Yeah!

I just tried to print my address book (to send Christmas cards, so this is sort of on topic), and the only listings that showed up were Erin and Kristin. This is really amazing to me, considering that most of the addresses in the book aren't even buffistas. I guess I'll be looking up the addresses online instead.

I saw Cheerwine in the store yesterday, and thought about picking some up. Then I remembered that I don't really drink soda these days.

I realized on the way home from dinner to night that it's been five years since I delurked in the 2001 version of this thread. I was musing today on how much has changed since then, and how much I owe to all y'all.

Five years ago, I was the walking wounded, unemployed, recovering from the blows of layoffs and miscarriage, and without a support network beyond my family. My support network now spans the freaking globe. I've been more, done more, seen more in the last five years than I could have possibly imagined when I first put my pixels down in this corner of cyberspace.

So, as we're now officially out of Christmas Adam (thanks, Bug!) and into Christmas Eve, I just want to say thanks, guys.

I couldn't have become the me I am today without you.

(2006, I'll deal with you later.)

It seems unpossible that we have only had 5 years of Plei. In my mind you have been on since I found the board on TT.

I keep thinking about a 2006 post, but I cannot account for this year, except in mac-terms.

January, I filled out the initial application to adopt with my agency, 2 years and 4 months after I had started getting approved to adopt.

Spring, I spent getting forms done and trips to city offices.

July, My dossier was approved in Ethiopia and I was sent a picture of mac.

August, all documents matching me and mac were complete.

October 18, case was to be heard in court, but it got delayed though no fault of our own.

November 3rd, the case was finally heard and I became mac's legal parent.

November 15th, I find out I missed one piece of paperwork and it may delay our trip to Ethiopia.

November 17th, Paperwork fiasco not over yet, but we got good news.

November 22nd, Get word that we are clear to travel as planned.

November 27th, I left for Ethiopia.

December 4th, I met my son.

December 5th, mac got his Visa to enter the US.

December 9th, Return home.

Other things happened this year. Work was crazy, I got a raise, I lost support people and a second raise I was supposed to get. I got to quit some meds I had been on. I saw far away friends less often than I'd like, and family too.

But really, the whole year was about mac, even before I knew about mac.

And so many Buffista aunts and uncles have mac and msbelle becoming a family on their good things list for 2006.

Well, we all know that Juliana rocks, but after today, she rocks just a bit more in my world! I just opened a box of all sorts of cool, yummy, fun, relaxing, and sparkling little presents. I love hot chocolate, even in the hot weather, so I can't wait to try the Ghiradelli (eta: I see know that's it's actual chocolate. Even better!). The earings are so cute and I'd totally wear them. I LOVE shortbread! And, Ellie has appropriated the flahing disco blue rubber ducky as her own. You have to smack it on the counter to make it light up and she's spent the last 20 minutes smacking it on the counter. I can't tell which she likes more - the smacking or the lights.

Thank you and Merry Christmas Eve to all. (I love the idea of CHristmas Adam. I reminds me how, when I was a kid, I didn't get why 1980 came after 1979. I was sure it should be 19710. It just made sense to kid!me, as does Christmas Adam.)

It does seem like we were waiting for mac all year. It was like getting a present when he arrived.

I realized on the way home from dinner to night that it's been five years since I delurked in the 2001 version of this thread.

I remember when you delurked. I guess I should note that it was a propitious day for me as well. So glad to count you among my friends, Ple.

Huh. Plei's only been around a year longer than me? I always thought she went all the way back to TT or summat.

Yeah, the Mac anticipation all year was wonderful, and such a joyous thing when both msbelle and Mac arrived back home. And can I say, with some of the news coming out of the Horn of Africa right now, it sounds like Mac got out of there just in time. I only wish more kids could get out of there, ASAP.

I always thought she went all the way back to TT or summat.

I'm trying to think of the people who delurked at WX. It was such a different environment with most people becoming linked in your mind with their icon. (I still think of Katie M. toasting with her champagne glass.)

SA and bon and Herself and Fay are all people I associate with WX delurking. I remember bon revealing a picture of her face one bit at a time. I remember the first picture Ple posted was a high school picture of herself.

I lurked at TT, but I didn't delurk until WX.

It cannot be stated enough how happy I am for the various new Buffista parents and parents to be. The thought of them brings me great joy. Mac and Matilda, for various reasons, bring me an extra dose of it.