The last two years I have written these letters to the daughters of my dear friends who are waiting for the day that they hold their child. I still have friends waiting, but I also have friends who 2009 was the year that they finally held their daughters!







Dear Low Low,

So much going on with your family! You a have a big sister, two big brothers, 3 dogs, and horses! Remember last year I told you that you Mom was a professional mommy....I wasn't kidding was I! There is nothing she takes more seriously than her life as a mom. She hugs you and kisses every day. Your mom and daddy will always love you and keep you safe; they have whispered this promise to you many times. Your sister and brothers are teaching you so many new things. Everyone is so happy that you are finally home with them!!

Your mom has fought long and hard to bring you home sweet baby girl. Remember that there is nothing that your mom can't do! I believe that you and your mommy are kindred spirits....You both are strong and determined.

Love Mommy’s Friend,
Maryellen

Dear Claire,

What a strong and determined Mom you have! She is so smart and funny. She will show you that there is nothing that you can’t do once you put your mind to it! Waiting for you was hard, but your Mom will tell you that you were well worth the wait!! . Don't you just love your home! Your playroom is pretty cool! Your Mom did that just for you! She has a generous heart. She will always love you and you will always be the most important person in her life.

Sweet Claire now you know the love that your mommy has been keeping just for you. No longer will you have to wait for hugs and kisses....your mommy will always be there to keep you safe and to be sure that you know every minute of every day that you are precious.

Love Mommy’s Friend,
Maryellen

Dear Polar Cub,

This letter is one of the hardest for me to write. I have seen the tears in your Mom’s eyes. She loves you so much and aches to hold you. She is going to be such a great mom. She is kind and will teach you so many things. She has waited such a long time to be your mommy! She will read you stories, she will act silly and make Christmas cookies with you every year. She will teach you to be strong and believe in yourself. She will love you always; I have seen it in her eyes.

Your mommy is such a good friend. She has never stop loving or dreaming about you. The moment you are placed in your loving mommy's arms we will all be crying tears of happiness!

Guess what Polar Cub? She will be there very soon to bring you home! This is one baby announcement I can't wait to see!!!

Love Mommy’s Friend,

Maryellen



Dear Eme,

Your family has waited so long for you! What a perfect match God has made by placing you in the arms of this fun loving family! I could tell from your smiling picture that you and your new family were going to be perfect! Your mom will love you always, she has loved you for such a long time already and every time she holds you all you need to do is look into her eyes to see that this is true. Her love for you is endless and she will always be there to hold you and keep you safe, but more importantly to remind you that you are loved.



Love Mommy’s Friend,

Maryellen


Dear Gracie Mae,

What fun you are going to have with your Mommy and Daddy! Your home is filled with love, music and lots of laughter. Your mommy will teach to love unconditionally, because little Gracie that is how she loves you. She will show you that you can be strong and still cry. She will sing you songs, read you stories, play dress up and shower you with hugs and kisses. She will love and treasure you always.

Mommy and Daddy have a big surprise for you when you get home! You have a big sister named Georgia! Isn't that exciting!! Your big sister will teach lots of things! You will have so much fun together.

Love Mommy’s Friend,

Maryellen


Dear Ellis,

I wasn't kidding when I told you to be prepared to have your picture taken! Your Mom can’t help but capture beauty around her, and you, Ellis you have added so much beauty to your Mommy’s life. She has shown you that love is boundless by how much she loves and cares for her patients, friends and pets. She will continue to show you the simple yet amazing things all around. She will love you forever, she has promised that in her heart.

Your mommy has waited patiently and sometimes not so patiently to hold you Ellis. She has prepared a beautiful room for you! Your mom is amazing and not only does she capture the beauty of the world around her with her camera, she recognizes the beauty in everything and everyone. She has a kind and giving heart. I am lucky to call her my friend. She has so much to share with you.....


Love Mommy’s Friend,

Maryellen



And last but not least I wish all of you a Happy New Year! I hope and pray that this is the year that your daughters come home to the love that waits for them in each of your hearts.

Christmas Craziness

Christmas even cookie making
Christmas 2009 was fantastic. As Ben and Hannah get older it gets harder and more expensive to find them something for Christmas. This year I was able to score a Bl@ck Friday netbook for Hannah which she luuuurvs and was totally surprised, and a l@ptop for Ben. Chris has also entered the realm of "good gracious does he really need another shirt or sweater???" so he got a new computer too! It is official I have the crappiest computer in the house:) Guess I know what I will be getting next year! Santa brought Sophie lots of stickers,paper, crayons and puzzles. She was so cute in the morning ( and I am happy to report that she slept until 8:00) . She went to get Chris out of bed and told him " wake up daddy Santa was here!" in just the cutest sweet little voice! After she opened up the gifts in her stocking she thought that was it! When I told her that Santa left her more presents under the tree she looked confused.....but quickly got over it and was ripping through gifts like a pro! Another Christmas bonus this year was that my Mom was here to celebrate with us and witness all the craziness that makes the holiday fun at our house!

Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas friends! Enjoy the day with your friends and family.

Cotillion 2009

Ben had his first semi-formal last night. He and his date Maggie, met up with friends for dinner and then went to the dance.....just one question....how did he get this big so fast????

A Special Need

I posted this originally on our old blog "TBG Happenings".



Sophie's referral picture June '07

With the wait getting longer I wanted to talk to all you waiting families about special needs adoptions. First let me say that it is perfectly ok to consider adopting a special needs child because the wait has become insanely long. There I said it. Do I think that should be the only reason, certainly not, but if the wait has given you pause to consider a child with a special need …..Why not! In some ways I think that the wait has been the best thing for children in China who will NOT be adopted domestically because of a special need. More families around the world have opened their hearts to children with various special needs. Many of these children may not have found their family had the wait stayed at 8-9 months. We were added to our agency waiting family list one month after our LID backing ’06. The climbing wait definitely was a factor, but it was also something that we had talked about and gone back and forth discussing. I can’t imagine not having our Sophie. If the wait had been shorter this crazy, funny, smart and loving girl would not be sleeping next to me. Sophie was on another agency list back in December of last year. Her information was posted several times on the WC yahoo board. Unfortunately she had to wait longer for us to find her and bring her home, and I hate that. But I am grateful that we found each other. Her file was sent back to the CCAA in January ’07 and in June her file was sent to our agency.

Only you can decide what special needs you can handle. Only you know if you would be able to handle the costs of surgeries and therapy if that is needed. We carefully considered each special need on our agency list, and were honest about what we could handle as a family and as parents. We considered Sophie’s special need to be manageable for our family. It has not been easy, but it certainly has not been harder than we expected. Her prognosis for a long and healthy life is excellent.

Love without Boundaries has produced an informational CD about the various special needs most commonly found in China adoptions. The disc is $10 and once LWB gets their site up again you should be able to order the disc.

Adoption like birth provides no guarantees. If you feel the tug of your agency special needs program, take a chance….you may just find your daughter.

Sophie’s special need was us; our special need was Sophie

I need to be a better blogger

So to make up for my lack of posting. I leave you with a song from Sophie