Thanksgiving 2004

I am looking forward to Thanksgiving this year. Turkey day is tomorrow, yet I truly enjoy this one holiday that everyone in America participates in and takes but a moment to be thankful for the year.

This year I am truly thankful to the people at CCAI (Chinese Children Adoption International) our agency in Colorado and especially Hillary in the Dossier Team, together with other wonderful people we have met along our adoption journey who have the experience delightful. Martine at the British Embassy is another, and how can I not mention the notary at our local bank who has worked with us and not charge one cent for notarizing many pieces of paper needed for our dossier.

I am also truly thankful for family friends and co-workers who all express great interest in learning about our adoption journey, and have participated in one way or another, giving us furniture for the nursery, helping to prepare and decorate the nursery, passing along helpful baby items that we will need, giving us bears for the room.

I am thankful for my family on both sides of the Atlantic, in England, Wales, Pennsylvania America and British Columbia Canada. I am thankful for the opportunity to have travelled to Britain over labor day weekend to catch up family and spend time with Kevin , Louise , Hannah & Dan in Wales and to see my Mum & Dad. Although the trip was too short I truly loved every minute.

But most of all I am thankful to my wife Taney. This last year has been one interesting rollercoaster with our adoption journey. We signed the paperwork with CCAI last Christmas Day and everything that has followed has taken us both through every emotion and I am thankful that we could share the great days and support each other thorough the days of waiting and delays in the paperchase.

This holiday season the jigsaw puzzle pieces fit into place to make a colorful picture. We are expecting our Daughter sometime soon. The reality is far closer than it was this time last year. I truly love my work at MSAA and am thankful to the thousands of volunteers who have come to MSAA whether to help with fundraising, public education, special projects, support group leaders or professional volunteers.

I could go on, but here I stop, simply thankful. Happy Thanksgiving.