Yesterday, Katie Starr turned eight years old. Our girl is growing up so fast but not nearly as fast as her very old soul. After an amazing weekend of a family party and a friends party, this amazing child floored me with the following statement as I was tucking her into her bed tonight:
She began to cry and said, "Thank you for adopting me because if you didn't then I would not have our family or all of the wonderful times that I have with you every day."
Ethan: "Katie, then why are you crying?"
Katie: "From happiness!"
She then went on to explain that her birthday made her think about her birth parents and her adoption. I reinforced to them both that WE were indeed the lucky ones and that their birth parents must have been quite amazing to have made sure that they were both in safe places and that they must have known that they would be put into a loving family. I do feel in my heart that this is true based on both of their finding places and individual situations.
I love my children from the depth of my soul. They are my life as is my husband and there is nothing that I would not do to ensure their happiness. I hope they feel that. I believe that they do.
As the weekend began, I wrote this poem for our precious daughter...
A little girl was born this day,
as her mom and dad waited.
Life's magical plan was playing out;
their journey was already fated.
That day seems like just yesterday,
although several years have passed.
Love's red thread became untangled
and created a family for this lass.
The miracle of her life plays daily for all the world to see.
She has brought love without measure -
to her family.
She was given the gift of two brothers and a sister in law to boot.
Her newest role, taken with pride, is devoted Aunt to precious LuLu!
This Starr of a child shines so brightly.....
her humor is as great as her wit.
Beauty radiates from this "old soul."
Her love for others never quits.
The name that she carries is Katie Starr Hongshan.
It holds special meaning to us.
We love her like crazy cakes, this beautiful girl....
so on her birthday we must make a fuss!
It's your 8th birthday, Katie Starr;
the day is finally here!
Loads of fun and surprises are in store for you.
So it's time to get it in gear!
Happy birthday Katie!
We adore you!
Love,
Your Family
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Our Old Soul
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Another tough day for Katie
Today was a lot more of the same and the newest line of questioning left me thinking that we need to get some direction from a professional. I don't want to screw this up and make her hurt more than she is hurting already.
Once again, parenting is not for the faint of heart!
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Do I have a "Real" brother in China?
That is the question that Katie asked at dinner tonight? These questions seem to always be asked at dinner. The relaxed time spent around the dinner table must be very conducive to provoking sensitive discussion.
I turned the question around with a different slant and asked both children "What is a real brother or sister?" That precipitated a discussion about what makes family, the least of which is a blood relationship. That discussion would not dissuade Katie from her quest to find answers about a possible sibling in China. When I answered that there indeed may be a sibling, Katie seemed confused and wanted clarification about the one child policy. In her mind, the fact that she was given up for adoption must certainly have meant that her birth parents did not have children and that they wanted a boy. I explained that we really did not know the reason why she was left at the orphanage but that if it had to do with the one child policy, then there may have already been one child and that she had arrived after that one. That made her quite upset at what she considered was the "unfairness" of the situation and she began to sob. When she could catch her breath she cried out that "Her parents in China must be so sad and miss her so much!" She looked at me and said please don't be upset with me for saying these things but I miss them so much." With tears running down my own face, I told her that she could tell me anything and that I was there for her. The next statement broke my heart. "Mommy, would you and daddy ever give me away!?!" Then we were both crying as was my MIL and Ethan who were both trying to comfort her. Ethan then ran to his room to get one of his prized Lego creations and offered it to her so that she would be happy again.
We hugged each other and cried together and I kept repeating how much we had prayed for her, love her, are devoted to her and her brothers and that nothing would separate us. I reiterated that we had waited for what seemed like an eternity to adopt her and that every member of her family and many of our friends could not wait for her to become a member of our family. I then asked her to remember when we went to China to adopt Ethan and how excited she was to be his sister.
I also explained to her that fairness had nothing to do with it. It is certainly awful that she was separated from her birth family but on the other hand it was wonderful that we have each other. She asked me if her friend Mia had the same situation and when I told her yes and that all the children that she knew from China with parents that were not Chinese were all adopted. This was obviously something that she had not fully faced before because she began to cry again for them. I told her that this fact should not be cried over and that it is something in fact to be celebrated, since there are many children who do not have a mommy or daddy. She agreed and stopped crying. She looked deeply into my eyes for quite some time and after what seemed like an eternity she said....."I am so happy that I have you, Daddy and my family. Someday I want to find my birth family." I told her that I would help her when the time was right. She stayed on my lap and we hugged until she was ready to move on from the discussion.
There is nothing that could have prepared me for the level of emotion that was stirred up in all of us tonight. I just hope and pray that they always understand that they can share this with us and that we are their safe place.
On a keeping it real note....I could use a safe place as well.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
A Dream Comes True!
As a mother, my greatest desire is to see my children realize their dreams. Well, my oldest son did just that and now he has made both of our dreams come true. His for himself and mine for him.
For those who do not know, we are also expecting our first grandchild...a girl!
As a mother, my greatest desire is to see my children realize their dreams. Well, my oldest son did just that and now he has made both of our dreams come true. His for himself and mine for him.
2012 is shaping up to be a year to remember...for all the right reasons!
Justin with his Nana and Papa |
Justin with Marc and I |
The Judges who will sign ir bar oath |
Listening |
Taking the oath |
Stealing a happy look at Judy |
Justin and Judge Diaz (who I know personally as I worked on his campaign) |
Judge Bob Diaz and Justin Bennett Ortega, Esquire |
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Happy Mother's Day!
