To the Board of A Child Waits Foundation,

 

I am very thankful for the financial help the A Child Waits grant gave to me and my family. The grant check arrived about four days before me and one of my daughters left to fly to Hong Kong to pick up my son. We had gotten another grant earlier, but it was being held by the adoption agency I was working with, and in fact it didn’t get released and sent to us until after Christmas. So, the A Child Waits grant was the only financial help we had right before and during our trip. I had a lot of credit card debt leading up to the trip because I had to put everything on credit cards, so I used some of the award to make payments on the various cards, and the rest I put in my bank to use during travel. It was also a blessing, because there were a lot of little things I did not realize I would be responsible for financially. I had no idea that I would be required to pay for the transportation, food and activity fees for the foster parent, and all the social workers that accompanied me, my daughter, and my son around Hong Kong. I was probably warned, but in my excitement and worry, it flew right out of my head.

 

The trip to Hong Kong was a success, and we all arrived back in the states safe, and surprised with about 2 ½ feet of snow on the car, which was parked in the long-term lot at the airport. My son was in shock. He knew what snow was, but he was not expecting the amount that we got. I think the first week was the most difficult for him. By the second week, he got a little more comfortable with us, and the school. I took him in to get scheduled one day, he got tested by the ENL teacher another day, and because I work there, he came to help me with something on a third visit. Then at the end of the week we went to visit my sisters and my son was able to discover how to really play in the snow, with snowball fights, sledding, and snow mobile rides.

 

The third week brought Christmas, which was one thing he had stated that he was excited to experience for the first time. It was cute to see the girls explain traditions to him, like the stocking. My youngest daughter told him they all had to go through their stockings together. He was a little confused and excited by the presents because, of course, each present is geared towards each specific child's likes and I don’t think he realized that the gifts would be personalized to the recipient. A couple days after Christmas, I took the kids tubing, and that was another new experience, which he loved. He actually really enjoys the snow when it is moldable and the weather is cold but not bitter. By the fourth week, he was in a weekly routine of church on Sunday, his sister’s drum lessons on Tuesday, his guitar lessons on Thursdays, and Saturday is his free day to play video games with his friends back in Hong Kong. He had a two day school week the fourth week too, which was a nice easy entrance into the American public school experience. We just finished his fifth week, and he really enjoyed it. He had a full week of school, but I think school is not as stressful here in America, as it must be in Hong Kong. Plus, I work in the school and his sister goes to the same school and is in a Jazz band with him, so I think he likes being able to goof around with his sister in the hallways, and pop in to see me in the library.

 

I am so grateful for the help and hope your financial gift has brought to our family. It relieved a lot of stress I did not even realize I had bottled up, because when I found out we received the gift, I just felt a weight lift off of me and I thanked God for your organization. Thank you for being a part of the family of kind souls who have worked hard to help bring my son home. ​​