Holly (AND BO!) On MomTV's Adoption Angles!!

My very special guest tonight is lovely Holly who hails from the great state of Texas!She and her husband Sean adopted two children ages 9 & 10 out of foster care in 2002. Both children suffer from Reactive Attachment Disorder and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Currently, the kids are 17 & 18. Their son is proudly serving in the United States Army and their daughter resides at home with Holly and Sean.

I am thrilled she will be sharing her adoption journey with us!

But wait.. THERE'S MORE ...

Tonight's special edition will be coming to you live from the boudoir. Well, the kids room, anyway.. because also joining us is BO, the latest and greatest addition to our household!

He is one of several bedframes available from Incredibeds.com and we just love him! FYI.. in my left sidebar there is a coupon code for $40!! Go check them out.. they're DARLING!!!

How do you find MomTV's Adoption Angles? Why, all you have to do is go here:

Type a chat name in and THAT'S it! You're IN!

Join us (AND BO!!) tonight at 9PM EST.. 6PM for all the west coasties TONIGHT! See y'all there!!

Missing Maxie ~ Our Mutt On The Run...

If you follow me on Twitter or are a friend of mine on Facebook, you already know the sad news. Our Maximus Gladiator (Mastiff/Lab goofball) got out last Wednesday evening and we haven't seen hide nor hair of him since. Apparently he didn't get the memo that he's 12 not 2.

We've got ads in the paper (another BIG "THANK YOU!!" to Jen!), contacted the humane society, etc etc. He has been my darling boy since he was 6 months old and we're all just sick that he's not home yet.

Come home, Maxie!!!

Recertification ~ Part Deux

In T-Minus 3 minutes our home study worker is back for another round of recertification. Yes, I'm typing fast.. We're going to review her in-depth interview from two weeks ago, hand in our remaining training hours and hopefully sign off with a thumbs up. Parts of our home have not yet recovered from the big BBQ last weekend and is quite the sight. This is real life and she'll have to deal, right?


The rest of the Big Clean Up is slated for tomorrow.

Stressin'..

I sternly told DH we are going to keep our lips zipped and get through this quickly. DH is normally quiet and doesn't engage in conversation unless he has a great story to tell. In other words, he doesn't talk just to hear his own voice. Yet another thing I love about him. That being said, during these interviews he goes on and on and on.. total Chatty Kathy. I'm like, "WHAT THE?? .."

Did he listen? We'll see..

Once this is out of the way, I get to go in to work (on my day off) to catch up on paperwork. Oh joy. I swear, since JuneBug left we're even busier than ever before... sigh.

Oh crud.. here she is...

Happy Saturday, Y'all!!

Oh No.. Not Again!!

Got an update from JuneBug's family and y'all are NOT going to believe this. She is now sporting a NEON GREEN walking cast. She slipped and fell and fractured her shin. Same leg, to boot.

Poor little Boo!!!

The good news? Once again she has been a tough little trooper (and no stranger to a cast).

:(

Sending prayers up for a quick recovery!!

What's The Haps on MomTV's Adoption Angles Tonight?

Well, I'm glad you asked!

My wonderful guest is the lovely and talented Elaine Hall!

A former actress, Hall worked as a successful "baby wrangler" for Hollywood feature films; 40-something, married nine years, active in her Jewish faith, and devastated by successive miscarriages, she along with her then-husband traveled to an orphanage in Yekaterinburg, Russia, to adopt a quiet two-year-old. Neal, as she named him, couldn't speak or make eye contact, and despite Hall's belief in his innate intelligence, the boy was eventually diagnosed with "severe sensory dysfunction."

From her web site: Her soon to be released book, "Now I See The Moon"

she recounts her adoption of a troubled Russian toddler and her long, tortuous, ultimately enlightening journey to treat his nonverbal autism. She beautifully chronicles Neal's development to the age of his bar mitzvah vis-à-vis his responses – positive and negative – to the slew of experts and coaches Hall found to create therapies tailored to his very individual needs. Her brilliant, pioneering work with The Miracle Project, which she created and directs, has garnered accolades throughout the world and is the subject of the EMMY Award winning documentary Autism: The Musical. She also created and directs a groundbreaking Bat and Bar Mitzvah program for children on the autism spectrum. She has been the subject of articles in The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Jerusalem Post, among many others and has appeared on CNN, CBS News, Oprah Radio and NPR.

WHEW!!!!!

How do you find MomTV's Adoption Angles? Why, all you have to do is go here:

Type a chat name in and THAT'S it! You're IN!

Join us tonight at 9PM EST.. 6PM for all the west coasties TONIGHT! See y'all there!!

