Legacy Of An Adopted Child

Legacy Of An Adopted Child

Once there were two women

Who never knew each other

One you do not remember

The other you call Mother.

Two different lives

Shaped to make yours one.

One became your guiding star

The other became your sun.

The first gave you life

And the second taught you to live in it.

The first gave you a need for love

And the second was there to give it.

One gave you a nationality

The other gave you a name

One gave you the seed of talent

The other gave you aim.

One gave you emotions

The other calmed your fears

One saw your first sweet smile

The other dried your tears.

One gave you up-

It was all that she could do.

The other prayed for a child

And God led her straight to you.

And now as you ask me

Through your tears,

The age-old questions

Through the years;

Heredity or environment-

Which are you the product of?

Neither, my darling - neither

Just two different kinds of love.

--Anonymous (I think!)

My new favorite book (for this month at least)

I change favorite books like some people change clothes. These days I mostly read children's books. (One, because I'm brain-numb from reading too many tax forms. Two, because it makes me feel closer to being a mom.) This book is an absolute treasure...I love the colors. I love the story. I almost even love bugs when I'm reading this book. And, if you know me at all, that says a lot.

"For finding your mother,

There's one certain test.

You must look for the creature

Who loves you the best."

Thanks Sue, for thinking of me. You've been a blessing during this long wait (and during our earlier IF struggles). I'm lucky to have a friend like you.

***Wishing our Dossier in China

a Happy 16 Months LID***

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

This won't be true for our Kayla of course. Everyone will love to have the most adorable, smartest, perfect little angel around.

(I'm going to lose all my friends if I keep this up, aren't I?)

Ladybugs Cause L.A. Museum Evacuation

Did anyone else see this story last week? I can't help but think it was some rogue member on the APC yahoo group wanting to cause a stir about our superstitions that left the bag o' bugs...but the jokes on them! Referrals came the same week. Luck of the Ladybug.

Ladybugs Cause L.A. Museum Evacuation
Written for the web by Jason Kobely, Internet News Producer
E-mail Story
Print Story

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A crowded surrealism exhibit in Los Angeles got slightly more surreal after an unattended bag set off an evacuation.The unattended bag was filled with ladybugs.A guard noticed the insects escaping from a Ziploc bag during the Rene Magritte exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.The galleries were evacuated while workers cleaned away the bugs. Visitors were allowed back about 15 minutes after Friday's incident began.Museum officials said they don't know who left the ladybugs or why

Remember the List?

Click here to see where we started...and below is a picture of where we are now...only 5 groups (in our agency) have been waiting longer than us. It could take anywhere from 3 to 6 months...or somewhere in between. The winds of change are in the air.

This month's referrals arrived on Monday

It looks like the cutoff for the most part was October 24, 2005. We're LID exactly one month after that.

By way of the referral date estimator on Bright Outlooks, if the CCAA refers at least 9 days worth every batch from here until ours...we will receive a referral early in July. If they can squeak out at least 11 days a batch, we may see our referral early in June. Anything more than that would just be a wonderful surprise.

Tales from the Zebras

I believe I've mentioned on here that me and Bobby teach a class of three year olds (or should I say try to control the chaos) on Sunday mornings. The young kids have safari themed classroom names. We are head of the Zebras. We started this adventure back in the fall. I thought it might be fun to share some of my Sunday safari tales occasionally if you'll humor me.

Lesson learned this week:

"Mom" = behind the scenes. "Dad" = superstar.

You might wonder how I've come by this equation. Well, after several months now of teaching this class you would think the kids would have learned our names. Instead, they have learned the name"Mr. Bobby" quite well...but still insist on calling me "the Other One" or sometimes the affectionate variation "the Girl One".

To be sure, I do not blame this on the kids in the slightest. I place this squarely on "Mr. Bobby's" shoulders. You see, early on when the kids were asking where the "Boy One" was...I would correct them by saying, "Do you mean Mr. Bobby? He's coming right behind me....". However, this week I noticed that the kids still don't know my name (I've even stooped so low as to point to the picture on my volunteer tag and say...Look! That's Ms. Shannon's picture. I get blank stares in return as they wonder in their little heads, "who the heck is Ms. Shannon? Hey Other One can I have another cracker?")...and worse "Mr. Bobby" encourages the "Girl One" mentality because of course now he knows he's really ticking me off. And there is nothing the "Boy One" loves to do more than push the "Girl One's" buttons.


However, there is an unexpected benefit to this. I get the last laugh when the kids insist that Mr. Bobby! I need to go pee. Mr. Bobby! Will you help me blow my nose? Mr Bobby! You help me flatten my germ infested play-doh. Mr Bobby! You read me the three hundred page book in five minutes.

So to all the women who think they are invisible to their kids, you probably are...but it's probably your husband's fault.