One Year Later

Dearest Elia,

Wow, I can't believe it's been a year. One year ago today, your father and I went to meet a little baby we had heard about at an orphanage across the line. A good friend took us there. Your father and I desperately wanted a family and we came looking for you!

I remember sitting in the waiting room of aisle Madre Conchita with butterflies in my stomach. I am sure daddy felt the same way. We met Madre Maria and she asked us a bunch of questions. It was very apparent that she loved all of you and was NOT going to put one of her girls in a home that she was not comfortable with!

We met the other kids at the orphanage first. You were sleeping. I just said, I wanted to see you. She allowed us into the room where you lay in a bassinet. You were dressed in pink and were sooooooo tiny. I looked at you and said that you were the most beautiful baby I had ever met, and then I cried. I wanted to hold you so badly!

We went back to the waiting area and continued to visit for awhile. Then you woke up. Madre Tera brought you to us with a bottle. Your father and I took turns holding and feeding you. It was your daddy's first time he had ever held a baby that small.

We were then told to see a lawyer and to visit you weekly. That's when it all started! We couldn't wait to come back and see you. You fell asleep in your daddy's arms at the next visit. He just melted! We were both so in-love with you. We just kept waiting for Madre Maria to give us the blessing to adopt you.

We eventually visited you 3-4 times a week for months. Those months seemed to drag by and we did paperwork, paperwork, paperwork. Many times we sat at home and cried. We never knew when you were coming to our house.

Now you are here, and I can't believe it's been a year. Now it seems fast all of a sudden. I look at you and I see love in your eyes. I didn't know it was possible to love another human being so much! You are the best baby a mother and father could ever wish for.

My wishes for you are: love, health, happiness, a love for God, success in life, and many life long friendships. May you always feel the love of those around you, as hundreds of prayers are what brought you safely home.

I often wonder what your birthmother is thinking or doing. I don't know the answer to that, but I do know that she must have loved you a lot! She could have aborted you, but she loved life! As a result, she carried you and then she did what she knew best. She left you where she knew you would be taken care of. She knew someone would come for you and love you like she did. I am sure she still does love you! She loved you enough to say Goodbye, so that you could say Hello to us!

Thank you God for this woman. Without her, we would not have our Elia. She is a blessing to us daily. May her birth mother feel a sense of peace today to know that she did the right thing. May Elia feel an extra amount of peace and love and know that she is loved immensely and always will be. Take care of her. God, help us to take care of your child and to raise her right. Give her many blessings in this world. Never let her have a moment of doubt. She is so blessed and so are we! We love you Elia Carolina "Faith" Krell Amen

Mommy and Daddy a.k.a. Becky and Eric

Below are pictures of her on the first day we met, and this morning as she was dancing to the "Wiggles" before we left for work. Enjoy!