Here's to New Friends

When I began this adoption journey back in October 2005, I had many visions of pink toile, designer diaper bags and ballet classes for two. What I didn't count on was the new friends I'd meet; especially those who not only share my goal of creating my family through adoption but who also share my warped sense of humor, my values and my interests. There is a HUGE online adoption community filled with people from all walks of life and if you hit it off with a few you're lucky. Let's just say there are a lot of opinions, many facts, oodles of rumors and some downright bitchy people. Fortunately for me, I've met some great people online and live who I am better for knowing. Some I know online through mutual support groups and others I've met from other adoption related events. A few people who stand out are Steven, my friend who is adopting a great little boy in NY, Jeff and his daughter who are very cool (Jeff is a great role mode for any parent), Tara who I met at the FTIA picnic and was so warm to my family and Nicole and Tim upstate NY. Of course there's also my FTIA friends who have either adopted or are in the process like me. (hi Jen) and Jan and Tom who are waiting for TA for their son Gabriel. While many people you meet are scattered throughout the US and abroad, I've been blessed to make some new friends who are relatively local including some of the aforementioned people. Carrie, her daughter Sophia (age 4) and their dog Phoenix have become very special to me (frogmom is hooked too!) in a relatively short period of time. I like this photo of my new friend Sophia and I at the pool. Lucky me...she spent 20 minutes jumping off the side and I had to catch her. It was a great upper body workout. Think I can convince her to let me work my arms again? We had a lot of fun at the pool which was a follow up from our water escapades in the lake the week before. Thanks mom (Carrie) for letting my post this picture! Of course Phoenix couldn't be left out of the fun, so he came for a visit too and stayed at my apartment while we were off having fun. I can't think of a better present than the gift of friendship!