It's my BIRTHDAY! Yeah Me!

Well did you survive the All About Me Week? It was fun sharing a little bit about me. But I also wanted to go a step further and share something else.
Some of you may or may not know that I am adopted. Yes 39 years ago today a young lady made the ultimate loving sacrifice as she gave birth and said goodbye to her precious little girl. I can only imagine how hard it was for this 18 year old young woman to carry her sweet baby for 9 months knowing all along that she would be unable to care for it on her own, yet choosing to give me life and a chance at a better life by giving me up for adoption. I hope one day I can tell her face to face how much I appreciate what she did for me. I hope that on this day she thinks about me and smiles.
On the other hand, I want to mention the most excellent couple who prayed for months before I was even born, about adopting a baby girl. They had had 3 boys and really wanted a little girl to call their own. And even through the tragedy of losing their 16 year old son to a drunk driver 3 months before I was actually born, they pressed on toward adopting this fat, not so little baby girl with sores all over her body from being given whole milk while in foster care. I am honored to have such loving parents who took me as a baby and loved me like their own and gave me the best life that I could have asked for. The Lord had His hand on my life right from the beginning and knew that He had picked the perfect couple to raise me for His glory. I am ever so grateful for my most excellent Mom and Dad and I want to thank them for putting up with a stubborn teenager who eventually "got it" and now loves the Lord with her whole heart and is thankful for the life she was given.
Does anyone else need a tissue? Gosh, I didn't mean to get so emotional on ya! LOL.
I will now lighten it up a little with some pictures of Mwah, growing up! Enjoy.

Not sure how old I was here. I'm guessing like 1 or 2? Do you love the hair?

Me and our boxer Bruno! Age 5?
Me and our doberman Bridgette. Age around 10.
Sweet 16 right here. And yes that is a Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter frosting. My passion stems even way before this! LOL.
I'm around 17 here and thinking I am soooo cool. Oy! Whatever!
Jump ahead to around 25 years old and on top of the world because I have met my husband to be.
Fishing with my honey. Age around 28?
Let's just jump ahead 11 years and skip all the really bad pregnancy and after pregnancy photos! LOL. Here I am actually a few days ago on the beach.
So there you are! I survived it. You survived. I'm so done! Well almost. I had a blast at Debra's and will probably be forced to share about that real soon.
Love you you my sweet friends!