One year ago today we celebrated the arrival of our third child into our family. Each time a very different experience, but each time a very special time in my life. What a gift it is to be a parent. My children have given me so much joy that words could never express. Leah's arrival was a long time coming. For so many years we prayed for her, cried for her, and the wait was very difficult. Many times I felt it would never come. But on June 30th, 2008, she was placed in my arms, rather, I grabbed her from the director of her SWI before the poor man knew what was coming. I laugh about it now, but I imagine he must have thought this poor child was going to a lunatic. But at that moment, after waiting for so many years, then on top of it all, Leah was the last baby in our group to arrive, I just wanted my baby. It seemed like forever that I watched and enjoyed and cried with other families in our group as they experienced their moment. Now it was my turn, suddenly all I could hear was my heart beating and Leah crying. She was scared and confused but she never once rejected us nor did she ever try to pull away. I felt that although this was so confusing to my littlest angel, she could feel how much we loved her and knew we would always love and take care of her and somehow trusted us. Despite the fact she loved and missed her nannies, I knew she knew we were her forever family when just hours with us she would not go to strangers or anyone but us three. I have very mixed feelings about this day. It will always be a very special and important day for me. How can it not? I love this child more than life. But at the same time, it was a sad moment for all of the children. We all knew their lives were going to change for the better, but they did not. They were all scared and confused and for this my heart aches.
