10 Years - Happy Anniversary??

Thanks to an online friend who reminded me of this!

10 years ago today I started this journey.  I sat in a small room in Burlington with many other expectant and excited and anxious people, watching the video footage of a family meeting their child in China for the first time, wondering if this was the right journey for me.  What I didn't know then was where I would end up.  10 years ago, I had a different job, different friends, I lived in a different house, I had a different life.  This journey has changed me.  

Grace has brought excitement and craziness and mess into my life that was already crazy and messy.  

10 years is a long time to get to where you want to be in life.  I will not deny that I was bitter about the wait, really really bitter.  Life felt very unfair for many years waiting for Grace, getting older and more anxious about the outcome with every set-back.  

But I took a leap of faith to start this process, and it was my faith that kept me in it.  Unfortunately I often go days without thanking God for Grace but every time I get a reminder (like this anniversary date) I am completely humbled by the priviledge I have been given by God, by China.  Grace was definitely worth the wait!  A year and a half into parenting and I'm still in the "pinch me" stage most days.  I can't believe I'm actually a mom, although if you saw how tired and frazzled I am, you wouldn't doubt it for a second!!LOL

This process?  This journey?  This past 10 years?Exciting at the beginning, hard in the middle, amazing at the end.  And that pretty much sums it up.

What is Love?

My open letter to Grace.  I must confess, the idea was not entirely my own.  I was prompted by another mother's writing. :)

Dear Grace

What does Valentine's Day mean?  It's a day to show our love for the people we care most about.

What is love?  Is it fancy cards or chocolates or flowers?

Before I met you I thought love was a connection, a feeling shared between two people.  Now I know that love is even bigger than that.

Love is more than just a feeling.  It is a state of being.  Alone, I am just a tired, stressed out mom.  
Together we are love.

Love is handprints on the window, cheerios on the floor and Barney on the TV, one more time.

Love is toys under my feet, toes digging into my ribs and bags under my eyes.

 I say it again and again and one day you will understand when I say, I can no longer remember my life before you nor imagine my life without you.

That is love.


 

Chinese New Year 2014

Happy New Year!  Gung Hei Fat Choy!

Picked up my latest collection of photos today, Grace dressed in the outfit my parents bought for her in China.  It's just beautiful.  We celebrated the New Year a little more quietly this year, ordering in Chinese with my parents and tomorrow a small gathering with friends to celebrate the New Year.  I'll post more photos this week.  We'll go back to hosting a bigger Chinese dinner at some point, I just wasn't up to it this year.  Timing wise, it came during the same week as report cards, I have a book fair going on at school and pretty much everyone is sick with something.  Next year I will do it big again!  Enjoy the photos!

Forget the money!  She's looking for chocolate coins in her red envelope!

My Little Helper

Grace, hard at work helping around the house!  

Of course, after all that hard work you gotta sit down and have a snack!!!LOL