Family Day

Family Day :Aka the day that we were brought together as a family. Sometimes in the adoption world called Gotcha Day.

Yesterday we celebrated our first Family Day.  As Michael and I mulled over how we were going to celebrate and acknowledge this day, we knew for us, that Gotcha Day just did not work. For us, it just did not feel like the right word for our family. For us, it meant more than just “getting” our girl, but it was really the day that we became a family.

We had also decided that there would be no gifts. It is not her birthday, and so we really did not want to treat it as such. Because the day was about becoming a family, we wanted to spend the day as a family, we also knew that evening we wanted to meet up with Cathy, who had shared the day with us in China. So we did just that.

We started out with a special doughnut breakfast, (She was so excited that she actually rolled all over her bed when she saw them). We piled into the car and headed to the aquarium. We spent hours looking at fish, exploring, and watching our first 3D movie. From there we headed over to the park, and had a picnic lunch, topped off with a frozen lemonade from Chick Fil A. (Side bar….. if you had not had one, you better not try them. They are sin in a cupJ). Came home took a nap and headed out for tacos. We choose that because it was one of the meals we had enjoyed in China. There we sat in a jail cell in the restaurant, munching on chips and reflecting that  year ago, we were sitting in a Mexican restaurant in China, munching on chips.

So reflections on the past year…….

For one year I have been a mom. In this past year, I have celebrated every first holiday with my girl, I have watched her grow 5 inches and gain 14lbs. I have gone from essentially having a baby to almost a kindergartener. (big pill to swallow)

She has a joyful personality (most of the timeJ) that  lights up a room. She is growing a very compassionate heart as she learns about feelings and her heart. Her love for Jesus is growing. She has a desire for everyone to do everything together. She loves to be outside and be in water. Singing, music, dance bring her the greatest joy.

I am humbled as her mama that this year has gone as it has. Our transition, while it has not been perfect, but it has been fairly smooth. (granted that by no means, we are taking for granted that we are out of the woods yet). But mostly in part, our year has been smooth. We have gotten over some great great hurdles, and are thankful for that.

I was asked the other day, now that we have reached the year mark, do I feel like my child completes me. My answer to this question is two fold. No, I do not think my kid completes me. In fact that was never a thought in my mind. I can’t imagine putting that expectation on another person, let alone a child. Yes, she has enriched my life greatly. Taught me lessons on my own selfishness that I never knew, and have brought me great joy but her “job” here on earth was not to complete me.

But with that also came a deep struggle especially when we first got home. It was several months before I began to feel like she was my child. Yes legally she was my daughter, but in the beginning, she didn’t feel like it. I was more wondering when this sweet house guest was going to leave. It wasn’t until the bond started to form, that the initial feeling began to go away. When I really began to feel like her mom.

This year has brought me much joy, lessons learned, and a sweet girl that I am madly in love with.

Jennifer