Why, with a party of course!!!!
It's time to farewell our precious Angel. Tomorrow she will be meeting her wonderful family from the US. Together they will be spending a week or so in this province completing paperwork, and then heading to the Guangzhou for another week, before flying home to begin their new life together. Angel will have parents, siblings, aunts, uncles and grandparents. She will have her own home, where she will know she is safe and loved forever. She will truly belong, and for that we are so, so happy.
But for today - it is our turn to show Angel just how much we love her too. She came here as a tiny baby - looking a lot like the saggy baggy elephant. Her skin was too big for her tiny body, and it hung from her in folds. How wonderful it was to watch her cheeks fill out and her little legs get positively chubby. Angel has grown and thrived, and we have all fallen head over heels for her big personality.
Before the party could begin, we had to wait for the guest of honour to wake up.
A change of clothes, and Angel was ready for the party.
The celebration started with a heartfelt blessing read by Lyn. Cake, biscuits and yummy fruit were served, to the delight of all the children.
Everyone got a bit emotional watching the picture show. There were photos of Angel's first days with us, her birthday party and lots of lovely shots of her with her friends and ayis. There is no doubt that this little girl has been well loved.
Later Daphne gave Angel a special gift of a jade dragon bracelet, symbolizing protection and love. Daphne has always had a very special place in her heart for Angel. She is very happy to see her treasured little one adopted into a wonderful family, but of course her heart is breaking at this goodbye. Adoption is such a complicated fabric, woven of both love and loss - but such beauty comes from the weaving when it is done tenderly and carefully.
Finally Angel's bag is packed, ready for the morning. She has her own special blankets, some clothes and some of her familiar belongings. There is also her lifebook, the story of her life so far. Amongst its pages are 'love letters" from the people she has met along the way. Even the reporter from the CCTV news was captivated by Angel, and wrote her a letter for her lifebook.
Tomorrow morning, Angel's new life begins. We will miss you, sweet girl, but how happy we are to see you going to your family. What an incredible story you have already . We are thankful to have been a part of it, and we look forward to hearing about the next chapters.
5 comments:
I will miss your smiles and hugs baby girl xxx
Wow, wow, you guys worked so hard to make a special goodbye and transition for Angel. Here family is so blessed to have had wonderful care givers for their daughter! And the suitcase of full her special things shows how well she is loved. All of these pictures are beautiful, especially with Daphne. I shed a tear! Angel's family -- I hope sometime we can get in contact with you! My parents spent 5 weeks with your daughter this summer, and my dad who lives in Minnesota fell in love with her! We have some pictures we'd like to share with you.
much love!
Wow, and Hooray! And Oh!
You expressed it so beautifully: adoption in these circumstances is a complicated, and yet strangely beautiful fabric woven of love and loss.
My love to the Ayi who will miss her terribly and to my friend Big Xiao XiaoPing.
Remembering you all and praising our father!
Love to you all!
Thanks for sharing. The "Fabric" comment expresses beautifully the emotion of it all. Love to all at the Butterfly Home especially at this time. You are all 'Angels'
xx Lyn
We are so blessed to have this sweet little girl in our life. I can not even begin to thank the Butterfly Home for the impact they made in her life. We love you all. Anela (jiejie) is doing wonderful...she is napping as we speak. I can not wait for her to wake up, though, so we can get back to playing. She is A VERY special child who touches everyone's heart. Drew and Rachel...we love following your journey. We MUST meet up someday. Tell your Dad thanks for loving Nellie (jiejie). Love, Ellen and mike
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