[lenjan]

I've posted about this elsewhere previously, but just a brief recap -- I have a 16-year-old son whose butthead father ran out on me, and not wanting to raise a kid on welfare, which I was on at the time, I placed him for adoption.

In March of this year, his adoptive mother did some Internet sleuthing and tracked me down, and we have been corresponding off and on since then. I sent Canyon (it has taken me a LONG time to get used to the name, LOL -- I named him Christopher!) a huge box of presents for his birthday in late May, and he sent me a little email back, and that's about all I hear from him, which I figure is pretty good for a 16 year old boy with one set of parents already.

I wrote his mom tonight saying I had gotten the box of Christmas presents off and to make him save some to open on Christmas. She wrote back and said she had been thinking of me today because the civic theatre in the small town where they live is putting on a production and Canyon is in the band (he plays 5 instruments!). She's going to try to get me a cast picture for Christmas, she said. In my email I asked if they had the tree up yet, thinking she could put the presents I sent underneath it.

When he was born, I made him a cross-stitch Christmas ornament, "baby's first Christmas," and sent it off to the agency, which up until March of this year is how we had to communicate.

His mom just wrote back and said -- yeah, we have the tree up, and the ornament you made him is on it and has been there every single year.

I have no idea how to name what I'm feeling. I thank God over and over that my son has such a wonderful family and is clearly so loved and so well taken care of. I miss him every waking minute of my life. I don't know whether to cry, or thank her, or jump for joy, or what -- but that really touched me, that they would put up this really crappy ornament (I was just learning cross-stitch at the time and I wasn't very good, LOL) every year and tell him where it came from.

I think I need to cry. I'm just so overwhelmed.

Candy

[SweetCrusader]

((((((((Candy)))))))))

[silver_queen]

That's very touching, (((Candy)))

[Nerak]

((((((((((((((Candy))))))))))))))

[wisewoman]

By all means cry, whatever the feelings. What a powerful experience. I am happy your son has many people who love him.

[Myzen]

Hi Candy,

You are so lucky to have the connection, and that it's encouraged by Christopher's adoptive parents.

As I have also posted recently, I was tracked down by my adopted first daughter last year, and had two meetings with her. She decided that she didn't want a relationship with me. That was not an easy emotional place to be in for her or for me.

I think I can share your feelings on this one. All we want is a little connection and to know that they are alright.

Good luck, myzen

[(JD)]

...probably a jumble of emotions! Wow how kewl and how awesome! Hey! They kept the "C" for his name, that's neat too! That they obviously raised him to remember you shows what good ppl they are...and probably an indicator of his life with them. And I agree with the rest: any contact from a 16 year old boy is amazing. Remember, he has a jumble of feelings too!

[Wants2Fly]

(((((((((((((((((((Candy))))))))))))))))))))

Thank you for sharing. Your story touches me deeply.

[shakes]

(((Candy))))
I am so happy that you are able to maintain a relationship with your son. It is truly brightened my day to hear such a heartwarming story.

Jessica