Sunday, August 14, 2011
Adoption anniversary
Trish here
Today is August 14, 2011. Back on this date in 1969, my dad adopted my brother and me. I was 7, my litttle brother was 5. I celebrate this day in my heart every year, even after all this time. You see, my dad, Jim Franklin taught me alot. He taught me about baseball, tried to teach me about fishing, a love of guitar music and Tom T. Hall, John Denver, and other old country music singers. In the eyes of the world, I guess he probably didn't seem too accomplished. But I knew better. My dad was a Vietnam veteran, he shared very little about his time there except to say you never let yourself get too close to any guys because odds were, they would be gone before you knew it. He worked hard, he played hard. But he loved easy.
He was a meatcutter for most of his life. Not a butcher, he would say, but a meatcutter. Dad was an avid deer hunter and fisherman. As his family, we ate whatever he hunted because he took pride in providing for us.
My mom and Dad gave me another great gift in this life, together they made my little sister Angela. I call her Enchilada for reasons I don't remember anymore. I always thought the day she was conceived was one of the luckiest days of my life. Not only did I get a precious sister, but a whole another family to love.
My dad died unexpectedly Feb of 98 when his tractor turned over on him as he was moving hay. I still have dreams about him, and when I wake up am so sad when I realize it was just a dream, and I don't get to hear his voice again until we meet again in Heaven. I like to think he and my father in law (who passed away in 90) take turns rocking our first baby daughter, Anna.
I was 7 when we got adopted, and I remember clearly the day before. Dad was explaining to me what a big deal it was, and did I understand this? I solemnly told him I did, Daddy. He said, good then, I need two promises from you before we do this. The first being that I would always cheer for the Cardinals. (I still do) and the second being that I would always love him as much as he loved me. (And again, I still do)
Thank you, Dad, for showing me that you don't have to be there for the creation of the child, that you can love any child. What a wonderful gift.
Today is August 14, 2011. Back on this date in 1969, my dad adopted my brother and me. I was 7, my litttle brother was 5. I celebrate this day in my heart every year, even after all this time. You see, my dad, Jim Franklin taught me alot. He taught me about baseball, tried to teach me about fishing, a love of guitar music and Tom T. Hall, John Denver, and other old country music singers. In the eyes of the world, I guess he probably didn't seem too accomplished. But I knew better. My dad was a Vietnam veteran, he shared very little about his time there except to say you never let yourself get too close to any guys because odds were, they would be gone before you knew it. He worked hard, he played hard. But he loved easy.
He was a meatcutter for most of his life. Not a butcher, he would say, but a meatcutter. Dad was an avid deer hunter and fisherman. As his family, we ate whatever he hunted because he took pride in providing for us.
My mom and Dad gave me another great gift in this life, together they made my little sister Angela. I call her Enchilada for reasons I don't remember anymore. I always thought the day she was conceived was one of the luckiest days of my life. Not only did I get a precious sister, but a whole another family to love.
My dad died unexpectedly Feb of 98 when his tractor turned over on him as he was moving hay. I still have dreams about him, and when I wake up am so sad when I realize it was just a dream, and I don't get to hear his voice again until we meet again in Heaven. I like to think he and my father in law (who passed away in 90) take turns rocking our first baby daughter, Anna.
I was 7 when we got adopted, and I remember clearly the day before. Dad was explaining to me what a big deal it was, and did I understand this? I solemnly told him I did, Daddy. He said, good then, I need two promises from you before we do this. The first being that I would always cheer for the Cardinals. (I still do) and the second being that I would always love him as much as he loved me. (And again, I still do)
Thank you, Dad, for showing me that you don't have to be there for the creation of the child, that you can love any child. What a wonderful gift.
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About Me
- Ron and Trish
- In July 2011, we started our adoption story. We are waiting to bring our newest daughter home, and we hope you'll join us in following along on our blog!
4 comments:
I love this post, Mom! I love Grandpa and you were lucky to have him adopt you. This is a great way to pass on his legacy of love.
Beautiful writing of a wonderful memory. I wonder if my daughter remembers the day she was adopted by her daddy as well as you do? I always loved your dad and am happy to have had the times we did to get to know each other.
Beautiful. My dad adopted me too, but it was before I was old enough to have a memory of it. I still have my dad. Thank you for the reminder to appreciate him adopting me and everything he's done and does for me.
So sweet, what a great father!
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