yummy, though not at all adoption related

After reading a very amusing post on my blog pal Rachel's blog, I feel the need to share a few food finds that might be of interest to you over the holidays. Any of these would make for a fantastic present for pretty much anyone on your list.

Imperial Malted Milk Balls from Cherry Republic. I discovered these at Holiday House this year. (Holiday House is a huge holiday shopping fair hosted by t he Jr. League of Little Rock every year.) After taking more samples that I felt was fair I decided to buy a bag. Imagine a large malted milk ball, covered in a thick layer of chocolate and then enrobed in an additional layer of chocolate that is flavored with cherry. It's heaven in candy form. It's been a little over a week since the purchase and I still have 6 balls left. It looks like I may have some self control after all.

Minnie Beasley's Almond Lace Cookies the guy who makes these says they are the best cookies you will ever taste. He may be right.

Liz & Linda's Pepper Jelly Many of my Northern friends may not appreciate the beauty that is pepper jelly, but I urge you to give it a try. Both sweet and spicy, this stuff is better than it has any right to be. Many Realtors give gifts to their clients and to the other agent when a house closes. This remains one of my all time favorite gifts from another agent.

Chocizza Chocolate Pizzas The woman that owns this company is a fantastic person. Their customer service is top notch, and the chocolate, well, let me tempt your taste buds... S'mores pizza features a milk chocolate base with chocolate covered marshmallows, a caramel drizzle, graham crackers and caramel cream. It is super yummy! This is what I give to my clients, as well as other agents. Check out the site. You'll be glad you did!

thank you, in advance

There's an interesting thread that winds it's way through these adoptions. People are traveling to Vietnam to get their children, and while there they are meeting kids that have already been referred to other families, as well as children not yet placed. I know that people take photos of children and send them to their parents who are waiting to travel. I know that they meet the kids while at the orphanage, who may not yet have a family waiting for them. On an intellectual level, I know that there is a very real possibility that someone will travel to Vietnam after we have a placement, and that they will make a point of finding our daughter and spending some time with her for us. None of that is at all surprising. What is surprising is the intense reaction I had to reading an account of such a meeting. The writer mentions a nameless little girl who wanted a hug, which she willingly provided. I don't know if it's all the sappy holiday music I've been hearing or maybe even PMS, but in reading this I couldn't stop myself from going a little off the deep end. Though I know that girl is not my child, I couldn't help but wonder if she might be. Regardless of who her parents are, I felt for a moment that she could be mine, and I was so happy to know that she was loving, and that she was loved... by a stranger. Even though she's not mine, someday someone will go to Vietnam and hug my daughter, and whether it is done with purpose or not, I'm saying Thank You in advance. I may know you, or I may not, but I am thankful for every person who takes the time to spend a moment with the children of the orphanages. Hug a kid when you make your trip...you'll brighten the day of more than just that child. And to Camille, a Dillon mom currently in Vietnam, and the aforementioned writer: Thank you.