My dear child

Last Thursday we heard from our placement worker that she has a lead on a potential match for us. This Monday we're meeting with her to get some more information, but from what we know so far it sounds promising. We don't know if this is the one or not, but it's hard to not get excited over the possibility that our wait could soon be over. For some time I've been thinking about writing a letter to our as-yet adopted child - something he/she can read down the road - that expresses our thoughts and feelings about waiting to become parents. Now seems to be as good a time as ever.

My dear child,

We haven't met yet, but your Mom & I have been anxious to meet you. I read somewhere that an adopted child is someone who isn't born from a mother's womb but rather her heart. Well, you were conceived in our hearts and we're waiting for the day when we can call you our child. We don't know your name; we don't know if you're a girl or boy or how old you are. We don't know what kind of history you have, although it's probably a history full of hurt. We won't pretend to know what it's like to be in your shoes, but we do know the hurt of not having someone to call us Mom and Dad. But adopting you is not about us becoming parents, but rather giving you a home and a family to call your own. I think though that having our own hurts helps us to understand that you also hurt and long to have someone call you their child.

Do you know how excited we are to meet you some day? We have a bedroom all set up just for you. There's a school and a playground across the street from where we live, and a park close by too. We have a fooseball table in the basement and a Wii we can play on, so there's lots of fun stuff we can do together as a family. Your Mom & I talk about the things we would like to do with you, but we don't know what you like and don't like so you'll have to tell us what you do for fun. Our neighbors, friends and family always ask if we've heard when you'll be coming to us. They have kids of their own and maybe you'll become friends with them. You'll have cousins who are school aged kids, grown-up cousins and lots of uncles and aunts too. Many people are waiting for you to come to us and will be happy to meet you. I can tell you right now that you will be surrounded by people who will love you. There is a new life here, waiting just for you!

As your future Dad I want to say sorry in advance for all the mistakes I will make as I help you become an adult. To say that no one's perfect is an understatement, and seems to be an excuse we grownups make for making mistakes. I will make mistakes but I don't mean to hurt you. Many people have told me though that I'd make a great father. I may turn out to be a great father, but I'm more interested about showing you the Father than being a great father. Who is the Father? The Father is the one who made all things, including you. He does not make mistakes, and while people make mistakes no one is a mistake, because all things come from Him. He is the perfect expression of goodness, love and justice. He knew you before you were born and He knows you long for a family. He puts the lonely in families and is a Father to the fatherless. He will never leave you nor forsake you.

How do I know this? I know this because He lives inside of me. The Spirit of the Father lives in everyone who knows Him. He gave us a book called The Bible so that we could read about Him. He also works in the everyday lives of people and shows us His word is true in real and practical ways. He sent his only Son to show us the way to Him, because we all have lost our way. We were all born separated from the Father, and He so wants to adopt us as His children. Just as your Mom and I anxiously wait for the day to adopt you, so too does the Father wait to adopt you as His child. Your Mom & I call Him our Father, and we pray that one day you will call Him Father too. But it may not be easy for you to call Him Father because of the mistakes your Dad makes. We see Him the way we see our dads down here on Earth; so if we had good dads it's easier to see the Father as good. But if our dads let us down enough times it can get hard to see The Father as kind and loving. I want to show you who He is, and that's why I'm saying my sorries now. And believe me, I will also say my sorries later on.

So until we finally meet your Mom & I will keep praying for you. We pray that The Father will guide you to us soon and help us be the Mom & Dad you need us to be. We pray that you will grow to be the best that you can be and that you live out your dreams. We believe in you and are so proud of you, even though we haven't met yet. And until we do we will have to be patient, knowing that The Father watches over all of us and is working on bringing us all together.

Love,
Mom & Dad