We are so blessed! Updates on Mariah!

We had the biggest surprise sent to us today! 11 pictures of our precious daughter and the most beautiful letter written from her orphanage. In our last post I wrote about a lady in China who sends care packages and letters to the children from their adoptive families. Well, our package that we purchased included a cake delivered to her orphanage, two cameras and a photo album! We also sent a doll and some treats for the caregivers and Mariah's foster family. I honestly thought it would be weeks before we got anything back as far as a response especially since the Olympics were happening. To my surprise, Kelly from http://www.ladybugsnlove.com/ called me today and said, "Did you get the pictures emailed to you?" I said, no!?! "Well, there are a whole bunch of pictures and a letter, but the file is so large it probably would not go through." So she mailed them one by one until I got them all! Another afternoon sitting smiling and crying. It is such a strange emotion!!! Happiness that we have the most beautiful daughter, and a tad of sadness that she is thousands of miles away!



I will share the pictures of her by herself with the cake that Angela had arranged for the orphanage. There are several pictures of her with the other children, but I won't publish those!

I do have to say that the orphanage, caregivers and the other children are just gorgeous! There is love in that place and it shines! Which I know alot of you are aware that is not always the case! The letter that was sent was also just beautifully written and you can feel the love these ladies share for our little girl!



I will tell you excerpts, but it was so touching and priceless! I just feel so overwhelmed and blessed! Mya was so lucky to be at St. Lucy's Center in Taiwan with the most caring wonderful women to care for her until we were able to get her! And that was our biggest prayer for Mariah, and there is no doubt that she is loved, hugged daily and cherished! Not to mention everything since the second we saw her until now that has been God's hand guiding every detail into its place! First off, we did not have to do the new I800 form which went into effect April 1, 2008 for the Hague rules, which are new laws put in place to protect children worldwide. Well, this form is taking families months to get approved and some have even lost their referrals. We were grandfathered in with our Taiwan form, so lots of blessings there! Then we find a wonderful homestudy agency because we had to redo our entire homestudy to reflect China's rules and not Taiwan. The ladies there were absolutely the best and we had our homestudy completed and in hand in record time! Also, not many people know, but Chad and I were married in Niagara Falls Canada, so what this meant was I had to order a new marriage certificate, then come to find out we have to have it authenticated in Ottawa, Canada! When I called the embassy in Canada they said it could take 4-6 weeks for authenticating! Then we called a friend of Ryan's who their family lives in Toronto and asked if they happened to know anyone in Ottawa? Just so happens he had a friend and I was able to overnight our certificate to Tony (thanks Tony), he walked it into the building, had it authenticated, turned around and overnighted it back to me. I had it done in 3 days! Just everything has fallen exactly where needed and we just feel so humble and blessed! We also have found the best adoption agency with Holt Intl.! They are excellent and I will recommend them to everyone!



OK, so here are parts of the precious letter: Enjoy!

Dear Miao's daddy and mommy,

We have received the care package on August 8, 2008 (It's the Olympic Opening Day). Miao was so happy that she jumped up. Her eyes were teary when she was opening the care package.........Do you know, she misses you very much. She has been waiting to hearing from you, and now she finally got a care package from you.............Today, the foster mom told me Miao has been very well behaved......and she is reading English in real earnest.........Thank you very much. Please set your heart at rest, we will do our best to educate your daughter when she is here. She will grow healthily..........We just got her cake this afternoon. We wish her future life will be as sweet as this cake. Thank you for everything! Wish you the best!

Wow!!! Can you even believe what an amazing letter that will be cherished forever??? She is reading in English??? She is missing us? People she has never even met? She loves us already!!
And we love her!!!! There caregivers seem amazing and so loving. It is truly a miracle. Everything from the second we saw her has been fate, completely meant to be, all in His Hands!