Free hugs - because everything happens for a reason

Dear little Ms. M,

You were the one to run up to me when I came out of the plane. You had never seen me before but nevertheless your little four year old me almost threw me off my feet when hugging me. Your parents were stunned. Usually you would wait until you found trust towards a stranger like every four year old would. But it seems like I was not a stranger and you knew I would become your sister while spending an entire year with your family.

For the first time I did really girly stuff. You made me paint my nails in all colors of the rainbow and made me laugh when your little me tried to up on make-up (not that mine would have been a lot better even though I was four times your age…). I don’t remember when it was that you took my hand for the first time, but when you did I remember I felt like I arrived. Hundreds of miles across the ocean I had found a second home and a little girl who open herself up to me as a stranger.

When I think about you so many memories pop up in my head. They are like little pieces, sequences of a movie, which come together as a puzzle of your four year old personality.

You used to take two toys and just make up conversations between the two of them. You would talk in your high fast voice or sing pieces of your new favorite song, so fast that I couldn’t understand what you were saying. Still I was fascinated by how lost you got in your own world of fantasy not even recognizing me watch. Another one of my favorite memories together with you is our “plane-game” where you would fly on my feet, again and again until my legs were hurting as well as my stomach because I had to laugh so much.

But don’t you think you were always easy on me! You would cry, like every four year old does, but at the same time you would teach me patience. You would whine and wreck my nerves when wanting me to play with you, which I certainly loved, but you taught me at the same time that it is sometimes necessary to deny, even something I really like doing. You taught me scare, when you fell out your bed and pure joy when I you let me watch you play.

Now, I am watching you grow up from across the ocean, realizing that you learn to write, read and count. You used to write you “E” mirror inverted and miss numbers when counting to twenty, but now you write your entire name all by yourself and count to hundred without making a mistake... I want you to stay little but at the same time I cannot wait to see you grow up to the amazing woman you will be.

You mom says everything happens for a reason and I believe you were one reason for me to stay with your family. The person to show me how to unconditionally love, to deny, to laugh and to enjoy the present moment.

When I had to leave after one year you ran up to me at the airport to give me one last hug. I cannot wait for another one of those moments when you come to hug me and throw me off my feet little Ms. M.

You are truly amazing!