Family Day...and what that means for us!

Yesterday [November 30th] marked an anniversary for our family.  It was our "Family Day."  For those of you who don't know...or were unaware of the details...our family was formed through adoption, and our daughter, Mya, joined our family when she was just three weeks old.  November 30th is the very day...2 years ago...that we became a family and brought her home to be our daughter.  [Her official legal adoption didn't happen until 6 months later...but for us, we say November 30th was the day we became a family.]

So, what is "Family Day?"

Family Day can look different for different families.  Some families may even call it their "Gotcha Day."  It's an exciting day...a celebration...a day of rejoicing and a day of remembering.  It can even be a pretty emotion-filled day.  For our family, it has a ceremonious and emotional meaning.  

On November 30, 2010...We were blessed to have an adoption ceremony at Bethany Christian Services with our caseworkers, the interim care family that Mya lived with for the first 3 weeks of her life, my parents, and Mya's birthmom, biological grandma, and biological brother.  It was a ceremony that included Mya's birthmom reading vows, Brandon and I reading vows, and an official "handing over" of Mya from her birthmom to us.  Talk about emotional.  It was beautiful.  It was special.  It's a moment in my life that I can so vividly remember and can still see in my mind.  I cherish that day.  And, I'm thankful for the pictures...the memories...the emotional moments.

And, although that's part of our story...our journey...that's not what each Family Day looks like...and that's exactly what makes Family Days so SPECIAL, so IMPORTANT, so UNIQUE.  I love hearing how each family's story is different.  Family Day's hold special places in the hearts of everyone touched by adoption.  And, although your family may not have been formed through adoption, each and every family is created and formed in its own amazing way!  You all have a story.  And, all of our stories continue to be written.  Maybe your family will even include adoption someday, too.  

Whether or not your family is formed by adoption, may you take this opportunity to know that there are so many great resources out there to learn more and to share with your children about adoption.  Chances are, you will know someone...in your family, in your neighborhood, in your child's class at school, in your workplace...that is touched by the gift of adoption.  So, here is a list of GREAT adoption-related books for you to enjoy...and many are available at our local libraries for you to borrow!

Adoption-related Stories that we have and that I can recommend:

"My Adopted Child, There's No One Like You."  By: Dr. Kevin Leman 

"God Found Us You."  and "God Gave Us You."  By: Lisa Tawn Bergren

"A Mother for Choco."  By: Keiko Kasza

"Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born."  By: Jamie Lee Curtis

"Happy Adoption Day!"  By: John McCutcheon

"Forever Fingerprints."  By: Sherrie Eldridge

"Mommy's Heart Went Pop!"  By: Christina Kyllonen & Peter Greer

***Please note:  "Mommy's Heart Went Pop!" is also available for purchase at Sweet Charity Thrift Boutique in Strasburg, PA.

"Brown Like Me."  By: Noelle Lamperti

"Shaoey and Dot."  By: Mary Beth & Steven Curtis Chapman

"The Colors of Us."  By: Karen Katz

And many, many more!