Story time ...

[photo from Dana / plum tree studio]

Four years ago this summer, my sister was in the process of adopting from Russia. As her sister, it pained me to wait, wait & wait [for her]. I craved information. I know she revealed all that she knew & had to go by - but still, I craved more information. I hate surprises - even good ones. So, I searched for information on Russian adoptions ... reading about happy endings [beginnings, really], looking for timelines that we could use as an example, etc. I wanted it to happen for her so badly, I think I wanted to taste a little of it before it even happened.

During my search, I found a blog. Linked to another blog. On there was a photo of 2 little girls in cute handmade t-shirts. They were done by the writer's friend's sister. I clicked on the link & it let me to one of my 1st ever "crafty blogs" ... plum tree studio.  That also later led to my 1st ever link to Etsy.  A lot was discovered  on that life-changing internet click. :)

Over the next month or so, I would occasionally stop by the plum tree studio blog just for some creative inspiration. I loved seeing how she blogged & linked it up to her store. At the time I had my own website - but this seemed like a more ideal set up!  Another friend started an Etsy shop ... and September of 2007, I got in on the fun. I "hearted" plum tree studio. If you look on page 22 of my favorite Etsy shops, she's there, right after my other friend's.  I still just visited her blog every so often - totally lurking. :)

One day [early summer of '08] on her blog she announced that she was coming out with a shirt with a cute redhead on it. I had to get it for my redhead. I commented & placed an order. :)  Soon after, she did another post that was right up my alley. It was about home improvements ... I commented. She commented back. The ice had been broken & I started commenting more often.  I could tell we had a lot in common!

The more we shared, the more we realized all that we had in common.  We are both in the middle of 3 girls. Both of our older sisters have a darling blond child, adopted from Russia. Our birthdays are 25 days apart [the same year]. We both got married in 2000.  We both used the term "sweet teeth" & had never heard of anyone else using it before [instead of just "sweet tooth"]. The list goes on as our friendship goes on. :)

Almost 2 years ago, her own adoption journey started. That same pain I felt with my own sister that led to my search for information & answers, came back. I wanted to take the pain away. I wanted the wait to not seem so bad. I wanted to do something - in a situation that is completely out of any one person's control. So the idea I had come up with for my sister, but never used, came back to me. That was the idea of a "shower" [like a baby shower] but spread out over the months.  Every month that they had to wait - a little surprise would arrive, to help keep them going. Little pick-me-ups - spread out over the time, spread out amongst other friends & family.  I had come up with the idea for my own sister, but her wait for a referral turned out to be so quick - the other hostesses & I had to start planning a REAL shower. That of course, was a GOOD problem to have. :)

But my friend had been told of a much longer wait ... little did we know it would keep getting extended. Her sisters & I teamed up and formed the The Little Itty Bitty C Support Committee. One of her sisters came up with the name - so perfect. We formed a committee of friends & family who would support her & her husband throughout their wait for Little C. :) Each month, they got a little pick-me-up in the mail. I know if I was in their shoes, my fear would be that our wait was forgotten about. When you are experiencing a pregnancy, you have a belly as a reminder to your friends & family that your excitement is growing. I wanted a monthly reminder for my friend as well.

My friend [Dana] & I have never met in person. And have only talked on the phone once - last August! We were scheduled to have our 2nd phone conversation on Tuesday morning of this past week. I remember thinking "wouldn't it be cool if we got interrupted by a referral call?!" BETTER. She called me the day before that scheduled phone visit & left a voice mail saying she needed to cancel our phone date because she had gotten their REFERRAL & was going in the next morning with her husband to SEE THEIR BABY BOY. Dana & her husband are FINALLY getting to turn to the next chapter in their storybook. And it includes pages filled with a little cutie named Oliver, born in South Korea.

Our friendship was technically born from an international adoption almost 4 years ago... and now I am here as her friend [who she calls with news!] as I witness her own international adoption story coming true. Blog world is weird like that. :) But I am so so happy it is. Dana, I hope these next pages in your story book turn quickly ... and we can get to the part where you're making Oliver breakfast, reading him stories & taking him on evening walks! And of course making him robot tees!  :D I am beside myself happy for you. Let's plan another phone date, and maybe it'll be cancelled because of a Homecoming Call! :) You think?