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.