Sunday, July 25, 2010

4 years ago today...


We saw our beautiful AnnaClaire Chenhui for the first time. I'll back track a bit and say that the week before, our agency had posted that 4 surprise referrals had come in, and they would be considering families who had turned in SN applications before July 18. Ours was turned in on July 16. However, there were so many other people on the interested families list... we were not expecting to hear ANYTHING, we had JUST applied to the waiting child program, and we had not even heard about our LID yet! So on July 24, when we had a missed call from our coordinator, we figured she was calling back to answer some general questions about the SN process. How wrong we were. Of course, by the time we got the message, our agency was closed. The next day, our agency called again. Imagine my shock and surprise when I heard Mom say, "Of course! We would love further information!" Mom jotted down some of the basic info, as I ran downstairs to have my thoughts confirmed... Mom was getting our referral call! We called Dad, and we anxiously awaited the email that would have pictures of our darling little girl.
We all fell in love immediately. I mean, what's not to love? We found out that her name was Chen Xun Hui and that she was born on October 27, 2005 and was waiting in Chenzhou, Hunan. We looked at her and just knew that no matter what, this was OUR girl.
And that is why July 25, 2006 will always be a day that I will never forget. It marks a day that my life changed forever... the day this precious, amazing little girl made her way into my heart. And ever since that day, the love that at one point stretched across oceans has only increased. You can't spend a second with our little princess and not love her. She's so full of spunk, energy, joy, and love. She loves everything about her family and if she could choose anything to do, it would be to spend time with her WHOLE family. She loves Jesus, and at the young age of 4, has already asked Him into her heart. She loves to swim. She loves to color. She loves to meet people. And oh, how I love this sweet girl. I will never stop thanking God for bringing her into our lives 4 years ago. Our lives would simply not be the same without her.
July 25, 2009 (3.5)
July 25, 2008 (2.5)
July 25, 2007 (20 months)

4 comments:

Football and Fried Rice said...

WOW!!!!!! Such a cutie patootie!!!!

July 25th is our referral day too!!!!! July 25, 2008!! can't even believe how time truly does fly ;) I love to see their little changing faces - so precious!!

Jeanette said...

Happy Referral day AC!!! I remember when your mom emailed me about her, we were at the beach and I was so excited to see her sweet face! I will never forget that referral picture!!! By the way, I'm honored she is wearing a Sara Beth Bow in all of her Referral Day photos! She is growing up to be such a beautiful little girl! By the way, I love the new pictures on your blog header AND I just posted that Davit Platt quote on facebook then came over to your blog and saw it on yours! Awesome! Have you read Radical?

Anonymous said...

Thank you.

Anonymous said...

And each of the nine as cute as can be!