I was very careful with my family to make sure that I thanked them for adopting me (before I met my biological family). Now, I thank them every time that I speak with them. I also thanked my biological family for giving me up. I am so glad to have been given such a wonderful family to raise me. It has made me so much more thankful to my adoptive family for all that they have done and are doing for me as their child
Just a reminder to everyone: not everyone experiences the negative situation that I have.
I do absolutely recommend meeting in a public location, but there are those who will be unhappy with that choice. I know that I was berated for it, but I sincerely question what it would have been like if I had just shown up at her house! I imagine that it would have been worse than it was in public.