Hello & Blessed Holiday Greetings Everyone,

I want to share with you, the gift that has been given to me. I am a reconnected adoptee. I know both of my birth parents, and I am honored to have them in my life. I am blessed to have known my birth mom for 9 ½ years, and my birth dad for 9 years, in February. We have had our share of moments, both lovely and challenging, since the "honeymoon of reunion" and the reconnection has crossed some hurdles - naturally.

The gift I have received from them is honor. They have taught me many valuable lessons and there are many more to come as our relationships change and grow. Life wouldn't be life without change, growth and forgiveness. My definition of forgiveness means to give up/let go of suffering and to grant someone a "safe passage" through my mind. This means not 'holding on' to the memories that do not empower me. This has been beneficial often times in a moment of upset about how I thought something "should" have gone. This reminds me not to "should on myself" (sounds to o much like another "sh- word").

Everyone touched by adoption has a story to tell, an experience to share and for closure to occur, some forgiveness to grant to another and themselves. There are so many of us touched by adoption in this country, it is amazing. The statistic I recently read was 6 out of 10 people are somehow touched by adoption. This came from the Evan B. Donaldson Foundation. Given the large group of people we are and we represent, I lean toward closure and forgiveness. None of us wish to continue to suffer, do we? :-)

Have a glorious holiday season. Celebrate the gift of life you gave, you received or you nurtured! :-) We all are the grand work of a spiritual being spoken of by many names. Take a moment to thank your spiritual being for your life. You are indeed a gift to life.

I honor and respect each and every one of us touched by adoption. There are no single manuals on how to deal with all the issues, tasks and experiences we face - we each have our own journey to travel. Maybe we can share the honor of being among the many touched by adoption who are forgiving and honoring those people who we value in our lives.

Blessings,

Alison

Alison & James Stallcup

By 2025, A World of People Honoring the

Sacred Nature of Relationships.

Credits: Alison Stallcup