• Home
  • About
  • Wild Olive Tees
  • No Hands But Ours
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • RSS

Ni Hao Y'all

when east meets south

  • Ni Hao Y'all
  • Faith
    • my faith
  • adoption
    • special needs adoption
      • clubfoot
      • Down syndrome
      • dwarfism
    • shared list
    • advocating
  • family
    • Magnolia
    • Clementine
    • Tallula
    • Poppy
    • Esther
    • Vivienne
    • Shepherd
    • Jude
    • Isabelle
    • Sophie
    • Dalton
    • Asher
    • Zach
    • Victoria
  • Life
    • memory lane
    • what works for us
    • things I love
    • Q and A
    • marriage
    • cooking
    • celebrations
    • blogging
      • love others
      • kudos
  • photography
    • photography 101
    • Sunday Snapshot

she loves me.

It’s been 390 days since I first held Vivienne in my arms.

55 weeks.

9360 hours.

561,600 minutes.

More or less.

Before coming into our family she had more transitions than any child should have to endure.

She spent four months with her birth family.

Eight months in an orphanage.

And one year with a loving foster family.

I’ve often wondered how all these transitions would impact her ability to love again.

How long she might need to allow herself to believe, somehow, that we would not leave her.

And to know that she her love would be safe with us.

Yesterday, during one of the most ordinary of moments, Vivienne spoke spontaneously.

“I love you, mama.”

Crazy blessed to be on a journey of the heart with this child.

In so many ways, she takes my breath away.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • More
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
«
»

02.05.11 · adoption, Vivienne 24

Comments

  1. Chris says

    February 5, 2011 at 7:44 PM

    She is so precious!

    What a great post!

    Reply
  2. couchtots says

    February 5, 2011 at 7:55 PM

    Oh, how that must have made your heart mush! A wonderful precious thing to hear from our children.

    Reply
  3. Heather Thompson says

    February 5, 2011 at 7:59 PM

    What wonderful words to hear!!!

    Reply
  4. Lucky Mama says

    February 5, 2011 at 8:18 PM

    So sweet! She is truly adorable!!!

    Reply
  5. Michelle P. says

    February 5, 2011 at 8:40 PM

    Beautiful!!! Those are definitely words to treasure! 🙂

    Reply
  6. DiJo says

    February 5, 2011 at 8:41 PM

    You are crazy blessed my friend!!!!!! Because you have blessed you too are blessed!!! She is so darn cute!!! How could she not love her precious Mama!!!!!

    Hugs,
    Diana

    Reply
  7. Jennifer says

    February 5, 2011 at 8:48 PM

    That, is the best gift a momma could get. 🙂

    Reply
  8. Patricia/NYC says

    February 5, 2011 at 9:07 PM

    Sooooo Sweet & just goes to show that there are no "ordinary moments"!!

    Reply
  9. R Montalban says

    February 5, 2011 at 9:25 PM

    That is just so charming and well, wonderful.

    Reply
  10. Jenny says

    February 5, 2011 at 11:15 PM

    Oh my gosh, that is precious. I love it.

    Reply
  11. the meaklims says

    February 5, 2011 at 11:51 PM

    Sigh. I'm just sitting here grinning. the best words…EVER!

    Reply
  12. Alyssa says

    February 6, 2011 at 12:00 AM

    What a blessing to hear that for the first time!

    Alyssa
    http://www.brightside-of-life.com/

    Reply
  13. Teresa says

    February 6, 2011 at 12:20 AM

    Some of the best words a mama can hear! Hugs ~ Teresa

    Reply
  14. Kim says

    February 6, 2011 at 12:37 AM

    Melt. My. Heart.

    Reply
  15. anne graves says

    February 6, 2011 at 12:56 AM

    So sweet. And such a blessing!

    We are adopting a little guy from China and hope to pick him up April/May. He will be at least 18-months-old at that point. Is there a book on attachment that has been helpful to you? Do you have any specific wisdom on the process?

    Anne

    http://thegravesfamilyblog.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  16. Jess and Tim says

    February 6, 2011 at 1:45 AM

    What a blessing! She is loved and knows it!!

    Reply
  17. Kristi says

    February 6, 2011 at 3:53 AM

    Oh yes. It's one thing to hear them say that they love us when they are responding to us saying that we love them.
    But when it is unsolicited? Now that's good stuff!
    So happy for you!

    Reply
  18. Sarah says

    February 6, 2011 at 4:16 AM

    She is just soooo precious!

    Reply
  19. a Tonggu Momma says

    February 6, 2011 at 5:48 PM

    Be still my heart! Because – is she wearing a panda shirt??? (Kidding, I'm kidding, y'all.)

    Seriously, I am so glad you heard those words. I still remember my first unsolicited kiss after 10 months home. It changed everything for me.

    Reply
  20. clearness says

    February 6, 2011 at 9:04 PM

    Amazing. She is beautiful.

    Reply
  21. Daisy Dreams says

    February 6, 2011 at 9:32 PM

    Oh, how I know how precious those words are from a child you long to hear say them (to you!). It took Bella almost 3 years to offer those words, unsolicited. And I can remember how I rejoiced!! Yay for Vivienne!

    Reply
  22. Aus says

    February 7, 2011 at 12:05 PM

    Great post – and a great SS too – the kids are simply amazing – as is your entire clan!

    hugs – aus and co.

    Reply
  23. Claire says

    February 8, 2011 at 9:14 PM

    LOVED reading this post! So heartwarming. Thanks for sharing such a sweet moment!

    Reply
  24. Redruby says

    February 9, 2011 at 10:03 PM

    she is so lucky! cute girl too!
    Travel the World
    Our Kitchen
    Nature's Beauty

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

I'm Stefanie. Wife to one, mom to 13. Occasional blogger and t-shirt maker. Wannabe photographer and exerciser. Constant grace-needer and orphan advocator. more
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS

Subscribe

instagram

see more...follow us on IG

our china journeys

magnolia - 2016
clementine - 2014
tallula - 2012
penelope - 2011
vivienne - 2010
shepherd - 2008
jude - 2007
sophie - 2006
isabelle - 2005

ways to make a difference

Love Project

proceed with caution

a dirty secret in adoption
we don't celebrate gotcha day
there's no such thing as an easy adoption
if I can, you can.
co-sleeping, why we do it.
gawsh. the series.
crazy
affording adoption
God and me.
Vivi's diagnosis
the ugly, beautiful truth
special needs: my .02
my testimony
dear anonymous
my chinese son

Creative Commons License

Copyright © 2023 · Darling theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 · Darling Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.