Last, but certainly not least, I am thankful for the Munchkin. I am thankful for every living and breathing moment of her life. I am thankful that she is alive, that I chose life.

Sometimes it's hard to be thankful when she's not always around; after all, I'm human and have selfish moments when I want her all to myself. Going for months on end without seeing her, other than pictures, is somewhat hard on my soul. Yet, it's just the way that things are and sometimes you just have to... more

Today I am thankful for Munchkin's Mom, D, and all that she has done for the Munchkin, for me and for our family. Of course, I am always thankful for D; she has been a godsend. She's the type of adoptive Mom that you wish for your child, for your situation.

D and I didn't become best friends instantaneously. It's required some work on both parts. As I stated before, I bonded with J first as he's the more talkative and outgoing spouse. However, I... more

I have to state that I am thankful for my Mother-in-Law separate from the fact that I am thankful for my Father-in-Law. They are divorced and don't speak. So, I am not exactly thankful for them together but I am thankful for what they have done for and meant to me separately.

My Mother-in-Law is a gem. (How many people get to say that? I am so blessed!) I met her while I was pregnant with the Munchkin. She had been an unwed Mother in the 70's, marrying... more

Today I am thankful for the mothers who walked the adoption journey before me, some before I was ever born. While our experiences differ from birth mother to birth mother, down generations and circumstances, without their pioneering ways, I may not be as lucky as I am today in openess and healing.

I am thankful for many different kinds of birth mothers. I am thankful for those who speak candidly about their situations, either in positive or negative manners. Without telling their stories, I may not have been able to understand and accept that every adoption is different. With the varying stories of both success and defeat,... more

Today I am thankful for the grandparents that Munchkin has through her Mom, D, and what they are in the Munchkin's life. You see, grandparents are important to me.

I grew up living about fifty paces from my paternal grandparents' front door. We lived on The Farm together, which is about 89 acres. Grandma watched me when I was little, in those days before school, while Mom finished up her education in college. I learned about constellations by looking through the encyclopedias with her. She let me read books of hers (ooh, old) like My Friend Flicka. I learned to love homemade macarioni and cheese which is a thousand... more

Today I am thankful for a bunch of testosterone known as the Munchkin's many brothers. She has three older brothers and two younger brothers. (One of them being Nicholas.) She is, as my grandparents would say, a rose among many thorns! Well, they're not that thorny. They're actually quite awesome.

In searching for parents for the Munchkin, I wanted a family who had other children. It was not of my concern at the time whether they were biological, adopted or aliens... more

As the end of the month nears, I am digging deeper into my series of thankfulness. I've already covered how thankful I am for my Husband, who has been a huge help in my life and my adoption grief and loss and now it's time to look at the other key players. I am thankful for J, Munchkin's (adoptive) Dad. I only add the word adoptive in there for clarification in case we have any newer readers. He is... more

Today's thankful series post will be brief. I've got wet hair and we need to be out the door in a half hour. We're headed back to The Farm in Pennsylvania for Thanksgiving as its done in my family. I'm stoked!

I am thankful for my family, in all its shapes and sizes and forms. I am thankful for my parents and the way we have managed to salvage our relationship. I am thankful for my Brother and the man he is growing up to be. I am thankful that I have all of my grandparents and one great-grandmother; for them I am truly blessed. I am thankful for my zany uncles, their somehow-still-sane wives and their many children.

I am thankful for my Mother-in-Law and the blessing she has... more

On this Thanksgiving Eve as I sit and process the visit that is now over, I am truly thankful that because of our open adoption I am able to watch my two children interact. Not everyone is afforded this blessed opportunity and I need to say how truly thankful I am that I can witness them beat on each other. In love, of course.

As I mentioned in a previous post about Nick's first birthday and adoption,... more

Especially in light of my last post, the birthparent study and the article, I am thankful for the winds of change and constant efforts at adoption reform that are made by those I know and respect and those I haven't yet met or heard of; all of their work is vitally important and necessary.

On a personal level, my interest lies mostly with reforms concerning birthparents' rights and the... more