How can we not all be winners? This Blog Shower has been so awesome! It has been emotional and ugly cry provoking, which I believe is rather fitting for a shower. Gifts have been bestowed from the most generous and gracious of hearts. You have had the opportunity to eat, drink, and be merry and better yet while in your jammies or at work!!! And ... the best part is yet to come, when we get to see Heidi holding those beautiful boys that we all have been waiting for.
However, I promised prizes and I will not disappoint! And so ... the winners are:
Super Cool Deck of Cards: Evelyn
Note cards featuring the amazing photography of our beautiful friend Liz: Kat
Autographed book by Jane Kurtz: Cindy
Mary Oliver Poetry: Emily
Tee-Shirt from Lil Blu Birds: Tam & Kai
Please email me at Colin.Rebecca AT gmail Dot Com so we can work out the details! Congrats!!!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Gratitude, Packing and Celebrating!
Hello everyone, Heidi here.
First and foremost I want to say thank you for the amazing support and sharing that has happened on this site over the past three days, not to mention the past two years. I have been moved and inspired and truly humbled by each of you, and I am wondering how anyone manages to pack without all this great advice! Most certainly I wouldn't have weathered the many ups and downs over the past couple years nearly as well without all of you.
Yesterday's comments in particular brought up lots of emotions and really helped me get my head around how this meeting may or may not unfold. It is something I have thought about for two years and yet still felt vastly unprepared for. Probably there is no real way to prepare for something so profound but reading about your experiences has helped in many ways.
Things are still hectic around here--we had more errands to run and it took me much longer to pack than I anticipated--but I did celebrate today by letting myself sleep until 9. I just let myself lie there, alone in a quiet house, my dogs snuggled up and snoring next to me, happily knowing that moments like this will not exist in my future.
As for the packing, well, it's mostly done. Just a few last minute things to add to my carry-on. I was able to encorporate so many of the great tips you guys have left over the past few days! Really can't thank everyone enough!
Here are a few more pictures of the packing marathon...
First and foremost I want to say thank you for the amazing support and sharing that has happened on this site over the past three days, not to mention the past two years. I have been moved and inspired and truly humbled by each of you, and I am wondering how anyone manages to pack without all this great advice! Most certainly I wouldn't have weathered the many ups and downs over the past couple years nearly as well without all of you.
Yesterday's comments in particular brought up lots of emotions and really helped me get my head around how this meeting may or may not unfold. It is something I have thought about for two years and yet still felt vastly unprepared for. Probably there is no real way to prepare for something so profound but reading about your experiences has helped in many ways.
Things are still hectic around here--we had more errands to run and it took me much longer to pack than I anticipated--but I did celebrate today by letting myself sleep until 9. I just let myself lie there, alone in a quiet house, my dogs snuggled up and snoring next to me, happily knowing that moments like this will not exist in my future.
As for the packing, well, it's mostly done. Just a few last minute things to add to my carry-on. I was able to encorporate so many of the great tips you guys have left over the past few days! Really can't thank everyone enough!
Here are a few more pictures of the packing marathon...
Sunday morning chaos. Once we found out that we passed court, every time I saw or thought of an item I wanted to bring on our trip, I basically just dumped it in the boys room so I wouldn't forget to pack it.
Then I brought those items down to the dining room table in an attempt to bring some order to the chaos. Our agency recommended 10 outfits per child, so I chose 20 outfits and put two outfits in 10 zip lock baggie. I also packed a stack of extra shirts, 2 sweatshirts and 2 wind breakers. The little backpacks are full of stickers, bubbles, coloring books and crayons, match box cars, etc. The boys stuff, including diapers, required two large suitcases! Perhaps I overpacked, but I'd rather too much than not enough.
We purchased a lot of pharmacy items for this trip, too. Again, better to be prepared! Mark and I got very sick on a trip a few years ago and we vowed never to leave home without these essentials again!
Finally everything made it's way into these bags. I once spent three months in Europe with nothing more than what would fit in a 70 lb backpack so clearly times have changed! The two big suitcases are for the boys, the duffel bags are humanitarian aid, and the two small suitcases plus the backpack and tote bag are for Mark and me.
Tomorrow? A pedicure before boarding that plane!!
candle lighting blessing
They are leaving tomorrow. They will have the boys in their arms soon. They will be a family in person ... finally. When I was first trying to come up with ideas for her blog shower I thought it would be nice to do something in the form of a blessing or making a wish for Heidi's boys. I still think that's a nice idea. I will be lighting a candle for Heidi and Mark and the boys. But I will also be lighting a candle for Beatrix and her families, just to reconnect in a thoughtful way to all that has been our experience so far. A simple, "I lit a candle" would mean so much. But feel free to share a blessing or your wish in a comment or just whisper it to the air. It will find them.
