Love From Afar

A family's love for a child begins long before his or her first breath is taken. Our love for Paige began in September of 2004 when we signed the adoption application with Children's Hope International.

Long before Paige was born, her waiting family (Kevin, Carla, Chelsea and Haley) began to pray and prepare for her journey home. Many months, even years, have passed since the application was approved. Birth and marriage certificates were ordered. Passports renewed, seminars attended, documents notarized, certified and authenticated, all as a part of the journey to bring our baby Paige home.

As we mailed our completed dossier to CHI and then on to China in September of 2005, we began to wonder where our little Paige could be. Is she still developing in the womb of her birth mother? Is she being cared for in an orphanage? Is her little ears hearing sounds that will always remind her of her culture? How long will it take to bring her home? All of those questions, could only be answered over time.


Join us in the journey.


Monday, March 5, 2007

What? Could it be true?


What a day this has been!! With a 7:50 a.m. Flight to Berlin, I was up at 1:45 a.m. and out the door headed for the San Fransisco Airport by 2:30. I arrived at the airport in great time and was able to grab a bite to eat before leaving the car at the long term parking lot. Once I was checked in and at my departure gate, I called Carla to let her know I was safely at the airport and waiting at the gate. As I boarded the plane, I turned off my phone and settled into my "economy plus" aisle seat. With our on time departure, we were off to Washington DC for a plane change and then on to Zurich and finally Berlin.

Landing in Washington DC proved to be an adventure with 35 mph cross winds and the plane being tossed back and forth trying to center on the runway. With all wheels safely on the runway, my fellow passengers and I gave a sigh of relief. Once we were parked at the gate, I gathered my belongings, turned on my phone and headed down the aisle of the plane for a quick exit.

As I walked down the Jetway, my phone beeped to let me know there was a message. Pushing the voice mail button on my phone was the first step in making March 5, 2007 and unforgettable day. As the message began to play, I heard Carla say in a broken voice that Ann (from CHI) had left a message on the CHI Yahoo Group that the referrals had been sent for LID's from October 18, 2005 through October 24, 2005.

Trying to maintain composure, I called Carla back. She had spoken to Ann and received the details. Our Baby Paige is almost a year old. She was abandoned on April 1, 2006 and was thought to be about a week old. The doctors gave her a birthday of 3/22/06. The name given her by the orphanage is Pu Fu Dou. Pu is the name of the city she was found in. Fu means good fortune or blessing. Dou means seed or bean. Her name given by her forever family will be Paige FuDou Shelton and will be our "Seed of Blessing."

Washington DC has been the sounding board for many a great proclamations, but for me, our nation's capitol will always be remembered as the city I learned about my little seed of blessing.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday Paige!!!! we cant wait to meet you....