# 29 Adopted into the Bass and White Family

As I wrote about in my last post I was born into the amazing Ricks family, however I was also adopted into two other really special families. Both of these families have loved me like I am one of their own and I am forever grateful to them for how special and loved they always made me feel.

The Bass Family

(Mr. B is the man in the maroon shirt and Mrs. B is the woman in the middle, I am the little girl with the really big bangs!)

My adoption into the Bass family occurred pretty much immediately upon my birth.  In fact Mrs. Bass always says that if I had been a boy she would have probably had to adopt me because my mom had wanted a girl so bad!  The Bass family has always treated me as one of their own. In fact one time at church someone, who had been going to that church with us for awhile, actually thought I was the Bass' daughter!

 I have such special memories of my time with them.   If I had to pick one word to describe the Basses it would be "fun".  I always enjoyed spending time with them during my growing up years. The Bass daughters were also my most favorite babysitters. Although I didn't get to stay with them as much when I got older since my mom would make me stay with my brothers.  I always thought Leighan, Paige and Kristi were so cool because they were older and very pretty.  Plus they introduced me to one of the best chick flicks of all time, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun."  When I was 2 or 3 Mr. Bass taught me where you're suppose to keep your boogers. (In your front shirt pocket apparently!).  He also taught me how to drive at the age of 13.  To this day he still reminds me that he was the one who taught me how to drive.  Mrs. Bass gave the best hugs, was a great cook and taught me lots of songs.  I still remember sitting on her lap at her house singing "One little boy named David".

They were also a very comforting presence in my life when we moved from Texas to Ohio. I was only three and everyone thought I would easily adjust because I was so young. Little did they know that I would be traumatized by the move. I missed Texas so much but I remember being comforted by the fact that I still had the Basses. My dad and Mr. B worked for the same company and they both got transferred at the same time.   I am very blessed to have them as a part of my extended family.  We spent so many holidays with the Bass clan and I enjoyed every one of them.  Mr. and Mrs. B even came to my induction into the National Honor Society.  Now they must have really loved me to do that because you know that had to be really boring!  I don't get to see them very much anymore, but they will always hold a very special place in my heart. 

The Whites

The other family I was adopted into was the Whites. This didn't happen until a little bit later in my life.  I can't exactly pin point the time, probably sometime in middle school when I was constantly spending the night at their house.  Amy and Melody White were my best friends and Bro. Tim was the Pastor of our church.  Their house was also always so much fun.  First, they had a pool, and were always willing to host pool parties on Sunday nights in the summer. It doesn't get much better than that when you are young.  The other thing that made their house the best was that they were all just so much fun to be around.  We were always laughing. In fact that's what I remember most about being at their house growing up, and even now when we go to visit, we are always laughing!

I have another post coming about the girls in the family, so I'll focus this next part on Bro. Tim and Mary.  I'm so grateful to them for making me one of their "girls".  They have supported, counseled, and prayed for me more times than I can count.  They let me live with them when I was in college because my parents had moved to Tennessee.  It was really hard to study though, because we were always having so much fun. However, I did start having a lot of dreams about death when I lived with them, I blame it on the all the Law and Order marathons they watched....

I love my White family so much.  No matter how long I'm away from them, when I come back to visit it always feels like we can pick right up where we left off.  They were mentors to me when I was growing up and they continue to be to this day.  I will still call Mary when I'm having a hard time coping with all that you have to deal with as young pastor's wife.  She's a wonderful listener and gives great advice. Whenever Darin and I take a trip to Fairfield we always make sure we get some 'two on two' time with Bro. Tim and Mary. It is wonderful having mentors in your life who understand what you're going through. They know the life of a pastor's family and they are a wonderful support.  Plus they love my children and are always so excited to see them.

As I wrap up this post I want both the Bass and White families to know that every time I think of you I thank God for putting you in my life!