Amazing Day with Alex's Birthfather

Through a bizarre string of circumstances and a little divine intervention, today we met Alex's birthfather. And I cannot begin to put into words how wonderful the experience was. But I will try....

It could not have been more perfect. I really mean that. I couldn't have scripted a better afternoon. It was amazing, incredible, fun, enlightening, and fulfilling. The "talking" was easy even though we discussed some really tough issues. He was very open and we were all able to ask questions and speak candidly.


Alex did very well with him. I was worried because she is normally so shy with new people. It was strange, although I don't think she understood exactly who he was, she definitely knew there was something important and special about him. We talked, ate lunch, played a lot of games and took a few pictures of the two of them together. He also gave her a pink stuffed dog. He had spent a lot of time going through my blog and our shutterfly pictures and could tell that she loved the color pink and loved dogs. I thought that was so thoughtful! And Alex loved it too. She carried it around the arcade and fell asleep with it on the way home.

The venue was great. We sat at the tables outside and talked for awhile before even going in. Alex showed him an album we had brought for him and told him about some of the pictures. It was all very comfortable and felt surprisingly natural. After that we went in to eat. Lunch was nice, though we spent so much time talking that no one ate much. Afterwards, we spent another hour talking and watching Alex play games. This is when he requested a picture with her, which we were so happy to take. She bought him a little plastic shot glass like trinket with some of the tickets she won. It is just a junky little piece of plastic, but to him I'm sure it was priceless! And upon leaving, Alex leaned forward to hug him good-bye. He may not have thought much of it, but that was huge for Alex. She doesn't usually give hugs that freely, even to people she knows well. Just ask Teri, who usually has to steal them.

We learned many things about him and a few additional pieces of Alex's adoption story. And it was nice to hear things from him directly instead of through a third party. His main concern lies with Alex and what the implications of contact mean for her both now and in the future (just another testament to his selflessness). Though none of us know exactly where this will all lead, I do believe it is the beginning of something quite special.

I guess a part of me worried that it was an event in his life that he had put behind him and no longer thought about her. But that doesn't appear to be the case. He obviously loves her deeply, as it was apparent in his eyes.

I could go on and on about the whole experience, but for the most part I am still trying to digest it all. I am just so happy! I can finally sleep easy tonight.