I've written this post in my mind throughout the week and I am driven to tears each time I think of what today represents...the day our sweet Lauren was placed in our arms for the first time. As I watch the videos from one year ago, I am amazed at how far Lauren has come in such a short time. She is a different child and yet I still see the resilience and determination in her today that I saw one year ago. I remember as we gave her her first bath that night, I was surprised to see how resourceful she was despite being so tiny and young. The video's of Gotcha Day are much harder to watch now than they were a year ago because I know HER now. The girl who deserves all the best life has to offer and yet her first two years were soo so hard. She was sick and frail when we held her for the first time. She had markings that revealed part of her past that is hard to think about now. And yet, I am thankful that she was loved by her nannies and taken care of as well as she could be.
A few weeks ago Lauren and I were sitting together and she started to talk, "mamma I was scaaarrred..." and it was a few minutes into the conversation that I realized she was telling me about some of her memories and it took all I could to stay calm and listen and reassure her. As she talked in her little voice, I just prayed that God would give me wisdom and the right words to comfort her and let her know we will always be here for her. She gave me a big hug at the end of our conversation and I could tell we had just experienced a moment I would never forget.
~Lauren, Daddy and I have loved you long before you were born and we are so thankful God gave us amazing, special, you.
Well, today one year later, we had a great time celebrating our 1st anniversary. I put the following album together. Enjoy. :)
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| Make your own photo album |
Also, go to the Hertzler Family link at the right...they finally have their sweet Makaila in their arms!! Congratulations Lisa!!
14 comments:
Oh how I remember that day a year ago and the tears I had then are just as filled with joy as the ones I've got now. Happy one year together and here's to a lifetime of memories and love. Sending lots of hugs and prayers to all three of you!
Hosannah! Oh Mardi, what a beautiful post, I am in tears. One year ago Lauren captured the hearts of so many and prayers were answered. The three of you are a precious family. Hosannah!
Mardi - I look at that picture of you and Lauren and remember it like it was now. The constant blare of car horns in the streets below; the smells of an old, stale hotel with no real air conditioning; the sweltering heat that did not end when the sun went down; the heat that did not end when you entered your hotel room; the unique smells of Guiyang’s streets (Dan so accurately named the street around the corner, “Poop-In-Your-Mouth-Street”) piled high with garbage next to merchandise & food vendors combined with nearly 4 million people living in extremely close proximity; the soft sounds of the Kai-Lan video playing 24/7 on your laptop – just for Lauren. On that day everything was for Lauren. On that day she experienced so many new things, it must have been hard for her to take it all in – food that was there until her tummy was full, warm baths, bright toys, a Mommy calming her with soft lullabies while gently soothing her from head to toe her with sweet smelling lotion, a Mommy who made the rash that itched all over – for so long - go away in a matter of days, a Daddy stroking her soft head and gently whispering, “It’ll be alright. We love you, Lauren. It’ll be alright.” For the first time in her life, Lauren had a Mommy and a Daddy of her own. On that day, it was all for Lauren; every day since has been all for Lauren. Because of your and Dan’s dedication and uncompromising love for this beautiful child, Lauren has become someone her orphanage Nannies would not even recognize today. And the best part is - Lauren is becoming just like her Mommy - beautiful from this inside out.
The pictures, videos and words in your blog describe Lauren so well. She’s been changing slowly over the past 12 months – a little like a butterfly emerging from her cocoon. And today, Lauren is in love with life! She loves to give hugs to her cousins! If Lauren knows you, Lauren loves you! It’s been an amazing journey to watch her simply blossom into this beautiful child, full of life and energy and smiles! But to hold her in your arms, to hear her tell Oreo “No, O-yeo!” and shake her little finger at him, to try to come up with an answer to her every “Damma?” question is simply unbelievable.
Darlene Zschech (Hillsong) probably gets paid a lot of money to sing & record “Hosanna” – but no one sings - and dances to! – Hosanna quite like our Lauren. How appropriate to play Lauren’s song on Lauren’s Gotcha Day! We love you Little Lauren! We can’t imagine life without you; we can’t imagine life before you.
Grandma & Papa
Mardi - I look at that picture of you and Lauren and remember it like it was now. The constant blare of car horns in the streets below; the smells of an old, stale hotel with no real air conditioning; the sweltering heat that did not end when the sun went down; the heat that did not end when you entered your hotel room; the unique smells of Guiyang’s streets (Dan so accurately named the street around the corner, “Poop-In-Your-Mouth-Street”) piled high with garbage next to merchandise & food vendors combined with nearly 4 million people living in extremely close proximity; the soft sounds of the Kai-Lan video playing 24/7 on your laptop – just for Lauren. On that day everything was for Lauren. On that day she experienced so many new things, it must have been hard for her to take it all in – food that was there until her tummy was full, warm baths, bright toys, a Mommy calming her with soft lullabies while gently soothing her from head to toe her with sweet smelling lotion, a Mommy who made the rash that itched all over – for so long - go away in a matter of days, a Daddy stroking her soft head and gently whispering, “It’ll be alright. We love you, Lauren. It’ll be alright.” For the first time in her life, Lauren had a Mommy and a Daddy of her own. On that day, it was all for Lauren; every day since has been all for Lauren. Because of your and Dan’s dedication and uncompromising love for this beautiful child, Lauren has become someone her orphanage Nannies would not even recognize today. And the best part is - Lauren is becoming just like her Mommy - beautiful from this inside out.
