As I sit to write this, I realize that I nor my family have really stopped long enough to really think about or express much in the way of thankfulness today. I try to model thankfulness all year long to my family, but I am not sure I am always effective. Of course, there is still time to focus on it during this holiday, as this was just the first day of three.
Today, we enjoyed a day with Jen's family. Her Aunt Susie and Uncle Lance graciously hosted about 30 family members and friends throughout the day. For many guests, it was an introduction to both Lily and Ben. This made the day a little more stressful, as early social contexts with an adopted child still feels very different than with biological children. Lily did very well with the day. She charmed the socks off everyone, as only Lily can. I was pleased that she was shy for quite a while when we first arrived. It was evidence to me that she is starting to understand the concept of strangers. Another difficult part of the day was the questions. They were tasteful questions by well-meaning people, who were genuinely interested in knowing more about adoption, but I always struggle with the fine line of passionately discussing adoption while protecting my daughter's privacy. I find it very tough to know just where to draw the line.
Tomorrow we hang out at home and then Saturday we will be at my parent's home with my brother and his family, and my Aunt Gloria. But, before I pillow my head, I want to record some things for which I am thankful, and commit to discussing them with my family tomorrow.
- I am thankful for my wife. She is my best friend and a great mommy to my kiddos.
- I am thankful for my eldest two sons, Dylan and Zachary, who have wholeheartedly welcomed two new siblings to our family this year, even though those two siblings have taken much of the spotlight and left the boys largely in the shadows. (I am anxious for the day when the novelty of two new additions wears off and they are just four average kids!)
- I am thankful for adoption, and I am thankful that I was blessed to participate this year.
- I am thankful for a little girl named Lily, with almond shaped eyes and raven hair, who calls me BaBa.
- I am thankful for the two weeks that I got to spend in her homeland. I really wish Jen could have been with me, but I will forever cherish the experiences I shared in those two weeks with my little girl.
- I am (tearfully) thankful for a young woman, somewhere in China, who gave precious life to my daughter.
- I am thankful for a little guy named Ben, to stir things up and really make our lives interesting.
- I am thankful that I had the privilege of being present to (tearfully) be the first to hold him and welcome him to this world.
- I am thankful for my parents, for their friendship, and for loving my wife as their daughter.
- I am thankful for in-laws that love and accept me, and a father-in-law that has never given me a hard time about being out of work, but, instead, reminds me that he's been there.
- I am thankful for the job that I had until recently; For a boss that truly made family a priority; For the flexibility he gave me in scheduling around my family; And, for sacrificing in a difficult economy to keep me on full-time long enough to get my two family additions safely here.
- I am thankful for a God who has graciously blessed me beyond what I could ever record here, and I am thankful for Jesus Christ, who gave his life so that I could be adopted into the family of God.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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