Today was Adoption Day. We celebrated one year since the day we went to court to legalize our adoption. We planned a small celebration with a few of our new friends. Pizza and a small Tinker Bell cake. Kajal was so excited, she woke up as if it was her birthday, brimming with joy and excitement. As we walked to school I asked Kajal what she remembered of our Adoption day, last year. She smiled up at me.

We went to court and saw the Judge. She asked me do I want you to be my Mommy and I said YES! Then she asked you, do you want me to be your daughter and you said... YES DEFINITELY! Then she told you you have to get me cake and presents and icecream too! (the judge had mentioned I needed to get her the icecream)

We held hands and walked to school, singing Happy Adoption Day to Us to the tune of the Happy Birthday song. It was good.

When I picked her up after school she gave me the running hug she does daily that almost knocks me flat. How did your day go, baby? I asked. It was great Mom... I told everyone about my adoption day.

What did they say?

Awww... the kids were so funny. They all said they want one too!

Why?

So they can have cake and presents... she skipped all the way home.

We had a beautiful night.

On another, completely different note.... you know how I've mentioned that Kajal has been having a tough time with 'shadows and strange noises lately?' How impatient I've been? I happened to mention what Kajal has been experiencing to a neighbor who lives in the same apartment complex. She reminded me that Charleston is one of, if not the most 'haunted city' in America. But we live in Summerville, was my response. We're not in downtown Charleston and we don't live in an old home, we live in a brand new complex. She educated me. Summerville was settled a few hundred years ago and where our buildings were built was smack in path of some major battles and revolutionary war traffic. Never mind what happend here during the Civil War. She then went on to tell me she and her husband have seen shadows themselves. She described how just the other night she hear footsteps in her hallway and the sound of shuffling feet, she called out to her children thinking they were awake. When she went to investigate she saw a shadow shaped like a person moving down her hallway and she ran to her childrens rooms only to find them sound asleep.

Okay, now I'm feeling a little spooked.

I'm not sure what to believe but what this woman described is pretty much the same thing that Kajal has been describing for the last few weeks and here I'd thought she was just experiencing insecurity due to our move. Hmmm. Insecurity or ghosts? Talk about a quandry.

Tonight as Kajal was falling asleep in my arms, cozy and happy after her perfect Adoption Day celebration she said she had something very important to ask me. This is usually what she says when I've asked her to focus on sleeping, no more talking.

Kajal... it's sleep time. You know the rules, quiet time.

But Mom, it's really really important this time.

Okay, what is it?

Will you make me more of the little crosses tomorrow?

Uh, sure. Of course... why honey? What do you need them for?

I've been thinking, she whispered. I want to put them in Grandma's room and in my closet and by the other doors.

Okay, Kajal. I'll make a whole bunch. You can put them where ever you want and we can do our special ceremony over each one, okay?

That's perfect Mom. Thank you.

They do say children are more open to the mysteries around us...