The pictures, videos and words in your blog describe Lauren so well. She’s been changing slowly over the past 12 months – a little like a butterfly emerging from her cocoon. And today, Lauren is in love with life! She loves to give hugs to her cousins! If Lauren knows you, Lauren loves you! It’s been an amazing journey to watch her simply blossom into this beautiful child, full of life and energy and smiles! But to hold her in your arms, to hear her tell Oreo “No, O-yeo!” and shake her little finger at him, to try to come up with an answer to her every “Damma?” question is simply unbelievable.
Darlene Zschech (Hillsong) probably gets paid a lot of money to sing & record “Hosanna” – but no one sings - and dances to! – Hosanna quite like our Lauren. How appropriate to play Lauren’s song on Lauren’s Gotcha Day! We love you Little Lauren! We can’t imagine life without you; we can’t imagine life before you.
Grandma & Papa
Mardi - I look at that picture of you and Lauren and remember it like it was now. The constant blare of car horns in the streets below; the smells of an old, stale hotel with no real air conditioning; the sweltering heat that did not end when the sun went down; the heat that did not end when you entered your hotel room; the unique smells of Guiyang’s streets (Dan so accurately named the street around the corner, “Poop-In-Your-Mouth-Street”) piled high with garbage next to merchandise & food vendors combined with nearly 4 million people living in extremely close proximity; the soft sounds of the Kai-Lan video playing 24/7 on your laptop – just for Lauren. On that day everything was for Lauren. On that day she experienced so many new things, it must have been hard for her to take it all in – food that was there until her tummy was full, warm baths, bright toys, a Mommy calming her with soft lullabies while gently soothing her from head to toe her with sweet smelling lotion, a Mommy who made the rash that itched all over – for so long - go away in a matter of days, a Daddy stroking her soft head and gently whispering, “It’ll be alright. We love you, Lauren. It’ll be alright.” For the first time in her life, Lauren had a Mommy and a Daddy of her own. On that day, it was all for Lauren; every day since has been all for Lauren. Because of your and Dan’s dedication and uncompromising love for this beautiful child, Lauren has become someone her orphanage Nannies would not even recognize today. And the best part is - Lauren is becoming just like her Mommy - beautiful from this inside out.
The pictures, videos and words in your blog describe Lauren so well. She’s been changing slowly over the past 12 months – a little like a butterfly emerging from her cocoon. And today, Lauren is in love with life! She loves to give hugs to her cousins! If Lauren knows you, Lauren loves you! It’s been an amazing journey to watch her simply blossom into this beautiful child, full of life and energy and smiles! But to hold her in your arms, to hear her tell Oreo “No, O-yeo!” and shake her little finger at him, to try to come up with an answer to her every “Damma?” question is simply unbelievable.
Darlene Zschech (Hillsong) probably gets paid a lot of money to sing & record “Hosanna” – but no one sings - and dances to! – Hosanna quite like our Lauren. How appropriate to play Lauren’s song on Lauren’s Gotcha Day! We love you Little Lauren! We can’t imagine life without you; we can’t imagine life before you.
Grandma & Papa
I remember one year ago... I remember watching you and rejoicing with you at hope fulfilled. Tears and joy flooded my heart then and they do now as well. What you said about people asking what life was like before Lauren and you reply "Waiting for Lauren". It makes me choke up. You remind me so much of me. Your beautiful family is so close to my heart and I celebrate with you on this day that words can barely describe! The three of you are God's perfect masterpiece! Each stroke intentionally and beautifully made! Much love, Steph
P.S. Your Mom is amazing!
One year ago (yesterday)...oh the emotions this memory stirs up. I thought and prayed for all of you every waking hour of this day. It feels like yesterday, and yet when I look back at the photos I'm so taken back by how different our sweet Lauren looks. Her teeny, tiny body and wide eyes tell a story of past her past that pains my heart. Seeing her in your arms and Danny's with her back arched, crying in fear is almost imaginable when I think of the family that you are today.
Lauren is such a joy to know. Her adventurous spirit and loving nature is so endearing. Watching her emerge into the child she is today has been such a blessing. Watching you and Danny go from a couple in love, with a want of heart, to the parents that you are has been pure joy. You truly are a beautiful family!
"We love you Ms. Lauren Elizabeth, and are so happy that our Kailahni can call you her friend." - Mary, Doug, Jacob, Benji, and Kailahni
A big HUGE congratulations on the one year from the Streeter clan! Lauren is a lucky little girl; what a journey for one so young of age...& what a description from g'ma & g'pa (could almost smell 'Poop' street and feel the oppressiveness of that heat.)
p.s. Sofia says that Lauren is welcome to any gardening secrets she's ciphered so far...
Congrats on One Year! Precious post!
Wow, my heart actually aches thinking of what you must have felt during that conversation. Sometimes I feel like adoption and all the extra skills it asks on top of regular parenting are more than I am capable of. Then I remember that I have God to fill in those spaces and areas I know I can't and I am reassured that somehow I will be able to give my boys what they need. I know this will be true for you too. I truly thank the Lord that you found Lauren and Lauren found you, adoption answers so many needs and prayers.
this just made me cry...
I love these posts
we've been home six months and time is blowing by...
such a beautiful post, it brought tears to my eyes. Now I am off to check out the album you put together. What a blessing Lauren is to you and you to her. God is good.
Congratulations to you and your family. What a beautiful video and oh how my eyes fill with tears of joy for you and your family. As I read your comments while we were in China knowing that you were celebrating your 1 year Anniversary with your beautiful daughter my heart just filled with joy and happiness for you all. How lucky we all are to have such beautiful children in our lives to love so very much. There is so much I want to write right now but am unable to do so as I can't see through all these tears.
Happy Anniversary my Friend. Wishing you and your family all the very best now and always.
With love,
Dennis, Lisa, Makaila and Callie
Ohhhh, I can't believe it's been a year! So very exciting! Happy Anniversary!!
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