First Year with Jeannie

Jeannie has been part of our family for one year now. In reality, she had become part of our family long before Bob and I had met her. Gia had spoken of her so often, and we had looked at her photo's hundreds of times. I had always felt that I knew her and loved her long before her "Gotcha Day". I remember thinking - "how can I miss someone that I have never met?".

Jeannie is now a happy, silly, sweet 8 year old. Her nick name is "smiley". She rarely is without a smile on her face. She loves to play school ( she is always the teacher ), play with her dolls, be with her sister, eat everything and anything, sleeps great at night, loves school and all of her friends and extended family members. The grief and rage that she first felt upon arriving home are long gone. She has only happy memories of her life in China, but very rarely talks about it.

Jeannie is now involved in soccer, soft ball and tumbling. She is still very much a "girly girl", loves to dress pretty and always has a bow in her hair. She is beginning to read, can write well and doing great in math. Our worries about her learning our language and keeping up in school have gone. She is a great student and loves to do her homework!

We thank God every day for this little girl and her beautiful sister. We thought so many times along our journey to Jeannie that this adoption would never happen. We had so many hurdles to jump and mountains to climb - but "faith can move mountains"!!

Gotcha Day Jia Fan

Three years ago today Gia walked into our lives. She was wearing a red sweater, pink pants and pink boots. She was too afraid to look us in the eye - she looked down or looked away with a blank stare. Tears were in her eyes, but she was too proud and brave to cry. We instantly fell in love with her spirit - her strength - and her strong will.

Early this morning Bob and I were in bed talking about our memories of our "firs moments together" with Gia. Every day she shows us how brave she is, how hard she tries at everything she does, and is never happy until she gives 100 % and is successful. Her daddy has often told her "Gia - you are my hero!"

Soon, Gia joins us in bed and we begin to talk about her special "Gotcha Day". She is so bright and happy, talking about her memories and how relieved she was once she realized that we were a "nice mommy and daddy - especially daddy was fun to play with!"

Later Jeannie joins us - just waking up, still tired and quiet. I remind her that today is her special day too - because this was the day that mommy and daddy saw her picture - and heard all about her. It was the day that mommy knew that she would be joining our family.

Later that morning daddy brought all of his girls pink roses - and Gia received a gift that was purchased 3 years ago in China for this special day.

I look back at the photos taken in Pingnan from over 3 years ago. Gia is very thin and covered in bug bites. Jeannie had her shy smile. Today they are confident and happy girls, knowing that they are so very much loved and wanted.