One Year Ago..

We walked into a room with ten other families and our lives were changed forever. I remember waiting for Jia Na to be called out and then we stepped forward and the orphanage director handed us a precious gift..our daughter. I held her and at that moment I thanked God for every moment in my life that had led to this. I had dreamed of being a mommy and it was finally a reality. There really are no words to adequately describe holding your child for the first time while ten other families are doing the same thing. It was a crazy, loud, chaotic and wonderful delivery room experience. Our lives are forever tied to the other families we shared this with.

You could ask me years from now about the room and I think I could describe every inch of it. I could recall the rain outside and the nervous excitement in the air. I would be able to see the words "Thank you for all of your love pouring on the children" written in English and Mandarin on the wall behind us. I would remember she was holding tightly to a green veggie stick and wearing Spider Man shoes. I would still see the sweet smile she flashed at Mr. Chen (the orphanage director) right before he handed her to me and then the look of confusion as she turned to us. I would still be able to feel the weight of her in my arms for the first time and the ultimate unconditional love we felt for her at that moment.


First Family Photo




We sent a care package to her foster family with this photo of us in it. We could tell she had been shown this picture because she kept staring at it then looking at us as if trying to figure out if we were the Mama and Baba she had been told about.

This was moments after she was handed to us. I held her for a couple of minutes but she wouldn't stop crying. Dada worked the magic (for the first few days)

We couldn't believe how content she seemed once we got to the room. I am still amazed at how brave these babies are and how resilient to change.

She loved looking at herself in the mirror and she still does. Hey, why shouldn't she...she is so beautiful after all.