Walk Down Memory Lane

On this date, four years ago, we met our little S-girl for the first time.
Miss Jin Xia Yue.
Xia Yue means "Summer Fun".
Something our lives have been full of since we met her!
Here is the exact post copied directly from my adoption blog.
Excuse me while I take a walk down memory lane.

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                                          Meeting S-girl for the first time!!

                                             S-girl's nanny

 
                                               First time in Daddy's arms


It is with great joy that we welcome little S-girl into our family. We have truly been blessed. We feel so honored and privileged that God has entrusted this little one to us.

What an amazing experience. The anticipation before seeing her and then those first few moments were just precious. She came to us without a tear but you could feel the fear throughout her little body. Her nanny seemed to really love her and had a hard time saying goodbye.

When we got back to the hotel S-girl just clung to me. Many time you could tell she was trying not to cry and she eventually broke into silent tears. Tears just streamed down her face but not a sound. Of course, I sobbed too. Just knowing the fear that she must feel in this strange environment away from everything she has ever known.

After a few hours Darren got to hold her and of course, he got the first smile from her. It is then that we realized she has the sweetest little dimple in one cheek.

That evening we decided to go on a walk and find a KFC. She loved the walked and cooed and smiled the whole time. But whenever we get back inside the fear comes back!!

She slept great and woke up at 5 a.m and had a bottle. It was so cute..she would open her eyes, look at me feeding her, and then shut them again...it was like she was just pretending I wasn't there!!

She has been quite sad all day and is also running a fever. She has not really let us put her down (except to sleep) and is quite consolable. So that is an answer to prayer. I just feel so bad for her because you can just see the fear in her little face. We may take her down to the pool and see if she likes that!!

I can't stop looking at her little face. She has gorgeous long black eyelashes and beautiful skin. Her eyes are so big and expressive. We are just in love. D-man is really cute with her. He is just soaking her up. She seems to like both of us the same at this point so that has been nice.

It has been wonderful having Jonathan and Cindi and Jenny and Liza here also. I am so glad that family was able to experience this with us. They have been our photographers...but also such a great support.

Thanks so much for all of your prayers. We have seen God's thumb-print all over this experience. We are praising Him today!!

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I look at our daughter, four years later and am in awe of the person she has become.  She came to us a grieving, frightened little girl. One who was very sick and in need of open heart surgery.  Today, she has a zest for life. Her laugh permeates a room. Her smile is one of the friendliest I've ever seen.


But, I will be honest.  On many days, but this day in particular, I ache for S-girl's birth mother. I don't claim to know her circumstances.  But I do know that she has suffered great loss.  I know she wanted the best for her daughter.

"We wish for her to find a good family", was scrawled on a note attached to her blanket.  

Oh that she could know this beautiful little girl.  I wonder if some of her strength was passed on to "our" daughter.  Does she share the dimple that is so sweetly nestled on S-girl's cheek?  Do they have the same smile or sparkling eyes?  


So today I honor S-girl's birth mother.
I know that we are worlds apart.
But we will forever be connected.
We share the same daughter.
There aren't words enough to express my gratitude for choosing to give life to this dear child.
A more precious gift we could never have been given.

Below is a short clip of the first moment we laid eyes on our daughter.
A moment that tops the charts forever!!