The Past

Within the past week, I have done a lot of thinking. Maybe it is the finalization of the adoption. I am sure much of it is waiting for Flora's referral. With the arrival of Flora's picture, I couldn't escape the memories, mostly bad, of waiting for Fin. It seemed to take an unfathomable length of time to get to her, and it has increased so much for waiting families since then. Fin was so wanted and waited for, but when I opened the envelope that held her pictures, what I saw was an unfamiliar child who looked rather angry and scared. The daughter in my mind was in motion, always playing or laughing or running. This was a booking photo of a child who didn't understand the changes ready to occur in her life.

I am forever grateful to her foster parents for two packets of pictures showing Fin as a baby and close to her referral time. They show a happy and loved child full of the vivacious spirit that I know. That is my daughter; the one who rolls her eyes when I sing, laughs loudly and often, and swears she is going to be a "cowboy-girl" when she grows up is in those family pictures, not in that referral picture. But, I can't forget that the difficult transition she made is part of her life's journey, it just will not be the thing that defines her. She is so much more.

Fin's Referral Picture:


Fin in China:




Fin Now:

The Goddess of Spring Arrives!

I am so honored to post this picture of Miss Flora, who was just referred to my friend Ellen to become part of her family.



Ellen and her husband and daughters have waited so long for this. They were logged in less than 4 months after me and now, 19 months since my referral, they finally get to see Flora's face. I don't know how they sustained, but I am in awe of the whole family. Here's to a quick TA so that they can have her in their arms by year end!

You can follow their journey, and see more picture, here.

Fin Flips for Voting

VOTER FRAUD REPORTED IN VIRGINIA!

This person is obviously too young to vote!



I mean, weren't they clued in when she pulled up on a tricycle with a driver's license made out of construction paper and My Little Pony stickers?

So, Fin went with me to vote this morning. I waited until mid-morning because my polling place had a line out to the street before work. We ended up waiting only about 20 minutes and it was quite a lovely experience.

I usually hate voting because of the gauntlet of campaign workers and pollsters that line the sidewalk. I am not mad at them, but at the voters who are so uninformed that they could actually be swayed by a last minute flyer shoved into their hand. Today, there was one small table for each party and the workers only thanked me for coming out to vote, didn't even try to hand me anything, and they sat talking and laughing across the sidewalk with each other. This country would be such a better place if the actual politicians treated each other with that kind of courtesy.

Everyone in line was patient and chatting with their neighbors. When the election officials would give out a "whoop!" for a first time voter checking in, they got smiles and thumbs up from the line. And there were lots of first time voters there, including one man I saw who was older than me. It was amazing to see everyone as excited about the outcome of an election as they usually are about the outcome of American Idol or the Superbowl.

Happy Election Day, everyone!

A Day at the Farm as Mom and Daughter

Well, it's official. The Commonwealth of Virginia has recognized our adoption. That's it. No more attorneys, paralegals, social workers, or immigration officials... and no more PAYING these people to tell me that my daughter is my daughter. A little resentment there? You betcha. The woman cussing at her kid in the Walmart toy department? No requirements for her to be a parent. The guy who drinks a couple or a few beers at Ruby Tuesdays then drives his kids home? No requirements for him to be a parent. Me? Background checks, financial checks, references, home visits, fingerprinting... ad nauseum for YEARS so that I can be allowed to be a parent. Don't get me wrong, Fin is totally worth it and I am glad that kids are being protected. But, wouldn't it be nice if the next time you were in Hellmart and someone starts screaming at their kids you could ask them if they have parenting references handy?

On to the fun stuff. Today was a gorgeous day so Fin and I went out to a local fun farm so she could take a hay ride, play in the hay pile, feed the goats, jump in inflatables, play on the playground, ride carnival rides, and ride a pony. Remember that, all of the stuff she did.

Giant, inflatable caterpillar:


Fin "trapped" in giant, inflatable caterpillar:


Fin squeezing out of the caterpillar's rear end:
Really, they couldn't have come up with a better design? Eeew.

I nicknamed the goat "treat" and the sheep "trick". Can you guess why?


Pretty girl on a hayride:


Dramatically collapsed in the hay:


A moment later:


A picture to freak out Grandma. That's Fin. That speck on the stairs.


Obligatory pony ride picture:


Videos

Riding the big slide:


Defensive Goat Feeding 101:


There were horses visible on the hayride. Oh, joy. Round 1:


Round 2:


So, a pretty good day, right? On the way home, I asked Fin her favorite part. "Lightening McQueen," she said immediately. You see, I found her missing Cars DVD and let her watch it this morning. Oh well. I try.