Family Day- one year

Taiwan 2009
Home one year 2010
Today is a very special day. One year ago we got to meet Paige and we became a family of five. As I thought about what to write in this post it occurred to me that a year is not a really long time. It was like yesterday that we were waiting for little miss Paige to come home... oh and the endless wait I still remember so clearly- the rulings that took forever- the ups and downs of the wait- and then finally getting the final ruling and the travel plans made to go to Taiwan. Sometimes I still can not believe that we traveled to Taiwan and have Paige. If you had told me this would happen 5 years ago- I would have laughed at you and said "Yea right". I can not believe the paperwork and the hoops we had to jump through to have our little Paige. It was not an easy journey to adoption. I wish everyone could experience adoption- it is absolutely a journey of love- and when you finally have the child you are meant to have- love -pure love - no difference - amazing!!!!

We weren't supposed to pick up Paige until the 7th but there was a Typhoon coming in very strong. We had gone to breakfast and were preparing for a day of site seeing when our agency guide- Fion phoned us and told us we had to be ready in 2 hours to go to pick up our daughter. Oh my, I instantly went into a panic mode. What? I had 3 years to prepare for that moment and I still wasn't ready. Of course we were so excited that we were actually going to get her that day. But I had to write her birthmom a letter yet, wrap up all the gifts for the agency, the foster family and the birthmom as well as put the diaper bag together. All things I was planning on doing that night. But it all got done and 2 hours later in pouring rain we made the trek to Taichung.
When I think back to walking into the foster mom's home- seeing Paige in her arms I remember thinking OH MY GOD SHE IS SO TINY- her face is so tiny. Not really believing that we were going to take her home. The whole time in Taiwan , I kept thinking they would take her from us or that something would happen with our paperwork and she wouldn't be able to leave the country.

I think about her birthmom, and wonder if she thinks of her and if she was notified of the day we were going to pick her up.. and if she thinks of her on this day as well.

Today I look at Paige and she is so perfect to me. Our first meeting went so smoothly. I was prepared for tears and tantrums, but got smiles and hugs instead. Paige never really had visible grieving- yet we could see how much Mrs. Lou loved her and how she loved Mrs. Lou (her foster mom). Today Paige has such a beautiful relationship with her brothers. She adores them, and they her. She loves us too with her kisses and her sweet hugs.

I struggle whether to mark this day or not. Some feel that by marking this day it celebrates a day of grieving. For us it has meaning for our family. Here is how I feel. It is a special day to our family. Paige had already been away from her birthmom. She didn't struggle with leaving her foster mom. We didn't leave Taiwan for a few days after that, so she didn't lose her country on that day.It is the day that we met, and I hope that it will be special to Paige as well as she gets older.

It is on this day that we will give her one of the several gifts that we purchased for her in Taiwan. We probably won't start until she is about 5. Coleton said that is not fair- it is like 2 birthdays for her... it really is but think how many months she didn't have the benefit of our family. Our boys got to come home with us right away, they didn't lose their birthmom- so yes this day is special to their sister. I make no apologies to this difference. Coleton thought about this and he agreed, and he understands that there is this slight difference in his sister's life. This is all part of her story. So with this being said- we will be marking this as a special day for Paige.

Happy 1st family day our dear daughter Paige Min Shan. We love you so much!