... for my Daughter!

Ok, it has been a full two days and I have not really mentioned my daughter.  Her name is Hannah.  She is the funniest, kindest, orneriest, most gentle, most empathetic, smartest 5-year-old I have ever met.  No, I am not biased.  ;-)  Check out this cute picture below and see if you don't agree with me.

Hannah was born in Guatemala on December 3, 2005.  I first met her on my birthday in 2006, just a few months later, and the next day was Easter, so my birthday and Easter always have an even more special feel now.  I know it is cliche, but I really have a hard time trying to remember what life was like before she came barreling into it.  I can say that without her, life would have been a whole lot duller.  She adds that cerrtain spark to life.  She has this knack for knowing just what to say to make things seem better.  And with the exception of my sister, no one can crack me up as easily as this little girl.

Now, I would be lying if I said that she is always a perfect angel, but even when she is being her naughtiest, she is still the coolest kid I have ever met.  She makes me want to be a better mom! 

Here are just a few pictures to show you how cute she is (again, not biased in the slightest) in no particular order.  First, with her aunt (whom she calls Tia, which is Spanish for Aunt):

Here she is peeking over the bench as we wait for a boat at Disney World.  A copy of this picture peeks at me in my office framed by a heart with the phrase, "My heart belongs to Mommy."

Here she is showing off her fashion sense.  For some reason, whenever we ask her to pose, she strikes a vogue pose!  But I have to say, she knows how to work it!

Here she is eating with the peasants after being pampered Jasmine style.  At the time, Jasmine was her favorite princess.  Now it ranges from Ariel to Jasmine to Rapunzel.  Why limit yourself, right?

So now that you have seen these few pictures, I am sure you agree that she is the cutest little girl you ever met.  I certainly have a lot to be thankful for.  As a single woman, there would not be a guarantee that I would have a child.  However, God had a plan for a certain woman in Guatemala to make the ultimate sacrifice and make a plan for adoption for her unborn child.  I will never be able to thank her enough for her graciousness but I hope that she is happy and that she knows her daughter is cared for and loved beyond all my ability to understand.  I also am thankful that my Father saw my desire for a child and fulfilled that plea better than I could imagine.  Because of Hannah, I am a big believer in nurture vs. nature, because although we don't share a genetic link, she is so much my child I can't even explain.  But she is the best of me.  I have so much to be thankful for when I think of this beuatiful little girl.

So Today I am Thankful for my Daughter!