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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSomething to be thankful for. I'm getting a daughter!
The wife and I have something to be very thankful for this Thanksgiving and I wanted to share with the DU community. Hope you don't mind this personal bit of thankfulness.
Around two years ago, we petitioned the U.S. Government to bring my wife's adopted daughter here to the USA. The little girl was, and is living in the Philippines. After a LOT of hassle and money, the youngster is coming to America! The immigration laws in this country are unbelievably strict and do not let anyone else tell you differently. And the government of the Republic of the Philippines is about as corrupt as any on earth. And we got through all of that so that a little girl could have a reasonably good life here in America with two parents and some loving (not to mention spoiling the kid rotten) grandparents.
We are about as happy as anyone can be right now. My wife is flying out on November 30 and returning on Dec. 6 with our little girl, Tiffany Joy. And yes, I plan to raise her as a staunch Democrat.
One more thing. Some of you may be asking, "who cares about this drivel?" And some others may be asking, "Why is a middle aged man going to be a father again?" That is a question I have asked myself several times and I guess the answer is that I feel I have something to share. Not a lot of $ but some solid values and a lot of love. Am I perfect? Of course not. But I will do my level best to see that this young lady has a roof over her head, clothes on her body, and food in her belly. I will also do my best to see that she grows up to be a good human being. That is what I can offer and that is what my wife can offer. Thank you for indulging me and have a great Thanksgiving! Remember, we can all be thankful that Obama will be PotUS for another four years.
hedgehog
(36,286 posts)randome
(34,845 posts)And good luck!
Spazito
(50,351 posts)I am sure this will be both a Thanksgiving and Christmas to remember!
Beautiful OP!
Turbineguy
(37,337 posts)Carigal
(21 posts)I was adopted many years ago and was always so very proud of that fact. I would tell my friends that my parents got to choose me (and my twin sister) and their parents did not! Since I had such a great experience I adopted one of my children. So one is mine by birth and one is mine by adoption. There is no difference at all in how I feel about them.
Smarmie Doofus
(14,498 posts)that's not the point.
The point is: You must be in hog heaven!
I know the feeling.
Savor the moment.
And... it really IS a great thing you did.
Great for you. Great for her.
arthritisR_US
(7,288 posts)no doubt of what dear parents you two will be
rivegauche
(601 posts)Good for you, you both are awesome for giving this little girl a better life. Hope your holidays are fantastic.
Ecumenist
(6,086 posts)home. Money isn't everything and as long as you can get the things you need, that's all that matters. If we had more folks like you, this world would be a FAR better place.
Middle aged is a wee bit too old to be a father? Nope, my husband and I are planning to use a surrogate to have a baby and I'm 49 in January- he's 51, 52 in June. So, you're in good company. Let me tell you a secret: the only time you're too old is when you DEAD.. Other than that. LOVE knows no age.
Tiffany is a VERY lucky little girl to be loved by two wonderful human beings and I'll bet my eyeteeth that she's going to be Daddy's girl! Congratulations and happy, HAPPY Thankgiving and many, MANY more! It's people like you who make believe that there is a God. God bless you and your family!
Tikki
(14,557 posts)Happy family..you'll do fantastic DAD....
The Tikkis
abelenkpe
(9,933 posts)Tommy_Carcetti
(43,182 posts)And Happy Thanksgiving indeed!
karmaqueen
(714 posts)Happy for your family! What a wonderful Thanksgiving blessing
RiverSong
(35 posts)nolabear
(41,984 posts)What a holiday! You don't say what the circumstances have been or how old she is but I hope adjustment goes well. And love will get you WAY further than $$ where kids are concerned.
Wonderful post! Hooray!
ceile
(8,692 posts)Be sure to keep us updated on her arrival!
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)And be willing to work through culture shock.
me b zola
(19,053 posts)It is supposed to be about the children...right?
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)I'm sure T.J. is going to become a real music fan!
T.J. sounds like a good name for a blues slinging' chick!
Congratulations!!!!!
irisblue
(32,980 posts)a daughter! and she's finally with mom and dad. this is such a joy, and I'm glad you shared with DU.
