The Best Present EVER!

These photos were taken of the girls by Louisa Larson and given to me as a birthday gift. I cried like a little baby!! Here are just a few!

Happy Gotcha Day JT!!

Two years ago today was the day we would finally be able to kiss those chubby little cheeks we have been looking at in the photos sent to us by China three months before.

Referral Photo's







Two years ago today, we woke up in Changsha, Hunan China with so much excitement and anticipation as the minutes went by so slowly until you were brought to us.


Big sister waiting at the Hunan Civil Affairs office to give JT her bunny


Two years ago today, the day I could finally give you a hug and tell you we were your forever family. The day we could tell you how wanted you were and how you would be loved unconditionally forever.

The moment we saw you and got to hold you March 18, 2008 Changsha China






























You took some time to grieve your loss and adjust, but from day one, you showed us what a strong, resilient, and happy girl you were.

Our first night and the following day together In China












What a blessing you are my sweet girl. You bring so much spunk, excitement, compassion, joy, and just a wee bit of chaos to our home. We wouldn't have it any other way! I dreamed for a very long time of bringing you home, our second treasure from China. There were many times, I was worried it just wasn't in the cards. Lucky for us, it all worked out. It has been a pleasure and privilege to watch you grow over the past two years. I thank God daily for his handy work in bringing our family together and allowing us to call you ours.

You have this glowing charm about you. You are able to bring people in and capture them in your heart. Because of you, the way you snuggled right into our hearts, our lives are forever changed. Because of you, I have the need to make sure people understand that no child should ever have to be without a family, no matter what they bring along with them, or where they are from. Because of you, our family is complete, happy, and strong. I am so grateful for your love, your laugh, your smile. I am so proud to call you my daughter!


The big smiles have continued over the past couple of years, we look forward to seeing that great big smile forever more baby girl!!

Happy Birthday JT!!

It is so hard to believe that JT is three years old! She has brought so much joy to us. She is so smart, funny, full of giggles, loves to laugh, is so affectionate and I just absolutley melt to hear the words "I love you too mommy"

Whenever it is birthday time I do a couple of things. I thank God for bringing JT into our family. I think and pray for JT's birthmother, who had to make an impossible decision that caused so much pain for her and brought so much joy to us, and I look back over the year and always am truly amazed at how much change happens in one year. Has it really been a year?

Happy Birthday to my little treasure!!

Here she is on her 1st Birthdy (she was still in China, we sent her a cake)




Here is JT at 2 years old





And here she is a year later

Dear S.....

S this is for you my sweet baby girl! It has been a while since I posted and a couple very big milestones have gone by that deserve to be highlighted! These milestones did not go by uncelebrated just not blogged!!

First my baby turned EIGHT years old on October 31st. Wow! I know everyone says it but WHERE has the time gone? S, I can remember just like it was yesterday the first time you looked at me and said "Mama". It was a cold December morning only a month after I brought you home. I was getting you ready to go to Grammies putting your little yellow fleece snowsuit on. I stood there all alone just you and me with tears streaming down my face. You completely oblivious to the fact that I waited years to hear that one little word. A word I wasn't sure I would ever hear. It was heaven and I will never forget it.

In China



Eight Years Old!!!!



Over the past year your love of horses has grown. You will drop anything to ride! You amaze me with your courage and skill. You seem to be able to talk with them. It is just amazing. And I do believe, horses will be a part of your life forever. I don't think for one minute you will give up on your dream to own your very own horse.

You have also become quite a reader! You are reading a full grade level ahead. We still read to you every night then you read in bed for another 20-30 minutes. I love peeking in on you and seeing you read. Just like GaGa says "You will never be lonely if you have a book." And seeing you read to your little sister just melts my heart.

And oh let the sleep overs begin! You had your first sleep over in June. I was a WRECK! It was the very first night I EVER slept without you under the same roof as me. The house seemed empty without you in it. And even now, after many more sleep overs, when you are off with one of your friends, it is empty when your not home. So, do you think you will still live with us forever?


Your sister just adores you! She loves her big sister so much! If I pick her up from school and your not with me, the first thing she is "where my sista?"

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Oh how much joy you have brought to our family. You have grown into such a wonderful little girl. Although much of the time you seem mature beyond your years, you will always be my baby, don't ever forget that!


We also celebrated the 7th anniversary of your Gotcha Day in CT with all the other girls you spent the first year of your life with in China! They were all adopted on the same day and we traveled through China together. Has it been seven years?





I remember when you were placed in my arms. Oh you were so sad and scared. But you proved very quickly that day that you are resilient, kind hearted, loving, open, and AMAZING. All qualities you still have to this day. You have taught us all S. I do believe I was put here to be your Mama and how lucky I am to have that title!