the autobiography and the blue form

I'm sure at some point, this kind of thing won't bother me.  But today - it is bothering me.

I was going through Anya's mountains of paperwork from school tonight and see this blue form asking for some autobiographical information about her.  Apparently there is a class writing project that will require 5 important dates in her life.  The examples given are: first step, started Kindergarten.


Yes, I am sensitive to this kind of exercise.  No I don't expect the teacher to completely redo her lesson plans (that I am sure have worked for years) just because Anya is in her classroom.  And I am also quite sure that Anya won't think a thing about it - this is all me...and I know that.

But I don't know many of these things, these "important dates in my child's life".  I know she was walking, dressing herself and feeding herself at about 2.  I know that she had Chicken Pox when she was about 3-4.  I know that after the first time she met me, she knew who I was and that I was her Mommy...but that day-1 was when she was 2 years and 4 months.

I mean, there are a lot of important dates in her life, but not things I want to put on this blue form.  I don't want to say that at 6 months that lady (that is what we've taken to calling bio mother...Anya said she is not a Mamma) took her to a hospital and left her there.  At 8 months that lady's rights were revoked.  And then at 15 months she became a resident of Baby Home #2 - which is where we met her.

Is it age appropirate for me to put on the blue form to say that the most important days in her little life started in July 2004 when we received a photograph of her and committed to being her Mom and Dad? Or in October 2004 when we filed the official paperwork to be her Mom and Dad?  Probably not appropirate to mention the weekend of July 4th, 2005 with Peggy Hilt decided to kill her child causing Anya's life to be forever changed too. Or what about on February 17, 2010 when the Judge said the battle was over?

The important dates in her life (up until a year ago) haven't been developmental milestones.  The important dates have been in terms of her survival.; those dates that have shapes who she will be as an adult.

I don't know.  The blue form and I need to think about this all...

The bottom line? God is good!

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

TITLE:  it's a girl

At 4:45 today, the Irkutsk Regional Court granted our petition to adopt Anya!

It's like a dream right now. We need to process all that has happened over the past 2 days.

The bottom line? God is good!

Reading this still makes me get all weepy.   A year ago today the nightmare ended.  A year ago today I started understanding why the previous (almost) 6 years were what they were.  A year ago today the definition of who I was forever changed.  A year ago today, I became Anya's (official) Mommy.

Share The Well

I have a friend who is, well, pretty amazing.  She and her husband are the kinds of people you don't believe really exist.  Honestly, before I got to know them well - I thought much of what I heard about them was hype.  Now, don't get me wrong...before I got to know them, I knew they were nice people.  I knew they deeply cared about the cause of Christ, but I really thought they were just nice people.

Truth is - they are the real deal.  They are the kind of Christ-followers most of us would like to be.  They walk the walk, and talk the talk.  But at the same time they are real. 

A few years ago when we were in the heat of the adoption process, I got the kindest post on this blog.  It was from Michelle.  The note came during one of those times when I really thought we were the only people in the world praying for Anya and the adoption.  Her kind words helped crush the reality I was convincing myself existed.  The reality that everyone thought we (I) were crazy for pressing on. The reality that no one supported us in the decision to adopt.  I needed Michelle's note.  It gave me strength.  It reminded me that God WAS on our side. That those naysayers were just that...naysayers. It helped me get used to the idea that not everyone was going to love our plans for being a family, but it didn't matter.

Anyway - I digress...from that one little note on my blog, Michelle and I became friends. What I love the most about her is that she knows me...and likes me anyway. She actually appreciates my overly-obsessed ways with fashion and shopping.

Michelle (and her husband, Rob) have a huge heart for reaching the darkest places on earth with the light of Jesus. She has gone places (alone!) that I wouldn't even consider going. She is showing her kids what the love of Jesus looks like...everyday.  It is pretty cool.

Rob and Michelle have been doing an incredible work in India. They are making a difference, but they want to make more than just a difference...they want to help make a change in the lives of the people of India.

Through several trips to India (and by several I mean a LOT OF TRIPS), Rob and Michelle have collected stories about the Indian people. Stories of hope.  Stories of how God can change a life, a family, a community. They have turned these stories into a book called Share the Well.

I would like to encourage you to get this book.  It will be the best $20 you've ever spent. Not only will your heart be touched by the pictures and words on the pages of this book, but the $20 you spend will help to continue to make a change.  These words are from the Share The Well website:

When you purchase this book you are a part of serving the poorest of the poor, you are stepping into a small role in the movement. This is not just another purchase, but a socially transformative contribution to a movement that is bringing health, life, and freedom to the oppressed. You are Sharing the Well with others as we Share the Well with you.