Amazing, the stuff you have on your to-do-list ...

... before a big trip. Todd's "honey-do" list includes vacuuming out the car (because my sister-in-law is driving us to the airport and I can't BEAR the thought of her thinking we never clean out our car!), mowing the lawn, and laying out his clothes so I can pack them. So, what is he doing tonight? He and his brother are downloading music to his phone so he has something to listen to on our trip! Everything is a matter of priorities, you know. Well, there are two more nights before we leave, so he still has time to get everything on his list accomplished!

Mia's room is all ready for occupancy. I thought y'all might like to see it, so I've included a couple of pictures. The walls are still a bit bare, but I'm sure some photographs will go up before long. My friend, Debbie Stevens, gave me a beautiful adoption poem personalized with a small picture of Mia and a red thread connecting a map of Taiwan and Louisiana. That will have a special place of honor, as soon as I get a chance to hang it up. If you don't know the Chinese Legend of the Red Thread, you need to "Google" it -- the legend holds a special place in the hearts of parents adopting from China. The scrapbook I'm putting together for Mia has a red thread winding through every page ... with ladybugs, of course!

Our friends David and Margaret Tidwell dropped by last night for a visit. David told me about an adapter that you can buy for your laptop so that you can plug it into the "outlet" on the plane and not run down your battery. Well, I called Dell first thing this morning and ordered me one of those babies - overnighted! I justified the purchase by rationalizing that it also includes a car adapter and since, we drive alot more than we fly, it will get a good deal of use. Right? Of course, right!

Okay, that's enough for tonight. I've got to get back to work ... overpacking!! I know I'm probably bringing too much, but what do you leave home? Actually, it's not as bad as it looks. We're each taking one suitcase and one carryon. Mia has one small suitcase, and there's one extra small suitcase with all the gifts, and other stuff we have to bring "just in case" like medicines and snacks (there's only so much Chinese food three Louisianians can eat in one week!). Oh yeah, and the umbrella stroller. That's not so bad, huh?