my brain the same way they used to. Darn MS. Someday... someday...

**sigh**

Well, I suppose that about covers it for now. Come back soon for question #4!



Living in His JOY, HOPE, and PEACE...



***Don't forget to pray for someone today!

Friday, March 27, 2009

Answer #1... and keep those questions comin'!

I asked for questions yesterday the other day, and I am happy to say that I got two now three really good ones! Now, I have something to say... yay!!!!!! :-)

So, I guess I'll answer a question. I like both all of them, and I actually have A LOT to say about the second one. Unfortunately, I have this little compulsion to do things in order, so I will restrain myself and answer first things first. LOL! ;-)

Question 1~Part 1: So what are you going to do with the dresser?

Well, I'm still going to paint the dresser. I'm just not going to use an electric sander. They guys tell me I should use an orbital sander, (whatever that is) or a brick with sand paper. Did I ever mention that I am "fixing things" challenged?

Question 1~Part 2: What [kind of camera] do you use?

Actually, I have two cameras - an old(er) one, and a new, smaller one that D.T. got me for Christmas. Neither of them are professional cameras, but they are pretty good quality and seem to work well, and I like them. Both are Kodak Easy Share. Can someone say, "Creature of habit???" The older one is an Easy Share DX 7590
and the newer one is an Easy Share M1093 IS. Much easier to carry around, it is.


Keep those questions comin'... This is fun! :-)


Living in His JOY, HOPE, and PEACE...



***Don't forget to pray for someone today!

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