I love Mother's Day! This year we chose to get away over Mother's day weekend and it made it even more special. I really needed special. Life at home has been full of challenges with our new living arrangement and I will leave it at that.
I am thankful for my own mother and my three blessings that made me one. Mother's Day 2006 made this day even more special when I became a mother for the second time to the Starr!
I love you Justin
I love you Katie Starr
I love you Ethan
I love you Mom...thank you for everything you have been in my life!
and in case anyone is still reading my poor neglected blog....Happy Mother's day to you as well!
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Changes
Monday, January 02, 2012
Should I or Shouldn't I?
Sunday, January 01, 2012
Happy 2012 and No Resolutions For Me!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Nothing!
We had absolutely, positively nothing planned tonight....
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Sister Love!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Soccer Season
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The Katie Starr Team
What a great event. We are so proud of what we were able to accomplish with the help of the best family and friends in the world! The Katie Starr Team will top $10,000.00 when the tally is done. I just sent the Foundation Fighting Blindness a new batch of checks that were given to me. We have until June to finalize this fiscal year so we will continue to add to our total so that the research for the treatments and a possible cure for Hereditary Retinal Blindness can go on! We will not stop until that happens!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Update
I am really tired tonight...really too tired to post much but since I have made a commitment...well, here I go!
Ethan came through his dental procedure with flying colors. Of course her did...that is just the way our precious boy rolls. It did not even matter that the procedure ended with an unexpected root canal and crown. He took it like a champ and not even one complaint.
Like I posted about yesterday, food was on his mind from the moment that he woke up.
Marc took care of that with a big thick chocolate shake.
That made our patient one very content patient.
He was even more content when his sister came home from school and he could tell her all of the stories of the past few days. I so love the Dynamic Duo.
Goodnight all!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
The hurt runs deep
Saturday, November 12, 2011
What a beautiful day!
Today was the day that we had been anticipating for quite some time. I fund raise for the Foundation Fighting Blindness all year round but the Vision Walk is a marker from year to year of how far we have to go.
We awoke to a truly brilliant day. The weather was sunny and the temperature was a bit chilly when we woke up but warmed up in no time and made it just about perfect. We quickly prepared the children and gathered our supplies, made a food run and high tailed it to the park. Once there, Marc set up a table with all of the T-Shirts for The Katie Starr Team and we began to greet our team members. Family and friends started drifting in and before we knew it we were overwhelmed once again by the number of people who came to support our mission. We gave out 85 T-Shirts to our team members!!
It was then time to get up on stage and thank everyone for coming as well as all of the sponsors. I spoke a little about why I have thrown my support behind the FFB and then we had a pep rally of sorts. We ended the formalities and quickly took pictures. My dear friend Grace was the official Vision Walk Photographer and she was just amazing. I cannot wait to see all of the wonderful shots that she took!!
The corporate people took me up to the front so that our family could cut the ribbon and begin the walk....and then we were off!!
Katie Starr, Ethan and their friends took the lead on their razor scooters and the rest of us happily took up the rear by foot.
As I walked, I jockeyed between several groups of people. It was so nice to be able to talk to so many who came out as we followed the path. I was so touched by the people who happily walked to help the cause and our precious girl. I even got some fun walk time in with my big guy Justin and my daughter in law Judy. It was wonderful!
Once we were done and our thank you's were spoken, several of us stayed around and picnicked in the park.
There were other happy surprises as well today. Marc's cousins from New Jersey were in town and they came with a dear mutual friend and walked with us; which was totally unexpected. Also, our dear friends, Ken and JoAnn from Chicago were also in town and totally shocked us by coming and walking with us.
Of course, the real reason that we do this is to raise awareness and money. The Katie Starr Team was the #1 Team in South Florida and when the final count is done next week we should top $10,000.00!! I am so thankful for all that came out in support of us again this year. We were missing some friends from last year as this seemed to be a busy weekend for many but we know that many of those friends will be out again, walking by our side, if they are able to next year.
Raising funds for research is a year round business and although this one day has passed, our mission has not. The fiscal year does not end until June of 2012 for this walk season, so my work is not complete.
The link is available and I will post it from time to time.
There is no way I will rest until they can find the answers and develop treatments or even a cure for hereditary blindness. Our daughter's sight and ten million other's depend on that!
P.S. I hope to have some pictures posted very soon!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Last minute info about the walk
www.fightblindness.org/goto/katie.starr and by spreading the word. Thank you so much!
Date: Saturday, November 12, 2011
Location: Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
3109 East Sunrise Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
Registration: 9:00 am
Walk Start: 10:00 a.m.
Walk Chairs: Lori and Marc Weinstock
Support our team and help bring us closer to a cure because a Cure is in Sight!
Wednesday, November 09, 2011
Why should I get involved?
That last one is the real kicker. Macular Degeneration is a blinding eye disease that will show up in many of your families as they age. No family is exempt from these horrible diseases. It just so happens that it has touched our young daughter now and yes, while that is tragic - it is also tragic to lose sight at any age. We are truly all fighting the same battle.
“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.” ~Helen Keller
www.fightblindness.org/goto/katie.starr
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Another Installment of: Out of the Mouths of Babes!
All I gotta say is Wow dude...that Katie Starr is too much!