Getting over the hump

Yesterday Meskerem had her second interview with the county social worker. Before giving her final recommendation to go forward with finalizing the adoption she wanted to visit with her again and make sure she was doing well. We all held our breath as we never know what Little Miss M is going to say. She had told us in the last week she wanted to live under a bridge, or maybe even go back to Ohio, or maybe go to a different family. What she really wanted was for us to tell her we needed her in our family, to hear how loved and adored she is, and what an intregal part of the family she is. So I told her what she needed to hear on the way to the visit. She came out with a big smile and just a tad bit smug. Meskerem told the social worker she would be okay to stay with us. Whew. I really don't know where she would have gone or what would have happened if she had said anything else, but thankfully we don't have to find out.

The report when finished will go through the various channels before it is submitted to the court. Eventually we will be issued a court date where the adoption can finally be finalized and she won't be in a land of limbo any longer. I think all of us need this to come to completion so permanent healing can take place. A place where she feels secure enough to let herself heal. According to her counselor she doesn't trust us yet. That's okay, she's been through a lot in her young life. We just have to earn her trust and in time, she'll learn that she really does have a support system of many people who love her, even though they weren't able to parent her to adulthood. We missed her babyhood and have been given the baton for the rest of the race-for the next eleven or so years at least. May we be worthy of her trust and the trust that all of her parents have handed over to us. It's a big job. A big, big job. Together with the Lord we can do it.

When she joined our family and I heard this song I thought it was perfect. It's by Jason Mraz

"I Won't Give Up"


Hmmmm ... Hmmmm ... Hmmmm ... Hmmm ...

When I look into your eyes
It's like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
There's so much they hold
And just like them old stars
I see that you've come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up

And when you're needing your space
To do some navigating
I'll be here patiently waiting
To see what you find

'Cause even the stars they burn
Some even fall to the earth
We've got a lot to learn
God knows we're worth it
No, I won't give up

I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily
I'm here to stay and make the difference that I can make
Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use
The tools and gifts we got yeah, we got a lot at stake
And in the end, you're still my friend at least we did intend
For us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn
We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I've got, and what I'm not
And who I am

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up
Still looking up.

I won't give up on us (no I'm not giving up)
God knows I'm tough enough (I am tough, I am loved)
We've got a lot to learn (we're alive, we are loved)
God knows we're worth it (and we're worth it)

I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up