Perfect Moment Monday

The big BBQ was pheNOM and the long weekend with family was wonderful. I'm back to work but wishing I was still at Gramsie's lake with everyone else..

I Capture
Perfect Moments.

Our Rocking Birthday Celebration..

Missy and Nantie's birthdays are the week before mine so June can be described as a happenin' month in our little village. As ya'll can imagine, our celebrations have grown over the years... this one the biggest yet. We're throwing a BBQ tomorrow for all three of us and yes, there are more people coming to it than attended our wedding. Uncle Mike and Cousin Jen (Nantie's brother and daughter) flew in from the Great NorthWest and surprised her.. it has been a rockin' week ALREADY!

Wednesday night we had our family birthday celebration...

Remember my Wii Campaign last Christmas? IT WORKED!


My family never misses a beat.. The ice cream scooper went missing a few months back.. THAT won't happen again!

Last but not least, this picture says it all..
YES, that's my brand spankin' new Inspiron 17, running W7 with a built-in web cam and all the bells and whistles. OOooooooooooooo!

Nantie, Missy (AND EVEN DH!) also opened great presents (but I didn't get a chance to ask permission to post their pics so I'm not sharing.. for now).

It was a night of family, laughter, food and fun. Oh, and more laughter. I am so blessed to have the most awesome family ev-er and overjoyed our loved ones could fly in (more arrive tomorrow!!).

God is sooo good!

:o)

Birthday Fun on MomTV's Adoption Angles!

The lovely and wonderful Ruth is making her 2nd appearance tonight on MTVAA (YAY!).
She will be sharing her experience and knowledge of ADHD. All three of her daughters were adopted from foster care, two of which were drug babies. Her youngest was addicted to crack and had exposure to meth, pot, alcohol, and cigarettes. She also lives with ADHD and has been medicated since she was three years old. Ruth has taught third grade for 22 years and her husband is a published author (with another book coming out in November!).

To celebrate my birthday today (we're calling it 35, m'kay?) I'll be giving away some DEVINE treats from Gesine Confectionary
and a little sumpin' sumpin' from Target for good measure!



How do you find MomTV's Adoption Angles? Why, all you have to do is go here:

Type a chat name in and THAT'S it! You're IN!

Don't be a party pooper!! Join us tonight 9PM EST, 6PM PST for my west coast besties.. See you there!!!

Perfect Moment Monday

It was a brutal work week.. chock full of 13 hour days and a weekend that started with our recertification (more on that later). Stress levels are at an all time high and I am coming home near dark..

But even that can't stop the Perfect Moments...

(and yes, I was parked when I took the picture..) :)

I Capture
Perfect Moments.

Recertification Day ~ Oh Joy..

In my little blog's infancy, I did a post on our first final home check day. We had gone through months of home study and on that fine Saturday morning our certification weighed in the balance. I was on the verge of a full-scale freak out. That same morning (before the Big Event) I did a quickie follow-up post about my head almost exploding. It seems like only yesterday.

Good times..

We're back at it, 2 years wiser but I'm still totally on edge. The social worker that did our first home study will be here today (I won't even mention our gal from last year.. ugh). They know EV-ER-Y-THING about us from our first memories to current and that alone is unnerving, my friends. Then they pick through the house and do follow up, intensive interviews to make sure we're still "healthy" and a quality home.

I am fairly confident I'm good on my 20 hours of on-going training (DH is still working on his--he has a few weeks), our CPR classes are scheduled and we never made any drastic changes after JuneBug left (outlet plugs are still in place, blind cords are wrapped, etc), dogs vaccinations are up to date, car registrations/insurance current.. just need to make copies..

Need to remember to breathe..

YES, it's all done for the safety of the children and YES, it's an absolute must. I do not disagree with any part of the process but it still adds a few more grey hairs just the same. I thank the Good Lord for a rockin' stylist.. blond highlights do the trick..

Inhale.. Exhale..

Got Cast?

NNNAAAYYYY!!!

Life is really really good in JuneBugLand!!



*insert melting heart here*

:o)

Aloha From MomTV's Adoption Angles!!!!

That's right, we're headed across the Pacific my friends!! Joining us tonight from the Aloha State is my very special guest Aljolynn (AKA Ally).

Ally is an adoptee and proud mama of 20 month old Aidan (whom she calls her Mancub). She was adopted by her great-aunt and uncle, which (although not traditional) is a common practice in the Hawaiian culture. This is referred to as Hanai, which really can't be defined as much as it can be recognized. When not chasing after her Mancub around the park she is busy at work for an LA based PR firm.

Tonight will be sharing her journey with us this evening. 9PM EST.. 6PM PST.. all you have to do is go here:

Type a chat name in and THAT'S it! You're IN!

