D!!!*??!*

The adoption process is like standing on constantly shifting sand.......

Enough said.

TTYL Robbin 

*Thanks Christina!

Where have you been?

Studying of course!  A while back I was praying for some direction and thankfully, so many have prayed for me as well.   I know  this is suppose to be a good thing,  but I am very grateful to almost me done... looking like this!

Actually, I just hadn't posted in a while and I wanted to talk about one of my real passions in life..... eating!!!! LOL.  Really I would post before and after pics if I had some after after pics to regain my dignity.  Alas, there are none yet so I have to let you in on a little secret.... I'm on a LIVIT..... what's that you say?  Well its like a Diet... except you do it to Live, so you change forever!!! :)  I have lost 4 lbs in record time and that's all I'm telling you about that!  Suffice it to say that my goal weight loss is exponentially higher than that by many times.   

I have some ideals on how I will do it and I am going to journal it.  But just not so YOU can see lol.   I really want to be ready for an active toddler (or teenager as my negative boyfriend seems to think she will be by the time she comes home!)  I used to run and I actually have a very good food palette. So I think I can combine the two and maybe get some positive results.....

I also wanted to take a moment to discuss my unnatural addiction to Ethiopian food.   Actually, my addiction to it has overtaken my addiction to Taco's!   LOL.   Basically if I hear the word Taco I then need to go home and cook them for dinner (I feel it coming on right now).  However if I SEE injera  then I start to crave it and if I see Doro wat, and lamb and all the other spicy fixins... I have to run over to my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the area Taste of Ethiopia and see my favorite proprietor Meskerem .   

 

I know that Ethiopian food is family style dining.   But the other day I couldn't help it and since I am unable to convince any of my friends to eat there with me.... I had to go alone!!!! That's right,  a whole table full of food for just ME!!!!!!!!!!

Which brings me full circle to my LIVIT.  And the end of this really stupid post.

TTYL Robbin

Its not class its RACE!!!!

2009.... Are we no further ahead? Despite our president elect.... Is America advancing or regressing or is it just again coming out?

23-year-old son of former baseball star shot in his driveway by police officer

Robbie Tolan, a minor league baseballer, remains hospitalized with bullet in liver

Family alleges racial profiling: "If these had been white kids, this does not happen"

Tolan's father, Bobby, had a 15-year career in the majors

Guess he stole his own car?

I know this is a blog about "happy thoughts" but I think its a relevant topic when bringing Black boys into this continuing climate of racism. Its minorities, Black and Hispanic... Our Ethiopian and Guatemalan "Princes".

TTYL

Robbin

What is the value of a life?

22 years old. A father. Shot in the back while laying on his stomach, with the knee of an officer at his neck. In front of hundreds of witnesses. On the subway.

It is not easy to watch. It shouldn't be. There is no reason. There is no justification. There is a child left without a father; a family struggling to figure it out; a company scrambling to justify it, a community trying to make sense of it, an attorney hoping to quantify it, a race praying to make it stop, a life lost. Senselessly lost.

Does it make it easier to ignore it if you knew that he was fighting. That he was a convicted felon. That he worked in the fast food industry. That he only has a GED?



Does it matter that he is a Black man, and all of the officers were not.

Or rather... he was.

BTW Officer Johannes Mehserle is reported to be the officer that confused his taser with his hand gun. And one day after the murder he became a proud father. Hmm, what does one say to him. What would Sophina Mesa -- the mother of Oscar's daughter Tatiana say?

I struggled with writing about this. Wonder if I'm just getting soft. Cause I won't say what I want to say. I'll just let it be inferred.

TTYL

Robbin

Welcome 2009

I wanted to reflect on where I am at this stage and my life as I get ready for the next year




1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland /world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child - I'm trying!! I'm trying!!
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon -
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language -- sign language!
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied -
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing -
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person -.
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone -
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

If I am blessed to see this time in one year I hope to have done some of these things too.....

1. Finish Law School
2. Start my own Real estate company
3. Of course --- Lose 50 lbs!
4. Travel to Ethiopia
5. See the Pyramids of Egypt
6. Finish my book
7. Grow my own herbs
8. Plan to attempt to do #'s17,18, 27, 44, 60,80.83,86, 94
9. See my daughter's face


Nine great things for 09! I hope you have the same!


TTYL

ROBBIN

Real meaning of Christmas

I know Christmas in America is about "getting".... its taught so young and as kids we ran to meet friends and family asking: "what did you get?". With so many with so little at this time I am reminded that Christmas is about "giving". Take the word in its literal form: More Christ. Lets be more like Christ and give...... many will not even know its Christmas

My heart is in Africa. Again, dominating the world on the places with the greatest need.

Check this out!

Go Doctors Without Borders!!!

