Letter to Sarah

Dear Sweet Sarah,

       You are loved, you are cherished, and you have a family waiting for you, oceans away.  Today, all the paperwork we need has arrived in your country, waiting to be translated and submitted to court.  Our petition to let your country know we are waiting to come for you.  We've left no stone unturned in our quest to become your family.    Six months to the day we committed to you.    I can hardly believe the moment is here.  There have been challenges and miracles, paving the way on our journey to you.

      July 24, 2010, Our family went to dinner and began our conversation about adoption, special needs, and Down Syndrome.  Neither one of us knew whether it was a path we would take at that moment, but God did.

    August 24, 2010, we made a commitment to Reece's Rainbow, to our families, to God, and to you, Sarah, that we would do everything in our power to become your forever family.  We see you, as the beautiful little girl you are.  We see your potential to change the world, to make a difference.  We see.

   The next six months, we chased paper after paper that we needed to become your forever family.

    October 22, 2010, you turned 3, alone and in an orphanage.  You did not blow out candles, or eat birthday cake, nor open presents.  But, sweet Sarah, this will be  the last birthday you will ever spend alone.  In 2011, you will have the biggest, rockin', birthday bash extravaganza ever.  We will celebrate, we will rock the house out, we will laugh, and we will LOVE you.

    November 25, 2010, it was Thanksgiving in our country.  A time to give thanks, a time to count our blessings, a time to celebrate love, life, and family.  As our family circled before the meal, giving thanks, I thought how blessed we would be when you become a part of the rich traditions of our family, the legacy that began over 40 years ago. 

    December 28, 2010, we saw a modern-day burning bush miracle.  The journey thus far had its ups and downs, frustrations, joys, and excitement.  No matter how discouraged we got, a footprint was placed in our path to encourage us along.  Our burning bush was when we found a receipt dated July 24, 2010, the night our family began talking about adoption.  Sarah, our server's name that evening was SARAH, spelled exactly how we have chosen the name for you.  We didn't know whether this would be our path to take, our journey.  But, God did.

    February 11, 2011, we saw a modern-day parting of the Red Sea, another miracle.  We had been trying to get updates from USCIS (immigration), so that we could send our paperwork to your country.  This day, we received the most discouraging news ever.  It could be 45-60 days until we are approved.  If that held true, our paperwork would expire and we'd need to begin again.  We called, emailed, and posted pleas on Facebook all Friday evening.  Saturday morning at 10am, an email came from USCIS.  Not only had an officer been assigned to our case, but it was reviewed, and recommended for approval.  All within 8 hours!!! 

    February 19, 2011, we sent our dossier (all the paperwork we would need) over to your country and received a video of you from another Reece's Rainbow family.  How special to see you walking, dancing, and do your own thing at a celebration in your country.  You are so beautiful!!  We shared it with everyone we knew, to see the new blossom in our family garden.

    February 23, 2011, it arrived and is being translated for court.  Six months to the day when we committed to becoming your forever family.

    Sarah, you have a family anxiously waiting for your arrival.  Your grandparents are gathering gifts for you.  Your family is preparing your room, and your future brother and sister have been praying for you daily since September.  Sarah, we can only pray that it won't be too long before we see your face, see you smile like you did as a baby, to hold you, to kiss you, and to love and cherish you.

    For now, we wait, my Princess. Waiting for an invitation to travel the seas to meet you face-to-face.

    All my love
*******************************

Andy's fortune from dinner this week...

You will soon emerge victorious from the maze you've been traveling in!

Soon, baby girl, soon....