Back Burner Idea {ADOPTION}

My mentor in college, Alison Rutland, told me she always had an idea brewing on the back burner. Her whole life she was always dreaming, always planning, always thinking about what might happen if her current project ended. She wasn't trying to be negative and she wasn't a discontented person by any means. Mrs. Rutland understood that life changes. Things don't stay the same. Projects come to completion. People move away. Money no longer exists for what you were working on. The list could be a mile long for all the reasons something in your life changes. That isn't the point to figure out the real reason something ended, but a chance to move onto the next thing. It was time to dust off that back burner idea and start working on making it a reality. Mrs. Rutland's project that I worked with her on ended several years ago, and she is living in another state working on another back burner project.

My whole life I have made back burner projects:

-Own a pet monkey

-Rearrange by bedroom

-Become a missionary to Africa

-Transition to 80% raw food diet

-Finish college

-Become a professional photographer

-Recover my couch

-Complete every day of the advent calender

Some of these projects have happened, some have been started but not completed, and some are still ideas for the future. If you have been my friend for more then a month, you will notice this trend. I always seem to have a new idea, am researching new things and excited about a new adventure. My personality is goal oriented and I enjoy the challenge of a new project! Mrs. Rutland's "Back Burner Concept" is a perfect match for me!


Well, we are working on another one of my back burner ideas and I am ecstatic!!!

{...ADOPTION...}

I've had this idea since I was very young. Some girls dream of the wedding, or being moms, and I dreamt of adopting. I always wanted to have children that DIDN'T resemble me. I wanted to have children with dark skin, dark eyes and dark, natural hair. Well, that idea is going to become a reality in the next couple of years! (Don't get me wrong, I love my blonde haired, blue eyed, fair skinned kids as well!)

Craig and I have decided to expand our family to include two more children. After two emergency c-sections, we are done with the whole pregnancy thing. Our heart has always been for adoption, because there are kids out there that need homes, and we feel our hearts are big enough to love a couple more little bundles. (And yes, we are a little crazy to consider adding 2 more kids with our homegrown kids being as young as they are, but this is our life and we want to.)

Our first plan was to adopt a sibling pair locally, taking them out of the foster care system. We were signed up for our MAPP classes and ready to begin everything in January. The problem was, the median age of the children that need families right now is 9 years old. We aren't willing to change the birth order of our family. There are many reasons for this, and I'll probably write another post about that at another time, but a 9 year old doesn't fit into our homegrown birth order right now. When we received our MAPP registration in the mail, we knew we needed to cancel and think about another alternative.

And that is where my BACK BURNER idea came in. (If you missed it, I wrote about my desire to adopt here.) We have made the decision to adopt a boy AND a girl from the country of Uganda! My heart is so filled with joy at this thought! This is what my heart has desired for many, many years and we are going to make that a reality, with God's help!

Photo by Emily Rose Portraits

And that is where you all come in!

Adoption is a pricey process. Well, so is have 2 emergency c-sections, for that mater! Anyway, we need to raise $3,500 to begin our homestudy and dossier process. After these are complete, we can apply for grants and adoption interest free loans to pay for the rest of the adoption. We have a LONG list of fundraising ideas and believe me, you will be hearing about them, but for now we are starting by asking for your help.

We know adoption isn't possible for everyone, so we wonder if you would partner with us to make our adoption a reality. There are millions of children who need a family to love and care for them and you can help to give that to two children, by simply donating to our adoption fund. It is very simple!

To donate money to our adoption fund, click the "Donate" button on the top right side of the sidebar. Easy, peasy! Every amount is extremely appreciated! No amount is too small and no amount is too big!

Thanks for partnering with us in prayer, encouragement and financial support. This is just the beginning of a long process, but we look forward to where God will take us as we seek to add a couple more to the Barber brood!

It doesn't feel like Christmas

It really doesn't feel like Christmas yet. Not to me, anyway. Sure, our tree is up and the decorations are all around. I am sending out Christmas cards and holiday music is playing through the house all day and night. Most of our Christmas presents have been purchased and wrapping is about to begin. We are doing the advent calender with crafts every day for the kids. There is just one little problem with the Christmas season this year: I can still wear summer dresses in the middle of December!!! That is a HUGE problem in my book!

When I am singing about the frightful weather outside and the toasty fire, I shouldn't be in sandals and a sleeveless top. Honestly, isn't that a problem for anyone else? How can I enjoy a warm cup of hot chocolate if I still have my air conditioning on? It feels odd to walk around the neighborhood to look at Christmas light displays wearing nothing more then a t-shirt and shorts. Seriously, Florida, didn't you get the memo? Christmas is fast approaching and you aren't even making a hint of an effort to cool things off! Couldn't you just be a little kinder and maybe cool it off to the 50's? Is that asking too much? This non-Floridian girl thinks not.

Pictures of "It's A Wonderful Life"

I didn't post pictures of the actual show. Silly me! Here are actual pictures taken by the theatre of "It's A Wonderful Life." All photos are courtesy of Theatre Winter Haven.

"It's A Wonderful Life" and I'm in it!

Well, the last time I posted I wrote about how busy I was. To be honest, not much has changed! I am still busy, busy, busy and now I am limping. Yep. Limping. I have injured myself and can't run more then 2 miles without being in excruciating pain. I think my body might be telling me to slow down...

But let's move on! This is a blog about a mom who acts, right? So, I think I will write about my acting. I am in the middle of a show, even though this blog would not let you in on that fact.

I am playing Mary Hatch in Theatre Winter Haven's production of "It's A Wonderful Life." The show runs from December 1st through the 18th and tomorrow we will start our second weekend of shows. The show is almost word-for-word taken from the movie, so fans of the film will love hearing their favorite icon lines said. Derek Wyatt plays George Bailey and is doing a wonderful job carrying a very technically difficult show. The scene and costume changes are vast and technically challenging. There is actually more of a show to watch backstage with all of the sets moving, props being handed out and costume changes happening right in the wings. If you enjoy the film, come watch our show! You won't be disappointed! And don't take my word for it. Check out the review we received in the Lakeland Ledger by clicking here.

Here are a couple of images the newspaper took several weeks ago before the sets and costumes were complete.

Photo credit- Michael Wilson

Photo credit- Michael Wilson

Photo credit- Michael Wilson

And what am I getting out of this production? I get to work with all of my friends! The director, Mark and stage manager, Kent are good friends of mine and it has been a blast creating this show with them. It is a lot of fun to be acting with Derek again after we played opposite each other in "Camelot" over 4 years ago. I could go on and on about working with Danny, Heidi, Katie and many others again and the chance to work with new friends. Every rehearsal contains a room full of friends and that had been a barrel of laughs.

Here are some pictures from the opening weekend of our show.

Our 2 assistant stage managers, Drew and Jeremy

Young Mary and Old Marry

Katie, Morgan and Me

The Bailey Family

College friend Nathan and I get to act together after several years

Me, Mark and Derek

Me and Eunie

The best part of the production is being in a show again with my sister-in-law, Drew! We met doing a production of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" and have not done a show together since. Drew and my brother, Ben are expecting their first child in March, which means Drew is 5 months pregnant as she plays Ruth Bailey in our production. AND she is our assistant stage manager. She is such a hard working lady!

Drew and I on opening night

Me, Ben and Drew

Ben, Drew and their bun-in-the-oven

Since life is so busy, I am looking forward to this show being over and the marathon being completed, but while I'm in the middle of all the craziness, I will just enjoy where I am and who I am with.  Even in Bedford Falls!