My Birth Daughter's Annual Thanksgiving Letter by Terri Rimmer

November 23, 2016

Dear McKenna,

Yes, we're on your 16th annual Thanksgiving letter.

There are many things I'm thankful for this year and you are at the top of my list.

I made a gratitude list in my head yesterday and, of course, I couldn't help but think of you as I do every day.

When people find out about my adoption choice, they always ask questions, which to me are silly, but I guess to them are not.

Things like: Do I love you? Do I think about you?

And, you know the answers to both of these questions is “Absolutely.”

It's been a good year.

You are my inspiration, my muse, my heart.

I love your sense of humor, what makes you you, everything about you.

Most of all I love that you have had such a great life and you have a wonderful life ahead of you.

I'm so glad that Vicki and Larry are raising you.

It has always comforted me.

I always love hearing about the things you are doing, funny things you say, your accomplishments and I'm so proud of your achievements.

But I also just love you because of who you are inside.

The other day I was remembering the mural that hung in your nursery that Vicki and Larry made before you were born that said: “The best part of you is who you are inside.”

I remember when they took a picture of that part of the mural and mailed that to me when I was pregnant how much I loved that!

One thing that I'm very grateful about is that Gladney now has an Outreach program to help birth moms that is far reaching that was not in place when I lived there. I'm so glad for that.

You have accomplished so much this year – getting your license, band achievements, getting your first job, performances, great progress with your eating.

I can't believe I have a teenage daughter who's driving. Feels so weird to write!

I always looked forward to seeing my sister Cindy, among others, at the holidays.

We'd go Christmas shopping and often times she'd bring me a big box of sweaters she didn't want any more.

That was a real treat!

We'd usually go to the movies, look at Christmas lights, and just hang out.

Those are also things I'm grateful for, too.

I love you and hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

Love,
Terri



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

McKenna's Annual Thanksgiving Letter

Nov. 22, 2018 Dear McKenna: Eighteen years ago I sat down to write your very first Thanksgiving letter when I was 34 years old and you were spending your first Thanksgiving with your mom and dad. I was working as a data entry operator, living with a roommate, the re-make of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” with Jim Carey just came out, and I had a Tonkinese cat named Chaplin and a mutt, Ripley who charmed everyone. I remember when I sat down to write that letter at my roommate’s computer looking out at his French door windows at his back yard and all the emotions I was feeling at the time – imagining you with your family at Thanksgiving, happy that you were safe and warm in your new home, content that I had made the right decision, and thankful that I could sit down and type those words to you. I had always promised myself that every birthday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas I would sit down and write a letter to you and though I missed a couple, which I reg
Read more

51 to 15

Image
By Terri Rimmer He told me he really missed me and could I come see him for Christmas in one of the home towns I lived in, Smyrna, Georgia. My heart sank as I knew I had to work and it was our busiest season, though I still wanted to see him as I told him New Year’s Eve weekend might be a possibility. For the first time I didn’t have any travel anxiety as many times as I’ve traveled, which was nice. I had a dream before I left that I got off the plane and there he was, hugging me tight and not letting go. I didn’t have any nightmares like I usually do before I make my yearly birthday trip. I have had nightmares every night since I was three. This “he” I speak of is Terry, one of my former foster fathers, a lifetime Church of Christ member who I’ve kept in touch with since the 80s. My foster mom, Peggy passed away in 1983. Terry got remarried in 1988 to a woman named Ann, also a lifelong Church of Christ member. Terry graduated from high school in 1968, having
Read more

Why New Year’s Eve is Hard for Me By Terri Rimmer

I used to love New Year’s Eve. The partying, drinking, fanfare, the festivities, all the celebration in the air, the nights leading up to the big evening, and, of course, the big countdown. But now those three words, New Year’s Eve bring with it a crushing blow to the heart, mind, and spirit. I can’t even stand to hear them and it was only in the past two years was I able to utter them to people or respond back to people those same words when they would wish them upon me on the celebratory evening when the world celebrates as normal people do. What changed? On New Year’s Eve 2005 my boyfriend of two years, Ruben, died of liver cancer at the age of 53, only two months after being diagnosed. Then on New Year’s Eve 2008 my dad, who I had been estranged from for 20 years, but who I had just started talking to again through email three months before he died, passed away. Needless to say, I have hated the holiday ever since. I never got to say good-bye to Ruben because his dea
Read more