I bought my first GRM in '93 to follow the article of building a Miata for autox (which I followed exactly.) When the internet came along, I followed there too. I still have the Miata and though I autox much less, I have never left GRM.
This year, I successfully fielded my own car for the first time in the Challenge. Another personally GRM milestone.
Over the years I have gained more knowledge from GRM than ever expected. I have saved this thread for years and am grateful for what I learned in it. Additional thanks to Javelin for some encouragement that he has given through his stories too.
I am not the type to often say too much about my personal life here on the board but have been thankful for those of you that do, so...

Enough of that, onto the news:

We have a BABY GIRL

Yes this is quite the build thread and will certainly be a welcome but Ultimate Challenge!

We have been in the process of trying to adopt for many years now. Last week, our long marathon became a real sprint. On the evening of Thursday Oct 30th we met with the agency and the birth mother for the first time. The next evening, we traveled two hours to meet the baby who was in Foster Care (with wonderful people in a wonderful home.) That Sunday, we traveled to see the baby again. On Tuesday, the reality was presenting itself that this could really happen. At 4:30pm Thursday (exactly one week later) we re-met at the agency and we arrived home at 8:00 pm with our baby.

We are blessed. Joy is an understatement.

Some of you here are very close friends, others somewhat close and getting closer but I consider you all friends and therefore thought I would share.

Congratulation sir, prepare for no sleep

Congrats indeed!

Congrats john! The world needs people like you and your wife.

Congratulations! She is beautiful.

She's freaking adorable. I'm super stoked for you sir.

Wow, congrats man!

Huge congratulations!!!

Cute kid!

There is nothing better that you can be, than the Daddy of a daughter.

I am very happy for you and your family. Congratulations!

Congratulations! We are so pumped for you!!!

This is such an exciting thing. Love her. Try hard. You'll do great.

You peckerhead, you almost made me tear up there for a minute. Congratulations!

DeadSkunk wrote: You peckerhead, you almost made me tear up there for a minute. Congratulations!

Dust dude, totally dusty. Is by me too. I miss my infant, as my 3 year old is hucking canned goods at my wife for the lulz.

Congratulations!

Don't these threads normally have pics of the building process?

Congratulations & best wishes to you and your wife. You are doing something really great, not to mention the best fun ever. And (regardless of the circumstances, which are none of anybody's business) let's also take a moment to acknowledge the birth mother's courage in making this joyful event possible.

Congrats!!!! We have a friend that adopted a baby and was working on adopting a second child when they instantly stopped and announced they were NOT going to adopt at this time - the wife was pregnant!

We adopted a girl (11.5 years ago) that turns 12 next month - time FLIES!!!!!!

Woo Hoo!!

Let's see, what else can I say that would add to the sentiment or conversation??

Nope, that's it. Guess I'll just repeat...

...WOO HOO!!

Congrats!

Thanks all.
During a 3:30am feeding I read to her this entire thread (in lullaby tones). She seemed to like it too.

aircooled wrote: Don't these threads normally have pics of the building process?

Bought used, so no pictures of her coming out of the factory, if that's what you're looking for.
I do have pictures, however, of an explosion that appears to have come from the tailpipe.

Outstanding and congratulations!!!

JohnRW1621 wrote: Thanks all. During a 3:30am feeding I read to her this entire thread (in lullaby tones). She seemed to like it too.

Remember: They don't know what's supposed to be kid's music and what are supposed to be kids stories yet!

Congrats John! It's cool that you've already gotten her reading the forum, but be careful to not start calling her a dork. Mom may not like that.

Stealthtercel wrote: Congratulations & best wishes to you and your wife. You are doing something really great, not to mention the best fun ever. And (regardless of the circumstances, which are none of anybody's business) let's also take a moment to acknowledge the birth mother's courage in making this joyful event possible.

Well said, Stealth.

And congratulations, John!!!

She's a beautiful little girl, and is in good hands now. So happy for all three of you!!!