This & That: Coming Back from the Vortex

We used to tease my cousin Jordan all the time about getting caught in the "Basement Vortex" at his house. He'd be sent down to get something out of the freezer, and he would just disappear. For hours. I feel like I've been in some New Foster Mother Vortex, and I am only now surfacing. It's been hard, and I admit that I never allowed myself to consider some things before. Like what it would be like to deal with birth parents and all their issues, how my heart would be stretched at the thought of loving this little boy and then sending him back to them. How having a child in my home would reveal all my selfishness and bad attitudes. The first week was so hard, I wanted to quit. I would cry in the mornings as Chad left for work. Who was this little stranger in my house, and why had I thought that this would be a good idea? It has gotten better steadily, to the point where I no longer furtively dream about sending him back. In the meantime, life has continued rolling onward. Here are some photos of the past few weeks. I'm going to try to be more consistent about blogging. It's hard when I can't post the photos of our activities!

Hrubik 4th of July picnic at Granny Annie's:

Uncles.

cousins.


Plundering Granny's raspberries.

My other kids.

A trip to the zoo with Willow and Aidan:

Me mocking the camel.

At home.

Making me pretty with lots of hair clips.

Getting a smooch.