One Year Ago Today....

I have a real blog post started but have to find time to finish it. Today is too big of a day to pass up so I'll come back to the rest later....

Today is the one year anniversary of Penelope's referral. This time last year Jason and I took the biggest leap of faith of our lives, submitting our Letter of Intent to adopt an 18 month old baby girl on the other side of the world.
We didn't have a lot to go on. 10 month old information that labeled little Dang Zi Shu as premature, developmentally delayed, and having moderately low intelligence.

Our agency said many families had reviewed her file and passed on the referral.

Passed on little Zi Shu.

 Passed on our Penelope.

Typing those words hurts my heart, but understand why. She was not their daughter, she was mine.
So now, one year has passed since I fell in love with the picture of the baby girl in the red coat.
I love her more and more each day!

You first came to us in an envelope
With letters, forms and such
Just two tiny little pictures
With nothing warm to touch.
You grew in our imagination
In our hearts and in our minds.
You brought us greater joy
Than we ever thought we’d find.
A phone call started labor pains
Which lasted ‘til we met
Strangers brought together
A day we won’t forget.
You bloomed as you were planned
In our hearts, our lives, our home.
Our child of chance, of plan, of will
You’re now our very own.
~Author Unknown

Happy One Year Referral Day Penelope Mei ZiShu Fulton!!!