Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi, I’m Congresswoman Michele Bachmann from Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District. November is one of my favorite months because leaves have changed, and in our case in our district the occasional snowstorm, makes for a cozy time of year. I enjoy being inside by the fireplace.

It is a time when each of us gather around our table on Thanksgiving and give thanks for the many blessings God has bestowed in our lives and on our nation. I know personally I have a lot to be thankful for this year.

I am very grateful for the opportunity to represent the wonderful constitutents that I have here in the halls of Congress. I am thankful for my health, for our wonderful community in Minnesota and for those who sacrifice so much in defense of our nation--not only our current men and women in uniform, but also for our veterans.

Most importantly, I am thankful that I have a wonderful husband, five terrific children and 23 foster children. It isn’t easy, but my family motivates and inspires me every day. We are each other’s support in good times and in bad--I'm sure you can relate! And I can always count on a hug waiting for me at home, especially from our Beagle, Boomer. This time of year means we all get together in Minnesota to enjoy a homemade meal and a rousing game of Turkey Bingo with our neighbors.

Unfortunately, many children in the United States are not afforded this same comfort of family. There are currently 423,000 who are living without a forever family. Of those children, 115,000 are eligible for adoption.

I am the co-chair of the Adoption Caucus and the Foster Care Caucus. Appropriately, the same month as Thanksgiving is also National Adoption Month. My colleagues in the Congressional Coalition on Adoption and I are dedicated to helping deal with the very real challenges surrounding the adoption process. It's not always easy. We want to smoothe this out and help in any way we can in an effort to find every child a forever family.

It was former President Thomas Jefferson who once said "No society is so precious as that of one's own family." I couldn't agree more. This November, as you join your families and give thanks for life’s many blessings, I ask that you take a moment to learn more about this wonderful option of adoption by visiting bachmann.house.gov/adoption. Together, we can help children find a forever family to give them the love and support they so richly deserve.

Happy Thanksgiving and happy National Adoption Month! God bless you and God bless the United States of America.