International Day at School

There is so much I enjoy about Hannah’s school!  One of the special days they celebrated this spring was an International day where the children were encouraged to wear clothing representing their ancestry.  The older children brought in a buffet of International dishes which were enjoyed by all.  Hannah was excited to wear one of the silk dresses we purchased when we were in China.  Oh my….this feels like just yesterday!!

But, these pictures quickly show that our time in China was more than 6 years ago.

So grown up!  Oh how I wish I could stop time!

Love you with all my heart Hannah!  xoxo

I am thankful that Hannah still enjoys wearing her beautiful silk dresses.

If I Could Tell Her…

On this the eve of Hannah’s 3rd birthday, if I could share with Hannah’s birth mother I would tell her:

Hannah is the most amazing little girl in the entire world!!

Her heart is big and her spirit is caring.

She is a bundle of energy that keeps mommy on the run!

She loves to help.   One of her favourite places in our home is beside me when I’m working in the kitchen or with the little vacuum when I’m using the larger one.  If we’re shopping and she spots something out of place she will either fix it or ask me to do so.

She loves to sing!  Many times each day she can be heard either singing quietly to herself or, loudly entertaining any who cares to listen.  She brightens many lives every single day!

Her heart is tender and caring.  It is not unusual for me to wake up to my little love leaning over and placing the covers on my shoulder or gently gracing my cheek with a kiss.  As she sleeps she often reaches out to hold my hands.  Precious moments for sure!

Hannah has a heart for prayer.    Prayer time is part of her daily life, not only before meals and at bedtime but also when she hears of something happening or notices an emergency vehicle.  She also remembers people we’ve prayed for in the past and asks to pray for them again.

She loves to run, jump and be active.  I often tease that her little feet don’t know how to walk.  When reminded she may walk for a couple of steps but then she quickly begins to skip and then run.  Gymnastics is a great fit for her and her independence when swimming keeps me on my toes!

She has a tender heart for China.  We talk about China all the time and soon she will understand more why this beautiful country and it’s people holds such a special place in our hearts.

Her little imagination is beginning to flourish!  She can be found hosting tea parties for us, creating ‘forts’ with chairs and blankets, cuddling her dolls and tell stories that come from her imagination.

Crafts are a favourite.  Creating pictures as gifts for family and friends.  She is mastering using scissors and can now cut shapes following lines rather than just miscellaneous clips.  New pictures grace our fridge daily and what beautiful decorations they are!

Her mind is quite logical and puzzles are a new source of entertainment.  She can complete 15 piece puzzles on her own and probably 24 piece too although we tend to do them together.  She also enjoys playing memory games and a new love is dominoes.  It’s such fun to play games with Hannah!

More than anything, I would like you to know that Hannah is loved.  She knows unconditional love and shares that back.  She is a happy, content, exciting, caring, sweet, loving little girl whom I love with all my heart. 

On this the eve of her 3rd birthday I realize that it is already the 27th of February in China and my heart longs for you to know that the beautiful little girl you gave birth to is amazing, wonderful, cared for and loved!  I wish I could tell you these things in person to give you peace.

And more than anything, to say Thank You from the depths of my heart.  Thank you for your selfless decision for Hannah.  Our lives are full because of you and I wish I could tell you…Thank you.  I cannot say these things in person so instead, I pray.  Asking God to somehow give you peace that your child, my child….is happy and loved!   Oh so loved by so many!

Thank you.

First Known Picture of Hannah!!

Wow!!! Here is one of the earliest pictures of my precious baby girl and quite likely the youngest picture of her that I will ever see!!!

2 days after I received Hannah's referral (yes, if your remember the timing it was 6 days before I saw her official referral pictures!) I was blessed to locate Hannah's Finding Ad* and see her beautiful little face!!! I fell in love instantly! She was less than 1 month old when this picture was taken!!

One of the ladies in the DaoXian SWI Yahoo Group had done some research and located finding ads for babies located there and posted links to the group. It took my breath away to look at this little picture and know that I was gazing at my DAUGHTER!!!

A *Finding Ad is placed in the newspaper by an orphanage, normally within the first couple of months of a baby being found. In Hannah's case it was placed just shy of a month after Hannah was born. The Finding Ad shared information about where my beautiful baby girl was found, what she was wearing and the date that she was found. The orphanage places this information in the newspaper allowing the birth family to come and reclaim the child should they choose to do so. I hold tight to this little piece of information and I can't help but wonder if a dear woman on the other side of the world also has this ad tucked away, knowing it may be the only picture of her beautiful daughter that she will ever have? I pray for Hannah's birth mother and birth father and ask God to comfort them. As I am anticipating Hannah's 'firsts', is this dear woman aching over all of the 'firsts' that she is missing? I truly believe with all of my heart that she is and I ask God to comfort her when the tears for her daughter freely flow. I will forever be grateful to her and the precious gift she has given me in Hannah Catherine XiaoFen.

The finding ad information is personal to us and in time I will share these precious details with Hannah and should she choose to share them with people it will be her choice. This is her story to tell, not mine and I am keeping this information for her alone.

Soon this beautiful little girl will be placed in my arms!! Two weeks from today Hannah and I will become mother and daughter, forever!!

PIPO's On Her Way to China!!!

Early this morning one of my first bloggy friends boarded a plane and is on her way to CHINA to meet her daughter!!

Congratulations PIPO! Can't wait to see sweet little PIPA in Mommy's arms!

Moooving Right Along

Ok, with the last two posts being about milk I couldn't resist that really baaaad title. (Oh ya, wrong animal) The title really has nothing to do with this post but I had to do it!

What is the topic of this post?

BABIES, BABIES EVERYWHERE!!!

