Sunday, June 3, 2012

One Week From Today...

One week from today, we will be nervously waiting.
One week from today, we will sign several papers taking guardianship of a little girl whose adoption will be completed the next day.
One week from today, we will try to contain the excitement that has been building up in us as we prepared for this day.
One week from today, a nanny will walk Julia into the room and bring her to us.
One week from today, Julia's world will be turned upside-down. We know it's for the better; she may not.
One week from today, Julia will hear the words, "Wo Ai Ni" (I love you) from her new mama and baba.
One week from today, this journey that we thought we were already on will finally begin.
One week from today, there will be one less orphan in the world.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

We're Going to China!

We received our Travel Approval last Wednesday, May 23rd, and our Consulate Appointment was confirmed yesterday!  After sorting through what seemed like a million itineraries, we booked tickets tonight.  We'll be leaving Thursday, June 7th, and returning Thursday, June 21st.

Three weeks from tonight I'll be putting Julia down to sleep in her own home where she'll have a lifetime of memories just waiting to be made!

Monday, May 21, 2012

Birthday Pictures!

We received pictures from Julia's birthday party at the orphanage!  Because of the partnership that our agency has with this particular orphanage, we were able to arrange to have a cake brought in, and we sent a box full of party goodies to share with the children.  The ones participating in the party look like they're having a fun time, but don't forget to look at the ones sitting off to the sides.  Such sad faces!  At next year's birthday party, every child will get to have fun!











Saturday, May 12, 2012

Treasures...




One of the most unexpected treasures that has come out of this adoption journey is the friendship of other adoptive moms.  It’s amazing how close you can get to someone when you share the same emotional ups and downs that are common to this process, even if you’ve never met them in person.  Emily is one of those friends.  
This past week when she went to bring her beautiful daughter Mackenzie home, she took along some treats and stickers from us for Julia and spent some time visiting with her.  She took tons of pictures and several videos and she gave us a first-hand report on our daughter.  Her words and images are by far some of the most valuable treasures we’ve ever received!  Here is her description of Julia and their time together-
“I got to spend about an hour with Julia!!!!  She is ABSOLUTELY adorable Karen.  I am so in love with your precious little girl.  She is the teeniest tiniest peanut of a thing.  Julia is definitely in 12 month clothing.
She is very petite, but her body seems very proportionate and healthy.  



When I arrived, Julia was in preschool watching a children's movie.  The room was dark, but very nicely decorated.  The director called for Yaya, and she came right over and we went out to the hallway.  I gave Julia the puffs and she ate them.  She wanted the jar, so I handed it to her and she tucked it under her nubbin.  She ate a few and then the jar fell to the ground.  She looked very scared, but I smiled and said, "uh oh" and then Mackenzie said, "uh oh" and we all laughed.  She looked very relieved.  I told her that her Mama was coming and she looked at me and blew me a kiss.  
She is very smart and was speaking to the director in sentences.  Her voice is too too cute.  I asked to see her room, and the director had her take me there.  Karen, her walk has got to be the cutest thing I have ever seen.  She was very happy to show me her crib and her room.  Her nannies were there and they seemed to love her very much.  She was standing over by them and kept turning her back from me but I just kept taking photos of her anyway....so precious! 
One thing you will notice about these little ones is that they are very stoic.  But once you engage them oh my word...they are HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!  Julia came out into the hall with us very easily.  She was not sad or scared.  She looked serious and a bit confused as I oo'ed and aaahhh'ed over her, but she tolerated me.  I think in one of the videos you will see Mackenzie try to pull Julia's rubber band out of her hair.  Julia shouted at her, and made us all laugh.  She then gave Mackenzie the stink eye.  So cute!  She has a HUGE personality and I know my words are barely doing it justice.  Julia was a ham for us.  And wait until you see her yell at Mackenzie for taking a page of stickers.  Then Mackenzie tried to give it back and she refused it, so Mackenzie threw it at her...they are both little divas for sure :-)   Hoping the wifi in GZ is much better because I am DYING to show it to you!!!!!  Oh, and the walking video too...she waddles like a little duckling...you will be so in love the moment you see it...I know I was.  Of course, you are already madly in love, but this will put you over the top!!!! ”

Thank you, Emily, for this wonderful Mother’s Day gift!

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

The Red Thread...


"An invisible red thread connects those destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle, but never break."  - Ancient Chinese Proverb
Exactly one year ago today, while scrolling through pictures on a website that told about children across the world who needed a family, I was captivated by a beautiful little face.  Her eyes looked strangely familiar and I couldn’t get her out of my mind for the rest of that day, or the next, or the next, or the next...

Exactly one year later, through a series of events that only God could have orchestrated, I now call that little girl my daughter and anticipate the day when I’ll look into those eyes in person and not just in pictures.  We’re only weeks away!

Friday, April 27, 2012

Happy Birthday, Julia!


Today is Julia’s 4th birthday!   We sent her a “birthday party in a box” care package and our agency arranged for the orphanage to have a celebration for her.  



They also scheduled to have a cake  brought in for her.  It’s traditional for the caregivers to put dots of icing on the birthday girl’s face and take her picture- silly, but adorable.  We’re hoping they’ll send pictures of the fun time!

We had our own celebration at home which included Chinese food, of course (here are our fortunes),


a panda cake that the kids made,


and lot’s of “this time next year” statements.  It was fun to celebrate her little life and dream of what lies ahead for all of us.

Of course, on this day we’re not the only ones celebrating this little girl.  While we celebrate with hope and anticipation, her birth mom in China no doubt celebrates with hope and longing.  Julia was three weeks old when she was found in a very safe, public place with a special keepsake tucked in with her, so we can only imagine the love and heartbreak that her mother felt when she had to part with her.  We hope that somehow she will know in her heart that her little girl will be loved and celebrated each day of her life.  We pray that one day we will meet her in heaven and be given the opportunity to present her beautiful daughter to her.  Until then, we’ll try to be faithful to teach Julia about Jesus and to find her hope in Him.  Happy Birthday, sweet girl!


Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Trusting...

We call this our "adoption song" because it really sums up how we feel (or at least try to feel :) about this whole process.