Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Celebrating Forever Family Day!!!!!

One Year ago today we were in Nanchang China, meeting our beautiful Nanfeng girl Lu Dan Peng. How much has changed in a year, we are so thankful to have our beautiful daughter in our lives and to be celebrating our first year together as a family! Last year we met our daughter outside of our hotel room on the 13 th floor in Nanchang. Our first glimpse of her, was Peng clinging onto her foster mom screaming. We had to pry her out of her foster moms arms, it was one of the most traumatic things I have ever lived through. She had a terrible time for the first four days, her spirit was broken and she clearly greived the loss of her foster mom. I literally felt her pain, emotionally and physically it is hard to explain but I truly felt her pain. I still have trouble thinking about those first four days, and actually now I have tears reliving her loss. At one point I really thought of giving her back to her foster mom, I wasn't sure if I could put her through anymore pain. She had such a hard time, hunger strike, wouldn't walk, wouldn't look at us, she was pathetic. With all things time mends a broken heart, and she is ours! I have never worked so hard for someone to love me and she has given back so much love, I know she is happy and where she belongs, with her family.
A year later she has gained 10 lbs, speaking in sentences, using the potty, happy, well adjusted, and a ray of sunshine in our lives!! She adores her brothers and they adore her, she loves her Daddy, she now loves Henry who is our 150lb great dane mix (she shook and screamed whenever she saw Henry for the first two weeks, now she hangs all over him and calls him "good boy"). She is incredible, a blessing and I am so thankful for all of my beautiful Children.
Maggie-Pengs foster mom told Joe "Treat her like a treasure" when they met outside our hotel room, and believe me she is treated like a treasure everyday.
We had a great day, here are some pictures of us making a cake today to celebrate and of Peng giving Henry a hug, isn't she gorgeous?? God is good, we are blessed!





















2 comments:

Gail said...

OK, let me wipe my tears!
Happy Forever Day!
I was thinking of you yesterday, knowing that Forever Day was coming soon.
For some reason I thought it was the 27th?? Why? I don't know.

Maggie looks very happy and definitely a Collett!
I hope her foster mom can somehow feel the love that you have for this special,brave and strong little girl.
Blessings
Love,
Gail, Loren and Abby.

pinky said...

Wicked cute!!