Adoption & Burglary Updates

Well, the Child Protective Services Check from Maryland FINALLY came back!!!  Looks like our home visit will be during the first week of March.  Our adoption profile draft is done and we are just waiting on any feedback from our adoption counselor, so once we're approved, we'll be ready to get it "out there" asap!

We replaced all we are going to replace and documented the proof several weeks ago.   The burglary was at the end of August, so we're relieved that our part should finally be DONE!  Just waiting on the last payment once the adjuster looks over all of our stuff....  they would only pay us a certain amount called the actual cash value until we had proof of spending over and above that amount with actual replacements for stolen items.  You can imagine we're anxious to get that last check.... but it shouldn't be too long now.

I continue to favor Facebook to blogger these days.  Sorry about that for my friends and family who aren't on Facebook.  It's a lot of fun, so you should give it a try!  I've been walking with a friend from elementary and high school (as it turns out, I moved into her neighborhood!).  I had lunch with another friend from Elementary school yesterday, and I am looking forward to a CHS band mini-reunion in about a month.  I've also found a few friends who have gone through or are going through adoption also.  What fun to reconnect with dear friends and people from so long ago!

Added a few pictures just for fun.  Our kitties are just adorable, aren't they?  And below is a picture of my family from my birthday dinner a few weeks ago... Ben took the picture, so he's not in it. (-:

Calphalon for Sale - GREAT DEALS!

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/hsh/1025237944.html (household items)

Anyone interested in some Calphalon at a great price?

Kitty Cat Photos

I took some cute photos of Lucy and Baxter:

facebook album: Lucy & Baxter

Wow! They caught OUR burglar!

We were broken into at the end of August, and figured we'd never see our stuff again.  But the Dekalb County Police apprehended our guy!  We were going to meet the detective tonight to retrieve what's left of our stuff, however he had to reschedule for tomorrow.  But we recognized some of things in this video.....  you guys thought I was kidding about the rubbermaid containers?  Both blue and gold colored ones right there... also think I saw some missing remotes, Ben's super old Mac, and a TiVo unit that was ours. ... 

here's the link to the TV News Stories

WSBTV SERIAL BURGLAR

CBS 46

Adoption Waiting

Ben and I met with our adoption counselor last week, and we have FINALLY turned in EVERY last bit of paperwork needed, as well as complied with the requested "hoops" that we were asked to jump through.  It was hard stuff to hear, but they are steps to help us have the happiest, healthiest home possible for our future baby, so it has been good in the long run.  I had hoped that we'd have our home visit before Christmas, but Bethany is waiting on some background check stuff from Maryland which might take a bit longer.  At any rate, we're ALMOST ready for that home visit and it's time to get our profile ready (again -- it was lost on the computer the burglars took!) so we're starting to see a little light for the end of the approval stage.  Once the counselor comes out for our home visit, she's supposed to have us officially approved for adoption within a month and at that point we will be officially waiting.

Waiting, of course, will be a whole new kind of experience.  It's not quite the same as being pregnant and knowing a due date, because it is a guarded anticipation.   But we'll be waiting for a birth Mom to choose our profile, then for the baby to be born, and then for the 10 day period she has to change her mind to pass.... and then, if that baby doesn't work out, waiting for it to happen all over again.  And if we happen to be chosen by a birth Mom that didn't make her adoption plan and suddenly has a baby to give up then I suppose it could all be pretty surprising and sudden.  Just never know what God will have in store for us.  Might take a few months, might take a few years.  At any rate, I'm getting excited at the anticipation of getting to a new stage of beginning our family.  And I'm going to try to leave the timing to God, as I know His plan is a perfect one, but sometimes that is easier said than done. (-:

Where did 2008 go?

HOW is 2008 already drawing to a close?  Wow, that one went super fast!  Guess we stayed busy with changing jobs, selling a house, buying a house, moving, adoption process, and a burglary.  But, gosh.   It's like I woke up after missing months of time, yet I was here for all of it!  Am I alone here?  Anyone else wondering what happened to 2008?