Samantha
(9,314 posts)Congratulations to all of you.
Sam
renate
(13,776 posts)What a joy! (And what an appropriate name she has!)
badhair77
(4,218 posts)We can always use good news. I wish you and your family well. Hope there is smooth sailing thru the process.
davidthegnome
(2,983 posts)I hope everything goes great for you.
Aristus
(66,380 posts)That's wonderful. I know Tiffany Joy will have wonderful parents...
Cairycat
(1,706 posts)that is indeed something to be thankful for. Daughters are wonderful, and I wish you and your family much joy.
NotThisTime
(3,657 posts)Regardless of the why's, the how's, age, she will be your child. Congratulations on this wonderful joyous news. I think this is the type of news most people love to hear about, at least I know I do.
Fresh_Start
(11,330 posts)and thank you for sharing your happy news with us.
treestar
(82,383 posts)Lucky little girl!
Waltons_Mtn
(345 posts)Thank you for caring enough to share your lives with this small child.
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)barbtries
(28,798 posts)all the best to you, and thank you for sharing this with us.
LoisB
(7,206 posts)Chorophyll
(5,179 posts)skeewee08
(1,983 posts)I love the name her name....her nick-name will be TJ...LOL...
me b zola
(19,053 posts)Jamastiene
(38,187 posts)K&R
chloes1
(88 posts)Liberal In Red State
(442 posts)-- Sigmund Freud --
She is one lucky little lady! Congrats to you and your wife!
lunatica
(53,410 posts)I care very deeply that there are people like you and your wife and your new daughter. May your lives together be profoundly happy and meaningful.
You will make a great father what with all that experience behind you.
peacebird
(14,195 posts)Bluzmann57
(12,336 posts)Thank you for your well wishes and thank you to DU as well, the coolest political and humanity site on the world wide web.
Yeah I've come in and had fierce arguments with people about various things and probably will again because I'm an opionated a**hole. But in the end, we all are fighting for the same thing. Once again, thank you all.
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)RogerM
(150 posts)Noble act. Good luck.
LibertyLover
(4,788 posts)9 years ago, my husband and I introduced our 16 month old daughter to our family at Thanksgiving. We had just gotten back from bringing her home from China. All the best to you, your wife and your daughter!
xxqqqzme
(14,887 posts)Of course you had to share it w/ the rest of the 'family'. We love hearing this news. Thank you.
NOLALady
(4,003 posts)What a wonderful Christmas Holiday you will have!
I am so happy for your family!!!
progressoid
(49,991 posts)BeliQueen
(504 posts)Congratulations! I'm so grateful that your Thanksgiving will be filled with thanks!
Window
(7,265 posts)Tiffany Joy (beautiful name by the way) is a very blessed little girl to have you and your wife as parents.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
One of the greatest things i'm thankful for this year is President Obama's re-election.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)Also made my holy communion there. I have lots of fine memories growing up there for about 3 yrs. We were fortunate enough to have a married couple who lived with us. The lady (LaLa) worked around our house and her husband was a school bus driver. Those were great days. Then yrs later Our neighbors living across the hall from us in military quarters use to babysit for me. OMG her and her husband loved my son like their own. She took such good care of him and he sure loved her and her little girls. Her oldest was a little terror (LOL). But we really had good times with them. Nice you will get to enjoy your time during the holidays.
WoodyD
(215 posts)Something to be very thankful for!
Rider3
(919 posts)Congratulations!
elfin
(6,262 posts)Don't know her age, but be prepared for the commercial submersion into Primcess,crap, Barbie crap, etc. Smile throughout as you gently introduce her to more worthy interests.
If you get a genuine smile or laugh from her once a day, your task is done and she will live long and prosper.
Freddie
(9,267 posts)Thirteen years ago my brother and his wife brought their daughter home from China. She has brought nothing but joy to the whole family. You'll never forget this Thanksgiving--congrats!
flakey_foont
(3,338 posts)LiberalLoner
(9,762 posts)I know you will be such a wonderful father to her and I know she will be a blessing in your life!
