Day 9
I can't help but hear someone say "Dur" every time I see a stop sign. For those too young to remember it, "Dur" was before Homer Simpsons' signature "Doh."
It’s Day 9 over on this side of the pond (and while I upload this picture for the THOUSANDTH TIME) starting on my family’s side as well. As we’ve passed our first week, I’ve noticed a few things…the beginning of a week is harder, emotionally, for me. I feel like my heart starts all over in the counting cycle. My family is holding down the fort with strength, determination, and just enough humor to keep themselves from going insane.
Things I’ve learned over the past week.
1. While the sign you see before you is, in fact, a stop sign…they are only suggestions to those who are Turks. I was even told, eh, those are for the Americans. We use this! And a laying of the horn commenced. LOL.
2. The internet is incredibly slow. So slow, in fact, that it makes me want to scream in frustration when I’m uploading images. I have to find non-peak hours to do it.
3. When our spirits are low (my husband, my kids, or me), we do our best to pick each other up. It’s a beautiful and amazing thing.
4. Sometimes the family who adopts you is more than you’d ever imagined a family could be. Thank you, guys. The support back home fills me with awe and tears. You rock!
5. Never underestimate the siren song of sleep. Apparently, or so I’m told, your body needs it so will force it upon you when you least expect it. Namely, immediately after work when you’d just laid down to cool off a bit.
6. I miss Jerry’s cooking. A lot.
7. And this is a constant one…I miss my family. I knew I would, but I didn’t know how much or how hard it would hit us all. I love all of my kids. I hope I’m a good stepmom to four of them and just a good ol’ mom to the youngest one. Your smiles make my day brighter. 
I love you guys.