7 years and 5 days

I got a call from Cori last week. It was the first time I'd heard from her in about a month. I actually got a few calls from her, as the battery on my cell is dying and I couldn't actually talk to her on it until I got home and put it on the charger.

We chatted a few minutes about life in general. Her adoption is coming up. (I didn't ask specifics. She just mentioned that it was approaching.) I asked if her family was still planning to move out of state after the adoption and she said yes. I asked about her bio sisters. I asked about her siblings in her current home. On and on, I just made general conversation because she wasn't saying much of anything.

After a bit more of inane conversation, she blurted out, "7 years and 5 days." I didn't have to ask what that meant because I knew. She'd first come to my home 7 years and 5 days earlier.

Man, what a 7 years and 5 days it has been with us! She has been placed here (and removed from here) 3 times. She's been in 3 other adoptive placements not counting here or her current one. I've lost count of the number in-patient hospital stays she's had. I have 6 entries for her in the contact section of my cell phone. Each is listed with her first name followed by the city of that placement as her last name. I just can't bring myself to delete any of them.

All I can do for her is pray - that this home sticks, that she's happy there, that they meet her needs. What a rough life she's had for someone so young. Sadly, I worry how much harder it will be as she becomes an adult.

Good luck, Cori. I love you!