Three Years Ago Today!

Create Your Own
It's hard to remember what life was like before Abby joined our family ... but I have no problem remembering what the day was like 3 years ago today, November 17, 2003 ... the day our referral from China finally arrived!

After all the paperwork and waiting, it was finally time to learn who the little girl was on the other side of the world who would soon join our family. It was exciting and surreal all at once ... a bit like being in labor with the boys, and every bit as emotionally draining ... but with much less physical discomfort. At least for Mama! And finally, late morning the call came ... it was official, a baby girl in Zhuzhou City, Hunan named Guo Kui Yan would be our daughter! She was 9 months old and her report from the SWI said that she loved to be outside and got especially excited when motorcycles passed by the orphanage gates. Which was a direct match of her new daddy's home study report that talked about what he enjoyed most ... being outside and riding his motorcycle!

We knew this little one would change our lives, but how do you ever truly prepare for the blessing of a beautiful child to enter your life. The next few weeks would be a blur as we went through the motions of enjoying the holidays and preparing for our trip halfway around the world. Our last Christmas as parents of two boys, which I tried to enjoy as much as possible ... but thoughts of that little one 8,000 miles away made the holiday bittersweet.

Three years ago today Abby didn't know we were about to turn her world upside down, but it was one of the best days of our lives. This morning as she snuggled in bed with me just before it was time to get moving, it seemed like yesterday we received that call. But so much has happened and she has changed so much ... it also seems like an eternity.

Enjoy the slide show with the first 3 pics we saw of Abby with her referral, taken about 4 months before they were sent to us when she was 5 months old ... mixed in with 3 more recent photos. It is a special day!