Family Portraits

One of my friends, and an amazing photographer at that, Beth Valentine took our family portraits yesterday. Even more amazing, she had a sneak peek up on her blog last night!

Can I say that she totally rocks. Truly rocks. Not only did she have to deal with my indecisiveness on clothing choices, but she had to pick the location as well. It's a LOT of pressure to be told, "I trust you. I know I'll love them." Trust me on that. Those words make ME sweat bullets when someone says that to me. So, for her, I know it had to be hard. I like the all posed pretty and smiling at the camera kind of shots, I really do. But the visions I had in my head were so different, and more about the relationship of our family.



She did it. She totally put MY visions that I could hardly explain and took them. Most of the session could not be 100% planned because it's not a posed kind of session. She did her "directing" of us, she dealt with our kids being wild after 2 days in the car, going to grown up functions, and such. Katie was not in the best of moods either. Dh and I were "sweating" how it was going to go.


This image, well, it's one I adore. It shows Miss Katie in all her glorious personality. She had us laughing so hard.


I can not wait to see more, and hopefully I can share more later.

BUSY day!

We went to our college to say "have a great retirement" to the director of the Baptist Student ministries this weekend, see some old college friends, and then when that was all done we went to get family portraits made in Nashville!

Phew!

I'm tired. I'm worn out. I have nothing profound to say.

Tomorrow I should have some photos to share!

Reflections on what I learned from our China trip

Prior to even thinking about adoption, I had thought I was beyond all racial reactions in me. I thought that I was "color blind" and only judged people on their character. While that IS true (and after reading some great blogs, I'm learning that being "color blind" isn't quite right either as that denies a lot of WHO a person is). What I had not heard of, nor learned about, nor even seemed to care about is White Privilege. Huh? What in the HECK is that I wondered the first time I ever heard the term. After reading a few more blogs, I slowly began to understand it in my mind.

It's the knowledge that I will fit in when I go somewhere. It's the knowledge that I will be treated fairly in regards to race when I go shopping, or out to eat, or to the movies. It's really so very many things that I take for granted. It's the knowledge that when people SEE me, they know my cultural background and it's considered the "standard" one, the "ideal" one. It's the knowledge that ads are geared to appeal to me. It's the knowledge that television shows are geared to appeal to me. It's the fact that I can take my kids into a store and find toys that fit THEIR ideas of themselves, well okay not Katie and her baby dolls.

See, I understood it intellectually before we adopted. I didn't understand what it meant emotionally. I had not really seen minorities treated badly in front of my own eyes in a long time, or perhaps I was just blind to it? I thought we had mostly moved past this stage.

Then...well, the trip to China happened. Specifically, the LAX airport happened. I was happy and secure in myself all the way through Denver. But it was going to the international terminal at LAX, and going through security. Seeing the TSA belittle the people around us from other countries. Seeing the exasperation and rudeness they displayed with people who didn't speak English and were not white. Then, I experienced stellar treatment when we went through. Why? Is it that we are American and spoke English? Is it that we had our paperwork ready like they had asked? Or was it something related to race? I don't know, but the TSA person was not white.

But I will never EVER forget how it felt to walk up to that China Air (or was it Air China) area and realize that we were the ONLY white people around. That we could not understand what anyone was saying. Where, for the first time, we were ignored when standing at the desk to ask a question. Where, when I smiled in greeting to people, I didn't get the same response back that I do at home. I got curious looks. I got stared at. I was watched. It made me uncomfortable. My heart starting breaking when I realized that THIS is how many people in our country live on a day to day basis. I started looking at the ground so I didn't have to see them staring at me. It hit me then that perhaps so many minorities around me look at the ground for the same reason. It made me want to cry for what Katie would experience growing up in our family and in our country. It opened my eyes to how far we really had to go. I wondered then how I would feel for the next 12 days while in China.

It was shocking to me to NOT hear English first in instructions while in America. I had sort of expected it in China, but not really given it much thought. I had not thought just how isolated I was going to feel in China not being able to speak the language, how out of place I would feel because no matter where I was I would stand out due to my skin color. It made me truly feel uncomfortable about how comfortable I have it here in America. It made me wonder how Katie was going to feel growing up in our home, in our lives, and I wondered...was I doing the right thing?

I felt very guilty for any of the bad thoughts I had previously had, especially in Disney where instructions are given in multiple languages. It's NOT easy to sit and wait to hear your language so you can understand what is being said. It's really not easy to sit through the quiet while the first set is being played, then everyone around you starts talking and you can't quite hear and understand the YOUR language instructions. It was very frustrating. It was very eye-opening.

