Better late than never…
August 21st is a special day to Hannah and I as it commemorates the day I received Hannah’s referral call on Aug 21, 2009! She was just 5 1/2 months old at referral!!
A photo montage of referral day memories followed by our referral day videos at the end.
2017 (8.5yo)
2016 (7.5yo)
2015 (6.5yo)
2014 (5.5yo)
2013 (4.5yo)
2012 (3.5yo)
2011 (2.5yo)
2010 (10mos)
7 years ago today (Aug 21) I received a call from Deborah at my agency and my life was forever changed in the most amazing, wonderful, awesome way! I was a Mom and sweet Hannah XiaoFen (just 5 1/2 months at referral!!) was waiting for me in Hunan, China!
While parts of the day are a blur, some of it I remember like it was yesterday!! LOL – could be because of the number of times I’ve watched these life-changing videos!!
Referral Video – Part 1
Referral Video – Part 2
Some other pictures from today’s photo shoot.
And a walk down referral day memory lane…
2015 – 6.5yo
2014 – 5.5yo
2013 – 4.5yo
2012 – 3.5yo
2011 – 2.5yo
2010 – 17 months
‘The Lord has done this and it is marvelous in our eyes.’
Psalm 118:23
5 years ago today my life changed in the most amazing, wonderful way! I was blessed by God with the title my heart had longed to hold for as long as I could remember, ‘Mom!!!’ After waiting (im)patiently for the 3 1/2 years that my file was in China, Deborah called to share the news! I am forever thankful that in the 30 minutes from her initial email that she was preparing to call until the call came, I was able to gather my parents and my ‘mother-in-love’ in one room so that we could get the great news together!
August 21, 2009 ~ Hannah’s Referral Call! (Hannah and I watched this together last night. A huge smile filled her face as she saw and heard our reactions and I once again cried ‘happy tears’ as that amazing day was replayed once again!!)
I still pinch myself often to believe that I am blessed to call this most amazing girl my daughter!!
2014 – 5.5yo
2013 – 4.5yo
2012 – 3.5yo
2011 – 2.5yo
2010 – 17 months old
2009 – pics taken when she was just 3.5 months old!
Hannah, before God created the world He knew that you and I would be Mother and Daughter and I am forever grateful to Him! I love you Xiao Xiao!! xoxoxo
Hannah and I were blessed to celebrate the 4th Anniversary of her referral in China! Well….almost. We are still at Disney and today we were at Epcot so we took our annual referral day pictures there! How fun!
I started with pictures of Hannah alone outside
and then moved inside the China Pavilion.
Mommy and Hannah together….forever!
And because this is always a fun part…
2012
2011
2010
2009
Here are my referral day videos. Hannah and I watched these together this morning and once again Mommy cried happy tears, especially with my beautiful daughter tucked into my arms!
What a wonderful place to celebrate this most special day! The day God created our family!!!
We found a special friend to celebrate with us!
Happy Referral Day Hannah XiaoFen! Mommy loves you more than words can express!
3 years ago today life changed in the most wonderful and amazing ways! 3 years ago today I became a Mom!!!
I still remember many details of the day as if they were yesterday. Other parts of a blur that all add up to receiving Hannah’s referral call at 3:30pm on Friday, August 21st, 2009!
More referral day memories can also be found here and this is a video of ‘The Call’!
Today Hannah and I celebrated this special day by going out for one of our favourite meals – Sushi!
When we returned home we took our annual referral day celebration pics. Then an now….where does the time go??? My precious Hannah with her referral day picture. A walk down memory lane.
2012
2011
2010
Dearest Hannah,
Mommy loves you so very, very much! I am still humbled and honoured that God chose me to be your Mommy. I cherish every moment we share together and more than once today tears sprung to my eyes as I gazed at you and was overwhelmed with love. I love you to the moon and back sweet lovey. My Hannah Banana, Xiao Xiao, Shaoey, XiaoFen. Forever family – just as God planned for both of us before the beginning of time.
Love, Mommy xoxo
‘”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”’
Jeremiah 29:11
2 years ago today I received the call I had been waiting almost 3 1/2 years for….I was a Mom and Hannah XiaoFen was waiting for me in China!! She didn’t know about me but she had been living in my heart for a very, very long time and I couldn’t wait to hold her in my arms! It was instant love for me and with each detail that Deborah shared with me during her referral call the love grew deeper and deeper. (Referral videos will be at the bottom of this post.)
Today we shared a wonderful day together, just enjoying having fun and being together. We read stories, coloured, played and went for lunch with Grandma and Grandpa. A low key day full of lots of laughter, giggles, snuggles and fun!
August 21, 2009 was the day God planned long ago to introduce me to my daughter. I would still have to wait another long 10 1/2 weeks until I finally held her in my arms but just knowing who she was made my heart soar!!!
Those thoughts crossed my mind tonight as Hannah drifted off to sleep with my arms wrapped around her. She has become quite the cuddle bug and it’s not unusual for her to fall asleep snuggled up next to me with her little forehead touching mine. As she was preparing to sleep she rested her little hand on my cheek and whispered, ‘Love you forever Mommy.’
Oh what that did to this Mommy’s heart! How could I be so blessed to have such an amazing daughter? I whispered back that I loved her forever too and my voice was catching as I fought back tears….tears of joy. Her gentle spirit caught the change in my voice and she asked, ‘Ok Mommy?’ ‘Yes, sweet Shaoey, Mommy is ok. These are tears of joy as you are the love of my life and I love you with all my heart.’
Forever blessed by my sweet, loving, amazing, energetic, caring, wonderful daughter!!!
Each year I take a picture of Hannah with her referral picture. This is today’s picture of my tutu wearing two year old.
2011
2010
2009
If you want to learn all the wonderful details about August 21, 2009 from start to finish, can read about them here.
Referral video – Part 1 (These videos still make me cry! 
Referral video – Part 2
I love you Hannah XiaoFen. I am forever thankful that God created you and I to be mother and daughter. Family….forever!!
Love, Mommy xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Please hop over to Krista’s blog and congratulate her on the referral of her precious new baby girl! Sweet Mia is just 5 months, 28 days old and absolutely adorable!! (I remember well what it was like receiving Hannah’s referral call when I found out she was only 5 1/2 months old!) Mia is a baby baby! Yay!!!
I first met Krista in November of 2006 when a group of 4 gals who were pretty much strangers except for our blogs that tied us together, met for a fun filled weekend in Detroit! Friendships were born as we shared our hopes and dreams that weekend. Little did we know that it would take another 4 1/2 years before all of us became Mom’s to our precious little ones from China! It is cool though that all of us have continued with the long wait. I have many precious friends I’ve met through the wait who have formed their families in other ways rather than waiting for China. It’s neat that all 4 of us now have children who were born in China!
One thing about Krista is that she is a penguin lovin’ kinda gal! When we met that first weekend she’d bought some adorable little size 2 penguin jammies that Hannah is wearing now! Check out that top pic in her referral post. There are penguins flying through the air! So cool! It’s so neat when God does this. Just like in Hannah’s referral pic where she was wearing little red shoes with Mickey Mouse on them. Oh yes, she was my gal for sure!!
And for the updated pics received from DaoXian SWI in September 2009 she had switched up her shoes to yellow ones but they still sported Mickey Mouse! Yes, her love for Disney was born long ago!
Congratulations Krista! SO happy for you!!!
