(no subject)

[mommydama]

I need comments.

I've never been so needy in the comment department before. I haven't been commenting enough on other's blogs, I know. It is definately a reciprocal thing here in LJ world. Which makes sense...I'm just feeling comment needy today.

So...in order to generate a discussion as I seem to be desperately in need of one, ask me a question. Be anonymous if need be. I'll do my best to answer it.

Comments

[amaryllis.livejournal.com]

I'm always thinking about you, even if I don't comment. :)

Did you want girls as you were going through the process, or were you open to both? How do you feel now? Do you crave for boys at all?

Discuss!

[mommydama.livejournal.com]

I know. Because I'm always thinking about my LJ friends too. Praying for them, worrying about them, being happy for them....I know.

We were open to girls or boys. It just happened that they were all girls. In Luci's case we didn't know what she was at first, her birthmother hadn't found out yet, and we were very, very slightly disappointed when we found out she a girl. But we got over it very, very fast.

I do crave boys. I always pictured myself as a mother of boys. I guess not. I would not say no to a boy (or two) if one fell out of the sky....

[rowannrose.livejournal.com]

I am interested in your journey to Orthodoxy... how did it all start? What was your church background before Orthodoxy?

[mommydama.livejournal.com]

Ooooo...that's a long one!! I'll try to give you the short version.

I was raised as a Baptist in a very devout family. Life was truly centered on Christ. I learned to trust and love Christ at a very early age and am eternally grateful to my parents for giving me that gift.

As an adult I did a pretty typical stage of disillusionment and got really confused for awhile. When I came back to faith, I was looking for TRUTH, big time. I was married by that time and my husband and I were on this search together. My youngest sister was at the time dating a young man who was Catholic. He and my parents loved to get into Bible thumping arguments around the dinner table. He was searching too. Anyway, my sister ended up engaged to him and then he did something totally bizarre. He converted to Orthodoxy! Now Catholic had been hard enough for my VERY Baptist family to swallow. Orthodox was over the top! I set out to see what my sister was getting herself into. And fell head over heals in love . My first Liturgy was just...there are no words for it. It was all in Greek, I had no idea what was going on, but I knew I wanted to be part of it. I often say I became Orthodox in spite of Orthodox Christians. We had some really bad experiences along the way, but I KNEW this was the Truth and I wanted it. It just about tore our family apart, but my husband and I were Chrismated about seven years ago. My parents still haven't forgiven us. :( We've gotten over the worst of it, I think. But it was terrible there for awhile.

I had no choice really. Once I got a taste, there was just no going back.

By the way, my BIL, the Catholic convert that started it all...is a Greek Orthodox priest in Illinois now. Heh.

[rainingkisses.livejournal.com]

favorite movie? book? song?

how do you fall in terms of sibling order?

i always read, too, even if i don't comment. i promise!

[mommydama.livejournal.com]

Right now, my new favorite book is The Kite Runner. Oh my gosh. I was so overwhelmed by that book. But truly my favorite books are the Anne books by L.M. Montgomery.

Song...hmmm...I have a lot of favorites right now, but things that get played a LOT recently are Everything (Alanis Morrisette), A Beautiful Collision (David Crowder), Summertime (Bon Jovi), Chasing Cars (Snow Patrol)

Movie: I think my all time favorite movie is Sense and Sensibility. But a very close second is the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice. Not all that deep or meaningful, but I can watch them over and over for some reason.

I am the oldest of three girls. We are 19 mos and 25 mos apart respectively, so about two years between each of us. We are very close.

I know. I read too. Every single entry I am privy too. I love your pictures. I"m sorry I don't comment more.

[moobabe.livejournal.com]

No questions just now, as we just got back and I am beat. Just wanted to say hi and comment. :)

[mommydama.livejournal.com]

*waves* Hi back!

[viggorlijah.livejournal.com]

hello! hello! hello! We're moving house this week and I have to pack everything in oh, two and a half days. AIEEEEEEEEEE
'
Here's a question: where should we put the icons? I sort of wanted to put them in the kitchen near the dining table, but I'm worried that's disrespectful. Should the kids ahve an icon in their rooms? What should we be doing with them? We're moving, so I can set it all up properly - but how?

[mommydama.livejournal.com]

Pick an east facing wall or corner, in a central location not in an out of the way corner. I think near the dining table is fine as long as they aren't going to get splashed with food or something and be knocked into constantly. Nothing disrespectful about that location.

My kids all have icons in their rooms. Of their patron saints and any others they've specifically been given. Guardian angels and such. They also each have a crucifix type icon hanging over their beds. We have at least that in every room of the house. We have an icon prayer corner/wall but we also have icons in pretty much every room of the house. Do you have the hospitality icon? The one of the Three Visitors to Abraham? I've always loved that icon. It is a ritual for me to hang that one over the front door everytime we move. We haven't really moved until that icon is over door.

Goodness, that is a lot more than you asked for there. Sorry.

[kare43.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean about comments. I read ALL THE TIME but I don't post much and I don't comment much. But then there are times that I do post, and it's usually times when I really feel like I need comment. Of course, since I post so rarely, I don't really get any comments when I do post and then I feel discouraged and unloved. It's my own fault. I know that; I'm not blaming anyone else.

