January 6, 2009
· Filed under Adoption, Holidays, family
I read a suggestion today about sending monthly letters to your (placed) child. I think this is a great idea but perhaps a little ambitious for myself. I have decided to take on this challenge but in a smaller, less overwhelming way.
I decided not to write a full letterbecause I dont’ think I’ll have enough to write that will be of interest to a seven year old so instead I will send a card with a note and perhaps stickers. I may even heed this suggestion and add some photos of myself from time to time.
The other adjustment I’m making is I won’t be doing this every month. It seems too overwhelming at this point to say I’ll send one every month. I feel I will fail if I make the goal that rigid. I’ve pinpointed some holidays I know I’ll be able to find cute cards for including Valentines Day (which also happens to be his half birthday), St Patricks Day, July 4th, Halloween, and Thanksgiving I also will send a card whenever I happen to find one that is cute or reminds me of him. This looser schedule give me a lot less anxiety than trying to find the perfect card each month.
Perhaps I’ll work up to letters. Perhaps I’ll work up to every single month. Who knows. But right now its like What About Bob, “baby steps”.
December 6, 2008
· Filed under Holidays, Politics, Religion, venting
I always try to stay relatively silent on my beliefs during this time of year but various happenings in my state and online have lead me to ask the question: Is your faith so fragile?
Is your faith so fragile that my differing faith is threatening? Is your faith so fragile that me verbalizing my differing faith could shake yours?
I ask these questions because of the uproar in Olympia Washington. A Holiday tree is on display in the capitol. Last year when a menorah was added a local man decided he wanted a nativity scene added and so a lawsuit was filed and the nativity scene was added. Then another local man contacted the Freedom from Religion Foundation and they submitted a sign.
The sign reads, “At this season of the Winter Solstice, may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”
Do I agree with the sign? Nope. At least not 100%. Do I believe it should be taken down? Nope.
So if I don’t really care that this sign exists why am I devoting a blog post to discussing it? Because this controversy is just plain STUPID.
See I probably would have never even noticed the sign except someone got offended and it somehow made its way onto FauxNews. Then someone stole the sign. And dropped it off at a local country radio station. (really not surprising to me at all that this particular morning show got involved with this). What doesn’t make sense in all of this is why bring MORE attention to something you disagree with?
So the sign was returned and reposted with an addition “Thou shalt not steal”. I believe a minister or someone put up an opposing religious sign. That should have been the result all along. We have free speech in this country. Don’t like what one sign says? Sponsor one you do like. Don’t steal the sign. Don’t whine that people you don’t agree with also have free speech.
Again I ask, Is your faith so fragile?
November 5, 2008
· Filed under Friends, Grad School, Holidays, Politics, Roommates, sisters
And congratulations to our country we will now have a president we can be proud of.
I will write that letter for my son but today I need to recap my yesterday now that I’m not afraid my cheer will jinx the results.
I began my day with optimism. This may not sound like much but I am NOT an optimistic person. I approach everything with caution but yesterday, that was not cautious optimism it was HOPE and EXCITEMENT. I was smiling non-stop. I wore my I VOTED sticker on my forehead (what thats not where ya’ll wear yours?).
I went through my daily activities in a blur and then on my way home from my internship I stopped at the liquor store. I arrived home just as the results began rolling in and I began taking shots as they announced the blue states. As it neared time to go to class I added some “flavor” to my sprites and headed out (with my roommate/classmate driving of course)
In class everyone had their laptops on then the teacher told us it woudl be rude to our presenters and later our guest speaker. So I was prepared to be all stealth about it. But then my computer decided to not work. Luckily SisterFriend texted me updates throughout class! Obama’s count got BIG then he-who -shall-not-be-named started getting more electoral votes and I got scared. Then Obama got more! And I wanted to dance in the ailes but thought that might be a give away to the prof that I’ve been not paying attention.
Instead I sat patiently as soon as class was over we hugged and ran to the bar across the street to watch the acceptance speach. I cried. Tears flowed from my eyes and I did not wipe them away. I called my parents. They didn’t really care (dad’s a republican 
) So my roommmate passed me her phone and I called HER mom. She shared in my excitement.
Unfortunately the gubernatorial results were not as promising when I went to bed it was too close to count and even though they are now calling it in favor of my guy (well girl) four years ago my state’s race was decided by less than 200 votes between these same candidates and with only 55% of the votes in I will temper my optimism…because after all I dont want to tempt fate.
oh yeah and even after all that drinking last night I woke at 6am because I have to be to my intership in a few minutes…But its ok because i’m walking on air!!!!!!!!!
November 25, 2007
· Filed under Adoption, Holidays, Music
Yes I do want to believe that I will have a good holiday this year. I do want to believe that as I watch my niece open her presents I wont have to leave the room to sob silently in the bathroom. I want to believe…
I love Christmas music. And there is only a short window in which I can listen to it (day after Thanksgiving til Christmas). Every year I re-burn a Christmas compilation switching out a few songs or just rearranging my favorites but this year I’m missing last years disc. That means the new songs I added last year are lost (no I didn’t back it up on my computer. So today I went on a search today for Sometimes you have to work on Christmas (Sometimes) by Harvey Danger (stupid itunes doesn’t have it). It’s really the only lost song that I HAVE to have on this years disc. I found it FINALLY (don’t even want to think how long I was looking and how many stores I visited) and on the same cd is the following song, which is definitely going to be on this years compilation.
This holiday – Late Tuesday
The icicles forming around the edge of your house
Compliment how you feel this time of your
When so much of the world’s caught up in frivolous joy
The rest and you can’t wait for it to end
Oh but this holiday you will laugh and not cry
I don’t know the reason why, but I know it
And your seasonal sadness you’ll release from your hold
For I know that you want to believe
I know the decorative lights hold no more magic for you
And the beauty of snow reminds you you’re alone
Somewhere in the night you hear some children singing
A touch of loveliness in the pain of remembering
Oh but this holiday you will laugh and not cry
I don’t know the reason why, but I know it
And your seasonal walls you will let tumble down
For I know that you want to believe
Friends they will call and remember you
Smiles you’ll realize are for you
And your eyes waking up to the life and the love
That is ready and waiting to be renewed
Oh but this holiday you will laugh and not cry
I don’t know the reason why, but I know it
And the hope that you seek will find its way to you
For I know that you want to believe
