Jeff's Note: This is the second post of an initial blog we started when our adoption process became "official" in December, 2006. At the time, we lived in our first home in Arlington Heights, IL.
30 December 2006
Meet Your Mom
Dear Little One:
Next to the miracle of you coming to us, I believe your Mom is the best part of the entire story. So, I thought I'd introduce you to her first thing. Her name is Helena. And next to the gift of God himself, your Mom is the most magnificent gift that God has ever blessed me with. She is an extraordinary woman. And I know that she and you will become the best of friends. Just this morning, your Mom and I were talking about you. It made her cry. We don't even know you, yet. We don't know if you've even been born. We don't know if you're a boy or a girl. We don't know anything like that. But we do know that some day, you are coming. Mom talks about that day a lot. She imagines what that day will be like. Until then, she prays for you every day. She prays that God will lead us to you. Whenever we talk about you, Mom cries. She doesn't cry because she's sad. She cries because you already have a special place in her heart and she wants to draw closer to you every day.
I knew there was something special about your Mom the day I met her. That would have been sometime back in about ... 2001 or so (she'll probably challenge me on that because she says I always get my numbers mixed up.) I met her at church. I can show you the exact place ... and one day, I will. From the day I met her, I knew I'd see her again. Soon enough, you'll see what I mean. When I think of your Mom, I always go to a verse in the Bible ... it is Matthew 5:16:"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
When I first met your Mom, I knew that God's light is inside of her. And I could see early that she was a light to others. Want to hear something cool? This will give you an idea of how awesome God really is. Take a guess at what your Mom's name - Helena - really means? Well, if you go back to Latin and some of the earliest languages in history, you'll learn that your mom's name means "torch" or "moon." And guess what's special about the moon or a torch? They are always giving off light ... just like your Mom.
I like this picture, over here to the left (she's not as fond of it as I am). In fact, I like
this picture so much, I carry it with me everywhere I go. Tell me what you see? I see a woman who is gentle and tender-hearted. I see someone who is thoughtful and deliberate. I see someone who is beautiful on the inside and on the outside. I see someone who is confident in her relationship with God. I see a woman who is well-loved (I'll take a little credit for that!). I see a woman with a light heart. I see a woman who is incredibly humble (speaking of which, Mom probably thinks I'm getting carried away right now). I see a woman who casts light into others. I see a Mom who some day, will cast light into you. Can you see it, too? I knew you would!
Your mom is smart. She always did really well in school. She studied hard, and she got good grades. She went to high school, college, and then went on to get two different graduate degrees (that's one better than Dad!). For a long time, she worked in the business world. She worked for a large insurance company. She worked hard and did well. But after about 13 years or so, she got a leading from God to do something else (this is where the casting light part comes in). God led Mom on a path to become a Christian counselor. That is what she is today. Mom draws close to other people, helps them with the problems they have in life, and then she helps them draw closer to God. That makes your Mom happy. And it makes God happy, too. Your mom is a great listener, which is probably why God led her to become a counselor. She's going to love listening to you tell her about your day, what you learned, who you met, and how you feel. She'll make you feel like the most special person in the world. (Trust me, I know!)
Your mom loves to read. She'll read up to 4-5 different books at a time (that drives Dad a little crazy. I always wonder how she keeps track of what she's reading! Daddy can only read one book at a time.) In fact, just last night, Mom was up until the wee hours of the morning reading a book that a friend gave her for Christmas. I know that Mom is going to be reading lots and lots of stories to you. (Make sure she reads you one called "You Are Special." That's one of Dad's favorites!)
Your mom loves home more than any other place in the world. Mom loves our house. She says it fits us just right. It is cozy, it is peaceful and it is in a great neighborhood (wait until you see the park down the street!). Dad thinks the house is actually a little small, but Mom loves it ... so I'm not pushing my luck. A perfect day for Mom at home is a good book, a comfortable couch, an open window, a cup of tea, fresh air and sunny skies. She'll love to share a day like that with you.
Your mom loves her family. She especially loves her own Mom ... another very special woman you'll come to know as Mor-Mor (that's Swedish for Grandma). Mor-M
or is your Mom's Inspiration Here's a picture of Mor-Mor and your Mom over to the right. Mor-Mor also loves God very much. God has been a part of Mor-Mor's life for a long time. And thanks to God's faithfulness, Mor-Mor has been a very strong and courageous woman all of her life. Mor-Mor has taught your Mom everything she knows. Mor- Mor has always been faithful (she prays for you all the time). God has blessed Mor-Mor for being faithful.Just like your Mom, Mor-Mor loves God and her family more than anything else in the world. Mor- Mor is your Mom's biggest fan. Once I asked your Mom who understood her better than anyone in the world. Without hesitating, some tears came to her eyes and she said "My Mom." Mor-Mor is the person who taught your Mom how to love God and how to love other people.
My prayer is that one day if somone asks you that question: "Hey little one, who understands you better than anyone else in the world?" That a tear or two will come to your eyes, and ... without hesitating ... you'll say ... "My Mom."
I have a lot more to tell you about your Mom ..... her favorite color (blue), what she likes to eat (fresh fruit), what makes her laugh (Dad), her favorite stories, her best friends, and her favorite childhood memories (growing up on the family farm in Sweden).
But you and I will have plenty of time for that. In the meantime, I hope and pray that you will come to feel the same way that I do about your Mom. You have a special place in Mom's heart ... and it gets bigger and bigger every day.
