Dawn

LIVE THE QUESTIONS
When I was about twenty years old and feeling out of sorts about life's unknowns and disappointments, my Mom made me a pin that simply said "Live the Questions." Twenty years later I still have that pin - and some days I still find it a challenge to move forward in faith and be at peace with all that doesn't make sense in life or is beyond my control! It came to mind as I started this letter to you and thought about the questions and uncertainties in both our lives.

A BIT ABOUT ME...
Hi! I'm Dawn. Some random but hopefully useful tidbits to give you a feel for who I am:

I am the oldest of three siblings, and helped raise my little brother (who was born prematurely and is fourteen years younger). I was run over by a school bus as a kid and had to learn how to walk all over again. I had my own kayak by the time I was seven (I spent the next several years paddling like crazy to keep up with my Dad!). I was born near Chicago but grew up in a hilly suburb of Los Angeles. My favorite childhood memories involve lake and mountain camping as a family, and fishing trips with my grandparents in Canada (also riding on the back of my Dad’s Harley, though Mom wasn’t thrilled about that one...). I took piano lessons from my Mom for eleven years and still love to play and sing. I was a ridiculously good student but probably could have stood to let loose a little bit more! Fortunately I did that as an adult...

I lived in Russia for six years and have traveled all over the world. I once rode 250 miles on horseback through southern Chile’s glacier country. I have camped with Bedouins in the Egyptian desert, mountain biked down a volcano in Ecuador, dived in the Indian Ocean, and swum with humpback whales in the South Pacific. I’ve swum with sharks and dolphins, too...but I’m absolutely passionate about swimming with humpbacks, and have served as a volunteer research assistant as well as a guide to introduce others to these gentle giants (and their calves!) in the water. I have fostered over twenty dogs and helped find them good homes. I adopted a 175-lb sweetheart of a mastiff and trained him to be a therapy dog so we could bring a little joy to cancer patients and kids with autism. I’m a big outdoors person and have an herb garden and a somewhat challenged vegetable garden (but I try!). I used to work as a Russian translator for the President’s Moscow hotline.

I’ve wanted to be a Mom my whole life, but though I’ve enjoyed many great relationships - none so far has been destined to lead to marriage (one of those areas where “living the questions” has been a challenge!). I’ll try anything once - and believe everything should be tried once! I don’t believe in regrets (which isn’t to say I’ve never done something I regretted). I believe in living life to the fullest, celebrating the moment, relishing simple pleasures, taking every opportunity to explore the unknown. My faith is important to me. I thrive on challenge. I think that self esteem is one of the best gifts you can give a child.

...MY PEOPLE...
Family
We’re really close, even though we’re spread out all over the place (it gives me a great excuse to travel!). My Mom and stepdad live on a beautiful working farm in Iowa; my brother, his wife and their two toddlers (one of whom was adopted last year) recently moved from CA to help work the farm. My sweet sister, her husband and two boys live in Arizona, and Dad has a rustic home in the mountains north of Los Angeles. I’ve been lucky, too, to have close relationships with all four of my grandparents as well as my aunt and several great aunts - all of whom helped shape the person I am today.

As to the children in my life - I’m blessed with three nephews and a niece as well as a godson. (Having neighbors with one-year-old triplets was a bonus until they moved...I’m still in withdrawal over that!) Watching family members welcome my adopted niece into the family was amazing, and I look forward to having my own child experience that same outpouring of warmth and love!

My godson turns four next month, and represents many of the things I hope to foster in a child. His parents are British but split their time between Moscow and Barcelona, so Thomas was speaking three languages by the time he was two! One of my favorite memories is of him happily devouring baby octopuses (at the ripe old age of 18 months) at a beach cafe in Spain...a naturally adventurous spirit thanks to his parents’ lifestyle and open-minded attitude. I love introducing kids to new things - or helping them find joy in simple things - whether that means getting soaked catching tadpoles in the local lake, trying a new kind of food (chebureki, anyone?), or holding jumping cockroaches at the Smithsonian Museum’s bug zoo!

Special Friends
Bob has been a rock and a heart friend for three years now, and he’s all excited about my adopting! He is a recently retired Army officer and is currently voluntarily serving one last tour in the Middle East. He’s a former coach and world-class military pentathlete...with a wonderfully soft heart and a silly streak a mile wide (which is why his six nieces and nephews adore their Uncle Bobby!). He and my three-year-old niece have a total crush on each other, and I’m fine with that! Bob is one of the best people I’ve ever known, and I’m honored to have him in my life - and my child’s.