This is a week of celebration for local friends and bloggy friends around the world too as there are so many little ones to celebrate!!

A couple of local gals from our waiting mom's group are meeting their babies! B met her precious Benjaminh in Vietnam at 2:30 am local time today! Oh how sweet he is! Congratulations B!!

Another local gal and her family left for China earlier today to meet their son on Monday and also, Donna and Joe are on their way to meet their precious Lauren Elizabeth! Congrats L and A; Donna and Joe...and Grandma too!

A good friend (who doesn't have a blog...yet! :o) received her referral on Sunday and you'll just have to trust me when I say her little princess is beautiful!!

Last night many of us were delightfully surprised to celebrate Eliza's Mom's cute little son who was born yesterday and is already part of their family!!!

And, as we celebrate those already with their children or on the way, we also celebrate with anticipation the day when Tiny and Pipa join their families too!

For the longest time, families travelling to meet their babies were few and far between. It's not that way right now and can I tell you how excited I am for each of these families? Each of these precious little ones is a reminder that Hannah is not far behind and soon it will be me boarding a plane and flying to China!!! Now that makes my heart beat quickly and a huge smile is stuck on my face! If you watch carefully your might even see a skip in my step. Wanna join me??

Earthquake Relief Options

As I'm sure you've heard, a terrible 7.9 earthquake and over a huderd aftershocks rocked the country of China yesterday. There are many places that offer you the opportunity to donate to help with the post earthquake relief and I would like to offer you another option.

Half the Sky is an organiziation that cares for orphans in China. Some of the children they care for will eventually be adopted and still others will live their childhood within the walls of an orphanage or with foster families. They do great work and now, they are called to minister to many more. Per their website, 'Funds will be used to provide emergency and long-term relief to children affected by the disaster. Relief will include emergency shelter, food, and medical care for children orphaned or separated from their families. It will include temporary or long-term foster care or, when necessary, temporary institutional care.'

If you would like to donate to Half the Sky to assist them with their post earthquake relief you can do so here:

Canadian Donations

US Donations

Thank you for considering making a donation to help precious little children who have already faced many difficult times in their young lives. Thank you also for praying for them, their caregivers and the many, many people of this beautiful country who yesterday, their lives were forever changed.

On Newsstands Now!!

Run, don't walk to your nearest store to pick up one (or two) of these beautiful tributes to China! From cover to cover you will be treated to beautiful pictures, facts, statistics, maps and much, much more! In the centre is a large 20" x 31" pullout with a map of China on one side and a pictoral and factual section about the Forbidden City on the other.

I've only had a few moments to glance at this treasure but I look forward to enjoying more and more of it in the days to come.

'Currently in China' - Updated

I have 3 friends whom I've met at recent bloggy get-togethers who are leaving for China either today or tomorrow! I've added links to the sidebar if you wish to follow their journeys.

Praying for you Lisa, Julie and Elisa! Your precious baby girls will be in your arms soon!! Praise God!

A Breathtaking Gift!!!

This gift was given to me by my wonderful friend Sharon! When she walked in with it it literally took my breath away and my hands began to tremble. It is a quilted mobile featuring 5 postcard sized, handmade, quilted pictures! It was designed and sewn by her friend Jana and is absolutely breathtaking!! Each picture is created from a variety of fabrics which have been sewn together to create 5 different Chinese scenes. Many scenes are brought to life using glitter thread and carefully placed quilt batting which gives each picture a 3 dimensional look and feel.

The mobile is beautifully displayed with a fan on top with the pictures carefully hung at a variety of lengths from chopsticks! I have never seen anything like it and I can’t wait to find the perfect place to display such a precious gift from the heart.

Jana is Sharon’s friend and the creator of this beautiful, unique piece of art. Quilting is one of the hobbies she has started since retiring. I'm so thankful she has!! Jana, if you happen to read this, Thank you! The mobile is absolutely beautiful! I hope to see you sometime when you're in town and tell you in person how beautiful this is!

And Sharon, what can I say? Thank you so much for this beautiful gift and for the daily prayers you offer for Hannah and I. I love you. You are a cherished and precious friend! Looking forward to the next couple of weeks away together. I didn't think this time last year we'd see another June Exam trip but I'm glad we have it! Have I mentioned that we're (that would be the Royal 'We') are good to book January too? LOL!!

Survivor China!

Yeah! I heard on the radio this morning that the next season of Survivor is going to take place in CHINA!!!

I've enjoyed Survivor since it first began many, many moons ago so now that the next season will be in China I'll be watching with great anticipation! I'm guessing it will be set in rural China but could be wrong. Maybe they'll need to survive crossing the crazy traffic I've heard about!

Regardless, I'm happy to hear that 2 of my favourite things will be joining together.

For your entertainment pleasure I give you a sample of driving in Nanchung, China! Phew....not going to try driving there, that's for sure!

Driving in Nanchung. (Can't seem to grab the code for the video so you'll need to click above to see it. WELL WORTH going to see!

Meet Sweet Madison!

What a treat it was to wake up Monday morning to see this precious baby girl! She is the new daughter of my friend's Ming and Lorraine. Ming and Lorraine were originally going to travel with my group but due to their Chinese heritage they were expedited and are currently in China! I am so happy for them and look forward to meeting Miss Madison in person!

Congratulations Ming and Lorraine! Your daughter is beautiful!

PS - I laughed when I opened the picture to see that Madison and her tag toy had already become good friends! It's been fun to see these little toys showing up in pictures all over the place! In Minneapolis, PEI, Saskatchewan and now...China! I think I've made around 35 of them in the past year and it's fun to see where they end up...normally in mouthes of babies! :o) Yes...they sure do love their tags!