Domestic Re-Adoption Update

Well, this phase of the journey has been additionally frustratiing although not as frustrating because at least I know my child is well, receiving medical care, eating good food and drinking clean water. My attorney which I cautiously chose despite a higher rate, decided to take a job at the DA's office and failed to inform me that I had been passed not once but twice around like a football to other attornies in her families law firm. WHAT!!!! I figured all this out when I started being my irritating self and demanding to know what the hell was going on. As a result of all of this nonesense a court date was not established in December but is now set for January 14 at 1:30pm. If all goes well the judge will sign seal and deliver on that date. I have to appear and it should be a done deal. This whole experience leaves me cautious to be hopeful until all is done and the documents are safe in my hands. Only then will I finally be able to apply for a SS number and then finally a U.S. passport.

2007 First Christmas of Many

The amount of presents was almost ridiculous. People who normally do not exchange gifts with us sent gifts to celebrate Akins first of many Christmas's in the U.S. There were three personal things Akins asked Santa to take care of for him and Santa was kind. The first was a train, next an important man and finally a Bee for the boy next door. This last gift was kind of important as Akins had borrowed a toy and the dog had unfortunately chewed on it. So, the request was a pretty desperate move to replace the damaged toy without the boy ever knowing it was damaged. Does anyone know how hard it is to find Happy Meal toys after they have gone away? Ebay is a definate must for Santa. As it turned out despite the really cool train from Santa and the riding Jeep from Mommy and Lorea the Bee's were the biggest hit of the day. When Akins opened these he jumped up and down and hugged them shouting "My bees, my bees"! I'm pretty sure he thought he was going to have to confess and really did not want to. Of all the gifts my personal favorite of his was the puzzle of America complete with photos of the AFAA kids on their respective states, compliments of Abegail and Eman. Thanks guys! Here are the photo highlights of the night before and Christmas day.

Organized religion and faith...

Today I challenged my family and asked them to join me in attending a church function. This to some is like and so? To us it is major step out or perhaps in, that is into the world of organized religion a place I have ventured away from and do not have a great deal of faith in, to me much different then having faith or a belief in a God.

I was not sure what reaction I would get from Lorea when I cast upon her my thoughts around the importance of Akins knowing the church. To me the church did one good thing in my own upbringing, it scared me to good. Meaning it served what appears to be its purpose instilling "fear of God" and the consequences. It was out of that fear that I managed to stay out of trouble or at least as much trouble as I would no doubt have liked to experience. Lorea cringed at the thought of it and was reluctant and I think really would have liked to stay home rather than go. Next was Grandma. When asked if she would like to attend the holiday concert she said "Is Lorea going"? I laughed and said "Why? Power in numbers"? She said "No, I was thinking if she was going then I wouldn't have to". Somewhat reluctantly she agreed to go as well.

Now keep in mind we have not attended any churches in the Tulsa area so we were venturing into complete and foreign grounds. I had spent some time trying to find a church that is suitable to our beliefs and one that would not ridicule the make up of our family. Not the easiest task in the bible belt. After two days of surfing I selected a church that had a Christmas program and figured we could check out the church before having to endure a sermon and the overwhelming quiet of a sanctuary. This church boasts its accepting of all people, despite martial status (Mom divorced check), race (white and black family, check) and sexual orientation (check) okay sounds perfect. I expected it to be small and unintimidating - wrong huge and swarming, lots of hallways, confusion about where to go, but we found the sanctuary swarming and bustling with talk and commotion thankfully loud and not quiet at all as we settled into a pew. Soon the music began and it even contained an African traditional song (despite the fact that Akins was the only black person I saw in the whole place) complete with drums making Akins very happy and a Sarah McLachlan song making Lorea very happy. An hour later we realized Akins had been good, people complimented us on what a beautiful and well mannered child we had and we had survived. Maybe we will even go back, he wants to sing.

Letter to Santa for my MUAA Sisters

Here is my version of the letter to Santa inspired by the email from Lisa earlier.

