“Gotcha Day” ponderings…..(how we do it)

Gotcha Day……

what is it?? you say?

Well…. you know what!

 In my humble opinion, if you are in a forever family…then you have one.

Yes…. whether adopted or not.

We all have a “GOTCHA DAY”, or a Gotcha “moment”

There was a moment when your forever momma and daddy said, “GOTCHA!!!”

Whether it was in the exact moment that you left your mother’s womb and you were placed in her arms right away, when your forever momma held you….

or whether it was 6..8..10 months….2…4 years….or even 10 years later.

There was that moment (after weeks, months, years perhaps of waiting), when your forever parents said…

“I FINALLY HAVE YOU IN MY ARMS, and I WILL NEVER, EVER LET YOU GO!!!!”

It’s THAT moment of declaration,

a promise,

a relief,

 a miracle….

After hours, days, months or years of labor….the moment when they say:

“you are mine!!!!”

“FINALLY!….YOU.  are.  MINE!

In our home we celebrate 5 “Gotcha days”.

The difference…..

4 of them happen to be on their birthdays.

Our bio kids’ “GOTCHA DAYS” happened the moment they were born, when their forever momma and daddy finally got their hands on them, touched them, smelled them for the very first time.

When they laid eyes on the miracle that they were.

This day, this moment is celebrated on the day we celebrate their birthdays….

For Tahlia….it happens that the Lord brought her “GOTCHA moment” months after her birthday on it’s own special day.

20 months later to be exact…..

that miraculous moment, when her forever parents said:

“I FINALLY GOT YOU IN MY ARMS FOREVER!!!!….and, I WILL NEVER EVER LET YOU GO!!!!!’

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Now, being that we’ve never had a “Gotcha Day” be on a different day other than a “birth-day“, we weren’t quite sure how we would celebrate.

We did, however, plan on letting her open a gift each year on her Gotcha day.

This was a special gift that we had bought in China the same time we got her.

One to be opened each year till her 18th birthday….

Every family is different.

Each has their own perspective.

But, one thing is for sure. THIS FAMILY WANTED TO CELEBRATE BIG-TIME! A miracle had happened in our life, and in Tahlia’s life, on December 12. 2011, one year ago…..

and that meant joy was brimming in this home, and well….you just couldn’t contain it, even if you tried!!!

And, our Tahlia is not one to shy away from a celebration, and it just so happens neither do her siblings. So, we essentially let the passionate brothers and sisters steer the reigns and pretty much plan this little intimate family-affair.

Isabella thought it a great idea to get Chinese food and eat with chopsticks! So daddy came home from work with Chinese food, and chicken nuggets and french fries! 😉

Ashy even made his “own creation” in the kitchen to celebrate Tahlia!
Not sure what it is???
hmmm, Gonna call it a cake/cookie/mushie?!

LOL!

But, it was good enough to hold the candle that he insisted be in it!!!

It was made with love…

And, this made Tahlia’s face light up with delight!!

and of course, we naturally sang, “happy GOTCHA day to youuuuuuuu!!!”

And, each brother and sister wanted to give a special, hand-picked gift to their sister……

a specific gift that they knew their little sister had her eyes on…..

 but was just waiting for the perfect moment to give it to her…

a special moment for sure….

and she loved every second of it!

Now honestly,…..just as not every birthday is done the same way in this house.

and each year it’s celebrated a bit differently to match the personality of that specific growing, and  maturing child.

So will Tahlia’s “Gotcha day.”

As she gets older, it will be her choice, and her preference….her style, if you will.

It will be suited to how she would like to be celebrated on her “Gotcha Day,” the day that happens to be celebrated 8 months after we celebrate her “birthday.”

A day…
a moment…
to be celebrated in this house one way or another….FOR SURE.