Wordless Wednesday



or at least I'll try.



cokieinchina


Yeah, you know I can't do it.  Only God could make me fall in love with this baby from across the room.  Then walk straight to her, pass a room full of babies and then notice her legs were burned black, and not care- I still wanted her.  Her right foot was vivid blood red, but the other foot was burned black and all the toes gone.  I covered them so as not to offend the nannies.  Only God could make me not worry if she would ever walk or how much she might cost us, or that I was 46 y.o. and did NOT want another baby.


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Surgery after surgery, but soon she walked, ran, climbed, swam and even this year plays basketball on a team.



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And, I hope my other kids don't mind me saying it, but she may be my easiest kid. No one could ask for a more perfect daughter.  She is our life... along with our others of course. : - )  Cokie really is sweet, smart and easy.   



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As sweet as it is--her two brothers and cousin helping her get her brace on--the truth is this rarely happens.  They were helping that morning because her brace was brand new and her last pair of boots were kind of small for the new brace. 






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One year from the first time I saw her.
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Lyric was only about 4 months older than Cokie. Wouldn't you think Lyric would have been jealous? Lyric never was and to this day they always want to be together.
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These were in China after we had just picked Cokie up.  The question everyone wants to know is how it happened.  I can only tell you your guess is as good as mine.  She was burned and abandoned in the hospital. 



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Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. We try and celebrate. It is just a fun time for the kids and a reminder that they are Chinese American... and do have a heritage.
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My friend Teri passed out crafts and treats for the kids.
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This is Teri.
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I've mentioned my friend Jan who adopted my daughter Remi's friend Abigail.  Abigail was Remi's best friend in China. Well, Jan is a busy woman! She has 3 biological sons, has adopted 5 and is working on another adoption right now. Here are two of her girls. Her last adoption was Lydia on the right. Yeah, the girl is breathtaking!! This is Jan's blog and you've go to look and see the little's girl's expression when she sees she has a family. This may be the best pic ever.    www.finallypicked.blogspot.comDSCN4140
Into the crafts
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The littlest girl was new to the gang. She looks like she is saying "Save me from these people!!" I think the big girls were in love.
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Teri's cuties. They were so sweet and both came up and gave me a hug!

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Remi and Abigail
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The handsome guy here is my friend Ginger's son.
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Remi with my niece Lain.
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Happy Birthday to Reagan




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 Remember in 2010 we adopted Remi (in red)?  At the same time Teri was adopting Reagan (right) and Jan was adopting Abigail (left).  Remi and Abigail were best friends in China, but Jan and I did not know each other then.  We were using the same adoption agency and met online.  We saw our girls were best friends and started talking on the agency yahoo group.  We were both shocked to learn we are practically neighbors.   My preacher says Christians should not use the word luck.  We are receiving blessings from Him, the one and ONLY true God, Jesus Christ!!

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 Teri, Jan and I worked on our dossiers together.  Jan got Abigail 2 weeks before Teri and I traveled to get our girls plus Mike and I also got Shepard.  Now all 3 of us are adopting again. Teri is getting a little boy and Jan is getting another daughter.

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Friday Reagan celebrated her 3rd birthday with her new family.  Reagan's Mom knows how to show the girls a GREAT time and I got to tag along. We went to StoneCreek.

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 Oh, and Bret always tags along too.  She and Teri have this special little bond "thing" going on.  I have to laugh, I don't text, but Teri and Bret do.  Lael sometimes talks/texts/or something with my girlfriend Ginger.  I'm glad I have nice friends.

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 Did I mention Teri spoils the girls?!


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After dinner we did a little shopping.

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Teri took them into Bath and Body and let them each pick out something.


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SkyZone

Just to make sure they REALLY had a good time Teri also took them to Skyzone