Webchats

Look at that beautiful smile!

Isn't she just gorgeous?

Our precious little girl (who isn't even so little anymore- she told us tonight she is 137 centimeters- 53 inches)

Building a relationship long distance via skype with a little girl who speaks less of your language than you do of hers is unique.  The first webchat was so exciting.  The next few were alternately difficult as she grieved leaving her foster family and wonderful as she began to accept us.  We've had high moments (the time she made her pink panther give us all kisses, our rubber band fight, and the way her eyes light up and she laughs when we show her something silly) and the sadder moments (the day she wasn't interested in talking and left after 5 minutes to play outside, the times video or sound don't work well on our side or theirs, and the worst, the day she cried when we talked about her coming here).  

Now, it's still rewarding to get her to smile.  I still love to hear her laugh and try to think of ways to draw her into our family.   But the subtext to everything we share is "you should have been here too".  We lit the pumpkins we carved to show her and told her about cooking and eating pumpkin seeds. I wish you had been here, carving your first pumpkin. We thought you would be here by now. We showed her the photos from playing in the leaves and making scarecrows with the cousins. You would have so much fun jumping in the leaves.  I bet you and Abby will be such good friends.  We told her Daddy baked cookies tonight, and she pretended to eat it.  It's hard sharing cookies long distance.  I wish you could really eat one tonight.  

Soon, Sarah-Grace. We all hope you come home soon.  We're praying daily.