This Reminds Me

Archive for May, 2009

We celebrated our third Sister’s Day today, remembering when Julia came home from Russia and became not only our daughter, but also the sister of Rachel, Lois and Hannah.  That sibling relationship and subsequent attachment has been every bit as important as her relationship and subsequent attachment to Keith and me.  We were a “unit” before she arrived; we weren’t interested in just adding another child.  We wanted to expand our family – all of it.  So while most adoptive families celebrate “Gotcha Day,” we celebrate “Sister’s Day,” in whatever fashion (within reason) the girls choose.

The girls chose lunch at Chili’s, followed the new movie Up, then a trip to Borders.    Up chronicled the adventure of an elderly man and a young boy discovering the real meaning of family in a foreign country.  Rachel, Lois and Hannah cried.  I could have.   It’s just a great movie, and perfect for today.  I particularly related to a scene where the elderly man reads a newly-discovered wish from his much-treasured, deceased bride:  “Thanks for the adventure.  Now go have another.”   Keith and I had ours in St. Petersburg three years ago, called by God, and spurred by the thought that we didn’t want to lament on our death beds, “Oh, I wish I had…..”

Rachel got a special “Chicken Soup for the Soul Celebrates Sisters” book to mark her upcoming graduation, inscribed by each sister – including Julia.  Who, by the way (and surely not to brag) was rated “Advanced – High” or “Advanced” on every category of her end-of-school-year Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System” examination. 

Hannah surprised each sister – plus Keith and me – with handmade cards and a chocolate treat in each.  Julia waited about 10 seconds to scarf the Nestle’s Crunch bar.

Today was special at church, too, with Senior Sunday, and Rachel’s recognition with other graduating high schoolers.

Part of the recognition at church included a slide show with “way back” pictures of each graduate.  Rachel and I included this one, to surprise Keith – whose beard might have been a little scary to his firstborn.

The Shearer Hills Baptist Church Youth Choir led us in worship today, too.  That’s Lois in black on the far right, then friend Brooke and Rachel.  and Hannah half-hidden behind Rachel.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I thank my God when I remember you

For he has blessed my life with yours

In every prayer of mine for you

I’m filled with joy for I hold you

I hold you in my heart.

And yes, girls – I do thank my God when I remember you, for he has blessed my life with yours.  In every prayer of mine for you, I’m filled with joy, for I hold you in my heart.

I love all four of you.  Happy Sister’s Day.   xoxoxo yo mama

As promised…..here’s my second un-techy texting tip for parents with AT&T wireless service.  Which you should have.  And if you don’t, you need to ping me immediately so I can hook you up.

Texting By Email – Presented on CalmCoolConnected

(another virtual hang out)

Texting by email saves me a ton of time.  Rachel, Lois or Hannah often send me long, multi-part texts while I’m at work or home.  Strains my eyesight just to read the darned things.   Think I’m going to sit there and poke out letters to reply on my teensy cell phone keypad?   Faghetaboutit.  I email them back a text.

You know I live for comments.  Love comments.  Want to marry comments.  So please visit CalmCoolConnected – enjoy the short video – and….

I hate to cry.  Always have.  But this time next year, I’m planning a nose-blowing, eye-wiping blubber fest when Hannah last performs with the Bush Middle School choir.  For the final song of the school year – “The Lord Bless You and Keep You” – alumni join the graded choirs on stage.  Like Rachel and Lois tonight.

I first experienced this beautiful blending in 2003 with sixth-grader Rachel.  I’ve missed two performances.  In 2005, Keith called me on his cell (discreetly hidden in his lap) so I could harmonize in a lonely Chicago hotel room.  In 2006, we were in Russia.

My three favorite altos, on the end in the back – as Woodworths often are.  The seven-part “Amen” speaks to my soul.

It’d be nice to think Julia might join the choir in a few years, but – as Keith so aptly commented during a road trip when all four girls were singing – “So, you think art for Julia in middle school?”

Until next May, choir – The Lord bless you and keep you, too.   I’ll see you then.  And you’ll see a big wad of Kleenex catching eight years of memories.

Today is the third anniversary of Julia’s homecoming.    We arrived after about 27 hours of travel from Moscow to Zurich to Dallas (where Julia became a citizen when the wheels of the plane touched ground) and finally to San Antonio.

Thanks, Shels, for thinking to have a camera out!  I sure wasn’t thinking.

We’ll celebrate our third  “Sisters Day” soon – doing something fun we all want to do.    Hanging our Russian flag.  Chanting the “loves Julia” mantra  I sung to my baby from our first mother/daughter day together in St. Pete.

And remembering that mixture of exhilaration and exhaustion when we finally had all four of our girls together in one room.

Then: Счастливо для нас!  (Be Happy for Us!)

Right Now:  My eldest and youngest are sitting next to me right this instant, thinking I don’t notice the computer game they’re playing isn’t “educational.”

Tonight at dinner, Rachel shared a variety of jokes/puzzlers  overheard at her after-school childcare job including,  “The orphan was on one side of the road, and her parents on the other.  How did she get across?”  Answer:  “She didn’t.  If she had parents, she’s not an orphan.”

Precisely, Rachel.  Precisely.