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Everyone asks us why we adopted. God's love explains how our daughter Hannah was brought to us from the other side of the world. At work one day in 1998, Allison Matthew's who was waiting on her first referral for Emilee, brought a calendar called "From China with Love" and placed it on my desk. I saw some of the most beautiful babies in the world on this calendar. At that particular time, our daughter Carie had just graduated from college and our son Steven was just beginning college. Since my husband, Steve, and I were experiencing the "empty nest syndrome", I borrowed the calendar from Allison and took it home to show Steve. I suggested that we adopt a little girl from China. He said that we would have grandchildren soon and that we were too old. I was not ready to give up. I got on the Internet and read about Chinese adoptions. I went back to Steve and told him that China loves old people (they won't even let you adopt until you are 30 years old). Of course he laughed at this. I also told him about all that I had learned on the Internet. After my very convincing story, Steve decided we would investigate further into Chinese adoptions. We then called Tony, from A Helping Hand Adoption Agency. He explained everything thoroughly to us. We decided one of these little girls needed us and we definitely needed her, so we told Tony to get the ball rolling. Steve became even more excited than I. Our son and daughter, Steve and Carie, were also very excited. When our paper work was complete, we knew we were in God's will because we were grouped with the most extraordinary moms and dads you can imagine. We were all so excited. We emailed each other and met for get-togethers. We imagined our referrals coming early. We were pathetic with anticipation. In China we named ourselves the "Mamas and the Papas". Most of us were in our 40's except for one younger couple. We became very close friends before our trip and remain the best of friends today. We are and always will be a family!! Our trip to China was like a vacation to us. We had the time of our lives touring the not only the Great Wall, but many other interesting sights. We shopped until we dropped. There were a few among us that were great barterers. The great day of anticipation finally came. The spirit of God was there on that beautiful April day. The people in China were so friendly. They were always smiling. They have so little, but are so thankful for what they do have. We went to church in Nanchang that morning. The outdoor church was full of people. There was nowhere for us to sit, so a group of Chinese people got up and insisted we sit down. Our guide told us to sit there or their feelings would be hurt. As they were singing their hymns, I looked at my husband and felt more joy than I had felt in a long time. Steve was singing his heart out; he didn't miss a note, even though he had no idea what he was singing. We were both overflowing with the love we felt at that moment. When we got back to the hotel, our babies were supposed to arrive around 12:00 noon, so we all stood in the hall, singing, praying and praising God while we impatiently waited. We were trying to relax, but we were all too excited and anxious about meeting our little girls for the first time. Finally the elevator door opened with seven beautiful little girls from Leping orphanage, Jiangxi, China. They had been brought to us from a five-hour-long bus ride. Can you imagine what it would be like being out in a world you did not know existed? They were very tired and confused. They were layered in many clothes and very calm until they started passing them out to their new families. Then they all cried together. Hannah was crying when I took her. I could not calm her, so I asked Steve if he would like to try to calm his daughter. She went to her daddy and stopped crying. He was singing "Jesus Loves You" to her. She had an instant bonding with her daddy and would shake her head no to anyone who tried to take her. (Steve loved it.) This was tough on me, because I had never run into a baby who did not want me. I was devastated because I had been dying to hold her for a year. I knew that I had to give Hannah time, but it was tough. It was three days before she would let me hold her. I treasured every moment of the warmth I felt when she finally was not afraid of me. Hannah was 13 months old and weighed 17 pounds. She was very delayed, but very lovable and beautiful. Our guide would say, "Hannah happy baby." Hannah could barely sit up, could not feed herself, and could not roll from front to back. It seemed she had been laying on her back, most of the time, in the orphanage. Her head was very flat. On the trip home, Hannah slept most of the way. The only time Hannah really cried was when they first handed her to us. She was a model baby and we were very blessed. After we got home she just fled from one new activity to another. Hannah caught up quickly. She ate like a pig and gained weight quickly. Hannah was walking four months after we returned home. We enjoyed her so much. Our family and our friends were so excited about Hannah. She was a gift from God. Hannah will be four in February 2003. She is beautiful, smart and funny. Hannah has the personality that can cheer you up at any given moment. The other day at Kmart, my mom and I were shopping. She had Hannah and I had Aizhan. We got separated and when mom asked Hannah where I was she told her, "up there, over to the left, mamaw." My mom's mouth fell open because Hannah was right. Hannah is crazy in love with her big brother, Stevie. She refers to him as "my Stevie." Her big sissy, Carie, calls Hannah from work so she can put her on the speakerphone to entertain her co-workers. She also adores her sister, Aizhan, who was adopted from Kazakhstan ten months after Hannah was adopted. They are inseparable. Hannah and Aizhan tell everyone that guardian angels watched over them until mommy and daddy came to China and Kazakhstan to bring them home. We went from a family of 4 to a family of 6 and it is the most wonderful experience we have ever had in our life. Susie Taylor If you have any questions about adopting from China or Kazakhstan feel free to Email me susie_taylor@hotmail.com
Adopt A Child | Why Us? | Our Families | How to Help 1510 Newtown Pike; Suite 152; Lexington, KY 40511 map © Copyright 2002-2003 A Helping Hand Adoption Agency. All rights reserved. Site design by Loracs Creations, Inc. Disclaimer: This page contains images of children not available for adoption. | ||||||
