A Day of Thanks

Hi Everyone!

Today is one of my family’s private days of thanks.  I think we all have some, days that the rest of the world might not notice, but we treasure in our hearts because of the special things that happened .

Kayla, right after she came to live with us

Six years ago today, Mark, Kayla and I officially became a family.  Unofficially, of course, we had been a family for just over a year when Kayla came to live with us in a foster-but-hopefully-soon-adoptive status.  I don’t know how it works for most people, but the three of us (and the two dogs we had then) bonded in a way that seemed miraculous – it took less than seven days, and really, it would have only been a day had it not taken Mark and I a few days to learn how to speak three year old. 

One of Kayla's first trips to the beach

There are so many people I am grateful to for that day.  The first is God, who miraculously moved all sorts of puzzle pieces into place to bring us together.  The second and third are Mark and Kayla, of course – Mark and I for having the courage to take a risk we had thought we would never take (fostering without having adoption be a certainty) and Kayla for showing that even 3 years olds can express choices and be determined.  I can remember one evening when her case worker came over to see us and to check on her, and she brought out every single toy that she had to show him and made sure that he knew how much she liked being with us.  Then, when he started to leave and she realized that nothing was going to change immediately, she stomped her foot and shouted at him, “My want to be [insert our family name here]! 

The fourth are the wonderful foster parents who kept Kayla for almost a year before she came to live with us.  They still remain our good friends today, and I am always grateful for what they did for Kayla in the 10 months that she was with them.   I don’t know if she could have trusted us as unreservedly as she does had she not first learned to trust adults again through them.

Kayla, this Thanksgiving in the Smoky Mountains

Then, of course, there is my family and Mark’s family, who have loved Kayla from the moment they heard about her, even before they saw her picture or met her. 

I can go on from there, and there are so many, many other people – her case worker, other people at DHR, wonderful day cares, teachers, my office, which managed to come up with a modified maternity leave schedule with less than two weeks notice, and which threw me (and Kayla) an awesome shower before she even arrived at my doorstep, friends, and just so many others, but if I did, this post would be way too long.  Just know, whoever you are, that I am still grateful seven years from when she came to us and six years to the day from when she was adopted and I do send up prayers of thanks for you regularly.

Kayla, during her first Christmas ever with us.

And to my miracle child, and my wonderful husband, I love you!

Have a great day everyone!

Nancy