NKOTB... I Love You!!

Yes, I am a HUGE fan! These guys just make me happy. I can't believe that even after 19 years (I became a fan when I was about 11 or so) I am still a big fan and I still dream about seeing them in concert and meeting them in person. I know... I'm such a dork! I hope that they either come to Colorado or I can make a trip to where ever they tour this summer. I think that it's great that they have reunited and I will ABSOLUTELY buy their new album when it comes out. I can't wait! Admitedly, I never had New Kids sheets or a beadspread but I still have some of the dolls and I even had this huge, poster-sized puzzle. I wonder if my parents still have that? I'm guessing not. Joe was my favorite, Jordan was my second favorite. It's so funny... I feel like I am watching myself from the outside. I still get so excited when I see new pictures of the guys or hear songs, or whatever. I think that one thing that can be said about New Kids fans is that we are die hard. It's funny, their fans are all about ages 25-35 now and still mostly females. Many of us are married with kids (not me but I'm not far behind those ones). The guys are ranging in ages 35-40. I can't believe that it's been so long since they "disbanded" but I'm so happy that they are together again... working on an album and planning a concert tour. Maybe this time around I'll get to see a concert and even get a backstage pass. I'd be in heaven. :-) For updates on the guys, check out: http://nkotb.com/

The Martian Child and A Child Called 'It'

I read these books over the course of this weekend. Both were very good and full of information. "The Martian Child" was a single father's story about adopting a son through the US Foster System and "A Child Called 'It'" was an adult's story about the abuse he went through between the ages of 4 and 12. At the end of that book, there were several abuse statistics for the US. At the end of the book, we also found out that this guy's case of abuse was the third worst in the entire state of California at the time. I decided to look online for the most recent statistics. WOW!! There are MILLIONS of abused children in the US and tons of them need permanent, loving, protective, homes. I want to help! I want to give at least one of these children a loving home with a loving family. I am still researching all of this and I still have to talk to Zac but I would really like to adopt a child from the Foster System (this is also one of the most inexpensive methods of adoption). Yes, these are the "problem kids" according to the schools and "professionals." My mom knows, she's a "chapter" teacher at a local elementary school in my hometown. That doesn't mean they are any less deserving of a permanent home. Now, the challenge for me in this journey will be to get Zac to support me in it. He can be a complete part of it (by adopting with me as my "domestic partner") or he can be a small part of it by simply being my live-in boyfriend. Under either circumstance, I am allowed to adopt. Since he lives in the house, he still has to have a background check and be part of the home-study but he doesn't have a very big part in the rest of it all. (Although, I imagine that he would still be a big part in the child's life.) Well, I pray that this is something that I am able to do. I am considering children born in 1997 or later (that's at least 20 years younger than me).

NKOTB is Back!

They're Baaaack!!!! Yes, the New Kids on the Block (NKOTB) are reuniting! I know it's juvenile but I am SO excited. At the "ripe 'ol age" of 30, I still love these guys. They don't have any concerts planned for my area yet but I sure hope that they add Colorado to their schedule. If they don't do Colorado and go to Florida instead then I'll just have to visit my little sister in Florida and we can go together. Girls Night Out!!! Their new album should be out this summer, I think. ...And they're doing it their way. Unfortunately, when I was a kid I never got to see them in concert. Fortunately, I did get to see Joe and Jordan in concert individually in the late 90's and early 2000's. I can't even begin to convey the level of excitement that I have. This is such exciting news for me!

Why I Want to Adopt

The main reason I would like to adopt is so I could have a positive, lasting, effect on a child and his or her life. I used to mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters and I enjoyed it but it bothered me that I couldn't have a greater impact on the child's life. There are so many kids, both domestically and internationally, without "forever families" and I'd love to be the "forever family" for some of those kids. I am very patient and nurturing and I think that is a major thing that these kids need. I also feel like I was born to be a mom. I love children and I want to help kids be everything their potential allows. I think that the best and most rewarding way to do this is to be a parent because it's something I can see through the course of development and growth. This is best realized by constant love, encouragement, patience and nurturing which I believe is best achieved as a parent through a lifetime rather than simply by mentoring or something like that. I absolutely want to have biological children so my family history and geneology can be passed onto future generations. I also think that we'd have beautiful children. However, there are many kids in the world today that need families now. I know I can't be a mom to all of them but even if I could only parent one or two, it still makes a difference in that child's life. Every little bit helps. :-)

I'm interested in international adoption because there are several programs available. I'm interested in the Asian programs, in particular. They are streamlined programs and the Asian culture is very fascinating to me. Also, I think that the Asian people are beautiful people.

I'm starting to become more and more interested in the domestic adoption program as well. The nice thing about the domestic program is that it's a fairly quick process to adopt and there's far less paperwork involved. Also, there's little to no expense involved in adopting domestically.

The "types" of kids I'd like to adopt are classified as "waiting children" or "special needs." In the international programs these kids are usually older with or without "special needs." The "special needs" can be either minor or major from cleft lip/palate to limb differences to something like cerebral pulsy. With the domestic programs, the "special needs" are usually age and/or social or developmental delays, mostly due to a poor home environment prior to being available for adoption. In the domestic programs all of the children that are available for adoption are in the foster care system and their birth families have had their parental rights relinquished due to neglect, abuse, etc.

I think that the biggest problem I have right now with being able to start an adoption (domestic) is that my house is only 576 square feet and the second bedroom is only big enough for a twin bed and a dresser. Also, since I live with someone I don't think that I can adopt until we're married. If we weren't living together I could adopt as a single mom.

NOTE: If you would like to share your experiences and thoughts, please due so. I'd love to hear what everyone has to say.