Dear Eli-
Well son, we’ve moved up on the list! We’re now number 60.
That was quite a leap we made in one month! I don’t expect it to move that
quickly all the time, but it’s very good news.
We’re coming up on Thanksgiving—a holiday that you’ll learn
more about when you arrive. It’s meant to be a time where we reflect on all of the
things that we’re thankful for, a time for family and friends to enjoy one
another’s company and, of course, pie.
I thought I should introduce you to some of the people that
I am most thankful for—your soon to be family. I’ve never believed that you had
to be blood to be family. You know that I am not your birth mama.. you can take
one look at the colors of our skin and know that. But that doesn’t make me any
less your mom. You were born in my heart so many years ago. You have been with
me for as long as I can remember; you couldn’t be more mine or I, yours.
The family that you are coming home to is quite a cast of
characters. We are Southerners by way of the Detroit area but further back we
are Scottish/Irish. Our people were fierce warriors and.. well.. criminals (you’ll
figure it out). We may not always agree or get along but we love each other
through and through.
Your Yaya and Papa are my parents. Papa is my dad by
marriage but I couldn’t have asked for one better. He’s playful and silly but
also very smart about business and politics. He is very much looking forward to
teaching you how to metal detect (his favorite hobby). You two will get along
like peas and carrots.
Your Yaya, or my mom, is one of the strongest people I know.
For the longest time, it was just the three of us, Yaya, Aunt Sassy and me. And
we struggled, a lot. Your Yaya never lost her faith in God; it was almost as if
the hard times made her believe more. She is a true believer in God’s plan for
us and has been one of the biggest supporters of your coming home. She has the
kindest, most tender heart and I can’t wait for you to meet her.
Aunt Sassy, is my older sister Michelle, and she is a mess!
(in a great way but you’ll figure that out too). Someone once described her by
saying that God filled her to the brim with laughter and tears; I can’t think
of a more perfect description. She’s a beautiful person inside and out. We didn’t
always get along growing up that’s just how sisters can be, but these days we
are thick as thieves.
Aunt Sassy lives way down south with Uncle Eric and your cousins,
John Henry and Luke. Uncle Eric is always good for a laugh or a big old bear
hug. John Henry is going to be 16 next month, I can hardly believe it. It seems
like just yesterday I held him for the first time and danced him around the
living room. Luke T. is getting more grown by the day—my beautiful little
weirdo. They are both outstanding young men who I love dearly and I have a
feeling you will too.
There are lots of aunts, uncles and cousins here who are
waiting for you to come home. There are 38 of us in all though we’re hardly
ever all together in one place. My granny and papa, your great grand parents,
went home to Jesus years ago but we can feel their presence when we’re all together.
I’d like to think they are watching over us, smiling.
I am so blessed to be adding you to my little chapter of our
family story. We may not be the most conventional family, but we’re family
nonetheless and for that I am thankful.
Until Next Time, Precious Boy-
All my love!
Mom
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