November 15th, Olivia turned 8. We had a modest celebration. Cupcakes for her 2nd grade class, tacos for dinner, ice cream cake at night, and new Heely’s from Marc and me. Her birthday also reminds me of her birth mother.
We know for sure she was found in front of the orphanage on November 21, 2003, and was estimated to be 7 days old. So the orphanage declared her birthday to be November 15th. I have wondered if that is the actual day she was born, but her actual birthday does not really matter. If it is days or weeks off, in the long run, it makes no difference. But her “finding day” is for sure. She was found in a basket with blankets and bottles of milk on the steps of the old location of the orphanage. A woman from the village found her and took her to the new location.
It hurts my heart to know her birth mother had to abandon her.
It hurts my heart that we will never know the name her birth mother gave her, only the name the orphanage gave her.
It hurts my heart that her birth mother is missing out on her beautiful laugh, her silly smile. That she will miss brushing her hair and watching her sleep.
It hurts my heart that her birth mother will never know the love Olivia has for dogs, and she will never see the special bond Olivia has with my mother.
But in the same breath I thank her.
Thank you for having the courage to give you daughter a better life.
Thank you for leaving your daughter at the orphanage, where you knew she would be found.
Thank you for leaving your daughter with blankets and milk so I could tell Olivia how much her birth mother loved her.
Thank you for giving her life, because with out you, I would not have found the love of mine.
