I am thankful for my daughter.  She arrived at a time when I was the most unsure about myself and where I was going with my life. She arrived at a time in my life when I needed her the most.

Before she was born, I was full of doubt, stressed out and focusing too much on things that were not important.

I remember the exact moment the doubt started – I was in my bedroom, just getting ready for the day, when I realized that once I had my baby, my life would never be the same.  I sat down on the floor and started to cry.

Not too long after that, I was laid-off.

Then Stella came early.

I wasn’t prepared for her arrival.  The house was a mess, I didn’t have the basic necessities for a newborn – no diapers, no bottles, nothing. And they told me that she couldn’t come home with me –

I left the hospital without a baby.

Let’s just say, life was not going how I had envisioned.

But Stella did come home, only one week later.  And suddenly not having a job and the messy house didn’t seem to matter as much. My entire perspective changed – in a moment.

And my perspective continues to change.  Stella really has a passion for living and for learning.  She never gives up, she is always positive about everything.

I have learned so much from Stella, most importantly, how to live.  I laugh more.  I spend more time doing things. I use my imagination and I question things.  I have gotten in touch with my passions again, with myself again.

I am so very thankful for my daughter.  I don’t even want to think of what life would have been like without her.