Real family

I'm going to be totally honest. I love the show Who Do You Think You Are.

If you've never seen it, it's a show that takes celebrities and helps them trace their lineage, to find out their familial beginnings. There are usually tears and this sap is usually crying right along with them. 

Off and on, I have traced my own ancestors on Ancestry.com. I started back up again a few weeks ago and let me tell you, I have learned a lot.

Sidenote: Eric's family has been here since the dawn of time. And by dawn of time, I mean dawn of what would one day become the U.S. of A. For a history nerd like me, I am in heaven! No lie people, we're talking the mid-1600s here. But I digress.....

My family is a family of immigrants and have really only been in America for 150 years. Five of my eight great-grandparents were first generation Americans, one was a second generation American, and one was born in Norway. The last great-grand had family that had been here since the early 1700s. There are at least two surname changes (ironically, they both changed their names from the highly popular Peterson/Pederson to the highly unique Swanby and Schow surnames) and more variations of spelling of first names than I care to count. 

This is my heritage.

I was talking with my hair stylist? dresser? guru? about it and she knows that I am adopted. When I finished telling her about what I had learned she said to me, "But that's not really your family, is it? I mean, that's not really where you came from? Don't you want to find your real family?"

I have heard some uncouth things before about adoption, being adopted, etc, but this might take the cake.

At first, I was angry. Lyle and Paulette and Michael are my real family. Irvan, Lila, Myron and Amy are my real grandparents. To say they aren't my real family is to deny 28+ years of love, care, discipline, teasing, spankings, birthday parties, and lap sitting. I am no less a daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin just because the blood that runs through my veins doesn't carry the same genetic material that runs through theirs.

And then, I felt sorry for her. If her definition of family only includes those whose blood is the same as hers, she is missing out on how awesome and wonderful family can be.

The word adoption comes from the Latin word adoptio which when translated means "to choose". The definition of choose is "pick out or select (someone or something) as being the best or most appropriate of two or more alternatives".

It brings to mind the quote from Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. "You can choose your friends but you sho' can't choose your family." In my case, you can choose your family.

I have been blessed beyond measure with my family. I can't say what my life would have been like had my biological mother not given me up for adoption, but I am grateful every single day that she made that choice.

I am chosen. My brother is chosen. My parents chose us. We were selected as the best option. You can't get more "real" than that.

July, July!

How is it already July?

It certainly doesn't feel like it here. It has been overcast, cool and a little gloomy. It's like Colorado is sad the year is half over.

Since I've been burning my sick time, I've had some time to ponder. I've seen a lot of my friends on Facebook posting about "30 before 30" recently. I like this idea.

Too often we get complacent with where we are. We forget about the things we once said we would do or the things we wanted to accomplish. Life happens. But the desire to push ourselves out of our comfort zone or the zeal to try and learn new things shouldn't fall by the wayside.

Eric reminded me of this a few weeks ago when we discussed a list we had made before we were married and how we hadn't accomplished much on that list. It was kind of sad to realize how far we were from those ideas/dreams/thoughts.

So I'm coming up with my own "30 before 30" list. I have a few ideas, but am definitely open to suggestions! These things must be accomplished before July 28, 2015. I'll write about the things I do and post it here. This will be my accountability. Feel free to heckle, cajole, cheer, encourage, embolden, inspire or any other adjective you feel appropriate.

A few ideas I have had.....

1. Climb a 14er. I know, I know, how have I not done this yet? One word? Fear.
2. Take a class of some kind to learn a new skill. I'm thinking either a language class or a crafty class.
3. Read 30 books that aren't fiction. Fiction is my go-to, always. Suggestions welcome!
4. Snail mail handwritten letters of encouragement each month. This is a lost art, no?
5. Make at least 1 new friend. I've been described as outgoing, but have noticed that I am more reticent of late.
6. Memorize 30 scripture verses. I used to do this a lot in college, but not so much lately.
7. Find my birth parents. I feel like this whole topic is a post or two of its own, but short answer: I have questions and it's time to be a grownup and not be afraid of what I find. Or don't find.

I'll post the final list once I have it. Again, I am open to suggestions!