My Baby

DQ's birthday is this weekend - she'll be fifteen already! I should say she's 14 going on 40 - at least, it seems that way at times!

This beauty was God's surprise to us. We had been on the waiting list for our second adoption, this time through a local agency, and we were told we had about a six month waiting list still, and then we got a "surprise" call from our lawyer. He had a baby - about 10 days old, in foster care right now because Mom wanted to "hand-select" the adoptive parents. Were we interested? What do you think our response was? Oh, one minor detail - she's biracial. He said he'd give us the weekend to think about it.

We thought and prayed, and prayed some more. We knew we wanted her, but was society ready for us to have her? (That will be the topic of a whole different post). Were our families ready to open up their arms and hearts to a little munchkin who was "different" than we were? Were WE ready for the stares and comments which we were certain to endure over the upcoming years? The answer was "yes". We were ready - we wanted DQ, and DQ needed a home.

We picked her up several days later at her foster home. TP was almost three years old, and she looked at DQ with huge eyes, walked over to DQ. TP patted the baby's head, looked up at me, and said "I want her - let's take her home". I knew from that moment on, that our decision was the right one.

Fast forward 15 years. DQ is now a tall, willowy young lady with a huge, dimpled smile which melts your heart. She is bright, creative, and intensely loyal to those whom she loves (except when Mom or Dad says something dumb in front of her friends, then she does the eye-roll thing). She's gifted musically. She's precocious. And she's very, very slow at cleaning her room and doing her homework.

She captured my heart from the first second I laid eyes on her dark curly hair and beautiful captivating dark eyes. We have the same temper, so we butt heads at time, but we are quick to forgive and love all over again.

She wants to go to Hollywood someday - either as an actress or a filmmaker. I tell her it's great to follow her dreams, as long as she has an education behind her which can help to pay the bills while she's pursuing her dream. It wouldn't surprise me if she did become a film editor some day - her talent is amazing.

DQ feels her emotions very intensely - hence, the nickname "Drama Queen" (it also goes along with her penchant for acting). When TP was sick, DQ was extremely worried about her sister. When the dog gets hurt, DQ is right there, making sure the dog's all right. She's a very spiritual person - who asks such deep questions that I wonder if she's on the way to being a philosopher.

I love the young woman DQ is becoming. She's always been a tiny little thing - but huge on love, drama, and her heart! I pray that she has a long and happy and healthy life, serving others and Her Lord.

And, as is our usual custom, we will say a special prayer for the young woman who gave birth to DQ. She loved DQ enough to allow someone else the privelege and honor of raising her daughter. I pray that she has had a good life, and that she will be rewarded for her selfless act of love.