The Ride

When I talk about being on "The Ride", people always ask me what it is.  It's hard to sum up, but I'd say that it is an amazing small group experience, where we get to be a part of a safe community while discovering our own individual journey on our path toward a closer, more intimate relationship with God.  A place where we explore, discuss, and learn all about what "Christ in me" looks and feels like.  Where we learn about our flesh, learn to accept it for what it is, and practice loving others who are working through their own stories while we work through our own.  There is amazing, biblical, grace-filled teaching.  We have mentors to help us figure out the confusing parts.  We share a weekly meal, get to know one another, and learn to love ourselves through loving one another.  We are real, we are open, and we are vulnerable.  Yet, we are safe.  We get to be creative, even when some of us don't see ourselves as creative.  "The Ride" has changed my life.  Not just my church life, but my life.  My marriage is better, I appreciate each day more, I appreciate other people more, and I am learning not to expect too much from myself.  Life is not about what I accomplish or what I do and don't do.  Instead, I'm learning that it is a lot less work, but a lot more rewarding, to just sit back and watch God do His thing through me.  Moment by moment, decision by decision, day by day.

Reflections from The Ride

Dear God,

I offer myself to you.  Help me to be aware of my flesh, and instead choose you.  Help me to remember that my flesh is NOT me.  I am merely a battleground, except I get to pick sides.  Help me to let you live through me, moment by moment.

GAL 5: 9 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.

GAL 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. 

GAL 5: 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his flesh, from that nature^[a^]will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

ROM6  11In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

How amazing is it that acts of the flesh are hard work, and not fun but allowing you to live in me is not work?  It’s a done deal and I don’t have to keep working on earning my salvation.  I became a new creation all at once, and that is that!  Help me to move away from performance based acceptance of my myself and others, and instead to know my identity in you.

God, help me see others and myself as you see us: PERFECT AND BLAMELESS.  There is no condemnation, but there is a way to live in grace.

Thanks be to God!  You rock!

New Hair

So, I went to a new hair stylist this morning. He was more expensive, but he gave me a great cut that is exactly what I wanted.  Except he was honest that he thought I'd look better with no bangs.  (I've been thinking about getting them again...)  So, here's a similar cut to the last one, but much improved!

   

Economic Politics by Jen

Ok, maybe I've been listening to Neil Bortz and Dave Ramsey too much.   But here's my current take on politics....

I know very little about politics, and generally stay away.  I generally don't even want to discuss politics.   I do enjoy listening to Neil Bortz because he is hilarious, and I find myself agreeing with him more and more.  But in my core, I am a democrat.  Ironcially, I married a Republican.  Which means politics come up more at dinner with my family than the used to.  Go figure.

I believe in the separation of church and state, yet I certainly also believe in saying personal prayers about God's hand in who becomes elected as well as praying for God's hand in the policies our government makes.  I believe it is the responsibility of the Government to take care of people, and provide helping hand programs.  I do not, however, believe in hand out programs.  I believe that workers do have rights, and that the government should protect the majority of the people out there and not the people running those companies that are all about getting rich rather than treating employees fairly.  I think health care should not be run and orchestrated by the government per se, I just think health care should not only be for privileged.  I hope and pray that one day Medicare will be available to people who are disabled when they are disabled -- and not two years later because the government wants to save a buck.  In the long run, that costs the government more.  (Duh --- let's give them monthly money benefits as long as they are sick, but not provide health care at any level for two years.  That should be cheaper in the long run.  NOT!) I think the government should play a role in economics, but I feel quite strongly that this recent bill STINKS!  You can't live in a capitalist society and expect that your own dumb mistakes and risk taking in business will be rewarded with hand outs.   And that is what congress just did.  I do think a higher insured amount for our bank accounts is excellent.  But beyond that, well, both business and investing include risk.  I've only had two economic classes in my life and I know that.   Suck it up.  This would be that risk they were talking about.  Why is risk in general well and good, and worth taking, until it effects you?  Why should risk only be for other people?!?  Hello!