But maybe watch this first to help your heart be just a little bit closer.
But maybe watch this first to help your heart be just a little bit closer.
Poems for Heidi
Heidi brought poetry back into my life. One day she shared this poem on her blog:
The Summer Day
by Mary Oliver
Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
We were waiting for our court date. I was trying to work, finish papers and projects for school and I was so restless and tense. I read this poem and it was as though this meditative force seized my mind and body and I felt calm and peaceful and strong. I emailed Heidi and asked her to suggest a book of poem by Mary Oliver. She asked for my address and a few days later I was holding this book in my hands. Heidi has brought so much joy into my life. She has brought true and forever friendship. She has brought poetry. And now she has brought Derebe and Degaye into my life.
So now, in celebration of Heidi and her family, it is our turn to share some poetry with her. Please post one of your favorite poems and feel free to explain why you are sharing it. And maybe, like me, you have been touched by a particular poem that Heidi has shared and you want to share that as well.
And as to continue Heidi's tradition of poetry sharing, one of you will be getting a book of poetry by Mary Oliver!!!
Celebrate with Heidi
Here's your chance to share how you have celebrated with Heidi for the past three days but especially today!!! For some of us and for Heidi in the near future, that might mean you actually get to take a shower! Or you will have your favorite dessert or lunch with a girlfriend or you will actually call a girlfriend you haven't talked to in way too long. Maybe it will be hugging your child and kissing them like a crazy madwoman or showing off a picture of your child to someone who hasn't seen you since you got your referral. Maybe you will buy yourself flowers. Do something to make yourself happy and to feel a little extra pampered today and let Heidi know what it was because we think you are the coolest people on the planet and we're celebrating with Heidi! And hopefully, she will have time to fill us in on how she is celebrating as well.
There will be two more posts today as well. So be sure to check in! Have a lovely day!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Meeting with Birth Family (Updated!!!)
Please keep the comments coming. Even if you are on the wait list or still in the post-referral/court date crazy time, your voice matters! The discussion has been so candid and amazing. I love our blog community! And remember there is a prize ... an autographed copy of one of Jane Kurtz's books. Yep!
Many of us will never have the chance to meet with a birth family member. But some of us will experience this event. What words can you use to describe such a meeting? Devastating. Humbling. Fortunate. Can you ever process that moment?
If you get to have this experience, you are fortunate. You will have the opportunity to find out more information about your child's history. You can take photos. You can try to get answers for your children that will help them connect the dots of their identity that have been displaced or disrupted because of their separation from their birth family. At the same time, you will look into the eyes of that family member or those family members and share a pain that is so deep and profound that words can never convey. Never ever.
But what if you have or what if you could? What questions do you wish you could know or do you wish you asked? What questions do your children want to know that you never thought of?
Nothing can truly prepare Heidi and Mark for this experience. But I think they, as well as everyone else, can learn something from these questions. It's not always the most obvious thing that you wish you knew days, weeks, months, or years down the road.
This is a very personal question in so many ways. Please share your thoughts but don't feel pressure to relate a story specific to your experience unless you are comfortable doing that. If you do have any advice about the actual meeting of a birth family member, feel free to share that or to email Heidi and Mark. Every voice is very important and unique here and we have the opportunity to provide guidance that could truly impact the lives of Degaye and Derebe through this blog experience. Thank you all for participating!
Many of us will never have the chance to meet with a birth family member. But some of us will experience this event. What words can you use to describe such a meeting? Devastating. Humbling. Fortunate. Can you ever process that moment?
If you get to have this experience, you are fortunate. You will have the opportunity to find out more information about your child's history. You can take photos. You can try to get answers for your children that will help them connect the dots of their identity that have been displaced or disrupted because of their separation from their birth family. At the same time, you will look into the eyes of that family member or those family members and share a pain that is so deep and profound that words can never convey. Never ever.
But what if you have or what if you could? What questions do you wish you could know or do you wish you asked? What questions do your children want to know that you never thought of?
Nothing can truly prepare Heidi and Mark for this experience. But I think they, as well as everyone else, can learn something from these questions. It's not always the most obvious thing that you wish you knew days, weeks, months, or years down the road.
