Gracie Day

8 years ago today my sweet niece Gracie became a part of our family. One the one hand it seems like it was yesterday, but on the other I can't believe it has been 8 years(or that she will be turning 9 soon-sob!)

I was so fortunate to be able to travel to China with Lisa and Scott.  It was an amazing journey that I will never forget.

Here is a video I made for Lisa and Scott shortly after Gracie came home:



It was on that trip that I decided I wanted to adopt from China. I called Joe(in the middle of the night for him-I woke him up) and said "I don't want to try getting pregnant anymore.  I want to adopt from China".  Without hesitation, without missing a beat, without any questions he said "I don't care where our children come from.  As long as we have them together.  Let's do it".

We started paperchasing a few months later.

Today was a  bittersweet day.  A lot of tears were shed today, not just over the adoption, but over many things.  I sat in a Denny's restaurant this evening and cried my eyes out and I didn't care who saw me.  That's not like me at all.  I prefer not to show that much emotion in front of people, especially strangers at Denny's.  I couldn't help it though and I couldn't stop.  Good times.

There has been another change of plans for the weekend and it looks like I will be flying up to my sister's instead of driving(don't ask).

No matter how I get there, on Sunday I will be sitting in the Big Sur river with a cold drink in my hand and try to forget about all of the stuff that made me cry like a baby in the middle of a Denny's restaurant.

It will be a much needed break before I return to start packing up the only home I have known for the last 14 years.

I'm gonna need some more tissue.