Mar 27, 2005

I'm sorry I haven't written for a while. My life has been very complex and busy lately.

The most interesting thing that has happened to me lately was that I made a trip to Turkey for a week after Christmas to see my father and siblings. I spent the entire time with my father which was very enjoyable. We talked a lot about religion. He is a Muslim, so we had some interesting conversations about the commonality and differences in our beliefs. I was also able to go to various mosques with him, and observe their prayers. My father turned to religion relatively late in his life. I think that it has made a difference in him, and helped him to be a better person. I only had a week to spend so I remained in Istanbul. It was a great experience. Some day I will take you to Turkey with me for a visit. I think you would like it.

Noelle is now three years old, and she is really cute. She was delayed in her speech, but now she is a real talker. She has the most dark penetrating eyes that I've ever seen with a fair complexion, she will be a real beauty when she grows up. Seth is a big six year old. He hand Asher are best friends. Seth is very cuddly. His favorite thing to do in the world is be held by me. He'll sit on my lap all through church. Asher is a very kind and considerate boy, and very obedient. He is the most well read nine year old that I've ever met. All of the children are very smart, and are doing well in school.

I try to imagine what you look like now. My only images of you are when you were eight years old, younger than Asher is now. I've lost track of time. I believe it's been over 7 years since you were taken from us. My guess is that you are 15 years old now. It blows me away that you will be a legal adult in just 3 years.

You may wonder about me and my appearance as well. I believe that I look about the same, but my black hair now has a slight amount of gray though out it. I imagine that your mother has aged quite a bit, and that aging may be hard for her, especially as your beauty matures, as you become a young woman.

Well Brieanna you are no longer a child. I hope that with your transition to adulthood that you are making good choices. I hope that you are treating others with kindness. I hope that you are trying to be a good person. I hope that you have good friends, and that you are staying away from drugs, cigarettes and alcohol. I hope that for now you avoid serious relationships with boys. I want you to know that I have high expectations for you, and expect you to live a good and prosperous life. Yet at the same time, I know that your circumstances are not ideal. Because you have been raised without a father, you will be at a disadvantage, and perhaps will make some mistakes in your life. If you have made mistakes, that's okay, I've made more than my share. I will always love you regardless.

I hope that when you are an adult in a couple of years that you will come visit me. I hope you will come and go to school here in Utah, so that we can see you, and so that you can see all of your family, including your mother's side who mostly reside here.

Brieanna, I miss you -

Love,

Dad.