Letting Go of Worry

Any idea what makes these two photographs remarkable?


If you guessed something about the sun being out this bright in January in Portland, ding ding ding, you get the cigar. Most days, it's so dark that noon feels like dusk, so Ted made the comment today about how remarkable it is that "When the sun is this bright outside, it's like it actually lights up our house. We don't even have to turn any lights on inside or anything. It's weird and kind of cool."

It's the little things.

We talked to Mary again today, and it looks like we have at least a two week wait ahead of us. The Gladney team is going above and beyond to get ready for the appeal, doing more than what most would probably do to ensure that this case is presented in the clearest way possible. We hope to find out this week when the court date is.

I have been touched lately by reading this blog, especially the post titled "Shaken Up" in which she writes about the gratitude that she feels to the Ethiopian nation for allowing her to be mother to one of their own. I have thought the same thing, often getting choked up at the thought of the honor it is to be entrusted with this child. I cringe inside when people make comments to us about what an honorable thing we're doing by "rescuing" a child. We don't see it this way and never have. We feel like the lucky ones and will live our lives doing all we can to honor those who entrusted us with a child. I encourage you to read this blog: this family really seems to have the right perspective about adoption. We don't have a right to these children--we are the fortunate ones. Keeping this perspective in mind makes me realize that being impatient with this process is selfish and pointless. I'm still not good at being patient, but I'm trying to keep my heart focused on the big picture, that worry and impatience will do nothing to form our family even a second faster. All it does is make me unhappy and a pill to live with: just ask Ted.

I'm also inspired by this family as well. I cry every time I read their story.

Finally, I don't know if it was the sunshine or a day of successfully "letting go" of the worry, but we let some ridiculousness in this afternoon while shopping for kitchen flooring. Hope you enjoy.

Follow this link if you need context.