Since our trip, where I learned exactly how hard it was to not fully understand people who were talking to you, and how difficult it was to order a meal when you couldn't speak with the person, I have looked around me with new eyes. I have tried to respond in ways that I do not hinder someone who might be in the situation of having to cope with not speaking the language. I have read numerous blogs on race issues. I have vowed to give as much support as I can to Katie's feelings about how she looks. We will also talk to her about how when she goes out without us around, people are going to assume she has a different cultural background than what she will have. We'll have to prepare her for people thinking she doesn't speak English when they first see her. We'll have to prepare her for dealing with racism in all forms, something I don't feel totally prepared for as I have never really experienced it. I hope that I can.

By the way, ordering a meal in China with picture menus was one interesting experience. It wasn't hard, but there was no way to order special. Not to mention trying to figure out the money. Basic life skills that I take for granted here. It is NOT easy, and patience and kindness go a VERY long way.

Halloween - FINALLY!

My 3 kids all ready for Halloween.

The Knight who says "Ni!"
Minnie Mouse with a sword, who ended up being Minnie Mouse who says "Ni!"
The Black Knight, with all his arms and legs...and only sometimes another knight who says "Ni!"

Unfortunately I couldn't find a bunny rabbit costume for Katie so she wasn't able to be the Vorpal Bunny.

If you have no idea who those characters are, then...well...you can go search for them. Monte Phython's The Holy Grail. Yes, we have indeed made geeks of our children.

History.

Yes, History was made last night. We elected a minority to be president, and I am very glad I was alive to see it. I'm glad my children will grow up in a country where racial issues are hopefully declining.

Did I vote for him? If you know me, you know the answer. :) We'll leave it at that. I don't want my political views to be front and center on this blog, mainly because who is president does not really change my day to day life. At least not right now. The sun still rises, I still have to feed my kids, homeschool my kids, and clean the house. What does concern me a little more are the Senate and Congressional races. Legislation is made in Congress, especially legislation that pertains to economics. If the Senate and Congress have more than 2/3 majority, then they can pretty much push through any legislation they would like. To me, that is way too much power for one party to have (and I would believe that if the Republicans had the super-majority). There are too many viewpoints and opinions about certain topics for sweeping legislation to just be able to be passed without a thorough look.

What I find appalling, however, is all the talk on Facebook and on blogs from people from both sides. I felt this way after the last 3 presidential elections as well. The gloating from the winning side, the whining and complaining from the losing side. Yes, I remember it from Clinton's 2nd term and I remember it from both of Bush's terms. I see it, and my opinions of people are changed because I feel like their true characters are showing. I don't mind the "I'm happy." or "I'm disappointed." It's the "OH MY GOSH I can't believe this is REAL and America's voice has finally been heard!!!" Or the "I'm so scared about what this means and we're going to just fall apart as a nation now." The "oh it was so unfair!" and stomping of feet (yes, this election and the 3 prior ones...Florida anyone? Bush/Kerry election where people were bemoaning "Shrub's" victory).

Look at the percentages of voters. Look at them. 46% voted for McCain, that's 46% of AMERICANS who feel like their viewpoints are not being represented now. It's not all of America who voted for Obama. I said this exact same thing, except for the percentage and name of Kerry last election. Put yourself in the other's shoes. If your side won...and you didn't vote for Bush, you remember how it felt. If your side lost this time, and you voted for Bush last time (or two), you know how THAT felt. Celebrating or complain quietly...and be respectful of how others are feeling.

Will our lives change, in a fundamental way? Not immediately. Yes, there are changes, but it's going to take Congress, Senate, and the President working together to bring that change. If they make sweeping changes that are 100% on the left side, the liberal side, then those changes are not reflecting what 46% of this country wants. Is that truly fair? Could 46% of the country be totally wrong, or could they have some right things to think about? Think about that.

I don't think politics are all black and white. I believe, truly, that in order for our country to change we are ALL going to need to work together to find solutions that we can all believe in. Both sides are going to have to compromise, and I'm sorry, but I don't see that happening easily at all.

tomorrow...tomorrow I promise to show off my Halloween cuties. Then on to rather boring day to day posts about how my life is going. 2.5 weeks until we move and I've only packed 5 boxes.

I can now complain.

Yes, internets, I'm allowed to complain now. I voted, so I have the right to complain about the people elected. That's my philosophy! If you don't vote, then you don't have the right to complain because you didn't make your voice heard.

We waited 1.5 hours on a crisp fall morning, with sunshine and good natured people all around. I was a wee bit concerned about the people and voting, and how crazy some could be. But everyone was happy, smiling, and chatting...with everyone around them. They smiled at Katie, the kids who were there played together, and I felt a sense of community with these strangers.

