One Year.

One year has gone by. I can't believe it. For me it's amazing to think about all the emotional ups and downs of the journey to bring Madalynn home, and how my thoughts, emotions, and heart were all consumed with all things adoption related. Now that feeling has faded in the comfort, and peace of having her home. However, I can very easily draw those feelings to the surface just by remembering where I was a little over a year ago.

A lot has happened in that year...

365 bedtimes

365 different outfits (well not really, but you know what I mean :-)

365 "Good Morning Pumpkin"

1 Birthday

1 Christmas

365 days, and yet I still

• Love to say 'my daughter'.
• Haven't forgotten the 2 journeys I took to get to this point...
  • The first waiting 35 years to become a Mom.
  • The second... the 2+ year road I took that led me to her.
• Can't believe how much I've changed.
• Can't believe how much I haven't changed.
• Fear someone will knock on my door one day, and say there was a big mistake, and they have to take her away.
• Cringe everytime I see the word adopt used to refer to everything from trees, to stars, to ducks to videos.
• Long for a husband for me, and a Dad for her.
• Feel humbled, and grateful that my heavenly Father would entrust her to me.
• Feel guilty for all the children in the world without homes, and wonder why God leads some to earthly homes, and some not.
• Love my weekends & days off when it's just me & her.
• Love shopping for clothes for her.
• Always Sometimes laugh at things she does, when I should be correcting her.
• Love Fridays when I trade in my handbag for a diaper bag.
• Look at her everyday in amazement that she is here, and I get to be her Mom.
• Think of her birthmom everyday, and wish she could see what a joy, and delight she is.
• Miss the last stage she just was.
• Am excited for the stage she's about to be.