Question... let's see. How in the world do you manage meals on your own? I am so bad about food. I'm terrible at getting my kids lunch on time, and if my husband wasn't home before dinner time, I don't think I'd ever feed my kids real meals. How do you plan your meals?

[mommydama.livejournal.com]

I'm not all that good about meals when Brad is not around. It is harder to stick to a schedule, especially when you add in homeschooling. It all has to be self imposed and sometimes feels kind of artificial. We eat a lot more "kid" food when he isn't around. And we go out too much. But I do try to make sure they have three decent meals and don't just snack all day. I do a much better job providing fruits and veggies and healthier fare for meal time than for snacks.

I do make a meal plan before every major grocery trip. We only stick to it loosely. It at least gives me something to work with. When Brad is gone meals also tend to be very, very simple.

Tonight we had frozen MrsT's Potato Pierogies that I sauteed, steamed fresh broccoli, and canned pineapple. For lunch we had Taco Bell because we were out. For breakfast I made scrambbled eggs with cheese and various fresh fruit on the side.

[mercyorbemoaned.livejournal.com]

When is Brad going to get that coup going?

[mommydama.livejournal.com]

Ask him. He has a blog. majbaj.

[thais.livejournal.com]

What's your favorite meal to fix up? What's generally your favorite sort of food to make? To eat?

[mommydama.livejournal.com]

I love tex-mex food. Put it in a tortilla, smother it with cheese and salsa and I'll eat it. I love to make enchiladas, quesadillas, and burritos. We've gotten very creative with these things, especially during fast times. Beans easily take the place of meat in most tex-mex dishes, so they are easy to convert. I even made my own tortillas a few times. They were really yummy!!

[pikefish.livejournal.com]

will you tell me a little about your ttc journey-- I really haven't had time to read that far back in your journal but I'd love to know more about it and the adoption process, where all the girls are from, their histories, etc

[mommydama.livejournal.com]

We started ttc about two years into our marriage. We tried for about four years, and then just stopped. We were getting into drugs and doctors were talking about in vitro and stuff and we just didn't want to go there. For religious and other reasons. All that had been discovered was that I didn't ovulate regularly. No one was ever able to find any other issues. But honestly, we didn't push that hard. We just weren't that set on being parents that way. I had told my husband before we were even married that I wanted to adopt someday, regardless of whether or not we had bio kids. When it didn't look like it was going to happen easily or naturally, we decided to pursue adoption.

I started to write the adoption stories at one point. They are in my memories, under "Important" I think. I'll have to look again. Basically, once we decided to adopt the ball got going FAST. We were discussing whether or not to do domestic or international and I was suddenly given the opportunity to go on a mission trip to an orphanage in Guatemala. By the time I came home, I was sure this was our answer. We started the process and sat back to wait. While we were waiting we were called out of the blue by our priest and told about an opportunity to adopt an infant. We said yes and two weeks from that phone call, Zoe was in our arms. We didn't give up on Guatemala, and continued to wait. Then we got a call from a bio relative of Zoe's telling us another person in the their family needed to place a child and since we were already family, were we intereste? We said yes. 13 mos after Zoe's birth, Luci joined our family. Then, two month later we finally got to go pick up Maria from Guatemala. She was 27 mos old when we brought her home.

That is it in a nutshell. I'd be happy to answer any other questions that don't go too far into the girl's privacy. I love talking about it. And you are welcome to read what I've written in the memories.

[mairesue.livejournal.com]

I am cranky and feeling fat.

I read all the time and I am sorry I am not a big commenter.

Do you know any books that quote Desert Mothers/Early Church Mothers? I am just finding (and that was hard to do) lives of Desert Mothers/Early Church Mothers and though I am sure they are interesting I want to read their words. I am guessing though that most of them were too busy to write.

[mairesue.livejournal.com]

PS I am proud of you for asking for what you need. You are awesome.

[dan111174.livejournal.com]

Well, my roast is cooking very slowly. Seems as though I never get dinner started until dinner time, then it ends up being like 9 pm before I eat. So here goes:

Have yet to find a church I like around here. I wish I could find one with an active group of people our age.
Memorial Day weekend I'll make a "go, no go" decision on building my house this year.
I am tired all the time. 10 hours feels right, but I usually only squeeze in 6 or 7.
I got my mountain bike out for the first time in years today. It was good. It is considered "retro". As is my fitness level I would guess.
My concrete countertop business may be hitting its stride this year...Time will tell.
I am currently grooving to some Thievery Corporation.

[mommydama.livejournal.com]

That is AWESOME about the countertop business. I would LOVE a concrete countertop someday. They can be so beautiful!

I would give my right eyeball for a straight eight hours of sleep.

[lil-irish-lass.livejournal.com]

Comment!

I admit, I don't participate as much in friends' journals that don't participate in mine, and you hardly ever comment. But I always read, and I hold you in very dear and high regard.

Lessee.

What is the best thing you ever received for a birthday?

[mommydama.livejournal.com]

I do hardly ever comment. It is horrible. I know I can't expect others to comment here if I don't comment on their journals.

