This past year has been a really terrific experience for me. The opportunity to blog here has been a good one over all, with quite a bit shared about myself, as well as learned from others.

As I was looking back over my post for 2007, I began thinking about those that I am especially proud of, and those that I feel I was successful in capturing what I wanted to say. There are quite a few, and I wanted to take the opportunity to link back to them here, just in case you might have missed some of them.

Of course my kids are very important to me, and I blog about them a lot. Sometimes what I have had to say is very emotional, both good and bad. What I think ranks as one of my favorite posts was one titled ‘A Beating Heart', about my little boy Carson. The day I went for a scary ultrasound test on his heart (he is just fine by the way) I was additionally startled to find that just hearing his little heart beat was something I had missed out on before his birth. It made me feel more connected to him to hear his tiny heart in this way, and it also had me thinking about his first mom P and all that she must have been feeling when she first heard that same heart beating from inside her womb.

One of my more painful posts was also about my children, my daughter Cierra, and the lost dreams of normalcy that I consistently face parenting this beautiful but very disturbed child . I love her yes, but living with the non stop turmoil that her RAD presents can leave me feeling so sad, raw, and hopeless at times. When I posted ‘Little Miss Antagonist’ it was with a sadness that the dreams I had of this beautiful child being able accept our love would not be coming together as I had imagined. I always hold on to some shred of hope that things will improve for her, but it remains a battle today.

Some of my other favorite post for 2007 involve some heavy issues with adoption and the heated debates they can bring about. There were honestly so many that I will just say that I have hit the highlights here with these few (and you can read the link at the bottom of a few of them to other related posts.)

What Can Happen When Some Women Don’t Consider Adoption

Not So Unprecedented Mr. Pertman

Angry Birthparent Camp Followers?

The Kind Of People Who Take Babies Away

Oh controversy, you gotta love it. I personally feel that the dialog it a good thing, it keeps all of us on our toes and learning. I was really pleased that some of my post had people sparked into a brisk dialog, even if we could not agree. Some of my favorite posts indeed!

One other post I enjoyed writing talked about how those of us who adopt sort of have our radar on at times seeking out each other for the comfort that comes with knowing we understand something about this stranger's journey. Written while on my summer vacation (back when I did not allow myself a break from the ole blog and chain) the post 'The Power To Open A Stranger’s Wallet' talks about the subconcious searching we often do to try and connect with others who understand the complexities of adoption as we might. The encounter I had with a very proud grandfather anxious to show me his beautiful, transracial family (like mine) was so touching and reaffirming.

So many posts that I worked hard on and enjoyed sharing with readers! If you had a fav in 2007 I would love to hear from you, please tell me what it was! For now I am off to spend these last few minutes of 2007 with my dear husband, and I will be back with more for you in 2008.

Happy New Year!

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