Dear Louisiana Sandusky~

I suppose you have been wondering what has happened to us or why we haven't written until now. Well, we are in the process of adopting a child, a little girl from China. I know we had our hearts set upon adopting Tyler, the little boy with Treacher-Colins syndrome we told you about in my last letter to you, but the Holt agency in Oregon called us to tell us about Pearl Xie, a little one-year-old girl who is in need of a family--and a home--to call her own. Once we saw her cute, chubby-cheeked face, we could NOT say no.

That was two months back. We are still waiting for Pearl. I know things like this take time, but how DO you STAND it--all that uncertainty and ENDLESS WAITING?? We are about to go CRAZY!! We are waiting to hear from our attourney, to see if the adoption has gone through, and we got the last of the paperwork into the mail last week. Now we are busy looking for baby clothes, baby toys, baby furniture, and such, and we are praying like crazy and are hoping for a Miracle!!

We first heard about Pearl Xie two and a half months ago, when Holt first called us to tell us about her, but when they sent us her picture, we couldn't help BUT to be smitten with her! Louie, she has the sweetest, fattest, pumpkin cheeks, and the biggest, brightest dark eyes, and she has beautiful black hair that looks so soft! She is chubby and seemingly healthy, and she is just so pretty!! I look at her picture now, and I just cry!! I already see myself as Pearl's mommy!!

The little boy we were HOPING to adopt--Tyler--went to another family in Colorado. As you can very well imagine, we were utterly devastated. But then God eased our grief somewhat and opened up a new door for us and He brought us the prospect of adopting little Pearl Xie into our family; and right now things are looking very promising indeed!! I will let you know AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if we hear anything; pray that the adoption of Pearl Xie goes through!!

Healthwise, both Fred and myself have been well, and we pray your family has been well, too. Have any of the children fallen ill or ended up in the hospital? I pray and hope not!...We have been busy getting the house ready (in CASE Pearl Xie decides to join us, and we'll then be parents at long last!!), and we have been very busy helping out with relief efforts for the hurricane victims down south. Church also keeps Fred and myself very busy, so what free time we DO have is minimal at best..and we aren't even PARENTS yet!! SHEESH!! LOL

Well, Louie, we will get in touch with you again. Thank you for your assistance in our trying to get Tyler and in starting our adoption journey, adn thank you so much for caring and praying for us. We could have NOT done it without you (or the Lord!!)!

Love, your friends in Skiatook, Oklahoma, Wilma and Frederick Gardner.

Here's a picture of Pearl Xie. Isn't she aDORable?? :) (I know the pic on the letter is not of her, but I am still sending you a picture of her anyway. Enjoy!!)

~Wilma. :)