Happy (Family, Crafting) Thanksgiving Day!

Today is a great day to be thankful.  I am thankful for the time Marty and I get to spend with family.  Of course there will be good food but also plenty of storytelling and laughter.  We love getting together with family.  Now family does not always mean blood relatives only.  In both of our families, friends have become family. 

Traditions (Changes and Additions):

Marty's family has gone to the movie theater on Thanksgiving day for many years.  This year we are going to see the latest Harry Potter movie. 

My family always has a large dinner with plenty of discussion and fun.  Mom and Dad made all the good food when the kids were growing up.  The kids helped with some dishes (I can put together a killer relish plate) and setting the table with Mom's china and silver.  Now the adult children each contribute to the meal. 

A new tradition that I have brought to both families is crafting.  Each year I bring down craft supplies and we make something fun (usually Christmas themed).  Last year we made wreaths.  It was so much fun seeing each persons own creation. 

The best tradition of all is family.  We both look forward to the time spent with family.  I have heard of people being upset that they 'have' to spend time with family at the holidays.  I am very grateful that both Marty and I have awesome families that are fun to be around.

Happy Family Day!
Happy Crafting Day!
Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Fireside last night

Well it happened again the Colorado chapter of FSA held a fireside last night for people who are adopting, have adopted or have placed for adoption a child.  We had some great speakers talk to us about their experiences.  First up was a young woman, who was adopted, she had many good things to say about how it was good for her to be adopted by a loving family and how the relationships went with her family.  She related many story how she had two brothers who were not adopted but they managed to get along like all other siblings.  Beyond the stories one thing that she said that I loved was that she knew that she was part of the family and that she was where she needed to be.  Next we had a recently placed birth mother talk about her placement.  She placed a little boy with a couple who had a little girl from before, helping to complete their hopes of a well-rounded family.  She talked about how it was a hard decision but the right decision to place her child up for adoption.  She also discussed how it has changed her life to have three more people in her family because she feels that they did not just adopt her child but they adopted her as well.  It is always great to hear about the birth mothers views of adoption, so that we know what is going on in her head during the process.  We then had a musical number that was very beautiful and caused many to tear up, it was about a birth mother giving up her child and telling the child that she did not give up on it but that she was giving it more.  Very nice!  Last speaker was a local LDS stake president who had adopted his two boys.  He discussed how times have changed and how they did not have the open adoption like they are now and how he wished that he could have had that type of adoption.  He told about each of his boys and their personalities, how they differ but are all meant to be together as a family and that is how it has always been.  Nice stories and great spirits were had during the fireside I find that I cannot sit through one of those without tearing up myself.  I noticed that both Miriam and I were happy to hear about the successful adoptions and how the stories changed their lives but it still hurts quite a bit when you think about how long we have been waiting and have wanted children of our own.  I know that it is Gods will and not my will when it will happen but it sure seems like a long wait for this to happen. 

I also wanted to talk about Miriam and how wonderful she is.  She is working so hard to get ready for the adoption; she has begun to put things together that she can sell on her etsy store.  I feel so proud of her when she shows me the finished projects and I want to show everyone.  The problem is with everything Miriam makes I love them and do not want to let them go.  She makes things and they are so nice and look so good that I do not want to let them go.  I know that it is for the better and that is why she makes them but she has so much talent that I almost want to put them in a museum or a place for people to walk through to see her work.