Life is so full of simple, crazy, silly memories. We were walking down the street when Kajal gave out a huge 'whoohie' of excitement. Hey Mom, look, I have a shadow and it's following me. She started to giggle and laugh as she gazed down at her own reflection. What should her name be Mom? I don't know, how about, Kajal's Shadow? Great Idea Mom! And as we walked down the street, Kajal continued to gaze down at the shadow and talk with it. She was thrilled, she'd made a new friend.

Spring is finally around the corner and as the temperature rose above 40 degrees the Dora bike was dusted off. I lug it down the stairs and we race outside to enjoy some of our first outdoor activities in what seems like months. Kajal decided it was time to take the training wheels off and woke me up at 6 AM on Saturday morning. As I cracked open one eye I saw her standing at my bed, fully dressed, helmet and elbow pads on, ready to go. Come on Mom, you told me you'd teach me to ride my  bike today. Well, yeah... but can we wait until 9 at least? Oh Mommmmmmm.... and every 15 minutes or so she'd check back and shake me just to see if I was awake and ready to go out yet. We finally headed down stairs (Kajal had taken the training wheels off herself) ready to go.

After about an hour of quiet tears, frustration, bumps and bruises my neighbor Brian came out to help us. Every time I tried to help her she'd just shoo me away but she seemed to accept Brian's help more easily. He ran her up and down the street holding the back of the bike and she had short moments where she maintained her balance and we cheered her along. I forgot how difficult learning to ride a bike was... how do we ever figure it out? It was almost three hours when Kajal wrapped her arms around me, tucked her head down and broke down in tears, sobbing. No more Mommy. No more. She ran upstairs and grabbed the training wheels and refusing to let anyone help her... she screwed them back on herself.

Mommy, can we get married? She's asked me a few times. Well, marriage is what two people do when they come to a place that they love each other and want to spend their lives together. Grown ups get married. You and me, we've done better than that... we got adopted, I tell her. Hmmmm... she thinks about that for a little bit.  I still want us to get married. Why, Kajal? Well, we love each other and we want to be together.

That's true, Kajal, I expain, but being adopted is very similar only better. We love each other and want to be together forever and being adopted means that we are a family, forever and ever. Some times people who get married choose to end their marriage, but not you and me. Being adopted means we really will be together for always no matter what.

Are you sure Mommy?

Yes, baby... you and me.. together forever.

Kajal's been walking around with the heart locket I gave her. She shows it to everyone she meets, opening it up to gaze at the pictures of my mother and myself.

Sometimes I find myself remembering this child, my little girl... just last year, curled up in a ball hiding her face and crying, rocking back and forth... tantruming and screaming, kicking and fighting.

Now here she is, laughing down at two teeny little pictures in a tiny little locket... smiling...