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!!