Gratitude

Tonight as I was going through Benson's bedtime routine, rocking him to sleep and singing to him, the significance of what was happening exactly one year ago right now truly hit me.  His birth mother was at the hospital, starting what would be the longest, most painful night of her life.  She had one goal in mind and that was to bring her little baby boy into the world safely.  She was in labor all night long.  She went through more than I can even imagine, suffered more pain that I have ever had to suffer, and she did it for him and ultimately for us.  She knew, without a doubt, that this baby was not going to be with her long.  She knew that she was enduring this for someone else. She was so strong and so brave. All I feel right now is complete gratitude, awe and love for her sacrifice.  We are thinking of her and hoping that wherever she is, as she thinks back to that night, she remembers it with fondness and with a peace in her heart that she did an amazing thing for her little boy.  We love you Sierra, always and forever!