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Loading ...Archive for January, 2008
Do you need anybody?
One of the happiest – and most informative – benefits of international adoption is memberhip in its online communities. There’s a user board for every country/region/city – every type of child – every demographic of parent. You name it - there’s a group of people who want to talk about it. Keith and I belong to dozens of online communities, including the Russian forum on adoption.com, Yahoo’s International Adoption in Texas, the Russian forum on Soul of Adoption, etc.
In the earlier stages of adoption, we learned as much from the user boards as we ever did from our agency. When we traveled on our second trip, we were thrilled to meet a fellow member in the American Embassy in Moscow. Since we’ve been home, we’ve been happy to build friendships – real friendships – with people we know only through user boards, forums, blogs and email. When I need practical advice, alphi86 is a few keystrokes away. I know I can’t be more tired than Votemom or Kay. Rachael and K8c make me smile, while some folks I’ve met through my blog….well, I’m praying instead of smiling because international adoption has not been for them the joy it has been for us.
Two of these online friends accomplished a little miracle for 70 children this holiday season. Dr. Rachael in Michigan – mom to four including a Russian adoptee- created and sold crafty items and sent the funds to K8c, an ex-pat living in St. Petersburg who also wants to adopt. K8c is a teacher who – on her own time – has invested countless hours in the lives of Russian orphans. K8c bought and distributed gifts to orphans with the money. No, K8c and Rachael have never met face to face. And just look what they did, stepping out of the cyber world to be Jesus with skin on.
My Rachel brought up the subject of friendship this weekend because she considers one of her friends more “liberal” than is she and yet, “Mom, we’re really tight.” Well, yes. Many of my friends through the years would be judged more “liberal” or “conservative” or whatever than am I and yet…..I’ve grown with all of them. Some of those friendships are active today, at work or at church (especially our Women on Wednesday class!) or online. Others began decades ago, having survived moves, marriages and maternity. I might make a new friend tomorrow on the bus ride downtown, or in the line at Target….or even through an email.
I have been blessed with absolutely wonderful friends – never more so than when we adopted Julia. Friends who notarized for us, and others who stood in line to do our apostilling in Austin. Friends who kept our kids while we traveled. Friends who bid on Guanna-to-be-Julia’s artwork (and benefited her orphanage.) Friends who gave her orphanage gifts, and friends who sent her welcome home gifts. And yes – friends we know only online who offered practical advice and kind words all along the way.
It’d be a cold world without friends to comfort us, cheer us and challenge us. I am thankful for the friends I can touch with my extended hands, and those I can reach with my flying fingers.
I think those 70 Russian orphans loved by Rachael (a world away) and K8c would agree with John, Paul, George and Ringo:
“Yes, I get by with a little help from my friends.”
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I’m In Love
You’ve heard the adage, “You can eat off my floors.” Well, I’ve always said that, too. But my meaning was a bit different. When other folks said that, what they really meant was, “My floors are so clean, you can eat off them.” What I meant was, “There’s so much food and funk down there – help yourself.”
For Christmas, Keith gifted me with two cleaning assistants – Scooba for the tile kitchen floor, and Roomba for the laminate floors. Each performs more enthusiastically than do my four two-legged cleaning assistants. Now, we still have to manually wipe/pick up the whole brussel sprouts, empty juice boxes, discarded kleenex, etc. that litter the floor – basically, the “chunkies” require human attention. But the robots can be trusted to pick up the smaller stuff, once the pathways are cleared and the virtual walls are set.
Roomba vacuums our bedroom. I am (easily) entertained, watching him weave in and out among the dust bunnies. The cool part: When he’s done, he returns to his docking station and settles down to re-charge. Sort of like plopping into the recliner with a Diet Coke.
When I used to whine for my mom to buy a dishwasher, she would say, “God gave me two dishwashers. Their names are Judy and Becky. Get going.” Now I suppose my kids will whine about having to refill Scooba’s tank, or empty Roomba’s lint filter. But whatever. I’m in love.
And yes – Scooba and Roomba are men. They have to be. Why? Because they do not multi-task. They do one thing, and one thing only. And when they’re finished, they stop.
It’s Over
Christmas is over. The girls and I spent the morning de-decorating – always a little sad to remove the lights, colors and memories from view. Rachel and I read the cards and letters one last time before pulling out pictures and checking for address updates. I love Christmas communiques – the more clever, newsy and/or festive, the better.
Yesterday: A Tinkerbell-topped wonder of kids’ crafts, science fair ribbons, spelling bee medals, volleyball pins, homemade garlands, ornaments and candy canes.
Today: Just another assembly-required box under the stairs. Keith’s job is to get the tree put up and taken down. Cool enough for long sleeves today – nice!
Put away for another season: Christmas Fiestaware, decorative goblets, Disney platters and serving bowls. When I first saw the Christmas Fiestaware in 1996, I wanted it soooo badly, but couldn’t justify a purchase. Keith had to convince me to buy some, and I am so glad he did. No other Christmas “thing” makes me as happy as getting these dishes out. and I do so the day after Thanksgiving. Note the paper Nativity in the middle of the table. Julia made it in Sunday School this year but dozens of meal splatters doomed it – I didn’t save it. Keith built our kitchen table, BTW, from floor boards of a tear-down house in Houston.
Julia understood a lot more about Christmas this year – where we go, what we do, whom we see – just what to expect. Last week – completely on her own – she started reciting her expectations for summer – “We will go see Sarah, and Granny and Grandpa, and we’ll go to the beach and Fiesta Texas and the pool.” The familiarity of home is all about expectations. She knows what to expect. She’s home.
Tomorrow, it’s back to work for Keith and me. (Sigh) Just a few hours of “holiday” left. It’ll be awhile before I get to hum “Carol of the Bells” again, or make caramel corn. Better start thinking about 2008 – Rachel will be a senior later this year, and Lois will start high school. Hannah wants to try drama, and Julia is making noises about a bigger bike. I’ve got a long list of books I want to read, and Keith has some ideas for the pond. Hey – sound like it could be a….
