Post Holiday Blues

I thought this photo of the Hornes and Busters (say that really fast and give yourself a good laugh) on New Year's Day in KC turned out pretty well.

This past week I was definitely feeling the post holiday blues. I was so excited for the extended break from work and to go to Tulsa and Kansas City that the thought of the vacation being over and getting back to the daily grind put me in a little funk. I also hadn’t been feeling well so that just added fuel to the fire. Luckily, a good piece of news in the Gladney adoption community helped to fight off the blues. Heidi finally got her referral for TWINS! If you want to read a really great “the call” story, I encourage you to go read her blog post. You won’t regret it.

Damon and I are wrapping up a very relaxing weekend so I am feeling rejuvenated and ready to go. Friday night we had a very nutritious dinner. I took a photo.

Okay, not so nutritious but a great way to end a long week. We also watched one of my favorite movies. Here is a clue: Do you know what happened on February 22^nd, 1980? Do you believe in Miracles? I just type those words and I get all pumped up and filled with pride. If you have not seen the movie, Miracle, about the USA hockey team (major underdogs!) beating the Soviet Union at the Lake Placid winter games then you should really go rent it. Again, you won’t regret it. The countdown is on for the Vancouver Winter Games. 33 days!! I am a super freak about the Olympics. It is really ridiculous how clearly I remember past Olympic moments. Do you remember when Kristi Yamaguchi won the gold for ladies figure skating? I do. Do you remember when Kerri Strug sealed the gold for the US in team gymnastics on an injured ankle? I do. Do you remember the track star, Gail Devers, and her crazy finger nails? Oh yes, I do. I think I obsess because I am so thirsty for stories that inspire. I have so much respect for these athletes and all that they sacrifice for a dream. I know that is really cheesy. I just get so happy for them when their dreams are realized. I also know that in the future, I will not only be cheering for the US athletes but for the Ethiopian athletes as well. I may not get the opportunity to do that much Ethiopian cheering in the winter games but the summer games will be a different story. My dad’s step-sister has an adopted daughter from Russia, who I think is about eight years old now. I remember her telling us at my grandma’s birthday party last year how she had cheered on the Russian gymnasts during the Beijing summer games. I thought that was really cute and a cool way to acknowledge her birth country. I can guarantee that the Ethiopian athletes will get lots of cheers from the Buster household in years to come.

A week from today will mark five months on the waitlist. The average wait time for Gladney families seems to be holding steady at seven months. I have to admit that on Friday at work I was on the phone with a very challenging parent and I noticed that my cell phone was vibrating. I glanced at the caller id and it said, Private Number. I got a slight twinge of hope but then quickly came back to reality. I know that it is way too soon but the hope was there. It is still there. We are getting closer.