Dear Miles- Happy Adoption Day!  February 14, 2011  My
dearest Miles,  One year ago today, we met for the very first
time.  There was so much anticipation as I stepped off the
plane.  The anticipation quickly turned to chaos as I tried to
navigate the Kinshasa airport and got into the taxi that broke
down several times on the way to our guest house.  I sat in that
taxi- just trying to breath in Africa and Congo and soak up
memories like Frederick the mouse does when he soaks up colors
for the winter.  I wanted to etch those images of your beautiful
birth country onto my heart and mind so that I could tell you
about how beautiful the people of your homeland are and how
giving and resilient and loving they are.  I wanted to soak up
the sounds and the smells so that I could share that piece of
your history with you as you grew.  As I was basking in it, all
of a sudden we pulled up to the guest house and there you were-
in all your tiny, sad, scared glory.  You were just a precious
little peanut!  I remember thin