Twenty-four years ago, my husband and I embarked on a journey that would forever change our lives—the decision to adopt a little girl from China. With three energetic boys already filling our home with laughter, our hearts had room for one more precious soul.
During the waiting period, our family was camping on our property in the Colorado mountains. The backdrop was beautiful as we looked at Pikes Peak, a gorgeous lake, wild flowers and wildlife. While our boys took a nap, inspiration struck. In a simple notebook, sitting outside our camper, I penned a story that would become our family’s treasured tale. That evening, gathered around dancing campfire flames, I shared it with my sons. Their eyes sparkled with delight as they begged, “Again, Mom! Read it again!”—a chorus that would echo through many bedtimes to come.
After 18 months of paperwork, prayers, and patience, we finally boarded a plane to China to meet the daughter who already lived in our hearts. The moment she was placed in our arms, our family circle was complete. My dad, with tears in his eyes, called her “the cherry on top” of our family sundae—the perfect description for this sweet little girl who made our family whole.
As years passed, the campfire story evolved. Each of our children inspired a character, and even my husband found himself transformed into the wise owl and mayor in later versions. I had the joy of sharing this tale in my children’s classrooms, watching young faces light up at every reading.
As our little ones grew into young adults, the story was carefully tucked away—just a digital file sleeping in my computer. Until recently, when a series of heartfelt conversations and the loving encouragement of my now-grown children inspired me to finally breathe life into this long-cherished tale.
Adoption can sometimes feel like a delicate subject to discuss, but my deepest hope is that this gentle story will open doors to meaningful conversations and provide comfort to those whose lives have been touched by adoption’s beautiful gift.
At its heart, this is simply a story of love—transcending borders, circumstances, and biology. As you turn these pages, I hope you’ll be wrapped in that same warm feeling our family felt around that mountain campfire all those years ago, and that you’ll treasure the illustrations that now bring our family’s journey to colorful life.
Welcome to our story. Welcome to our heart.