Katie's 2nd Gotcha Anniversary is Today!!

Two years ago today (on Mother's Day) a scared, tired, sick little girl was placed in our arms. We had traveled halfway around the world, toured Beijing and the Forbidden City, climbed the Great Wall, decided we did not like the food:), flew to Nanchang, Jiangxi....just to be united with our newest and youngest daughter, Katherine Mei VanLue. We are forever grateful to the Chinese Government for the gift of this little girl! I must admit that before Katie we had raised 2 bio children and adopted 2 little girls (within 10 months of each other). I thought we had this parenting/adoption thing down pat. Then came Katie. I have said this before...but with IA comes many, many unknowns and obstacles you only read about before the fact. We had many of those very obstacles with our other 2 adoptions, but encountered many, many more with Katie. She was sick almost the entire trip, covered with scabies and eczema, had significant delays and had never bonded with one caregiver. We had our work cut out for us...but then we were living out God's heart for the orphan in the flesh. We were fully aware of the challenges that lay ahead and embraced them with joy and great expectations. Fast forward 2!! years....our littlest is thriving! She has had several attachment issues that we've worked/are working through but is doing extremely well. This little girl has taught this mommy how frail and fragile as humans we really are....and how the eyes of our loving heavenly Father are ever upon his children. Even a tiny, orphan baby in a remote, rural Chinese orphanage that only by HIS grace found her way into our home. This has probably from a fleshly standpoint been the hardest 2 years this family has experienced (in other circumstances as well) but what an honor to be entrusted with this (these) little lives to care for and teach about a God who knew them before the foundations of this earth! It blows me away! We'll gladly experience difficulty in trade for eternal promises any day. And...as many of you know, our daddy was involved in an accident exactly 2 weeks ago. He was hit by a car while riding his bike to work (he's a seasoned tri-athlete, and biker...just FYI). This 'Gotcha' anniversary is particularly significant to this family because we know that not only did God save Katie ...but also our Daddy. As he recovers and as we love all our children, we give all glory to God for the family he has put together and continues to refine (sometimes by fire:) through his merciful kindness. Enjoy the pics! They are Katie from our gotcha moment thru today. (The accident story is under the post "God's Mercy" below). Today is a celebration of all we are blessed and grateful for!