Anticipation

June 16, 2009

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A couple of weeks ago, we were exploring and discovered another gem of a place for the kids to have fun and for me to photograph........a smalltown train station!!

This is actually the station that is in the town where I grew up. It is a very busy railroad crossing and on most days the trains come by every 20-30 minutes. A couple of years ago, they renovated the area and made a beautiful garden and fountain area surrounded by stone pavers and brick walkways. In addition the old wooden station was reconstructed so you can sit inside and watch as the trains pass.

I had been there once before with Nick but had never taken Sarah....so this particular afternoon, she and I headed over. She was running all over the place in normal two year old fashion. She was obsessed with the fountain and would not walk away from it until she heard the train whistle in the distance.

We walked over to the wooden station and started searching for the first glimpse of the engine. It was the most still I had seen my girl in a long time........she stood there in anticipation of what was about to come. I am not sure if it was the thunder of the heavy train speeding down the tracks or the loud whistle that blew, but it was if she was frozen and could not move.

She watched as car after car went by, she noticed some fo the "pretty colors" aka, graffiti and pointed with delight. After a couple minutes we were standing there in silence and she looked up at me and said, "Where is the next train?"

I have had these pictures on my computer for a little over two weeks....I really loved them, but was not quite sure how I was going to incorporate them into a post and then I ran acorss this quote.........

“We... anticipate what's to come, then ignore what's actually here.”
- By Stephan Rechtschaffen -

This quote really struck me.....for many reasons, but mostly because it seemed so fitting for all of us in the China Adoption community.

This wait is far from easy and the anticipation of what is going to happen next can be suffocating at times. I for one have spent countless hours searching and looking for indications/rumors of what the future will hold for us.... when are things going to speed up, how many days of referrals are coming out in the next batch, how many more months of waiting, when will we travel, etc, etc..... This summer I want to push all of the worry, what if's, and when's aside.....and concentrate on what is right here infront of me.......my family, my friends, my life as it is today!

45 comments:

Kim said...

Great photos...
Great post..
Great words..
HUGS..
Have a great summer..

Courtney said...

Great pictures. Suddenly Sarah looks so much older in these pictures. It is almost like it happened over night.

Marla said...

Awesome post and perfect quote! I LOVE these pictures, as you well know. :)

Shell in your Pocket said...

Wonderful photos but the last part of the post is the best! I need to write that down for me too!
sandy toe

Special K said...

What a perfect quote. And boy does it relate to this wait. Thanks for the reminder to be more present in the right now.... :)

Daniella said...

could not agree more with this post and that quote. I've been in a complete funk about the wait, the what ifs, the when and just last week my husband and I and our son said we have to let it go - not the adoption - we will wait but our favorite saying, man plans and God commands is how we have to live our days. we are living our days to the fullest while we wait. thanks for the reminder.

Sandra said...

Love the pictures, love the quote and love the dress - Tahlia has the same one ;-)

"Hello... It's Me Again..." said...

Simply said: Great Post and beautiful pictures of Sarah!!!

Anonymous said...

I adore your work, and the subjects are lovely! Perfect quote. I agree and get how time stands still in the wait, if we don't grasp at it's slow moving hands!!

Shari said...

Those photos are beautiful. I love that quote. That is something I am trying to instill in Amelia...she is always rushing onto the next activity forgetting to enjoy what we are doing at the moment...

Michelle R Photography said...

Beautiful images, Lisa. What a perfect quote. Isn't it so true?

May your summer be filled with joy, making wonderful memories with your family and friends and living in the moment!

carolinagirl said...

Beautiful...beautiful photos of Sarah, but most striking are your beautiful words and sentiments!!! Why do we wish our time away forging ahead for the anticipated unknown? It is so hard to live in the moment and to enjoy what life and your family has in store for you in the present.

Fliss and Mike Adventures said...

Awesome photos and I do love that quote...
Take care

Jeni said...

