150 Steps...In the Present Moment

We had a ton of kids come trick or treating to the house tonight. Some were in full regalia, others (the older ones) often in just the barest hint of a costume. Then there was the kid who didn't have a costume but was brazen enough to fake it ("I'm dressed as a skateboarder but forgot my skateboard" he says). I always loved Halloween, first because of the costumes and candy, and then the fun of giving away candy. One of my favorite books when I was growing up was " The Halloween Tree " by Ray Bradbury. I even named my second cat, Pipkin, after the character who goes missing in the book and must be pursued through time and to the edge of death itself by his friends. After the paperback I'd been given when I was 10 finally fell apart a few years ago, I went online and found a hardbound copy signed by Bradbury and bought it. Last year at this time, we were in the final stages of pulling together our profile and home study materials. We didn't know wh

We thought we might have some news, but it turned out to be nothing. Still waiting.

Still here. Still here. Still no news. It's actually gotten to the point that we will need to renew our homestudy...so that means that almost a year has gone by with no real movement. So, at least we'll have something to "do" for the adoption in the renewal process. I'm trying not to be sad that we are not yet parents. Trying to simply enjoy life. To not let my crazy-making job make me too crazy (not doing too well with this...) To focus on health and fitness as we continue to wait. 

I read a somewhat distressing article today in the New York Times about  the decline in sales of picture books  for kids. It's not all bad, of course -- kids are moving on to chapter books earlier -- but the idea that picture books are deemed too simple or won't help a child develop seems laughable to me. Our house is full of books and quite a few of them are absolutely brilliant picture books. Watching a child read again and again a stunning book like David Weisner's  Tuesday  or the more challenging  Flotsam , you can see their minds working as they build the story in their mind, flipping back and forth between pages, totally immersed. I'm certainly all for moving on to chapter books but even at 41 years of age, there's a joy and a magic in a picture book that will never go away.