Yep, We're Doing It Again

The most amazing thing has happened. As many of you know, the families that have adopted children from our orphanage have a very active and supportive Yahoo group. A couple of weeks ago Erin, one of the other Xuzhou mommy's, sent out an email with a picture of a beautiful little 3 1/2 year old girl. My heart skipped a beat. First, her name was so close to Lily's that I thought the post was about her. And second, the resemblance of her face made me do a double take.

I have seen this beautiful little face many times before and for many months. She’s in all the pictures of the other adoption families who have visited our orphanage. Most of the time her photo had the caption “little girl” as we couldn't identify her. We have all wondered when her family would find our group and share the news that she has found her family and will be soon going home.

Something made pick up the phone and call the agency and my friend who sent out the email. Both of them told me that another Xuzhou mommy was already looking at her file. I was crushed but happy that she had found a home. I was encouraged to reach out to the family that was reviewing her file and we talked at length about this little girl and our hopes that her dream of a family would be fulfilled.

Two days later I received an email from Robyn. It came in a 4 am. She had been up all night researching Fang Ran’s rare condition and learned that one the world leading surgeons and specialists was located in Seattle. Her email to me said “So my thoughts, hopes, and prayers are that Chu Fang Ran is meant to be your daughter. She deserves only the best medical care. After reading up on Dr. Grady I think she would definitely find it with him. Let me know what you think!" Robyn and I both felt this was a sign that she was meant to be mine and John's.

On Monday morning as I was boarding a plane to Miami for business, I locked her file. During my business trip and in between meetings , John and I had a consultation with Lily’s pediatrician (an adoption specialist) and Dr Grady, the surgeon who specializes in this rare condition.

Coincidentally Robyn, who had selflessly given up this referral in the best interest of Fang Ran and who happens to live in Florida, agreed to meet me. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet her family and spend time with Adam, her son who is from Lily’s orphanage.

I came home Thursday night and John and I spent the weekend reviewing Fang Ran’s files, researching her rare condition and looking at her pictures. By Sunday evening we made the decision and took the leap of faith to move forward. We sent in our Letter of Intent to Adopt and then waited.

When I got to work this morning, an email from our agency was waiting for us. We had been pre-approved to move forward with the adoption of Fang Ran. We are so happy and still in shock. It all happened so fast. To quote John, “Yep, we’re doing it again. Taking another little girl into our hearts and into our home. Yes, we are nuts, but nuts with more love to give.”

We are pleased to introduce our new daughter…..

Lily Reaps What She Sowed

Remember when Lily was planting garden in April? Well look what her garden has produced! She has turned out to be quite the gardener!

Sowing in April

Reaping in August!!

The Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Kathleen brought her two beautiful daughters Mia and Marika to go boating with us a couple of weeks ago. Marika and Lily were in the same orpanage in China. The chances of their both ending up in Seattle is amazing. John spent lots of time in the water helping the girls enjoy floating in the "donut". Kathleen and Pamela got to share lots of stories of their adoption experiences.




Marika and Lily

Having fun on the donut

Enjoying lunch on the boat

Chloe Comes to Visit

Chloe visited us this weekend, which was so very special. Lily bonded with her instantly, seeming to sense how loving Chloe is. And that she was her half sister. Chloe is on her way to the University of Oregon this fall after achieving a very high grade point average at Lakeridge High, the toughest high school in Oregon. What an incredibly beautiful young lady Chloe has turned out to be!

Pamela & John's 5th Anniversary

Bald eagle watching us float by



We celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary last week by taking our boat to the San Juan Islands. The scenery was beautiful and the weather was glorious. We missed Lily, but it was also really great to spend some time alone for the first time in a very long time.

It's hard to believe 5 years have passed since our wonderful wedding adventure to Fiji. Without the flurry of activity we've become accustomed to while raising Lily, we had time to enjoy small special moments and focusing totally on each other. It was a confirmation of how strong our love and friendship is, and that our bond is stronger than ever!

We stayed in Roche Harbor which is a very small picturesque place. There is little on the shore there except for businesses catering to boating tourists-- restaurants and shops—and so it’s peaceful and relaxing.

The marina, however, is filled with hundreds of boats. (Or I should say yachts.) Our 26 foot open bow was the exception and was dwarfed by yachts ranging from 30 feet to so long we couldn't estimate the length. Most of the boaters were families or retirees, but some larger yachts had staff and crew and were obviously owned by wealthy vacationers.

We took a whale-watching ride one day which didn't encounter any whales, much to Pam's disapppointment. But we did see lots of other water animals and beautiful islands and enjoyed the time together.

On the way back to Anacortes on our last day we took a route recommended by the locals to try and find one of the Killer Whale pods. It included going into the Haro Strait, a large body of water between San Juan Island and Vancouver Island. The beginning of the trip was very pleasant as the water was smooth. But things changed abruptly as we experienced very strong winds and seas much heavier than we'd ever encountered. Over the next hour and a half Pamela struggled with the swells and crashing waves while John kept us on course. By the time we were able to duck in between San Juan Island and Lopez Island, we were soaked and pretty banged around. But we survived. And no, we didn't see any whales!

Grandma Ethel, Auntie Sarah, and Cousin Rachel traveled from Ohio to take care of Lily while we were gone. Lily had a wonderful time and was totally spoiled.