Thank you for sharing this good news, you really made my heart happy with this story!
lillypaddle
(9,580 posts)Much love to your and your daughter! Wonderful news.
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)ReRe
(10,597 posts)What a beautiful name, Tiffany Joy. You are walking on air, aren't you? I'm so happy for you and your family. What a wonderful Christmas present for everyone... for life! Yes, we all have so much to be thankful for this year. Thanks for your family's joy, thanks for the reelection of the POTUS and the First Family, and thanks for all of our DU family as well. Is is good to count our blessings.
a kennedy
(29,672 posts)Duval
(4,280 posts)musical_soul
(775 posts)brer cat
(24,572 posts)And of course you should share it with your DU family.
Iwillnevergiveup
(9,298 posts)Congratulations and best wishes to your whole family...such a wonderful outcome for all of you.
for the family
: for Tiffany Joy
for your wife
for YOU!
roguevalley
(40,656 posts)meti57b
(3,584 posts)gkhouston
(21,642 posts)Heathen57
(573 posts)I am always seeing hate, violence, and fear everywhere so I enjoy seeing something kind and good when I can.
Daughters are always special to their fathers, and from your post, I figure you are going to treat her as your own. they can break your heart, but they can just as easily fill it with so much love and joy that you can't hardly stand it.
Congrats to you and your family for putting up with all the red tape and garbage you had to put with. A daughter is worth all the effort.
<and just an aside, I feel just the same way about my son, I'm proud of them both>
Arkansas Granny
(31,518 posts)I wish you much Joy and happiness.
lonestarnot
(77,097 posts)myrna minx
(22,772 posts)Cha
(297,275 posts)together.
And, I most certainly am thankful we have Obama as POTUS for Four More Years!
Piazza Riforma
(94 posts)All the best to your family this holiday season.
libmom74
(633 posts)panAmerican
(1,206 posts)I have great respect for people who endure the international adoption hardships to bring a child out of even deeper difficulties.
JNelson6563
(28,151 posts)You and your wife are obviously wonderful people!
Enjoy!
Julie
madrchsod
(58,162 posts)Ilsa
(61,695 posts)Thank you for sharing it with us.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Stellar
(5,644 posts)and of course to the sweet gift of life of this little one that God has granted you.
NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)Best wishes to you and your daughter for a lifetime of happiness.
dexterborg
(28 posts)Congratulations!! Best of wishes
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davsand
(13,421 posts)Brightest Blessings on you and your family, Bluzmann! Best wishes to you all!!!
Laura
Bluzmann57
(12,336 posts)Thanks to all of you who responded to this and sent along your best wishes. We will do our best to help Tiffany become a productive member of American society. But I just thought of something, what if she's scared of me because I'm so much bigger than her? Boy, the weird stuff going on inside my "mind" now...
itsrobert
(14,157 posts)This is the greatest country in the world and many commit fraud to try to get a piece of it. Those laws are there for a reason.
calimary
(81,304 posts)Congratulations! Thank you so much for sharing this new beginning for your family. I'm an adoptee myself. So I can tell you what a lucky little girl Tiffany Joy is. No, your household isn't perfect. Neither was mine. But I knew I was wanted and loved. My adoptive parents never hid that fact from me. I only recently found my birth siblings. But until I was old enough to start learning about the birds and the bees, that's where I thought babies came from. You went down to the Baby Store and picked out your baby! 'Cause whatever my parents always told me, they always finished it with the bottom line: "...and we picked YOU!!!" And even when I didn't understand it completely, I still appreciated that they told me the truth. She'll grow up knowing she was wanted and loved. And she'll cherish you more deeply as she grows into adulthood and is able to appreciate the technicalities and struggles involved in an adoption like hers - when she discovers how hard the two of you fought to give her a better start in life.
MAN, this is gonna be a nice Thanksgiving! Several DUers have really wonderful stories to share at the moment - of achievement, renewed or improved health, employment, other positive things, some of them hard-won. Very reaffirming and downright savory! We're approaching winter and yet it feels like spring inside. The election, too, and so much other good news on marriage equality and legalized pot measures.