dunhaven; ic community.

We're not even through January yet and I've already uninstalled Facebook from my phone again.

Comment with a number 1-100, and I'll ask you a question from this not at all internet generated list I have handy.

FRIENDS & FAMILY

I'm so sorry for all of the secretiveness and Alex and my disappearing acts, but I promise it's all been for a very good reason. Almost two weeks ago, a wonderful woman asked to meet us based on the file that was created when Alex and I became an active family. She wanted to find out if we could be the right parents for her two beautiful nieces and, this morning, she chose us. We couldn't say much before, both because there was a process we needed to follow, and also because we didn't know until today that this would be a reality, so we hope you'll all forgive us for having to keep this one close to our chests.

We've spent spent every day since Christmas with her and the girls, letting them get to know us and, quite frankly, falling absolutely and utterly in love with both of them. So, tomorrow, we will be moving forward with the process and, on Tuesday, Alex and I will be coming home with our daughters: Alice Nicole (3) and Ava Marie (4 months). We'll share pictures once we're home and will start introducing each of you to them in the coming weeks.

Our hearts are full today, and we are so incredibly blessed. ♥

FINNLEY

I don't think we should wait until the wedding to proceed with the adoption.

Q

I think I'm a lot better at talking other people through handling their own dreams than handling my own.

FINN (posted sometime later on Thanksgiving)

Dinner was weird. Please tell me I'm not crazy, right? Or that I am. I'm not sure which one's preferable.

FINNLEY

The first Thanksgiving in your new house was pretty much the best Thanksgiving we've ever had together. Let's do it again next year. ;)

WHO: Finnley Parker
WHEN: October 22, evening.
WHERE: The Parker-Sparks residence.
SUMMARY: Finnley fills out a petition.
WARNINGS: Mom feels.

( She vowed to be a better mother than hers had ever been. )

WHO: Oliver Sparks & Finnley Parker
WHEN: Thursday, August 9, 2018; Afternoon
WHERE: Their new house!
SUMMARY: Oliver and Finnley discuss Finnley’s role in Jonas’ life and pick a wedding date!
WARNINGS: None!

(  I don’t want there to ever be any question that this family is ours equally. )

There are so many of us who are hurting and dealing with things we feel like we don’t own or understand. But one thing I noticed is that there really isn’t a place for everybody to talk about it besides this network. And the network is great ... but when it’s not enough, or when you need people, I’m going to throw out a standing invite.

Come see me (and whoever) at the flower farm every last Saturday of the month starting at 6:00 pm. We will just talk or listen, or you know? Whatever. No expectations. I’m thinking it will be good, knowing you’re not alone.

First time is this week, ok?

I don’t talk a whole lot about deeply personal stuff here, but others have been talking about their dreams openly, and so I guess I'm wondering if anyone's in the same boat I've found myself in. Not hoping for it, because I wouldn't wish this on other people, but wondering --

Has anyone else dreamt about dying? Not in the surreal sort of way that dreams take on sometimes, but with some sort of finality? Like you knew it really was the end of the line?

OLIVER:

When you really start to dread sleeping.

I'm just a girl, standing in front of a town, wondering some of these words mean anything to anyone else:

S.H.I.E.L.D

Inhumans

Triskelion

Kree

Tahiti

Framework

Afterlife

kthx for coming to my TED Talk ... 😬😬😬

If you had asked me ten years ago if I could foresee how fulfilled the lives of the Sparks family would be, I'm not sure I could have imagined exactly this. As it continues to grow, I can only see us being more fulfilled. Welcome to the family, Violet. I'm so pleased to call you my sister, and even more pleased to know how happy you make my pain-in-the-ass brother.

Here's to the next ten years and the years beyond that.

I took a Buzzfeed quiz and it said I am 68% marriage material. Another one said I’d be single forever. ... their results need some work.