Launching our boat in Anacortes

Roche Harbor

Fleeting glimpses at porpoises

Harbor Seals

The scenic San Juans

Reading with Grandma Ethel

Reading with Auntie Sarah

Fourth of July Fun

Summer in Seattle has been a dream so far this year. Six weeks of sun and warm weather has given us the opportunity to share great summer fun with Lily. She loves going out boating and even swims in Lake Washington's 65 degree water. She loves the water so much that we're considering trading in our boat for one that we can sleep on. Our friend Tim took us out on his boat over the 4th of July weekend for a test "sleep over". Lily passed with flying colors and felt right at home on the water.

For the 4th, we took her to a small town country fireworks show close to our home. She had fun eating kettlecorn and hot dogs and running around the park while Mommy and Daddy took turns chasing her. We wish we could have captured her face when the fireworks started- she was awestruck!





Riding in the dingy with Daddy











Swimming in Lake Washington with Mommy












Watching a DVD before sleeping on Uncle Tim's boat












Having fun while waiting for the fireworks to start in Carnation

Lily playing in the back yard

Lily loves her Obama t-shirt

Lily licking the beater getting ready to enjoy strawberries and whipped cream

Catching up with Lily Mei

I love my brother Eric













Going shopping















My new swimming pool









Nana came to visit!









Lily with an ancient Chinese soldier












Riding the merry-go-round










Swimming with Dad









Water fun at The Children's Museum









Lily and Dad archealogists at The Children's Museum










Mom and Lily at The Children's Museum

Mother Bridge of Love

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 you one.

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

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

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

One gave you a nationality. The other gave you a name.

One gave you a 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 for you a home that she could not provide.

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

And now you ask, of course you do, the question others ask me too:

This place or your birthplace – Which are you a daughter of?

Both of them, my darling, and two different kinds of love.

-Anonymous

Two years ago, on May 15th a mother of a beautiful little two month old baby girl made the decision that she was unable to raise her daughter. Through her heartbreaking loss, I have been blessed. The bittersweet reality of how we've come to know and love our daughter is often in my thoughts. I know that as Lily gets older, I will have to explain how we have become a family. It is my hope that the above poem will help to explain how truly special she is.

This poem is featured on the wonderful website The Mother’s Bridge of Love. http://www.motherbridge.org/ This organization was founded to foster understanding between the East and the West and to help internationally adopted children understand their Chinese heritage.

What a Year It's Been!

As I was tucking Lily in tonight and singing “just one more song” with her memories of this past year filled my thoughts. Through the miracle of adoption, a year ago today Lily Mei was placed in our arms and made our family complete. A fourteen-month old infant who was too weak to sit up on her own now walks, runs, jumps, climbs, and dances. In one short year Lily has learned to chew, use a fork, spoon and knife, serve herself food, pour and drink from a cup and clear her dishes. Words and songs come easy for her and she’s constantly chattering and singing, asking questions and learning how to pronounce everything that is new in her world.

Lily has endured two major surgeries and numerous visits to the ER and her Pediatrician. She has been poked and prodded by more doctors than I can count. In the months following her open heart surgery her development has gone from woefully behind to right on target for her age. She is a kind, happy and curious child.

But what touches my heart the most is that Lily has learned to love and be loved. Tonight when she cupped my face in her hands so that I would look straight into her eyes, she melted my heart. Every time we pull into our driveway Lily says, “I am home!” and with more joy in heart than I will ever be able to explain I always reply, “Yes Lily, you are home.”

Easter Lily

Lily experienced her first Easter this year. She had fun leaving carrots for the Easter Bunny and getting a basket filled with treats the next morning.

Lily's brother Eric joined us for Easter brunch. And to Lily's amazement, the Easter Bunny showed up at the resaurant!



Lily and Mom coloring Easter eggs






"I can do it Mom."

Eric, Pamela, & Lily waiting for brunch

The Easter Bunny showed up!

Xuzhou Sisters meet again

Kathleen and her two daughters visited us again last weekend and we had the pleasure of meeting Marika for the first time. I have been looking forward to this occasion for months...thank you Kathleen!

Mari and Cai Cai (another Xuzhou baby) have been permanent faces in our home since receiving a photo of Lily's first birthday from the orphanage director last March. Lily, Marika and the other Xuzhou babies spent their first year(s) together and they will be forever bonded in sisterhood.

I find it so special that Lily and Mari will have the opportunity to grow up living so close to one another; re-united from another life half-way around the world. They were a little shy at first but quickly warmed up to each other. It was so wonderful to see Mari's sweet smile in person.

"Haven't I seen you before?"

Meeting again after a year apart.

Getting to know each other

Friends again!

Lily Planting Onions

Lily has been with us for 11 months now. 11 months ago she could not make sounds, other than to cry or to make minor coos. She could not sit up or even crawl. Her body was deprived of oxygen due to her heart condition. She was underweight to the point where she couldn't be measured on a scale compared to other children her age.

What a difference 11 months makes. Lily is now speaking full sentences, singing songs, parroting expressions, and walking around with that beautiful smile on her face. She has a positive impact on everyone who comes in contact with her. She is a very bright ray of sunshine in our lives!

And now she's an onion gardener!













Is this the way you do it Daddy?