Dear Jim,

Yesterday, I wasn't able to tell you everything I had in my heart. I was just having too hard of a time controlling my emotions. However, as I am sitting here in Dubai I feel like it is time to tell you everything I couldn't last night.

First of all, thank you for choosing me to be your wife. This has been a lifelong dream and I can see it coming true right before my eyes. 

Thank you for such an amazing three months. You introduced me to an amazing group of kids. I am so blessed to call them my own and to know that many of them see me a mom as well.  I was just so sad to see it coming to an end. 

Some of my most precious memories have taken place in the last three months. From celebrating my birthday with 400 or so kids, to date nights, kissing under the stars, learning that intimate time with a man is safe and enjoyable, countless nap times curled up next to you on the couch, visiting children's homes, the start of a relationship, and an engagement,  I don't even have the words to tell you how much all of these things have changed my life entirely.

I am sitting here writing this on the airplane with just a little over two hours left before we finally arrive in Houston. I am so ready to be done with traveling for a bit. I am ready for a bed and a pillow and people that are at least friendly towards me. However, as much as I am ready to be on the ground, I miss you terribly. I miss the sound of your laugh when I come up with some dorky idea or the other. I miss the feeling of your hand holding mine. I miss cuddling up next to you. I miss you kissing my forehead. I miss kissing you! Yeah to put it simply I miss you. I do really well most of he time and then I think of something that I would like to tell you or ask you and the emotions well up heavily. 

I am getting a bit anxious now about meeting Charlotte, Scott, Addison,and Caroline. Don't get me wrong I am super excited but too many failed interactions with people make me nervous about meeting people that I don't know. Silly I know, but still, it is the honest truth about how I feel right now. I am sitting here just thinking and realizing that you can see God's handprints all over this! Your mom has totally stepped up to go do something that should have been done by my parents... Or at least my mom... And it's all I can do to not be overwhelmed with emotion. 

When you get back to Kitale, tell my kids that I love them and miss them. I suppose I have written about all that I can for right now. I need to get my emotions back under control and go get changed. I am sick of these travel clothes already. I love you so much! I will talk with you soon. Perhaps we can try to Skype this weekend at some point. 

Love you,

Melody

Aka the future Mrs. Cooper