Absolutely Heartbreaking

This is an absolutely heartbreaking story regarding China's One Child Policy and forced abortion.  This story makes me so incredibly grateful for our Mia and the freedom we have here in the United States.

Uplifting Adoption Poems...

Once there were two women who never knew each other

One you do not remember, the other you call Mother.

Two different lives shaped to make your one.

One became your guiding star, the other became your sun.

The first one gave you life, the second taught you to live it.

The first gave you a need for love, and the second was there to give it.

One gave you a nationality, the other gave you a name.

One gave you the seed of talent, the other gave you aim.

One gave you emotions, the other calmed your fears.

One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried your tears.

One sought you a home that she could not provide,

The other prayed for a child and her hope was not denied.

And now you ask me through your tears

The age-old question through the years,

Heredity or environment----

Which are you the product of?

Neither my darling--neither;

Just two different kinds of love.

Another....

Not flesh of my flesh

Nor bone of my bone

But still miraculously my own

Never forget for a single minute

You didn't grow under my heart

But in it

Another...

Breath of My Breath

Breath of my breath and heart of my heart I feel that you're truly my own. I don't know how long it will take you to see, But I hope that one day when you are grown... you'll too, know the love you feel for your child. A blessing from heaven above... A task we accept and honored to have. A baby, our new life... to love. And I as your mother, would feel just the same if you had been born unto me. You are part of my heart, and each breath that I take, no more my child could you be. ... If you had grown just under my heart inside my tummy below... For greater my child, you grew in my heart ... as only your mother could know. -anonymous

Another...

A Mother's Love

She left you one morning, She had no choice. In a country of millions She had just one voice. The law made it clear One child would do. To obey it would mean No hope for you. As she laid you down Her eyes became blurried. On saying goodbye Said don't you worry. Another will come To take my place. A mother will come From a different race. She'll hold you and love you As if you're her own. She'll take you away To a brand new home. She then ran away Her heart broke in two. Don't ever forget Of my love for you. -Tom Fisher

 Another...

You first came to us in an envelope

With letters, forms and such

Just two tiny little pictures

With nothing warm to touch.

You grew in our imagination 

A cute one...

With a butterfly kiss and a ladybug hug Sleep tight little one like a bug in a rug.

Another...

Poem from a Birth Mother ON THE WINGS OF A PRAYER I set you free on the wings of a prayer To fly through life in His tender care, You're free from the nest and the ties that are bound Free from the pressures I carry around. If I kept you I'd only be cutting your wings, Not offering the chance a true family brings.

The decision I've made has my heart torn in two, 

But I know what I'm doing is the best thing for you. 

The sky is so vast, the mountains so high,

 Take wing and remember: 

Iove you. 

Goodbye. 

 --LISA BOTE-PHILLIPS, a birth mother

Another...

As you lay sleeping far away as still as you could be... How could you know the joy today this photo brings to me? A few short weeks and you'll be mine, and "I" will soon be "We". How could you know the love I feel? It's something you can't see. So have sweet dreams, my precious babe. Sleep well and tenderly. Some say that you're the lucky one. How could you know it's me?
--- Kris Laughlin

 

Happy! Happy! Happy Birthday Mia!

Today (yesterday for Mia since China is 12 hours ahead of the US) is Mia's birthday!  She is turning 4!

While I am so happy for her and know that birthdays are so exciting for kids, I must say I am really sad I could not be there to bake her cake, sing to her, see her blow out her candles, watch her open her presents, and give her hugs and kisses.  Knowing you have a little one half way across the world that you are so desperate to meet and bring home with you can definitely be tough, especially when there are special things like birthdays to celebrate.

On a happier note, as you know, we were able to send Mia a care package with some presents (see earlier post if you missed them) and a local bakery was able to deliver a birthday cake for her.  Even more fun, the orphanage took some pictures of Mia and her cake (which looks super yummy)!  Still no pictures of her smiling with teeth!  :)  I hope you enjoy the new pictures as much as we have.

Happy Birthday Sweet Mia!

  

Upcoming Birthday!

What do you get a little girl for her birthday when you have never met her but love her with all your heart?  What if that little girl is your daughter?  What if you only had one website to shop from?  

As I was shopping for Mia's birthday package (she is turning 4 on Oct. 12) I went through so many crazy emotions and questions.  Of course we want to get her something she would love and know that we are thinking about her on her special day, but it pains me to say I do not know what she likes and I am completely shooting in the dark.  

Below is a couple of the pictures that Ann from RedThreadChina.com sent us of her birthday package.  She does such a beautiful job and is so kind and wonderful to work with.  We will also hire her as a tour/shopping guide while we are in China.  Right now she is really my only connection to our little Mia.  The little goat (no I never thought I would get my darling girl a stuffed goat for her birthday :)) is a character from a very popular cartoon in China that Mia (currently called Jing Jing) watches in her orphanage.  The necklace has the chinese symbol for love on it.  She will also have a 2 lb. cake (that sound really heavy to me) delivered to her orphanage by a local bakery for her, the kids, and the nannies to enjoy.  Ann has also requested that the orphanage take pictures of her at her birthday "party" with her cake and presents.  If they do, they will send them digitally to Ann and she will send them to us!  I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY hope we get to see pictures of her on her special day.  Pictures of her right now simply mean the world to us.  We also send her at least one letter a month (and one is also included in her birthday package) which Ann (from RedThreadChina.com) translates for us.  It is so difficult thinking of things to say to a almost 4 year old you never met, have loved in your heart for over 5 years, and yet do not know what she likes, dislikes, interests, or most importantly how she feels about her upcoming adoption.  

All that said, we are getting closer and closer every day with our paperwork and are still expected to travel some time in December.  WHOOOOO!