In the heat of campaign season I have no doubt that most peoples' minds are elsewhere. but in our home, in our little corner of the world, the atheist-equivalent of a miracle is upon us. Below that funky squirly thing, more about this miracle...
For the past seven years, my wife and I have attempted to add to our family. We spent a couple years trying the "normal" way. We might have had some fun doing so, but it didn't work.
We turned to science and the promise of in-vitro fertilization. Not once, not twice, but three times we listened intently as the doctors told us to be hopeful. We tried to be hopeful as our life savings disappeared down a bottle of hope. But hope was elusive and success out of reach.
I'd like to tell you a great story about how we always wanted to adopt, how we embraced it as the plan for us. And I'd be lying. Adoption was what was left after everything else failed. And I'm here to tell you: It's the most beautiful thing I have ever known.
Ya see, after two years waiting for an opportunity to adopt, our dreams came true. I could tell you endless stories about the beautiful coincidences and happenstance that led us to this birthmom, but suffice to say: Yes, this adoption was meant to be. Somehow, someway, this was meant to be. Last week, we met an amazing family and a very courageous birth mother. This week, the offspring of that beautiful mother became ours, permanently and forever. She is the sweetest and most precious life I have ever known and it took us the better part of five minutes to fall head over heals.
It is with a blossoming heart and the most sincere debt of gratitude that I say this: I am a dad! In recent years I have doubted whether I could ever say such a thing. And not only am I a dad, I am the dad of the most preciously beautiful girl this world has ever known....or maybe I'm biased.
Today, I feel blessed. Truly blessed. The world made us wait many years, but rewarded us with such a precious gift.