It has been 23 days sice we fell in love with your sweet little face on the TV screen at the "Golf Tourny Referral".  It has been 11 days since we arrived in your, & Luke's, birth country, anxious to meet you.  It has been 9 wonderful days since you were placed in our arms, and our family grew.  Our hearts are swollen with the joy we feel for you and your big brother  You are just getting to know us, and we think that you know how much we love you - we see the reflection in your smile.  Your big brother whispers sweet things to you as you lie in your cradle, and checks on you to see if you ar OK.  Daddy & I sneak peeks at you throughout the night - we sometimes can't believe you are finally here with us.  You grow each day, but still remain a tiny little bundle of life - incredible!  Your dainty fingers reach out to our hands, and you try to hold onto your bottle.  Just today, you reached for a toy to play with.  You are getting stronger, and can almost hold up your head.  You are very curious, like your brother, and like to watch what is going on around you.  You make sweet little cooing noises, and I think that you can laugh too!  You like to snuggle, that is our favorite part, especially at night.

Sweet Sophia, you are such a brave little one.  You have opened yourself to us and embraced us with your smile.  It must have been scary for you to leave the comfort of the only women you ever knew, who cared for you since you were born, and relax in the arms of your family.  But, your face lit up when you saw ours, and you smile melted our hearts and warmed our souls.  I hope you know how much we love you, and how we feel that you have been chosen by God to light up our lives.  You have always been in our hearts, and now sweet daughter, you are in our arms.

Now I can sing to both Luke, and his little sister:  "Cuando digo que te quiero, que mi corazon sera, orgulloso simplemente con amor que tu me das."

Te quiero mucho,

Your Mommy

As we write this, your gifts to us are tucked in, sleeping soundly here in their cribs.  We take turns peeking at them as they sleep, watching their peaceful faces as they dream.  We can't help but think that without your dedication to the beautiful innocent children of your beloved Colombia, that we would not be fortunate to be writing this note today.  We are blessed that you have chosen us to be the parents of Luke & Sophia.  We are forever grateful that you have entrusted us with the lives of such perfect little human beings!  You have made us a family, you have made our hearts whole.

Many people reading this may not even know the far reaches of your work.  You have taken in the women of this area, when perhaps they had nowhere else to go.  You give them their dignity, show them respect, care for their medical needs, teach them how to live more prosporously, and support them during a most stressful time in their lives.  You are their family, when they feel alone, you are their guide when they seek answers, you are their home when they have none.  You also reach out to the families in your community, help them cope with stressful situations, provide them with educational classes, assist them as they struggle with low finances, and teach them how to be better parents.  You care for children in "foster care" and provide them with a home, and education.  You are a safe haven for many children who have nowhere else to go, noone to watch over them, and noone to care.  You are their family, you are thier home.

For our children, you are their providers in the earliest hours of their lives.  You care for them, feed them, and keep them safe.  You are kissing & hugging their little bodies and tucking them in at night, until you call for us.  You are the reason they are thriving.  You are where they first learn about love.

We cannot begin to express our gratitude for the blessings you have bestowed on us.  We are forever indebted to you for all you have done to make us a family.  We vow to support your work for the rest of our lives, and we pray for the continued success of your programs everyday.  God Bless all of you, and God Bless those in your care.

Paul & Sarah 

Oh Tia Betty - where do we begin.  You have been part of our family since November 2001, when we first arrived in Bogota, anxious, nervous, excited & overwhelmed.  You took us under your wing, helped us learn the ropes of parenthood, and showed us the time of our lives!  We said before that this trip was like "coming home", and it surely has been.  Everyone knows how well you organize the household, recommend the best restaurants, entertain us in your home, show us where to shop, arrange tours & vacations, and "walk" us thru the streets of Bogota.  But, many people do not understand the "Behind the scenes Betty" - how you plan the meals so that even the pickiest of toddlers is getting what they need, how you hold our hands and teach us the tricks of calming a baby, how you treat us like your children and really care what is happening in our lives, how you go out of your way to find the item that we need - the souvenier that we want - or the "de-stressor" that will save our sanity.  You are more than the "Ultimate Guide to Bogota", the "Out of this World Party Planner", the "Entertainer Extraordinaire".  You make this feel like our home, you make us feel safe, you help our children feel love.

And, this goes without saying: You help us have one hell of a great vacation!

Thank you - and we love you Tia Betty,

The Melone Clan 

I am so very proud of you.  This has been a difficult trip for you.  I know how much you miss your house, and your cars and toys, and especially your bed.  You are exploring Betty's house and starting to feel comfortable, but it is hard to find your own space, which I know is important to you.  Most of all, it has been very hard for you to share time and attention with your new baby sister.  You are being such a sweet big brother, and you are very patient.  It makes me smile how you peek in on Sophia through the slats in her cradle, and how you say, "It's OK Sophia, don't cry".  You like to take her hand and say, "Mira, Sophia's fingers".  Someday you will hold her hand and lead her to play.  I know you will protect her, and keep her safe; you already try even though you are small.  Soon we will be able to go home as a family.  I think you will be very happy with Sophia at your side.

You have been able to travel aroung Bogota with Mommy & Daddy.  We are so happy to show you how beautiful Colombia is.  We hope that each time we visit you will learn more about your birthplace, and grow up to be very proud of your heritage.  You will be able to teach Sophia about the places you have seen first.  We feel so blessed that we have you, and your sister, and we are very proud of your birth country.  We also feel blessed that we were able to give you two a most special gift - each other.

Thank you for helping Mommy & Daddy take care of Sophia.  We love you Papito, so very much.