Come on, America.  Take responsibility for your self, your own business, your own bad decisions.  Is it news that the strength of economies rise and fall?  Um. No.  Do you know what creates the strongest come back for so called "victims"?   The victims that refuse to see themselves as victims, that find power within themselves, and decide to look for the best in even the worst scenario.  And the victims with people who love them supporting them, but NOT bailing them out, are always better off in the long run.  Hand Outs are useless and prolong the inevitable.  Helping Hands give strength when you are down so that you can survive and become better from your experience.

Only wish our government had thought through things more and realized that.  

I work for the government, and love my job. I also believe in the Social Security system, yet agree that some serious reforms are needed for SSA. There are many times that I take a disability claim and get great satisfaction knowing that the claim I am taking is the exact scenario SSA was meant to help with. By the same token, I too often take disability claims where I am happy to know there is NO WAY this person will get approved, and I am glad there are structures in place to make sure it goes to only the people that truly qualify.

But, y'all, the government is a mess.  It's not like we have a CEO that makes a decision that gets carried out immediately.  A decision gets suggested, the congress has to vote on it, then it gets pondered and revised for a year or two, and then they have to write the policy that outlines the process with which to carry out the decision, and then they spend a year or two revising that (it must be approved at many, many layers of government), and then they have to figure out the forms that will have to be used to make sure that only the correct, intended, people will benefit from this decision.   And then they have to train whoever it is that is going to decide who is eligible how to decide who is eligible, and then, they have to have an appeal process so that if someone feels like they were wrongly disqualified they have the right to fight it.  And then, they implement that original - all be it -- slightly altered decision.  And, about that time, a new decision gets put out there because that first decision doesn't look like such a great idea once it is actually implemented.   Case in point--- the medicare prescription drug program.   Screwing old people all over the country, and prescriptions often cost more in the end - when you include the premiums and the so call doughnut void in the middle of the year-- than they used to.  Thank goodness for Wal-Mart and Kroger and $4 prescriptions!

At any rate, my humble prediction is that this "rescue" bill is going to prolong the economic crisis, create a scenario where people take more risk because they figure the government will fix the problem when it doesn't work out, and then create a cycle where government gets way, way too much power.  

CFC Campaign

So, I'm one of two "keyworkers" for the CFC Campaign at my new office.   I've never done that before, but I've always wanted to.  What's the CFC?  Combined Federal Campaign... it's a huge deal in the Federal Government workplace.  Over 2,200 nonprofit organizations are involved, and we can make a one time donation or a pay roll deduction for all 26 pay periods of the year. When I worked at the Payment Center in Baltimore, the entire building went nuts for two months straight.  Bake Sales, Hot Dogs for sale, raffles, etc all over the building.  Our email inbox was flooded with invites to random things in other "Mods" as we called the Modules we worked in.  

Aside from the fact that you promise your money before -- but in anticipation of - your annual raise, and can donate just a few dollars a pay that you will never miss, the neatest part about CFC, I think, is that you get to choose which of the charities YOU want to support.  So I get to choose Bethany (our Adoption nonprofit), Boys & Girls Club (my little buddy Jasmine spends so much of her time there and it is a great program for hard working families to have a structured, safe place for their kids after school), and Community Health Charities (a federation of nonprofits out there to help people who need an extra hand when they become ill-- dear to my heart considering the disability stories I hear everyday).  And I don't have to support all of the 2,000 charities.... especially the charities that I have fundamental issues with or that spend a good portion of their "donations" on operating costs.  Just the ones that matter to ME.

Anyway, I can NOT believe the generosity our first TWO days of our Gwinnett SSA Campaign brought.  We have already reached 46% of our $10,000 goal and just 12 out of the 48 employees have turned in their pledges.  Of course, the most eager are generally going to be the most generous, but not necessarily.  We had fun at our kickoff --- Between my experience teaching Middle School and my time spent at Pampered Chef Consultant Meetings, let's just say my new co-workers don't see my quiet personality quite the same anymore.   In case you've never seen me in front of a group of people, well, I can get a little goofy because for some strange reason it makes me more comfortable if people are laughing at or with me!  (Did you know those robbers took my bunny ears I wore to announce the Midtown Easter Egg hunt?!?!) People seem genuinely thrilled to have some energy for the campaign this year-- a lot of people have thanked me (and the other keyworker) for making it fun and not so serious.  One person said, "Thanks, Jen! We never had anything like that before!"  And that's awesome when you are talking about a mandatory 8AM meeting!

