My home is not a place, it is people.

This was the quote on the cover of the annual report I received yesterday of one of my favorite Chicago organizations.   

Obviously, this year on Thanksgiving I am thinking a lot about my family...my people.  My biological people.  My friend people.  My person who is not yet known to me and is far away today.

I am so thankful for all of my types of people, and  all of the ways they have come into my world.

Giving thanks for you today.  Thanks for being in my life, and making it a home.  

One month

Tuesday marks one month at (unofficial) number one.  Deep sigh...

When I started my official wait, things were moving at a certain pace, and I felt like there was always something happening.  I am still moving through this process waaaayyy faster than I thought possible, but after sitting in the same damn spot for 30 days-- I'm sad.

Not depressed-sad, more like anxious-sad.  I just can't wait to see his face, and really thought that would happen before Thanksgiving.  

That said, I do believe that timing is always perfect in these things....well, all things for that matter.  And I do actually have a lot of peace about this right now.  

So, for the time being I remain peaceful, with a healthy side of anxious and a twist of impatience.

A song saves the day.

I told someone today that I have started to have a love/hate relationship with Fridays.  

In regular life, Fridays start the weekend and weekends are full of fun.

In adopto-life, Fridays mean 2 whole days of nothing.  No news, no updates...nothing.   Fridays can be sad in our world.

I was leaving work tonight and decided to take the work shuttle to my car (which I never do, but it was cold and I was feeling lazy).  I was the only one on the bus and the driver was feeling very weekend-y and had his smooth jazz station turned up for both of us to enjoy. 

I was feeling sad because it's Friday and another week went by without seeing the face of Little B.

Then I heard a special tune that I have to believe was just for me... "Sara smile."

And, I did. 

A big ridiculous smile.  

On Friday.

 

Sunday thoughts

Still here and waiting..err... patiently.  I can't say (as previous posts prove!) that I am not anxious or excited to hear some news-- I most definitely am.    

But lately I have been spending a lot of my time thinking about the birth family of the future Little B.  Because I have gone on the wait list for a young child, I know that most likely the time between abandonment or relinquishment and my referral will be short.    Meaning, the birth family of Little B is probably making their most difficult decision right around now.  

It's heavy.  And, it's important.  And, it centers me when I get caught up in this nutty process.    The wait lists, the numbers, the timelines, the endless, endless documents.  And, it comes down to this decision.   This biggest decision.  

A decision I will be grateful for and think of everyday, and raise Little B to honor.

No news, but exciting times nonetheless.

Nope, no referral news.  

At the beginning of last week I was expecting a call at any time and I was a gigantic ball of adrenaline-laced giggles and palpitations.  As the days have rolled by, I have moved from utter heartattack-edness to feeling a little more chill.   (And, thank goodness... that feeling can NOT be maintained healthily for long!)

My caseworker tells me that I won't be getting a call for a while, and I feel fine.  Really, I do.  I'm sure if you ask me a month from now I will feel differently, but for now I am just sitting in the excitement and doing alright. 

And, oh-- the excitement!

I find myself unable to sleep at night....   What is his name?  How old will he be?  What does he LOOK like? 

I think I am right at the top of the big hill on this roller coaster.   A lot of the work is done getting to the top, but the wild part is just beginning.  

A big week

It has been a very big week for me!

I will skip all of the crap and tell you that I am officially #2 on the baby boy list, but unofficially #1 !!!!!!

Yes, any day I could get the call.   

As you can imagine, I am bursting with excitement!!  Any day now, I could see the face of Little B.    

The Golden Ticket and Ode to Truffle Salt

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Today I hold in my hand the international adoption golden ticket.  Some call it the 171-H, but that sounds so sterile.  

I received my immigration clearance to lawfully bring a child into the country. 

Wow. 

In my excitement of receiving this VERY important document, I knocked over my jar of truffle salt on the kitchen counter, which I had (irresponsibly) left unsealed.  

Truffle salt is my all-time favorite food item.  It's an amazing blend of truffle bits and salt (duh.) which when combined with mundane foods like corn, potatoes, or, oh--any old boring, midwestern thing-- will blow your freaking mind.  AND, it costs about $25-$30 for a small container.   

My excited carelessness tonight just cost me about 15-bucks.  

And, I don't even care.  Because the US government thinks I am cool enough to adopt a kid from Ethiopia.