Beautiful zoo in Guangzhou...

Last year at this time we were just arriving in Beijing...what a thrill it was to finally be in CHINA!

Looking out the window...still wearing her shoes from the orphanage

Getting to know our baby girl!

Meeting our Daughter for the first time...she is so beautiful!!!

We were getting ready to meet Faith a year ago...

I really can't believe it's been a year since we travelled to China.  They say, "Time flies when your having fun."  This year has flown by.  For the last few weeks  I have spent hours looking at our pictures from China.  We loved the adventure of traveling to China, the history and the beauty are something pictures can't fully show. 
The excitement and anticipation we felt a year ago at Christmas time is hard to put into words.  I was nervous about the long flights ,I was nervous to be traveling to a foreign country where so much control is held over it's people.  I was nervous to leave my children home alone for so long.  I was nervous about my daughter's disability and her many transitions , I was nervous about our transitions.

Fast forward a year later...I am constantly amazed as I watch Faith skip around the house singing at the top of her lungs all sorts of songs, she sings all day long, and I love it.  I marvel at her love for her siblings and their love for her.  She is a joy that cannot be measured.  I am daily amazed that I get to be her mom, and am constantly thankful for the opportunity.  I wish that as a younger mother I would have had time to appreciate the small moments in each day as I do with Faith, or maybe I appreciate those moments because it was so difficult to get Faith home.  It could also be that I have adult children now and know how quickly time passes and that gives me this different perspective.  Whatever the reason,  I welcome my new perspective. 

Faith's official gotcha anniversary is January 5th,  my oldest daughter turns 18 on January 6th and our oldest son Spencer goes away to college on January 1st. (tear, tear)  With this busy household we might not have a big celebration for her gotcha day,  it will most likely be life as usual, but with my new perspective we will enjoy it just as much as a big party! 

I am hoping to post a few favorite picture from China each day, we have hundreds... here is my 1st.  We are at the Buddhist Temple getting a blessing.  Loved this experience, it was so sacred for us.

The Great Wall...

Merry Christmas!

No this is not the most flattering picture I took Sunday...but it is the BEST.  Much love from the Browncircus that is my family!

Faith's Own Ornament...

All of our children have their "year" ornament.  We could not find a 2007 year ornament for Faith so we improvised.  She just loves Hello Kitty and we used a pink sharpie and wrote the year 2007 on the foot.  She was soooo excited to put her ornament on the tree.  Another first for our little girl! 

Proud little Peanut!

Faith was so proud of her pictures...can you tell what they are?   A pink be-nan-na and a pink fishing pole.  The only time we can get her to smile when I am taking pictures is when she is naughty...I wonder what Santa will have to say about this?

1st Visit with Santa!

Faith was so cute when going to visit Santa.  We prepared her well by showing her pictures of all her siblings visiting Santa through the years.  She was so excited!  While waiting in line and watching other families sitting on Santa's lap...she got worried, and wondered why the other kids were sitting on HER Santa.  She thought he was just for her!  When it was time to ask what she wanted she simply said two things, " Pink Presents and Pink Candy."  Loving this holiday!

ok...how cute is this? Can u tell she enjoyed getting a tree!

My baby girl a year ago in China...I can't wait until Christmas morning this year :)

Faith's 1st snow and Snowman...