Wordless Wednesday - Love is...

Normally this time of the week I am doing something for the Gallery. But this week, I didn't really have a photo that did the theme justice, so for the first time in twenty five weeks, I am doing a wordless Wednesday instead.

My brother and his son's have an amazing relationship.
His eldest son is fifteen and  by all accounts, he should be out and not spending time with us his boring old family.

Last Sunday my brother and the rest of my immediate family went here - The Inn at Grinshill which is lovely and in the middle of the back end of beyond in gorgeous Shropshire where I grew up.

And we had a lovely day and my fifteen year old nephew had a game of chess with my 7 year old daughter (his cousin) and let her win and didn't make a fuss that we all helped her and he was left to just get on with it.

I took this photo (on manual - otherwise Cosmicgirlie would be v.cross) and it just personifies a relationship I can only wish for with my daughters. I am very proud of my brother and both his sons and love them very much. But shhh...don't tell him. And don't tell him about this as he hate's photos of himself..don't know why?

The Gallery - The Men in my Life

I like men. I am happily married, have a great Dad and have some fantastic male friends, so when Tara at Sticky fingers suggested Men for the Gallery I was really pleased. Here are a few of my favourite chaps.

I am very lucky.

She'll do.

I am adopted.

These are the answers to all the questions people ask me when I tell them that I am adopted.

1. I was adopted at just over two months old.
2. I don't remember being told I was adopted, I just always knew.
3. No, I don't want to meet my birth parents, although I would like some photos and a medical history (although, sometimes it's nice not knowing)
4. No, my brother is not my biological brother, he was adopted too.
5. Yes, I know my birth parents names.
6. I know where I was born.
7. I know what my name was before I was adopted.
8. I feel lucky to have been adopted, I had a very secure childhood, and have great parents.
9. I believe in nurture over nature (although nature plays it's part).
10. Could I give a child up for adoption? No.
11. I think things must have been pretty bad to give me up, so I am not angry, I am grateful, I have had a lovely family.

Being adopted does not define me, but it is part of me that I am content with.

My Dad told a story about when they went to get me.  For a long time I thought they had gone to a sort of baby shop, I made this assumption because my two year old brother was with them, when they picked me up and he said 'she'll do', like there was a choice. It was only when I got older that I realised I was the only one. But this story made me feel so special, I felt wanted. And still do.