Sarah's eyes are piercing in that 2nd picture. WOW...that description of waiting for your adoption. I too need to concentrate on the good right in front of me!

Dawn said...

Oh your photos are amazing...I really need a photography class! LOVE the quote...gave me something to think about!!

Wanda said...

Thank you, thank you. Your post and sentiment is what I've been trying to hang on to and being soooo close now only makes that even harder.

I love the quote. It's so powerful - we should apply it and live it everyday. Whatever is in each day is what we've got. Treasure it!

And, absolutely gorgeous effect on the pictures. Beautifully artistic!

:)

Patricia said...

Gorgeous photos!! And a very wise frame of mind! ;) Time goes by so quickly, I cannot believe Kiara will be starting Kindergarten in the Fall...I have made a promise to myself to kick back & ENJOY this summer with her!! Before my sweet baby really starts growing up! :O

Jennifer said...

Love the quote-the pictures are beautiful! Where did you get Sarah's outfit? I love the giraffe! We are wild for any type of animal print! :)

Hope you're having a great week!

Jboo said...

Great photos and great sentiment too! It's hard to wait, but important to enjoy the moments as they come. Take care!

Janet

Kayce said...

I just love this post for SO many reasons! First of all the pictures are just beautiful, you are an amazing photographer Lisa!

That quote is so true and this last year or more I've tried to only focus on what is here in the now. It's freeing when you do that. And with that, your locale for this photo shoot just makes me smile so BIG...Jacob and I are taking the train to Oregon next week for our adventure I've been planning with him. We will be spending 18+ hours on the train each way and neither of us can stand the anticipation of our trip together and the adventure of riding the train!

Thanks for the smile.

Dita said...

I can only imagine how The Wait just takes lives over. I cannot believe how long so many of you "wait" and I am constantly in awe of your ability to be so patient.

I think that your resolve to live for today and enjoy the moments that are definitive and within your reach today will only make that day when your wait is over so much sweeter.

You are a wonderful person, Lisa, and your wait will be over tomorrow so truly enjoy today.

With admiration,
Dita

Football and Fried Rice said...

Great perspective..so many times we get lost in what we don't have? It's kind of like that saying about staring at a closed door for so long we don't notice the open window?

What a GREAT place to take more pictures!

Football and Fried Rice said...

I went through and caught up on some of your older posts (since I've been gone for awhile!) It was great lookig at your amazing pictures and THANK YOU for sharing your story of Miss Sarah and not being "afraid" of being transparent. Those things have happened to us all as parents and being reminded to be watchful is never a bad thing!

Christy said...

I totally agree with those words. They totally are appropriate for so many of us who have fone thorugh or are still waiting in the china adoption journey. That really rings true!!! I love those pics. I cant belive how blue and beautiful Sarahs eyes are. They are breathtaking. WOW!!! Love your pics-- you are way too good!!!

Christy :)

Kim said...

What a beautiful post! I visted you a while back since Jodee talks about you all the time ;) but I haven't been back in awhile.

You are a very talented photographer, your photos are breathtaking and you have very cute subjects to focus on. Have awonderful summer. Your newest follower.

Kim

Our Complete Family said...

Amazing quote and I love how you tied it with the beautiful photos of your little Princess Sarah!
E me how the rest of your week is shaping up hun~ we are WAY overdue for a chat!
xo Les

Jo said...

Those words are ever so true! I really needed to hear {see} them with summer vacation approaching.

As always, Sarah is adorable.

Jo

Jodee said...

These are some of my favorite pictures of Sarah yet. I love her dress and bow. I wonder if this is the GAP dress I was looking for Kamree last year!

I love the quote and I do think it is important to live in the moment. I am sure the long wait is so hard though. Hang in there!

Kam said...

Beautifully said, Lisa. I feel the same way. As the days drag on and the wait seems forever, I'm constantly reminding myself to live now. These photos are lovely. Hope you are having a great week!

elliotts said...

