Monday morning, January 27, 2006, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada--
Dear Ma'am--
You don't know me, but I felt compelled to write to you after reading an article about you in our local paper.
My name is Bitta Annike Magnussenn, and I am a 30-year-old woman who lives in Vancouver, here in British Columbia, in Canada. I have been married to my husband, Jans, for 10 years now, and we have three children, two boys and a girl, all adopted from China. Our children are named Tanith Grace (six), Danielle Marie (four, the girls), and our youngest, Gunther Hans, who is but a babe of ten months. He just joined our family a few short months ago, and he is the cutest little thing you can imagine! The girls are wild about him, and we just can't help but to fall in love with him! He's already brought us so much joy!
The reason I am writing, Louie, is because of the article I read about you. The article stated that you had three children of your own, but after they died, you turned to international adoption, adopting a little boy from Germany, then a little girl from the States shortly thereafter. You have since added fifty more children to your family, and most (if not all) have special needs. I admire people like you because it takes a special type of individual to raise kids who happen to have disabilities. The world can certainly use more people like yourself!
I am a domestic engineer (a "housewife"; I stay home) while Jans works. He works for the city of Vancouver: he drives a truck. He works many long hours, and so I am often left home alone with the children except on the weekends (or on holidays). I don't mind it though: I love our children unconditionally, even though they were NOT born to us, and they make my world complete! Adoption has been nothing but a blessing from above, and we feel fortunate to have the children that we do! So many other families aren't nearly as lucky as we are!
As you are probably aware of by now, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is where the next Winter Olympics (2010) will be held. When we found out about the Olympics coming here, well, you can imagine the party and celebratory mood that followed! We went NUTS with joy, and we are STILL celebrating today! I was moved to tears when they showed our mayor with the Olympic flag; Sam has been nothing but an inspiration to us citizenry, and he sure knows how to run a city! He has shown that even people who are not expected to accomplish much in life CAN and DO succeed, and not even quadriplegia has slowed him or his zest for life any!
I also loved it when Avril Lavigne sang; she is a very popular star here, and I also enjoyed the opera singer singing our national anthem, "O, Canada". Every time I hear that song, I can't help BUT to be moved to tears! I am very proud to be a Canadian citizen, and I always have been! I love Canada and her people with all my being!
Have you ever been to Canada? If not, you should come! We think Canada is very beautiful, and we especially take pride in our people and in our land. Canada is very clean, and you don't see much in the way of garbage strewn on streets or lawns, nothing like what you may see there in America. The air is pristine, and there is so much to see (and do)! We would welcome you (or your family) with open arms, and we would be more than happy to show you our country! So please do come to Canada; you would enjoy it here! :)
Please tell me more about your books and your family. The article stated that you wrote several books, and that you have kids from all over the world. You even have two children from Canada. Where in Canada did they come from? Are they Native, or are they Caucasian (or of some other racial background)? How old are they, and are they healthy? What are some of the other nations that your children represent? I bet you could make an entire OLYMPIC TEAM with your contingent! LOL
I will go now. I have to change the baby. He just did a loadie in his diapers, and he is starting to smell pretty strongly by now. WHEW! Take care, and do write back. I would love to hear from you!
~Love, a new friend in Vancouver, B.C., Bitta Annike Magnussenn. :)
P.S.: My husband is Finnish; that is why his (and my) name sound so foreign. He was born in Ivalo, Finland, which is in the Arctic Circle. It is way up north in Finland.
~Bitta.