No anonymity this time. It's pretty public knowledge at this point that these dreams and memories are a pretty widespread issue, right? So I want to ask everyone who's been having them for help. How do you cope with a life that isn't yours but feels as much yours as your own is? The person I've dreamt about lost someone recently (recently for me, anyway, so I suppose that term is relative) and I find myself grieving the same way I would had I physically lived through it myself. How do you handle that? Has anyone else experienced loss that doesn't necessarily belong to them? I know that there's only more loss to come, thanks to being familiar with this person's story already even without the dreams and memories, and I [...] just want to know that I can face them without feeling like this when they inevitably come. Because if it feels like this now, I don't know how I'll even function through what's to come.

Anyway, thanks in advance for tuning into today's episode of Charlie Proves She's Crazy AF.

OLIVER, FINNLEY, CASSIA + VIOLET:

Hey, fam.

Violet and I don't think a big shindig is for us, and neither of us are keen on waiting a whole lot longer, so we're just going to do this thing. If you can't make it to the courthouse, that's okay, I think it's going to be a really quick and casual thing, and I get that not everyone's real flexible with their schedule like I am. But Mom wants a big family dinner afterwards, so maybe we can all go out somewhere.

But anyway, we were thinking a week from today? Bright and early? It opens at 8:30. I can probably move the time around if you can't make it then. I know we'd both like it if our fam could be there. But I get it's a big last minute.

WHO: Oliver Sparks & Finnley Parker
WHEN: Tuesday, July 17, 2018; Morning
WHERE: A...house. Address TBD!
SUMMARY: Oliver and Finnley try to find their future home...and SUCCEED.
WARNINGS: Smooshiness. So much smooshiness.

( Alright, Almost Mrs. Sparks. Let’s go buy us a house. )

Hello, Dunhaven. I am surprising my brother by turning up unannounced except for the part where I tell all of you I'm here before I tell him or any of the family. So, hello there. I'm Mateo Rojas, Diego's elder and much more handsome brother.

Because I've decided that I want to be the burr in his side semi-permanently, I've got a little office leased in town and intend to open up my own law practice. And now that I know there are places where you play great live music, I may not ever leave.

Have a lovely Tuesday.

[ROJAS FRIENDS & FAMILY]

Surprise!

sora

sos

Hey. I'm Eli and it looks like I'm going to be here for the next while so I'm looking for some recommendations. I'm well travelled enough to know that asking the locals where to start is the best idea, since they actually know what's up.

First, best place to get a good drink around here? From my driving around, there seem to be a lot of options, so I figure coming right out and asking is a good first step.

Second, food. I've been to Grandma's and inhaled more waffles than I probably needed to this morning alone, so I have that one down. But I'm living in a hotel room right now and my meal options are pretty limited to takeout and pop tarts, so tell me where to go.

And that's pretty much it. Alcohol and food are important, so there we have it. I know I could probably go up to DC and find some chains that I'm more familiar with, but that seems like a waste of perfectly good resources here. And, honestly, if there's anything in particular people think just has to be seen in this town if you've never been before, throw it at me. I'm up for anything.

ALEX, BASH, LUCY, FINNLEY

Putting this here on the network because I am so emotionally and mentally tapped out right now that I literally cannot handle having an actual conversation.

( cut for image )

ELI

You should try Grandma's tonight. It's the only place in this town where miracles actually happen.

Pansy season doesn't really last long enough. Just as soon as you get a good crop in, here comes the heat to completely dissuade them from growing again. They're delicate. They shrivel with the first sign of humidity but come roaring back when fall makes its debut. It's possible that many of us could feel the same, too.

Just thought I'd say ... appreciate the pansies. If snowdrops are the promise of spring, then pansies are the delivery. And I think that's pretty cool.

[OLIVER, FINNLEY, QUINCY]

Um, idk Q. Should we tell them a thing?

Just a reminder that if you have any events, want to take some family photos, or just want a picture of you taken, I'm always looking to fill my schedule with sessions! I'll be at the Arts & Crafts Fair all weekend with a booth if you want to come see my work, both artistic and portraits.

BEA

Do you have any free time next week that I can book you for?