We heard from the law office that you had updated your information. Thank you for that. Jimmy and I thought you would appreciate seeing what a handsome young man David has become. There is so much to tell you about him and if I get started, I won’t be able to stop. I don’t want to overstep, however. I want him to be able to tell you all that’s happened when the time is right.

I’m enclosing his senior picture. He has been interested in wrestling for the last few years and had become quite good, even to the point of talk of a scholarship, but a medical procedure changed all of that. He’s doing well now. See, I told you, if I get started, I won’t be able to stop!

Jimmy and I wanted you to know what a gift you have given us. I told David not long ago that I don’t know what we would have done without him in our lives. And my parents, G and Paw Paw, simply adore him and are his biggest cheerleaders in life.

We had gone through such loss before David came to us. I wasn’t sure I even wanted to risk an adoption. But your phone call asking me about baiting my hook was the most surreal conversation I’ve ever had. And we’ve been true to our word about raising him—he can bait his own hook quite well.

David has a friend named Nate who has taken a lot of video of him over the last few years. I’ll include the website where you can see some of that at the bottom of this page.

There’s a verse from the Bible I prayed over David when we first brought him home from the hospital. I actually have it on a plaque that was over his crib. It’s Jeremiah 29:11.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’”

God has been faithful to us, even through significant trials. And I pray that you know that same hope.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for doing what you did more than eighteen years ago. I hope your heart swells with pride as you look at what your sacrifice did for our family.

God bless you, Melissa.

Sincerely,

Susan Colton

Melissa folded the page and slipped it back into the envelope. The door opened behind her and it startled her. She put the picture inside the envelope and put it on the coffee table. Courtney bounded in with her backpack, dropping it on the floor by the door.

“How was school, sweetie?”

Courtney headed for the kitchen, glancing at Melissa. She stopped and studied her face. “What’s wrong?”

“What do you mean?” Melissa said, wiping her eyes with both hands.