It Mattered To This One...

Once upon a time there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing.

He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day he was walking along the shore.

As he looked down the beach, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself to think of someone who would dance to the day.

So he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young man and the young man wasn't dancing,but instead he was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.

As he got closer he called out, "Good morning! What are you doing?"

The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish in the ocean."

"I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"

"The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll die."

"But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!"

The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves and said-

"It made a difference for that one."

Make a difference in the life of a child. Consider Foster Care and/or Older Child Adoption and enjoy the blessings of a child that is 'born of your heart."

Like it? The starfish holiday ornament can be found HERE.

For The Birds....

While I was working in the kitchen today, I heard a tremendous chirping! I looked out the window and sure enough I saw a gazillion black birds in our backyard! Kayley and I rushed out to look. I grabbed my camera because it was so crazy and I thought it might be "blogworthy".
Anyway, I took a couple pics of the birds...but Kayley was just going looney over the excitement so I turned my camera and started snapping her instead.
It is so easy...when no flash is required, I can
snap about 40 pictures in less than 2 minutes.
No cooperation from Kayley required.
Anyway...
Here is what I ended up with.
I might be a 'little' biased, but I believe that Kayley is a beautiful girl.
Enjoy!

Wish this one hadn't been so fuzzy...

Oh yeah...so to the reason we were out there.
Tons of birds! Loud! Chirping! It was crazy!

They were everywhere. Kayley was pretty excited.
She thought they were out there to eat out of her birdfeeder.

No photo session is complete without the customary self-portrait.

Fall

It Bugs Me.

I bet my single friends, other adoptive Mommy's and other 'infertile' ladies will understand exactly how I feel when I share something that Bugs Me.

Why is it? that...

whenever I meet somebody new the conversation invariably comes around to:

"So...how many children do you have? I have 5."
or
"Oh, she's 3?" (referring to Kayley's age).
or
"Is she your only?"

I don't know why I let it upset me, but it always does...because whenever another Mom asks me one of these questions I immediately feel defensive.
I feel like I have to make excuses or explain why I "only have 1 child" and why she is "already 3 and doesn't have a sibling".

The problem is: I don't fit the Mormon Mommy Mold.
and that leaves me
feeling like I have to explain to other women why I:
--didn't get pregnant when Kayley turned 18 months...
--am not having another child every 2 years....
--have allowed my child to turn 3 without giving her a sibling.
--am not being selfish in just having 1 child

I haven't shared my testimony of adoption in our new ward yet,
in fact, I haven't shared much of anything with anybody.
So, they don't know my story...
But, I still feel defensive when those well-meaning questions come.
And while they don't meant it...
and
I don't know why I let it.

It bugs me.

(and now I'm cranky).

Trick Or Treat!