Wonderful.

Seriously, it was wonderful. Meeting my birth Mom that is. It was exhilarating. I mean of course a bit awkward at times, but beautiful. Not like a "I don't know what to do with you kind of awkward," but a "wow, where do you even begin" kind of awkward. More like awe. I'm still on a bit of a high, kind of like after you give birth. I just can't get the grin off my face. I know who I look like! When I looked at her, I could see myself. I could see my cheeks, and my eyes, and my nose!

I picked her and her niece Lisa up, and brought them to our house. When she got in the car I think we just wanted to sit and stare at each other. If it would have been socially appropriate and not entirely weird, I'm sure I would have just stared at her! She is stunning. Beautifully stunning. Of course I'm slightly biased, but Rob also thought she was very pretty.

We spent an hour or so at our house, and she got to meet Rob and the kids. Of course the kids have no real idea of the significance of the meeting, but they were happy to meet Sheri and Lisa. As with anyone, Abbi was up on her lap in no time.

I brought out some photo albums, our wedding album, a few of me at various points throughout my childhood, as well as my baby album. I also showed Sheri some of the adoption file stuff from my search for her. Stuff like the order of adoption, and reports written by her caseworkers about her when she was 15 (which I can imagine would have been completely surreal for her to read). I really hoped I didn't overwhelm her with all of my "stuff." She finally called it quits when I brought out the two letters that she wrote to me and my parents when I was adopted. She knew that would be very emotional for her to read.

And to be honest, neither of us were super emotional. She cried a bit when she first saw me, but we both were surprised at how collected we both felt. She figured she'd be a babbling, crying fool the entire time, but I felt like we were both quite composed. Not like we had to be, but I just didn't feel like crying, I was just more happy than anything.

Its just incredible to finally meet this person that you have dreamed about and wondered about all your life. And there she is, sitting across your kitchen table, or sitting in your passenger seat. Almost like its just as normal as anything, but then you look across and make eye contact and know that this is an extraordinary moment. A once in a lifetime, unforgettable moment. I was telling Rob that this day is one that I have dreamed about almost as much as I once dreamed about getting married and having children. Its definitely in my top 10, and I got it!

As I drove home from dropping them off from downtown, I just was so unbelievably grateful. Grateful that I did get to meet her, and hopefully will get to meet her again and know her more. I know that not all adoptees get this opportunity, and yeah, how beautiful, how lovely, that I got something that I have always wanted. There has never been a doubt in my mind that I've wanted to know her. So yeah, I am just over the moon. Not only do I know about her, and get to talk to her, but to actually meet her in person...unbelievable!

So I could ramble on and on about the amazingness of it all, but I think it would just be better for me to post some pictures from our visit.

Lisa, Abbi & Sheri looking through photo albums...

Abbi explaining to Sheri about how the doctor's fixed her...
I love this picture. I think its so sweet.
I really wish Abbi would have smiled here, but well, really who can control the mind of a 3 year old girl? Three generations (Gabe was napping).
And yes, I now no longer have to wonder who I look like. I can see so many similarities, and I love it!
Definitely a wow day...