Was it worth it?

Was it worth it - all the paperwork and hurdles?  Was it worth all of the money and added stress to our lives?  Or the tears and the pain?  The delays and lost fingerprints - was it worth it?  Was it worth the grey hair, wrinkles and the worry?  Was it worth two years of our lives?

Was it worth it?

Three weeks ago I was a stranger.  To her, I could have been anyone in a crowd.  A complete unknown.  In a matter of hours she crawled in my arms and called me mommy.

As she wakes up from her nap she cries out for this person she now knows as mommy.  When I lay next to her, she gently rests her head on my chest and instantly falls back asleep.

Once a stranger - now her security.

Her comfort.

Her mommy.

Was it worth it?

Yes.  It was worth it.  All of it.

And I'd do it all over again.