I would like to apologize to everyone if I have been belligerent or cantankerous in my posts today. Today is a sad anniversary for me.<P>The beloved daughter that I placed for adoption twenty years ago was born today. With all that has been happening in my marriage, this is yet another occasion to add to all the other sorrows.<P>Adoption is definitely not right for everyone. It takes all of your courage to sign away your own child. But, in my case I was very young and I had nothing to offer that baby. What I did know was that I wanted a wonderful life for her. And so I carefully picked the family that would adopt her. They were caring and loving people who had not been able to have children of their own and desperately wanted a baby.<P>And while each year I relive the sadness of that decision, I know in my heart that what I did was the most maternal act that I have ever done. I thought about her well-being and placed that before my own desire to keep her. And twenty years later, I still know in my heart that it was the right decision.<BR>I also know that she grew up in the kind of home that I wanted for her.<P>I believe that there is a difference between parenting and the biological process of producing a child. Every child deserves the best possible chance in life. And, for me, I still believe that the best start is a loving family with two parents and sufficient means to care for a child.<P>I was able to give every one of my children that great start. I was blessed enough to be the one who could make that start possible for two of them. And God guided my hand to make that start possible for my first born daughter.<P>Tonight, I would like you all to say a prayer for Lisanne, my grown up baby girl, that she will continue to live a good life and be happy.<P>Happy Birthday, darlin'. May God bless us all ...<BR>- Heavenly

Bless you, Heavenly. We are all God's children, and I'm sure he is looking out for your 'baby'.<P>Jenny, mommy to 4 in heaven

May God Bless Lissane and shine upon her life. May God minister to Heavenly that she did the right thing under those circumstances, and by her giving her baby up for adoption, two married persons have a daughter that make their lives even more complete. Amen.

Heavenly....<P>You truly are.<P>Love, <P>Catnip =^^=

Oh Heavenly...I can not hardly type bc I do not know the keyboard all that well and I can not see the letters through my tears.<P>You are a truely courageous woman. To put aside your own feelings and actually do the best thing for your child is the most selfless, loving act you could ever do.<BR>May God bless you and Lisanne.<P>

Happy Birthday Lisanne, may you know that you are doubly blessed, by wonderful adoptive parents and most importantly by having a selfless woman who gave you life. Who was able at such a young age to look past what she wanted and do what she knew what was best for her child. The epitome of motherly love.<P>May the Lord give you peace today. You and all your children are in my prayers today.

Happy Birthday, Lisanne, and many blessings to you and those you love. You don't know what a loving and wonderful person your bio mother is. God Bless you, Heavenly.<P><BR>Comfort

Dear friends,<P>I am overcome with such emotion over your outpouring of support. This is the first happy birthday I have had in 20 years because it is the first time that I have shared my sadness with others. No one but my immediate family and my H know about my Lisanne.<P>I am fortunate to know what happened in her life. The family that raised her has been wonderful to her. She has turned into a beautiful and intelligent young woman who is studying to be a veterinarian. She has brought her adoptive parents many years of great joy.<P>Thank you all for helping me through a difficult day. God bless you all.<P>Love,<BR>Heavenly

heavenly,<P>just read your thread. i cried. happy birthday to lisanne. she is very blessed, to be born to a woman who loved her so much she put aside all her feelings and wants and gave her baby a wonderful 2 parent family, who were unable to have the child they had always dreamed of. my best friend since childhood couldn't conceive and was it not for the selflessness of another wonderful woman, she and her H would not be the parents of their beautiful baby boy. <P>take care heavenly. god bless you and your daughter.<P>love,<P>happy_girl