I wonder though how it would be if we had to divide into lines for presidential candidates instead of "A-L" and "M-Z" lines. I truly wish the division between the parties wasn't so horrid, and it seems to only get worse and worse. I wish I knew why, and I wish we could fix it. Our country is so incredible, so diverse. I love that we don't all think alike, or want the exact same things. How boring would it be if we all thought the same?

Of course, I wish more people thought like I did, and I hope the people I voted for today all win. But if they don't, I'll move on. I'll still respect those who were voted (at least the office they were voted into). I'll still be friends with those who voted differently than I did. I'll let my kids play with their kids.

I only wish I had had my t-shirt on that says "I'm Blogging This." But as I wasn't the only one taking photos (I just took photos of the kids, not the line), I didn't feel strange pulling out my camera.

The stroller? It was less than useful for corralling Katie.


The boys did GREAT standing in line, only complained every 5 minutes or so. No, really, they were fairly calm (it helped that gameboys came with us).



Did I mention the stroller wasn't very useful for corralling Katie?


The stroller was useful for something:


In honor of ELECTION DAY, and Katie's first time voting, she wore Red, White, and Blue. :) But alas her coat/jacket was pink. At least you can see the hair bow.


The best part though? Katie woke up with a nasty cold.

*sigh*

Week 3 of contaminated household.

Pumpkin Carving Fun

Yes, this will be a photo intensive post. :) Our carving night, in photo essay.

Answers to some possible things - we use the kit and templates for carving. Yes, it's somewhat tedious. No, it's actually VERY easy. The tools make a HUGE difference.

Yes, Katie dug right in. The boys...not so much. The boys took some convincing to stick their hands in pumpkin guts.












I really wonder what Katie's thinking here...








Not a moment's hesitation on Katie's part.



















Katie's pumpkin was the cat, Samuel's was the Pirates logo, and JM's was the Black Pearl.

If you think these are cool, you should have seen the one we did when Dh and I were engaged! It threw bats up on the wall behind the pumpkin and had a moon with a witch in it on the front. It was a very cool pumpkin, but my photo skills could NOT do it justice (I've learned quite a bit since then). :)

Creative Meme

*yeah I know I said I'd post Halloween photos, but I've not gotten them downloaded off the camera yet....shame on me!*

I've been tagged by Nik over at Exceptional Voyage for this creative Meme.

You are supposed to find the 6th folder in your pictures directory and post the 6th photo in it.

So here are the instructions:

* Go to your sixth picture folder then pick your sixth picture.

* Pray that you remember the details.

* Tag 5 others, leave a comment to let them know they've been tagged.

*eh-hmmm* I have 4 hard drives. 3 are dedicated to photos. 1 is the C drive. I'm not sure WHICH picture directory I'm supposed to show you. Then, finding the 6th folder isn't so hard, but the 6th folder typically has sub-folders and not images...so finding the 6th image...yeah...that's the part I'm getting hung up on.

So, here are some of my "6th" images that I did find. :)


Katie - newly home from China, during my first "oh my gosh I have a daughter and I'm not jet-lagged so badly that I can't operate my camera photo session"


Wow - Zoo trip. I believe this was...umm...Samuel's itty bitty...probably around 3? Or 2? I remember it was in the spring. But it was not the zoo trip Feb 2006, so I'm going to say March 2005. YES, that's right. Because I was coughed on quite a bit by a family with really snotty nosed kids who looked like they were feeling terrible, and their father is the one who REALLY coughed, and sneezed, and moaned around me. It was about a week to a week and a half later that I found myself in the ER with a medicated 104 fever and the flu.


July 2005, Hilton Head Island....awwww....


JM at Disney World, May 2005. Wow does he look YOUNG here. *sniff* My baby is growing up on me!


I'm going to tag some dear dear friends....

Tonggumomma - because I know she'll enjoy having a post taken care of! ;)
Cheri - because I always tag her...aren't I sweet?
Kay - because turnabout is fair play, aren't I kind?
Treasure's Mom - because I know she probably has as many photos as I do
Luci's mom - because I think she needs some of this taggy goodness too
Julie - because she doesn't have enough going on already. *giggle...snort*

Joining in the fun...

which means you'll be bored to tears this month here at my blog. I just know it. I also know that I can do 30 days (and what a fun stressed 30 days it will be too). See, I joined the Project 366 challenge and lasted for almost 3 months. BTW, that one is a photo a day taken, edited, and posted to the blog for the year.

Yeah. I was over-ambitious.

30 days? Shucks, I should be able to do that no problem.

Did I mention we MOVE in 3 weeks? I'm in my busiest season yet with the photography. AND we're still homeschooling. Yeah. Easy peasy to do 30 blog posts this month, and NO cheating either. I can't pre-write to post on each day. No can do.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Halloween photos. Yeah, I'm almost always a day late to the parties. ;) But today? Well, today was spent packing 5 boxes and shopping.