A Natural Family

Sometimes I can't really think of a whole post topic, but have some 'randomness' to chat with you all about.

1. If you think about race at all, you should totally check out this website:
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com
Really funny. It is pretty right on. Makes you think about some of the idiosyncrasies of White American culture.
2. Been reading up on White Racial Identity Development. If you are White, when did you first start thinking about race? What was the trigger or starting point? I will share more theories as I read more.3. Had a great weekend in NYC with my girls L and C. Loved them since High School (which otherwise was a total waste of three years). They have only become more wonderful since then.


4. OBSESSED with the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. Yes, yes... I know it is 'Young Adult Fiction' but I love it. I have even re-read the series. (Some might know me well enough to note that there might be some procrastination of my paper involved here.)


5. So done with my current job it is ridiculous. SO SO DONE. I am telling you... if it weren't for this adoption, I would have quit and would be fine living on peanuts. I am placating myself by thinking about possible options for future employment... culinary school anyone? (As if I don't have enough debt already... :))

The family that was 'next on the list' with a waiting date of 10/12/06 received their referral... I know of AT LEAST three families that are before us, but it is nice to see things moving along, right?? We are getting closer.

Update on the shower front: Baby B will have a 'money tree' shower from our church in CT which will also include donations for the orphanage. I suggested they think about having it in late May.

Yesterday I did a lot of cooking. And, I thought I would share with you my favorite winter soup recipe. I love it because it is flavorful, healthy, and quick--plus, it is very pretty when it is finished.

Favorite Lentil Soup:

1/2 bag of Red Lentils (red really are the best, but any kind can be substituted)
2 boxes of broth (veggie or chicken)
1 medium onion, chopped
2-3 T curry powder
1 fresh lemon, juiced (or lemon juice from the fridge)
1 1/2 c frozen veggies (I usually use green beans or peas... whatever happens to be in there.)
Olive oil

Sautee the onions in a couple tablespoons of olive oil until they are soft and translucent. (5 min)
Add as much curry powder as you can handle (at least a couple tablespoons). Stir so that the onions are covered with the curry powder and olive oil. (1-2 more minutes)
Add the veggie or chicken broth and the lentils. Cook for 15 minutes until the lentils are done. Add the frozen veggies (or fresh). Be checking for salt and pepper needs as different broths need different amounts added. After your veggies are heated through, add lemon juice to taste-- I usually use the whole lemon. AND ENJOY.

It makes a really pretty yellow colored soup with the fresh looking green veggies mixing around inside. It is great as a first course or with some crusty bread.

So, I got my first email asking about when we might like to have a baby shower. And, what 'kind' of shower we'd like to have. I must admit I feel pretty conflicted. On one hand, I really want a traditional baby shower. Little petit fors, punch, women oohing and aahing over dainty baby clothes and accessories... maybe games?? (Okay... I may have to draw the line at games...) But, a 'money tree' shower would probably be the most practical. And, even more selfless than that, would be a shower that some how incorporated donations to the orphanage in Ethiopia that will be home to our child before we get to claim him or her.

I have been trying to decide why it is so hard for me to just go with the money tree shower. This won't be the only shower that is thrown for us and Baby B. We definitely could use the money for plane tickets, accommodations in Ethiopia, and ... I don't know... diapers or something. But, I think the reason why I feel a little sad about it is because it marks one more way that our situation is different than 'the norm.' The reasons behind having a money tree shower really include the following: we don't know if the baby is a boy or girl, we don't know the age, we don't the know the season of his or her arrival... And that is difficult for people. It is difficult for me. It is difficult to prepare for all of those unknowns.

I can feel people around us getting antsy. They are asking when Baby B is going to come. Why is it taking so long? What has the agency told you? And, I have no answers. He or she will come when she comes. The reasons for the long wait are complicated. The agency doesn't have much control, so they haven't said anything new. I think the waiting would be easier if no one else knew we were waiting... (says the girl with the blog...)

GRATEFUL the past week or so that Baby B is not here yet. J and I returned from CA a little under the weather and have really benefitted from going to bed early and sleeping in. I currently have also been feeling a little overwhelmed. We seem to have different social situations booked through mid-MAY which always makes me a little crazy, plus... there's that paper that I am supposed to be writing.

Recent conversations, though, have really driven home the importence of THINKING about racial identity development in transracially adopted kids. I recognize that not all families have the flexibility to move to more racially diverse areas, attend racially diverse churches, or can drive their children to racially diverse schools. But, I remain pretty confident that if you are living in a racially and/or culturally homogeneous situation, you are really missing out and so are your children, transracially adopted or biological. In the end, it is not just what you, as a white ally, could do for a minority community in terms of advocacy, but what people that are different from you can teach you!

More later. Leaving work to go walk with a friend from 4:00 to 5:30, then 6-6:45 going to a (7 y/o) friend's school performance, 7:00 haircut, 8:00 HOME.

So, if you are reading now... you were invited to! I hope this works b/c I literally only added the names of people who emailed me and then family that I know reads the blog. I am not sure what it looks like coming into the blog from a reader's perspective, so I hope people email me if they want to read but weren't invited.

J and I are back from California. It was a really nice time and made me feel ok about yet having a kid :) We stayed with our friends who have three (7 and under), had some good talks about religion, racial politics, politics, and child rearing. And, had some great 7 y/o conversations, 4 y/o conversations, and 2 y/o conversations.

I, of course, am now sick. So, I'll post something more substantive later.