Monday, October 18, 2010

I'm a real girl!






































At the library last week, we found a fun picture book related to adoption. In The Best Family in the World by Susana Lopez, a girl named Carlota finds out that a family will be adopting her. She fantasizes about her family being astronauts, tiger tamers, pastry chefs . . . and discovers that although they're regular people, elements of her fantasies are part of her new life. For instance, they may not work with tigers in the circus, but her new Grandma has two cats. I thought it was a great way to address the fantasies adopted children sometimes have about their birthparents, while appreciating what their adoptive families actually are like.

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The title of this post refers to something I want to remember when the kids are older. Nathan often tells Anya Rashi "You're so cute!" Lately, she has started to object to being called "cute." Their conversation usually goes like this:

Nathan: "You're so cute!"
Anya Rashi: (fiercely) "I'm not cute! I'm a real girl!!"
After a moment:
Anya Rashi: "You can call me wonderful."

When we were driving and noticing all the spectacular fall colors, Anya Rashi said, "When I see those leaves, it's like God is hugging my eyes."

* * *

Much to the future embarrassment of my children, I am not above dumpster-diving. In our city, there's a kind of tradition that if you're getting rid of something usable, you leave it on the curb a day before garbage pick-up with a sign that says "free." Most often, someone will make it disappear, saving it from the landfill. Also, on the week when there is pick-up for bigger items, your stash on the curb is fair game for anyone who can make use of it.

Last week, we were on the way home from Aaron's boychoir rehearsal when something on the curb caught my eye. After many times on the "giving" end, it was my turn to be on the receiving end! I spied a nightstand that looked interesting . . . it definitely needed some TLC, but looked sturdy and well-made.

Anya Rashi and I took advantage of a warm day and sanded, washed and cleaned it, then put on a first coat of white paint, leftover from when I painted the kids' rooms. I'm not sure where it's going to go in our house -- one of the kids' rooms, possibly . . . But it is a nice, solid piece of free furniture! I'll have to post an "after" picture when we're done.

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We went to a state park two weekends ago to enjoy some of our last fine autumn days. The kids love that park, because there's a huge lake, an observation tower, a statue of a Native American chief, and lots of hiking trails (not to mention some impromptu rock climbing walls!). We have to soak up every last drop of good weather before winter comes . . . and it definitely helps me to stay busy with family things while we wait for our referral.

6 comments:

The Pfeiffer Family said...

Anya Rashi, is getting so big. She is such a beautiful "wonderful" girl! Your park sounds amazing. What a great way to enjoy a fall day. I love your "new" dresser. Getting something for FREE and putting a little work into it is something I like to do as well. Thanks for the book review I will look for it while at the library this week.

April :-)

Julie & Patrick said...

I am all about re-servicing and FREE! Good for you! I can't get over how "girl" like Anya Rashi seems and how gone her baby features are in these pictures. So grown up....when did that happen? She is lovely, and I love how she is opinionated and bossy about herself. So...um, cute?

Thanks for the book tip....always looking for those!
Julie

Cindy said...

God hugs my eyes all the time---what a way to describe seeing happy things in this world! That is so "cute" that she objects to the word cute...LOL...too funny!

Sounds like you have your hands full with Miss Anya Rashi! What a great big sister she will be one day!

And thanks for the book, always looking for a new one!

Alarie and Todd said...

LOVE the comments your sweet daughter made. I am just now dragging myself back to "adoption mode"...sad to say but with nothing on the news front for the rest of this month, I am feeling the pressures of more "immediate" issues. Reading your post brought a smile to my face and reminded me that our daughter waits for us and I started to get excited again. By the way, adore the necklace and wondered where the rest of us could get one?! :)

Jeff and Leslie said...

Same thing happens around here. I furnished a good bit of my first apartment by refinishing perfectly good items people were throwing out!

"You can call me wonderful," I love it! I think you're going to have your hands full when she's a teen!

I hope you're making progress on the list. We've been having fun lately "watching" some families we know journey to Manu's children's home in India to meet their children. Can't wait to tag along with you guys :-)

theheartofachild said...

Too bad for the Vikings...good for you tho! :) Almost pulled it off at the end! :)
Jenny