thanks·giv·ing (thngks-gvng)

Our family 10/2009
Cristina's first visit 4/2006

Picnic with Stef 8/2008

thanks·giv·ing (thngks-gvng)

noun

1. An act of giving thanks; an expression of gratitude, especially to God: a hymn of thanksgiving.
2. Thanksgiving - Thanksgiving Day.

grati·tude (grat′i tood′)
noun

1. a feeling of thankful appreciation for favors or benefits received

2. thankfulness.

fate (fāt)
noun

1. the power or agency supposed to determine the outcome of events before they occur; destiny
2. a. something inevitable, supposedly determined by this power
b. what happens or has happened to a person or entity; lot;

3. fortune final outcome

Thanksgiving especially brings out many emotions...thankfulness, gratefulness, love, happiness and gratitude. Have we always felt like this at the holidays? Does everyone feel the way we do now? I can think back to holidays when we were trying to have children and I am pretty sure we were not feeling much happiness and gratitude but what changed for us?

Back in 2005 we had come to a place of unknowns knowing that the one thing we wanted most was to be parents. After trying on our own and subsequently fertility treatments with no success it became for us about being "mom" & "dad" and not needing to be pregnant to get to there and realized adoption was the path we needed to take to become a family.

Our journey to parenthood was not the original one we planned but we see that this is how it was meant to be. Now here we are the proud parents of two beautiful girls! and now have a very large extended family!

All the twists and turns were made easier with the guidance of the wonderful professional we worked with who helped to prepare us for the wonderful relationships we share with each of our girl's birthmothers and their extended families. We know that our children cannot have too many people in their lives who love them and it has been our blessing to have our family expanded so seamlessly.

So on this holiday we feel enormous LOVE and GRATITUDE for the young women who chose us to be parents: first Cristina (Allyson's birthmom) in July of 2006 and then Stefanie (Jessica's birthmom) in August of 2008. We realize their decisions demonstrate the true meaning of unconditional love and we will always share an important and unending bond with both women.

We LOVE our girls unconditionally and are raising them to appreciate the selfless gift of adoption as much as we do.