Bridging The Gap...

...I'd like to share with you all a recent letter sent to Ruby's foster Mother.
(what a gift it is that I am even able to make such a connection...
sometimes, I am beyond speechless at just how blessed my little family is.)

Dear Wu Mu Hua & Family,

It is with much love that we send you this letter. First we would like to wish you a HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR! Although we are worlds apart, we are celebrating with you in our hearts as well! Ruby just crawled up into my lap as I was typing this letter to you & I asked her: "Ruby, do you remember the woman who took care of you in China? Your China Mother? If you could say anything to her right now, what would you say?" Ruby thought for a moment, and then smiled up at me & said: "Ruby say, I wuv you!" It brought tears to my eyes and makes me happy to know that she can say such sweet loving things to you, Wu Mu Hua! I will be forever grateful to you for the love and care you showed Pei Pei until the moment she was placed in my arms.

Currently we are working on using the 'potty' like a BIG GIRL! She will do it when I am always asking her to do so, but if I let too much time go by, she just goes in her 'pull up' (it's worn like underwear but works like a diaper). I have every confidence that she will learn to properly use the potty in her own time, as she does with everything else. We just have to remember to be patient with each other until then.

Ruby is a very smart little girl. Her favorite thing in the whole world is the MOON! Every night, we must look out the window & see what phase the moon is in, and believe me, she knows them ALL by their actual NAMES! So, if you are ever having a night when you are missing Pei Pei, simply look up at the moon, and know that we aren't that far away after all... because we too are looking at that very same moon.

It's amazing to me how easily Ruby picks things up & then REMEMBERS what she's learned! I never have to tell her something twice. If she's genuinely interested in something and asks me to explain it to her, I will explain it, and then she knows it, for GOOD! Our little girl is a very smart COOKIE and I could not be PROUDER!

Ruby is now a beautiful TALL 3 year old young lady who loves to do anything artistic. Whether it's sculpting with clay, or painting or drawing or coloring, she's happiest when she can be quietly enjoying all that the colors of the rainbow have to offer her. She also LOVES BOOKS & READING! We visit our local library at least once a week & always bring home new books to read together & enjoy! Ruby also is still very much in love with her Bear that I gave to her on the day she was first placed in my arms. She calls him "Bear", and she says, and I quote: "Bear best friend, Bear best friend... he's a teddy bear!". She never goes ANYWHERE WITHOUT HIM, EVER! (he even has a little seat belt for when we go out in the car!) She is 37 inches tall (3 feet, 1 inch) and weighs 32 & 1/2 lbs.
I look at her every day & can't believe that this beautiful young lady is the same sweet little baby I first laid eyes on over two years ago. Where does the time go?

I took a job at our local YMCA in their babysitting room caring for the children and Ruby gets to come with me and simply LOVES IT! It's only part time for now but I'm hoping that it will turn into full time work eventually. Until then, we're patient. Somehow, God always manages to provide us with what we need & we never go without. I feel very blessed!

Also, Ruby can speak two languages! I don't know if I mentioned this before, but my father is originally from Italy, born & raised and did not move to America until he was 19 years old. He met my mother & the rest, as they say, is history.
His first language being Italian, I asked him to please only ever speak to Ruby in Italian, and knew that she'd have no choice but to learn... and learn she DID! The two have full conversations now in Italian and it's just the sweetest thing to see! I too can speak Italian, but did not learn until I was in my teens.

I have every intention to also see to it that Ruby learn to speak Chinese as well, but so far haven't been able to find a local teacher for her. I am hoping to find one before this year is out, she turns 4 in September and I think that 4 is a good age to take on another language. So far, she's doing excellent learning the two that she's around on a daily basis... I know that she'll do wonderfully once I do find a suitable Mandarin teacher! As always, we're just a letter away so we'll keep you posted as best we can!

Wu Mu Hua, I want you to know that words can't express to you how much I appreciate everything you did for little Pei Pei when only my heart knew of her existence. It's surreal that it's been over two years since that first moment I laid eyes on her. Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for the gift of her in my life. On Nov. 20th of this past year, we celebrated 2 years together, and in honor of that occasion, I took Ruby to the mall to have professional pictures taken of her & her beloved Bear and I've sent the two photos to you along with this letter. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! I know that for us, Nov 20th is a special day of celebration, and for you it must be a sad reminder of the day you had to say a very sudden, very sad goodbye to our girl. I want you to know that I do speak of you to her, she knows that you exist and that you were, are & always will be a very important part of her past, present & future. You helped mold her into the beautiful young lady she is today. Every Christmas, we speak of you, every holiday, you are NEVER forgotten. You are only far away in miles, but never far from our hearts. Please always know this and carry it with you in your heart as well.

You know, she asks sometimes about her little scar on her right upper arm, and I tell her that is her 'angel kiss'. I tell her of a story of when she was a very small baby in China, how one night she was so beautiful & so sweet that an angel from heaven came down just to give her a special kiss because she was loved so much. She smiles every time I tell that story & beams with love because she knows she is loved. I know you still love her very much, as you always will, as we both always will.

Anything I can do to help bridge the gap between our worlds, I am happy to do and I know that writing a little letter & sending a few photos isn't much, but I do hope that it's enough to fill you with Ruby's love from the inside out for weeks after! If you can ever manage to send an email, even if I can't understand it, I can ask Ning to help me out and so you are welcome to email me, ANYTIME, at the following address:

mom4ruby@yahoo.com

We may speak different languages but the one language we both know by heart is love,
and I'm pretty sure that language is spoken through smiles & hugs.

ALL OUR BEST TO YOU & MANY MANY WISHES FOR A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!

Sincerely,

-Amy & Ruby Cate Pei Mu

ps. I have not forgotten about your wish to find your other little girl you fostered, the one who ended up in Spain. I am sorry to say that I have not yet been able to locate her. I wish I had better news but sadly, I do not. I won't give up & will keep trying as long as it takes.

*hugs & kisses* from our corner of the world to yours!

-Amy & Ruby