Wow, I can't believe 2008 is drawing to a close. Hard to believe it was almost a year ago when we first set foot in the doors of the Catholic Charities office in downtown Baltimore and began our life-changing journey toward becoming a family.
This year has been a truly great year, if not a bit of a whirlwind, and I've learned so many things: Most important, I've learned that I really CAN be patient about certain things. So far, Jeff and I have handled "the wait" like real champs, if I do say so myself. And it's been incredibly touching, how many people have been asking us, again and again, how it's going. It's nice to know that so many of you are thinking of us, asking about us, and praying for us as we continue on this somewhat mysterious path toward parenthood. And with many of you, even the most minute of details don't seem to bore you, as I go on and on with my explanations and answers to your questions! I love talking about it and never tire of it!
Speaking of the "mysterious path" I mentioned earlier: One friend even compared it to the mystery of pregnancy: Although different in a lot of ways, adoption really is much like the uncertainty of pregnancy: wondering "when, exactly" it will happen...where will I be when nature (or, in our case, the universe, and the country of Korea!) decides it's time for us to be parents...what will it be like to hold my child for the very first time...to feel those tiny little fingers curling around mine...will I, like so many other parents I've talked to, think to myself, "I can't believe they are letting us leave the hospital (or, in our case, the airport) considering we don't know what the &*&**&* we are doing!" Ha ha!
I have grown as a person, and I have definitely grown as a potential parent. All the books I've been reading and classes we've been taking have really gotten us on the road toward being prepared. That being said, I know that we won't know what hit us until it hits us! But bring it on. Bring it all on: No one can scare me with their warnings that "you will lose your freedom," "you will have no life and no time for hobbies/interests/yourself," "your life will change FOREVER," etc. Folks, I am SO ready for my life to change! And I'm so ready to not know what hit me. I want to feel what it feels like to have love in its purest, most innocent, most joyful form just whack me over the head. I can't wait to fall in love with our child and experience all the ups and downs, twists and turns that parenthood presents.
And on that note, Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate Christmas. Happy Hanukkah to all of my wonderful friends who celebrate Hanukkah. And I hope people aren't offended if I lump the rest of the December/January religious holidays into one big "Happy Holidays to All!" May 2009 bring you many warm and wonderful blessings.
And, on a more selfish note, may 2009 also bring Jeff and I our baby.
I probably won't post again until early 2009. Last-minute holiday stuff--you all know what I'm talking about, I suspect!
Huge hugs,
Kathleen
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