::Five Blog Finds::

 {Memorial Day weekend 2009...where did the time go?}

We're spending this rainy Memorial Day weekend low-key.  The boys' basketball game got cancelled, so there's so far been waffle-eating, puddle-jumping, mud-splashing, bath-taking and movie-watching. I think that is likely going to be the mood for the entire weekend.

I wanted to share five blog posts I found encouraging or thought-provoking this week.  Happy Memorial Day weekend, everyone!  Remembering those who have lost their lives serving our country.

1. The Important Thing About Yelling::
"So what was it about my then 3-year-old and 6-year-old children that caused me to lose it? Was it how she insisted on running off to get three more beaded necklaces and her favorite pink sunglasses when we were already late? Was it that she tried to pour her own cereal and dumped the entire box on the kitchen counter? "

2. The Big Question::
"We're going to "do life" with our friend, Toni and her family. We're going to love on them, share meals, laughter, encouragement, time. We're going to build stronger relationships and hopefully, to be someone they can depend on."

3.  The Adoption Audits: No Rational Justification::
" ...many of whom have just exhausted their entire life savings and gone into debt to adopt (sometimes even borrowing against the tax credit that was then long-delayed) — with another set of massive, fruitless audits the next year. This is bureaucratic nonsense at best and sheer malice at worst."

4.  Examining Adoption Ethics: Part Two::
" Let’s separate the wheat from the chaff: As my friend Ryan at AWAA so perfectly put it: “If there are bad actors coercing people, paying bribes, etc., then we should not call this ‘adoption’ but ‘trafficking’. When thieves run into a bank, point a gun and steal money, we don’t call that a bank withdrawal; it’s a robbery. Our response shouldn’t be to close banks or criticize all bankers but to step up bank security. In the same way, criminal activity should be described as such and not as adoption.” 

5. I don't want my kids to be happy::
" But happiness is a reaction that is based on our surroundings. And our surroundings are so very rarely under our control. Even when - especially when - we think they are.  So no, I absolutely don't want you to spend your life chasing something that has so little to do with your own abilities. You'll just be constantly frustrated.   There are two things I desire for you, precious loves .... Happiness ain't one of them."