Office by Alex Penny
This is who my kid is (he). This is who I am (she). This is who our community is (they). We are all family (we)!
Got this message from a fellow adoptive mom who I met 3 years ago at an orphanage reunion! Blesses me to get messages like this!
Hi C,
You probably don’t remember me, but I met you at the Toukoul reunion in Portland in 2010 during the hair care class. I had just received our referral. Anyway… I’m watching reruns of one of my favorite shows, LA Ink, on Netflix and up walks this woman to the door. I immediately think, “That woman looks so familiar. Who is that woman? How do I know her?” Next thing I see is a beautiful picture of an adorable little Ethiopian. Ah ha! It took me 1/2 second to realize where I had seen your face. So fun!
And beautiful tattoo!!!
Have a blessed day.
K and I talk about adoption a lot. I try to bring it up often. We talk about his birth mom a lot, so it isn’t a secret about how our family became just that, a family. Clearly, I am not doing a great job at talking to him about it… UGH!!!
K: Mama, you are my favorite Mama!
Me: Thank you Baby! I am glad I am your favorite. You know why?
K: Um… no.
Me: Because when you were a baby, I got on a plane, and went over to Ethiopia to get you. I loved you so much, even before I saw you. I just knew you were going to be my favorite son!!!
K: Mama, is Africa a store where you can buy things? Where you got me?
Me: No Love. What I meant was…
K: So you didn’t get me?
Me: Well yes, I did, but…
K: So is Africa like Target? Where we get things?
Me: Sweetie, you aren’t a thing…and…
K: (cutting me off)… So did you come to Ethiopia to get me?
Me: I… Yes…Of course I did… (stumbling over my words… at a loss for what to say next).
K: Mama, can we read a book?
Me: Of course!!!
*Ready to cry!
Day 10—National Adoption Awareness Month! I am so very thankful for our community of families who share our journey to being a family. K and I are blessed with friends who look like us, know the “lingo” and who are passionate about giving kids forever families and a loving home! Our life is full and we know how truly blessed we are to be surrounded by people who “get” it!
Day 8—I am grateful to this continent and (obviously) to the country of Ethiopia. Thank you Ethiopia for allowing me to raise this amazing child. Thank you a million times isn’t enough. Having been to 8 countries in Africa and having been to the continent of Africa 3 times, I have a great love and appreciation for it!
Day 5—I am thankful for these young ladies. They were my “first” babies! I am blessed to call them family. I am honored to know them. K and I are SOOO blessed to have them be a part of our daily lives. Auntie Char love you! But I know that K’s love for you two is above and beyond all that you could imagine!
Day 4—Orphan Sunday! I am so thankful that I didn’t just talk about it, didn’t just wish I had done it, didn’t just say, “coulda, shoulda, woulda” about the orphan crisis; I am in the thick of it. I love that I opened my heart to adoption and that because of that, my life has forever been altered with an amazing son, wonderful friends and knowing that I am right where I should be in life! I am thankful that I am blessed with the opportunity to make a change in the world!
Day 1—I am so grateful that I am allowed to be this guy’s mom! From the first moment I saw his face, to the first moment I held him in my arms, to the last (almost) 3 years that I have been his Mama! My life will never be the same and I don’t want it to be. He challenges me, has changed me, rearranged me, shaped me, loved me and laughs with me!
