I suppose Ethiopia feels confident in their choice to allow us to parent Becken. We just had our 6 month post placement visit with our beloved social worker, Marilyn. You could tell that I had been involved in these visits for over a year now, because I didn't even clean my house as I had before. I straightened up as much as I could before she got here, out of courtesy for company, but not out of any fear of being a bad adoptive parent.

She has always arrived at our house right on time. Even this time with icy roads and unpredictable weather. And then, she plays with Ivy. Then we sit and talk over mineral water or tea. And boy do we talk. About everything! She asks about my life and the holiday. I ask about hers. And we converse like old friends.

I have tried to make a connection between who Marilyn would be in a biological pregnancy. The closest thing that I could come up with was a midwife. Checking in along the way. Offering advice only when asked for. Sharing stories of the women who had come before me. Bringing him for me to hold in my arms.

At the end of this visit, I had tears in my eyes. I don't want her to be out of my life. She considers Bec to be one of "her" kids and for that I am eternally grateful. We will keep touch through email and digital pics. And, we can only hope that another local couple will bring her to our city through their adoption process. That way she can swing in and say "hello". If I can talk Chris into another baby, I'm praying that Marilyn will be on board as well. I will miss her visits so much.