Adoption Day
October 16, 2007 
Four years ago yesterday our adoption of N was finalized. Every year we celebrate Oct. 15 by going bowling. Even when she was a wee 7 month old we celebrated by bowling. It is such a fun family tradition. We were excited to get out and try a new place this year, and excited that my sister and brother and nephew could come this year. Well. Monday night is league night here and we found no where that had any lanes open before 9:00pm. Very disappointing. We ended up at some place called Papa’s, which is kind of like Chuck E. Cheese – they serve pizza and have a play structure, ball pit and games. It was fun. The kids loved it, and it was nice to sit and chat with the adults. Very disappointed about the dessert selection (since we had eaten pancakes, eggs and sausage for dinner) though. It is hard to stray from tradition though. Next year, we will have to remember to go the Saturday afternoon before!
What are some of your favorite traditions?
Update
May 21, 2007 
I’ve been busy the last few days. On Thursday and Friday, I went to the Utah-PTA convention at BYU. I had signed up to be treasurer. Since we will be moving, I can’t be anymore, but I went anyway so that I could get notes for the woman that will take my place. When I agreed to be treasurer they told me that all I would need to do would be count money and write checks. Not so. The treasurer is responsible for insurance, audits, budgets, amending budgets, reimbursing people, filing forms with the state and the IRS, and on and on. So glad that I am not doing this job. It sounds so overwhelming at this point in my life. On Friday, though, I went to a class called Leadership Traits and it was fabulous. It was taught by Ilene Mecham and it was inspiring. Made the whole two days worth it! At the end she showed a video called “Celebrating Life” that I would love to find a copy of.
Saturday we did the yard sale that I have had planned for a few months. We got rid of most of the stuff that I wanted to sell. I was surprised though, because the highchair and exercauser didn’t sell. Just about all the clothes did though (except winter clothes) and toys did too. Friday night I set the tables up in my garage and was able to just pull the tables out Saturday morning which was nice. I saw on some website to price all the clothes for the same price, instead of marking them all individually and that worked really well too.
We took a drive up Hobble Creek Canyon on Sunday evening. It was a beautiful evening and a beautiful drive. Hard to believe that we have had access to so much beautiful camping and fishing for seven years and haven’t taken advantage of it. And now we will be leaving it behind. I told Bryan that he needs to be sure to golf at the Hobble Creek Golf Course before we move.
Also! Met a woman at the yard sale that (I used to play city league volleyball against her team) is involved with a play group for families with adopted African-American children. They meet on Friday mornings and she is going to call me with more info. I am looking forward to that. I see it benefitting all of my children.
4 Years Ago
April 11, 2007 
4 Years ago today we were in Memphis. We flew out on a Friday and checked in to our hotel with just enough time to change clothes and head over the adoption agency. We were picking up our new daughter! I can’t believe that it has been 4 years all ready. We met first with N’s birth mother, R. We got to meet her and talk with her for a little bit. Then when N’s foster-mother arrived with her, R left to spend a few minutes with N. Some time to say goodbye. We spent some time with her foster-mother, going over her schedule, what kind of things she likes and what soothes her. After a few minutes, R came into the room with N and placed her in my arms. She was so beautiful. She looks so much like R. She was such a calm little baby. I held her for a few minutes and Bryan held her for a few minutes and R held her some more. We chatted and after about 15-20 minutes R decided that she had better leave. We were hoping to fly home the next morning but were waiting to see in the interstate compact would be approved, because if it didn’t we would have to stay in Memphis until Monday. We agreed to meet up with R again if the compact didn’t come through. We took N back to the hotel, had dinner and oohed and ahhed over this new little girl in our lives. She was so sweet. Her skin was flawless, a beautiful chocolatey brown and she had such soft curly hair. That night N had a hard time in a strange place with strange people so Bryan and I took turns walking the halls of the hotel, riding the elevator up and down and rocking her. Finally we all fell asleep with her in our arms. The interstate compact did come through so we were able to head home Saturday morning. We got home in the early afternoon and went to Bryan’s mom’s house which is where T was staying. N was able to meet her great grandparents, grandparents and aunts, uncles and cousins that weekend as well because it was Bryan’s brother’s mission home coming.
We agreed to write letters monthly for six months and then at 9 months, and 1 year and send pictures. We did so but they sat at the agency. R never picked them up. Part of me understands it, it would be hard to watch your biological child grow up with another family. Part of me is heartbroken about it. We changed N’s name and now R doesn’t know her name and that makes me so sad.
What I think that most about though is how blessed I am. She belongs with us. She is my daughter. She fits with us, and I love her. I love R for making this sacrifice. I can’t imagine how she has done it and I am grateful to her for it.
Mutual Support Groups
I am thinking about starting a Mutual Support Group for transracial families in Utah County and was wondering if you would be interested. I am thinking of something kind of informal with possible monthly play-dates at different parks and a possible summer family picnic. I am hoping that it will be something so that my kids can find friends with families built like ours, and so that N can meet children that look like her, and hopefully increase the self-esteem of my kids. I am hoping to do our first “play-date” in April. Let me know if you think that this is something that you might be interested in. You can email me at amandadickson@aol.com.
Disney’s Newest Princess
It’s official! In 2009, Disney will release the Frog Princess who’s main character will be Maddy, an African-American girl! I am so thrilled to hear this news, I just wish that it would be released sooner! I was reading a different blog and found this. Here is the link: http://transracial.adoptionblogs.com/weblogs/finally-a-black-princess
My beautiful daughter came to us through adoption in 2003. Since then my mother and I have had many conversations about Disney’s lack of a black princess. N absolutely loves Disney’s princesses. Her birthday party was Disney Princess themed and the sandles she just bought for summer are Disney Princess. We will at the movies opening night!