This is a very personal question in so many ways. Please share your thoughts but don't feel pressure to relate a story specific to your experience unless you are comfortable doing that. If you do have any advice about the actual meeting of a birth family member, feel free to share that or to email Heidi and Mark. Every voice is very important and unique here and we have the opportunity to provide guidance that could truly impact the lives of Degaye and Derebe through this blog experience. Thank you all for participating!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Packing Day One (*Updated)
(*I was so tired by the time I posted this last night that I was literally falling asleep at my computer! I have added a few more pictures this morning.)
A bajillion thanks to Rebecca and everyone who left tips and advice today! They were all so helpful!
A bajillion thanks to Rebecca and everyone who left tips and advice today! They were all so helpful!
We spent the day shopping. I thought it would take an hour, it took FIVE, yet it was one of the best days we've had in eons!
May 15, 2010
aka our last weekend without our children
Before getting out of bed....
First thought, eyes not yet open - THREE DAYS!!
Second thought - early bird gets the worm!! Let's go shopping!!
Third thought -this is our last Saturday at home without them = big ugly cry #1
Mama, is that a happy cry? I sure hope so!
Ugh, gonna miss our furry children!
Coffee, finally, thank goodness!
Grande, skim, half-cafe, two-pump, no whip, mocha...
What? You didn't actually think I was low maintenance, did you?
Oh my goodness, tiny shoes!!!
Happy cry number 4 and it's only 10 AM (happy cries 2 and 3 were the result of reading Rebecca's Invitation to this blog shower!)
Toys for orphans on bottom.
Toy for husband, ehem, I mean the boys, on top!
Don't think I have to explain this one...
..
A cupcake truck at Old Navy! Whaa? If only I hadn't just eaten lunch!!
Removing tags from jammies!
Cutest little shirts I've ever seen!
Donations - before...
Donations - after!
Once we took all the diapers and wipes out of their cardboard boxes things fit surprisingly well into these two bags. The total weight of the two bags combined is 50 lbs so if we need to consolidate them into one huge bag we can.
Ahhhh, what a day!
We still have lots more to do but progress was definitely made.
Thanks again for all the words of wisdom. SO helpful!!
Come back tomorrow to leave more of your sage advice!! There's another giveaway too!!!
Oh, The Places You'll Go
Do you have any suggestions or recommendations for must see things while in Addis? Restaurants, Art Galleries, Markets, etc. ? Is there something you wished you would have skipped or something you are really bummed that you missed? Heidi will definitely appreciate the tips. And each comment will count as an entry in the drawing for this awesome deck of cards.
Welcome!
Now it's time to treat yourself to a nice cup of buna.
Thank you so much for stopping by the cyber festivities!!! Heidi and Mark have a full day of packing ahead of them so let's help them out with some seasoned travel advice. What are your must haves? What did you not need? How did you pack things like humanitarian aid? Do you have awesome packing strategies? Do you have tips for layovers in Dubai? How do you survive the trip home with two children??? You are the experts ... bestow on us your wisdom.
I wish I could swing an all expenses paid family vacation as a prize but instead with each comment you will be entered in the drawing for ... a beautiful set of cards with original photography by Liz.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
You're Invited to Heidi's Blog Shower
It's time! It's time to celebrate Heidi's journey to motherhood. We have been so lucky to travel this journey with her. She has been a constant source of love and encouragement to so many blogmates. She has endured her wait with grace and patience and we have been privy to her lovely thoughts and feelings all along the way. WE thank you so much Heidi for being our inspiration, our confidante, and our dear lovely friend. We cannot wait to follow you as your dreams of motherhood finally come true!!!
SO ...
Heidi's Blog Shower
It's a three day extravaganza!!!
Where: Right Here
When: May 15th-May 17th. Keep in mind each day there will be a shower gift for one lucky participant so be sure to stop by every day!
May 15th: The Bags Are Getting Packed & She's Getting Ready to Go with your help!
May 16th: Reflections on meeting with Birth Family members/what you wish you could ask or know.
May 17th: Showering Heidi with Poetry, Lighting a Wish Candle, and random bloggy silliness!
SO ...
Heidi's Blog Shower
It's a three day extravaganza!!!
Where: Right Here
When: May 15th-May 17th. Keep in mind each day there will be a shower gift for one lucky participant so be sure to stop by every day!
May 15th: The Bags Are Getting Packed & She's Getting Ready to Go with your help!
May 16th: Reflections on meeting with Birth Family members/what you wish you could ask or know.
May 17th: Showering Heidi with Poetry, Lighting a Wish Candle, and random bloggy silliness!
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