Could I be more tired???
Answer: No.
And Brett drank up all the coffee while I was gone and didn’t replace it. He’s in so much trouble.
Our flight was delayed out of Cincinnati last night so we got in two hours later than we expected to. I’m sure J is hating life right now, too, because she had to work at 8am this morning.
That picture is Madison at the wedding. Her Grandpa M put the flowers in her hair.
J was worried that her dad would be too overbearing. However he was merely smitten and sometimes that can look like overbearing when it’s really not. The only hard part of that is that Madison generally wanted me within 15 or 20 feet of her at all times. If she was carried too far, she would holler ’til she came back to my arms. So basically I followed them around the grounds (it was an outdoor event at a country club) and tried to be both obvious to Madison and inconspicuous so they could have their time together. This was how things went most of the weekend. We went to a lot of planned activities and I trailed around trying not to get in anyone’s way.
Meeting J’s family and seeing her interact with them gave me a much better picture of how things were for her.
We got lost twice — once after the wedding and then insanely we got lost in the exact same place (careening onto the wrong freeway while her dad, who was leading us and had turned honked and waved frantically). The nice thing about that was it was just more opportunity for talking. And then we cruised by her high school and old stomping grounds.
I liked traveling with J. She’s funny and practical. When they tried to break our seats up on the plane, she marched up to the counter and got them all lined back up. I really enjoy her.
We got to talk more about the adoption. She didn’t know how it all worked on our end — the precalls, the other match we had (thank goodness it fell through, I told her). She told me that we were the second profile she read and that she didn’t want to read any others because she knew in her gut that it was meant to be. Her friends made her read the other ones because they said she couldn’t know without looking at all of them but she said she knew right away.
Introductions became more smooth as the trip wore on. We ended up missing services at church, (which is not just a church — it’s a church CITY! One of those big outreach churches with an information kiosk, cafe and their own rock band) but we sat in the reception area and met people.
“This is my daughter, J,” her father would say. “And my granddaughter, Madison, and her mom, Dawn, and her brother, Justin.”
Then J’s dad took my brother on a tour of the sound and light system.
The whole trip was really amazing but the best part was hanging with J so much.
I want to write more about some of my thoughts but I’m way too tired right now and will need to process them some more.
She is just gorgeous! I’m glad the trip went well and things are more clear between you, Madison and J
I love that picture! Madison looks so firmly planted and…game. So glad the trip went well.
I think Noelle and I getting to know each other as women, and really loving each other because of who we are as people(not just because of our roles) is one of the reasons our relationship is so strong. I am glad to see you and J continue on this path growing closer.
I love the introduction by J’s Dad. Isn’t open adoption amazing? I think it really gives everyone the opportunity to rise to a new level of understanding of what is family. I am so happy that it is working this way for you all. There may be bumps here and there, but you are getting a good strong foundation. So happy you went.
welcome home. you did it! *high five*
I’m so impressed by how open your heart is to J and her family.
Madison is beuatiful!
It sounds like you had a lovely time together for the most part, and I am so glad.
I have to say, I really liked the way j’s dad introduced everyone the way he did. It was a sort of ‘this is my family, any questions, you’ll have to ask ‘em’. You could tell he was proud of everyone and left any wonderings up to the person he was introducing us to. So good to see you, Dawn! Madison is just shiny and wonderful and j is really great.
Dawn,
Glad you are home safe and filled with good memories. I have to say that your brother’s e-mail was too darn sweet! I wish I had a brother like that! I don’t have any brothers…darn!
HMBalison
What a gorgeous kid. I’m sooo jealous! (sniff). And what a cool and brave mother she has. My admiration knows no bounds.