littlle reunion

So getting all the Harkless' together is always quite a feat, but we got all of the siblings (plus spouses and almost spouses) together this past weekend for dinner! It was so fun to see everyone! Here's a fun video of Elyse :)

it's almost here.

It's crazy snowing outside, but I'm going to Hawaii on Friday!

I had a case audited yesterday and pretty much the lady told my my tx plan sucked, I wanted to tell her a thing or two myself, but really I get to put my toes in the sand in just 4 days.

My sister had to push my car out of the crazy snow tonight (I have amazing sisters!) and yet I'll be seeing the beautiful blue ocean so soon!

I had a crappy Monday, but Friday- oh it's coming... I have a new swimsuit and sunglasses :)

I've endured 6 months with the supervisor I have a hard time loving, but everyday of this vacation will make it so worth it!

I never get to see my friends enough, but this trip is with my dear friend K! It will be so good to laugh, read books and finally get some sweet time in together. Finally the two of us globetrotters are trotting together! I wish you all could come with us! You're invited!

Somewhere I've never been and let me tell you I can't wait for the adventures, the food, the sun, the naps, the refreshment, the chance to clear my head, to pray, to just be.

courage

I get to hang out with some brave kids for my job.
Today I was doing a homevisit for a little 8 yo girl and her 4 yo brother. So first I got all the updates about school, recess, friends, not liking vegetables... Then I sat on the 4 year old's bed while he showed me his "video" of animals and superman. He called ostriches - ostrings. He counted to 10 for me and then made up his own numbers to get to 20. He told me he doesn't know what adoption means, but he wants to stay where he's at. He gently took the TV remote away from the toddlers who want it to be a toy. He's being a great big brother!
His sister showed me pictures of her bio family that she's starting for forget her cousin's names, so we'll write them down so she can remember. She asked me nervously if I ever heard back from her dad. Her dad never called. Dads you should call. Your little girls need that. She'll never probably see her dad again. She bravely asked me if this foster family could be her adoptive family, she beamed when I said yes! She told me she was going to Costa Rica! I told her I wanted to go. Costa Rica isn't really going to happen yet, but I love that she's dreaming of travel.

And then at dinner as I was talking to the grandpa, I overheard:
E - ....You weren't born when that happened.
W - I liked being born! I loved being born.
E - You don't remember being born and neither do I , but I love being second born.
W - I love being second born.
E - I love being born again.
W - Born two times? I like being born 2 times.
E - W, did you ask Jesus in your heart, are you saved? That's how you're born again.
W - I don't know. E, did you get baptized?
E - Yes
W - I didn't see it.
E - You must have missed it. Maybe I can do it again.

E gave me a hug on the way out.

Cute kids. Brave kids. Cool kids. Love these kids.

saturday morning news

I bought a little girl a goat. (my Everina who I sponsor through world vision)

I didn't hear anything back this week about the adoption recruiter job.

It's less than a month til Katrina and I are in HI!

I had my 6 month eval at work and she didn't say anything bad about me! She did acknowledge that I get frustrated with the system, it's true I do. I think the system could change for the better, for our kids, for the employees that work so hard for these kids, for the families. I like change. System, you don't need to be so afraid of change.

There was an article in the Denver post yesterday about the cool stuff happening in Colorado for foster kids being adopted... FOTF didn't do it all, P127 didn't do it all, but I do love that so may families are stepping up to adopt. It's great the numbers are going down... people are working together for the sake of of these kids. My part this week - 2 girls moved into their adoptive home! love it! The couple is younger than me, but are adopting a 7 & 10 year old. That's cool.

Megan will be getting back from traveling tonight, she's grateful I don't snore. I'm grateful I don't snore. :)

Delightful!

I had an interview yesterday for an adoption job in WI!
One month from now I will be in Hawaii!
I get to see my niece and sister in law tomorrow!
It's Friday!
I had my first case at this job finalize yesterday! And the little boy was adorable in his pinstriped little suit and bright green tie! He's almost 2.
I'm listening to country music.
I'm eating edamame for a snack before Mike and I go out to dinner together.
Breakfast here in Arvada tomorrow
Friends getting married, friends having babies!
Clean sheets!

you should be impressed

So I milked a cow on valentines day :) a perfect thing to do in wisconsin in february right?
I had some good friends in college that graciously allowed me to play on their farm to get away from school and hang out with their family... climb their silo (the tallest in the county), climb around in the barn, ride their four wheeler, hunt for mushrooms, help give a school field trip tour, etc. good farm fun! I do have that soft spot in my heart for all of this. I want to get cute rubber boots that I can stand in the mud but still feel cute even if I'm around stinky animals.

So this weekend Nate offered to give me a milking lesson. As you can see from the pictures I don't have the cute boots, nor really the proper milking attire but I still had a great time.

 

I was a little nervous.

 

I don't think I'd be a fast enough milk maid to get a job doing this, but maybe I should add it to my resume right?

 

And happy valentine's day!

grown up things...

-like working on Saturday (I think I'm going to be one of the best little adoption workers around..)
-hanging out at home on Saturday nights. (doing laundry and excel worksheets)
-dreaming about work. (about one of my kids being kidnapped)
-being responsible with my money. (taxes, 1st year I owe money)
-dealing with disappointment.(you don't want to know the number of jobs I've applied for in WI)
-eating healthy (plus a cupcake :)
-telling people to stop freaking out (working with the gov't sometimes causes be to freak out)
- encouraging people to keep fighting for their dreams (met a family that's been waiting years for an adoptive match; adoption isn't easy)
- having good communication (always can improve on this, but it helps when everyone is at the same table)
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