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The Way of Heaven does not compete, and yet it skillfully achieves victory. It does not speak, and yet it skillfully responds to things. It comes to you without your invitation.
—Chinese Sage

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Lost and Found my Dad........only to lose him again.......

Continued

I not only found my loving father but, also my mother as well. They had both been registered separately with I.S.R.R. since 1983 in hopes of some day finding me. Within minutes of talking with the woman from the registry, I received another phone call. I answered to hear a man's voice ask "Is this Sherri?" I replied, "Yes." He asked again "Is this Sherri Lynn?" I knew immediately who was on the other end. (My middle name was changed upon being adopted, therefore not many knew my given name of Lynn) As I said "Yes, this is Sherri Lynn," the voice on the phone broke down and I knew it was my Dad. Oh my, you can't imagine what it did to my heart to hear him say he loved me! I could feel it through the phone.

It was the most intense conversation either of us has ever had. My Dad actually called me several times that first day to make sure it was real and not just another dream! The days that followed were filled with phone calls and letters from all my family from my Dad's side, so happy that they had found me. I could not believe that they were searching all these years for me, as I was for them. My Grandparents were overjoyed to have their firstborn Grandchild back in their life. Oh, how loved they all made me feel and I love them so for it!!

During the first few weeks, I would still have days where I could just not believe all that was happening. It was too good to be true! Reality still didn't hit me as I stood at the Syracuse, New York airport waiting for my father's flight to come in, only shortly after first speaking with him on the phone. My head was spinning and my heart was reeling as my father's plane finally landed. He was the first to get off the plane, as he promised me, and I was in his warm embrace in seconds. What happened next, I will never truly be able to put into the right words. Something magical happened as we held on to each other those very first minutes!! My heart that had been broken and hurting for all these years, was now melding with his and the love we gave each other was like electricity going through us. This moment will forever be embedded in my mind (and also caught on videotape for when my mind fails me) and I cherish the love that we have for each other. Our first visit was the most special to us! It was filled with much love and catching up to do. He blended right in with my family from the start when he first visited us.

Over the last four years, we kept in very close contact through frequent letters and phone calls. The last visit was in November of 2000, right after I got word that my Dad had cancer and didn't have long to live.

That was the last time I ever saw my Dad. I remember looking down at him as I flew away, not taking my eyes off of him knowing it would be the last time I'd see him. He put up quite a strong fight for a little over a year. However, his struggle ended on December 14, 2001. My heart is crushed but, still filled with so much love that he has given me just in the last four years alone.

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