Happy Anniversary

How have 365 days elapsed? Has it really happened? How did we get here?

Some may think that today is Christmas Eve. To me, it is so much more than that. Today is the one year anniversary of when Dong Fang Yang Yang was placed in my arms in Nanchang, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.

In so many ways it started out like a normal day. The four of us were together. We had been waiting so long for our daughter. It almost didn't seem real.

We took a bus to the Civil Affairs Office. We entered this large room with beautiful woodend carved chairs. There were already a few babies in the room waiting for their families. Yang Yang was not there... yet.

Ten to fifteen minutes passed. Into the room came 4 harried women with a slew of babies. Each baby was dressed in a gorgeous red brocade outfit. Some were crying. Some were playing. Some were taking in the strange people who started to gather around them. I couldn't pick her out of the group. Jerry knew immediately. He recognized her amazing lips... so round and full of life.

Yang Yang had three little pig tails in her hair. I approached the woman with her and asked if it was Dong Fang Yang Yang. She nodded yes. SHe then pointed to me and said, "Mama"?. I said yes, and started to well up. I was able to greet Yang Yang from across a coffee table. I handed her some toy keys to play with. She didn't cry, took the keys and watched me with interest. We took some priceless pictures of her.

It seemed like forever before they started the ritual of calling names, checking papers and uniting families.

I don't think there is anything in the world like the first time you hold your baby. It doesn't matter if it is through birth or adoption. Feeling your baby in your arms. Smelling the sweet baby scent. Touching skin softer than you ever felt before. All of your senses alive... mmmmm It all comes flooding back.

Dong Fang Yang Yang became Madeline Yang on that day in China. She met her parents, brothers and aunt. She was brave. She was smart. She was more alive and vivid than I could have ever imagined.

The past year has brought us blessings we could never have dreamed of.

Happy Gotcha Day, Miss M.

You are loved.

You are respected.

You are a precious, precious miracle.

-- the third miracle.... who could ask for anything more.