Just a quick shout out, there are fires in Santa Barbara again. This is the second time this year, please keep our family and friends in your prayers if you have a moment.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8037211.stm

Well we have been home over a week now.

The first few days we were home, I could tell I had actually gotten a good vacation. When I left work, I was able to take off my work hat and leave it at work. It was wonderful to leave each day and not feel burnt out or burdened. Now I am back to reality and despising this whole working full time thing! It was so much better to lay in the sun, read, go out with friends, shop, take walks, and explore new areas. Anyway, I am not trying to complain- SO happy we got a vacation. It just made me realize how much I really needed one and how important it is to literally remove yourself from all your habitual surroundings every now and again.

On our vacation, we were actually quite busy. In a good way.

The first weekend was Kim & Henry's Wedding. Their reception site was so beautiful, but also very low key. Park side beach setting. It was ideal!

Then we headed to Palm Springs. (We were actually in Rancho Mirage, which is one of the cluster cities around Palm Springs, but no one has heard of it, so I just say Palm Springs). My parents were actually also out for vacation/work so we spent some time with them in Palm Springs. It was unseasonably hot for this time of year. Got up to 108* You know what they say though... "It was a dry heat". I don't mind heat, I would take that over snow. It was definitely a little toasty though!
Above: Dinner with Dolans at Pacifica


Above: Hiking at Palm Canyon

After a few days there we headed to the Marina Del Rey area of L.A. to see some friends. Don't have pictures of everyone, but we spent time with Ben & Brigetta, Ryan & Brigit, and Josh. The Olsen's brought us to a boat party, which was very fun!

Then we headed back to Santa Barbara to celebrate Montecito Covenant Church's 50th Anniversary celebration. This is the church that Jon grew up in. His dad was a pastor there for 23 years before moving to Chicago to take a position with the denomination. It was great to be there for this special event. This community was such a huge part of Jon's life! I should say it is his very large extended family. Of course, we also saw "real" family and more friends while there too.

Jon & his Grandma Lucille (who amazes me, she is quite a fire cracker for 92!)

Noel & Jon

and then- we did get back on the plane and leave the beloved and beautiful state of California.

Hello! We are back. Got home late on Monday night. Back to work bright and early Tuesday morning.

We still need to finish unpacking!!! We had a wonderful trip and will try to write more and get pics up soon.

Vacation

Karin Shelton

VACATION:

1: a respite or a time of respite from something : intermission

2 a: a scheduled period during which activity (as of a court or school) is suspended

b: a period of exemption from work granted to an employee

3: a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation

4: an act or an instance of vacating

or....VACATION: We leave Friday, Amen!

We will be attending a wedding and visiting family and friends in Santa Barbara, CA. We will also spend time in Palm Springs and L.A. There our primary focus will be enjoying a chance to RELAX (not work), sit in the sun, play golf, run outside, read,shop, go hiking, and sleep in. The anticiapation of this has been keeping me alert and functional the past month! I really get the definitions this time around.

My job, for real?

I had one of those days today where I literally woke up and said... "How did I actually end up here?"

I don't know if any one else has experienced this bizarre realization that seems to come from no where.... you will know if you have.

Here is a very brief summary of how it goes. Today I woke up, took a moment to make sure I was awake, then literally said to myself (in my head), "Oh my gosh, I am actually an adoption social worker." For some this may look more like, "I am a Mother", or, "I am a Surgeon", or, "I am a Pastor", or, "I am a Musician"...etc, etc.. I am sure I will have other moments in life where I feel this way other than today. I have had them in the past, for example, " How did I end up climbing the Alps with a gang of street children " or "I did make it back to Africa" or, "How did I end up with a condo, a husband, and a dog, in Chicago!" Life truly can be surreal.

Yes, today I woke up wondering how it could be true I was living out something I imagined once during my high school years. I vividly remember the details of the conversation. I was driving in my parents white Buick, we were just past the Cantera movie theaters on Deihl Road, it was late, we were chatting and I said something along the lines of, "I think I know the perfect job for me. I would love to help families adopt children who have special needs, or just help families adopt, and work with them throughout what all that means. There has to be some sort of job or counseling for that, right?" Truthfully, I have no idea where this desire from such a young age came from. I did not understand what it really means to be an orphan or to be adopted. However, I did know it was something I could grow to understand, and I wanted too.

Here we are today, and I actually have that job, wow. I am not sure how it happened. Although, really of course I know, it was all God. Here we go Jeremiah 29:11... he does have a plan. I have known this all along, but not remembered it in the midst of stressful transitions, secular work places, and bad management. It is so easy to get caught up with the worldly path of finishing degrees, internships, getting into the field, and then landing a job. It it easy to forget why, and how, I got where I am. Thank you Jesus! I know I am blessed to be where I am.

Yes, I know. Trust me, I know, many of you have heard me complain, cry, and vent about my job. Thank you, I appreciate you listening. It is VERY complicated and stressful. However, just today I had a client ask me, "Do you find it fulfilling?" And I can answer truthfully with a resounding, YES! For that I am thankful. I am happy to be a part of many resolutions, meeting needs, and building families. Also, I am so happy and so lucky to be in a place I actually imagined I might be 10 or so years ago. Seriously, who thinks that will actually happen,!! I sure didn't- and I def. picked a very specific route!

I am not sure if I see myself in this type of work forever. However, I do know that I "get" adoption, and all of the factors that come along with it. I love what I do. Even though the systems in place,the powers that be, and the people involved, are not always easy to work with- at the end of the day I am working to build families and meet peoples needs and that is completely amazing and humbling to me more and more each day!

Beautiful and brave,
Intuition and instinct lead you.
Rest assured, you are resilient, and ready,
To trust on behalf of your beloved child.
Here you are, heartbroken and honest.

May I give you a glimpse of your strength and impact, by simply saying, I am so shaken and moved by your strength and intimate love.
Only you know- how this feels, what is best, and how to cry for this child.
Thank you.
Here we are now. Hopeful and wishing for happy ever after.
Every day we will think of you, and offer prayers of thanksgiving. Most of all, we
Recognize all that you are, your face, your body, your blood, your womb, your love.

Check this out!

Ben and Eric (our friends who are aspiring young talents) have done it once again! Their "Barack, Paper, Scissors" game is a hit on you tube!!

They are too funny, and so creative! This isn't a political statement or anything, it is just for fun! It was also recently featured on CNN. See link http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2009/03/09/ntm.barack.paper.scisso

Have fun playing!

Can anyone...

Tell me how to fix my comment moderation not to read:

Jonathan, Stacy, &amp Peter Peterson

I have tried to navigate blogger settings/tips,etc.... but I am no computer whiz- how do I get rid of the "&amp" part? Or is that just how it shows up to me?

On that note,so yes, I have a Blackberry now (only because I ruined my other phone due to snow/water damage-one of the only positive things that has come out of snow this year!). And I HATE that with every email I send from my phone it says, "Sent from my Blackberry" How do I get rid of that?? Sorry if I seemed like a snoot to all of you have received emails with notice that I have a new electronic device I am unknowingly endorsing.... Hey, it is still no i-phone :)

Clearly my strengths are not in technology...