The following Monday we picked her up for a short visit after school. We went for pedicures. It was her first. She jumped for joy when she heard our plans. As we soaked in the pedicure tubs, her nail tech asked her if she was my sister. T. was confused on how to answer, so she look toward me (Mallory). I smiled and told the nail tech, "she's my daughter." A sense of relief seemed to flash across her face. Later that evening in car I asked if it was ok that I said she was my daughter. She said, "Yes!" That evening she wrote her in journal to us that we would later read. She signed her name "T. Everitt". She needed the reassurance that we were owning her as "ours" and in return she owned the "Everitt" last name.
Friday night was her first overnight visit with us. We met the family for pizza, and T. was able to meet her cousins, Aunt Leah, and Uncle Mike for the first time. She became instant best friends with Micaiah. They love the same things and are so close in age. Micaiah has a huge fan in T. She is excited to start school at Ruskin Christian with her cousin and to have her Aunt Leah as one of her teachers. On Saturday, we took her to our church to walk around and see the building. Then, we walked her around the Christian school, so she could see the classrooms, gym, and cafeteria without the hustle bustle of people on a normal day. She's already talking about joining the cheerleading squad for basketball season, playing RAYS basketball, Karate classes, and flute lessons. I think we'll be one busy family in the new year.
During one of our car rides throughout our visits, T. was asking questions about her adoption and how that will happen. She brought up her biological family and what type of contact she would have with them in the future. We explained to her that when she would still keep contact her aunt by phone like she has had in her foster home and when her aunt was around town that she may be able to have a visit with her. She mentioned for the first time her biological dad and commented that she knew he was getting out of prison soon, and he was supposed to come back and find her. She didn't want him to take her because she didn't want "what happened last time to happen again." There was a sense of fear in her voice. Mallory turned around and looked at her in the back seat and said, "Your father can not come back and take you away. The judge has taken away any rights he has to you as a father. The judge did this because he was not taking care of you like a daddy should." T. answered, "Like, Mr. Kevin will take care of me." (Insert melting heart here). She knows how loved and protected she is already. She then proceeded to share that she is not ready to see or talk to her biological mom or dad. We reminded her that she is always free to talk to us about her parents and that some day she may be ready to talk to them or write them a letter. We will always be there to protect and guide her. We would not put her in a position where she would be unsafe.
God is her loving Father that will never leave her or forsake her. What a perfect place to be....in her Father's loving arms.
November is national adoption awareness month, and Today is Orphan Sunday (http://orphansunday.org/about/). Churches all over America are creating awareness about the 150 million orphans world wide. Please consider how you can be a part of caring for God's children. God does not forsake the orphans. November 17th is National Adoption Day, and we will celebrating with picnic with other families who have or are in the process of adopting. http://www.nationaladoptionday.org/
I am crying. I love this so much.
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