A bittersweet day...it's the last day of the Secret Pal 7 gift exchange. I've had such a fun time hostessing the exchange I'm sad to see it end. It's also been such a terrific experience getting to know my pal that I'm tempted to not give her up to the next round!
Speaking of the next round, Secret Pal 8 is starting up very soon. I have decided not to hostess this round (since the adoption paperchase is taking up most of my spare time), but the hostess group for SP8 is a wonderful group of people. Head on over to www.secretpal8.blogspot.com to get instructions on how to sign up!
Thanks to all my knitterly friends for putting up with my adoption related posts. I'm now working on a new blog which will chronicle the steps of our adoption. It's still a work in progress, but check it out - I hope you'll follow our story as we journey to meet our daughter.
www.hopesglow.blogspot.com
In other news, we went to a Families with Children from China potluck over the weekend, and the hosting family showed a video of their trip to China to pick up their daughter. It was incredibly moving, and a quick glance around showed there wasn't a dry eye in the room. There's nothing quite like watching tears well up in your husband's eyes and feeling him squeeze your hand in excitement at the journey to come. Some things just make you fall in love all over again.
I'm participating in a couple of different knitting exchanges, and through mere luck of the draw, I am thankfully blessed to have two of the best secret pals in the world. In mysterious synchronizing, I received a package from each of them last week only a day apart. And, both boxes were treasure troves of goodies more than worth bragging about!!!
Secret Pal 7 My SP7 pal is a spinner. I've been dying to learn how, so she sent me a homemade drop spindle and carded wool to play with, along with suggestions on how to get started. The box was also filled with other trinkets, pins and labels and fun note pads. Best of all, my pal created a handmade knitting journal, using scrapbooking techniques and pictures of my crazy kitty and FOs off my blog to customize the cover and inside just for me. What an incredible gift! (P.S. Loved the Pucca stickers!!)
Knitty SP6
In addition to a gorgeous set of beaded stitch markers, my Knitty SP6 pal sent me a yummy skein of merino yarn to try handpainting with. It's joint show-and-tell time when we're done, since this will be a first attempt for both of us at dyeing yarn. She also sent me a couple of books on adoption, one of which is The Lost Daughters of China. Although she worried about this part of the gift - she needn't have - the sentiment was, and is, very much appreciated. I've had my eye on this book for some time - I'm looking forward to reading it. Lastly, a grass head. Yes, I'll be growing my own little oasis in the desert on a head. It's progress will no doubt merit a post with pictures in the future.
It continually amazes me how generous the knitting community can be. Thanks to both of my pals for such wonderful, thoughtful gifts!!!
I think when you parent a little girl, you must agree to the following tradeoff - drama your entire lives together for the fun of shopping for her when she's little. I intend to enjoy the shopping as much as possible now (I still haven't forgotten what it was like to be twelve). That being said, we are trying to not to buy anything until all of our adoption paperwork has been logged in. Thankfully, that doesn't keep us from accepting gifts from those around us who are as excited about our adoption as we are. Behold - our daughter's (wow, that feels a bit overwhelmingly emotional to write) first crocheted gift! The picture is a bit blurry due to the fact that it's impossible to push the shutter button on my camera phone without moving the lens, but you get the idea. This dress was made by a friend of mine who's starting her own business making crocheted christening dresses and matching accessories. I couldn't help but cry as I gently handled the ribbons and lace, imagining all the possibilities to come and knowing that our daughter will be surrounded by love. Thanks, Kristen, for a truly wonderful gift!!
My sister in law makes the best chocolate cake I've ever tasted. Never mind that she says most of it comes from a box. Secret ingredients aside, the stuff's sinful. And years ago, I asked her to bake me one when we finally got pregnant to commemorate the occasion.
We traveled to visit my family this last week. On our agenda for the visit - telling everyone of our adoption plans. We've been keeping it a secret until we could spill the beans in person. So, imagine my surprise and confusion when we walked into my brother's home and spotted a coveted chocolate cake sitting on the counter. I looked at my sister in law, she looked at me, and I knew that somehow she just knew we'd made a decision. Not a word needed to be spoken as we held each other and cried. I don't know who's luckier - my brother - or me.
