A year ago today... September 13th

Most of you were there with us last year, following along on our other blog, as we finally received the gift of Nora. It's still hard to believe that we went through step after step of paperwork, day after month after year of waiting for the call, occasionally questioning the outcome. I'm so glad I didn't know ahead of time all that would be involved or it would have been overwhelming. Instead, God gave us what we needed for each part of the journey whether it was peace of mind, patience, direction from others who'd gone before us, the extra surges of financial income, and then amazingly, the precious, healthy little girl we held in our arms. It was a completely surreal experience, full of varying emotions, all felt in the stifling heat of a room full of mostly strangers and others soon to be friends, joined by a common experience.

Joy... at finally seeing her imagined face.

Wonder... that she was real, and so perfect.

Excitement... wishing the boys could be with us to meet their little sister. (But then we would have wished them back home again...)

Curiosity... who is this little one? What has your life been like so far?

Nora likely feeling the same, "Who are these funny-looking people?"

Peace... my heart is finally full. I can now move forward with the rest of my life.

Gratitude... we can never thank these caregivers enough for loving our daughter while we were apart.

Love abounding... with commitments made to this tender one, our daughter.

Technically, Nora's adoption paperwork was completed on September 14th, but this is the day we became family with Nora, so I think we'll be choosing to celebrate this day more than the next. Many adoptive families have special celebrations or traditions on their "Adoption" or "Family Day". I'm not sure what we'll do in the years ahead, but it will always be a memorable day. We'll follow Nora's lead also as she grows and understands the significance of this event, always with the intent of honouring her birthparents as well.

For this year to celebrate our milestone, Scott and I picked out a Willow Tree figurine while in San Francisco entitled "Our Gift: Our bright, joyful gift!" It seemed appropriate, although it isn't particularly fun for Nora at this stage. This is as close to the figurine as she'll get for a few years!

And lastly a poem, by an unknown author, simply titled....

ADOPTION

You first came to us in an envelope

With letters, forms and such

Just two tiny little pictures

With nothing warm to touch.

You grew in our imagination

In our hearts and in our minds.

You brought us greater joy

Than we ever thought we'd find.

A phone call started labour pains

Which lasted 'til we met

Strangers brought together

A day we won't forget.

You bloomed as you were planted

In our hearts, our lives, our home.

Our child of chance, of plan, of will

You're now our very own.