TTYL

ROBBIN

Dreams

My dreams have been scary lately.  Completely weird and out of control.  Today I took my nap (yeah I need one everyday), and I dreamed that I was arrested for attempting to kill my best friends mom.... (she's already passed away).  She was in the hospital and I was coming to visit her and see how she was feeling and I was arrested IN the hospital.  Funny thing is that the police officer that came to arrest me was FINE and very pleasant (like this Detective I once dated... but better).  He was very kind to me and I asked him not to cuff me in the back because "my breast are so large and it makes me uncomfortable" lol.   He obliged and didn't cuff me at all.  I then told my best friend who was there with all of her sisters glaring at me (the sisters, not her) to watch my laptop and purse......  Just before this dream I segued out of someone's party that was apparently related to this same best friend and I kept getting this weird feeling that although all these ppl were there that someone was trying to rob the place.... and I was responsible for serving the cake.   So anyway back to the hospital thing.... so Officer Fine -Ass - Hell who told me politely that his name was James something something, took me to the station and I wanted to tell him I was a law student but I didn't.  When he got me to the station, I started "consciously" in my mind reciting phone numbers of ppl that have phones that accept collect calls.  I was trying to remember my friend Edwar's number, a newly minted attorney, as well as my sister's number.   The booking lady was very nice and she commented on my lovely ball gown (right... WTF)..... which was covered by Officer Fine - Ass -Hell's jacket, while she removed the handcuff which was just on one arm.  When Officer Fine-Ass-Hell left, the booking lady couldn't find her Miranda rights and asked a coworker for hers.   So I said, why am I being arrested?   And she opened a file and pulled out an absolutely horrible ring and said, that my best friend's sister had in fact informed the police that I tried to kill her mother to get this ring. We laughed (the booking lady, me and the Miranda reading coworker).  I really had to pee so I woke up.

But it unnerved me.  I fear jail.  I loathe thieves and I really love fine ass hell officers.  

Just two nights before this, I dreamed that my two other best friends (Tanya and Kellae the Atlanta girls) were arrested for murdering Kellae's sister (also dead already), who's body was discovered after a really long period of time.  I obviously had knowledge of the murder and I was forced to be a party in the case despite me knowing they had done it.

Through out the dream, I kept thinking about the #'s 9 and 20 and I kept saying:  You can't multiply them.  While my  conscience mind kept saying " you can multiply 9 times 20, you are great with math".

For years I used to record my dreams in a dream journal and try to analyze the recurring themes.  I have a great friend that (consequently he has lots of the contact with the police) but anyway, he is a great prophet (no really) and can dream and analyze things BEFORE they happen.  It's weird and I've never witnessed anything like that.  But honestly he can do it.  But he NEVER dreams about dead ppl... not ones that are dead at the time of the dream.  I'm afraid of asking him about this madness.

Okay...... Yep, if the ET officials are reading this they are convinced that I am crazy.   But I'm not!  I promise!!!  Ask Officer Fine- Ass - Hell......

TTYL Robbin

* so nice to have such close friends that you can share anything.  Since none of my pre-blog, pre-adoption friends read this, with whom I'd NEVER share this craziness with, then I am safe from them reading this.  

World Aids Day

Adoption in sub saharan  Africa is grown primarily because of AIDS.  We are affected. Period.  I can't allow myself to selfishly believe that God is allowing this epidemic to grow for the purpose of me becoming a parent.  I am being allowed to adopt for the purpose of making change in the life of  a child and promoting change in the life of a country; and in my own country; and within my own race; in my own community.  

Please watch ALL OF US a documentary by an Ethiopian American doctor about women and AIDs and how the AIDS epidemic involving African American women and African women mirror each other so closely.  Imagine, a third world country and urban America.  Its on Showtime!!  

This is an amazing documentary.

Peace,

Robbin

Blind Faith

I think everyone has heard some rendition of this story, I can't take credit for it, but I want to share it.

A family that was short on cash and had no food in the house. The family began
to believe God to supply food for them that day.
The husband came in the kitchen and told his wife to set the table. She said,
“Honey, we have no food!” He told her to set the table anyway. She reluctantly set the
table with plates, glasses, spoons, forks, napkins, and everything. She set the table just
like she was about to serve a normal meal.
The husband, wife, and their small son sat down at the table and looked at the
empty plates. The little boy was, of course, very hungry. He looked at his dad and
asked, “What are we going to eat?”
His father replied, “Son the Lord will take care of us, you’ll see.”
The little boy asked the same question, several times, and received the same reply
from his dad. Soon, the little boy said, “I sure would love to have a chocolate pie.”
Once again, his dad told him that the Lord would provide. Just a few moments
later, there was a knock on the door. The father went to open the door and there was a
man standing there with a basket of food. He said, “My wife cooked too much food, and
the Lord said for me to bring this basket to you.”
When they opened the basket, they found chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, beans,
and bread; and last of all, they removed a chocolate pie.
Sometimes in our lives we have to trust God right down to the last second. But
God knows exactly how to take care of us. He can provide exactly what we need. He
provides not only the meals we need, but He cares enough to send a chocolate pie to a
little hungry boy.

I know I have been quiet.  And I know I stopped my count down because I was given some news that caused me to feel disappointed and defeated.  But I was asked by a dear friend to keep counting.  Keep looking with anticipation and to "set the table".  (Thanks Celeste).  I posted a few weeks ago about a really really challenging situation that I was enduring and I felt so much love and support from those that posted and prayed or prayed and didn't post.  I just knew I had more warriors standing beside me then I even knew possible.   I am so pleased to announce that my situation was resolved and although I was postponed a little I am back on track.  But this is the thing... that postponement actually worked so well within my life that everything else shifted into place.  