Love your post today! We have to have our adoption agreement back by July 15th...then we start the paperchase and homestudy...I am so excited...but just so hopeful the wait time will shorten. I want to bring our daughter home, NOW, so I can't even imagine how you must feel after 3 years of waiting....you are so strong, and I hope I will be as strong!

Have a great week!
Diane

Missy said...

Great post and beautiful pics, Lis! I love the one of Sarah waiting on the train (the dof is incredible)! Hang in there sweet gal, as it will all fall together just as it should! Waiting in anticipation for your newest addition with ya, girl! Love ya... off to the recital madness! :)

Alicia W. said...

What a great post! Love the pictures too. Have a graet day sweetie.

Lucy said...

I REALLY hope it speeds up for you, I can't imagine waiting for as long as you have been. I love how you've put it into perspective and kids really do teach us to live in the moment, don't they? :)

JMCS said...

Lisa,

Your images are blowing me away. I was just looking at your Flickr acct.

Hugs,
Jonni

BA said...

Great photos!!!! Where do you get the headband with the flower and the big flower hair accessory in this shot??? I've been looking all over and comeup dry?? I live in PA just outside Phila.
BA

Sylvia said...

As always, your pics are beautiful!
Thanks for the reminder to enjoy our life as it is today.

fleur de lis cottage said...

Beautiful images, post and quote. We all need to learn to "be" and live in the moment. Thanks for sharing!

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

Barbarann,

I have been trying to figure out a way to contact you and cannot link back to your blog. Your profile page doesn't provide a link or an email address.

Please email me privately and I will help you find the flowers!! My email is attached to my profile page!

Thanks,

Lisa

M,R,J1,J2 said...

I couldn't agree with you more. Yes, concentrate on what is right here infront of you!
I, too, put the what if's and when's aside. However, I'm still wondering if we might end up in China together :-)
Hugs,
Michaela

day by day said...

Hey Lisa!

Great reminder for all of us to live in the here and now!!!

I love these pictures of the adorable Miss Sarah! Hey, you will have to tell me where that place is at...cause I need all the help I can get in keeping my subjects still. lol!

Things are finally slowing down over here a bit...so let me know if you want to meet up at a park sometime in the next few weeks...

Casey said...

Beautiful pictures!! I love the train station idea. I was thinking of doing some playing around when we go to our home town in a few weeks. Small town and lots of great places to photograph. Now if I just had your skills. :)

I think that quote pretty much sums up the wait. It's horrible. All the time spent doing "adoption math".... if there are so many days this month and next month then I should get a referral on this day, yada yada. Then it starts all over again. I remember STARING at a calender trying to figure out my life in the future... the life with my baby girl.

I wish I had answers. Your wait is completely insane and I pray every day that your baby (and others waiting) will be in your arms soon. In the meantime... you're right.... enjoy the moments today.

Deb said...

Lisa...I have to tell you that I love all of these new photos....and the textures...gorgeous!!

BTW....just had to tell you that we decided to make Sophie's blog private and will be closing it this week. If you want to follow along on the journey to mei mei....stop by and comment on the top post and I will send you an invite if you are interested.

Hope you are having a great summer so far!
~Deb

Ivy Shaffer said...

Hi Lisa,
What a slacker I am huh? This is such a beautiful post and I am just now getting around to reading it.

I know the wait is very difficult and we all handle it differently. You're amazing attitude and energy will help keep you focused, because you are so right about concentrating on what's here and now!

You're so close to getting your referral, just hang on and get ready for the "Long Ride to China"!

Love ya!

Ivy

Catherine said...

Oh Lisa! What a perfect quote! I have strived to do this but it is so challenging and a battle that is hard to win. Thank you for the beautiful reminder to enjoy what is today rather than anticipating what tomorrow may hold. Do you mind if I use the quote on my blog?

Beautiful pics of your little cutie at the train station...enjoying what is here and now :o)

Unknown said...

Love the pictures. And love the wisdom in that quote. Wonderful!