Page 14 - MSN_346_AugustSeptember

PAGE 14 HOME & LIFESTYLE
I’M YOUR DAUGHTER / CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13
Michelle’s first thought was how much she,
herself, resembled Mary—especially her smile.
“It was summer, and we all had cool
drinks and just sat around my living room and
got acquainted for a few hours. We hugged
and kissed. We were both shy and excited at
the same time, not sure how we’d be received.
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That quickly passed though,” remembered To their delight, Michelle visited them for
Mary. “Getting to know Michelle, her hus- the first time this past summer. She flew into
band, and two children was more wonderful Kalispell, rented a car, and drove to Ferndale with
than I could have hoped it to be. She is a warm, her phone arm hanging out the window taking
loving person and was as happy to meet me videos of the lush farm and mountain landscape
as I was to meet her. There was no recrimi- to share with family and friends back home.
nation of any kind. It was just a real feel-good “We did touristy things. Shopped in Bigfork
meeting. Before they left, we’d made plans to walking hand-in-hand down the street; ate
see each other again.” at different restaurants, went down to the
One reason Michelle wanted to find her Garden of One Thousand Buddhas near Arlee,
birth mother was to obtain family medi- and drove around Flathead Lake,” recounted
cal history. The other reason was to see if Mary. “She was constantly amazed at how
they might possibly establish a relationship. gorgeous everything was.”
Michelle had known from a young age that she While it was certainly a mother-daughter
was adopted. The man and woman who raised reunion, Jose was part of the picture every
her were the kind of parents whom adoption step and mile along the way. Despite his
agencies dream about working with, and they willingness to give the gals quality time alone
never considered withholding that informa- together, Michelle had other ideas on that
tion. So it was not unusual for Michelle’s subject. Leaving him at home was never an
adoptive mother to encourage her to find her option as far as she was concerned.
birth mother. “She insisted he come with us, and he
“In raising Michelle, her parents gave her was very pleased to be included,” said Mary,
the self-confidence and permission to do what smiling. “Jose is really good at being a piece
she needed to do to make her life feel com- of furniture. As long you don’t try to sit on
plete,” praised Mary. “I can never thank them him, he’s okay.”
enough for that and all they did for Michelle. When Michelle left to head back to the
Their unconditional love and guidance turned airport, Jose’s words summed up Mary’s
her into the amazing woman she is today. My feelings precisely: “It feels like there’s a hole
gratitude knows no bounds.” in the room.”
The get-togethers continued as often as Although some women might be reluctant
the two families could synchronize schedules to share experiences like this, Mary Sanchez
until 2005. That’s when the Mary and Jose had no such qualms. On the contrary, she
bought some property in Ferndale, Mont., valued the opportunity to relate her story.
that they’d fallen in love with and began a “I am so privileged to know this beau-
new life there. tiful person. People should be aware of the
“Fewer people, less traffic, no sales tax, blessings available for them if they will just
clean air, clean water, and a price we could be more open-minded and less judgmental,”
afford—we were thrilled,” Mary said. “It’s said Mary. “Michelle was a gift when she was
the best move we’ve ever made. Jose and I born. I gifted her to adoptive parents. Now I’ve
were in total agree- been re-gifted to have her back in my life and
ment about it.” to hear her call me ‘mom.’” MSN
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(STATEPOINT) At a divisive moment in our nation’s history,
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Broken: Can the Senate Save Itself and the Country? in order to explore the
state of U.S. politics and its future.
Of the U.S. Senate, his area of expertise, he says, “America is deeply
divided. But the men and women of the Senate should not mirror—or
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