I'm real big on analogies so let me say this.  I ran track in high school (and not one time since lol) and  runners know that everyone starts in their own lane at a different spot but the distance is the same.   Well, I was still on the track, I could see the finish line, but I was in the wrong lane! God slowed me down and got me back on track!  Because trust me... you don't want to come in first and not be in the right lane.  That's right disqualified!   Thank you everyone for praying for me and with me.  

So with that being said, and back by popular demand (ok, not really), I will continue to count.  Because although my adoption may be delayed, I have not been disqualified.  I don't know what's gonna happen when I get up there in the numbers lol.  Maybe I'll start counting old boyfriends, that will get me thru about 100 weeks!  

I saw this on a friends page, and I just need to say, PRAISE HIM IN ADVANCE.   Because my daughter is coming home.

TTYL Robbin

Oh Give Thanks

Hello Friends, I just wanted to stop in and give Thanksgiving wishes!  I have so much to be thankful for and I am reminded that this world wide web has put so much of the world within my reach.  I have met so many friends along the way and gained knowledge that has helped to destroy the many myths perpetuated by the media.   I thought about this and wanted to share it, its a blast from the past but fitting!






BTW, I am ever hopeful that single mother adoptions in Ethiopia will not be limited. I know that this is not in my hands (thank goodness cause I would surely mess it up) but I just have a real good feeling that something is gonna break......

TTYL

Robbin

Thank you

"The sun will come out....tomorrow.  Betcha bottom dollar that... tomorrow.... there'll be sun!"

In the voice of Annie.  Our favorite orphan.  Who never lost hope!  And had some fun along the way.

Thank you EVERYONE that sent sweet words of encouragement.   I will blog about this soon as I know all the inside info.... in true Robbin Fashion.

TTYL 

Robbin

Adoption Postponed

I'm not sure how I will deal with how I am feeling right now...... There are no words.

Step 1 -- I shut down all my Yahoo groups.  Getting 100's of emails about adoption is more than I can endure.  

TTYL

Robbin

Get it while its hot!

Somebody that I know was told by someone that they know that was told by their cousins aunt who heard that..........

Just kidding.   You know how I purchased my car seat a few months back and was so pleased about the deal I got on ebay?   ( I think I talked about it.... Britax, for 180.00 including shipping and retails for 250.00).  Well this trumps that deal by about 1000%!  And since I needed two car seats, I ran over and purchased another! 

That's right!  A Britax car seat for 42.00!!!!!!!!!!!  This is amazing, too good to be true and I am waiting on my, "April Fool's email".  In November.

I purchased mine and didn't have to get the "moo moo" one which is also a steal at 59.00.  And they both have free shipping..... no kidding.  Check it out for yourself !  I feel like I hit the lottery!!!  And it won't be here until December.  Until then, I will be keeping my fingers crossed.

TTYL Robbin

OOPS Week 19

sorry to all those "blog-reader-people"   I cheated.  Its week 19!   

Friends

"I really don't think life is about the I-could-have-beens. Life is only about the I-tried-to-do. I don't mind the failure but I can't imagine that I'd forgive myself if I didn't try.”

Nikki Giovanni

Adoption  will test your patience, will, commitment, tenacity and faith.  But you learn so much along the way!



TTYL Robbin

Age 18

Here are a few of my pictures from graduation day.   I am with my friend Kellae who's wedding I went to here.  Unfortunately, my grandmother had passed away on prom night and so I was whisked off from graduation and off to Louisiana for her funeral so I didn't really get to spend any time with my graduating friends.

I lived in a small town and so they came up with this great ideal of combining both the graduation from both schools together.  This is my cousin Tanisha who graduated from the other school.  ALL of my friends attended the other school so I was excited to be with the ppl I better connected to.  To this day, I definitely am closer to the students at the other school and participate in far more alumni events with them.  Because my super popular brother was at the other school ppl for some reason thought I attended there as well!

TTYL

Robbin

oops Sunday post

My Sunday post didn't come up on Sunday it came on Saturday, because I tried to auto post.  Sorry blogger reader ppl, this is another post about NOTHING!!!!!  Just trying to keep up with the Blog post month thingy.

Robbin

Week 18

Senior pictures

Ok, these are some of my many several hundred dollars worth of senior proofs.   Clearly my mother allowed me way to much latitude.  When I looked at the nearly 50 proofs in my book I just had to crack up.  My mother believed in independence.  I picked my own outfits, my own picture package and went to take my pictures ALONE.  So I even have one with my boyfriend.... the same guy in the prom pics.  The jean picture is sporting the famous airbrush of the 90's lol.  Said boyfriend was the artist and on the butt section was both of his hands and it said "hands off".  Right.......  Thank goodness I don't have that in my senior pics.  

TTYL

Robbin

Age 17 Pics!

   Of course this is taken at the beginning of my senior year hence 17! 

 My date