Showing posts with label adoption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adoption. Show all posts
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Spirit of Christmas
Bah Humbug.
Christmas was always magical to me. We didn't have a lot growing up, but Mom always made sure we had wonderful Christmases. Christmas started earlier and earlier each year because when my parents were done "finding" all the presents from Santa, they would wake us up, even in the middle of the night.
Christmas "mornings" remind me of the many mornings of being awaken at 2 or 3 in the morning and my parents leading us to all of the presents Santa had managed to save up for most of the year. One whiff of coffee brewing brings me right back to that morning when I received a "real" china play set. I asked mom to put some water in the tea pot and she returned the tiny china to me with REAL coffee. My brothers wheeled up to my diner in their new Radio Flyer wagon.
Sadly the kids nowdays will never remember the smell of a new transistor radio. I should bottle that and sell it as perfume, I would make a fortune.
Thank you Mom for making Christmas so special.
I miss those days. I loved Christmastime even after I grew up. Twenty years ago I would decorate for days. I put up a live Christmas trees even when I lived alone.
Eighteen years ago last May, I was again newly married. In June my dad retired. In August he was diagnosed with liver cancer.
His last Christmas was also his last birthday. He turned 60 on December 25, 1991. He died just barely a month after that.
From that time until now, Christmas has been hard. Too much sadness and too much drama. Bob suffers his own Christmas nightmares, mine are more recent.
But by Christmas Eve, all that changes. My family has been been celebrating Christmas on Christmas Eve since we grew up enough to realize Santa had already visited.
Last week I found online a song that described my feelings about Christmas now. I found it here.
This precious girl who has an amazing voice now has a family who loves her after losing both of her parents. Her courage and strength amazes me.
I was hoping to embed her version within this post, but found that I couldn't. So I've embedded below the original song. It doesn't compare to Katie's version or her strength. God Bless this child. If she can look for hope at Christmas, surely the rest of us can also.
"Where Are You Christmas"
Words and music by James Horner
Copyright © 2000
Where are you Christmas
Why can't I find you
Why have you gone away
Where is the laughter
You used to bring me
Why can't I hear music play
My world is changing
I'm rearranging
Does that mean Christmas changes too?
Where are you Christmas
Do you remember
The one you used to know
I'm not the same one
See what the time's done
Is that why you have let me go
Christmas is here
Everywhere, oh
Christmas is here
If you care, oh
If there is love
In your heart and your mind
You will feel like Christmas all the time
I feel you Christmas
I know I've found you
You never fade away
The joy of Christmas
Stays here inside us
Fills each and every heart with love
Where are you Christmas
Fill your heart with love
SOOOO, wait. I just got this letter posted on my family web from my new niece who will legally be my niece on Wednesday morning...
Christmas was always magical to me. We didn't have a lot growing up, but Mom always made sure we had wonderful Christmases. Christmas started earlier and earlier each year because when my parents were done "finding" all the presents from Santa, they would wake us up, even in the middle of the night.
Christmas "mornings" remind me of the many mornings of being awaken at 2 or 3 in the morning and my parents leading us to all of the presents Santa had managed to save up for most of the year. One whiff of coffee brewing brings me right back to that morning when I received a "real" china play set. I asked mom to put some water in the tea pot and she returned the tiny china to me with REAL coffee. My brothers wheeled up to my diner in their new Radio Flyer wagon.
Sadly the kids nowdays will never remember the smell of a new transistor radio. I should bottle that and sell it as perfume, I would make a fortune.
Thank you Mom for making Christmas so special.
I miss those days. I loved Christmastime even after I grew up. Twenty years ago I would decorate for days. I put up a live Christmas trees even when I lived alone.
Eighteen years ago last May, I was again newly married. In June my dad retired. In August he was diagnosed with liver cancer.
His last Christmas was also his last birthday. He turned 60 on December 25, 1991. He died just barely a month after that.
