Chinese Heritage Camp

The best laid plans…
I had such high hopes for the Chinese Heritage Camp held up in Winter Park. It’s a national endeavor but based in Denver. All the families have children adopted from China or Taiwan and possibly caucasion siblings. The kids are broken into groups with counselors and learn all about Chinese culture as well as some art therapy sessions with professionals to start talking about their adoption. The parents have volunteer assignments and sessions of their own too. There are some on mah jong, tea of China, navigating racism on behalf of our children, panel discussions, etc.

Well our plans to play mah jong together and sip tea before some in depth discussions on adoption and how to mitigate or foresee some of the issues that Lucy might face, fell flat. The kids had their first three days of school before leaving and with it the exhaustion of new sleep hours, long days and just plain change. I did not foresee Lorna’s trepidation at being the only white kid in the group. She was so afraid and I just did not see that coming. Kai had a bit of the same too, plus he just isn’t ready to jump into the arms of strange, but kind, counselors.
I stayed with Lorna all the first day and Will with Lucy and Kai. So we did participate the first day and Lorna learned a huge lesson on what it feels like to be a minority – something Lucy does 24/7.

When we arrived in the cafeteria that morning, I just looked around at all these mixed race families, these stunning girls and boys, and burst into tears. I literally hurried back to the table with my oatmeal, put my face in my hands and cried. It’s just so amazing to imagine all these babies abandoned in parks, government doorways or busy markets. Helpless and abandoned as babes and here they are with Texan and Boston accents thriving, parents made happy, complete. It’s a beautiful thing! Adoption is such a life affirming, love affirming act. We humans aren’t so bad.

Lucy definitely was taking it all in – made some sweet friends in the little free time we had. I could see her scanning the rooms and just looking at all the faces and possibly pairings of faces – I wish I could know what she was thinking.

No one, probably except me, wanted to go back that night or the next day. So, Will and I decided to call it a camp, made reservations for a trail ride the next day, with swimming in the pool and a trip to some hot springs. Lucy would prefer to be with her whole family rather than a huge auditorium with strangers learning about the culture and language that is still a reminder of her recent past. We all had the best intentions, but we live and learn. It’s such a fine line between exposing her to her culture of birth and treading into some realities that she might not be ready for yet.

Flexibility…

Will's remodel

The remodel of the Whole Foods Market in Boulder is complete. Will has been working on this project for about 6 years. It started with the meetings with the town council, negotiating with Barnes and Noble to move and finally the construction oversight and design.

I’m pretty darn proud of my husband! Here are some photos of the pop jet fountains outside the store. And the new bulk department complete with its own chef and cookbooks to get some ideas on the spot! It reminds me of the reference desk at the library. So cutting edge Will!

18 and counting!

18 and counting!

I have never run more than a 10k before this training schedule but last week I ran 18 miles! No one is more surprised than I am. Running a marathon has long been on my bucket list, not only for the physical challenge but for the mental challenge. “Marathon” is used metaphorically for so many things in our language, but to really do this has been huge for me. Again, going with the metaphors, when running those 18 miles, you’ve got to take care of yourself, making sure to drink enough water, replenish the electrolytes; you listen to yourself say, it would be easier to just stop and walk a bit, but I CAN keep running; if I follow the training schedule set up by those experienced, it really is achievable; we are all more powerful than we think. Distance running is most similar to childbirth than anything else I’ve experienced. Although with running you physically could stop, labor not so much.

On my long run days, I wake up at about 5:30 so I can finish before the heat begins. It is such a quiet and peaceful place out at the Reservoir. I think I’m pretty hard core out there until a Japanese running team flies by me with each runner in perfect harmony, or a coach calling out commands to a pro runner from their mountain bike. Once even there was a photo or video crew driving ahead of a very fit looking guy to film him in action. This is the place where so many elite athletes train – it can be humbling and inspiring.

Next Thursday I do my last very long run – 20 miles before the 26.2. As I’ve slowly worked up to these distances, I have experienced “the wall” several times now - when the body runs out of calories and glycogen and starts drawing from the body itself. It doesn’t feel good - cold and clammy and dizzy. But with the slow build, it hits at about the last 2 or 3 miles, so with each successive run it hits later and later. Pushing ourselves to the edge makes the edge move out further and further – something that is easily translated to every aspect of my life.

The race is September 25 in Half Moon Bay. I’m leaving the family behind and will stay with dad and Val. It was tempting to bring the crew but I knew that I wouldn’t get much sleep nor would they let me rest too much afterwards. This is my journey to see what I’m capable of and to come home and be the best mom I can be to them.

Camping

Success! We had our first camping trip since kids! I was always nervous that Lorna and then Kai would have a rough night and keep the whole campground up. We traded in our backpacking tent for a six person tent that allowed even Will to stand up. We slept with 2 adults, 3 kids and two dogs just fine. For our first foray, we just went up to Golden Gate Canyon State Park about a 45 minute drive with our friends Brian and Kate and their two kids Nora and Clare.

Camping is the perfect trip to do with kids. They can get dirty; there are few reasons to say ‘don’t touch’; and we all really have to work together as a team.

Lucy was definitely challenged by the dirt and the nature all around, but again, bit by bit she is moving away from the concrete world she knew for her first three years. And with evening marshmallows on a stick, the experience will always be worth it for her and all.

Tahoe

There is no place in this world that smells of my youth more than Tahoe. The funky macrame lamp, the stone fireplace that my sister and I helped make, the smell of pine forest and the lake! I love to watch my kids be kids there - do the things I did, stare up at the trees, catch their breath from the cold water, slide down the banister. These days there is the added bonus of spending time with grandparents, aunt, uncle and baby cousin and the hot tub! They spent so much time in that hot tub - poor dad could barely keep up with the chlorine.

We all had a blast - throwing rocks in the lake, took Daisy and TIm's boat to Emerald Bay, tram to the top of Squaw Valley, visited Uncle Tim's helicopter (and neighboring fire trucks), oohed and aaahed at baby Charlie, rented bikes, paddle boats, Will and I ran along the stunning Rubicon Trail, and down time around the cabin.