Thankful Thursday

Today I am going to deviate from my normal format. Please bear with me. I am not sure where I am going with this exactly but these thoughts are heavy on my heart and mind.


The other night on Primetime there was a special about pregnant teenagers choosing to give up their babies for adoption. A few years ago I probably could have watched the episode and been fairly unaffected by it; however, that was not the case on Tuesday night...

It was pure agony watching these young girls go through the pain of childbirth, touch and love on their babies, and then make the final decision to hand over their flesh and blood to the adoptive parents. For the girls featured, it was not an easy decision. They knew it was the right thing but I am quite sure not a day goes by that they don't think about the child they gave up.

Since that night I've thought a lot about Lindy's birth mother. Again I find myself wondering about her situation and why she couldn't keep Lindy. I have tried to imagine what her days have been like since she gave up Lindy. Does she cry? Is she broken-hearted? Does she have peace knowing she did the right thing or is she in constant turmoil? Not long ago I had someone tell me they have no respect for a woman who could abandon her baby. She said, "if women in China can do this, China is a country we need to fear." I was stunned at her comment and I did my best to defend the woman who gave my daughter life. I don't believe for one minute Lindy's birth mother is someone we need to fear. She is a victim of some very sad circumstances in her country. Her selfless acts gave me the daughter my heart ached for.

I have also been thinking about the fact that God has adopted me as one of His own. To adopt me, He paid the price of giving up His one and only son. I know that HAD to be an agonizing decision. He chose me and loved me so much that He let Jesus die on the cross. Wow!

Adoption whether it is domestic, international, opened, closed, or spiritual is a really complex topic and is not without cost of some sort for all parties involved. So today as I ponder these thoughts floating around in my head, I am thankful for Lindy's birth mother who chose a better life for her daughter and for God who adopted me as His own so that I could one day live with Him for eternity.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful Thursday

Good morning,


Here are 13 things for which I am thankful...


1. Pamela & Mani who celebrated their 15th anniversary on July 18th.
2. My nephew, Brendan, who turned three on July 18th.
3. I got to catch up with my cousin, Joyce, last Friday.
4. A surprise phone call from a college friend, Cynthia.
5. Connor who turns 10 this week. Because of his mommy and daddy, Don and I were first exposed to the gift of international adoption.
6. The safe birth of baby Nathanael last Friday in Santiago, Chile.
7. Mrs. Rushing is no longer in pain and is now in the presence of God.
8. A reunion lunch with Lisa and her family--friends we met in China.
9. Don has the opportunity to go deep-sea fishing today.
10. Megan who turns 10 today and is blossoming into a beautiful young lady.
11. My friend, Lynn, who is celebrating a birthday today.
12. The little boost Diet Coke gives me when I need some zip.
13. We got notification of our fingerprinting appointment.

What are you thankful for today?

First and last meme

I was tagged by my friend Tamra at variety is the spice of life...

First & Last

First Memory - I think it was having to stay in my room all day on my second birthday while my dad and Grandpa Caples worked to finish building a homemade toybox for me. IF for some reason that is a figment of my imagination, my first memory would be when I was two years old and left our home in the early morning and walked to my grandparent's and knocked on their door. Chiquita barked but no one answered, so I walked back home.

First Real Kiss - Scott Roth

First Love - Besides Mom & Dad, it was definitely Jamie. He was not a crush like the many other boys I thought I "loved" before him.

First Concert - Genesis at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia

First Thought In The Morning - Here we go again...

First Book You Loved - a VINTAGE Golden Book entitled Hush, Hush it's Sleepytime by Peggy Parish. I also loved any Amelia Bedelia book and basically anything I could get my hands on. I was reading at four years old and was quite the bookworm.

First Question You'll Ask In Heaven - Really...why does it take so long to adopt from China?

First Thought When Hearing "Vacation" - Hmmm...I'm not sure I am familiar with that word. Oh I think, "Have a great time!!!" because it is usually someone else going, not me.

First Best Friend - I think it was Jack Nadler in Kindergarten and first grade. He was Jewish and taught me the Dreidel song.

Last Food You Ate - Watermelon with dinner

Last CD Purchased - Do you mean compact disc or certificate of deposit??? Ha ha! I bought Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration during the holidays. More recently I (we) bought a short term certificate of deposit to make more interest than our money market account.

Last Good Book You Read - I Love You Like Crazy Cakes. I don't read too much for my pleasure anymore.

Last Time You Cried - Watching a repeat of Oprah today. There was an amazing story of the Chinese twins (both named Mia) who were abandoned and found a week apart and subsequently adopted by different families. DNA testing revealed they are siblings. The mothers both credited God with PERFECTLY orchestrating their reunion. I get emotional when it has to do with adoption, what can I say???

Last "I love you" Said - To Lindy

Last Funny Thing You Did - Funny is all relative when you have a two year old. I sang in opera voice while wearing one of Lindy's hats. Don't ask...

Last TV Show Watched - The Singing Bee

Since Tamra tagged just about anyone I know with a blog who reads mine, I tag my cousin, Karen, at Mommy of Boys and anyone else who might want to play.

Thankful Thursday

Here are 13 things I am thankful for today...


1. A great visit with my Uncle Steve & Aunt Pauline

2. Matt & Erin are celebrating their 5th anniversary today

3. The United States of America

4. Freedom (the whole gamut of them)

5. The men and women who have fought and continue to fight for our freedom

6. The American flag

7. Our nephew, Shon, who celebrated his birthday on July 3rd

8. It wasn't 128 degrees here yesterday as it was in Las Vegas, NV

9. Chris & Megan are celebrating their 16th anniversary tomorrow

10. This morning it was cool enough and dry enough for Lindy and I to play with sidewalk chalk

11. I got an email from my long lost school friend and college roommate

12. I have lots of leftovers in the fridge, so I don't have to create anything new for dinner

13. The way the rain has made the grass and trees so, so green

What are you thankful for today???