November 14, 2005 was a day that we thought would never get here. Now, exactly one year ago, we hardly can believe it has been 365 days.
We still remember everything about that day...it was overcast and drizzling but that did not dampen our joy and nervousness. The room was filled with our travel mates. These were people we had been in email contact with for months and had met in person just 4 days earlier. And in that short time in a foreign country, they were our family. We sat anxiously in the couches and signed paperwork that would allow us to have our daughters for a 24 hour harmony period. Some sat anxious and excited, while others sat silently with tears peeking at the corners of their eyes or streaming slowly down their cheeks.
I remember the inscription both in Mandarin & English across the one wall , "Thank you for all of your love pouring on the children." It struck me sadly that they were thanking us when we were the ones thanking them with every ounce of our beings. For some in our group, this was their first child: the culmination of years of dreams, heartbreaks, and now reality. For us, it was bittersweet as we knew that this would be the last child we added to our most blessed family.
I remember hoping that I would recognize Mikayla as the photos we had were 7+ months old. Then, I remember clearly them calling Qi Jia De, handing her to me, and knowing in that instance that she was the little one in the photos and the one meant to be a part of this family.
Our journey to Mikayla was a total leap of faith as we were content with our family. But, God started speaking to my heart then Huey's heart and with persistence we finally heard and understood. He made the path straight and the destination clear. We followed and found an indescribable gift at the end of the journey.
Some people have asked me since we have a biological child, a domestically adopted child, and an internationally adopted child if we feel differently about our adopted children. I can assure you that the unconditional love we feel for each of children began long before we held them (whether that was a delivery room, a living room, or a Civil Affairs room). We feel the same about each of our children: blessed!
Our first family photo. Director Chen is to the left of us in the photo. His smile at watching us united with Mikayla is one that is indelibly etched on my heart. Mikayla must have received the photo album we sent ahead with our pictures because she seemed to know our faces.
This is a shot on the bus outside the Civil Affairs Office. This shot is one of my favorites because it reminds how much our little Mikayla has given up and how graciously she has adapted to all of us and her new country.
After a very, very long nap, Mikayla played on the bed. As the theme song from Tarzan by Phil Collins says, "For one so small you seem so strong, Let my arms protect you, Keep you safe and warm, This bond between us can't be broken, I will be here...From this day on, Now and Forever More..."
And her first, real, true smile for us....she is ticklish....
