Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I just wanted to wish all of you out in the "blogasphere" a very Happy Thanksgiving!

I personally have much to be thankful for.

I'm thankful for my family first and foremost. I never thought that my childhood "premonition" of adopting from China would have actually come true. In Catholic school, We had a "feed the children" program that was, at that time called "pagan babies" (I know, I know). Anyway, you would give a daily or weekly tithe to help provide for children struggling in other countries. You would then get to "pick out" the "baby" which was a picture of a child from another country glued to a cardboard backer and it was on a stand (kind of like paper dolls. I picked out a child from China and a child from India (even at that young age, which was 1st and 2nd grade, I was fascinated by the cultures, and still am!). The only problem was that I thought I was really going to get to "have" these babies and when I found out they weren't coming to my house to live at some point, I was told by my Mom I was devastated. As an adult Dan and I were having a problem conceiving. In 1996 or 1997 a friend and former co-worker of mine Deb had just returned from China with her daughter Kate. She had offered to help me with all of my paperwork etc when we were ready as she's an R.N. and social worker. It was then I knew we would adopt from China for sure. I would jokingly say I was going to adopt a baby boy from China, dye his hair red, put some fake freckles on his cheeks, and call him "Danielsan" (get it, I know not too funny, but I'm a cornball so now you know :-). My desire to adopt a child, and especially a child of a different ethnicity, was not too popular with some of the family on Dan's side as many were of an older generation rife with racial predjudices and overtones, a frequent topic on many adoption forums and I believe one of the biggest stressors adoptive familes face. Since that time all have come to adore our children. I believe it was more to do with fear of the unknown than anything.

We didn't adopt our son first as was the "plan" (nor have we dyed his hair red or freckled his face, as he's absolutely beautiful just the way he is)but we do have our family at long last, just the way it was meant to be and according to another plan much greater than our own.

I'm also very thankful for my extended family (Mom [a.k.a. Nana], sister, brothers and cousins). They are the BEST.

I'm also thankful for Dan's family. His father and mother are so great with the kids. Max is Grandpas boy and their faces light right up when they see eachother. Sonja loves her Grandma too and especially loves to bake at Grandma house with Grandma.

And last but not least, my friends both in my day to day life over the years, and my many friends I've met in cyberspace. You have all touched my life more deeply than I ever thought could be possible from people I've never "met" and I'm happy to call you friends.

I know I've probably forgotten someone. Please except my appologies if I have.

Thank you and Much love

Until next time.....