Life with Lotus Maria and Lucian Stone

Seven years ago today you, Lotus Maria, were born, but we weren’t there.  We were far away wishing and hoping and conflicted since our wish and hope meant someone else had to make a devastating choice.  Seven years ago we don’t know the color of the walls of the room you were born into, if you were quiet or loud when you entered this world or who else was there to greet you.  But we did know that someday we would meet our daughter and we had faith that we would be brought together over oceans and countries.

Seven years ago (technically 6 years and 364 days ago) your birth mother picked us.  This scenario is virtually unheard of in International Adoption, but because of an amazing series of coincidences she was able to pick us and we are eternally grateful.

Eight days after you were born Nate and I got the call that changed our lives.  Of course we were also far away from one another.  I was standing in the check out line in the football field sized Fred Meyer in Vancouver, Washington with Grandma Mary and Papa Art.  Nate was at work at Pixar.  I had just arrived to visit my family for the weekend, but I immediately returned to the Portland airport. Back to Oakland and then Orinda.  To see your photo.  To see my daughter.  We signed the paperwork, got your pictures and some (more than most) very precious information.

I returned to Portland within 12 hours with photos and what birth information we were given in hand to finish my weekend with my parents and our dear friends who were visiting from Australia.  And though my mom, your grand mother, was fading away from early on-set Alzheimer’s she clutched her photo knowing that this was her grandchild to be.  Tragically she never met you face to face since just a few weeks later she was no longer with us. 

But our dear friends Prue, Tony and Ninnie from Australia were also there.  Sharing their own adoption story.  And seven years later they did meet you face to face during our amazing trip to Australia this year.

Some new agey philosophy says that there are 7 year cycles in life and honestly I’m not sure what that means, but since your 7^th year also coincides with the great Mayan prophecies of 2012, I imagine and hope that that this 7^th year of your life will be the beginning of another great 7 year cycle for our Mayan princess.

We are so grateful that you have charged into our life with your independence, vigor and passion.  Thank you for being you, being patient with us(sometimes) and allowing us to guide you through your childhood the best we can.