Today is a special day in our house. February 8th marks the 4th anniversary of our family including Sam.

On this day in 2003, we arrived in Cambodia and made our way to AOA, the orphanage that cared for Rath Sen Chey until we were allowed to make the trip and claim him as our Samuel Eric Benoiton.

We named him Sam, but the way, for a reason ...
Mark and I could not combine our chromosomes, but we could put our initials together, so Sandra And Mark make Sam.

I can conjure images from the day perfectly, reliving the sweetness of first setting eyes on my son after settling for so long with still photos that brought more questions than answers, but much of what went on outside the little bubble that contained me, Mark and Sam blurs out around the edges. I know there were other people around, talk of all sorts, kids vying for attention, and so on, but almost every drop of what amounts to me was focused on US.

I've written in other places about the details of the experience ... Sam's nanny and her emotions, the practicalities and process, and so on ... so won't go into it all again today, but do want to share how wonderfully overwhelming the first meeting of parents and child was for us.

To this day, Mark and I are amazed by the circumstances that brought this amazing child to us, and life without him ... not just without a child, but without THIS child ... seems impossible to the point of physical pain arising from the thought of what we might have missed had life taken different twists.

Our cups truly runneth over with joy and gratitude, and the sort of deep and consuming love that is only granted to mothers and fathers of sons and daughters.

On Sam's Family Day, we would like to wish everyone love and gentle kindness, and a world of peace ... safe, warm and comforting ... for all children.

(The photos show Sam every February since he came home.)