“When I am writing, my problems become invisible, and I am the same person I always was. All is well. I am as I should be.”

~Roger Ebert

Dear readers,

April has nearly come and gone without a post to celebrate the 4th anniversary of my blog. On April 13, 2009, Pampers and Pakhlava went live. Today’s post marks the 382nd time I’ve hit the “Publish” button. With an estimated average of 400 words per post, I’ve written over 152,800 words! When I started this blog, one of my personal goals was to write more. I am happy to report: writing has become a  habit.

I also wanted my blog to offer readers a peek into a tiny country, Armenia, located in the Caucasus region of the world, where Europe borders Asia. I admit I had a certain bias, because Armenia was the country where my husband and I hoped to adopt a child. Four years since Pampers and Pakhlava first appeared on the web, “Where is Armenia?” is one of the most consistently searched for key word phrases on Wanderlust and Lipstick , the website my blog calls home. Lucky me to be a blogger on one of the most heavily trafficked women’s travel sites that provides inspiration and information for and by women!

Of course, the “pampers” in my title refers to one of the biggest goals I’ve had in my life: become a mom. Getting there, however, did not play out–in any way, shape, or form–as I imagined it would. The journey began much later in life than I ever expected, took more years than I envisioned, and involved countless hurdles that were unforeseen. But get there I did–we did. With Big Papa by my side, and now with Baby Bird as our sidekick, we are a family!

Just like my blog bio says: “Some might fend off a mid-life crisis by leaving the comforts of their corporate salary to jet off to a deserted island. Others might buy a Jaguar. I’ve chosen to dive head-long into my 50s and beyond by becoming a first-time parent. I’ve traveled halfway around the world (several times) before adopting my daughter, and now I share my musings about life with a toddler in the Pacific Northwest.”

Admittedly, my path in life has been anything but predictable, smooth or on schedule. And while this has caused me a fair bit of angst, finding myself  on unexpected and unfamiliar terrain has also made me the person I am today. With every curve in the road comes a greater understanding of the world I live in, the people who share it with me, and–most importantly–myself.

Take the road less traveled,

Beth