Happy Gotcha Day, Samuel!

Wow. How can it already be 7 years ago we recieved the gift of you, Samuel! I remember getting the call that you were ready to be picked up. What joy! Another boy! I immediately thought how cool it would be to have two boys, brothers and friends forever. We gathered up our stuff in less than 2 weeks and flew with Isaac to Bogota to recieve you. The next morning Carlos drove us to FANA, the same place we recieved Isaac 2 years earlier. They brought you out, an adorable chunkola, full of soft black hair (we had to take you for your first haircut at 7 weeks old!) busting out of the bottom of your outfit. You were such a happy pirate from the start! Grandpa Gord and Aunt Kjerstin came a week later to meet you and spend Christmas with us in Colombia. It was a dangerous time in the country, so we mostly stayed in the hotel and enjoyed getting to know you. We had no idea if we would have to stay 8 weeks or 2 weeks. Thankfully, our paperwork was done in record time and we got to travel home in only 3 weeks.

We love you so much and are thankful for the gift of you! You have grown into such a great young boy with a tender heart for the things of God. You are the first to defend your sister whatever she may be doing. God surely planned you for our family! We always needed a happy pirate.