Perspective

Perspective in theory of cognition is the choice of a context or a reference (or the result of this choice) from which to sense, categorize, measure or codify experience, cohesively forming a coherent belief, typically for comparing with another. One may further recognize a number of subtly distinctive meanings, close to those of paradigm, point of view, reality tunnel, umwelt, or weltanschauung.
To choose a perspective is to choose a value system and, unavoidably, an associated belief system. When we look at a business perspective, we are looking at a monetary base values system and beliefs. When we look at a human perspective, it is a more social value system and its associated beliefs. ~Wikipedia

We don't really get into Halloween around here. Yes, we let our kid dress up in a cute costume and take her trick or treating with the cousins, but there's no decorating the house or scary movies, etc. Well, my sweet girl said she wanted to be Kermit The Frog. So me being me, and not wanting to spend a lot on a frog costume that she'll wear once, decided I would make one. How hard could it be? Apparently, it's really not easy being green, because I can not find 1 single "kelly" (Kermit's true color) green hoodie or sweat pants anywhere. Ok fine. So I order an $8 hoodie online that should be delivered by today, and decide to make the pants, eyes, and collar. (At the last minute, no doubt!) Spent a few hours last night cutting out frog legs and looking for patterns for the collar and eyes. The mail comes, and low and behold, there's still no green hoodie. Chase down the mailman and he doesn't have it or have any idea where it is even though the computer says it was delivered Sat. Call the mail delivery annex and they said it was delivered Sat. and there's not much they can do for me. Starting to loose my cool at this point. Then I thought about having to tell my sweet girl that Mommy isn't going to have a Kermit costume for her. Let the water works flow from this Momma's eyes. I was so sad. I started texting my friends with boys asking if they have one? Daddy jumps online at work and searches for a costume and is willing to pay the big bucks for overnight shipping. I pull out the turquoise green hoodie and pants I bought just in case and think of how silly she will look and how no one will know she's Kermit because it's the wrong color green.

Then I log into facebook. Probably about to write some horrible status about how sad I am that this is all happening and how horrible my life is because I can't make my daughter the Halloween costume that she wants and that the mailman sucks because he lost our package.

Instead, I saw my friends posting pictures, like this. 

This is from a friend who's family owned one of these houses in Breezy Point, NY. They were not sparred from the destruction of Hurricane Sandy yesterday. So many years of memories, all gone. They are thankful that no one was injured here. It's just a house.

Then there was this story......Joy's Journal

Thank you God for giving me a lot of perspective today. The costume, however unnecessary, is coming together without the lost hoodie. I was made blatantly aware of the fact that I was a little out of touch with reality today, and need to start each day by organizing my thoughts and focusing on what is really important. Thank you God for my family and our good health, a safe, warm place to call home, and your unconditional and unfailing LOVE!  

3 yrs ago

3 years ago, today, we were on our way out to Columbus. We had received the call we were waiting for just 3 days prior, that we had been selected by a Birthmom and she wanted to meet us. I sit here remembering the emotions of that day. We were so nervous we could puke. Excited for what the future may hold, but reserved and grounded. I'm not sure how that's all possible at once, but I know that my husband was my rock through it all. I would have to go back in my blog to know for sure, but I would guess that I wrote about details of that day here already. I guess the thing that I remember most about that day, was how my heart was breaking for this sweet girl, who was so brave and strong. I just wanted to scoop her up and bring her home with us and help her get on her feet. I also remember telling myself that if she decided that she was going to parent this baby instead of  placing her with us, that we would all be just fine. Well, if anyone even reads my blog, there's a good chance you know how the rest of this story goes!

I think it's interesting how as time goes on, our focus has changed. During the first year after Mira was born, we remembered the events and milestones of the year before. Not a day went by that I didn't think, "this time last year, we.......". The second year, the little milestones slipped away, but I could still recall most details. This past year, I've been so busy keeping up with my sweet girl and the 2 babies I watch that it wasn't until last night that I realized it was Oct. 25, and I hadn't even thought about how on Oct 23, 2009, I was sitting at my sisters house when my cell rang. It was our case worker explaining that we'd been selected and she wanted to meet us. It kinda felt weird that Oct. 23rd 2012 came and went, and I hadn't thought about that wonderful day. Although I don't remember all the words that were said, I don't a year will pass that I don't remember Oct. 26th as the most important day for our family. A tall, skinny, blonde girl sat across from us, sharing her life with us. She had suffered so much, and possibly still is to this day. I have cried many tears for her, thinking of the milestones in Mira's life that she isn't apart of, and how amazing it is that she allowed us to share in this much joy. I hope she always knows how important she is to us, and that we will always love her and welcome her to be apart of our family.

I guess this would be an appropriate post to do a Mira update as well. I can't seem to ever focus long enough to blog regularly, so I better do it now! Miss Mira is in love with musicals and live shows. We went to Idlewild 4 times this summer, and the child never wanted to miss a show! They are so cheesy there but she loved it! I can't wait to take her to a real musical, or better yet, DISNEY WORLD!! She will be so excited. She is really being a great helper for me (most days) when the babies are here. She loves helping with diaper changes and picking up the toys that they drop over and over again. We finally achieved the status of completely potty trained. I haven't bought pull-ups for about 3 weeks! She was still needing them at night, but something finally clicked and she started waking up dry! When we used the rest of a bag up, I decided not to buy anymore. I was pretty nervous about wet sheets, but knock on wood, that has not happened at all! It was the strangest thing tho.....anytime I tried her in panties and told her that she was in panties and needed to keep them dry all night, she would panic and have to pee every 5 minutes. As long as we don't bring attention to the panties before bed, and never mention about needing to wake up to pee, she is completely fine. She wakes up one time a night to pee, but goes right back to sleep! It's really amazing how long the potty training process can take, and how it can be so different from one child to the next. I'm glad to officially be passed that stage! Mira loves the Muppets and frequently acts out the scenes. She randomly breaks out in song, or says something from the movie. When I ask her what that's from, she'll tell me it's Gary and Walter (from the Muppet Movie). Some of the funniest things she's saying right now are, "I can't alieve (believe) it!", "Hey Mom, I have a question for you.", and "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" She can count to 13, and 20 with help. She's starting to recognize letters, and associate words and names that go with the letters. She's very good at M is for Mira!

I think that's all for now. I really should have been creating my sweet girls Halloween costume instead of blogging, but I guess Kermit the Frog will have to wait til tomorrow!