National Adoption Month - Grace

(Captured that first week we were home).

'If I keep a green bough in my heart,

then the singing bird will come.'

~ Chinese proverb



Looking back on those first 2 years with her, it's really kind of a blur.

Thankfully I took many pictures.

 And it's those pictures and a small journal I kept of that first year that have helped me to remember.

Grace transitioned easily into our family life and attached to both Dan and I very well.

She was a happy baby who laughed easily and often.

Shy with strangers, she stuck to me like glue (which was just fine with me).

(She was walking for the first time here at 14 mos. old...and so proud of herself).

Dan and I were absolutely giddy with joy that first year,

at times it was hard to believe she was ours and finally here.

That year came with challenges as far as many health issues for Grace,

she was diagnosed with Reactive Airway Disease within the first week of our coming home.

We became 'regulars' at our pediatricians office,

being seen for her chronic ear infections and getting sick from many upper respiratory infections

that settled in her lungs.

By age 2, suddenly it all disappeared.

And Grace was healthy.

So many firsts...first Christmas, Easter, Birthday celebration and milestones.

We got to see her first steps, and she didn't walk for long...she ran!

We had to teach her how to give a kiss.

The first time she spontaneously gave me one...my heart melted.

Grace was diagnosed at age 2 and a half with a profound speech delay.

I had noticed something wasn't quite right and had her screened

by the state's Birth to 3 program.

She started speech therapy immediately

 and still gets speech through our school district now at age 8.

She's about ready to graduate, and the gains she has made are nothing short of spectacular.

(Grace dearly loves our black lab Molly and the feeling is reciprocal).



Grace has been with our family over 7 years.

How do you summarize this little girl from possibly thousands of pictures

 that we have?

I tried to choose ones that showed her personality

and some that have never been on my blog.

The years have literally flown by.



I would describe her as an easy child,

happy, funny, creative, loving and giving.

She's a wonderful big sister to William and loves him dearly.

Grace's teachers have described her as 'delightful.'

Within the China adoption community is something called the 'Red Thread.'

Many times parents notice one when they receive their child's referral.

It is perhaps a date, a name or something that connects the child to you or your family.

I never saw much of a red thread with Grace.

I mean, I fell in love with her the moment I saw those first pictures.

She has the full mouth of my father's family.

But I didn't see a red thread.

We gave Grace her name because it was by the "grace" of God that we got her. 

We chose the name years before we met this little girl.

 As she grew we saw that her name was perfect and completely her. 

A child so peaceful, kind and only sees the good in others.

  A couple of weeks ago my husband started reciting a very old nursery rhyme ..."Mondays child is fair of face, Tuesdays child is full of grace,

Wednesdays child is full of woe, Thursdays child has far to go,"

and so on.

Out of my own curiosity, I googled her birth date (August 6, 2002)

and looked up the calendar for August 2002.

Grace was born on a Tuesday.

The same day as that nursery rhyme described, "Tuesdays child is full of grace."

You see I'm a believer in fate and destiny.

And I believe that this was our little wink from God validating that she was the child
we were supposed to have.

Sometimes it might take a while to find your red thread.

(Taken this Summer, our sweet Gracie)

Next I'll write about William. :)