The day Sophia was placed in my arms, I knew I would never be the same again. As I looked around the room at the weeping families all receiving their babies, I knew I was a part of something so special, so deep and rare, that I wanted to hold onto it forever. Only we would understand the bond that would take place during these 2 weeks together. Sophia was such a special gift, I could hardly believe she was ours......forever. From that moment on and during the next few months, my life seemed to come full circle. All my struggles, trials in life, ups and downs.......they just disappeared as I realized I had come to understand my purpose in life. Sophia brought peace into my soul when I thought nothing would. She was my baby, my second chance, the piece that filled the hole in my heart.......she is my precious child and I love her more than words can say............my sweet Sophia....you are my Asian Princess.........my inner peace, my soul, my love and I will love you until the end of time..........
50 comments:
Oh how precious!!!!! I am loving these photos of your first moments with sweet Sophia. I received Mallory in that very room in Changsha and my life was totally changed at that moment also. Like you, I realized my purpose in life when we got our daughter.
Thanks for sharing these wonderful photos. They are absolutely priceless!
Those pictures are so precious. I was wiping away tears pouring over them. I'm so anxious to experience these same emotions and for our daughter to finally have a sibling. Seeing Emmie with Sophie gives me such hope.
Blessings,
Kim
http://youbelong.net/thekenwards
These are such tender and beautiful pictures. There are days when I feel so frustrated as a parent that I have to go back and look at our Gotcha Day pictures to remind me how wonderful it all is. I look forward to reading more special posts about Sophia.
How sweet! Thanks for sharing those pictures with us! And congratulations on this very special day!
love, love, love your heart and the depth of that love for your family is so real ... we celebrate with you and sophia .... our pingjiang family has changed all our lives and i will be forever thankful to the Lord for you all ... love ya sister ...
OK, lump in throat here...
I cannot wait for this to happen to me. Thank you for letting me sneak peek the day by living through your photos. So beautiful, the three of you. I love it.
PS.
I'm so glad you like your books!
Awww those are such sweet pictures! I love the birthday blog.
We are so very blessed to have our lives changed in such an amazing and wonderful way. I love your post and I totally relate to finally finding your inner peace and purpose through your daughter. I experienced a very similar thing when Linzi came home, I have never been the same since!
Have a wonderful, special day with your sweet girl and the rest of your "things"!
Sheryl
Happy Birthday Sophia!
Steffie,
I am tears here at work. How absolutely precious those words are and they could only come from the heart of a mother.
Happy Birthday darling Sophia!
Love the pictures. Thanks for sharing them. That has to be such a surreal moment. I can't wait!
I LOVE your birthday celebration design honoring and remembering Sophia who ia almost three. Can't wait to see more!
Your words are beautiful. I wish Sophia a very Happy Birthday, and you a wonderful day sharing it with her!
How AMAZING..
I am crying reading and looking at your pictures..
That day has to stick in you forever..
I am so waiting for that day..
Sophia is soooo pretty and has an amazing family..
Have a great day..
Kim
oh so precious!!! Why are my friends making me cry today? I am soooo happy for you!
This is just preciouse. You are so lucky to have experienced awesome Journey. She is so much loved by you and your family. I can see why you would never be the same...
({HUGS})
Oh how I remember the day you received your referral of Sophia! Those were days of joy and anxiousness, weren't they? And now the peace of seeing God's plan unfold and grow up right before our eyes is a joy that cannot be measured.
I know that peace when they are placed in your arms and all the anxiety and uncertainty washes away the moment you touch her and hold her.
If I could go back in time and talk to the me that was then, I would let her know that the joy is in the journey and to never be afraid.
Congratulations to little Sophia on turning 3! What a joy and blessing she has been to all of you!
Teresa
How sweet. Our two Gotcha Days will be forever in my head and heart; so emotional and life changing.
I can't believe Sophia is almost 3! Happy Birthday, Sweet Pea!
What sweet and special memories!!!
The 8th of April is also special to me...it is my b-day.
She was such a little one and now she is a firecracker!
Keep smilin!
None of us will ever be the same again!
I'm so happy to have met you in such an incredibly special way...our families have a bond that could never be broken.
I'm amazed at how much your family has changed and grown in just 2 years! Wow. God is so good.
Can't wait to celebrate Sophia's birthday with you all.
I Love the Birthday look. You did a great job.
The pictures are priceless.
