Gotcha Day!!!

Eight years ago today... in the city of Nanchang .... the most exquisite 11 month old little girl with huge black eyes and a head full of spiked black hair, was placed in my arms. This was the end of an over 2 year journey. An at times, unbearable journey. A journey that had more ups and downs than the best coaster Disney has. That was so tough, that at times I was a blubbering heap upon my kitchen floor, needing my dear husband to pick me up again! As it states in the bible, in Psalms 30:5, sorrow may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Well let me tell you the joy I felt when they placed that precious, tiny little pumpkin in my arms, was and still is indescribable! Instantly the sorrow, longing and loss that I had experienced was gone. My heart was filled with complete utter joy! It was so hard for me to believe that the wait was finally over and this precious bundle was mine. The long awaited answer to all my hopes, prayers and dreams. And as only our most loving Father could do , more than I could ever have hoped or dreamed for. To say I was head over heels in love with this screaming little angel child, was an understatement.

We had an amazing 3 weeks to get to know and fall more in love, day by day, with this little sprite! It was an awesome time during which I realized that it was not the end of the journey, but really just the beginning of a new journey. We were going to be able to be part of this incredible little girl's life.

It has been an amazing 8 years. So hard to believe that it really has been that long. I have been having flash backs all week. Reliving the awesome journey to Liv and the amazing first days of us falling more and more in love with her. She amazed me then and continues to amaze me more each and every day.

She is an awesome little girl. She loves the clothes, shoes, the color purple, dancing ballet, laughing out loud, giggling like a girly girl, and snuggling! To say I am a proud mama is an understatement. This past year Livi came to me stating she wanted to be baptised. That was a very emotional service to say the least. And today for her Gotcha day present she got a new purple bible! The girls get a little present to celebrate their Gotcha day, and Liv had been hinting that she really wanted a new bible. She was so excited, that she carried it around with her for most of the day. I got all choked up and said to David that how awesome it was that this precious little pumpkin, had asked Jesus into her heart, gotten baptised and now was so excited to get a bible for her gotcha day! I am so very thankful that she is my daughter and also that she is here in America where this is possible.

My thoughts are also with a precious Grandma who's heart was broken the day mine was set free. Liv knows her as Nanny. I fully believe that God had placed her there to take care of our angel. She took excellent care of our daughter for 10 months. She loved her, fed her and held her constantly. Liv was a preemie and Nanny saw to it that she not only survived, she thrived.I will always be eternally grateful to her.

Happy Gotcha Day my sweet girl. Always know that daddy and I love you so much!!!