One year ago today....

One year ago today, our family was vacationing in Maine and on our drive back to the hotel from the ocean, we received THE CALL from our sponsor Karen. We will never forget hearing the incredible news that we now have a daughter who turned one the day before named Shangguan Xinxuan. We learned that she was waiting for us in Shanggao Jiangxi China. What a treasured memory... I was in love far before that moment as I feel she was growing in my heart for a long time. But our hearts were bursting with love when we were told WHO our little miracle was! We are so thankful.... I am reposting my blog post from that incredible day below. xoxoxo

We are so delighted to say that we FINALLY have some news to share! On Monday, while on vacation in Maine, we were in the car (just left the ocean from a morning at Old Orchard Beach) when the phone rang. Being that we are always hoping for "THE CALL" we had our calls forwarded. When I looked down and saw our sponsor's area code, my heart leapt into my throat! When I heard her voice, I almost lost it entirely! Poor Karen could harly get a word in as I asked her (ok shouted a bit) , "do you have news for us, why are you calling, have you heard anything on files, do you have news". I didn't let her answer! LOL When she said yes, I yelled to everyone in the car that she has news! Then I quickly asked her if she was serious! LOL I was laughing, crying, half yelling! All the while sitting in my wet bathing suit full of sand in the car! NEVER did I picture this moment quite like this. I must add that I have had a list of questions printed by the phone for the last 5 months or so, specifically for THE CALL! ummmmm, I didn't bring it with us to Maine..... So, I am scrambling around the car for a pen and paper. I ended up snatching a crayon from Mara-Grace and her Diego toy box lid to write on!
I tried to listen, write, relay the news and TRIED to concentrate on Karen's glorious details of our Hannah.
News at last.
The most incredible news.....
Introducing with great pride and joy Our Hannah Faith.....







Our Hannah turned 1 on Sunday! She is currently in foster care in Jianxi, China.
Our family is so incredibly excited and blessed.
Thank you for your love and support along our journey. It truly means so much....

(added a few days later....)
I wanted to add an aspect to our Referral Call moment that I didn't get to write earlier. After receiving our call in the car on our way back to the hotel from the beach, I had the most amazing moment with someone. Before leaving for the beach that morning, when we left our room, the sweetest woman was in the hallway and was cleaning the rooms etc... When she saw us heading off, she wished us a wonderful day at the beach. We chatted for a moment and we were off. When arrived back, we were hurrying like madmen to get into our room, turn on the laptop, and send word to our agency who were then going to email us Hannah's file and pictures. We really couldn't get into our room fast enough. To say nothing about how excited we were to phone our family and share our news! Anyway, as we were arriving, I was practically pushing Kev forward to unlock the doors etc. (we had come in a side entrance) and we were almost running down the hall to our room when I saw the nice woman from that morning. I was smiling from ear to ear and running past and she says, "Oh, I hope you had a lovely morning. I must tell you, your little lady is so beautiful". WELL!!!!!!!! This was said as I was passing quickly by, perma-smile and wet bathing suit and all! That was all it took! I turned back around and I quickly went to her and I couldn't contain myself! I told her how we had been waiting and waiting and waiting and hoping for news, and that we received THE CALL! She grabbed me and hugged me in a hug I will never forget. We stood there jumping up and down, BOTH of us crying and smiling and hugging! When we finally stepped away, she says, "Well, that doesn't surprise me my dear.... You are talking to the Fairy Godmother afterall". ?????????????? And then she points to her badge and I am not kidding, her badge said Fairy Godmother! HOW amazing is that???? I really will never forget that moment with a virtual stranger, who couldn't have have been kinder. The next day when I saw Fairy Godmother, I told her that I would never forget her. She told me the same. It really was such a special moment all around.

(*** We chose to stay at the same hotel this year with hopes of seeing Fairy Godmother! Unfortunately when I asked, I was told that she now works at another hotel. One of her friends tracked me down and asked me of our connection. I told her the story and she offered to contact her. She did and told me that Fairy Godmother remembered us immediately and would love to hear from us! She gave me her number and I phoned her and left her a voicemail. I told her how much we appreciated the role she played on that special day and how kind she was. We thanked her for her kindness and wished her all the best.)

Here is Hannah Faith Shangguan Xinxuan at the same beach (pic taken last week) we just left last year when we received THE CALL!!!!!

Photo Tinks by WiddlyTinks.com
This day is obviously so incredible! Another aspect of why this day is so magical is that when we were logged in in China on our journey to Mara-Grace, we were logged in with some incredible people and we expected we would meet our little ones together in China.... We had an immediate bond over this realisation... As Mara-Grace ended up coming to us through the Special Needs system in China, we actually met her far sooner than our dear friends. The most incredible tie is that while we were receiving news on August 10th 2009 of our Hannah, across the world our dear friends were meeting their daring little ones for the first time.... How amazing is that! We will always share that connection no matter what path we found ourselves on so it seems.... Thank you Lord for all of these miracles... xoxo