A Letter to Caleb

There are some days in our lives where we look at where we are and wonder how we got here.  Being adopted I imagine that happens even more often.  If there is one thing I want you to know is that you became a member of our family by being wanted – and not only by us.  We won’t ever know the exact situation your biological family was in but I imagine it was heartbreaking when they gave you up.  They likely didn’t have the money to pay for the medical expenses you would require and they probably thought the best decision for you would be to leave you at the toll booth for someone to find you who could take care of you or get you to someone who could.  They left you because they loved you, not because you weren’t wanted. 

The man working at the toll booth who found you wanted you.  He wanted you so much he took you home with him.  He kept you and cared for you for two weeks.  Can you imagine going to work one morning just like you do every day and coming home with a 1 day old baby?  Most people have months to plan and to prepare to bring a new child into their family, but this man and his family didn’t.  Ultimately they realized that they weren’t going to be able to take care of you either and they gave you to the police. 

When we got your information from the adoption agency we knew you were our son.  We wanted you to be a member of our family and we weren’t all that fond of the waiting.  But rules are rules and as we waited we wanted you more and more.  We were so excited when we picked you up and we are still excited that you are our son.  You are wanted.

The day we picked you up, “gotcha day”, we had to go to the notary to do some paperwork.  While we were there the assistant director of the orphanage got a phone call from your foster mom.  She had been crying all day and was calling to make sure you were ok.  She didn’t send you off that day without feeling, she wanted you. 

So as you look back on your life and wonder why you are where you are – don’t ever think it was because you weren’t loved and that you weren’t wanted.  Loved and Wanted are two words to describe you, both when you were a baby and now.