How do you make a request for contributions fun?  You say stupid stuff like "in case you are challenged in math like myself, they have this chart attached right here to your pledge card so you can cheat and figure out what your weekly amount x 26 pays equals", and you hand out miniature noise makers and encourage sleepy people wearing work clothes to laugh and make noise whenever you say "CFC"!  Then you say "CFC" a lot, and when they stop making noise, you repeat yourself until they make noise despite themselves.  (Think word of the day from that show... what was it... Pee Wee Herman!)  Oh, and give them doughnuts.  And then, once they're already smiling, just ask a bunch of rhetorical questions and leave the choice to them.... 

Maybe some of my rhetorical questions will lead you to support a nonprofit before year end as well.... it's a tax deduction you know....  betcha a dollar goes a LOT further in a nonprofit than it does as tax revenue.  

What are some of your favorite comforts in your life?  Can you think of a group of people who might need one of those things?  Have you ever had a time where a helping hand made all the difference to you in your scenario?  Is there a group that's doing something similar for others so you can pay the favor forward?  Do you, a family member, or a friend have a health problem that needs more research, support, or aid for it's victims?  Do you have a favorite but often forgotten person, place, or thing?  Is it pets, kids, senior citizens, or some other worthy group?  What cause matters to you?  

Difficult economical times are especially difficult on non-profits because people are less willing to give.   Isn't it ironic that it is during the difficult economic times that the non-profits are needed the most?  A little bit often goes a really long way, and the joy you'll feel after sharing is more than worth your sacrifice!

FACEBOOK is where it's at ....

Sorry I haven't posted very regularly lately.  I seem to be much more motived to go to Facebook these days.  It's fun to see what people are up to.  See you there...

Ups and Downs

OK, so I was strong at first.  It really is just STUFF, and we really are fine.  But as time unfolded, so did reality.  

Reality is that it is really annoying when someone comes and takes your stuff away.  It is annoying not to have a frying pan at the moment or a TV to watch in the treadmill room.  

And it is even more annoying that the insurance company and police need you to list EVERYTHING, item by item.  Not just "75 DVDs", "toolbox full of tools" or "Calphalon pots".  Nope.  Specific DVD names, specific tools and how many of each, or which specific set of Calphalon and the size of the missing pots.  But they also want to know when you bought them, how much you paid for them, and how much it would cost to replace them now.   Sure, you could be haphazard and not stress over your estimates.  OR, you could be a perfectionist like myself trying to find exact matches of what is missing somewhere online and stressing over making your estimates as good as they can be.   Better yet, you could be a married couple representing each of those personalities and trying to work together for hours at a time.

Our list so far is over 150 items long, and replacement value will probably be well over $15,000.  Do you know that I kept onto way more receipts than your typical person.... right up until we were moving and I'd never needed them?!?  AHHH!

I don't know for sure, but between the burglary, the bump in the road for the adoption, and a few other pieces of junk lately, I'd say there must be something pretty good and God-filled on the horizon that Satan really wants to distract us from.... perhaps it's my upcoming journey on "The Ride" or perhaps something amazing is going to happen regarding our first child or maybe it's something we haven't even dreamed about yet.

I think I'll try to remember to start my prayers this week with something along the lines of... "God, please help me hear your truth and recognize the lies in my head.  Thanks for the zillions of blessings in my life and the people in it.  Help me not to get bogged down in the negative thoughts and feeling overwhelmed.  God, intelluctually I know that EVERYTHING in my life is in your hands.  Help me to feel that emotionally and to truly let you hold it up for me without trying to do it myself.  I'm going to fail every time, God.  But you will never fail.  Ever.  Thanks for that, and thanks for being stronger than I could ever comprehend.  Amen."