SEE YOU THERE!

Perfect Moment(s) Monday

Thanks to the generosity of Bobby M. from the Denver Broncos (he gave me a smokin' deal), I was able to invite 15 foster kiddos and their families to an event at Mile High Stadium this past Saturday (all right.. Invesco Field at Mile High for all you sticklers). It was the summer kickoff for the Broncos Bunch Kids Club and chock full of fun (and Perfect Moments..)

***Note: NONE of the children pictured or in video are foster children... The young lady in the last clip is my friend's daughter.. gotta keep their privacy on the down low, ya know***

PerfectMoment1: Remember our darling placements Mannie and Sunshine from last summer? With the help of a wonderful social worker I was able to get in touch with his Mom and he was able to to join us. Can I just say what an absolute joy it was to see my sweet little boy?! He remembered me and I got big hugs and sugars. *Tears* Sooo awesome!! They have all been together since leaving our home and are doing wonderfully, by the way. Yay!

PM2: The event was on the field.. wicked COOL!!!


PM3: The cheerleaders and players on hand giving autographs and posing for pictures were all so kind and generous..
(Yes, that one was for you, honey..)

PM4: I was beyond impressed at how down to earth Tebow (#15) and all the other players and staff were throughout the event. Since we don't currently have kiddos, I got to sit back and watch them all interact. It was a hot day, my friends, but their energy levels never dropped. First up in this clip.. Tebow's activity. His task was to hand the ball off to the kids and they were supposed to dive for it onto the mat. This little guy had his own style.. Panning over to #54 .. His kids were to tackle the big blue thing, knock the football off of and run for a touch down. Again, another little man doing his own thang:

PM 5: Now I know exactly what it looks like to almost score a touchdown at Mile High.. in flip flops....

PM6: I oggled both of our Vince Lombardi's as the kiddos took pictures with them.. shinneeeyyyy.. preeettttttyyy...

PM7: I got to rock my Eddie Mac jersey from (near) the South Stands in June..

PM8: I witnessed (okay, I admit .. I did partake) in the very very best way to end an event on a hot day at Mile High Stadium...


In just two wonderful hours I got to see my darling Mannie (and hug and kiss all over him), cruise around the most amazing field at the greatest football stadium ev-er (biased, moi?!), see firsthand the quality and integrity my Broncos are made up of (even more proud to wear orange and blue)..

..but best of all...

I got to be a small part of making some very awesome children's dreams come true.

PERFECT!

I Capture
Perfect Moments.

A Sneak Peak..

At my Perfect Moment Monday post...


.. okay, it'll be more like Perfect Moment(s) Monday this week...

:o)

Guess What Guess What Guess What?!

I'm doing something so BEYOND totally cool today I could just BURST! I was going to blurt it all out but (in true Mel Style) thought hmmm.. this could be fun. SO, if you want the minute by minute low down, follow me on Twitter @FullCircle_Mel and be there with me as the awesome morning unfolds.

Or you can wait til I write about it on Sunday.. or Monday (I haven't decided yet... I'm SURE a Perfect Moment will be captured). Your choice..

(Am I mean or WHAT!?)

Must flutter off now.. Tweet Tweet Tweet..

MomTV ~ Revamped & Rockin'!!!

I wanted to send out a BIG ole Full Circle/Adoption Angles "THANK YOU!!!" and High 5 to Maria Bailey and Bob Sullivan (the Co-Founders of MomTV). They (along with a highly talented team) relaunched MomTV this past week and it is PHE-NOM. Love the new platform, the new look.. okay, I love it ALL!

~~~> CLICK HERE <~~~

to check out the new site, surf the awesome content and hey, swing by my new page while you're at it!

Y'all have done a fantastic job and I am proud to be a part of the MomTV team!

A Big Night On MomTV's Adoption Angles!!

I'm thrilled to announce we have a dear friend to many of us joining me on the show tonight. She is a well known blogger, lives with a chronic illness and is still an amazing woman of faith, a Mommy via adoption and birth and an inspiration to me (and so many others). You must've guessed who she is by now, right? Why, it's none other than Melissa Smallwood!


If you haven't met The Divine Miss M yet, check out Multi-Tasking Mama and Organized Life By Design, follow her on Twitter: @multitaskingme AND JOIN US TONIGHT AT 9PM EST!!

Oh, did I mention MomTV is all revamped and schmancy-like??

Click Here ~~>

and check out my new page. Take a few mins and surf around.. It's AWESOME!!

Get meals done, the family all settled in for the evening and join us TONIGHT at 9PM EST, ya hear???