Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Welcome Home, Baby ... Welcome Home

A few days ago, we got this {look up} in the mail ... A Message from the President of the United States. Return address ... The White House. Oooh ... makes a person feel important!

Actually, the importance of this envelope is that it holds a Certificate of Citizenship for this face ...
... and a letter from the former President of the United States, George W. Bush, that reads like this ...

Dear Fellow American:

I am pleased to congratulate you on becoming a United States citizen. You are now a part of a great and blessed Nation. I know your family and friends are proud of you on this special day.

Americans are united across the generations by grand and enduring ideals. The grandest of these ideals is an unfolding promise that everyone belongs, that everyone deserves a chance, and that no insignificant person was ever born. Our country has never been united by blood or birth or soil. We are bound by principles that move us beyond our backgrounds, life us above our interests, and teach us what it means to be citizens. Every citizen must uphold these principles. And every new citizen, by embracing these ideals, makes our country more, not less, American.

As you begin to participate fully in our democracy, remember that what you do is as important as anything government does. I ask you to serve your new Nation, beginning with your neighbor. I ask you to be citizens building communities of service and a Nation of character. Americans are generous and strong and decent not because we believe in ourselves, but because we hold beliefs beyond ourselves. When this spirit of citizenship is missing, no government program can replace it. When this spirit is present, no wrong can stand against it.

Welcome to the joy, responsibility, and freedom of American citizenship. God bless you, and God bless America.

Sincerely,
George W. Bush

I understand that this letter is the standard letter that every new citizen gets, but it really hit home with me. Not only did we adopt a child, we adopted a child that nobody else wanted. A child that was "flawed" in the eyes of most Russian people because she has an extra chromosome ... because she has Down syndrome. Truth be told ... a child that is "flawed" in the eyes of many Americans.

"... everyone belongs ..."

"... everyone deserves a chance ..."

"... no insignificant person was ever born ..."

I couldn't have said it better myself.

24 comments:

  1. Bethany I have chills. Yeah, it's a form letter but it's the most perfectly appropriate and beautiful one ever!!

    I am so happy Nika has you and your family to call her own.

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  2. Beautiful... thanks for posting this. What an amazingly blessed girl to be part of your family.

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  3. I know it is a form letter but how awesome...that little girl is very blessed to be in your family and you are blessed to have her

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  4. Beautiful letter and Welcome to the newest American!

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  5. Very powerful - and very true up North too! I love that line: "...no insignificant person was ever born...."

    Wow (incidentally, "wow" upside down, is "mom").

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  6. I forgot to mention - the photo of Nika in this post is truly stunning.

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  7. That is so touching - and that picture of Nika is stunning!

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  8. I got goosebumps and tears reading that! I hope one day everyone will see babies like Nika and Payton and Ella as the perfect people they are!

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  9. Ahhhh that is so awesome and from the perfect President!!! I'm so happy she's yours!!!! And beautiful shot btw!!!

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  10. What a great post! I just love the gorgeous picture of beautiful Addison!

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  11. The photo is SO precious! It says 'hope' to me. That line you quoted at the end of your post was the line that spoke to me, too. Congratulations!

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  12. Congratulations Nika!!!

    And what a GORGEOUS photo! She is such a beautiful child.

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  13. This post is awesome! You found the perfect words to describe Nika in the "form letter" from the president! I think you and your family are an inspiration, to say the least! Thank you for all you are doing for Nika, Payton and Mason - they are very lucky to have such caring parents! I am happy I found your blog (I think it was through the Class of 2008 blog)

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  14. Wow, that is such a beautiful letter. Welcome home, beautiful girl.

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  15. I think that letter, with picture, deserves a frame---absolutely beautiful.
    Ditto on the goose bumps!

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  16. yeah!! that is sooo cool!! i got goosebumps!!!!

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  17. Oh, Welcome home sweet, sweet baby girl!!!! I love your blog!

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  18. That is awesome!! Excuse me, I need to go wipe my tears.

    I love the picture of Nika in the post!!

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  19. Oh what a beautiful document, such a wonderful momento. Nika is such a doll in this photo, her smile is so contagious.

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  20. What a beatuiful letter! I am so happy Nika has the opportunity to live in a family where she is valued and loved for who she is and that she will never be abandoned because of somethings he has. Give her a kiss for me. Oh, and Happy Birthday to the other two munchkins and "ha ha ha" on the Mason funnies, and "so cute" on the pictures that I have not commented on! I can't keep up! ROFL!!

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  21. That's an amazing and meaningful letter, Bethany. And man, Nika's gorgeous!

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