One WHOLE Year

December 13, 2009 A Hotel Conference Room in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China

A Few Months Later

October 2010

Today is our "Forever Family Day." The day we got Avery one year ago. She was very scared of us 'white' people, had an upper respiratory infection, a rash on her torso, ate only formula (she was 15 months old), spoke Chinese, was VERY well cared for (despite the infection and rash) in the orphanage, had endured open heart surgery, had never worn a diaper, and had never known what being in a family was like. She was found when she was a month old. The Chinese believe that after a mother has her baby she is to go home and stay there for one month to protect the Chi or luck of the child and family. After that one month they are able to go out. Most babies who are found are about a month old because of this tradition.

Now she has two older brothers, two older sisters, a Dad, a Mom, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, cousins, extended family, church family, and friends that all love her and care for her. She came into our home and KNEW it was hers - she never asked for permission to fit in. She has blessed us beyond belief. And we have seen why it is called "The Miracle of Adoption." Our family's life has been stretched beyond what we could have imagined. We are part of a population known as conspicuous families. We gather with other families just like ours so that we can feel normal. We love this normal!

Tonight when we said our prayers, we prayed for the nannies who loved her so much in the orphanage. We also prayed for her birth mother and birth father. My heart hurts for them so much. I want so bad for them to know that she is healthy, happy, loved, ornery, and such a blessing to us. I want them to have peace. God can do this.

We are so glad that we have been on this amazing ride. We would not have missed this for anything!