My brave girl, my hero is 18 today! I hope every one of you get to know Rachel, she is an amazing young lady who has faced so many obstacles in her short life and faced them with a fearless, joyful spirit. I celebrate her today. She is my heart!! I thank God for the gift he gave me Christmas 2002, and thank everyone who lobbied faithfully with me for nearly two years to get her home.

Today I baked Rachel’s favorite fresh strawberry cake, and made yellow cake batter ice-cream and we ate pizza and laughed and had a fun time with just our family, the way she wanted her birthday to be.   Next week will be the crazy sleep over!!   🙂

Rachel Izabella Scott, I celebrate your life and birth with you!  You mean everything to your family and we love you very much.   You have become a beautiful young woman, inside and out.   Always remember if you try hard, you can succeed at anything you dream of.

I love you my daughter.   I love you forever….and a day.