Thursday, December 24, 2009

Yeah...

So I've been a little absent...the reasons why...
-Sea Salt Truffles -click on it for the reciepe
-Apple Pies - my favorite holiday treat
-An 11 year with an attitude that could peel paint off a wall
-only doing handmade gifts this year (exceept for Russ-just couldn't figure out how to make what he needed)
-A 16 year old who thinks the world revolves around her
-And on top of all that, I'm working out 3-4 times a week and really focused on my health
Time to run...

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Christmas is coming...

Here is a small little detail about adopting that no one discloses to you...
-Holidays without your kids are hard.
Okay, I don't know who would be in charge of disclosing this. Or if they could really prepare you. Or if you'd listen in the excitement of getting paperwork together.
Last year was hard. However, they were just an idea. They were pictures. They were 2D.
This year. We know what they feel like in our arms. We know their laugh. We know how much they'd love the Christmas lights, staying up till midnight on Christmas Eve, the turkey and rolls, sitting on Grandpa's lap, and being here surrounded by family that loves and adores them. We want to share this with them. We want to see their face on Christmas morning. We want a complete family for Christmas. We want to be together. And while our Christmas morning will be like years before, it will be hollow without Re and Er. Hollow is the best word I have to describe it.
And while we will enjoy moments with Ce and P, and we will experience joy and peace, it will all be twinged with the sadness that we are separated from the ones we love. And yet, we know that Christmas is a time of sadness, hurt and pain for many other people. A time to remember those who are gone from their lives. A time to remember that which is painful. A time to endure. We know that God desires more for us. He desires a life of joy, even in times of sadness. He says he is present at all times. And that he came to earth, not just for a salvation moment, but a lifetime relationship. A God who knows our pain, who has endured that pain, and who promises to redeem our pain, and desires to have us rest in his promises. And that is the joy that can overshadow any sorrow we have.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

48 hours - The Lost Children

If you got to watch this, I'd love to hear your thoughts. If you didn't, here is the story. It's heartbreaking. It's devastating. It's WRONG! It makes me angry. It scares me. It makes me angry again. Angry for the children. Angry for the birth parents. Angry for the adopting parents.
This is the reason why adopting internationally is risky. It's the reason signatures are double checked. It is the reason birth parents should be interviewed. It's the reason both governments MUST act responsibility. It is the horror story of any parent who adopts. That they one day will discover their child is not truly theirs.
It's the story of adoption in Samoa. The adoption of children who were NOT true orphans. The story of a organization that lacked integrity, and two governments that failed the children involved.
Focus on Children acted wrongly. They lied. They elaborated. They weren't honest with birth parents or adoptive families. They called adoption a 'program'. They promised the children would return. They promised pictures and updates to the birth parents. They LIED.
They lied to adoptive parents. They said their children were orphans. That they had no family to care for them. The deceit is sickening. And what is even more sickening, there were questions about the integrity of the program - and it continued. Until a child died.
And children were telling their new parents about their birth parents. Birth parents that didn't exist. That shouldn't be remembered. And then it was too late to fix the mistakes.
And then, 57 adoptive parents are faced with a difficult decision. What is best for the child? Return to the birth family, living in less than ideal living conditions (according to our American standards)? Or a life here in America? With privileges and opportunities not available otherwise. Do you right the wrong? Traumatize the child again? If you were the birth parent, what choice is right? If you are the adoptive parent, what is the right choice? Who legally has a 'right' to this child? Do we have 'rights' to another human? What is the criteria to make such a decision?
One family took their daughter back to Samoa to visit. And left without her. Because it was right for her. She belonged with her family, her birth family. One family vows to fight for their child. To hold up their end of the bargain, to be a forever family - no matter what. One family is encouraging and allowing a relationship with the birth family. I don't know that one answer is better than another. Hopefully it's what is best for each child.
I have a friend whose children went back to the birth parents. Not here in the States, with CSD overlooking these parents. Not in a country with social services to be sure there was at least food on the table. Not in a country with safety nets. Heartbreaking, and yet joyous. Heartbreaking for her. Joyous for the birth parents. They are able to have their family complete. And yet, there is a part of my heart that wonders what life they would have had here, instead of in a third world country.
This story is a sad testament to the fact that adoption is a business. It's a financial and legal transaction. Albeit, an emotional one. And it's a business that MUST be properly overseen. There must be checks and balances in place. There must be oversight that keeps this from happening again. In another country. With other children.
And while I wish my kids were here now, I wouldn't want to bypass all the legal checks and balances in place. They matter. They reassure me and my kids- they truly were orphaned. Their mother really did die. Their father really couldn't care for them. The father understood the decision he was making. He agreed this was best for them. He choose this for them, as a loving parent. This is also the reason to choose carefully, wisely, and prayerfully the people who will be facilitating your adoption. No judgement on the adoptive families involved in this story. But more a lesson learned. And a reason to be thankful for the process that is in place to protect my children.

Thankful for...

Because gratefulness brings contentment - and I'm struggling to be content.

I'm thankful for:

-Heat, Electric blankets, kids to cuddle with, warm coats, gloves, hats, mittens, car heaters, warm socks, hot water, warm food, hot coffee, anything else that takes this chill off.

-Coffee - wonderful, glorious coffee. You, my friend, have always served me well. Your richness, your boldness, the ritual of creating the perfect cup of you, the first taste, the slow enjoyment of a cup, the order you bring to my brain, and how you smell. Oh, how you smell. Heaven will smell like you, fresh roasted, fresh ground and french pressed.

-Lovely, healthy, cheap food. The ability to go to a grocery store and purchase fresh fruits, to have a selection of proteins, and we won't mention the variety of coffee creamer available. To have choices about the food we eat. To have 5 different lettuces to choose from. To have 4 different brands of peanut butter. To have whole grain bread, skinny cow ice cream and carrots all available and affordable.

-Electricity - to post on my blog, to have light at night, to watch another episode of The Office, to bake a cake, cook dinner, and all without wondering how to pay for it or if it will continue to work.

Okay, feeling a little better. So much to be thankful for. It's easy to get distracted by all that I feel I have to go without some days. By the lack of disposable income to take vacations, or go out to eat, or buy new furniture. Or the lack of ability to buy whatever my heart currently desires. However, I've come to realize that buying everything your heart desires only creates a heart that always desires more stuff. But some days I can't help but long for a bank account with a few more zero's. Instead I will be thankful for the huge amount of blessings I do have. And recognize that this too shall pass.