Waiting patiently,
Dad
30 December 2006
Meet Your Mom
Dear Little One:
Next to the miracle of you coming to us, I believe your Mom is the best part of the entire story. So, I thought I'd introduce you to her first thing. Her name is Helena. And next to the gift of God himself, your Mom is the most magnificent gift that God has ever blessed me with. She is an extraordinary woman. And I know that she and you will become the best of friends. Just this morning, your Mom and I were talking about you. It made her cry. We don't even know you, yet. We don't know if you've even been born. We don't know if you're a boy or a girl. We don't know anything like that. But we do know that some day, you are coming. Mom talks about that day a lot. She imagines what that day will be like. Until then, she prays for you every day. She prays that God will lead us to you. Whenever we talk about you, Mom cries. She doesn't cry because she's sad. She cries because you already have a special place in her heart and she wants to draw closer to you every day.
I knew there was something special about your Mom the day I met her. That would have been sometime back in about ... 2001 or so (she'll probably challenge me on that because she says I always get my numbers mixed up.) I met her at church. I can show you the exact place ... and one day, I will. From the day I met her, I knew I'd see her again. Soon enough, you'll see what I mean. When I think of your Mom, I always go to a verse in the Bible ... it is Matthew 5:16:"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
When I first met your Mom, I knew that God's light is inside of her. And I could see early that she was a light to others. Want to hear something cool? This will give you an idea of how awesome God really is. Take a guess at what your Mom's name - Helena - really means? Well, if you go back to Latin and some of the earliest languages in history, you'll learn that your mom's name means "torch" or "moon." And guess what's special about the moon or a torch? They are always giving off light ... just like your Mom.
I like this picture, over here to the left (she's not as fond of it as I am). In fact, I like
this picture so much, I carry it with me everywhere I go. Tell me what you see? I see a woman who is gentle and tender-hearted. I see someone who is thoughtful and deliberate. I see someone who is beautiful on the inside and on the outside. I see someone who is confident in her relationship with God. I see a woman who is well-loved (I'll take a little credit for that!). I see a woman with a light heart. I see a woman who is incredibly humble (speaking of which, Mom probably thinks I'm getting carried away right now). I see a woman who casts light into others. I see a Mom who some day, will cast light into you. Can you see it, too? I knew you would!Your mom is smart. She always did really well in school. She studied hard, and she got good grades. She went to high school, college, and then went on to get two different graduate degrees (that's one better than Dad!). For a long time, she worked in the business world. She worked for a large insurance company. She worked hard and did well. But after about 13 years or so, she got a leading from God to do something else (this is where the casting light part comes in). God led Mom on a path to become a Christian counselor. That is what she is today. Mom draws close to other people, helps them with the problems they have in life, and then she helps them draw closer to God. That makes your Mom happy. And it makes God happy, too. Your mom is a great listener, which is probably why God led her to become a counselor. She's going to love listening to you tell her about your day, what you learned, who you met, and how you feel. She'll make you feel like the most special person in the world. (Trust me, I know!)
Your mom loves to read. She'll read up to 4-5 different books at a time (that drives Dad a little crazy. I always wonder how she keeps track of what she's reading! Daddy can only read one book at a time.) In fact, just last night, Mom was up until the wee hours of the morning reading a book that a friend gave her for Christmas. I know that Mom is going to be reading lots and lots of stories to you. (Make sure she reads you one called "You Are Special." That's one of Dad's favorites!)
Your mom loves home more than any other place in the world. Mom loves our house. She says it fits us just right. It is cozy, it is peaceful and it is in a great neighborhood (wait until you see the park down the street!). Dad thinks the house is actually a little small, but Mom loves it ... so I'm not pushing my luck. A perfect day for Mom at home is a good book, a comfortable couch, an open window, a cup of tea, fresh air and sunny skies. She'll love to share a day like that with you.
Your mom loves her family. She especially loves her own Mom ... another very special woman you'll come to know as Mor-Mor (that's Swedish for Grandma). Mor-M
or is your Mom's Inspiration Here's a picture of Mor-Mor and your Mom over to the right. Mor-Mor also loves God very much. God has been a part of Mor-Mor's life for a long time. And thanks to God's faithfulness, Mor-Mor has been a very strong and courageous woman all of her life. Mor-Mor has taught your Mom everything she knows. Mor- Mor has always been faithful (she prays for you all the time). God has blessed Mor-Mor for being faithful.Just like your Mom, Mor-Mor loves God and her family more than anything else in the world. Mor- Mor is your Mom's biggest fan. Once I asked your Mom who understood her better than anyone in the world. Without hesitating, some tears came to her eyes and she said "My Mom." Mor-Mor is the person who taught your Mom how to love God and how to love other people.My prayer is that one day if somone asks you that question: "Hey little one, who understands you better than anyone else in the world?" That a tear or two will come to your eyes, and ... without hesitating ... you'll say ... "My Mom."
I have a lot more to tell you about your Mom ..... her favorite color (blue), what she likes to eat (fresh fruit), what makes her laugh (Dad), her favorite stories, her best friends, and her favorite childhood memories (growing up on the family farm in Sweden).
But you and I will have plenty of time for that. In the meantime, I hope and pray that you will come to feel the same way that I do about your Mom. You have a special place in Mom's heart ... and it gets bigger and bigger every day.
Waiting patiently,
Dad
1 comment:
Still teary-eyed. I agree with Jeff on ALL points about you, Helena!
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