Today the mail man dropped off a very large package and in it contained three folders bursting with Garrick's preschool crafts from Maria's Big house. I did not expect this at all and was quite taken aback at first. Every project from 2013 when he was admitted was beautifully displayed in individual plastic sleeves. Some projects even had little notes written on it like "Garrick only wanted to color today". As I went through each page my heart was so filled with joy to have this piece of his past life. When he first came home I felt so overwhelmed with how much I didn't know about him. How much of his past is such a mystery to me. And, I've had to piece all the parts together to try to see a big picture. But no matter what I do there will always be pieces of his history that I cannot answer for him. There will always be gaps in his life puzzle.
But by God's grace, he continues to provide ways to fill in some of those gaps. And this was a big one!
With each page I just kept thanking God for this gift. This is something my son can physically touch and know he was loved and cared for even before he came to us. That though what he has endured is terrible, there were people in his life who cared for him enough to save every scribbled little coloring page.
So when he is asking "why?" at age eight, sixteen, or fifty I can put these books in his hands along with every other document I have, and say with all truth "I don't know. It's not fair. But you were loved and you are loved".
Thank you Show Hope. Thank you Maria's Big house. Thank you to the Renich family. Thank you for caring for my boy when I wasn't there. Thank you.
