Chopsticks, Sushi and the American Flag

I am so blessed to be living in the United States of America. We have so many freedoms and blessings here that most other countries around the world do not have. We are free to travel this great nation and travel overseas. We are free to dine at small sushi restaurants with out friends and discuss politics, our likes and dislikes, and our future plans. We can dream and live with our eyes wide open while so many people live in fear and repression.

Speaking of small sushi restaurants, a couple of friends of mine went out to eat on Friday night to celebrate a birthday. We talked a lot about the adoption and our upcoming plans. One of my friends asked me what I was going to bring brack from China for her. I said chopsticks because the kind we eat with at this restaurant are the cheap wooden ones that break off at the top. I was thinking how cool it is that those of us who can't have children on our own are free to go to another country and adopt a child and bring them back to the US. You don't see people from China or Russia or really any country come to America to adopt one of our children. It's sad in some ways because there are so many unwanted children but then it's incredible that John and I can give that child a chance to live in freedom and to have a good life.

On a very sad note though, late last night I found out that one of my Chinese cousins committed suicide. While I didn't know him very well, it makes me sad that our future daughter has one less relative to know and to relate to. David was a nice and giving person who cared greatly for his family. I am sure he would have loved our daughter from China.