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Made just for us! (thoughts and rambles) 
Oh Emily, what a beautiful post!! You shared so much and this will be a treasure for years to come. I'm glad you recorded all the wonderful little things that AnnaClaire is doing! This note will be a precious gift to yourself, your sister and your family in the future.

Thanks you for sharing all your 'I love's...' with us!

November 23, 2007 at 9:05 AM 
PS - Still excited to hear your family's big news! The new name of your blog has me intrigued. :o)

November 23, 2007 at 9:08 AM 
Oh Emily, Thank you so much for writing that. But first - Don't worry about posting so much this weekend. I miss your blog SO much, and I know you won't have much time when your break is over, so as many posts as you can churn out, I would love to read. I am sure everyone else would agree! I love this post so much, it is the sweetest thing. Isn't it amazing to look back and see how God planned out every eingle detail? I love that. And of course AnnaClaire is your favorite, she was made to be your sister. You were united in a unique way, but she is your sister just the same. We do need to be careful when we talk about how our adopted children were "meant" to be with us. Here is my take on this - I don't really like to use the word "meant" because that would mean that they were meant to be abandoned and meant to live in an orphanage and meant to be alone. I don't believe God meant for any of that to happen, but He sees His children in need and places them with their perfect second families. But in God's perfect plan, I believe that they were truly meant to be with their bio families. It is a fine line we walk as adoption families and we always need to be careful of how we talk about these things with our daughters/sisters/children.


November 23, 2007 at 1:54 PM Caitie said...

What a great post!! You are such a great writer!
I can't wait to hear your family's big news!!


November 23, 2007 at 2:17 PM Sarah Lu's Jie Jie said...

Emily, That is a great post!! Adoption is such a miracle! It always amazes me how the little 7 month old baby from the Langfang orphanage that we called "mei" (meaning beautiful) for months after Chrissy and my Dad met her is actually my sweet Sarah Lu!!! It is amazing how God chose Sarah Lu for our family. Just thinking about it renews my awe of it. How is it possible that we were placed with the sweet baby that we had so fallen in love with? It never ceases to amaze me. God's hand is truly on adoption! Every adoption story is a miracle, each and every one different and unique, and perfect for those who have it!!

November 23, 2007 at 4:08 PM 
So glad miss AnnaClaire loves her doggie and bag! Cute picture!!!

You are a GREAT big sister. I know AC will treasure every word you have written about her over the past year and a half!

Jeanette R.
Sara Beth's mommy!

November 23, 2007 at 4:32 PM 
Oh Emily, this post is so beautiful. It renews my faith that we are doing the right thing by waiting for God's timing. I believe that when our Faith is ready, then we will be too, and that we must trust God's timing. His is always so perfect.


November 23, 2007 at 5:28 PM chicknboy said...

what a great post Emily! I still remember all that happening -how you were DTC -almost didn't make it to DTC but you talked your dad into paying extra for the expedited certification :) and then the Lord putting SN on your family's heart just in time for AnnaClaire. I still remember following every single day of your journey in China -crying buckets of tears at your Gotcha Day...and I have loved watching AnnaClaire grow and blossom in your family.

You are a special family -a special sister- and I can't wait to see what else HE has planned for you. :)

November 23, 2007 at 11:40 PM