From that time until now, Christmas has been hard. Too much sadness and too much drama. Bob suffers his own Christmas nightmares, mine are more recent.
But by Christmas Eve, all that changes. My family has been been celebrating Christmas on Christmas Eve since we grew up enough to realize Santa had already visited.
Last week I found online a song that described my feelings about Christmas now. I found it here.
This precious girl who has an amazing voice now has a family who loves her after losing both of her parents. Her courage and strength amazes me.
I was hoping to embed her version within this post, but found that I couldn't. So I've embedded below the original song. It doesn't compare to Katie's version or her strength. God Bless this child. If she can look for hope at Christmas, surely the rest of us can also.
"Where Are You Christmas"
Words and music by James Horner
Copyright © 2000
Where are you Christmas
Why can't I find you
Why have you gone away
Where is the laughter
You used to bring me
Why can't I hear music play
My world is changing
I'm rearranging
Does that mean Christmas changes too?
Where are you Christmas
Do you remember
The one you used to know
I'm not the same one
See what the time's done
Is that why you have let me go
Christmas is here
Everywhere, oh
Christmas is here
If you care, oh
If there is love
In your heart and your mind
You will feel like Christmas all the time
I feel you Christmas
I know I've found you
You never fade away
The joy of Christmas
Stays here inside us
Fills each and every heart with love
Where are you Christmas
Fill your heart with love
SOOOO, wait. I just got this letter posted on my family web from my new niece who will legally be my niece on Wednesday morning...
The marked out words said "but if I end up with another family, I'll never forget you. But I know that will never happen."
God Heals All Wounds. Never Forget It.
Dad, you would have loved your new great grandbaby girls.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Who's That Sleeping On My Floor
On Saturday morning, I never knew who to expect might be camping out in our living room. I was young, probably 12 or so. I cannot tell you how many mornings I would wake up and walk to our living room and find a kid or two sacked out under a blanket.
They were always friends of my brothers. Some had parents who really just didn't care about them, some were just lonely because they were only children. All were welcome in our house.
I had nearly forgotten about all those kids until last night. Most just stayed a night here and there, a couple lived with us for a month or two or three. I can't tell you how many there were, more than four, probably less than a dozen.
Not all of the stories had happy endings. Most grew up to be decent functioning adults, one ended up in prison. But none of them, none of them ever betrayed the trust my parents had placed in them by letting them stay at our house. I never remember feeling threatened, these kids were part of our family and when our dad lay dying years later, some returned to our house and reminisced about the old days. For many, my dad and mom were the only true parents they had ever really known.
Nearly a year ago my mother told me that my niece and her husband were thinking about adopting two little girls. Given the number of "stray" kids that were part of my upbringing, I would have assumed that my first reaction would have been a big smile. I hate to admit it, but my first reaction was that my niece didn't realize what she may be getting herself into. I worried.
But oh, how I underestimated my niece's instinct along with the joy these two precious girls would bring in my own life.
In a week and a half these two little girls will forever be legally tied to our family. But they have been tied to our hearts from the very first meeting.
Which leads me to another story. Imagine taking in a kid off the street. A teenager, a black kid in a white millionaire neighborhood. A kid who was homeless, whose mother was an addict and a background you were unfamiliar with.
I would love to believe that my heart and faith would be bigger than my fear of the unknown. I want to be that person, but I know I will never be.
But there are some people who do the right thing, no matter what. There are people in this world who turn a blind eye to the fear of taking in a troubled teenager.
Last night we went to see The Blind Side. A true story of the Touhy family who took in Michael Oher. A VERY big black teenager who had no home. They brought him in their millionaire neighborhood, fed, clothed him and changed his life.
What would have become of Michael Oher had this family been too fearful to let him into their home with their teenage daughter and young son?
I don't know the answer to that, but I would bet everything I own that his life would not have turned out like it has.
Obviously Michael Oher was a special kid, not letting his early life affect how he percieved the world, but then so are the Touhy's.
