What a night. I can't sleep. I'm too excited! I picked Trysha up after school, came home and had dinner as a family. Oscar took Bella out for a special playdate, Antonio went to youth group and Trysha and I went to Target. We set up a personalized wishlist registry for Trysha. The clerk gave her the scanner gun and a HUGE smile appeared on Trysha's face. We started in clothing dept. Socks, shirts, jeans, jackets, pj's... I asked her to scan anything she liked and I watched closely ... doing my best to pay attention to any themes or obvious likes and/or dislikes. As a mom to Tonio and Bella.. I know what they like and I know what they don't like.. but I have a lot to learn with Trysha so it was fun to watch and see her get excited about certain colors.. certain styles. She loved the spongebob pjs. Loved the onesee style pjs with poke-a -dots. Poke-a-dot bath robe .. skinny jeans... it was so cute to watch her. As we shopped the "in between chit chat" conversations were priceless. She shared so much it was such a blessing to just listen. Next we went to body care... she found her favorite body wash, smelled the sprays and lotions.. did she like fruity or floral? Fruity for sure! We smelled candles, we smelled handsoap and so on..... Then the candy aisle. Beep Beep BEEP went the scanner. Jolly Ranchers, Hot Tamales....We went around the corner and it was cereal... I asked what her fav breakfast cereal is and told her to scan it for fun! Home decor dept was a blast. She has great style! Loves photo frames and mirrors, discos balls, lava lamps... Last but not least was the toy and electronic dept. Ohmy. She lit up! She scanned babies, barbies.. Easy Bake Oven.. then got a bit embarrassed and said- "I'm acting too young". I reassured her that every girl I know ( including myself) always dreamed of having an Easy Bake Oven! Doesn't mean we got everything we wanted.. but it's good to dream. It's good to say - I like this- or that. I loved every minute of it.. watching her pick out babies, a baby stroller... then the Taylor Swift CDs, bedtime reading books, coloring/craft books... it was so neat to see what caught her eye and which ones compelled her to pick them up to touch and check out.

The highlight of the conversation was the opportunity that came about for me to share my own adoption story. As soon as I told her I was adopted, our eyes locked. "YOU ARE?" She asked. Yup. Now how do I explain this to a 10 year so it makes sense..... My mom wasn't able to have babies and was so sad. She prayed and asked the Lord for a baby and went through the same background checks, fingerprints and interviews that Oscar and I did to make sure we are safe people who will be a good match for you. When I was born, they got the call to go to the hospital to pick me up and have loved me like their own ever since. Then 3 years later, I got my baby sister, Tiffany. Growing up, we fought alot but the older we get, the closer we are and she is one of my bestests friends ever. "So you are not blood related to your family?" Trysha asked. No- but I know they love me with unconditional love. "What's that mean?" she asked. I explained. Unconditional love means I love you ~no matter what. The love in my heart for you never runs out it only gets bigger and bigger over time. It's like the love God has for us. There's always lots of love. His love for us never changes. She gave me the biggest squeeze yet. "So were kinda the same." Trysha said as she grabbed my hand and pulled me to the next aisle of goodies.... what a night!! Lord I am amazed at Your ways. I would have never been able to dream this big. I would have never thought that from such heartache and hurt in my mother's heart years ago from not being able to give birth to a child and yet you made a way for me, You could give me such a loving family... such an amazing legacy....a family who has loved me and taught me to love in this way and then married into a family who is so accepting and loving and now the gift continues on somehow.. my heart is amazed by Your ways.