This being Thanksgiving week, I thought it appropriate to give thanks for Jonalyn. Five years ago today this sweet little girl became a part of our family. I remember how hot it was and how nervous I was sitting on the same couch as in one of the photos we were sent. Our lives were about to change forever. We were disrupting the family dynamic we had for seven years.

She came through that door and I couldn’t believe how small she was. She didn’t want anything to do with us and held onto her caregivers. She wasn’t sure about the stuffed dog we had brought for her. We went to the playroom, but she didn’t want to play with us. I think she did play with Alyssa a little bit.

We went into a lounge/dining room and broke out the bubbles. She liked those and played with us. She sat next to me at lunch and warmed up to me. We went outside and looked at the birds they had in a cage in the yard. Very, very slowly she began to think we weren’t so bad.

It was a good thing that we went to the therapy center because it helped with the goodbyes at the orphanage. Her favorite caregiver didn’t come with her, but they gave her some yogurt drink and that helped.

I remember that she cried herself to sleep that first night. Poor thing. She was so scared and didn’t understand what was going on.

Today, she is a daddy’s girl and has fit into our family perfectly. She is joyful and loving and sweet and innocent (most of the time LOL!). We are so thankful to the Lord for bringing her to us. Before the beginning of time, He knew we needed her and made sure we got her. It is difficult to think about and remember a time when she wasn’t a part of our family.

We know she will be with us forever. And that is such a blessing.

Thank you, thank you, Lord, for our precious daughter.