So much has happened since the last posting. Ironically, one of the most important being Gracies first birthday and we have no pictures as of yet. Actually we celebrated both Gracie's and Deena's birthdays on the same day as they are only 5 days apart. Needless to say it was quite the extravaganza and Dad made the cake. It was an artistic masterpiece shaped into the figure of the number "1". Too bad we don't have any pictures as it was something to behold. We began a tradition on that day as well, an idea Pastor Chris and Kim Haughee shared with us, about lighting a candle on Gracies birthday for the "birthmother". We lit a table candle as Deena read a poem by Tom Fisher. When the poem was finished, we asked for everyone to celebrate the life that this wonderful and courageous woman brought into the world by lighting a candle. In a room of probably 40 people, everyone lit a candle originating from the "birthmother wick". It was a pretty powerful moment to see all the faces and feel the moment as we all celebrated the birth of "our" Gracie and prayed for the mother who had to let her baby go. The poem is called, "A Mother Love".
"She left you one morning, she had no choice, in a country of millions, she had just one voice.
The law made it clear, one child would do, to obey it would mean no hope for you.
As she laid you down her eyes became blurried, on saying goodbye said don't you worry.
Another will come to take my place, a mother will come from a different race.
She'll hold you and love you as if you're her own, she'll take you away to a brand new home.
She then ran away her heart broke in two, don't ever forget of my love for you."
It is hard to imagine that out of such a tragic moment in time our lives were changed forever and we became blessed beyond belief. God is funny like that. Deena and I cry together for her birthmother and how we have come to love this little person so much over the last few months. Our hearts break when we look in to the eyes of "our" Gracie and grieve for the one who left her, praying herself that she would be found and ultimately life and tomorrows would be given to her by someone other than herself. Her being in our lives for the short amount of time she has been, I could not give her up. Above is a random sampling of photos over the last few weeks and months. The one on top is Deena, Gracie and Amanda. Amanda is Gracie's big sister whose birthday we celebrated in July. She was our first daughter we share time, love and memories with in a very special way. There is a new family photo with Gracie and her brothers, not to mention Mom & Dad. The others are of the little princess herself. Well more later, and as has become the norm, you never know when "Later" will be.
Rick
P.S. - Happy Birthday Lily (Gracie's crib mate from Hunan).
