One Year Ago Today.....

Happy Gotcha Day Anniversary Lainie!!

I've tried all day to think of words that would adequately and eloquently describe our emotions today as we reflect on Lainie's "Gotcha Day". I've decided there are no words. Perhaps the pictures will say all that needs to be said.

Then........(May 14, 2007)

Now........ May 14, 2008
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Then........

Now.........

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Then..............Now.....................
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How did we celebrate Lainie's Gotcha Day Anniversary ? With Chinese food of course. We picked up Chinese take out and took it to our local park for a perfect family picnic. Everyone enjoyed the food and then we headed to the playground equipment. As I watched her there, it was hard to imagine that this was the same hollow-eyed baby that we first held a year ago. Love has transformed her into a vibrant, energetic and confident toddler. What a mighty God we serve.

Lainie received two gifts from us today that we purchased last year in China. A pair of squeaky shoes and a scroll that had her Chinese name and birthdate with the city of her birth all in Chinese. We had that done by an artist in China during our trip. Squeaky shoes!

Having brothers and sisters is so much fun!

Happy Anniversary Lainie! We love you!

Chenzhou Sisters

Lainie, Lilly and Sarah Mei

These three precious girls were orphanage "sisters" in Chenzhou, China.  Lainie, Lilly and Sarah Mei now all make their home in the Carolinas.  They were on the same Special Needs List with Christian World Adoption.  They each also had the same heart defect.  Lilly is the oldest.  She was two in October.  Sarah Mei was 2 in January and Lainie was 2 in February, so they are all just months apart.  I remember vividly the day that we first saw wach of them on the SN list.  It is just amazing to us that God brought them all the way from the other side of the world and placed each of them right here together in the Carolinas.  I know that they will always share a special bond and we are so thankful that we all live close so that they can visit frequently. Although they don't remember their time in China together, they were family for each other before we became their families.  They heard each other's first cries and first laughs.  What a beautiful thing it was to see them all together.  Once orphans .....now loved beyond measure by families

  "This is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes."  Psalms 118:23

What a group!  Lainie, Lilly, Sarah Mei with all of their siblings!