Thoughtfulness...

If you have talked to us, Pat or I, for a few times then you probably know that we are the birth parents to a 15 year old girl. It was a decision made many years ago and before we were married. At 19 and pregnant I knew I was not ready to be a parent so we made the decision that could be the hardest one we have every made. It was a great decision for all involved, we have never looked back. Every year during this time I always stop and think what it would be like if we had kept our baby girl, but I never regret. She is with an amazing family who adore her and give her as much love as we could. That is all we asked for, that she was taken care of and loved. She knows about us and her siblings, she also knows that when she is 18 she is more then welcome to visit or not, whatever her preference is. We send photos and cards every year and we got pictures of her for a few years with big long letters telling us about her, it was so wonderful to hear about her and to know what she looked like. As the years have passed things have changed, I don't ache every year on her birth day, the day sometimes even passes and we don't remember until a few days later. Like this year, we have so much going on that I didn't remember until we got home today and found these, the annual reminder of how much we have blessed another family.
I may not always make the right choices in life but I know that this choice we made many years ago was a good one. That little girl is forever loved by two families, one she knows and has lived with and one that she doesn't know but is always connected to. I want to Thank those parents for wanting her so much and for always being there for her. These wonderful people have always thanked us for this precious gift we gave them but I think we truly gave each other something! I would not be the same person today without them in my life.