A Letter to My Son

To my little one so far away,

I am not sure you remember me, but I am part of a family working so very hard to adopt you into our forever family. We met almost 3 months ago--you were holding the green crayon out of the box of crayons we brought from Minnesota for you and your friends at the care center. You might remember your dad as the really tall "bald" guy you kept peeling stickers off of during our play time. You sat on my lap for over 30 minutes, I can still remember how tiny you seemed to me compared to your "big" brother back here in the US. I also remember putting my cheek next to yours when we took the family picture necessary for us to bring you home someday.


My dear son, something is holding us back from bringing you home-I am not sure what, or when it will be finished-but I am so very sad that we are an ocean away from you on your birthday this week. I also know next week will be difficult as we are approaching the one year mark from when your birth mother, and the women you lived with for 4 years left you at the care center. During our trip when we were in Ethiopia we had a wonderful visit with your birth mother. She is a very strong women who wants so much for you, so do we.

This weekend we went and ordered your birthday cake and spent a great deal of time looking for the "perfect" birthday present for you. Kenny and I "adopted" a giraffe at the Como Zoo in your name. We have your gift ready for you to open and your birthday card sealed waiting for your arrival.

Kenny's birthday wish is that you get a chance to see this present yet before your next birthday.


I am not sure how you will be spending your special day in Ethiopia, your family here in Minnesota will probably sing and take pictures of the cake and family standing around-with one empty chair-that we hope is filled by you.


I am still journaling most weeks-we started last January and I have one journal almost full. We hope someday you read that journal and understand how long, and how many people prayed and waited for you-long before you even could understand who we are or what was happening.



My Birthday Wish for you.....is that this is the last birthday we will be apart.



Love your mom