Thoughts from Daddy

Well, this is a first for me and I will do my best not to be too boring. Stephanie has done a great job keeping you updated on our adoption process but I want to take a moment to share my thoughts about my 3 girls....I am a pretty rare man in that I have always wanted girls and God has blessed me with 3.

Meredith...where do I start....you only need to see the 2 of us together a couple of times and you will know that she is a Daddy's girl. She is so sweet, caring, thoughtful and a great big sister to JingJing...she must get those wonderful character traits from her mother. Having a Daddy's girl can be hard on Daddy every now and then....Monday when I dropped her and JingJing off at school I noticed she was crying as I drove off because she knew I was leaving for Atlanta and she would not see me for a couple of days. I love the fact that she misses me but seeing her upset kills me inside. She is my first born (not oldest) and I look forward to see how God will use her as she becomes a young lady.

JingJing...Daddy's "China Doll"....she brings so much joy and excitement into our family. JingJing is nothing like the 10 month old baby I held in China on December 27, 2004....you could look into her brown eyes and she just looked back with a blank look. After spending 2 weeks in China with her she started to show signs of opening up to us as her parents. But I knew she saw me as her Daddy the first Sunday morning we took her to church once we were back in Maryland. I went to pick her up from the nursery and when I walked into the room and she saw me, she smiled the biggest smile I had ever seen from her....that is a day that I will never forget. I love to watch her play and think about how different her life would be if God had not brought her into our family.

Emma...my oldest daughter. The waiting this time compared to the waiting for JingJing is different and more difficult. With JingJing we knew nothing about her until about 7 weeks before we met her....we received a picture and information about Emma within 2-3 weeks of deciding to adopt again. I've never seen Emma in person and have never talked to her but I love her like she has been my daughter for years. Who knew that you could love someone so much even though we have never met. There isn't a day that passes that I don't wonder what she is doing or thinking. Is she thinking, "will I ever have a family?" or "does anyone want me?" I want you Emma and you are part of my family already. Stay strong my daughter...Daddy will come get you as soon as say go.

God has blessed me with a wonderful wife and 3 wonderful daughters....yes I know the teenage years are going to be full of drama with so many females in my house...but I would not want it any other way. Good night from Atlanta.

Daddy