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On January 3 at 1:03 pm we
received the call that we have dreamed about for the past year
and a half: that we are the parents of a beautiful little girl!
We have felt her growing so strongly in our hearts over the
past year and a half as we have collected the documents we
needed, sent them to China and then waited to finally be able
to look into her eyes, even if only through a picture. There
were times as we waited through delay after delay that it took
every bit of strength we had not to jump on a plane and go
looking for Zoe. With the phone call from Susan, our social
worker through FCA, and finally seeing Zoe's beautiful face
after driving through a nor'easter to get her pictures (oh,
Zoe, there is nothing we wouldn't do for you), we are simply
over the moon with joy and love for our daughter and can
hardly wait to bring her home.
Zoe's Chinese name is Jin Hong Qing. Jin is the surname given
to all the children from the Ruijin SWI, as the last name
comes first in Chinese, and means gold. Hong means red and is
considered as good luck in China. Qing means green and we like
to think of it symbolizing growth and reaching as plants do
and hope she will enjoy the outdoors as much as we do as she
grows up. We will keep her Chinese first name as her middle
name and call her Zoe Hong Qing.
Zoe was born March 28, 2005 and was placed in foster care on
April 1, the day she was found. We are so grateful that she
has been in foster care and had someone to hold her when she
cries and give her that personal attention that is so
important. So many times as we have waited, we have prayed
that someone was giving her love and care and we are so
thankful that our prayers have been answered. She is waiting
for us in Ruijin, which is in the mountains in southeastern
Jiangxi Province.
Zoe was 3.6 kg and 47 cm (8 pounds, 18 inches) when she was 3
days old and found to be in good health. We have been told
that at one month she cried loudly and moved her eyes. At two
months she enjoyed listening to music, cried when her diaper
was wet and moved her hands and feet easily. At three months,
she began to differentiate between strangers and people she
knew, talked with the sound "ah, ah" and sucked her fist. At
seven months she was responding to her name, excited when
seeing food, grabbing objects, rolling over, beginning to
crawl, and transferring a toy from one hand to another. She is
eating milk and rice powder with some vegetable soup, meat
broth, egg and fruit. On January 12 our agency received
updated information on our Zoe; she is now almost 20 pounds
and 26 1/2 inches long!
We are thrilled to learn that she seems to like music, enjoys
brightly colored toys and loves to be outdoors. She will fit
so well into our family! We can't wait to bring Zoe home and
learn all about who she is. We are so excited to welcome this
little girl into our family and so grateful for all that so
many of you have done to support us through this process.
Thank you for sharing this journey with us!
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Legacy of an Adopted Child
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 gave you life and 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 a seed of talent, the other gave you an
aim.
One gave you emotions, the other calmed your fears.
One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried your
tears.
One gave you up ... that's all she could do.
The other prayed for a child and God led her straight to
you.
And now you ask me, through your fears,
the age old question unanswered throughout the years...
Heredity or environment .. Which are you the product
of..
Neither, my darling .. neither..
just two different kinds of love.
~ Author Unknown ~ |
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