New Pics of Da Xin

No TA yet, but we did receive a wonderful gift in our mailbox today!!! We received her original letter and four wonderful pictures! Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!!

Our beautiful girl with her foster family. How wonderful to receive this picture!!! We will be forever grateful for the love and care they have given Da Xin over these past 4 1/2 years. I am going to put this in a frame in her room this weekend. I know she will probably grieve them, but I don't want her to ever feel she needs to deny this very important family in her life. If she wants to keep in contact with them, then we will support and encourage it. It is obvious to us that she is well loved and cared for. And when she said they buy her nice clothes, she wasn't kidding!!

Check out her beautiful clothing. I just love those coats!! (The first picture has been removed to protect the privacy of Da Xin's foster family.)

Another Letter from Da Xin (#2)

Posted 5/26/09 on public blog

We received a wonderful surprise in our inbox today!! No, not a TA... yet... but a long-awaited second letter from Da Xin. We're still waiting for the pictures that came with it. Our agency dropped them in the mail today. I am guessing they are hand-drawn pictures and not photos of her, but I'll just have to wait and see. That will be another nice surprise arriving later this week. (Hopefully with a TA!)

Through the letter, we are finally able to learn a little bit more about her foster family. The economy sounds pretty similar to local headlines. In the letter, Da Xin refers to herself as 11. I sure hope not!! I hope she was just rounding up to the 7 days until her birthday. If she was 11 on May 9, then we have some serious issues with her paperwork. I've already started rounding up, so I'll just assume she was, too. The letter also confirms something we already assumed through the referral information - she isn't taking any English in school, although I did find it quite interesting that one of her courses is "moral character."

She sounds like such a sweetheart. I am starting to pack and get ready for traveling. I went out tonight and purchased a few more clothes for Da Xin. Leila has informed me that she wants them to wear matching clothes. lol. I sure hope Da Xin does, too!

Here's the letter, translated as we received it:

Dear Papa, Mama and other family,

How are you? It was very nice to receive your letter, and it makes me miss you more. How’s your health? I miss you…

My Chinese Papa is a gym teacher in my school. My Mama is a laid off factory worker. My older brother is 22 yrs old, and he is majoring in architect. He just graduated and hasn’t found a job yet.

I am 11 yrs old, and I am a fourth grade student. I learn eight subjects in the school, Chinese, Math, music, art, physical education, moral character, computer and science. My hobbies are riding bicycle, roller skating, drawing, singing, dancing and playing badminton. I also enclosed couple of pictures, hope you like it. Seen the picture feels like seen me.

Okay, I will stop here today. Wish you good healthy and be happy.

Love
Yours,

Da Xin
5/9/2009

Another Amazing Da Xin Update

Blog entry 4/10/09 on public blog

I am having difficulty finding the words to describe the tremendous gifts we have been given this week. When we asked in October if Da Xin wanted to be adopted, we really didn't know how to interpret her response. "I know my family is overseas," didn't really give us much insight into her desire. Yet, we felt this was God's will for us, so we took a leap of faith. But, if I'm being honest with you, I have to say that I have thought about this a lot since we began the process. My biggest prayers have been that God begin healing and preparing her heart for this adoption. She has been with the same foster family for 4 1/2 years and my mind has raced over and over... How will she react? How will her foster family react? I have just been so overwhelmed with joy at receiving the update from our agency earlier this week... and now a letter from her this afternoon. On top of everything else, it is such a blessing to receive information on her foster family, which we knew nothing about.

Thank you, God, for leading us on this journey.

Thank you for leading us to Da Xin.

Thank you for having bigger plans for us than we have for ourselves.

Thank you for filling our hearts with an overwhelming sense of peace and joy about this adoption, as we wait for You to bring us to her in Your perfect time.


Dear Papa, Mama and rest of family,

How are you? I am very happy to receive your letter, and can not wait to meet you in person, play with Leila and Mia, and have a happy life with you all. I saw the pictures you sent, and it feels very warm, especially what such a room I have. (Note: she has only seen the "before" guest room photos; not the "after" photos.) I enjoy the gifts that you sent today. The two clothes fit me very well, and the blanket is soft and warm.

My current family is very nice. We have total four family members, Papa, Mama, older brother and me. They are taking very good care of me and loving me. And they cook good meals for me too. They buy me nice clothes, and teach me to be a good person.

I am very happy. I can not wait to join the family.

Da Xin
3/23/2009

She also drew us a picture. The Chinese characters mean "Happy".

And here is the original letter. What penmanship!!