Gotcha Day - 2013

We all have days in our lives that we cherish, that we'll remember forever.  The day we met our spouse, the day we married, the birth of a child.  Sad days too, the day a parent or sibling passed, the day we said goodbye to a beloved pet.  But, we.  We get an extra day.  We get a GOTCHA DAY!  And we celebrate it!

I remember walking to the mailbox the morning of July 15, finding the envelope from the courts.  We didn't know it was coming and I was quite nervous as to what it was.  I thought we were done for.  I was afraid they would come take our baby away.  I nervously opened the envelope, scanned the wording..."Jacob...adoption...final...legal parents...on this day....signed by Honorable.......July 12, 2006"

"JEREMY!"

He happened to be home that day the paper came.  The day we found out our son was really ours. I'm not sure how many times we've read that paper.

We celebrate Gotcha Day as another birthday - it's almost his half birthday. In the past we've had a dinner, we've had a party at our house. This year, we'll celebrate with a lunch as a family and a bonfire with some good friends that we consider family. Jacob's birth family.

So many things have changed in these 6 years. So much growth, change, healing and I'm happy. I'm truly happy.  I am truly blessed. 

We brought Jacob into an amazing, ie. confusing, imperfect family but, it's our family.

Nobody gets everything in this life. You decide your priorities and you make your choices. I'd decided long ago that any cake I had would be eaten.  ~Donald E. Westlake

And yes, there will be cake.