Happy 3rd Birthday Sophia:)
Amazing! The pictures - your story are all wonderful.
Happy Birthday Sophie! I know you will have a wonderful day!!!
Great story about your gotcha and family days. I am sitting here with tears as your pics brought back the memories of our day too. It really is amazing how our lives were all changed on the other side of the world...
Happy Birthday sweet Sophia! I remember your Gotcha Day, Lindsay had been following your story. She fell in love with your family and now the rest of us have too. Lauren LOVES your videos and would have so much fun playing with you.
April
Pure sweetness!
What a blessing Stef- thanks for sharing her with us!
These are beautiful! It looks like a "never the same again" moment!
I LOVE the last one of you holding her so tenderly, her face is precious!
Thanks for sharing those and happy Birthday to Sophia!
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
Happy Birthday precious one. S...I couldn't have said it better myself. I am so touched by your words. They sunk right to my heart.
Live it up Sophia, time is passing so fast.
Happy Birthday precious one. S...I couldn't have said it better myself. I am so touched by your words. They sunk right to my heart.
Live it up Sophia, time is passing so fast.
such precious moments...to go with that precious Asian princess!!
AWWW, I am totally all weepy. She is so beautiful. I remember being so excited for you- we were there only days before you- and we had just gotten home on April 8th. Lots of memories. : )I hope our spicy girls get a chance to meet one day!!
Happy Birthday sweet girl!
This room is such an important place in our lives now, isn't it? All these beautiful pictures brought me so many good memories.
I cannot wait to live that experience again, like you.
Happy Birthday to your little chinese princess!
What a life changing moment, thank you for sharing this intimate time with us.
It flooded my memory bank with sweet flashbacks, oh were blessed.
She is beautiful ~ perfect ~ and amazing ;D
Ladybug hugs,
Debbie
What a special Sophia, a special day, and a special family!!!!!!
I remember these precious pictures on The Story of You. I was so happy to come across your blog. It is such a joy to follow along.
Happy Birthday Sophia! She is such a cutie pie!
Love the new blog design!
What beautiful words of love for your daughter! Happy Birthday Sophia!
This was such a great idea to have a birthday blog!
Love seeing your special day...
Now how am I supposed to snark on your sentiment?
The red in her cheeks is like the fire in your heart.
May the next ten days be a birthday extravaganza.
You are the twin to a girl who used to be my closest friend. It freaks me out little to see you in a close up. You are a beautiful woman,and it makes me miss my old friend. Apparently you are sent to replace her :)
Absolutely precious...and priceless. Sophia is and always will be your Asian Princess.
Blessings to you and the Princess...and the rest of the B Tribe!
Andie
Happy Birthday sweet, precious Sophia... you will never quite know the depth of love your Mama has for you until you hold your baby in your arms...
Steffanie... than you for sharing your beautiful daughter with us and your beautiful heart with us... your post touched my heart, as it mirrored my soul.
Just beautiful...
Thank You Jesus for the little miracles you have placed in our arms.
Happy Birthday Sophia! What a beautiful post. It's amazing how fast the time flies, and 'gotcha moment' seems it was an eternity ago, until we pull those pictures and video out, and it all comes rushing back.
Thanks for sharing!
What an amazing look back on a beautiful day...Happy Birthday to your precious girl!
Hey Steffie,
Thanks for your sweet comments about my new blog look. I know you have been secretly wishing I would do something about my blog and make it look more cool....like yours. :) Well, someone offered to do it for me and I just love it. I told them I wanted hot pink polka dots on an orange background and I got it!
I decided not to do the secret pal thing on our DTC group. Since the wait is taking so long, I just opted not to do that this time. I am sure I will regret it when I see you getting some cool stuff. Hey, did you ever find out if there is a website that we can order the Cherry Blossom DTC stuff? I saw where you asked that question but never saw an answer. Let me know. Take care!
Oh, I just love these photos. I received in Hannah in the same room--actually, we were in Changsha at the same time you were. Brings back lots of memories. Sophia was an adorable baby!!
Look at those cheeks! I want to squish them.
I'm reading this and I got goose bumps. Your "gotcha day" was the day we landed in the states. WE just missed one another..
She is precious and so adorable. I love her little cheeks.
Now I'm crying. There just are no words to describe a Gotcha moment. All these photos are gorgeous.
I have such a lump in my throat and an ache in my chest. I really long to have this same thing happen. Thanks for sharing those beautiful first moments with your Sophia.
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