INTRODUCING HALAINAH GRACE

Since my blog should have been up and running a long time ago, I am a little behind on posting. So here is the e-mail I sent to all of our family and friends on August 15, 2008.

It is with great joy and gratitude in our hearts that we introduce you to our first daughter, Halainah Grace. This is the most awesome news of our lives. God is awesome...God is great.

Her Chinese name is: Rao Qinyang
DOB: November 16, 2007...she is nine months old.

We are also so very pleased that she is in a foster home for the Social Welfare Institute of Xinzhou District of Shangrao City in Jiangxi Province. It's very unusual that these little girls are in foster homes, they are usually in an orphanage. There are so many benefits of being in a foster home so we are very lucky.

Qinyang is said to have a restless personality, has a ready smile and loves music and playing games.

She has a tiny hole in her heart that most likely will close on it's own.

We had her medical records reviewed by a specialist and her exact words were, "She's considered special needs, that is a joke. If they consider her special needs because of her minor heart condition than you hit the jackpot." We were so thrilled and relieved to hear her say those words.

Please keep all of us in your prayers, for Halainah's health and that her grieving of her foster family is minimal. It's so heartbreaking that the day in which we go get our daughter will be the most amazing day of our lives, but will be so sad for Qinyang and her foster mom. Please pray for us that we get our travel approval soon. We are most likely looking at November or December. I would like to be with her for her 1st birthday but we may be traveling for Christmas.

Tony and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary on August 8th and we received the call only a few days later. I was in the A&P. I ran home and opened up her picture and I knew just by looking at her that she was my daughter....that she was Halainah. What a miraculous anniversary present. I think my Mom has some good connections in heaven. And my mother-in-law has a direct line to God. Thank you God for our Miracle!