For starters I want you to know how much I love you. From the moment I first saw your picture I knew you were supposed to be our daughter. And then a few weeks later your mom and I got to hold you and love on you for the first time. They told us you were a “failure to thrive” baby and they weren’t sure how that would effect you as you got older. That we should expect some delays. But as soon as we first touched you we knew that you were going to be just fine. As small as you were physically we knew that nothing would slow you down. Perfection was the word we used! You instantly won our hearts.
I am sure you don’t remember our conversation, but on that trip I promised that I would do anything to protect you and give you the life that you deserved. I told you that we wouldn’t be apart for much longer and that as soon as we could get you home you would be welcomed into a house with two big brothers that were so excited to help you grow. You were loved before you ever even knew it. You were guarded by prayer and love on levels you could never believe! So many people loved you before they ever even met you.
As we began the process to bring you home our hearts were ecstatic with all of the possibilities for your life. We prepared for a process that could take a while and supported you from afar. During that “waiting well” period, things began to unravel and we feared losing you. However, I kept holding on to our little chat. That one about doing anything for you. So as things went badly you were surrounded by even more prayer and love. People from all over the world knew you by name and were praying for your safety and health. People that we didn’t even know were praying for you and asking God to make a way to bring you home to your family.
It’s amazing what prayer and faith can do!
Over the course of the almost 2 year process to bring you home there were numerous times it would have been much easier to just walk away. But your mom and I couldn’t do that. God led us to you and no matter what people said or how badly our feelings were hurt it was never even an option to give up. The doubters had no idea how hard I would fight for you. They had no idea that at times we agreed with them, that this process was crazy and seemed like it would only end with disappointment. Yet we clung to our faith. We did our best to let their words and actions roll off our backs. All because we knew that you were waiting on the other end of this fight.
That “light at the end of the tunnel” was every picture and video we received of you. It was plastered on fridge doors, screensavers, picture frames in countless rooms and just about everywhere we went. You never left our side even though we were an ocean apart. You were with me every step of the way as I trained for a half marathon and you were there when I crossed the finish line. Your big brothers prayed for you every night. They wanted to know everything about you and when they finally got to meet you they instantly knew it as well. They knew they were supposed to be your protective brothers and right from the first moment they took their job serious.
I want you to know today how much you are loved. You are loved by the parents that gave you life and you are loved by the parents that are giving you a life. Both sets of parents sat in hot Haitian court rooms and signed on blank notebook paper to give you the best life possible. One mom and dad signed stating that they could not provide the proper care you deserved. And the other mom and dad signed on stating that they would give you the life that you were destined to have. A life filled with anything that your heart desires. A life filled with love beyond anything you could have ever imagined. A life surrounded by people that will always be there for you. A life where if you can dream it, it can become a reality. And a life where above all else, you will know that you are loved by a maker that created you to be someone amazing! A God that knew before any of us did that you would cross an ocean and become part of a family that would walk through flames for you. A God that loves you unconditionally and doesn’t make mistakes!
So today, little one, as we celebrate your “gotcha day” and finally can say our family is complete, I want to share just a couple things with you…
Finally, the last thing you need to know as we prepare to be a forever family… I love you!
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