Johnny turned three years old! So hard to believe. His birthday was holy Thursday, and Daddy had to work on call so we skipped a family party that day. All day we said "Johnny is three now!" We skipped the words birthday, and singing because without the cake, candles, and presents, the words are a big let down for a toddler. We justified this because he was born in the evening on the west coast, long after bedtime here. :) On Holy Friday Auntie Lora arrived and being such a somber day of the triduum we skipped a birthday celebration again. It just didn't feel right. Auntie Anna made delicious homemade hot-cross buns, and fresh bread. They were a big treat. We tried to keep the day holy, contemplative, and prayerful, at least us older ones. For the toddlers the Aunties were here and it was a party. Then holy Saturday came, a beautiful day, with egg coloring and fun. During nap we put together a little play house I bought second hand, and when Johnny awoke we sang to him and surprised him and he loved it! Amazingly all three kids loved the little house. Good for Mom since Dad looked at the purchase with more than skepticism ("Hon, did you pay money for this?") Not much, thankfully. It's already been well worth it's weight in fun. Before we knew it Easter came, a simply huge day, and Johnny was given a lamb cake, in the afternoon with candles and gifts. He had a wonderful day! We were going to also have a kids party, with little friends later in the week but it just didn't work out. Thankfully this year it didn't need to. We've had lots of play-dates and zoo trips, and so much fun.
I found during the week I felt bad about missing his "real" day, then I was thinking and realized with adoption, we never knew he would be ours, until about 2-3 days after he was born. We just didn't know, and didn't take it for granted. The first couple days of his life for us three years ago, watching the pain of his family, knowing how hard it is to give up someone you love, was more a passion for us. Being the Mother who would take their child, was a pain I can hardly describe after my own losses. So it turned out we celebrated 3 years of Johnny exactly when we knew we would be his parents, when we were celebrating three years ago. It was Palm Sunday (yet felt like Easter) then, and we felt such indescribable joy to have him. He is wrapped up with Easter joy, with God's resurrection for us. Not only for the timing but because after living with loss, we found he helped heal our hearts. We were full of life again. So often life is just better than you can ever plan. Thank God for the wonderful gift of adoption, of his wonderful birth-family, and his precious little presence in our family. I can't imagine life without him.
Johnny turned three years old! So hard to believe. His birthday was holy Thursday, and Daddy had to work on call so we skipped a family party that day. All day we said "Johnny is three now!" We skipped the words birthday, and singing because without the cake, candles, and presents, the words are a big let down for a toddler. We justified this because he was born in the evening on the west coast, long after bedtime here. :) On Holy Friday Auntie Lora arrived and being such a somber day of the triduum we skipped a birthday celebration again. It just didn't feel right. Auntie Anna made delicious homemade hot-cross buns, and fresh bread. They were a big treat. We tried to keep the day holy, contemplative, and prayerful, at least us older ones. For the toddlers the Aunties were here and it was a party. Then holy Saturday came, a beautiful day, with egg coloring and fun. During nap we put together a little play house I bought second hand, and when Johnny awoke we sang to him and surprised him and he loved it! Amazingly all three kids loved the little house. Good for Mom since Dad looked at the purchase with more than skepticism ("Hon, did you pay money for this?") Not much, thankfully. It's already been well worth it's weight in fun. Before we knew it Easter came, a simply huge day, and Johnny was given a lamb cake, in the afternoon with candles and gifts. He had a wonderful day! We were going to also have a kids party, with little friends later in the week but it just didn't work out. Thankfully this year it didn't need to. We've had lots of play-dates and zoo trips, and so much fun. I found during the week I felt bad about missing his "real" day, then I was thinking and realized with adoption, we never knew he would be ours, until about 2-3 days after he was born. We just didn't know, and didn't take it for granted. The first couple days of his life for us three years ago, watching the pain of his family, knowing how hard it is to give up someone you love, was more a passion for us. Being the Mother who would take their child, was a pain I can hardly describe after my own losses. So it turned out we celebrated 3 years of Johnny exactly when we knew we would be his parents, when we were celebrating three years ago. It was Palm Sunday (yet felt like Easter) then, and we felt such indescribable joy to have him. He is wrapped up with Easter joy, with God's resurrection for us. Not only for the timing but because after living with loss, we found he helped heal our hearts. We were full of life again. So often life is just better than you can ever plan. Thank God for the wonderful gift of adoption, of his wonderful birth-family, and his precious little presence in our family. I can't imagine life without him.
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