My Dad Says Hi

Today had one of those really cool post-adoption moments.  For our adoption of two orphans who were older in age when we got them (15 and 13) there are always those questions of the small yet important nature to be addressed.  One of those questions of course is what do you have your new children call you?  Because Kayleigh & Michael were older and hadn't been in a family for awhile, we decided to let it roll with what they were comfortable with, which has typically been Chris & Jodi.  We though about the Mom & Dad thing but in the end our decision was to let them grow into the intimacy that is family, rather than try to manufacture it with titles (this naturally was our call on our two kids, not a judgment for anyone else, every family and adoptee is different....). 

I got home from running errands today and Michael was playing XBox with his bestie Gabe, so I told him to tell his friend hello.  He says "my dad says hello!".  It was the first time he has referred to me as Dad rather than Chris.  I though that was pretty extra cool :)  Well, probably more like extraordinarily cool....  We continue to work them into our lives and it all seems normal now and we love having them as our children.  Doesn't really sound weird to say I have 5 kids now.

It's been over 8 months now since they arrived in America and it continues to be one of those awesome stories you don't hear enough, which is one of the reasons I keep the blog chugging along.  The media is johnny on the spot with the negative stories but don't celebrate all of the great stories of orphans who were spared a wasted (or worse....) life, to a life full of promise and potential.  Neither of them talks much (none for Michael) of their past so we know as trust grows that there will undoubtedly be things that surface that are buried deep, but we continue each to day ensure they know this is their family and home.  Forever.