Dear Santa,

Becoming a new mother of an adopted African child has challenged me on several occasions to remain a good girl this year. Like the time when I had to remove my child kicking and screaming from a store after he had thrown his coat several times, poked holes in the meat packages with his fingers, and told me “NO” defiantly. Despite many challenges like these I do feel I have been a good girl.

My wish this year is pretty simple…

• I wish for the light switch to remain in the position I placed it, at least a couple of times a day.
• I wish to not have to wrench the flusher on the toilet out of his hands every time we enter any bathroom.
• I wish for just 10 minutes each day to elapse without hearing the bleating cry “Mommy come”.
• I wish to be able to take a shower or use the toilet without an audience.
• I wish that the term Mommy-O could be used in a fun manner and not just in the midst of shear meltdown as I would find this endearing and quite cute under the proper circumstances.
• I wish for all hand dryers to be made the same in public restrooms to eliminate the curiousity as this would be a definite time saver for me.
• I wish that I could stand and walk without having to drag my child with my body or feet. I realize this may be a tall request and so I would even be happy to simply have him stop clinging to my butt and pulling on my clothes.
• I wish for more singing and dancing and less meltdowns.
• I wish on two nights of every week to sleep in my bed and he in his all the way through the night. Even one would be okay if this is too much to ask.
• I wish for my MUAA sisters who have already brought their children home to be granted all of the above too as I am certain they would be oh so grateful. For those that are still in the process I wish for them to be spared the need to develop this list next year.

Mostly, I wish for him to be happy with his new home and new family.

Enjoy your trip this year and be safe!

A loving mother of an African Angel.

Something...

Just as we pull away from the daycare the conversation goes something like this...

"Mommy"? (Nearly in tears)
"Yes, baby".
"Mommy"?
"Yes, baby".
"Mommy, the school".
"The school?"
"Mommy, the new school, has your".
"The new school has what"?
"Mommy, (almost crying again) the new school, has your something".

OKAY, what the hell??? I'm thinking...

"It's okay the new school has my something". (hoping this will end the conversation because I haven't a clue what it is and why he is so upset about it).
Crying harder
"NO - Mommy, the new school has your something for the juicy". (circular hand motions)
MIND RACING...juicy....
LIGHT BULB... the juicy is pineapple.
"The new school has the pineapple"?
"NO, (getting angry that I don't get it and he doesn't know what it is called -really crying now) the new school has your something for the juicy".

LIGHT BULB - much brighter. The platter that the fruit including the juicy pineapple was on that I took for the daycare holiday party! WOW!!!

"The new school has my platter? The tray that I took the juicy on"?
"Yeah". (Sounds a little relieved)
"It's okay we can get it tomorrow, we have more".
"NO, I WAN' IT"!
"We have three more at home, I'll show you".
"NO, I WAN' THE SOMETHING".
"Okay, tomorrow you can show me where they put it and we can get it".
"Yeah".

WOW! I'm tired and we aren't even home yet...

New day...leaving the house to go to daycare.

"Mommy, I wan' to go to the new school".
"Okay, we are on our way".
"I wan' the something".
"Okay, show me when we get there".
We arrive - he races to the classroom to show me the disposable tray the fruit had been delivered on two days ago. It's now in my car, I guess we will be taking it back home.

For all the Mom's...

Compliments of my friend Lisa, here is a letter to Santa which most Mom's can relate too...

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of
the candy aisle in the grocery store.

I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can
hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up
without the use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without
it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house
without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet
boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold.

Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always, MOM...!

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.

The ONE.Org

As we approach the polls in January the ONE.Org is working hard to force our politicians to work together as one to eliminate poverty.


For those of us who have travelled to Liberia we have seen poverty in its meanest form! Here is a commercial that is running in Iowa in an effort to raise awareness.



For more information on One.org. follow this link.
http://www.one.org/blog/2007/12/18/weve-gone-commerical?id=172-3683323-zRJj_2&t=11