I adopted a five-year-old girl I found wrapped in my late daughter’s jacket – years later, she handed me a note and said, “Your daughter asked me to give this to you today.”

took time after that. We did not adopt her in one burst of emotion. First we became approved to foster. Then came visits, interviews, background checks, more waiting, and more forms than I thought any family should ever have to complete.

Eventually, she came home for good.

I loved her from the first day she became part of our family.

The first time she continue reading …