Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Forever Family Day!!! Together One Year!

Today is a day of great celebration!!!  It was one year ago today that God brought Hannah and I together as Mother and Daughter!!  He had the day planned long ago, and November 2, 2009 was that day!

‘Your eyes saw my unformed body; 
  all the days ordained for me were written in your book 
  before one of them came to be.‘

Psalm 139:16

Here are some links to last year’s posts for any who are interested in reading them again….or for the first time.

Hannah is Here!!!

Sorry Folks…More Tomorrow

Oh What a Great and Glorious Day!!!  Hannah is HERE!!! – Part 1

Oh What a Great and Glorious Day!!!  Hannah is HERE!!! – Part 2

Oh What a Great and Glorious Day!!!  Hannah is HERE!!! – Part 3

It is less than an hour from now that time that Hannah was placed in my arms 1 year ago!  Wow!!!  I have been consumed with the thoughts of this wonderful day for the past number of weeks.  God was so good (and continues to be :o) in that He created Hannah with the most amazing, wonderful, delightful personality!   I am forever blessed to call this precious gift of God my daughter!

Mom, Dad and I on our way to the Hunan Adoption Administration & Service Centre.  The last time we would be a family of only 2 generations!Imported Photos 00043

The official ‘Notice of Travelling’ stating I was able to adopt Yong Xiao Fen…my amazing Hannah XiaoFen!!Imported Photos 00045

Excited Mommy getting out of the bus on our way into the Adoption Center!

Imported Photos 00038 Just moments before she was placed in my arms.   This was her travel nanny and the assistant director of the DaoXian SWI.  (I am SO thankful for this picture as until last week I didn’t realize Norma had captured this moment.  Thank you Norma!!)Imported Photos 00056

This one was taken within a minute of the one above but it captures Hannah’s life changing forever as she moves from the arms of the loving caregivers in her orphanage to Mommy’s loving arms!!!Imported Photos 00057

Imported Photos 00048 In these first few pictures Hannah was pretty stoic but as you’ll see, that didn’t last for long.  As for me,  I was already totally, completely, 100% in love!!!Imported Photos 00063

Overcome with emotion

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Within minutes of meeting!!

Checking Mommy outImported Photos 00051

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First picture with Grandma and Grandpa

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Meeting Auntie NormaImported Photos 00068

I still love the feeling of this precious little hand on my face.Imported Photos 00088

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Very quickly there were smiles, giggles and coos.  God is SO good!!  HE had prepared both Hannah and I for this exact moment in time.Imported Photos 00087

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Last year at this time Hannah and I were all but strangers to one another.  Imported Photos 00092 Tonight as I’ve worked on this post I’ve responded to her gentle, sleepy requests for ‘Mama?’ as she calls from the room next door, just making sure Mommy is near. Going in I reassure her, hold her, rock her and rub her little back.  All to reassure her that all is well.   And I love that time too!  Never enough time to hold my baby close.

Oh yes, the sweetest word ever….Mama!!!

These pictures are from a year ago Imported Photos 00097 Imported Photos 00100and yet just moments ago it was lived out again.  Hannah is much longer now and her beautiful head rests on my shoulder, but that same beautiful rosebud mouth still graces the face of my precious sleeping baby.

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Happy Forever Family Day Hannah XiaoFen!!  Mommy loves you more than words can express!!!

Thank you Lord for bringing Hannah and I together as Mother and Daughter.

27 comments:

  1. from the movie, fiddler on the Roof, "miracles of miracles, God made a miracle today, God made me for you today.

    You two are so beautiful together!
    You can literally SEE the love come upon you within minutes of being together!

    Thank you Catherine for sharing your lives with us!

    After watching the videos,
    Sadie(5)turned to me and said, "Nannie, Hannah must have been terrified before she met her Momma.
    me: "Yes Sadie, I think she probably was." Sadie: "Nannie, what does terrified mean?"

    God Bless You Both on the very specal day.

    much love,
    Miss Lila
    Ilana and Sadie

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  2. Congratulations Catherine and Hannah! Wow - what a year you both have had. May God continue to bless both of you.

    k

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  3. Have a blessed family day! Ms H just gets cuter by the day!

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  4. Happy One year family day Catherine and Hannah!! It's amazing how God worked every moment of this journey out so perfectly. He is amazing!!!

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  5. Happy Forver Family Day Anniversary. I'll never forget seeing those first beautiful pictures of you together finally. Your happiness just shines through the photos. It has been a year of wonder and excitement for both of you. She is precious beyond words.

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  6. Time for some new header photos! She has grown so much. God Bless!!

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  7. Very very moving to watch. I love the picture of her out stretched palm on your face. It shows a real acceptance.

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  8. Congratulations! Hannah is just beautiful. I can only imagine what a whirlwind the last year has been. Treasure every moment!

    The coincidences between the girls continue - not only were Hannah and Siena both adorable strawberries for Halloween, but just as you are celebrating Family Day with Hannah today, we are celebrating Siena's first birthday - amazing!

    Wishing you a wonderful Family Day celebration!

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  9. Happy Anniversary!I loved looking at your pictures and videos!

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  10. Okay, so I am always good with pictures, they don't USUALLY make me cry, but those videos? Blubber, blubber. I can't help it. It's just so beautiful.

    PS- Your dad was positively BEAMING in the background. too cute.

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  11. Happy 1st Forever Family Day, Catherine, and precious Hannah! It truly is a day of joyful celebration. I remember having tears in my eyes as I saw those photos a year ago. I am so happy for you both! And oh my, has your little princess grown. She's just beautiful, Catherine.

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  12. Happy Gotcha Day!

    It's amazing to see both how much she's changed and how much of her personality was apparent from the moment you met her.

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  13. Happy one year and wishing you many, many more forever family day anniversaries together.

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  14. WOW!! I can't believe how quickly a year has passed!

    Happy Forever Family day!!! You are both so lucky to have each other!

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  15. All of these pictures and videos make me so...I don't even know what the appropriate word is. I just feel so full of love for you both. You are blessed and we are blessed to be a part of your life's journey.

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  16. Has it really been a year? I can hardly believe it. Oh how your life has changed. All for the better.

    Happy Hannah Day!

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  17. OH happy happy day indeed!!! Time has flown and love has grown. Happy Hannah Day!!!

    Keep smilin!

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  18. Happy family day! You two do make a beautiful family.

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  19. OMGOSH she looks so grown up in the last picture.

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  20. Time flies when you are having fun!
    Congrats on your first year together.
    PS my 2 love watching their "movies" and I make a point of looking at them on our special days.

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  21. I'm a day late, but I wanted to say congrats on your first year together. Amazing how she's grown!
    -Rena

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  22. I know I'm late but my wishes come from the heart. Happy First day, week, year. You clearly so belong with each other. Beautiful post, touching for a beautiful family.

    Marie-Claude

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  23. What a special day!!! It is hard to imagine that it has been a year. Yet look at how Miss Hannah has grown!!

    I am so happy for you both!

    HUGS!!!

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  24. Awwww, Happy Forever Family! Hannah is as precious as ever! I can't believe it has been a year!!!

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  25. Reading this post brought tears to my eyes. I remember reading your blog everyday last year for posts of her being placed in your arms. So beautiful and precious!!!

    Happy 1 Year Anniversary together!

    Here is to many many more happy and beautiful ones!

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