It was a year ago . . .
I woke up at 4am, tossed and turned, got up at 5am and wrote this:
"Six yours people . . . did you hear that? Six HOURS, not months, not weeks, not even days. Six HOURS. Freak Out. This is it . . . Katie Mei Day. Can't wait to meet her. Can't wait to be her Mommy. God is good."
By 8am our entire group was down at breakfast. I'm not sure we ate anything, but we were together. We regrouped after breakfast in one of the guys rooms and looked at eachother, called homes, emailed loved ones, and just tried to pass the time.
By 11am we were all loading onto the bus and driving across town to the Civil Affairs Office in Nanchang. We entered the office and paced floors, sat around, and almost hyperventilated.
I have endured labor twice - once without drugs - but I've got to say, sitting in a hot, muggy room in China, waiting for your child to arrive and be handed to you - it rivals even the most intense labor I've ever experienced!
Finally the moment arrived, the girls were here! There was only one screaming . . . and she was in the back of the line . . . and she was ours . . . 
The next 30 minutes or so are a blur. I know we tried in vain to comfort her . . . no amount of cheerios, toys, singing or rocking would calm that big bundle of screaming down! Katie was so hot, so confused, so terrified, so sad . . . it was almost unbearable.
We know now she had just endured a 2-3 hour drive from the orphanage in a car with 2 women and 4 babies. We know now she was dressed in 2 layers in 90+ degree heat - the top layer being wool. We know now she had spent the first 9 months being loved and spoiled by her foster mommy and had just spent the last 3 months screaming and fussing at the orphanage. We know now that she must have thought this was the absolute worst day of her life.
But she was wrong.
What she thought was intended for her harm . . .
God meant for her good . . .
And not just for her good that first day . . . but for every day there after . . .
May 18, 2006
June, 2006
July, 2006
August, 2006
September, 2006
October, 2006
November, 2006
December, 2006
January, 2007
February, 2007
March, 2007
April, 2007
May, 2007
Psalm 68:6 . . .
"He sets the lonely in families . . . ."
God is good.
Very good.
Very cool Karen, great job!!! Hope & pray your next year with your family is just as blessed.
Posted by: Rachelle | May 08, 2007 at 08:11 PM
Loved seeing these photos, over the course of the year, what a great idea to do a post like that to celebrate Gotcha Day! how true, God is Good!
Posted by: Jane | May 09, 2007 at 03:02 PM
I am all weepy!!! YAY! Happy Happy Gotcha Day!!
Posted by: Jenny | May 10, 2007 at 12:43 PM
Happy Birthday, Katie Mei!!!
Posted by: Fawn Yamada | May 11, 2007 at 11:48 AM
Love the pictures!! Your girls are all looking so grown up. Thanks so much for sharing your family. Happy birthday to Katie!
Posted by: Debbie Surrey | May 11, 2007 at 03:28 PM
Congratulations on your first year as a family of five! God is indeed good!
Posted by: Cindy | May 12, 2007 at 05:36 AM
He is indeed. Happy Mother's Day, and what an awesome tribute you've posted to celebrate. She just keeps getting cuter...that grin just makes you smile back at the screen. You have such a lovely family, and I agree the time just flies by. I loved seeing your Gotcha story.
RYC: $2 piece of bargain fabric, thumbtacks, and a north-facing window (indirect light). And Picasa to fiddle with the photos afterwards (free program). Great fun cheap. :o) Try it, and post them! :o)
Posted by: Val in MD | May 13, 2007 at 01:20 PM
I am and have always been so touched by your story. Your daughter is beautiful and happy and I loved the year in pictures. A friend and I have recently opened an online store for selling girls' hairbows and I thought of you. We had a bow naming contest for a ladybug bow, and someone left a comment that ladybugs were considered a good luck symbol for Chinese adoptions. Our site is located at www.love-me-knots.com and the ladybug picture is on top of this page: http://www.love-me-knots.com/styles/specialty.html
Blessings!
Dawn
Posted by: Mommy Dearest | May 17, 2007 at 09:34 PM
Oh Karen! How blessed you are...your whole family is.
I congratulate you on your first year with your little angel. She sure is a sweetie ~ no wonder everyone (in the pictures) looks so smitten with her!
What a great celebration post!
Blessings,
Julie
Posted by: Julie | June 07, 2007 at 06:34 PM
Okay, I have to tell you...that nearly brought me to tears. That's the sweetest thing I've ever read on a blog. You are a special person! You are right, GOD IS GOOD!
Posted by: Shannon | June 13, 2007 at 10:43 PM
Hey I just saw your blog in Stacey's list o' links! Fun. Congratulations on your one-year anniversary. Hope to see you guys again soon, it was great to meet you at Chuck's place. :-)
Posted by: M3 | June 14, 2007 at 06:11 AM
What a blessing! She is so beautiful and happy!
Thanks for sharing!
Kim
Posted by: Kim | June 14, 2007 at 07:58 PM
How precious to see how your daughter has blossomed in her home this past year!
Terrye in FL
Posted by: Terrye Shirley | June 27, 2007 at 06:33 PM
Hope you and everyone are ok...haven't fallen off the edge of the earth, have ya???
:o) Post soon! Need another Katie Mei fix.
Posted by: Val in MD | July 14, 2007 at 01:36 PM
Hello again. Hope your having a great summer! I tagged you to write 8 random bits about yourself, if you have the time. You can read more about it on my blog.
Posted by: Rachelle | July 16, 2007 at 12:34 PM
oh that is SO Cool! She's such a cutie! :-)
Posted by: Amy | August 20, 2007 at 08:21 PM