National Adoption Day

Adoption (as described by Merriam-Webster Dictionary):
*  The act or process of adopting a child
*  The act or process of beginning to use something new or different
*  The act or process of giving official acceptance or approval of something

Well, that sums it up....not quite!

Without the option of adoption, I would not have Barbie toys *everywhere*, hairbands in every nook and crannie of this house, pages and pages of artwork gracing our windows, walls, mirrors, and coffee table.  My weekday evenings would not be a blur comprised of dinner/showers/homework/reading and constant re-direction to stay on track.

I found online that adoption comes from an Old French word, adoptare - meaning "to choose for oneself."  Did Kristina get to choose?  That's a rhetorical question...we know the answer.  But in my heart, I know God put us down various paths for a reason and ultimately, we chose adoption.  I embraced the "act or process" because ultimately, I knew what our reward in life would be.  I welcome whole-heartedly every challenge we are presented because my heart overflows with so much love for this little girl.

During this time of year ~ as Thanksgiving approaches, I take a break from wondering how I will fit time in to get Christmas cards written, get the house de-cluttered enough so we can squeeze a tree in the corner, and where in the world will I get the energy to prepare for Santa's arrival.  Somehow, in some time...all will get done.  But for this moment today, I sit with my daughter and not miss an opportunity to tell her how much she is loved.

Today, November 22, is National Adoption Day.  Adoption may be celebrated nationally today but in my heart, I celebrate it daily.  I think of all the friends we have made on this path and hold close in heart all our family and friends who have been touched by adoption as well.  (Kristina:  did you know that Aunt Dae and Uncle Gary, Aunt Zoe and Uncle Don, cousins Gail and Tony, and friends Kathleen, Anna, and Aunt Laura are only a few of your family and friends who have either adopted, been adopted or have a parent who was adopted?  See ~ all of us are blessed!!!)

Without adoption, we would not have this.....

Our happy little girl.

One of Kristina's steady boyfriends - Bob.

Sound asleep...yet probably still scheming about something!



Definitely has engineering qualities -- always proud of her creations!

I remember K playing on this neighbor's swing when she was 2 years old...  Still loves it!

Getting big...but still wants daddy's kisses before class starts!

We love our selfies!!

May you always dance, baby girl, like no one is watching!

Must Stop to Smell the Roses...

Each morning we go through the same routine...and I find myself at 7:50am raising my voice to Kristina, "Come on....we're going to be late.  Hurry up!!!"  I echo these words over and over and over.  The mornings seem to be a blur as I race around ~ but a moment later I hear, "Mommy, look at this!" and I stop in my tracks. I remind myself that she is growing up so fast and I don't want to miss anything.

Here are a few of those precious moments I could have shunned away with a "Come on, we don't have time" but instead I thought "If we're late, we're late....I'll never get this moment back in time."

One morning I was especially impatient as she was taking FOREVER to come out for breakfast.  Then I saw why....for the first time, she had braided her hair on both sides.  What surprised me most is how did she get a straight part down the back of her head?  I swear this girl lived a life before this one....

So intent on making sure they are perfect.

So proud of my not-so-little girl!

Ha -- and just before walking out of the house, Kristina took those braids and put them into buns.  Here is our version of Princess Leia!

Right before we ran out of the house, Kristina brought me the other half of the "Mother/Daughter" necklace given to us by dear friends Annamarie and Donna.  Kristina was wearing her half and said "Mommy, you have to put your half on so we can think of each other all day."  I figured this moment would be worth it getting to school and work late....so I obliged.  Here we are wearing them.

And go figure, the morning when it's already over 100 degrees and we're almost late, Kristina spots a Praying Mantis by the front door.  "Mommy, look -- it's soooo beautiful!  Take a picture."  I couldn't resist.

It seems like now, at the age of 7 1/2 and home for over 5 years, Kristina is very comfortable in telling people that she is from Russia.  And she's proud of it.  (We don't taint her thoughts with the current political unrest between the US and Russia -- just hoping someday soon the "big boys" will learn to play nicely together in the big Sand Box of life....but that's for another Blog...)  Kristina's teacher is from Korea and a few of the children in her class are from Mexico.  So, of course, Kristina had to blurt out to the class, "Well, I'm from Russia."

This past Thursday was "Multi Cultural Day" at school.  All the students were asked to gather together artifacts representing their culture and display them in the auditorium and later discuss them in class.  After getting the ok from the teacher, we made a trip to the local Russian Market and got some wrapped candy.  All other food was "banned" this year which greatly impacted participation in the auditorium's display...which was a shame.

I'm so glad we made the time to find some items as Kristina really enjoyed putting it all together!

