I have so many things to share with you today. Where to begin?
This past weekend an 18-year-old girl who we love very much spent the night with us. We enjoyed our time with her and had felt an instant connection with her from the very first time we met her back in November. She spoke to our GPS (foster and adoptive parents' class) about what it felt like to be in foster care from her perspective. In December, she helped us cook for the Foster Parents' Association Christmas party, and we got to have dinner with her afterwards. In early February, she went with me to a church event, and I got to stay with her while she recovered from being sick. She expressed an interest in staying with us and becoming part of our forever family, and we would be honored for her to do this. We know that the timing may not be right for her right now to become part of our family through adoption, but she will forever be our "Princess" Grace. We will always have a home for her to come home to, and if one day the timing is right for her and she still wants to be a part of our family through legal adoption, we would love to have her. We are going to find out if her brother can be placed in our home and if he wants to become part of our Forever Family. Either way, she will always be part of our heart family and will always be your sister. I think she will be a good role model for the two of you. I always knew we would adopt several children, including some older children.
This leads me to another topic.
So many people have been supportive of our desire to become foster and adoptive parents and SO many are praying for the both of you daily. Very few people are surprised about our calling or plans to become foster and adoptive parents. Those who are usually feel like your father would probably appreciate alone time with me or that we should just travel the world alone and enjoy each other. These people must not have a clue that not only does your father LOVE and adore children and want to be a father again, but that he fell in love with me precisely because of how much I love and give to others--my mothering spirit. I highly doubt that most people know that on our five-day honeymoon, we spent an entire day at an orphanage taking care of babies and children. We both knew that orphan care was important to us even then. My only regret about that is not doing more for them after we returned home. I hope to one day take you and all of your siblings back and take supplies and help them with facilities maintenance and whatever else they need.
Your father and I were destined to adopt, and we feel we were destined to be your parents. It won't be long now. Our next (and hopefully final visit) with our new worker is late next week. Eight days from now, we could know when we will meet you. In the past ten months, we have learned to have Patience, Wisdom, Faith, and Hope. Now, we also have our Grace. A side note, Grace is also your father's nickname for me . . . so, your sister Grace is kind of named after me (and one of my favorite aunts). We look forward to meeting you and holding you in our arms.
Love always and forever,
Mama
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