The View from Debbie’s Desk

When I think of summer. I think of a summer a very long time ago. All the warmth, light, hope, joy, love, that I felt during that summer brings back great memories even today.

I went to live with my uncle and aunt the summer after I turned 10. They were moving into a new home in a new town. I got to help them move everything into the new house. I thought it was a real adventure. It was exciting. My aunt let me carry her wedding dress from the car into the house. I was so excited that she let me do that. There were 3 girls about my age sitting on the curb across from our house watching us. I took that dress (in a drycleaning bag, of course) and held it up in front of me like I was wearing it. I swirled and turned around in it showing it off to these girls as I carried it into the house. I was so proud and happy. I was filled with hope and joy.

As you know I did not have the best life before I went to live with my uncle and aunt permanently. The one condition that they had this time when I went to stay with them (my birth mom was always sending my brothers, sister and me to live with relatives) was that I was there to stay. My birth mother had to let them adopt me. My birth mother agreed, but they wanted to make sure that I would be happy with that choice so they said that I would make the final decision. They would let me stay with them until I made up my mind.

I was so torn. I agonized over this decision. I had a loyalty to my birth mother but liked living with my uncle and aunt. With them I had enough to eat every day, I had decent clothes to wear, and we did fun family things. Plus, I loved them especially my uncle. (He took my birth mother and grandmother to the hospital when it was time for me to be born! We had a connection from the very beginning.) They let me visit my birth mother every other weekend and she would bad mouth my aunt the entire time I was with her. When I got back home, I had an attitude. I remember how horrible I was. Whew! I’m surprised they still wanted me. Lol!

Finally, it was decided that I would go …

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… The View from Debbie’s Desk Cont.

… stay with my grandmother (my birth mother’s mom) for a week so that she could talk to me and help me figure out what I wanted to do. It was a great week. I learned to ride a bike, we ate sunflower seeds directly out of the flowers, we walked to the ice cream shop and we talked and talked. (I had her undivided attention.) She told me that she thought I should go live with my uncle and aunt, that she wasn’t happy with many of the choices my birth mother had made during her life. My grandmother said my uncle and aunt would treat me right. They would always provide things that I needed and would love me like their own. When I went back home, I told my uncle and aunt my decision and they moved forward with adopting me.

Of course, through the years everything has not always been sunshine and lollipops, but my grandmother was right. I am one of their kids no doubt about it. I started calling them dad and mom about 2 years after I was adopted. I know that the Lord had it planned all along that I would be one of dad and mom’s kids. I am so very thankful to him that He had such a great plan for me. Plans to give me hope and a future.

Debbie Champagne

Debbie

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Secretary debbie@bensonbaptist.org EXT. 21