Today is a special day!! We grew our family unofficially by two more feet today. While we have some time before it will be final (probably not even this year), in our minds and hearts, she's ours. God only knows what the future holds but for now we rest in his blessing. If you would have told me a year ago when we were in the middle of the adoption from Russia that our family would look as it does today, I wouldn't have believed you. In fact, I would has said you are nuts. 8 months ago we were grieving the loss of the little girl an ocean and several continents away in complete dismay over why we were experiencing such loss. As I mentioned at that time, His ways are higher than ours. As painful as that was, I wouldn't trade today for a million Dianas (the little girl whose adoption fell through). I would go through it again in a heart beat to be where we are today.
While we have only known about the precious baby girl whom I held for the first time today for a short period, we are already knitted together as a family. Our heads are still spinning about how God has worked this out. We couldn't have planned it. God can receive all the glory as this has been His doing. We are so undeserving of such a blessing. In just a little over two weeks our family will grow again by two more little feet.
But in order to be true to the title of my post, this is supposed to be a letter written to our newest addition. So here it goes...
Dear Caitlyn,
We only found out about you just a short time ago and yet even still, we fell in love the moment we laid eyes on you. You were so precious and small. I know you won't remember this day, but it is burned into my memory, the day you came home. You don't know what "home" means. The past 5 weeks you have been loved by a giving and kind foster family while we prepared for you. They sent a beautiful scrapbook with you. While we went through the process to be able to bring you home, you were given more love than you can possibly imagine. We haven't met your foster family yet, but we want to meet them. We want to express our gratitude to them for their willingness to be your parents even if it was only for a few weeks. You were their first foster placement. No doubt you won their heart the moment they laid eyes on you.
Your brothers were so excited to meet you, you have no idea. For weeks they have asked us when you would come home. Your older sister, Christyana, doesn't yet understand who you are or why you are here. But then, she has only been with us 7 months or so. Little does she know what a blessing God has given her in a sister. Your older sister Cyniya will be joining us in two weeks. She hasn't met you either but is also eager to fall in love with you. She came to dinner last night with your Mimi and Poppi and said it was ok for you be here. Since she is only 3 herself that is a great encouragement that she thinks you will be loved and cared for here. She is right! You have already changed lives. You changed your foster family's life and you have already changed ours.
The day was pretty hectic for me at work, as most days have been lately. All I could think about was getting to meet you. You were on my heart and mind from the moment I woke up. Your mommy was also eager to meet you; until now you have just been a photograph. Mimi and Granddaddy were in town also eager to meet you. Even now, as I write, Mimi is cuddling you on the couch enjoying every minute. She was here within 24 hours of your big brother Colin's birth. She was there for Corban's birth. We attended court this afternoon. The judge was very kind as were the attorneys.
So now while the reality is still setting in, we watch you in complete awe. You are beautiful. You resemble your sister more than I would have expected. We are not sure what all the future holds. But we know we serve an amazing God who knit you together in your mother's womb and had held you in the palm of His hand since the moment you were conceived. He created you for a purpose. It is our hope that you will grow in the fear and admonition of the Lord. It is our prayer that God will open your heart to Him and draw you to Himself in repentance and faith. You will hear the gospel in our home, it is our prayer that God will open your heart to it. You are fearfully and wonderfully made!!
We love you, dear sweet baby girl. You are a masterpiece and we will forever remember the day you came...
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