This is the earliest picture we have of Ashley...according to her documents, she was found in yellow/white clothing at the gate of the orphanage so we're thinking that this might actually have been taken the very day she was abandoned. We plan on taking this when we get her and asking the director if she remembers. She was not given up at birth, but at approximately a month old, and it's obvious she's not a newborn in this picture....that sad face breaks my heart!! I cannot imagine the pain of having your child for a month and then feeling like your only option was to abandon her to get her medical help. Her mother, I believe, must have loved her very much to put her baby's need for medical care above her love for her child. The Lord is sovereign and we know He had a plan for this child, even in her mother's womb. My feelings and love for her birth mother are for another post, but I wanted to share this pic....we're coming baby girl!!!!
9 comments:
I think it's really great that you're trying to find out as much about her beginnings as you possibly can.
I was adopted as an infant and had some major identity issues growing up and it's important that you can give her as many details as you can about where she came from and her "story" before you.
Kudos to you for documenting as much as you can - she'll have questions one day, and it looks like you'll be ready to tell her as much as you know. :)
You guys are gonna be great parents to that little girl.
:)
Tammi
We have some more information as well, but I'm trying my best to be sensitive about posting it. One day she may not appreciate that I posted it to the WWW for all creation to see! Love the insight from adopted kids...I have several friends that were adopted and i need to gleen as much information as I can from you all! Thanks for the encouragement.
Tammi
(OK your blog is private so I'm posting this here :)
Also wanted to add that I hope for all of my adult adoptee friends, you get a glimpse of how very much your adoptive parents wanted and loved you even before you were placed in their arms. My prayer is that reading our journey sheds light onto some of the feelings and longings they had for you as they waitied as well.
Love this picture SO SO much!!
Emily, your post and that precious picture brought tears to my eyes. Made me think of: "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." God bless you for welcoming Him this way -- and what amazing plans He must have in store for your little one! She is darling! I'm praying that you have her in your arms very soon!
Both of my kids were abandoned at about 2 months. I too hurt for the women that gave them birth, held them dear, and then made a choice that I'll never understand. I thank God each morning when I hear the pitter patter of their feet that He looked across time and continents to place them with me! I'm excited to follow your trip to China to meet Ashley!
Kristi (AWAA)
how happy I am for you. I will be praying for the earliest date possible in December so you can get your Christmas gift and share her with your girls!
Joy, Debi (shana's momma)
We also got a very early pic of Mei. She actually looks just hours old. These small things are so special. When she asks what she looked like when she was born, I'll actually have a picture to show her. God is so awesome.
Emily -
Thanks for your thoughtful response.
Funny you mention that because when I was a sophmore in college I went on a quest to find my birth mother. And boy did I.
She actually married my birth father (they had me when they were 17), and then had 3 more children. So I have 3 biological siblings that I know and a whole other "family' out there.
That was weird.
And hearing their story, and knowing the years of heartache they experienced after giving up their firstborn is just....sad (although that barely scratches the surface).
Anyway...that's a whole 'nother blog post. Would be more than happy to discuss it with you sometime if you'd like. Either way, I think it's enormous that you (and probably this generation as a whole) are so much more "respectful" (for lack of a better term) to the first mother than my parent's generation was/is.
You may not realize what a difference it will make to your daughter. So for her, I thank you for that.
:)
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