Today, December 14, marks the one year anniversary of seeing our precious Lily Mei's face for the first time. You can read our announcement here. Some may say it was a random act that night when I found myself on a website I very rarely visited. I say that nothing along this journey to our precious girl has been random. I can see God's hand in every aspect of us finding our daughter. Every delay, every setback, every extra piece of paperwork was His devine intervention preparing us for the one special child that was meant for us all along. The very first time I saw her, I knew to the depths of my soul she was the one I had been waiting for all those years. She is worth all the tears, frustration, every day we had to wait and the blessing she has been to our family is indescribable. I thank God every single day for bringing her to us. She is our Christmas Miracle.

16 comments:
Oh Monica!! That is the most amazing slide show yet. I have tears!! And a big sappy smile.
I love your face at gotcha. it is priceless.
I could not hear music though.
I'm sure I will stop back by often to look at this again.
What a great slide show of Lily Mei. She has grown so much since coming home.
Diane
It has been a while since I checked your blog. What a cutie pie! She is getting SO big! I can't believe it. The rate the wait is going she may be riding a big girl bike before Jadalyn comes home.
I am guessing you are having a big Christmas!!
Stacey
LID 8-8-06
www.babyjellybeans.com
child's name - Jadalyn Cashion
Hi, Monica!
Your blog is one I visit weekly! I have enjoyed watching Lily Mei grow more lovely with each post and the love within your family multiply as the days go by! Tears are just streaming down my face right now after viewing your Merrry Christmas slide show! May your family enjoy many blessings and very special moments during the holidays and in the coming year! A very merry "first" Christmas to Lily Mei -- what an amazing celebration it will be, I'm sure!
I know that we've never met, but our daughters share a unique bond. We were united with our Meghan 4 months ago! She, too, spent her first year at LiangPing County SWI, and we are thrilled beyond words to have her in our arms this Christmas! Seeing your referral photos, your "gotcha" moment, photos of the orphanage just brought back such emotions! Thank you for sharing your joy!
Warmly,
Renee B.
She's grown so much already!!! I love all the pictures, what a very Merry Christmas this will be.
Love,
Tina
Ok Ms. Monica...making me cry at work. What an awesome year the Dear Lord has blessed us with. Our sweet babies girls are home with their family. I do remember the first day I seen her sweet face (yes...cried at work that day also). Ms. Lily Mei...you are getting more beautiful each day.
Love
Connie
Monica, I cannot imagine what this Christmas must be like for ya'll living out that last verse in That song! (Good thing I can't hear it with your slide show or I might completely loose it!!) I will be thinking about you often during this special, special time. Miracles!!
Monica,
Lily's hair is getting long!!!! Oh just look at the life in those sweet little eyes! Merry Christmas! Hopefully next year we will have Alison to share it with!
Love you!
Lisa
oh amen, isn't it amazing how we can be actually thankful for those setbacks and delays that were so emotionally hard to deal with at the time. I too am so thankful and see GOd's hand in each of my adoptions. Your Lily is so beautiful!
Oh, your daughter is just precious!! I so agree about timing and delays and fustrations during the adoption process and how they lead us to the child chosen for us. I really had a strong lesson in His timing during our adoptions. : )
I just receieved your Card! You out did yourself! Mine is on the way!
PS I really love having this!!
PSS Sorry to leave so many comments! haha
Monica, thank you so much for your sweet, sweet comment on my blog! It is so great to "meet" you after hearing about you from the Pintaros and Pierce's! I remember when you were in China getting your Lily Mei and that is when they plugged me in to your website. Your posts were incredible. And then I lost your site for a time so I'm so glad to catch up. Your family is so precious. I'm adding you to my google reader so I don't lose your site again!
Merry Merry Christmas! I think that is so neat that our girls share the same anniversary day that their mommies saw their sweet faces! :)
Laine
Thanks for sharing the slide show with all of us waiting families... Oh my!! Lily Mei is absolutely beautiful!!!!!
Isn't it incredible that through it all, we can now see God's hand guiding, or in my case, shoving, us down the right path. Just the other day I looked at Bill as he had Acer on his lap and asked, "How did we get the perfect child for us?" I've enjoyed being on the journey with you.
Heather BT
Enjoy every minute of this Christmas with your Christmas miracle, Lily Mei!
We loved watching the slide show and seeing pictures from Gotcha Day! I can't believe it's been six months already! How are girls have changed and blossomed in those months!
Love,
Angela and Laney
Merry Christmas Monica!! I love all the pictures. Hope you have the best Christmas ever with your precious Lily Mei!!
lv ya,
Kim
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