Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Referral Anniversary December 13, 2004


This is Ana Claire's Finding Ad that we purchased from Brian Stuy. This is the earliest photo that we have of her. We think she was about 6-12 weeks in this photo. This photo is absolutely priceless to us.

Referral Photos
Ana Claire with her foster mother and Director Zhao

You can click on the photo to get a better look. I love this photo. Look at her hair. Poor baby. It took forever for the front sides to fill in. She looked at this photo and asked me who these people were. I told her. I asked her if she remembered them. She said yes, but I don't know that she does. I could definitely see the wheels turning in her head.
Ana Claire NOW

I can't believe that this time two years ago, I finally got the call we had been waiting for. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was at school walking some children to PE when I got called to the office for a phone call. It was our agency telling me that we had received our referral. We had a daughter that was residing in Yuanling, Hunan, China. She was 12 months old. Her name was Zhao Jiao Jiao. She was a petite little thing. She was in foster care. I immediately called and gave Tom the news. We had agreed that we would check the boys out of school and all go as a family to the agency and see her little face together. I raced to get the boys and met Tom at home. Off we went that was the longest trip I think I ever took in the car. It only took us about 30 minutes to get there, but it seemed like 2 hours.

What a difference two years make. God truly blessed us with this little Hunan Chile Pepper.
I think of her birth mother often. Especially on days like this. I also wonder if her birth mother ever thinks of the daughter she gave up. The baby that she left is such a blessing to our family and is loved beyond words I can express. I pray that God has given her birth mother peace with the decision that she had to make. I thank God that she left her in a safe place that she would be found quickly and taken well care of. I am also so appreciative for her foster mother and grandmother that took such good care of her until we could be united with her.

3 comments:

Much Ado said...

Thank you so much for sharing this referral story....it is always amazing to see the difference time makes. You can see her beautiful smile though still, in the referral pictures! She must be a very contented little girl. I always imagine that the day you see their face for the first time will always be precious and engraved in your memory forever. I can't wait!

Ana Claire is blessed with her family as are you blessed with her!

Anonymous said...

I can't believe it's been two years!

Sonya said...

Time goes by so fast! Those pictures are priceless!

Blessed that you are part of our lives AC!!!