Happy referral day Claire!

One year ago today, at about 11:00 am we got a call that would change our lives forever. We were told of a 9 week old baby girl in AnGiang Vietnam that needed a home. She was ever so tiny, and had some possible health problems. We spent the day speaking to our pediatrician, looking over her records and feeling like we were walking on clouds. We had decided early on not to tell the boys about her until we had officially accepted her. I went to pick Easton up from school that afternoon, and he was carrying a piece of paper. He got in the Tahoe and said, "Look mom, I drew a picture. It's the road to Vietnam." Of course, I broke down into tears. (we still have that picture).

That evening our social worker came by the house and brought us the first pictures we would ever see of our little girl. She was perfect and we knew she would be a wonderful addition to our family.

Our adoption process seemed rough, and many things were changing in the adoption system while we waited on Claire. During our 6 mth wait, there were many great experiences and many frustrating experiences. Some of you have been following our journey from the beginning and know that there at the end we got a little frustrated with our adoption agency. (They too were experiencing changes) Yet through all that frustration I know we would not be where we are today without them. (We would use Dillon again). Things may have not always gone the way we had planned, but they love the kids they place. They ALWAYS have supported the families they work with, and they continue to answer questions and provide AWESOME post placement services to their families.

We have also been so blessed by an AMAZING social worker! She has so much invested into her job, supports her families and even is a part of international adoption in her extended family. We appreciate her so much.

Claire has been officially ours now almost 6 months (on the 29th). She enriches our daily lives, and completes our family. She is an amazing little girl! She has grown out of the health problems she was born with (they were very minor), and is a busy 14 month old. We would not have it any other way!