So much of what I write is about coping, struggle and challenge, but that’s not all that is happening in our lives. While we make these big leaps of courage I never want to forget the moments that fill my heart with pure love and fuel my determination to advocate for my children.

The other night I saw that Hope was holding back some tears when she came to say good night. When I asked her how she was feeling, she let loose. “My whole life I wanted to be a girl… thank you Mommy for letting me be me.” she sobbed as she told me she loved me and that hers were tears of joy.

Her graciousness moved my spirit and I told her to always be true to who she is and then we cried together. Glorious tears of happiness for how lucky we are.

It’s like Hope was waiting for the green light all these years to be who she is inside and she just got her chance. I’m thinking less of the reasons that we didn’t see it coming any sooner and just being grateful for our acceptance now. It’s never too late.