The movie was wonderful from start to finish. It would have been a great fictional story, but it's not fiction. It's too amazing to be fiction.
If you haven't yet, go see The Blind Side. It will just make you hopeful that you might be able to change one person's life.
My niece is changing two.
They were always friends of my brothers. Some had parents who really just didn't care about them, some were just lonely because they were only children. All were welcome in our house.
I had nearly forgotten about all those kids until last night. Most just stayed a night here and there, a couple lived with us for a month or two or three. I can't tell you how many there were, more than four, probably less than a dozen.
Not all of the stories had happy endings. Most grew up to be decent functioning adults, one ended up in prison. But none of them, none of them ever betrayed the trust my parents had placed in them by letting them stay at our house. I never remember feeling threatened, these kids were part of our family and when our dad lay dying years later, some returned to our house and reminisced about the old days. For many, my dad and mom were the only true parents they had ever really known.
Nearly a year ago my mother told me that my niece and her husband were thinking about adopting two little girls. Given the number of "stray" kids that were part of my upbringing, I would have assumed that my first reaction would have been a big smile. I hate to admit it, but my first reaction was that my niece didn't realize what she may be getting herself into. I worried.
But oh, how I underestimated my niece's instinct along with the joy these two precious girls would bring in my own life.
In a week and a half these two little girls will forever be legally tied to our family. But they have been tied to our hearts from the very first meeting.
Which leads me to another story. Imagine taking in a kid off the street. A teenager, a black kid in a white millionaire neighborhood. A kid who was homeless, whose mother was an addict and a background you were unfamiliar with.
I would love to believe that my heart and faith would be bigger than my fear of the unknown. I want to be that person, but I know I will never be.
But there are some people who do the right thing, no matter what. There are people in this world who turn a blind eye to the fear of taking in a troubled teenager.
Last night we went to see The Blind Side. A true story of the Touhy family who took in Michael Oher. A VERY big black teenager who had no home. They brought him in their millionaire neighborhood, fed, clothed him and changed his life.
What would have become of Michael Oher had this family been too fearful to let him into their home with their teenage daughter and young son?
I don't know the answer to that, but I would bet everything I own that his life would not have turned out like it has.
Obviously Michael Oher was a special kid, not letting his early life affect how he percieved the world, but then so are the Touhy's.
The movie was wonderful from start to finish. It would have been a great fictional story, but it's not fiction. It's too amazing to be fiction.
If you haven't yet, go see The Blind Side. It will just make you hopeful that you might be able to change one person's life.
My niece is changing two.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Losing My Husband
We've been married 18 years.
And yet, in one short weekend he fell for another girl.
Oh, it was so obvious from the moment he saw her. No one could mistake that look.
She's used to wrapping men around her little finger. At first she tried to play hard to get. And she even started out getting me to participate in her little scheme of capturing my husband's heart.
She whispers in my ear, "Tell Michael I'm afraid of vacuum cleaners."
I was confused, there was no Michael (yet) in the house. I said, "Who's Michael?" She points her tiny fingers at Bob.
I said, "That's not Michael, that's your new Uncle Bobby."
She whispers again,, "Tell Uncle Bobby I'm afraid of vacuum cleaners." I told him, even though there were no vacuum cleaners in sight and I'm not sure why that tidbit was important.
Yes, he fell in love, actually with two girls. As did I.
I mean, do you know anyone who couldn't fall in love with this smile?
And yet, in one short weekend he fell for another girl.
Oh, it was so obvious from the moment he saw her. No one could mistake that look.
She's used to wrapping men around her little finger. At first she tried to play hard to get. And she even started out getting me to participate in her little scheme of capturing my husband's heart.
She whispers in my ear, "Tell Michael I'm afraid of vacuum cleaners."
I was confused, there was no Michael (yet) in the house. I said, "Who's Michael?" She points her tiny fingers at Bob.
I said, "That's not Michael, that's your new Uncle Bobby."