Heading out to school and ready to represent Russia!

Russian artifacts included a Russian Flag, Matryoshka Nesting Dolls, Cyrillic Letter Blocks, a small trinket box made of birch wood with Ekaterinburg on it, and a listing of words in English, Cyrillic and their phonetic sounds.

Proudly standing next to her display.

 

Kristina taught the class how to say "hi", "good-bye", "dog", "cat", "thank you", and "bye-bye" in Russian!  She had to practice a lot as the only ones she still knew before this task were dog, cat and thank you.

Room 16 (Kristina's room) had the most number of artifacts displayed.  It was sad to see other tables/rooms completely empty.

From afar, with my zoom lens, I caught Kristina with her friends before the Multi Cultural Parade.

 

And then she noticed I was taking photos!

 

The 2nd Graders on parade displaying cultural pride.

If Kristina had her way, she'd be wearing high heel boots....just like they do in the motherland!

I.Just.Love.Her.So.Much.

This 2nd Grader worked the hardest at displaying his cultural pride!

Lots of cultures represented by the 2nd Graders!  Good Job!

When the dismissal bell rang, Kristina ran out of her classroom with a bunch of kids following her.  Apparently, she was only allowed to hand out 1 piece of candy to each child and was told she could hand out more at the end of the day.  I was with friend and fellow mom, Betsy, as we saw Kristina run by.  I had to make the comment to Betsy that it looked like Kristina was the "dealer" on the playground by the way the kids were swarming around her!  oye....

 

"Do you want chocolate or sugar jelly?"



Taking count of her "clients"....

...And announcing, "Mom!  I only have a few of each left!"

I am so glad I took Thursday off from work so I could see her participate in Multi Cultural Day.  I don't know how she will feel in the future but for now, she feels that being from Russia is a cool thing.  (When Kristina was little, she thought ALL kids were from Russia...) 

So yes, we must stop to smell the roses because right in front of us, this little girl is blossoming.  Although some things never change....

 

 

Since a toddler, up until the present, this is how our angel still sleeps.

 

A Day in the Life of a Real Life 2nd Grader!

Seriously, it seems like yesterday I was carrying Kristina, bouncing her on my lap as I sang "You Are My Sunshine", and snuggling in with her in her bed to scratch her back until she fell asleep.  Oh, wait -- that was yesterday!!!  Yeah, still my baby and I'll keep it up until either I can't or she won't let me do those things.

Today was that reality check that she really is blossoming into a beautiful, sweet young lady and definitely not the toddler of years ago.  Second Grade.  Wow.  She chose her backpack (I surprised her with the matching lunch box and pencil case from yes, Justice....) and she chose her clothes.  She brushed her own hair as usual and chose her headband.  She set everything out last night, including her clothes which made this morning quite pleasant.

Via pictures, I will let you enjoy a day in the life of our Angel, an official 2nd Grader!

Just about to go to sleep excited about the next day.

She was sleeping so peacefully this morning that I didn't want to wake her up.  But school was awaiting!

Couldn't let her run out the door without brushing the pearly whites.  All her teeth are about grown in!

Ready for our walk to school!

Kristina with Da-Da --- a name she recently started calling Jon (although Papa, daddy, and dad still slip in...).

Mommy and her angel.  God, I love this girl.

Definitely not too cool yet to walk with Mama and Da-da.  Just running ahead with her new "roller backpack" - required for 2nd Graders and up.

And she had to convert it before getting to school...because she can!

Greeted with hugs from friends...

....with Avery -- sporting the same good taste in style!!

And Angie --- showing the sign for "2nd Grade"!

Waiting in line to enter their former 1st Grade Classroom...to find out their next class assignment.

Mrs. Kim announces class assignments as the kids listen intently.

 

Kristina's new class is the first to leave!

The walk across campus to 2nd Grade!! 

Introducing Mrs. Ro's newest 2nd Grade Class!  Here the kids are waving good-bye to the parents.  We didn't stay longer than 2 minutes before told to leave.  :(

And this is the look we got...warmed our heart.  She was A-OK.

It was Jon who I couldn't keep from continuously looking into the classroom to see if she was ok!

After school, she ran to us...we never even made it to the classroom.  A great first day!

Can you guess which Disney character Kristina is growing out her hair for (for Halloween!!)?

Friends who Kristina loves dearly and they live a few houses away:
Elora (5th Grade) and Max (also 2nd Grade).

Focusing on homework at our local library after school...

I might make this a habit...Kristina focuses a tad better here!

Homework done and books checked out.  Happy Girl!!



Night, night, sweet girl.  Wishing you a very happy year ahead.  xoxoxo