Burglary Truth

In case you haven't heard, our home was broken into while we were at work on Wednesday. They took a lot of stuff, but we are fine.  Here are some things I've been thinking about since...

Stuff is just stuff and easy to replace.  Some stuff is harder to replace if it is filled with associations and memories.  But, really, is it the stuff itself you are longing for?

EVERYONE needs an alarm system.  I don't care if you don't have much stuff, live in a safe area, trust people, or what.  For $20 a month, you could at least feel confident upon entering your residence that someone else is not in there waiting for you.  (Our new alarm system is being installed Tuesday... in the meantime, they already gave us the window stickers to scare the bad guys away.  Strangely comforting, those stickers.)

Backing up your computer is not enough.  Backing it up at an alternate location altogether is priceless.  Ben's pictures and countless quicken entries are waiting in cyberspace for his new computer.  My adoption profile work, some journaling, pictures, and who knows how many organizational files are gone forever.

USAA insurance and ID theft protection have a monthly cost.  The comfort they have given me the last few days is priceless.

I have an amazing husband, wonderful family, and awesome friends.  I also have a fabulously satisfying and fulfilling job.  Nobody can enter my home and take those truths from me.

Dave Ramsey and other financial planners' "emergency fund" concept is a really good one. Canceling your only credit card because of ID theft-- and knowing it will take several days even with express mail to get your replacement card-- makes you really grateful for old fashioned cash.

God turns ALL things to good.  We don't know for sure yet, but we expect to have some insurance money left after replacing what we want to replace.  We might just be able to take care of some things in our home including a dishwasher and oven that are actually younger than me.  Once we are officially "waiting" for a birthmom to choose us, maybe we WILL be able to take a vacation after all.  We were expecting to need to wait quite awhile for all of that.

No need to count your blessings.  Just look around and realize how much God loves you. Amazing, isn't it?

Maya Angelou Poem

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... 

enough 

money within her control to move out 

and rent a place of her own, 

even if she never wants to or needs to... 

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... 

something 

perfect to wear if the employer, 

or date of her dreams 

wants to see her in an hour... 

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... 

a youth she's content to leave behind.... 

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .. 

a past juicy 

enough that she's looking forward to 

retelling it in her 

old age....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... 

a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra... 

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .. 

one friend who 

always makes her laugh.. and one who lets her cry... 

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ... 

a good piece 

of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her 

family... 

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .. 

eight 

matching plates, wine glasses with stems, 

and a recipe for 

a meal, 

that will make her guests feel honored... 

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . 

a feeling of 

control over her destiny.. 

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD 

KNOW... 

how to fall in love without losing herself.. 

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... 

how to quit 

a job, 

break up with a lover, 

and confront a friend 

without; 

ruining the friendship... 

EVERY WOMAN 

SHOULD KNOW... 

when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK 

AWAY... 

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... 

that she can't change the length of her calves, 

the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents.. 

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... 

that her 

childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over... 

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... 

what she 

would and wouldn't do for love or more... 

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.... 

how to live 

alone... even if she doesn't like it... 

EVERY 

WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. 

whom she can trust, 

whom she can't, 

and why she shouldn't take it personally... 

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... 

where to 

go... 

be it to her best friend's kitchen table.. 

or a 

charming Inn in the woods.... 

when her soul needs 

soothing... 

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. 

What she can and can't accomplish in a day... 

a 

month...and a year... 

prayer request

Well, it seems we have hit a pretty significant snafu in our adoption process. Our adoption specialist assures us it does not mean we will not be able to adopt through Bethany, just that there are some things to take care of before we move forward. It is extremely personal (even for me), so I am not going to go into more details than that. I'm grateful that I've recently been reminded several times that God's plan does not always follow our expectations, nor does it always make sense.

Please pray for Ben and I as we seek answers and adjust to this news. I pray from the bottom of my heart, and with great earnestness, that God will grant us peace with the process, be especially present in our communication with one another, and give us guidance in what this all means for us and our family.

I am extremely grateful for our dear friends and family, who I know will be super supportive while all this gets sorted out. We love you guys.

