I can't hit the suggested word count in this post, because some events are just too good to be covered up in a lot of talking. But I am thankful for two very important things right now:

1. That I summoned the courage to call my son's family on his birthday; that I had a warm, friendly, productive conversation with his mom; that his health and behavior seem better; that he got to tell me about his birthday party and his presents in his own words; that he is so very smart, asking all kinds of penetrating questions about my recent trip to China and why I chose for him the gifts I chose; that he FINALLY knows who I am to him, and that he said "I love you" twice. Twice - the heart swells.

2. That birthparents are in the news in a positive way. I am proud to say that, together with some of my favorite birthparents ever, I helped review this report. I'm even prouder if it means that maybe, just maybe, mainstream society is starting to consider and possibly even believe that birthparents ought to have rights, too.

So yeah, I am thankful.