16 Months and Counting...

Tomorrow, we'll have been waiting 16+ months to adopt from China.

Today, the "good luck" ducks that arrive for a dip in our swimming pool every year made themselves at home, more than a month early. Maybe, hopefully, it's a sign of positive news coming soon.

We could use some right about now...

7 Things Meme

Took a cue from Daniella's blog and decided to participate in the 7 Weird/Strange Facts About Yourself meme. Here goes:

1. I have am funny about where I sit in a restaurant. I'm ok with being given the worst table in the place, as long as I don't have to sit with my back facing the door. And given a choice, I'll pick a booth every time.
2. I like going to concerts, and to date have been to at least 100 shows. I have flown across the country more than once to see a favorite band. I once painted a building in exchange for concert tickets. The first concert I ever saw by choice (I don't count a Neil Diamond show my parents dragged me to) was Prince. White carnations fell from the ceiling of the concert arena when he played Purple Rain.
3. I am not a big dog lover. However, most dogs absolutely LOVE me.
4. The job I wish I had that actually pays money: writer.
5. The job I wish I had that I wish paid money: artist.
6. My three biggest pet peeves about other people = people that can't drive, people that can't spell, and people who think that rules don't apply to them.
7. I'm a die-hard hockey fan (and my team actually has a shot at making the playoffs this season). Go Coyotes!

So, that's about it for me - consider yourself tagged!

Highs and Lows

I've always been the sort of person who has a hyperactive conscience. From a very young age I was taught to make moral choices, never tell a lie, and most importantly, to stand up for the underdog.

So, that's how I was feeling when we were approached earlier this week with a possible foster / adopt opportunity. A family member of a friend was looking for someone to foster a baby born into an unfortunate situation, and thought of us. Our chance to be parents was suddenly - incredibly - right in front of us. In typical fashion, I barged into the situation with both feet wearing rose tinted glasses, intent on proving that we were the right family for this child in need of a loving home.

And then, my damn conscience had to step in. The family chose us to foster this baby....and we turned them down. In the interest of keeping the family's confidentiality, I can't share exactly why, but we decided we simply weren't comfortable with parts of the situation, and the right thing to do for us, but more importantly for the child, was to walk away, at least for now.

Sometimes the hardest thing to do and the right thing are the same. It has been a tough week.