She whispers again,, "Tell Uncle Bobby I'm afraid of vacuum cleaners." I told him, even though there were no vacuum cleaners in sight and I'm not sure why that tidbit was important.
Yes, he fell in love, actually with two girls. As did I.
I mean, do you know anyone who couldn't fall in love with this smile?
Or these eyes?
Yeah, I lost my husband this weekend. Two sweet precious girls stole his heart away while I was distracted with them stealing mine.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Families come in all shapes, sizes, colors and places - Updated
Over the course of my life I have learned each year how incredibly blessed I am to have such a wonderful family.
As a kid, you just simply can't appreciate the things that make it wonderful, but as I've been exposed to other family situations, I have found that we are actually very unique.
Growing up, we were like ordinary kids, arguing, fighting, etc. My brother Mark hated me. Took me until I was 13 to figure out that it was only because I took the "baby" title away from him when he was 4. Sorry Mark, I didn't have a whole lot of input in that, blame Mom and Dad.
Anyway each year we get closer and closer. I suppose we got all of our fighting and arguing out as kids.
And over the years our family keeps growing. Some are born into it, some are married into it, a couple of girls started out as my co-workers but have developed into daughters of my heart. I have a nephew that our family "married" when his mother married my brother, I have another "nephew" that my sister "adopted" when he was here from India getting his masters at Purdue. He and his wife have truely become family although he lives on the other side of the earth.
We are about to get two new members to our family. Most of us has not yet seen them, but a precious little miracle is about to occur in the lives of two little girls who were not as blessed as we were with growing up with loving caring parents. The oldest one is so excited she left a message for her new "mom". The message here has only been edited to leave my new niece's name private.
What I love most about my family is that none of us put restrictions on who we consider family. We don't bother with who has the actual family gene because we realize that those that don't have our "gene" have been given to us by God, not biology.
Congratulations to the new mom and dad. I can't wait to see my new two nieces. Go easy, it will be a big and wonderful adjustment which will enrich two little girls lives in ways that they cannot yet imagine.
UPDATED: The girls have been having "visits" this week with their new mom and dad. Looks like they will be moved permanently this weekend and they'll get their first visit from their new Grandma and Grandpa!!!!
Can't wait till Aunt Rita gets to see them. And I know I'll be their favorite aunt!!!!
As a kid, you just simply can't appreciate the things that make it wonderful, but as I've been exposed to other family situations, I have found that we are actually very unique.
Growing up, we were like ordinary kids, arguing, fighting, etc. My brother Mark hated me. Took me until I was 13 to figure out that it was only because I took the "baby" title away from him when he was 4. Sorry Mark, I didn't have a whole lot of input in that, blame Mom and Dad.
Anyway each year we get closer and closer. I suppose we got all of our fighting and arguing out as kids.
And over the years our family keeps growing. Some are born into it, some are married into it, a couple of girls started out as my co-workers but have developed into daughters of my heart. I have a nephew that our family "married" when his mother married my brother, I have another "nephew" that my sister "adopted" when he was here from India getting his masters at Purdue. He and his wife have truely become family although he lives on the other side of the earth.
We are about to get two new members to our family. Most of us has not yet seen them, but a precious little miracle is about to occur in the lives of two little girls who were not as blessed as we were with growing up with loving caring parents. The oldest one is so excited she left a message for her new "mom". The message here has only been edited to leave my new niece's name private.
What I love most about my family is that none of us put restrictions on who we consider family. We don't bother with who has the actual family gene because we realize that those that don't have our "gene" have been given to us by God, not biology.
Congratulations to the new mom and dad. I can't wait to see my new two nieces. Go easy, it will be a big and wonderful adjustment which will enrich two little girls lives in ways that they cannot yet imagine.
UPDATED: The girls have been having "visits" this week with their new mom and dad. Looks like they will be moved permanently this weekend and they'll get their first visit from their new Grandma and Grandpa!!!!
Can't wait till Aunt Rita gets to see them. And I know I'll be their favorite aunt!!!!
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