Today was a very emotional day for all of us. When they handed Hope to us, she was sad, scared, tearful, and overwhelmed. That's actually a good sign though. We were not deterred. Her little cry was so sad and pitiful. We sang Jesus Loves Me to her and she calmed down.
The orphanage staff that came, said that she is very shy and very clever. And that by Chinese standards she is considered very beautiful.
Back at the hotel. She had fallen asleep on the way back to hotel and was ready for a family photo when we returned. Still no smile though.
This picture is a treasure. Her first smiles. What I've been waiting to see since we first saw her picture in January.
All it took was a little tickle time.
Sweet baby. The ladies from the orphanage also used the word "soft" to describe her. Seems very appropriate. So sweet.
Tonight before bed time she was playing and laughing w/the big kids. They just love her and are totally enamored by her already. Wonder how many days
it will take for her to be spoiled. :)
Thank you for praying for today. It went far better than I ever anticipated.
More pics soon.
Love
A New Mom of 4
with a very Full Heart!
Comments
Welcome to the world of being an adopted mom. I have both a biological daughter & an adopted son. You get a whole new appreciation of being adopted by God when you become part of the adoption process yourself.
Congratulations!
Have a safe trip home!
Congrats! What an amazing Mother's Day Gift! She is just beautiful, and so very sweet looking. What a gift. Her smile is priceless.
Prayers for easy transition, and love.
Blessings
Andrea
Hello from Montana,
I was brought to my knees in tears and prayer this afternoon seeing your beautiful blog Melanie. What a Mother's Day you had...Little HOPE what a precious gift from God to you and your family to her. Precious, beautiful little HOPE from Maria's big house. After I composed myself and started rejoicing for your family I realized that Steven Chapman CD's CINDERELLA was playing on our stereo, didn't even realize that it was still in the player....Yep, lost it again.
Your first family photo couldn't be more beautiful...and the big sisters looking so awesome and happy. I bet Mark has "popped" by now...probably several times... And the photo of Hope in her jammies ready for bed. WOW...words can't explain how all your loving fans feel for all of you right now.
Thank you....thank you for sharing this very personal and wonderful story with us fans. It is so great to feel a part of this wonderful blessing....thanks for sharing Hope and YOUR FAMILY with us.
Safe travels back home...I bet the long flight goes faster than going to China.
CONGRATULATIONS TO EACH ONE OF YOU
Thinking of you in love and prayer
Barbara
That is so awesome!!! So happy for you and your family.
God Bless your expanded Family! God is good!
Congratulations! It is an amazing experience! Only our God could have ordained adoption and created it to be just as thrillling as giving birth! We are praying for all of you and for sweet Hope. Praying that God begins healing her heart and fills it with His love for her!!!!
Wow this brought tears to my eyes. I am so in AWE of how awesome you and Mark truly are! What a blessing that people like you still exsist! God Bless you and Your new addition to your beautiful family. I will be praying for lil Miss Hope!
Wonderful to see that first little smile! So very happy for you all.
I have almost identical pictures dated Jan 1996, when I went to China & received my daughter, Rachel. Tickle time is what it took to get my 1st smiles too. God Bless you on this journey.
She is beautiful! What a truly lucky little girl to become part of your loving family. You are all so blessed to have this beautiful little girl be part of your family. Praying you all have a safe trip home. One more thing-LOVE the "big sister" t-shirts written in chinese :)
Oh! I love your family photo!
We have kids of similar age and we picked up our two sons a year and a half ago from Guatemala. It was a four and a half year adoption journey, one where the bio children grew up waiting for sib.s, and loved and lost some before getting "our sons, their brothers" that God chose for our family.
The "Voice of Truth" got me through the wait for our sons as so many told us it was impossible, and God told me HE could, and would, bring them home. Thank you for that!
We share your heart, understand the "wait" that you endured (kids and you), and SO appreciate the first WHOLE family photo once finally together. So special!
God bless you all, your travels home, and the transitions to a new normal, once home.
The Senkowski Seven
How VERY exciting for you guys!! Hope looks like a sweetheart and what a blessing from the Lord that she has been given the gift to be brought up in your home!! To watch godly parents and siblings!! Her crying like that when she was handed to you reminds me of my sister-in-law when they were handed their precious china girl :) Her name is Mackenzie and she did the same thing. She is now 3 and just doing WONDERFUL!! Thanks for the updates!! It was great seeing you in Pittsburgh, PA this past February and be able to speak with you for a tad before the concert!! The Lord is really using you!!
I'm so sxcited for your family. Our daughter came from Louyang! Praying that God continues to accompany you through your trip and adoption journey.
Nancy Chapman
(from the other Chapman family that adopted 3 kids through Bethany Christian Services)
I am in AWE!!! Hope is beautiful and I am so happy for your family, What an amazing time in your lives. We are in the process of adopting our baby girl from China also, We are adopting through the Child of Promise program. We are just waiting for the day to be able to wrap our arms around our beautiful baby girl. I am so excited for your family and for what the Lord is going to do through your Sweet little girl.
We are praying for your family!
The Dooley's
Congratulations! We have a very special little girl in our lives that came from God, via China and the beautiful family that adopted her. What a blessing for all!!!
Contragulations to your family. I was in your place 5 yrs ago. It will be so awesome for you to see how God changes Hope's life as she settles into your family. We will be praying for God to prepare Hope's heart for the new and sudden changes in her life.
Congratulations, Melanie and Mark! This story is so inspiring. I praise God for parents like you guys, as well as for Steven Curtis Chapman (one of my heroes) and his family. May the Lord richly bless your newly expanded family and enable precious little Hope to adjust to her new environment as smoothly as possible. I have no doubt that she has entered into a family who will raise her on the Word of God and cover her with the love of Jesus all the days of her life.
In Christ,
Jeremy
Congratulations! Praying that tomorrow brings more laughs and smiles! You will be amazed by the little person emerging from that shy smile in a few days!!! Everyone says our girls are "lucky". WE are the lucky ones! :) Enjoy your time getting to know your beautiful daughter. LIFE IS GOOD!!!
Have been where you are three times , as mom to 7 , 4 bio and 3 daughters from China , I know just what you mean about your heart being full. God is so awesome ! Bless the rest of your trip to China , enjoy the time to just be a family . There are many more smiles ahead ! ! Judy
I am so very happy for you - words can not describe. God bless each and every one of you and may y'all be blessed many times over as y'all journey through the years ahead of you.
Sincerely, Ramona Taylor from Topeka, KS
How beautiful Hope is...God Bless you all!!!
You got it....mom of 4! Praying for all things to be done timely and God's hand of protection around your family. Looking forward to meeting the newest homeschooler! Renee
Awww.. God bless you for all!!!! It just warmed my heart so much to read this and see the pictures! :) I'll be praying for you!! Your Hope is such a cutie!!
Congratulations! This little girl is very lucky to be in your family. May God richly bless you.
Congratulations to you all! So glad to see Hope in your arms.
Jesus Loves Me is the first song we sang to both our children when we were holding them for the first time in China. It helped soothe them right away. And put them to sleep on the bus ride back to the hotel as well!
Many blessings for a wonderful rest of your trip while you bond with your sweet, baby girl!
These are they pictures I've been dying to see! CONGRATULATIONS!!! You have a beautiful family!!! Hope just fits right in. :) Can't wait to hear more.