I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving filled with the fellowship of family and friends. Christmas is coming at us like a freight train and I am just as happy about that as ever. I am a bonafide Christmas nerd. While I have scaled back on the decorating over the years (Christmas used to throw up all over my house), I just love the season.
We have moved and we are now settled into our new digs and loving it. Yes, we loved our old city house, but it was time to move. Honestly, living in a newer home is a lot more convenient (not to mention that the move cut my husband’s commute in half) and, I’m not gonna lie, we don’t really miss our old house at all. We can now run the dishwasher, both showers, do the laundry AND flush both toilets at the same time (not that we’d ever just do all of that for the hell of it)! The old place was beautiful and served us well over the years, but it was time to part ways. It’s all good. Can you say garage?
I am making the final tweaks to my big fat action research proposal. I have close to thirty cited sources and it still needs some changes, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. I will be so glad when this masters degree is finished. Seriously. I am not cut out for academia. I find not one tiny part of this entire research process to be enjoyable. It is tedious and time consuming and it is a struggle for me to sit and focus on it. I hate scientific writing. Where’s the section for creativity in the APA manual? I will stop whining now. One of my professors has been known to peruse my blog from time to time and I would not want to hurt her feelings because she loves this stuff. I am doing my best, Doc, I swear! I WILL do this (under protest)!
Let’s move on to more burning questions. Today, I will answer what Britney asked.
How in the world do you summon up the courage to stay positive and upbeat in the face of adversity?
Good question, Britney. I have had my heart broken a hundred times over. It’s true. I’ve had the rug swept from under me in more ways than I choose to blog about. There are family members who read this blog, so let me put this delicately. There is something to be said about NOT being born into the Cleavers.
Webster defines resilience as, “an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.” Now, I don’t know how easy it’s been, but you get better with practice. Resilience is a skill. It’s part practice and part personality. In my own life, it’s also part perspective (how’s that for alliteration?). I truly believe that happiness is a choice that we must make every single day. It might be easier for some than it is for others (who are dealing with a chemical imbalance), but truly, we can choose to be happy. There are going to be times when life really makes us feel wronged, forgotten, and alone. However, if we can grieve when needed but generally approach life being grateful for what we have instead of focusing on what we don’t have and the wrongs that have been inflicted upon us, we can be happy.
I am grateful for the loving support of my friends and family. I am grateful for a career that I love. I am grateful for the food on my plate and the laughter in my heart. I am grateful for shelter and clean drinking water and safety. There are many people throughout the world who have none of the above. Having children does not make one happy. I know plenty of miserable parents. I am grateful that I can recognize that and be happy about the life the I do have.
Have you ever considered traditional adoption?
Yes, I have. I actually started out in the China adoption program before pursuing embryo adoption. In adoption, there are no guarantees, just like there are no guarantees in any given treatment for infertility. Traditional adoption is downright scary for someone who has travelled the road that I have. However, I am open to becoming a mother by any means. Adoption has never been second best for me and frankly I’d love to enjoy a glass of wine and some sushi while expecting my baby. I would be thrilled and grateful beyond words to adopt a baby. I would love and appreciate anyone who was willing to help make that happen and that little baby would have a mama with a heart that was overflowing with love, peace, and gratitude.








