7 Things about me that most people probably don't know

I got this from Ashley's blog and am finally remembered to do it!

Here are seven things about me that most people probably don't know:

1. I've lived in 5 different states. Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Florida and now Colorado. My favorite is by far Colorado!

2. In my mid 20's I, visited Greece and Turkey during the Kosovo War. I was so close that I could actually see the lights of the bombs going off. My parents grew a few extra grey hairs during that trip!

3. I hiked half of the Colorado Trail. Most of it by myself. Way cool experience :) I love sleeping outside and being in natures elements. I have well over 300 nights in the woods (Most of those nights are credited towards being employed in wilderness therapy). To this day there is nothing more peaceful than being in the backcountry.

4. I lived in my car for 3 months. Yes, I was technically homeless, but was by choice. It was a summer full of road trips and car camping after putting my items into storage. I don't think my cat liked it so much though.....seriously!

5. At the age of 17, I entered the Miss Teen All American Illinois pageant. I hated it until I found out that Halle Barry won a few years before. I didn't place, but decided it was in the end.

6. Mike and I met on www.match.com I never really thought I would fall in love with someone that I met on line. The first time we met in person, he gave me a CD and I wore purple pants and an orange shirt. Kind of funny, but love found a way.

7. I don't down hill ski. Too freaky and fast for me. Snowshoeing and cross country skiing is much more my pace. I think I'm one of few in the state that actually lives near Breckenridge and doesn't ski....oh well.

Ming Ruby Catherine Skubella

We decided on a name for Ming. Her full name will be Ming Ruby Catherine Skubella and she can choose if she would like to go by Ming, Ruby or Catherine. I hope she sticks with Ming because it is an easy name to pronounce and is part of her heritage, but who knows...maybe she'll want a more "American" name and will choose to be called Ruby or Catherine. Mike and I decided to stay with Ruby as one of her middle names because that name has been in our hearts for well over a year now. Catherine was added to carry on the Greek tradition of naming the first daughter after the Mother's Mother. Catherine is my Mother's name :)

Since we have seen Ming's photo, I don't think a day has gone by that I haven't thought of her. Mike as well. I wonder how she is doing, if she is keeping warm, how her studies in English are coming along and think about how she will react when she is told that she will be adopted. Sometimes I just get emotional thinking of her. She is our dreams come true. Preparations we are doing is learning Mandarin (Mike is doing a much better job than me), trying to find a translator (this is more difficult than I thought...we are quite rural), buying a few basic clothes, purchasing some English learning materials and putting together her Life Book. Her Life Book is mandatory by the state of Colorado (I think?) and pieces together her history into a book. This will give her a better sense of who she is. Any information we gather on her past will be put into the Life Book. It might be very tricky to put together her history, but after time we can fill in some of the missing spots as Ming opens up about her history.

Stay warm and safe no matter where you may be...

Washington DC

Youth member, me, Kathy and youth member

In DC with our Drug Free Community Coalition for a DFC training

Alive in the Year of the Rat

Happy Chinese New Year - Year of the Rat!

I am very thankful to see the Year of the Rat.

I was in a car accident this past snowy Monday night. A vehicle traveling in the opposite direction on the other side of the highway lost control of their car and crossed the median and hit me head on. My Jeep Cherokee saved my life. If a larger vehicle hit me, my car could've rolled off the cliff on my right side. The other driver and I were lucky to walk away from the accident. I am thankful to be alive and come home to a loving husband.

Ming - our family is meant to be together!

Beijing City Children's Welfare Institute

I've been trying to find photos of Ming's institute, but I have been unsuccessful. If anyone finds one, please let me know. Pictured above is a typical bed for older children living in a social welfare institute. It doesn't look to comfortable, but at least looks clean. I wonder if the kids are really cold with all the cold weather they've been having? A map of China is above as well. Beijing is market by one of the dark pink dots.

We love Ming!

