I got it!

I just wanted to post quickly to let you all know that I got my birth certificate - well, a copy of my original birth certificate.

I was at the Vital Records office when it opened, although I waited a bit to go in. The crowd of people and TV cameras were a little intimidating. I sat in the car and breathed deeply for fifteen minutes until I was ready to go in.

I have to say that the state had done a really good job streamlining the process, and it was pretty simple. I waited in line to pay my $10, and then went to the line in front of A-L (by adoptive last name). I showed my receipt and my notarized form (they never even asked me for my amended birth certificate - the one I risked my life in a snowstorm to get!). The very nice lady checked me off a list and handed me a sealed envelope with my name on it.

I promptly burst into tears. I know - lame, right? But, in my defense, I was NOT the only one crying. I stopped to chat very briefly with a couple of people from OBC, and then went out to the car, where I opened the envelope.

I'm not ready to put all the information out on the web just yet. I have to just BE with it for a while, but I wanted you to know that I have almost everything I was hoping for.

I know my birth mother's name. I know her address at the time I was born. I know my given name, and I know she cared enough about me to give me a name, which she was not required to do. There is no birth father's name listed, which is disappointing, but it was also expected.

I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to do next, or when I'm going to do it. For today, I'm going to keep looking at this simple piece of paper, which says so much about my origin. I'm probably going to cry a lot more. And I'm going to thank God for answering my prayers.

I'll think about what's next later on, after I've gotten my bearings again. I'm so grateful to have gotten the opportunity to answer some questions I've had for a very long time. I'm also grateful to you for your support. Your encouragement has meant so much. Please don't go away. I think I'm going to need you for the next leg of the journey!