One Month Ago Today….

HAPPY 1 MONTH GOTCHA DAY, SWEET GIRL!

WE LOVE YOU!

One month ago today, our lives changed forever.  I nervously sat in a building that was under renovation and had scaffolding everywhere to meet my new little girl.  At first, it wasn't quite the scene that I had pictured for the past 8 years, but it ended up being perfect.  Yong Ning Yu became Olivia Yu Martindale that day and was placed in our care by strangers in a strange city, in a faraway land where we stood out wherever we went, where there was very little English, and very little anything that was familiar to us.  I will never forget that day as long as I live.

This brave little girl was placed with strangers herself, came to people who looked different, smelled different, talked different, ate different foods, and left everything she had ever known.

After surviving the first week together, we then traveled to another city, where we still stood out, but not quite as much…there was a little English around places, and some familiar restaurants.  We were united with other adoptive families, who knew what we were going through.  We felt more comfortable and were learning how to be a family of 4.

We then traveled back to Nashville on a VERY long flight and were met with an unforgettable homecoming….with so many loving and supportive family and friends.

We have been to several doctor's appointments and have met many more family members and friends.

Olivia has experienced many firsts:  playing in the grass, playing on the play set outside, her first dance recital, her first grocery store experience, church for the first time, and the list goes on and on.

Throughout it all (except the shots), she has smiled.  She is such a happy little thing and very resilient.  She is very inquisitive.  She loves to try to figure out how things work.  Warning:  she is a mess.  I can see T-R-O-U-B-L-E in her.  Life will be interesting around here with one compliant child and one trouble maker.

We have come a long way in one month.  Here is our first family picture.  We went from not too many smiles to many smiles every day.  We are so blessed.

It is hard to believe that we traveled across the world, got our sweet girl, and have been home for 20 days now.  Wow….I can't wait to see what we accomplish in the next month!

Once again, thanks to each and every one of you for your love and support.  You have welcomed Olivia into your hearts as if she was born of our flesh.  Words cannot express how much we appreciate you!  I hope that Olivia gets to meet each and every one of you.  God is good.

Ephesians 3:20 - Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

With love and blessings,
Jill