Mommy

Although I have not placed a picture of you at the beginning of this letter, your faces will remain etched in my mind, always.  Although your lives during this difficult time are kept private and protecetd by the trusted staff of FANA, your decision to give life to your child affects more people than you may ever imagine.  Although you may feel you are alone, you may never know of the extended family and friends praying for you and wishing you well.  Although it may seem that your situation is isolated, you may never know of the huge amount of people welcoming this child into their lives.  Although the decision to release your child may leave a hole in your heart, it will fill the void in another woman's soul.  I can only pray that our love for you will mend that wound, and your heart will fill with happiness knowing that you are courageous, that you are respected, that you are worthy, that you are brave, and that you are loved.

We visited some of you at your residence last week, and the emotions shared by all of us cannot be put into words.  We went as a family: Paul, Luke & I.  We went as a family because you make it possible for us to be so.  We were so impressed by Maria Lucia, and all the work she has done for the Hogar and it's programs.  We were touched by the love she has for each and every woman who enters the door, and the concern she has for every detail of your lives.  We will do our best to ensure that our friends understand the importance of FANA, and it's outreach programs, so that support for the Hogar will continue.

We sat down and visited with you for awhile.  You had many questions for us, and we could see how you were anxious, curious, skeptical, and scared.  We also saw how brave, mature, caring, thoughtful, and beautiful you are.  Through our tears we tried to let you know how your decision to give life to a child is the most courageous that you could have made.  Your selflessness in putting their lives ahead of your own shows wisdom beyond your young years.  Your determination to build a better future for yourselves demonstrates maturity and strength.

We hope that we were able to let you know how we (FANA parents) all strive to teach our children how proud we are of their birth country, and how much their lives were created out of love.  Your stories are their stories, and their individual histories they will grow up learning and appreciating.

Thank you for sharing your stories with us.  For us, visiting the Hogar completed the circle of the adoption process for us.  We now understand more of the history of our children at birth.  As I told you that day, through my tears and choked voice,  "We say prayers every night with Luke and Sophia for the blessing of the women who gave them life.  And, although we know the written history to share with them, we do not really know thier birth mothers.  But, after sitting down with you, and looking into your eyes, and seeing what is in your hearts, and hearing your stories - I feel that now I can honestly tell my children that in a way, I do know their birth mothers."

Thank you for sharing.  May God Bless you all.

Sarah, mother of two 

This is a difficult lettter to write because when we say goodbye to you all this weekend, we will feel that we are leaving our family behind.  You all have played a huge role in our lives as we became a famly.  You have made us comfortable in another home, you have kept us safe, you have entertained us, you have shown us the sites, you have taken us shopping, you have cared for our children, you have guided us through the weeks, you have made us feel loved.  For this, we can never say thank you enough.

To Niccy & Okenis - who have taken care of our EVERY need here at the house, we are grateful for your hospitality, amazing meals, and great sense of humor.  Thank you for tending to Luke, and playing with him, even when he was in your way!

To Alicia - whom we lovingly know as "Our Colombian Baby Whisperer".  It is so very sad to say goodbye to you.  You have cared for our tiny babies as if they are your own, and when they return as older children, you continue to look after their needs with loving care.  You have rocked them in your arms, fed their little mouths, changed & bathed them, and covered them with kisses.  You hold our hands and teach us how to be calm parents, and at the same time you are patient with our never ending concerns and questions.  Thank you for your help, and for your love and care of our ninos preciosos.

To Guierrmowiththevan, Juan Miguel, Joaquin, & the others - who are at the door with just a phone call.  Thank you for your patience when we are never ready, for waiting until we are finished with our appointments, for waiting with us to keep us safe, and for carrying all our packages!  We are forever grateful of your safe driving, and tourguide information along the route!

To Jorge Rico & Patricia - I'm not sure where to begin.  You are wonderful friends to have here in Colombia.  Your knowledge of this country that you truly love is unending.  Thank you for sharing your time with us, showing us the sites, taking us to the best lunch spots, and of course - finding us the best shopping deals!  You are patient and excited to show us around - even when it is your 503rd visit to the Salt Mines!  We are forver grateful to you for sharing yourselves and your country, and helping us to appreciate the real Colombia.

To Annette - for guiding us through the adoption process.  Thank you for getting all our papers in order, and getting us to the front of the lines!  We never could make it through the final days without you - and we appreciate all your organization, time, and hard work.

To all of our friends here, The Castellanos & McCauslands, and those we met along the way, we will miss your kindness and open hearts.  You are our extended family, and you have gone out of your way to make your home become ours.  Thank you for your friendship.  We hope to see you all soon, so instead, we say:  "Hasta Luego amigos".

The Melones

Ron, Paula & Isabel - we are so happy to be part of your first family experience.  We hope that an "out of sorts toddler"  didn't sour your visit here in Bogota!  Thank you for your patience, and for helping carry the stroller all over town.  We were excited to share in our Presentation days, and to figure out life with a daughter in the weeks that followed.  We were so happy to see you off for your homecoming to Buffalo because we know how eager your friends and family were to see you all.

Juan, Michele, Noah & Emma.  What fun it has been to share the new experiences as a "family of four" with you. We are so glad that Luke had someone to follow around!  We are anxious to hear how the rest of your stay is, and how beautiful Santa Marta is.  Thank you for sharing parenting tips and experiences with us.

It really has been a joy to share the hosehold with you all.  Betty's Place has a way of bringing strangers together and creating larger families.  We certainly look forward to extending our friendships, and watching the "Gal Plas" grow up together.  What a sweet trio they make!  Our best wishes to all of you, and we will see you in the states.

Paul, Sarah, Luke & Sophia