That Binder Be Talkin' Jazz...

I feel like I'm in 4th grade again.

In 4th grade we made Missouri Notebooks. That would be like 50 solid pages of facts and famous people from Missouri. Everything from the Bluebird to Mark Twain. (You may not know, but Missouri is kickin!)

Only this binder is not about Missouri. And the facts are not along the lines of making a raft to sail down the Mississippi.

This binder is our life.
Every. Last. Detail.

May I introduce you to...the Dossier.

That would be doss-e-ay (for those of you who, like me before 2 months ago, called it something that sounded more like a reindeer).

Basically, this is every last detail of our lives - certified, notarized, state sealed, and making it possible for us to adopt from Ethiopia. And it is....well...a bit intimidating. And by a bit, I mean...a lot.

And let me tell you, this guy LOVES to talk jazz. Like the kid that shoots spitballs at you while you are taking your Algebra test. Nasty. Just plain ole nasty.

So, how does one go about taking down this giant?

You got it. One shiny little plastic page protector at a time.

We have taken our trips to the doctors, the courthouse, the banks, written our letters to the Secretary of States from Iowa and Missouri, made stupid amounts of copies and notarized the majority of our documents (thanks to the incredible blessing of a awesomely gracious friend and notary who offered to help us out)!

We aren't done yet. We still have Immigration and a few other documents that we are waiting on. But every time I check off a little box on our Dossier Checklist, I feel a bit stronger. A bit more confident. And a bit closer.

It is like the first time that you jump off of the really high diving board at the pool. Not the regular one, but the one that is like 20 stories high or something ridiculous like that. The first time you jump, it is terrifying. Straight up, wet your pants a little, crazy scary. But, once you jump...once you know you are capable of doing it...it gets easier. It just takes the first jump. It really isn't as bad as it looks.

The Dossier...

It's all bark.

S.O.S.

No, friends, this is not a cry for help because our ship is going down.

And no...this is not me about to breakout into Rhianna lyrics (although I should seriously reconsider that option).

Let's just say it is more like a simple equation to my life.

I forgot how much I miss driving in the car by myself. Since we sold our second car, there aren't a lot of moments where it is just me and the road for an extended amount of time. I love the sweet moments that I have with Erik when we do drive around together but let's be honest...I'm somewhat of a free bird. I like to fly alone sometimes. Straight up.

Since today's photo shoots took me from the Central Valley to the Bay Area and then to the Foothills of the Sierras, you could say that I had quite a bit of time to myself. Just me and the 1990 Toyota Corolla. The car of champions.

I discovered as I drove that my most favorite things to do when I'm driving alone can be summed up in the often misused but always important acronym: S.O.S.

So here you have it...

S: Sing
Sing your heart out. Sing at the top of your lungs. Try to figure out songs you don't really know and be okay with being completely out of tune or totally hitting the wrong note because you aren't sure where the song really goes.

But here is the secret to my "alone time singing". I don't do it to songs on the radio or on a CD. That is right, folks. I go "au natural". And it is usually to the tune of Frank Sinatra. Watch out, Ole Blue Eyes. You've got competition.

O: Observe
This part usually results in a lot of swerving and a one to many "close calls" but I find it to be worth it. (Disclaimer: I haven't gotten into an accident yet, so this is subject to change if the situation arises.)

It is good for the soul to look around. And contrary to popular belief, that Ford Taurus in front of you with the 3 old ladies on a day trip driving 25 miles/hour under the speed limit really isn't worth the road rage.

I think that we miss out on a lot. You never know when you are going to see something really incredible...or maybe not so incredible...but just refreshing.

Today, I observed about 200 cows, one of which was chewing the fence on the side of the road. Maybe not incredible, but it definitely made me smile.

S: Stop
We are busy people. I get that. I am seriously busy ALL OF THE TIME. But that doesn't mean that we don't have time to stop on the side of the road and take in some fresh air and maybe some fresh vision. I often stop when I am driving alone.

This makes Erik really frustrated because usually he is waiting for me to get home or worried about why I am stopping on a dirt road in the middle of no where by myself. Valid.

But today, I stopped...just for a moment. I stopped because I was thankful for the time to do just that. And because a lot of times, in all of my busyness, I forget how much beauty is really all around me.

So don't be afraid to S.O.S. every now and then. 

It is like the Chicken Soup for the Soul of the 21 Century. Promise. 

 

Chuck Norris and the Dossier

A dear friend of mine told me today to kick the Dossier's butt.

Dear Dossier,

Consider yourself warned.