Over the past few days we realize how Ming was meant to be with us from the beginnning. Our chance was very slim to be matched with her because so many people are switching to Special Needs due to the long wait for an infant. Our caseworker mentioned that we are the only one of her families that have been matched with a SN child because it is so competitive. So many people have applied for several SN children and have never been matched. We only tried once and found our daughter. We love Ming so much already and eagerly await her arrival.

Today Mike and I took 1/2 day off to work on the adoption paperwork. It was pretty cool to see Ming's letter of intent because half of it was in Chinese. Ming has no idea that she has parents and this point and won't for another 2 months or so. Once we have our offical letter of approval, we can sent photos and a few items to Ming at the Beijing City Children's Welfare Institute. I'm sure she'll be sooo happy to see photos of her parents, pets and new home! I can't wait!

It's a girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have been matched with a beautiful 10 year old girl named MING!!!!!!

She is from China and now we start to process to bring her home. We hope to travel in 4 - 6 months. WE ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOO happy!

Why Ming? After learning that there is no end to the long wait for a healthy baby AND may not receive a referral for another 2 1/2 years from now AND experiencing heartaches with the domestic adoption, we decided to look into older Chinese adoptions. We found Ming on A Helping Hand's website (A Helping Hand is our parent agency) on 1/13/08. We turned in our application on 1/22 and received the good news on 1/24!!!! We are truly meant to be together and are so happy things turned out the way they did. It was worth all the tears and anxiety. Now it is a mad dash to finish paperwork, update everything and get our ducks in a row ASAP!

Ming is so precious and is absolutely beautiful. She is absolutely perfect! We will not post a photo of her on our blog until she is legally in our family. More information will be posted as it comes........

2007 in review

LOCKS OF LOVE -

Before Mike cut the hair....quite long, eh?

Holding the ponytail of 12 inches!

Finished product - not too bad

Mt. Elbert with Boys & Girls Club Backpacking Club

San Luis Peak - we took the photo just below because it was too cold!

2007 turned out to be a fairly good year. We kept very busy building and moving into the new house, Mike opening his log furniture store, expanding the store to a new location, visiting with family, traveling to Chicago for the holidays, waiting for the Chinese adoption, getting ready for the domestic adoption and Tara making sure the Boys & Girls Club grew in a very positive direction. I know life will be even more busy with kids, but I must say that this has been one of the busiest years yet!

Updates on domestic adoption: We've been referred a couple of times now, but have had to decline for various reasons. At first we felt really bad, but we need to make sure that we provide a safe environment for our infant Chinese adoption. Our social worker has been very supportive and we've learned this is common. We are currently waiting our third referral. If something happens - we'll post it here.



I am looking at my 2007 goals and decided that I did not do a very good job.


Donating hair to locks of love: Completed 12/31 see photos above


Hiking 2 14ers - Completed San Luis Peak and was only 1/2 to the top of Mt. Elbert, but bad weather came in and we had to decend :( Next time! Photos above


Hiking/snowshoeing at least 250 miles - did not complete. I completed over 160 miles in hiking and walking in 2007, but lost track after Oct...


Visit 3 museums - didn't go to one. I did have plans to go Denver Nature & Science museum twice with the Club, but the trip was canceled due to various reasons.


Get another tatoo - I didn't, but Mike did. I decided that I won't get another until each adoption is complete


Spa day - I stayed at a lovely JW Marriott Spa in AZ this summer, but it was for work and all the times were booked. I did go to a couple of hot springs, but that doesn't count. At least this March my mom and sister(s) are getting together for a spa girls weekend.

Autumn Moom Festival - educated myself a little about it, but didn't celebrated it


Find the perfect pair of jeans and buy 2 - I completed this twice. I bought two early winter of 2007, but then lost a little weight so I found another two during this Christmas Holiday.


I'm not sure what my goals will be this year because there are so many variables!

Only time will tell!