Where we live--On a Snowy Day

Anchorage is currently on track to have the snowiest winter on record. 

Look at these numbers, reflecting Jan 9th:

Average snowfall by Jan 9: 41.6

Anchorage snowfall Jan 9, 2012: 81.3 inches

Really, truly, I don't mind the snow. I love the look of always having freshly fallen snow.

Maybe it's because we have this team on our side:

 Snow removal involves dozens of dump trucks waiting in line for their turn to be filled up by this really cool machine:

 On this particular day, it took less than 5 minutes to fill each truck.

The trucks filled with snow dump it at designated snow lots. We pass one every day--I would say that it's about 3 acres. And by the end of December, they had about 25-30 foot piles covering the entire lot. So now that particular lot is closed.  I think we'll be in for a long "breakup" season while all of this snow makes its way into ground water.

Oh yes, this town knows how to do winter.

Ice sculptures downtown are fun (photos from 2010):

And plenty of hills to sled down:

 We have perfect powder. It's not great for snowmen, but great for powder and snow angels.

When we moved here, the locals told us that the best part of winter is when it warms up to 20 degrees. That's when you get out and enjoy the snow!

The phrase "warms up to 20 degrees" took my breath away in that long ago winter.

Now I can join with the best of them and agree, "I love it when it warms up to 20 degrees! Definitely a balmy wintry day to go enjoy the great outdoors!"

In light of our current snow pack, I've made two observations this week:

1. I'm glad we don't live in Cordova or Valdez where it's taking every man woman and child to keep up with shoveling and plowing.
2. This year would have been a really good year to own a snow blower. Or better yet, to have a teenager with a snow removal business.

Book and Media Review--Adopting a Joyful Christmas

After I posted about Do You Have a Little Love to Share, I was interested in learning more about the experiences of Gary and Joy Lundberg in bringing five children into their family through adoption. Here is an article written by Joy Saunders Lundberg about how they found each of their five children through adoption. 

To read the article, click here.

Book and Media Review--Do You Have a Little Love to Share

On occasion, my adoptive mother heart needs to be reminded of the big picture. Sometimes I need another self-pep-talk about how this process is about a child, and about our family. The paperwork and waiting is just a means to the end. It is not the end.

And music speaks to my soul.

So I turn on this CD--Do You Have a Little Love to Share? The Lyrics are by Joy Saunders Lundberg, who is an adoptive mother of five; the music is by Janice Kapp Perry, and the result is a rich spectrum of perspective and feelings about all the faces of adoption.

Hard questions are addressed in song such as "Do you love me as your own?" Another message portrays a birth mother who has empty arms, aching for the babe that now fills another set of once-empty arms. I love that one, because it reflects a birth mother's decision as one of wisdom, love and selflessness.

Some songs are written in jubilant celebration--a father doting on his baby girl, a mother enamored and filled with gratitude for her son, or the celebration of diversity among family members that share the same last name.

This collection of songs is one that I reserve for moments when I really want to connect with the adoption process. It's not all light-hearted music--some of the messages are more profound than fun. But I feel like it has been heaven-sent to me in those moments when I need a beacon of hope to make the next step a little brighter.

If you'd like to hear a sample of the songs, click here. I give it high recommendations for anyone involved in the adoption process.

I'm Just David

In the last several months, a few of David's friends have welcomed baby brothers and baby sisters into their family. Naturally, this has brought up the discussion about when David will get a baby brother or a baby sister. He remembers to ask Heavenly Father for this blessing in every prayer he says. And if either of his parents forget to pray for this blessing, he reminds us and we'll say a quick prayer to include our faith with David's to see this miracle through.

This has also given us occasion to talk to David about his birth. The fact that Heavenly Father sent him to our family. And he grew in AP's tummy before he came to our family. 

I want David to know the miracle of adoption in his life. I want him to know that he joined our family through adoption. I want him to know and love the people that surrounded his birth. I want David to feel comfortable talking about it and asking questions whenever he wants about this event in his life.

That's just what it is. Adoption was an event at his birth. It's not a label. It doesn't define who David is. And it most certainly doesn't designate who he will become.

The other day when I was working on our adoption website, and the subject had been on my mind for several days running, I asked David a question to see what frame of reference he has around adoption.

Me: David, are you adopted?

David: No. I'm just David.

That was the most perfect answer I've ever heard.

