A little girl

Dear P.V.R.,

I've thought of a million different letters to write to you over the course of the last 15 months. I've thought of your sweet baby skin, your big blue eyes, but most of all I think about how I can't love you. I remember holding you in my arms for the first and only time and never knowing I could feel such pain on what was one of the happiest days of my life, your brother's adoption into our family. Shawn wanted to take pictures, so I smiled because you were beautiful, and I smiled because I would never ever be seen crying while you were in my arms.


You came into the world surprising a good many people in Estonia and America. No one knew you existed, and you were the sweetest tiny little doll baby. Yet I was on the other side of adoption. I was an adoptive mother. Until the moment I held you, I have to admit, I knew very little about what it would feel like to give a child up. How amazing is it that in a few seconds of holding you that my heart would crumble and you would find a way in. I held you for mere moments, and as much as I swore I wouldn't, I fell in love. A few precious moments, and I had to hand you back to the social worker at your orphanage, and I had to walk away.


Shawn and I said goodbye to Raili, and took your brother into Igor's car and we drove away. Oskar was so happy, but me and Shawn had huge lumps in our throats. I remember seeing Shawn cry(a rare thing) and hearing him pray so quietly asking God why he had to put such a burden on his heart. Leaving you there was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. Driving away felt like my heart was being ripped out. I made up my mind right then and there that Oskar would have the best of everything. Since I wasn't able to give you anything, he would have everything we had to give.


Your brother has been one of the most wonderful gifts I could have ever asked for. He is the most loving and perfect son a mother could want to have. One day when you are older you will be so proud of the person he is. He has changed so many hearts and opened so many doors to help other children find homes. He has blazed a trail and no one ever touched by him will ever be the same. He is good and a child of God.
I am a better person because of him, and I know that God gave him to me because he loved me, pure and simple.


As complete as he makes me, there is still you. A little girl half way around the world sits waiting and not belonging to anyone, but in my heart.........you belong to me. I've never said those worlds to anyone. I've said you are cute, that we hope to bring you home, but I never told a single soul that I love you because for 15 months I have tried hard not to. Since love is a choice I decided I would guard my heart this one time and not step blindly in. I tried very hard, and in the end, I failed by choice.


I made one fatal mistake when holding you; I held you with a mother's arms. I held you gently, and I breathed you in. I dreamed for you, I longed for you, and I hurt for you the way a mother does for her child. Once one gives their heart away completely, it no longer belongs to them self. I chose to love you, and I will never be the same. It is true that you may never be my daughter, but I will love you as a mother for the rest of my life.


So here it is for all the world to see. Here is my heart opened wide, and it is only fair that I say this openly for I kept it to myself for so very long. I'm taking a very big risk loving you. I may very likely end up with a broken heart, but I only know how to love one way, and that is with all I am. So for whatever it is worth, I belong to you. I will wait, and I will pray, and I will try once again to be patient. One day I hope we meet again. I hope I can tell you things I was so afraid to whisper in your ear. I hope I have a chance to redeem myself in your eyes. God doesn't like cowards very much, I'm afraid. So I am going to try and be brave. Enjoy the pretty things I have sent you. After all, an Eesti Princess deserves the best, doesn't she?


Shea

I've come here many times to write, but I always seem to come up short. I have to admit, I'm not doing a very good job of saving the world before bedtime. So maybe I have to make my goals smaller. Life is throwing curve balls at every direction, and I have never been one for sports. Still, I'm no quitter either. When the going gets tough, don't underestimate me. So I'm back. I'm here, and there are more lives to save. Maybe I can't save the world before bedtime, but I'm sure as hell going to try. Say a prayer for a sibling group in O's country to find a family. I think I might have found a wonderful family that just fits right in with the hopes and dreams I have for them. Man does God work in mysterious ways :)

I'll never be

I'll never be someone who takes the easy road.
I'll never be a size 7.
I'll never like a salad.
I'll never listen to the blues without smiling.
I'll never listen to someone trash Memphis without defending her.
I'll never make my kids go to sleep at 8.
I'll never make my children conform to most social expectations.
I'll never throw anything at my children.
I'll never be the first to let go when giving a hug if I can help it.
I'll never feel I loved enough in this life.
I'll never eat mustard or sauerkraut again, but I did long ago.
I'll never put up with people lying to my face.
I'll never believe anyone who says they love me unless they prove it.
I'll never be afraid of anything without trying to confront it, except mice.
I'll never like winter.
I'll never live up north.
I'll never like bread more than cornbread.
I'll never take a warm shower, has to be hot.
I'll never use cinnamon toothpaste.
I'll never believe that love can't save someone.
I'll never take no for an answer if it's something I want.

Man is life busy. Work is work, but by now you know I don't talk about work on my blog. Home is home. My new year's resolution has been to clean more. I swear I have cleaned things in the last week I never cleaned before. I am sort of ashamed to admit that. I've never really been the perfect housekeeper though, but I can;t stand things on the floor or any dishes in the sink. Miri is.....well.....Miri. Who am I kidding? She knows everything, and I know nothing. I am mostly an embarrassment, but hopefully one day she will see it differently. O is a wild little monkey full of energy. He really missed being out of school for xmas and asked daily when he could go back. He is so active, but always has time to be held by his momma :) He is truly my baby, a momma's boy to the core. A.J. is having a difficult time lately following any rules. It's just plain jealousy I think,so I have been trying hard to find time for just her. She is still my baby too, but she doesn't think so. Andy is in college, seems like he has been forever. He thinks he want to do nursing now, oh and we have nicknamed him Scott Pilgrim. Yeah yeah, he is something. Still, he is a good boy, and I love him tons. So that is all to talk about for now. I really need to get back to writing. I think I miss it.

Christmas was amazing. The kids loved their gifts and were very grateful. Andy got his car and gift cards, Miri got clothes and an ipod touch, O got his nintendo ds, and AJ got a laptop. All got various other things. We then went to eat Japanese for lunch and then the movies at 7. Pictures aren't loading right now, I'll try tomorrow.

Yes, life is good

Where did the year go?

I am so not ready for xmas, but I bit the bullet and did the bulk of my shopping today. I have very little family, so my kiddos got the bulk of my money :) O was easy to shop for. I just looked for things he could blow up. Miri is all about clothes now. Andy got a 79 ford thunderbird with t tops, and Miss AJ was harder. I bought her big present a while ago and now she has decided she doesn't want it. I can't send it back either. Oh well. She got other little things anyway. So now xmas can roll on and I can get to the good stuff. The food of course, and never to forget Jesus' birthday. That's what it is all about!!!!!!!