June 5, 2000

Dear Nancy,

This truly has been a wonderful and exciting year for our family.   It is had to believe it has been a year since we traveled to Brazil to get out sons, but at the sam time it is hard to remember our lives before Joey and Donnie.

When we first started to think about adopting we were sure we wanted to adopt an infant.   When we contacted Limiar and spoke with Pat and met her sons, we started to think about adopting an older child and now one year later we have our sons and we are a family.  

We have some difficult times as all families do but the wonderful times definitely out weigh the difficult ones.   We may not have heard the boys first words or seen their first step, but we have our share of firsts!!   We will always remember the first time they rode a bike or the first time they saw fireworks or the first time they saw a beach or swam or had a birthday party and their first Christmas.   These are wonderful memories and we continue to add to them daily.  

Joey and Donnie are speaking very good English.   Our family and friends are surprised how well they speak.   Their teachers are pleased with their progress as well.   Joey and Donnie can read and write in English.   The boys were in a school music recital recently and they even sang in English.   We are extremely proud of them.   We do encourage them to retain their native Portuguese.  

It is often hard to believe that the boys are not biological siblings and that they did not even know each other until one week prior to our arrival in Brazil.   They continue to call each other “irmao.”   They argue as all siblings do but they also look out for one another.   We often hear them saying where is my brother or are you going to get one of those for my brother or I’ll bring this home for my brother.

Joey and Donnie have been a wonderful addition to our extended families as well.   At first it was difficult for them to understand who everyone was and how we are all related but that too is coming along.   They often will get on the phone an ask to call our family here in Florida or in Ohio… Grandapa, Grandmas, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.   As far as friends they ask to hear stories about the boys and their adventures.   When it comes to our neighbors, Joey and Donnie know more of them than Frank and I.  

We love our lives as parents and wouldn’t change a thing.   We have never shared as many laughs, even as I write this letter, and are amazed daily at what they have learned.

To any one considering adopting older children, it is wonderful for us and definitely a rewarding experience.   Every night as we put the boys to bed and they give us a hug and tell us they love us, what more can we ask for?!

To all those at Limiar who helped our dreams come true, we send out heartfelt “Thank You.”  

Sincerely,

Frank and Stacy Marino