Tuesday, December 4, 2007

One Year Ago Today

Loving on Mom..........mom loving every second!!!! Entertaining the Thanksgiving crowd.
The very first time we saw Paul in person...one year ago today. We could tell that he had already been crying......it only got worse from here.
This was the saddest thing I had ever seen. That first night after we managed to get Paul out of his clothes that he came to us in. He held on to them for dear life. He would calm down and then start to wimper and then grab up his clothes and hold onto them very tightly. He feel asleep the first night with the clothes in his arms. I cannot look at this picture without getting choked up.

December 4th is a BIG day for our family. Today my brother and sister-in-law adopted their newest daughter from China http://pumpkinnumber3.blogspot.com/ . One year ago today we met Paul for the very first time in Changsha, Hunan, China. We were so excited and he was sooooooo scared. I have never heard anybody or anything scream so loud and so intense. I have watched our 'gotcha' video just one time because it is so heart breaking. It didn't take Paul long to figure out that we weren't quite as bad as he had originally thought. Today his love for his whole family is very obvious. Boy oh boy do we love that kid. He is so sweet. He is happy and easy going. He has yet to be sick enough to need to go to the doctor. He takes his naps and goes to bed without much fuss about 95% of the time. He is very ornery or as the assistant director of the his orphanage told us a year ago he is a "naughty boy." Yesterday, Ted had to take the entire toilet off of the floor to find out why it was plugged. Mysteriously there was a comb stuck way down in the toilet. Everyone in the house agreed it had to have been flushed by Mr. Paul. We still have Paul's referral picture on our refrigerator. Sometimes I pass by it and remember that this sad little face sat on a special needs list for 3 months. I thank God every single day that He placed little Chen Zhi Qiang in our paths......our lives are much richer with Paul in our family.

3 comments:

Lisa said...

OMG, Alison,

A year already. Time sure does fly by doesn't it. Paul is as handsome as ever and we wish you all much joy with him in the years to come.


Lisa (Mom to a Chenzhou beauty - LilyRose)

Unknown said...

It is amazing what the Lord can do in a year isn't it? I am amazed that a year has flown by. At the same time, it feels like yesterday. What a great day for your whole family. On my way to your brother's blog now.
Aimee

Marilyn, Paul, PJ, Chris & Lauren said...

Happy Anniversary! Paul is adorable. Your post brought tears to my eyes. Blessings to all of you.

Marilyn

Mom to Chenzhou cutie Lauren