Good food, great people!

Last night Dave and I went out to dinner with 20 or so people we have never met. We went to the Ethiopian restaurant in town. The food was fabulous as always and the company was even better.

It was so great to put faces with names and to start to get know these people. They were couples, single moms, people home for years, people travelling in a few weeks, people with referrals, people close to referral and people just starting out. It was a very diverse group of people.

I would say last night was definitely a highlight in the almost 6 years that I have lived here. Don't get me wrong I love my neighbors and my friends, but these people last night just get it. They get the whole process. How hard the waiting is, the struggles with infertility, the awkward looks and questions people ask when you tell them you are adopting from Ethiopia or they see you with your Ethiopian child.

I met people who knew what it was like to hate everything pregnancy and baby related while you are struggling with infertility, people who understand how frustrating the process can be and the not knowing is, people who used to live on the West Coast and understand my love of the Nordstrom shoe department and how awful it is that we don't have one here. ( I know I could drive to Chicago but really 3 hours just for shoes...)

After dinner we went out for drinks with some of the others and had even more fun. It was nice to relax and unwind and for me to finally feel connected in this crazy place we call home. I never have really felt like I found my niche and I kind of think I found it last night. I made some strong connections with people and can't wait to hang out again.