Friday, June 6, 2008

Happy Livie Day!

Three years ago today we stood in the Conference Room at the Fuling SWI, Fuling, Chongqing, China and received a blessed gift from God - our daughter, Fu Ai Man...Olivia Grace AiMan - our Livie. She came to us incredibly scared, screaming and crying her little eyes out. Over time Livie began to let us in and began to let us love her. After a while her trust grew and from this she began to allow herself to love us in return. It was a hard-fought battle, but so incredibly worth every moment!
Livie and her Foster Mom

Livie's Foster Mom struggling with the realization that the time had come to hand Livie over to her Mommy & Daddy

We've gotcha and we're never going to let you go!

Dad, Mom and Grandma: tears of joy!

Livie: tears of fear and sadness.

3 Years Later: Our Sleeping Princess

Our Livie, oh-so sweet!

Livie with a smile that can light up a room!

We thank our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for His amazing gift of this precious child. Though we are not worthy of such a blessing, we are grateful for her every day!

We thank Livie's Birth Parents in China. Your loving sacrifice is cherished daily.

We thank Livie's Foster Mother, Father and Brother. You loved Livie unconditionally and without reservations. Your loving her gave her the ability to let us love her and for her to learn to love us in return.

We are forever grateful for the blessing of our precious daughter.

Mary


11 comments:

Angel said...

Happy Livie day! She has come such a long way.

Hugs!

Candy said...

Congratulations to the Rodin Family. Olivia is a sweet little girl. Can't believe it's been three years. Time goes so quickly once our beautiful children are home.

Heidy, Joey and Madison said...

Mary, never saw those pictures, we joined the group after your gotcha day! she was and is so gorgeous and sweet! please please come to the next lunch we want to see you guys again... CONGRATULATIONS on your 3RD GOTCHA DAY anniversary.... yeah!
Heidy and Joey

the mudder said...

It IS a happy day to celebrate Livie's forever family day!! She is SO beautiful and looks to be such a happy little girl.
Praising God with you at His amazing blessings!!
Love to you all!
The Dekkinga's

Life with JJ, Starr and Spice said...

Wow; your post and pictures truly brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing your feelings on such a special day. Livie is a wonderful little girl.

Tammie said...

Sending you wishes of pure & total joy on this special day! Happy 3 years!

Kristin said...

Happy Livie Day! I got chills just looking at your Gotcha Day pictures remembering our own days. :-)

Andrea Nielsen said...

Congratulations on three years...we are coming up on one and i cannot believe how fast it has gone. She is such a beauty and does truly have a smile to light up a room.

Blessings to you all!

Carrie said...

Amen!!! what a blessing these children are-

Vivian M said...

Happy Livie Day!!! She really is beautiful, and that smile is amazing!

Teresa =) said...

Mary -

Wow, Livie sure has changed a TON since Gotcha Day! What a beautiful tribute to the people who were such an important part of Livie's life before she joined your family!

And you're right...her smile really does look like it would light up a room!

Happy Livie Day!!

Teresa =)