[KarenInCa]

OK so many of us are in a slump this holiday season, but at least we are here. We are waiting for that perfect match. As each day goes by, the want and the desire and the love grows stronger for that little sweetie pie.

-I'm thankful that we have our first daughter, even though the time line was almost twice the time as was originally expected. I honestly cannot imagine life without her now, and the timing was EVERYTHING.

-I'm thankful that I have my 24 yr old son, and that he is maturing, and actually thanks me now, for the love and time I have given him in the past.

-I'm thankful that my mom loves our first daughter, even though she gave some resistance during the wait time. When she saw Cady's pictures, she was more in love with her than I was.

-I'm thankful that Cady's presence has brought my family together in ways that are difficult to describe. My niece has a female cousin now, my brother has a niece now, my son has a sister now, my husband and I have a child together now. And every day we can laugh and be in awe of her witty and graceful charm.

-I'm thankful that Cady thinks about her sister often, and tells me in an assuring voice that Melody is in China, with her Ayi. She tells me that she will write a letter to China to bring Melody home.

-I'm thankful that she wants to be a big sister, and that she has the nurturing instilled in her to do so.

-I'm thankful that God brought me to the realization, on a cold Thanksgiving morning in 04, that we would be adopting ...and that adoption would be from China....Within 10 minutes of discussing it, we had our first daughter's name and were absolutely convicted to bringing her home.

-I'm thankful that our dossier was in the review room 3 months longer than we originally expected it to be....Without that happening, we would not have been matched with our first daughter (even though her pictures were months old before being matched to us as well). She IS the perfect fit to our family. It's truly as if she was meant to be with us from the beginning...She just took the long path to get her.

-I'm thankful that I'm older and wiser, and that I can have these children not because I NEED them, but because I want them in my life.

-I'm OH SO very thankful that there are so many forums from which to gain ideas and wisdom from others about adoption, China adoption community, and encouragement.

-I'm thankful that when my grandmother passed away this year, she had family by her side for her final 2 weeks 24/7. She was loved, and she knew she was loved in her last days. She will be missed but she will have glorious adventures on the other side, while she waits for our turn to join her.

-I'm thankful that her death jolted our family into reality that life is short, and should be shared with those you love.

-I'm thankful that I was given another opportunity for adoption, and that I took it.

-I'm thankful that I hold the belief that we are already matched; before time, before birth, before the SWI decided to place her fate in CCAAs hands, before CCAA matched us, and before Gotcha Day. Our second daughter is in one of those stages right now too, waiting for us to meet. This thought is my reality, and knowing THIS helps me to understand that everything has a time to unfold.

There are so many things to be thankful for. What are you thankful for happening in your life this past year?

[specialk4b]

Karen - thank you for starting this thread.

I'm thankful for a loving and wonderful husband.

I'm thankful that that loving and wonderful husband returned safely from deployment.

I'm thankful that my first mother chose life and adoption for me.

I'm thankful that my parents adopted me and gave me a blessed life.

I'm thankful that our eyes were opened to the possibility of adopting a waiting child who needs us.

I'm thankful for the community of adoptive parents who've supported me in this journey.

I'm thankful for forum members from all sides of the triad who've taught me so much about the many realities of adoption.

I'm thankful that my beloved doggie got to spend a week at the lake before crossing that rainbow bridge.

I'm thankful that my new doggie is surviving her cancer and doing well.

I'm thankful for the people who are working to match us with our child.

When I stop to reflect, I really have so much to be thankful for in this past year.

[Trace7]

I'm thankful that on this Thanksgiving, 11/22/07 - which also happens to be the 2-year mark of our LID - Charlotte will be with us and will have been home for over a week, and we can spend Thanksgiving with my parents.

I'm thankful that the wait took as long as it did, as Charlotte was not ready for us yet, and we now know that she is absolutely the perfect child for us.

I'm thankful that our friends Jason and Amy got their referral in November, and Shelly and Brent will be getting their referral by January hopefully. They truly were the glue that held me together during this wait (other than my DH, of course!) And I hope things speed up for Karen and Danny so they get their referral before May!

I'm thankful that Adam understands how hard this jet lag is and even though he is back at work, he still helps me out with Charlotte when she is up in the middle of the night.

I'm thankful that our families are healthy and happy, and that all 3 of my siblings and I (and most of their kids) will be together with my parents this Christmas for the first time in over four years.

I'm thankful that we had the opportunity to adopt from China.

I'm thankful for having such an amazing husband, who blogged so well and with such love during our adoption trip, who brought me flowers last night, who told me go to bed last night before 8 and he put Charlotte to bed, who gave me a gorgeous silver mother/daughter necklace last night. He truly is the best.

I'm thankful for Charlotte - and all of her sweetness, beauty and enthusiasm for life.

[SanRN]

What beautiful things you have all written! I am tearful right now, as I thank all of you for sharing your deepest thoughts with all of us, strangers, yet, "China Families"-
Happy Thanksgiving to You All!!!
Sandra
3/27/06 (getting closer!!)