Happy ICLW

Welcome to my blog... it's ICLW week, so if you are a first time visitor or irregular visitor, this post is for you. There will be new posts appearing below...

I'm nh. I live in the UK, on the outskirts of a Yorkshire city. There are many advances to where I live, although at the moment living on the side of a hill is causing us grief. It's cold and snowy, and if we park our car on our drive, we can't then move it.

After trying for nearly 7 years ttc, we decided earlier this year to seriously consider adoption. We've had clomid cycles, we've had IVF, we've had ICSI and yes there were options left open for us, but adoption seems right for us. We are presently waiting for Feb to roll round, so that we can attend our adoption preparation course.

Hope

I had such a moment of clarity on Christmas Eve. I went to a Church Service, and I sat with my alternative family - my pseudo Mum & Dad, my pretend sister and her family. And I realised that, that moment will reflect the rest of my life. I may not share genetics with my future child/ren but they will be my family.

I have hope again, something that has been missing for a while. I have a future family. It may not happen in a traditional manner (although we bypassed traditional a while again), but we will have a family.

Christmas Wishes

I wish you joy,
I wish you hope,
I wish you peace,
Merry Christmas to all of you.

Yesterday I went to see my friend R. I sat and she baked and we chatted. We chatted about how much had changed in the past 12 months (for her as well as for me). She commented about how much more at peace I seem. And that what I wish for you all, peace.

Show-and-tell - Christmas Joy

It's still snowing. It's been snowing on and off for a week now, and we woke up this morning to a fresh covering. I know some of you will be very used to this, but we're not. And of course the dog is so short that she ends up covered in snow when we go out.

Giving presents is one of my joys of this time of year. I get to visit friends and share in their joy.
I had hoped to have some pictures of my cakes and biscuits that I have decorated...





I love baking. I love giving presents. This year I have combined the two things... so lots of people have home made/baked gifts.

I hope that you all have something to find joy in this Christmas.

Head across to Mel's to see who else is showing something this festive week!

conversation (and me in a bad light)

The last few weeks seem to have been incredibly busy - and I'm not entirely sure why. I'm 4 days into my 2 week holiday, and I still seem to be busy.

I had a conversation with my sister yesterday. Which actually is normally a bit of a conversation stopper with my friends. It was the first time that I had seen her since August, but I had promised to take my brother's girlfriend shopping, and decided at the last minute to see if my sister wanted to go as well (good turn for the week!) Actually as far as shopping trips go, it wasn't too bad, at no point did I want to stab either of them!

But my sister did admit to me that they are ttc. That they have been to see a specialist about the fact they haven't had any success yet. That my B-I-L has a low sperm count. That she is bothered that it might not happen for them.

And whilst I feel sorry that things aren't going well for them, the selfish part of me, felt glad that I'm not going to have to celebrate my sister getting pg on her first month of trying. And I know that sounds awful, but it's probably worth pointing out that I have screwed relationship with her, and I don't actually want her to go through what we have been through. In fact I feel awful that I have written that, but... it's the truth. I'm getting stronger, but I don't think I would have been strong enough to cope with that!

Show - and - tell: hear the cheering!

I haven't got a photo today - but I need you to imagine me cheering and clapping! and there was even an odd dance thrown in.

We have dates for a our adoption preparation course - it starts on the 1st of Feb... yep, in less than 2 months!

I have approval from school to miss 3 days teaching to do said course!

I have been granted my pay rise - which was in doubt due to my head of faculty.

And finally, today is the last day of school for 2 weeks! And I'm not there yet, although it started 25mins ago, because I have a hospital appointment. So a late start and an early finish! And if the Dr is running late -I may not make it to school at all!

Go visit Mel and see who else is 'showing and telling' - and hopefully showing more than me!

I need more time...

hopefully I'll have time to blog properly sometime this week... it's been a mad couple of weeks. BUT it will get better this week - because whatever doesn't get done for work by Thursday - isn't going happen until the new year!