Finally home!!

Hanging out in the Tokyo airport ready to fly home

We have finally arrived at the Minneapolis Airport

Our welcome back home at the Grand Rapids Airport

Feeling the carpet for the very fist time after

a long screaming ride in her first car seat.

We finally landed in Minneapolis 24 hours later than planned and Carissa became an official citizen of the U.S.A. She slept through it since it was her night time in China. We met with some of Curt's family that lives in the area, then got back on the airplane and finally headed by home to Spring Lake. Our journey home is over!!!!

A year ago today, Carissa left China for the good ole U.S.A.

A year ago today Carissa left her home land of China headed for the U.S.A. Little did we know at the time that we would be stuck in Tokyo for another 24 hours before heading home. She didn't seem to mind!!

One year ago the adoption was finalized!!

Our new family with Carissa's old family

One of her nannies and the Yueyang City SWI Orphanage Director

Curt's thumb print

My thumbprint

Carissa's foot print

It's official - we are her parents!!

Meeting Carissa for the first time last year

Forever Family Day!!

Carissa at exactly 3:07 a.m. (U.S. Time)

which is 3:07 p.m. (China Time). The exact time

she was placed in my arms one year ago.

Eating a wonderful Chinese dinner

Daddy and Carissa with her new Chinese dolly
we named her "Jordan" since that is where I
purchased it from Jordan's in Guangzhou

Today we celebrated our first "Forever Family Day" by going for a nice Chinese Buffet dinner and giving Carissa one of the many gifts we purchased from her home land, China.

This year has flown by soooo fast and we have enjoyed every minute of getting to know our precious daughter that we waited so long for. She has truly made our family complete and we can't imagine our life without her. She has gone from a scared, crying little baby to a fun loving, busy toddler (and I do mean busy!!). There are days that I am exhausted just keeping up with her but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. She is now talking and trying to say sentences. Her favorite things are her books and dollies. She is starting to play imaginatively and we are enjoying all of the new things she is trying.

When we look back at this last year, we are amazed at how perfectly she fits in with our family. God knows long before we do where each of us belong. I often think of her birthmother back in China and how I wish I could write to her to let her know how she is growing and progressing and that she is loved more than words can say. I just pray that the Lord places peace in her heart and that she know somewhere, her precious daughter is safe and sound and loved unconditionally. If it weren't for her giving Carissa life, we wouldn't have her in our life.

Carissa 2nd Birthday!!

Waking up on her birthday (not a happy camper)

Carissa with Pastor Eric

Beth Evans, Sunflower Swan and Carissa

They both have adopted Chinese daughters

Some of Carissa's guests enjoying a cookout

Erika has the coolest shirt that you can change around

The Pink Panda Cake

Carissa with her adopted "Auntie" Michelle

Her Pink Panda Cake made by her adopted "Auntie Michelle"

Getting ready to cut the cake

Posing with all of her "STUFF"

Trying on the outfit given to her by one of her Hunan Sisters, Alyssa Allen

Playing with her back pack and new cell phone

Today we celebrated Carissa 2nd Birthday with a cookout at Rycenga Park. We missed her 1st birthday by four days last year and even though we celebrated when she was 13 months old, it wasn't the same as the "first" birthday celebration every child should have. We decided to make this a big one for her and we had a wonderful turn out of families and friends that have been with us during this long journey and have welcomed Carissa into their hearts over this past year. We are so blessed to have wonderful friends to celebrate with!! She also got a ton of "stuff" for her birthday!!

It has been a tradition since Ryan was a baby to tape him first thing in the morning on his birthday (he was born at 8:17 in the morning so we try to get him up at the same time). We don't know what time of day Carissa was actually born so we went into her room as soon as we heard her getting up. She wasn't really fond of being video taped but we did it any way - LOL!!

Last Post Placement Visit

We had our last post placement visit with Sarah today. It was four years ago in September 2005 that we first met Sarah. A process that we thought was going to take at the most 18 months ended up being three years and would have been longer if we were still waiting for a "non-special needs" referral. She was such an encourager throughout these last four years. In March 2008 I was so discouraged and she encouraged me to look at the next COP list. You never know if your child is on that list if you are open. She was soooo right and we found Carissa.

Even though our "official" time is done, we will forever hold a special place in our hearts for Sarah and we can now be "real" friends as she said. All it takes is a little drive to Holland, MI!!

A short visit from the Cattell's

Together again!!

They have grown soooo much in one year

Watching NiHao Kilan Goes to China

Sisterly Hugs!!

Opening up a birthday present from the Cattell's

Playing in the COLD (and I do mean Cold)

waters of Lake Michigan

Playing in the sand

Ryan burying Amber in the sand

Carissa running towards mommy screaming.

We were trying to get a picture with all three girls

but she would have nothing to do with it.

Snack time!!

On Friday night, the Cattell's (Eric, Joanne, Amber and Jade) came to visit just for the night and part of Saturday. We originally met over the internet. Both of our families has received referrals the very same day back in April of 2008. We started talking via e-mail in May and finally met last September in Beijing, China. Both of our daughters are from the Hunan province so we traveled with them the entire trip.

We enjoyed dinner out on Friday night at a local mexican restaurant, Prueblo's, then headed home for some play time. The girls were having so much fun and got pretty roudy for a little bit. On Saturday, we headed to Lake Michigan to our favorite beach. While there, we met a couple that had also adopted their daughter at the EXACT same time but through a different agency. They live around the Detroit area and were just visiting the West side of Michigan for the day. It is amazing how the Lord brings people together!! After talking a bit, we remembered meeting each other in the elevator of the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou. Their daughter Lila will be turning two a couple weeks after Carissa.

It is fun to see the girls get together and will continue to be fun watching them grow up.

First day of Gymnastics and Dance

Checking herself out in the mirror

Aren't I cute!!

Running around the white line to warm up

Rolling the ball back and forth

Learning the log roll

WEEE!!! Watch me bounce!!

Muscle women!!!

Carissa enjoyed her first combo class last Tuesday. She is taking dance/music for the first 30 minutes and then gymnastics for the last 30 minutes. She wasn't too sure about the dance part of it but absolutely loved running around trying out all of the gym equipment.