Once Halloween is over and the costumes are put away, we move through Tiffany's birthday to our Day of the Dead traditions. Each year on November 2nd, we go through treasured photographs of our friends and relatives who have passed away and build a little altar of remembrance.
This isn't a sad holiday! It's truly a happy one as we conjure up all sorts of fun memories, peaceful thoughts and inspiration. Unfortunately, it seems lately we've had someone to add to the photo altar each year and we miss them all immensely. We make no claims to know what happens after they are no longer with us, but they do live on in our memories. It's refreshing to pause and just spend time reflecting on the life lessons we have learned from each soul who has touched us.
We light a candle, lay out pictures, add a few mementos we know some of them would like, bake sweet pan de muerto to satiate their appetites, sprinkle marigolds around and top off the display with Pedro, our sugar skull decoration from some dear friends in San Francisco.
What does this have to do with growing a family you ask? Well, this is one of our family traditions. These traditions are what we hope to introduce our kids to someday and we wanted to wrap you all into the fold. The most rewarding part of the day is looking through the pictures and devoting some attention to those great memories from the past. If you have some time tonight, consider some dedicated happy memory time. We really enjoy it!
All has been quiet from the agency this week. We hear they are meeting a couple of new birth mothers, but those women will have their own wish lists for who they want to parent their baby(ies). Of course, there are no guarantees that any news will trickle down to us. We only hope that in the midst of our moving through the frustrations of the last four months, our little one(s) find their way to us soon and begin their journey into our home.
Hey, that's cool! I just used the word hope again. "That doesn't make you happy?"
- Fezzik, in The Princess Bride
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yokQ0_8__ts (great clip, for fun)
