It was the best of times and the worst of times. Sitting in the Rio de Janeiro airport in Brazil at midnight with my newly-adopted, seven-month old daughter and five-year-old son. Just wanting to be home at Christmas time. All three of us in tears. This was an unexpected stop on our lengthy journey. With three carry-on bags and totally exhausted children, I couldn’t fathom how we could rise from those plastic chairs to get on our next flight.

That’s when you appeared. You were disguised as a very elderly man wearing what appeared to be a janitor’s uniform. In broken English and a nod of your head, you convinced me you were there to help. When you picked up our bags along with my son, you pointed toward where our plane was boarding. A sympathetic flight attendant allowed you to accompany us to our seats.

I never knew what role guardian angels played, but I'll never forget as you walked away, I could only shout one word -- gracias!

You...incredible beautiful human being gave me strength to survive, to love me when everyone did not, to be me even if my character is the weirdest or craziest in this world.

You are a part of my life and thank you for still teaching me things that matter.

You deserve to be happy and have someone in your life who loves you for who you are because you are an angel that was sent here in this universe to protect all the broken souls!

With much love,

Forever yours,

The crazy me!

I wish upon you the most intrusive thoughts of guilt

only as often as I am thrusted back into the pain

10 years away from you yet still you live in the

slums of my memories. As much as I try to lock you up

you always remain in control. intruder.

when the alarm sounds you never hear it

though I wish it immobilized you like it does to me.

nowadays you look up new species of birds to follow

while I remain broken in your tiny supply closet,

discarded and forgotten, digging deeper the hole

in which you’ve forced me to hide

mark my words, I will reclaim control.

Dear Mr. Savior,

I hope you are well. I haven't heard from you in a while now. When I needed you the most, you were there so will you be there for me now?

You were my confidante, and I know you knew that. The lessons you taught me are the values I plan to instill in my children someday. The words of wisdom that you left me with have become more valuable than any of my priced possessions.

You were just being yourself. I'm not even sure if you remember what you said to me. Let me remind you anyways. It was an unusually bright day and I was an anxious mess a second away from hyperventilating. The upcoming presentation in front of all those judgmental people would be the end of me, or so I thought. Then you swooped in, took me out of the crowded room. The walls of which I swear were closing in on us. You reminded me how to breathe and of all the reasons why I would do just fine.

The calmer, more composed me asked you how you knew exactly what to say. That's when you said it.

"People were never there for me so I made a promise to be there for everyone."

Then you sputtered and began justifying your statement with explanations of why no one deserves to feel alone in this world. What you didn't realize was that those words were going to change the way I lived my life.

Fast forward four years, and I try to live by your words. I try to be non-judgmental and assuring, everything you were. You even went far away from me so now I've got some huge shoes to fill. Though, I am now coming to terms with the fact that maybe I will never be truly like you.

Because you are one of a kind, and you know that.

Kind Regards and Lots of Love,

Well, you know who.

Christopher,

You saved me. My life has always been filled with sadness and misery but ever since I met you it's been filled with love and happiness. I have never had the fatherly love that a child should have and that has messed with my expectations of how a boy should treat a girl. You do not know of the things I have been through and I do not want you to know because I do not want to scare you but the first time we locked eyes all of it suddenly did not matter anymore. Before I met you I gave up on love because I always got hurt and did not believe I was lovable but you came into my life and showed me that was not true. With you I do not have to worry about being hurt because you showed me that I am able to be loved and that loving does not mean hurting. I am never scared that when you touch me you will leave a bruise and I can look you in your eyes when you speak to me without tearing up or flinching. I can not express how much I love you and how much you mean to me. I hope you know I'd give up anything and everything to spend the rest of my life with you. I pray that you mean every word and promise you tell me. Thank you for showing me love and saving me from giving up on myself.

Love Always and Forever,

Reagan