Tuesday, August 30, 2011

black and white Wednesday - 8 years





I shall be called by a new name, embraced by a fresh pair of arms, but I shall come and go, the eternal me. 

~ Rabindranath Tagore


Grace blue dress blw WM
Late Summer is the time of year that I'm brought back to China,
because it was on the evening of
August 31, 2003 our lives changed forever.
In a hotel room in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, 
a beautiful 12 month old baby girl named 'Fu Lan Li'
was brought into our room. I will never forget how easily she came to me
and gave us a shy little smile.

Grace blue dress 3 WM
'Lanli' as we called her in China, would become 'Grace Lanli Elizabeth'
when we arrived home to the U.S.
A joyful, loving and kind little girl, she's many years of hopes and dreams come true.


Grace blue dress 2 WM
The years have flown by and our gift of Grace
led us to adopt William.
When I think about how much our lives have changed in the past 8 years,
it's pretty mind boggling.
The changes have all been good.

Grace blue dress 4 WM
What we didn't know 8 years ago was that it
wouldn't be as simple as a child joining our family,
we would become a part of a very large extended family all
held together with the common thread of adoption.
It's an adoption community of kind and supportive people,
who encourage and help in anyway they can.


'Grace blue dress 6 blw WM
Recently I was asked
why I wanted to adopt in the first place and my answer was,
 "Well, I knew there were many children out there that needed a mommy
and I wanted to be one.
God did the rest."


Our dearest Grace, we cannot imagine our lives without you.

 Gail Grace Guangzhou

Taken Sept. 11, 2003 in Guangzhou
before we left for the U.S. consulate ceremony.
The red shoes Grace is wearing in the picture now
reside with some other keepsakes from China
in a little cupboard in her bedroom.




the long road





18 kind words:

Hoots Momma said...

I'm so happy i found you! I love your posts and your heart and your photos too! You inspire me. thanks for responding to my e-mail. I think I figured it out!!

dawn said...

awww, what a tiny wee one she was. Congratulations'

Number 6 and no more counting! said...

beautiful Gail. Simply beautiful.

lea
xo

Debbie said...

You words paint a picture as beautiful as your photographs. Lovely story, lovely girl, lovely family.

likeschocolate said...

I am so happy that you were able to adopt Grace. She is adorable!

Kayce said...

Happy Family Day to all of you!

I love the amazing gifts God has blessed all of us with and how His work brings our children into our lives...amazing!!

Wanda said...

Gail - I've missed os many posts lately - I'm glad I didn't miss this one. What a treasure these children have become to us.

And your Grace was such a cutie-petutie. Love her little red shoes. Happy, happy Family Day!!

xoxox

Love Letters To China said...

Just when I think you've taken your best shot of Grace, you out do yourself again. :-) These are beautiful and so is your model. I was showing Nat these pictures this morning before school. She couldn't believe how little Grace was in the last picture. So adorable. How in the world can 8 yrs go by so quickly? Happy Family Day!

xoxo

Mei Mei s and Mayhem said...

I will say it again, she is just STUNNING!!!! I love the photos you take of her and she is amazing in front of that camera!

Happy 8 years together and many more to come!!!

Michelle R Photography said...

She is such a beautiful girl. Grace just seems to be a name so fitting for her. These are all beautiful images, Gail, but my favorites are the top and bottom! The one of you two in Guangzhou is just precious!!

Happy Family Day!!!

Gina Kleinworth said...

She certainly is quite the blessing!!! Beautiful photos of an even more beautiful girl!

Casey said...

Gail- She is just stunningly gorgeous. She has grown so much this last year!! And the baby picture is so so precious. What a little peanut!!

Congratulations on your forever family day!!!

Anonymous said...

She is beautiful! Your colors are outstanding. Your white balance seems to be absolutely perfect.

the meaklims said...

I may have shed a tear...or two.

Lilah came to us wearing red boots, they too sit in our special cupboard in the living room along with her referral pictures. :)

Jill

Everything Beautiful Shay said...

Happy Grace Day~ what an amazing blessing our children are to us. I totally loved the part about extended family because that is truly what we are! The bond of adoption sometimes goes deeper than family just because we 'get' each other! I am thankful God made us friends through the red thread.
Blessings sweet friend!
XO

Jaime said...

She is stunning!

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

I hope you had a wonderful Family Day!! She was beautiful then and she is beautiful now.

Gorgeous photos!!!

xoxo,

Lisa

Unknown said...

oh my.....these are absolutely breathtaking....i think my mouth hit the floor. gorgeous work and processing....love your use of the dutch tilt.

 
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