Unlocking the Gates and a Message of Thanks

As I sit here at my computer, I am glancing at a very important document on my desk. It's a certified copy of our adoption order. Not only is it a reminder of a very lovely ceremony, it's also a document that certifies Danielle is officially, and forever, our daughter.

• She can't be taken away because a social worker doesn't like us.
• She can't be taken away because we failed to follow the foster care rules.
• She can't be taken away because we are queer.
  

And, best of all...

• She can't be taken away because we violated confidentiality with this blog.

There's now no further reason to keep the doors locked and the public shut out.

To my bloggy friends, the precious 88 people who have followed our story through the removal notice, our court fight, the social worker's lies, many impossible demands, the accusations, homophobia, Danielle's birth family suddenly wanting contact, the tide finally turning, the county's stall tactics, and the termination of parental rights, I can only say thank you.

It is you, my dear friends, who have kept me sane. It is your comments, both positive and negative, supportive and critical, that have kept me sane. You have been my outlet, my safe space to vent about my child, our struggles and what's been happening in my life. For that, I am eternally grateful.

Were it not for this blog, and the friends I have made through it, I doubt we would have arrived at this point in our journey. Were it not for the supportive e-mails, chats, and phone calls from a few special individuals, I would have quit.

Thank you, all of you. Your presence, your friendship, and your support has made a nearly unbearable journey bearable.

***

To my new friends that join the story now, feel free to read through my blog's archives. To those who were reading before I went private, you can start reading at the point that the blog went dark.

Welcome everyone, new and old faces alike.

Our foster care journey ends here, but our life as an adoptive family is just beginning.

And, of course, if you'd like to link to our blog, or share our web site with your friends, it's okay to share. We don't have to hide any longer.