The best gift...I think it was my most recent birthday when Brad got me a Gustav Klimpt print. Not because I loved the print so much, but because Brad knew I would love the print. That he'd listened and been paying attention.

[justamy.livejournal.com]

I don't have a question right now. But I will comment to say that I love you and need you as if you were part of my body.

[mommydama.livejournal.com]

:)

[lizziebennet.livejournal.com]

Hi! I don't comment either, much. I'm sorry! And I'm even worse--I don't post. Apparently. I've never been good at doing it regularly. Shall I tell you what I've been doing? I haven't told livejournal yet--I need to post. I bought a condo. And I am almost moved in and need to find a roommate.

This is a really random question, but do you identify particularly with one of the Orthodox jurisdictions in the US? I thought of it, because I was thinking about the various terrible OCA situations (I am OCA). It is very sad. I wish I could do something about it.

[mommydama.livejournal.com]

Wow! Congrats on the condo!

I probably "indentify" the most with the Antiochians because that is where I was Chrismated. But we have been active members of OCA and GOA parishes as well. We move so much it is next to impossible to just be part of one jurisdiction. Right now I'm in a debate with myself about where to go to church. There are great OCA and GOA churches near me.

As for the mess in the OCA, I have remained mostly blissfully ignorant about it. Can you direct me to some links or something that could give me both slides? I'm thinking I probably need to be informed now as things get messier.

[lost-almost.livejournal.com]

I think I may be the only non-friend here, so I will delurk and say hello! I love reading your journal. The way your celebrate each of your kids' uniqueness is so inspiring.

I plan to adopt someday and my husband and I discussed this before we got married. What I wonder about is was it more challenging to adopt an older child? We plan to adopt from our home country (India) and it will likely be a 4-5 year old. My husband thinks a younger child may be easier and is open to adopting from other countries, but I am somehow attached to the idea of an Indian child. We am still thinking through all these issues and examining
our biases..

[mommydama.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

It was harder to adopt an older child in a lot of ways. But Maria was only 27 mos old when we brought her home. She was still very young...a toddler really. I've read a lot of stuff that says the toddler years are the hardest time to bring a child into a new family. They are old enough to really feel the upheaval and not old enough to explain it to. I almost think it would be easier to bring a five year old into your life. At least you could talk to them about what is going on in their lives. Of course, the sooner you can bring a child "home" for good, the better.

I think it would be wonderful to adopt from you home country!

[mrs-zvonar.livejournal.com]

Hi Dama. I've been terrible about LiveJournal since moving to seminary. I don't post or comment, and I try to read it once a day but don't always do that.

My question is... do you have any good movie suggestions? My only restriction is that it's not terribly depressing! I need to fill Nextflix so that I have something to veg out on when in a time of need :-)

[mommydama.livejournal.com]

I've missed your sporadic posts! I know that life and lj are not always compatible though. I hope things are going well!

Movies are hard for me. I'm not a big movie fan actually. I've enjoyed all the Jane Austin movies. If you like sci-fi, the Firefly series is so much fun! Not movies, a tv show actually, but really good. If you haven't seen Life is Beautiful, you really should, though it is very sad. It is bittersweet and very uplifting.

[gooseberry-bush.livejournal.com]

I have been neglecting my friend page for a while so now I'm going to catch up for it and read your recent posts. I've already watched your slideshow and I really liked it. Your girls are so beautiful! I've always been dreaming of having daughters and I'm attracted by the idea of sisterhood itself, probably because I always wanted to have a sister myself:-)

As for the question...well, have you traveled a lot? What countries have you visited?

[mommydama.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your comment.

I have not traveled out of the country much at all. We have moved alot within the US, but I have not had the opportunity to leave this continent yet. I've been to Mexico, just across the border a couple of times, my husband and I took our honeymoon in Canada, and I've been to Guatemala three times, but that is it. I'm not a world traveler...yet. :)

[librissimma.livejournal.com]

Since I'll now be with you on Easter. What do I need to know about it? I'm looking for practical information, such as start time, length, proper dress, proper shoes (I'll be standing right?) what I'm allowed to do (can I be blessed), etc.

[mommydama.livejournal.com]

Are you going to be actually staying with me on Saturday night? Just wondering.

The service will start about 11pm. It lasts, normally, around three hours. First is the Resurrection service that culminates at midnight and, if we are at the right church, outdoors. Bring a jacket or sweater depending on the weather. Shoes should be very comfortable as you will be standing for 80% of it depending on what church we attend. You can be blessed at the very end of the service by going up to venerate the cross and receive a red egg. That is up to you though. You don't have to do that if you aren't comfortable with it. As for dress, most people will dress up, but be comfortable. Pants are fine if you are more comfortable in that People also usually wear light colors to the Pascha service. My girls and I will be in all white because I find the symbolism of that wonderful. The girls will most likely crash on the floor at some point during the service. I will want to.

Again, depending on what church we attend (I'm still not sure where I'm going), there may be a meal and "party" after the Litrugy is over. Yes, we pig out at 3am. Lots of meat and cheese.

[mimima.livejournal.com]

Who is your favorite Beatle, and why?