Grangers +1

Few times in your lifetime do you meet someone that changes things forever.  It happens the day you find your soul mate, the first time you look into the eyes of your newborn child and, for us, the day we met Nicole. 

Nicole first arrived on the scene when she was about 14 years old.  She was the oldest daughter of a struggling, single mom that lived down the street.  She came complete with a toddler on her hip, a 6 year old in tow, and a bubbly personality.  She was pretty, smart, funny and surprisingly positive, despite the responsibility of caring for her two young sisters. 

She began as our babysitter, but before long, she and her sisters were there all day: staying for supper, spending the evenings watching tv, and falling asleep on the couch.  Bedtime rolled around and we'd load them up in the car and drive them home.  They became a permanent fixture at our house, but we loved it. 

We quickly developed a relationship with each one of the girls -- but there was a special connection with Nicole.  We were so drawn in by her positive, bubbly attitude and amazing sense of humor.  She kept us laughing and was a joy to have around!  And Nicole loved us back and seemed to crave the family dynamic that we had.  She enjoyed being part of a family that went on walks, played together, and had family dinners.  I remember one instance when we were all walking to the neighborhood park, Nicole was bouncing along beside us and exclaimed, "Isn't this fun?  It's like we're a family!"

Over the next few years, she'd often announce that she was going to move in with us when she turned 18.  We didn't discourage it, but actually didn't expect that it would ever really happen.  But it did -- a year sooner than she'd planned.  When she was 17, her mom decided to move in with a friend.  There wasn't a lot of room, so she asked us if we would allow Nicole to move in with us.  Of course, we were happy to have her - she spent most of her time at our house anyway, what's a few more hours a day?  It didn't take her long to settle right in to her own little niche.  Soon, our names changed from "Todd and Mary" to "Dad and Mom", and Nick and Cassie became like her little brother and sister. 

That was 11 years ago.  She's now 28 years old, a college graduate, working full-time and living on her own.  We're proud of the successful, independent woman she has become and so happy she joined our family.  We love you, Nicole!