Eighteen years ago today, a teeny, tiny baby was born prematurely. It was Labor Day - how appropriate! We wouldn't know about this baby, all hooked up to wires and tubes in the NICU, for another eleven days. On Sept. 13 I received a phone call from our social worker, "I know you are not done with your homestudy, but...there's been a baby girl born...."
Eighteen years later I can still remember that phone call!
Ten days later, Nina was released from the hospital and came home to be our daughter. From our first contact with the adoption agency until we brought Nina home was six months. That was God! Domestic adoptions rarely occur that quickly.
I can't really put into words how much I love this girl! That's God, too, btw. Those of you that have known us for many years, know that Nina was not one of those "easy to raise" children. I'm not being mean in saying that, just factual. She will readily admit to this now. When she was younger we used to be terrified of her teen years, fearing that she would be in utter rebellion by this time. Truth.
But God - being rich in mercy to her and to us - kept her from making really bad choices, he kept our relationship with her intact through much conflict, and He eventually called her to himself, to become his daughter.
So Nina, on your eighteenth birthday, I want you to know that I love you. I love you, not for what you do or don't do, but for WHO you are. I so enjoy YOU! It is a privilege to be your mom!
Happy birthday to Nina!
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