Cheryl and Bruce's Mya.

Last night we laid our eyes on the first pictures of Mya, the daughter of our friends Cheryl and Bruce. How surreal that this woman that I first knew in high school is now holding her beautiful daughter from Hunan Province.

So much runs through my mind. The most touching thing about the photos is the delicate mix of emotions running across Cheryl's face in her very first picture with Mya. Cheryl, with her weepy eyes filled with utter happiness, and I think, relief. I think the sum total of her emotions is "At Last". She finally has her daughter, and Mya is lovely, healthy and seems to be doing just wonderfully. There are two adorable pictures of Mya banging her stacking cups around with glee. There are pictures of Bruce with his wife and daughter, looking like he has just been given the most amazing gift you can imagine. And he has.

I feel really privileged to have been able to see this couple go from meeting, to marrying, to their first meeting with adoption agencies, to setting up Mya's nursery, to their baby shower, and now this wonderful conclusion, which is itself another beginning. Congratulations to Cheryl, Bruce and Mya. You look marvelous together!!!