Thoughts of China

Three years ago today, my beautiful daughter was found by the gatekeeper at the Fuling Social Welfare Institute. As you can see, she was dressed in a pink outfit and wrapped in blankets. Though paperwork said nothing was with her, the pictures show a small plastic bag with formula inside.



My thoughts over the last several days have gone to a woman in China who had to give up her child three years ago today. I don't know why she made the choice...whether it was because of the one child policy, because of limited resources, because of Lillie's limb difference.... but I feel certain that it was painful to leave the child she carried 9 months. I can't even begin to understand the pain that must go along with not knowing the future of your baby. I have cried a few times, feeling the overwhelming joy I experienced since Lillie's arrival...knowing she must feel the same overwhelming pain. I pray that she can feel a sense of peace. That she knows Lillie is loved. That she will somehow know that she is included in our prayers, along with the others in China who love Lillie.
I am so thankful for the pictures I have of Lillie's first day at the SWI because I think they will help Lillie know she was loved, even as she was beginning her life at Fuling SWI.

A God Thing

Over the last few weeks I have been spending all of my extra time trying to learn more about Fuling, the welfare institute, other Fuling children, etc. I learned that in Fuling, there is a program called First Hugs that allows children to spend time interacting with Nannies to learn about bonding, affect and play skills. I emailed one of the mothers who helped start the First Hugs program to see if Lillie had been involved. Her response was amazing! She informed me that Lillie had, indeed been in the First Hugs program from 9/11/05 - 2/11/06. Exciting news, but her other statement, written at the bottom of her email said.... "by the way, I was there(Fuling) the day she was found." A simple statement that held such an amazing gift...someone who had a connection to the very early days of my daughter's life! Then, much to my amazment, there was a picture attached to the bottom of the email...a baby, wrapped in blankets, in the arms of the Welfare institute's caretaker!
I knew immediately that i was in a very small minority. Most people who adopt from China know very little about the first days of their child's life. Their knowledge of the early days, months or years is sketchy, with referral pictures being the only visual documentation of the years before the child joins the family. What i found on a seperate website were more than just one photo...there were seven, all documenting her being found and "checked out" in the infirmary. Although she did not have a note with her, she was wrapped in blankets and left at the gate of the orphanage with a bottle and a small amount of formula. In my heart, I want to believe that it must have been very painful for her family to leave her there. Yet I thank God for their sacrifice...for the care they gave her those first 4 days, and for the opportunity that i will have to raise her, knowing that she was loved by so many.
A simple email and a few pictures....isn't God awsome?