Baby A's first care package

Funny to call our little one "A". That was my Dad's nickname for me. "A" or "Little A." I miss my Dad and wish he could have been at our wedding or meet my daughter. But I know he is around me whether up above and looking down or reincarnated into a pretty high being! I love you Dad!

So will need to post a photo of care package. The one I have now has her photo on it and I have to wait until court date to post those! Pretty little green sundress, a pink "lovie" with a teddy bear head (aka security blanket) and a photo album that she can chew on and look at with photos of Mamma and Pappa and her new home, the cool playground across the street at Project Enlightment and some other family photos.

Lots of positive and then some negative stuff from folks. A dear older friend of mine and his wife have been trying to talk us out of our adoption. Telling us about articles and television shows they have seen with scary adoption stories. Deep down, I know they love and care for Patrick and I completely. And want to protect us in some way. But it is border line rude and I am just trying to be as polite as possible. And some of this was at a funeral today, no less. Geez people. Give me a break. I hope they don't push me to the edge. Again, more yoga. Practice in patience, love, compassion..... maybe more practice for being a Mom. Just breathe.

On the sweet side.................My brother who I love so much sent me the nicest email. So I have to post it so it doesn't get lost in my email and I won't forget it. It brought me to tears.

I was picking up a sandwich at the café and heard in the background the lyrics to the Natalie Merchant song “These Are the Days”----“we are blessed and lucky”----it reminded me that good fortune such as Maya coming your way involves both a blessing and luck (as well as a lot of patience)! Anywho, at the risk of seeming cheezy and sentimental, the lyrics of this song resonated with me today in the context of your great news --- and I thought I would share them with you..

never before and never since,
I promise
will the whole world be warm as this
and as you feel it,
you'll know it's true
that you
are blessed and lucky
it's true,
that you
are touched by something
that will grow and bloom in you
these are days you'll remember
when May is rushing over you with desire
to be part of the miracles you see in every hour
you'll know it's true,
that you
are blessed and lucky
it's true,
that you
are touched by something
that will grow and bloom in you
these are the days
that you might fill with laughter
until you break
these days you might feel a shaft of light
make its way across your face
and when you do
you'll know how it was meant to be
see the signs and know their meaning
you'll know how it was meant to be
hear the signs and know they're speaking to you
to you

Referral!

We are over the moon! We got a referral yesterday for a little girl "A" - I have no idea how to pronounce her name! And it does not matter - she is beautiful. Ten months old and living in the Addis Ababa Care Center in Ethiopia. She is a chunky little thing with huge eyes and elfin ears. You can just tell she is Ms. Personality!

Of course, the first thing I did was to begin thinking about court and if we will we make it before the rainy season begins. I can already see my tendency to begin thinking of the worse which will make the next couple of months - this entire summer to be exact - unpleasant. I cannot do that to myself.

So here is the deal. We should get a court date in the next week or two - the date that is - with the actual court date 6-8 weeks into the future. Then we hope and pray, we only have one court date. Over 50% of families have 2, 3 or 4 court dates if pieces of paper or information is missing from the file - some comes from agency and some from Ministry of Women (MOWA). Court dates can be close together or far apart and then several weeks before the embassy date where we will be with our daughter (I like the way that sounds). At best, 3 months, at worst 4 months or more. So will just try to remain positive. I need to practice that some more.

For now, I am just enjoying googling at the photos and video of our daughter. We have had several referrals before but this felt completely right..... for me and for Pat.

Feeling incredibly blessed today!

Others are Waiting too

I had an especially trying couple of days. My patience wears ever thin. And then someone on the IAG Ethiopia listserve reminded me that there are folks waiting on court dates, court decrees, embassy dates and six or more of us waiting on referrals at present. So not only in the waiting.

Good Advice

It is helpful to have reminders from all my friends who have adopted to do the fun stuff now! Quit stressing and do the things that you may be too busy to do when the little person is here.

So, lets see. Patrick and I have an Outer Banks trip planned for May right before summer school starts. There is a girl's weekend in Myrtle Beach over Memorial Day weekend. Summer school will definitely keep me slammed! And I have been helping to plan my inlaws 50th Anniversary trip which will be to the Carribean in December. Really looking forward to that especially as the little person will be with us.

This semester I have had no academic classes and taught no yoga so I've had too much time for my mind to go crazy! Really trying to focus on the present and everything that is positive and beautiful right in front of me.

Some unfortunate news on the Russia front with a Tennessee woman who adopted a 7 year old boy and tried to send him back to Moskow on a flight by himself. Geez. I realize there are many pieces to that puzzle but what a disaster - troubled child, lack of information or probably deception on some level. But it hurts me heart to think of this child, no matter what his deal is, being given up again. Trying to concentrate on loving the person without condoning their actions. This is a hard one! Now it looks like a hold on Russian adoptions. I feel so bad for the families who are there or waiting and are now in crazy limbo. I remember that in fall 2008 when Kazakhstan had a pause - not over allegations but due to change in Embassy administration. Regardless, this pause was so hard to wait through and made the process so much slower. But I remember that feeling of helplessness. Sending prayers and positive thoughts to these families and individuals.

Guess What - Still Waiting

Six weeks and no call. I thought this would be much faster. Indeed, I think our agency did as well. Apparently, no new little people have come into the IAG care center. Trying so hard to be patient. Last night, a wave of anger or annoyance came over me from the middle of nowhere. Irritated by every and anything anyone said or did. Today is Patrick's 47th birthday and I was hopeful that - just maybe- we would hear something today. Who knows, the day is young. But, I don't want to dissapoint myself either. So, we just keep waiting and meditating on patience.