The saying "Dogs have owners; mastiff have staff" is pretty accurate, at least in my experience! I adopted Teo when he was four years old; he required three surgeries in short order with several more to follow, and I had to carry his back end around in a sling for months at a time…but he lived to the ripe old age of 11 1/2 (8-10 years is considered a full life for a mastiff) and experienced and gave more joy than any dog I've ever known! In addition to his formal work as a trained therapy dog, Teo was unofficial "therapy" to all who knew him. He adored children, and one of my favorite memories is of him "smiling" surrounded by my neighbors' 1-year-old triplets just weeks before he passed.

It’s funny because I tend toward having a few close friends vs. a wide circle - but over the years my circle of close friends has gotten pretty big, which is wonderful! My friends are from all walks and stages of life, from little old Russian ladies to world-traveling professionals to stay-at-home Moms. I love the variety of perspective that comes from having such a broad range of people in my life, and look forward to their involvement in shaping the person my child grows up to be.

...MY LIFE...
Home
I live in a brick rambler on half an acre of trees in Virginia just twelve miles from downtown Washington, DC. My house isn’t big, but it’s cozy and peaceful and full of light! I love having space for kids and dogs to romp while still being close to all the city has to offer. (Though I’m much more likely to rent a cabin on the Shenandoah river and spend the weekend fishing and swimming than to spend it touring museums!) I have great neighbors, including several families with young kids, and am within easy walking distance to playgrounds and a good elementary school.

Work
I work for a large consulting company that is consistently rated among the best for working moms due to the extensive benefits and flexibility they provide (including flexible hours, time off following adoption, and on-site daycare). I work as a Russian translator and love what I do! Most of my colleagues have children - many of whom were adopted - and they, like my friends and family, are excited about my decision to adopt and eager to support. I am very financially stable and able to provide a lifestyle that includes lots of simple pleasures as well as plenty of adventures and travel.

Play
I’m one of those people who has about fifty things I love to do and fifty more I want to try! I live a pretty quiet day-to-day life - I love experimenting with cooking different ethnic foods (Moroccan is a current favorite), I garden, I make my own cards, I needlepoint, I take lots of walks. I belong to a very supportive church community that is active in missions (including volunteer efforts in Honduras, Haiti, and New Orleans) and local charity work. I am absolutely passionate about international and adventure travel as well as anything having to do with the ocean, water, nature, animals (horseback riding, snorkeling, sailing, jet skiing, kayaking, fly fishing...I could go on!).

...AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOUR CHILD’S LIFE!
A day in the life
Whether it’s a weekday or a weekend, there are certain basic things I treasure (many from my own childhood) and look forward to sharing with a child on a daily basis. These include: taking a few quiet moments to just “be” together first thing in the morning and last thing at night; enjoying sit-down meals together; getting outdoors and active (sunset walks, digging in the garden); seeking out new experiences (even if it’s as simple as trying a new recipe); spending time with animals; celebrating music (my Mom’s piano playing used to lull me to sleep as a child - something I hope my own child will enjoy!).

I realize that life with a child will be challenging and at times exhausting - but I am very committed to keeping these simple things part of our daily lives to help ensure a healthy structure and consistency even when life gets hectic.

A year in the life
Once again I look forward to ensuring that my child enjoys the things I most value from my own childhood: lots of quality time with family; instituting traditions and marking the seasons (planting seeds in the spring, the first swim of the season on Memorial Day, Fourth of July picnics, pumpkin patch adventures in the fall, stuffing the Thanksgiving turkey together, baking gingerbread cookies at Christmas...); travel both far and near; exposure to other cultures; and volunteering together.

I am blessed to be able to provide a child with a wonderful network of supportive and engaged family, friends, and colleagues, male and female, from all walks of life. I look forward to raising a child who has a passion for life, great self-esteem, and a healthy sense of adventure and curiosity about the world. Other qualities I hope to instill are a strong work ethic and a compassionate heart. Your child will be surrounded by love every day - and will know that he or she is loved for who she or he is and will be supported and encouraged in whatever directions she or he may wish to go.

IN CLOSING
It took me awhile, but I have finally realized that even though life rarely happens the way it’s “supposed” to, the way it does unfold - with all its crazy twists and turns (and flat out drops!) - is every bit as beautiful and right and good. My heart goes out to you as you decide what’s best for your child and for you. Here’s to both of us being able to live the questions with confidence!

Dawn

If you have any questions for me, or would like to talk to me about adopting your child, please contact an AdoptHelp advisor by Calling 1-800-637-7999 or clicking the "Contact Me" button below.

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