"Gotcha Day" 3 Years Ago, February 17, 2008.

Here is a photo of Lydia Mei on February 18, 2008.  She had been with us for almost 16 hours.  "Gotcha Day" was February 17.  Adoption Day was February 18.  We were getting ready to go with our Travel Group to do all the paperwork for the "Chinese side" of the adoption.  She had just had her first bath in who knows how long.  She still smelled dirty.  But she was ours!



The second picture is of this same little girl on Christmas Eve, 2010, with her brother and sister, Jacob and Elizabeth.  (Benjamin and Aaron didn't get in a picture with her!!) 


When I reflect back on the events of growing our family through adoption, the actual moment when Lydia Mei was placed in my arms, and life since, I can only see the handiwork of God.  God alone prepared my heart to love this little adorably sick, tiny 11 month old stranger unconditionally and so fiercely that I would do anything for her......and turned our lives as a family upside down!  Tons of memories flooding back this anniversary week of receiving Lydia Mei Marie into our family.