Adoption Meeting

Today was a really busy day off, and I'm exhausted. I'm about to turn in for the night.

But I wanted to let everyone know that my adoption meeting this morning went fine. We have a few misc. documents to gather up, then we'll get our home study scheduled.

We're having church folks over this Saturday for our first shin-dig at our new home, so I'm trying to get the house ready. Not that they would care how it looks (one of the things I love about Midtown!) but because it's an excellent "deadline" and reason for me to get some things taken care of that I still have on my TO DO list.

Good Night!

Independent Jen

Jen time. I think my husband is better than any husband I could ever deserve, and better than the best match for me I ever dreamed up. However, I still LOVE my Jen time. When we were dating, Ben would call me "Independent Jen" whenever I'd ask for a day off from phone calls (yes, even when we were long distance dating). I'd say "I need a Jen day" or "I need Jen time". See, it isn't about Ben at all, it's about me. I mean, I was single a long time and personal space was hard to give up!

So, fast forward 3 years into our marriage. My need for Jen time is less, but does still creep up. And Ben is good about giving me space, or not complaining if I disappear for a day running errands. Or "get lost" in Target or Wal-Mart.... for hours.

Please don't think ill of me when I get excited about my honey bunches going away to Florida for a business trip in the morning. Or that I asked him to call me just ONCE while he's gone. This annual business trip is the only three and a half days we spend apart each year. Pretty much, except if I head to Baltimore for a quick weekend. He's just gone from Wednesday morning until Saturday evening. And, for me, nothing could be better for our relationship. I think they created the saying "absence makes the heart grow fonder" with me in mind.

Freedom! Imagine! Three and a half days where the house cleanliness and picked-up-ness is only affected by me. No dishes miraculously appearing in the sink and no newspapers spontaneously appearing all over the living room. And where I get to do my own schedule, based on my own wants and whims, and without regard to what's best for or most desired by my husband.

Now, just you wait. By Saturday I'll be checking my watch every few minutes to see how much longer until Ben's plane lands or until Ben drives into our garage! (Seriously. I think if you look to my blog entry from a year ago, you will see that is exactly what happened last August!)

But for the moment, at least, I'm very excited about my Jen time and having the house all to my self. (-;

PMS influenced rant

Do you ever wonder "what's the point?". Seriously. I spent my preschool days looking forward to Kindergarten, then all of elementary school time looking forward to high school. Then all of high school looking forward to college. Then college looking forward to getting a job. Ironically, as I reached each of those milestones, I'd realize how much fun I'd had in that past phase and, by then, it was gone forever.

When I got a job, I looked forward to getting a different job, and, now that I truly enjoy my work (most days, at least), I still look forward to the weekends. BUT, now I am at the end of my weekend, and I'm thinking about how much I wasted of my weekend, how I didn't really enjoy much of it (except dinner last night --- thanks MOM!), and how many things I SHOULD have taken care of that I didn't. Maybe I'll get them taken care of next weekend. Or maybe I'll waste that one, too.

Of course I realize that there is a point. The most fulfilling aspects of life are our relationships with others and allowing God to live through us. But isn't it just sometimes too easy to get distracted in self absorption and stray off that path?

Am I alone here? Can I get an "AMEN"?

Merry Christmas, Ben

Ben saved his Christmas money for the NEW version of iPhone. Meaning, he patiently waited from December until the new and improved version came out in July. Me on the other hand, I wanted it right then, so I got mine for Christmas on Chirstmas. Poor Ben, though, after all that patient waiting, when they finally came out he wasn't eligible for the discounted price. So we hesitated just a couple of days while we figured out that we could transfer my eligibility to his number..... so then we had to order it because, of course, AT&T was out and we had to get it through them due to our complicated scenario.

Anyway, just wanted to let you all know -- and rest easier -- that we picked up Ben's iPhone tonight. He's happily getting it all synced up and just his way in the other room.

Merry Christmas, Honey Bunches! (not that it was from me.... it was from Santa, I mean my parents..)

His cell phone number is the same. And he'd love for you to give him a call. (-;