Happy One-year Anniversary!!!

This was suppose to be a Before and After post but when you try to post at 2am in the morning, things don't always work out right.  So it is an After and Before post!!!

I want to again thank everyone who has been a part of Sophie's life through prayer, financial,

or  emotional support.  You all have made a difference in the life of this child.  Sophie knows that she was prayed for while she was in China and she likes to tell me "people prayed for me while I was in China so I could come home to my mommy"  "I missed you mommy"!!!  

Thank you friends and family!! I hope that you continue to be blessed by the life of this child!!! 

Your sweet friend and pool buddy Griffin

Front rollovers before the ballgame..over and over and over again!

There you go again!!

Justin's biggest fan!! Go Eagles!!!!

So proud of yourself riding your bike!!

Scared little girl Sept 1, 2008

My heart was melting and aching for you.  So relieved to have you in my arms!

Mommy and Daddy were scared and nervous too!!!

Thank goodness for these sunglasses!!!!!!!  You wore them almost the entire time while in China!!!

China and their orphans will always hold a special place in my heart.  We had a wonderful experience and met some incredible people along the way.  The Peak family will return one day to continue to follow what God has put in our heart concerning China.  I wish I could adopt them all!!!!!  But we are so thankful and blessed to have experienced adoption and becoming Sophie's family!!!!!  Sweet girl, we love you so much!!!!!

Loving Sophie!!!!

Who is this little girl that has changed so much in just a years time????  She is sweet, silly, sassy,  and so in love with her family!!!!!  I am becoming very emotional (this is no surprise to those who know me well!!!) as we approach our one year anniversary of receiving Sophie into our family as our daughter/sister.  As I think about this time last year,  it overwhelms me to see how far we have come over the past year.  Sophie has been through a lot in her little short life and  my prayer is that she can put the past behind her and move forward with great confidence into the future.  She will always have physical scars to remind her of her time in China but my hope is that she will not have any emotional scars due to her circumstances.   I can't even describe to you how my heart hurts for a mama 8000 miles away that didn't feel like she had any other choice.  Oh how I wish I could tell her that her baby is alive and well...... loving life and being loved!!!!!  I wish that I could tell her that she loves to swing, swim underwater like a fish,  kick a soccer ball, dance and sing.  She loves to eat almost anything that you give her and can wash her hair all by herself!!!!!!  Sophie, your birth mother loved you so much that she made sure that you were in a safe place and she knew that we were waiting anxiously to come and get you.  I love you so much....it is indescribable!!!!!!!

Three Beautiful Blessings!!!!

Happy Birthday Sophie!!!!

Happy 4th Birthday Sweet Sophie!!!!  What fun it has been to be in North Carolina for Sophie's Birthday.  We are visiting with our sweet friends, the Brannons.  We spent our last week in China with this family and we are now "forever friends"!!!!  

I am so thankful for Sophie's birth mother who delivered her safely into this world to be a part of our family.  I pray that she has peace in heart that her baby is safe.

Sophie's first Birthday Party

Sophie's birthday is July 24th.  We are going to be out of town so we had her party early.  It was such a joy to see how excited and special she felt.  We are blessed to have such a very talented friend , aka Nai Nai, who opened up her home for the party.   Nai Nai made her cakes and had more patience than I would have had in letting Sophie help decorate.  She got to place the edible pearls on the princess's dress. 

Two sweet girls came and painted the girls fingernails and toenails.  They did makeup and hair also.  Lots of glittery stuff!!!

It was a wonderful, fun day!!!  Thanks to all the special friends that were able to attend and help celebrate this special "1st" birthday with Sophie!

Happy 4th of July

Lacey Cottage/Doctor visit

Sophie had a follow up appointment with her pediatric urologist this Wednesday in Montgomery.  We took the opportunity to eat lunch with some special friends and see her new business.  She has opened up a place where little girls and big girls can have parties.  It is really very cute and very girly.  Sophie had more fun swinging on the swing outside.  This is her favorite thing to do no matter where she is.

Our doctor's appointment showed no changes in the size of Sophie's bladder and confirmed that she still has hydronephrosis in her left and only kidney.  We will travel to Birmingham in 4 months to do more testing and a possible MRI.  Praying God's healing touch on Sophie.  She has come a long way and been through a lot in her little lifetime.

Music to my ears......

The bedroom door opening and little feet running across the wood floor to jump into my lap and say "Mama, I love you!"

We have come a long way baby girl!!

We celebrate 10 months as a forever family tomorrow!!

I love you so much!!!!

Look at how much you have grown and changed--Oct 2008

New Picture from China

This is a picture that I received today from sweet Melissa Yeung (in pic above) with Sophie's best friend (Qian Qian) from POPCH.  It breaks my heart that these girls were so close and still remember each other 10 months later.  Melissa's father is the founder of Prince of Peace Orphanage.    Melissa is a sweetheart!!  Thank you for the picture!!!!   Qian Qian, Sophie loves you too and misses you very much!!!  We are so blessed to be able to stay in contact with Sophie's orphanage.

Swimming Lessons