Elisabeth,
We are blessed to have had you as part of our family these past few months. It wasn’t always easy or comfortable, but that’s how we know it was deep, meaningful, and true. It was love…it is love.
You said it best in the note you left us: “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone gives you courage.” -Lao Tzu
When you walked out the door this morning, a piece of our hearts went with you back to Denmark. It is oddly quiet in our house without your laughter and all your questions. You will be missed!
Everyone who met you described you as sweet, kind, funny, smart, and lovely. I thought the same and could tell you were special from the moment I first met you. This was all confirmed as I witnessed every child you met want to be by your side or drag you into the other room to play with them. They could sense your beautiful and pure heart.
It was such a gift to watch you grow in your confidence throughout the year. Using your voice more. Making jokes. Sharing your thoughts and needs. Making decisions 😉 One of my favorite moments was watching you share about your year at Rotary. When you put the slide up that showed two feet up against a line and explained that you had learned we each had a line and you often let others cross it but you weren’t doing that anymore…it made me smile and cry knowing you are learning more about yourself and your worth because you are an amazing young woman!
We had so many adventures and made so many memories together I will hold close. Early on we took a solo trip to explore Des Moines. We had a blast exploring the capitol building, sculpture park, and high trestle trail. You fell asleep in the car and it made me so happy to know you felt comfortable with me.
I enjoyed celebrating your birthday, celebrating you, and taking you and your friend out to eat your favorite…hot pot. It was fun to listen to you to talk about all things “teenager” and just laugh and have fun. I was also impressed with the amount of food you ate…clearly it was your favorite! We went home with full bellies and happy hearts.
I loved our time back home in Nebraska at the farm. Aside from the many memorable farm activities, my favorite was helping you cook Swedish pancakes for my stepdad on the old iron pan his grandma had made them on. He hadn’t had them since he was little, and you were determined to make them for him to thank him for the farm experience. So sweet, so thoughtful, and I saw a different side of him that day. What a gift!
Of course there were so many favorites from our trip to DC and NYC there are too many to name here. But a memory that will always stick in my heart is when Mitch and the wait staff sang happy birthday to us both, and we blew out candles together then shared our birthday cannolis. We were embarrassed and laughing at each other but we loved it.
These last few days have also been full of memories. The party to celebrate you, the pool day, the fireworks, and the sweet goodbye. Although we did many special things, it will probably be the nightly hugs before bed, the chats in the car, and the laughing…oh the laughing…that I will miss the most. The small, daily moments.
I personally want to thank you for what you gave me because your willingness to come live with us, complete strangers, and be part of our lives. We will talk about this more someday when you are older, but for now, please know that you being part of our family…loving me and allowing me to love you…helped me heal and grow in ways I didn’t anticipate. You made me a better person.
You have taught us so many things and given us so many gifts, we can only hope to have done the same.
We loved learning about your culture and your passions. We enjoyed talking about your future – exploring topics like money, meaning, sacrifice, tradeoffs, work, family, faith, and all that lies ahead of you.
We loved watching you grow more comfortable being by yourself and being in silence (something you openly said you didn’t like and weren’t used to when you came to our house). I hope in that practice you find peace, strength, courage, self-assurance, and a connection with God. We hope you learned that you can be alone, but you never have to be lonely.
We loved watching you grow more comfortable sharing your needs and desires, and making decisions that consider others and yourself. Your heart is so good and you care so much…and your needs matter too! You have the chance to change the world with that heart, and we hope you learned you have to take care of yourself in the process.
We loved listening to you ask more questions about faith and God and religion. We loved giving you space to explore thoughts and ideas, and we hope you continue to pursue God with all your heart and allow Him to reveal the answers you are looking for.
As I sit here teary-eyed wondering how it all went by so fast, still not believing your stay is over, and wishing we had more time, I realize there never would have been enough of it. You are so loved! We are grateful for the time and the memories!
This is not goodbye but a see you soon. It’s time for you to move forward to keep learning, growing, and becoming all that God created you to be. We are excited to stay in touch and witness the unfolding of your beautiful life. Thank you for letting us be part of it, and thank you for being part of ours. We love you always!
Lindsay and Mitch
Grit, Gratitude, and Grace 