There's no "just" about it. He is our David, who lives life bigger than anyone I know.

He is David. No extra labels are really necessary. 

He knows who he is, and that's what is important to me.

Celebrate!--November is Adoption Awareness Month

This is a shout-out to everyone who has ever been part of the miracle of adoption.

So many players on the field to help the miracle happen, and an infinite number of feelings in the mix, too.

We never could have dreamed that this is how we would build our family, but we feel grateful to have had the experience of adopting David. We are in awe at the selflessness of our birth mother. We feel lucky and delighted to be David's parents. We recognize Heavenly Father's love in the miracle of it all.

To promote adoption awareness, here is a link to help all of us better understand positive and appropriate language to use when we discuss adoption.

Celebrate!--Three Years Ago Today

Has it really been three whole years since we found out that we were expecting parents!?! I remember it like it was yesterday--the first phone call from Sam, the initial feeling of disbelief, the news sinking in throughout the day, keeping it our little secret until we had more details, the weak knees, pulling over to the side of the road so I could hear every word the caseworker was saying, the sweaty palms, shaking fingers while we dialed back and forth to each other and to the agency. But most of all, I remember that our feet didn't touch the ground, and nothing else in the world mattered. Never mind that it was the day of a historical presidential election in our nation. 

We were becoming parents, and nothing else in the world mattered. 

For more details, click here.

A letter from us

Dear Friends,

We look forward to loving this child with our whole hearts! Our world has expanded with wonder since we welcomed David into our family. Our first adoption was just about three years ago, and we feel especially glad to have David in our family. We also feel blessed to have an open relationship with his birth mother and her family. Because we are not able to have biological children, we know that our hearts will be filled with love through another adoption.  

There are many reasons we have to be grateful to you. We are grateful that you have chosen to give life to this child so he or she may be raised in a family. We are indebted to you for the sacrifice you are currently making in behalf of the child—through the pregnancy, the decisions, and the labor of giving this child life. We hope to share the joys and successes of this child with you through an open adoption. We look forward to regularly telling our child about the miracle of how he or she joined our family because of your tremendous gift of love.

Sam entered the world of being a Daddy as a real natural! Evoking giggles and squeals, Sam chases David, kicks the ball around the yard with him, or gives some exciting horsey rides through the house. The highlight of David’s day is when Daddy comes home to play with him. Evenings are often filled with countless games of Connect Four, tumbling block towers, stories on Daddy’s lap and taking walks together to find wildlife in our neighborhood. Sam involves David on many levels, such as running errands together or letting him have a front row seat while Daddy uses tools as a way to establish friendship on many different levels. Sam is a thoughtful and affectionate father, and he looks forward to another child joining our family.

Carmin loves being a stay at home mom! She listens to David sing songs while they run errands around town. She’ll watch David run and jump at the local gymnastics arena or along the pathway at the zoo—two places where they frequently go for a daily outing. Her favorite is to feel David’s head against her cheek while reading stories. Carmin wonders how she can grasp just a little bit of his excitement for life—David’s face lights up when he sees a fire truck, a moose, or a block of cheese. We talk together day in and day out, and she feels grateful that David is the center of her world. In fact, all of our children will play that role. As a mother, Carmin looks forward to meeting our next child who will introduce us to their world of wonder and happiness.

David has two favorite books. One is called “Sisters” and the other is called “Brothers.” These books show pictures of sisters and brothers playing together, and as he looks at the pictures, I can see that David longs for a close playmate like a sister or a brother. David is a very social little boy; he quickly and easily makes friends. We look forward to introducing him to a new sibling that will be among his closest circle of friends as his family.

On any given evening, you can find us around the dinner table sharing our meal together. As it comes time to clear away the dishes, David will often ask, “Family night tonight?” When he makes this request, we stop what we are doing for a few minutes and spend time with just the three of us. We sit in a circle on the floor, sing songs together, and share stories. We take turns sharing a “special talent” such as singing a song, jumping high, or counting to ten. This time usually wraps up in about ten minutes—then we move on to the best part! Games! David makes every little game exciting, and he has even invented a few new games on his own.

Our promise to you is that all children placed in our home will be taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. We will not be perfect parents, but we will work hard to ensure that children placed with us will be loved and cared for. We know that much of life’s happiness can be found within a family. We anticipate the day that our family will continue to expand through another adoption.

Love,

Sam and Carmin