Jin Xiu's Journey: 2006

26 December 2006

Emilees 18 month Doctors visit

Imagine a child who knows they are loved and knows they are worthy of that love.

Imagine a child who is nurtured so well that one day they can tell their own story with pride.
Imagine a child who refuses to carry the prejudices and insecurities of others.
Imagine a child who grows up in the knowledge that they are worthy of a good life.
Imagine a child who is given permission to be who they are, to live an honest existence.
Imagine a child who grows to recognize her abundant talents, to honor her feelings and value her perspectives, and to treasure the immense beauty of her spirit.

Oh! Just … Imagine!

Nearly 5 years ago, I fell in love with an imaginary child. I imagined her to be lovely and happy and spirited and wise. I imagined all of these things but her face remained a hazy image for a very long time and the sweetness her smile and the softness of her skin were splashes of hope that was locked in our imaginations.

Nearly 11 months ago, I fell in love with my childs photo. I longed to hold that gentle spirit in my arms and whisper sentiments of comfort and love in her tiny ears. I longed to hear her babbles and marvel at her every move. I longed for all of these things but her spirit remained an undefined query in my heart for many more weeks, and the reality of her precious existence still seemed far from my reach.

On the 29th of March, 2006, I was blessed and fell in love with my daughter. She was all I had imagined her to be lovely and happy and spirited and wise. Her face glistened with a zest for life and she was now my little treasure in full focus. The sweetness of her smile and the softness of her skin showered me with bliss and she was forever drawn into my soul. Together, we became a forever and ever family.

"Until you are willing to receive what you give, and willing to give what you receive, you do not understand love. "

Chinese Proverb

The wisdom of this Chinese proverb rings with great truth and a fresh appreciation in my heart. Simply by becoming a forever, ever family, Emilee has already taught me much about love. And this dainty little person has single-handedly managed to widen the capacity for loving that dwelled in my heart for ages, but only recently came into full bloom from the light of her spirit.

How might my life have been different if there had not been a place in the stars for Emilee to join me in my heart? How much of my capacity to love a child might have gone untapped and expired, unused at the end of my life? How might I have missed the hush of contentment that hovers over my life now? I can only supand andI can feel grateful.

My daughter is thriving. And flourishing. And blossoming. In Eight short months, she has cultivated all of my life -- a life already rich and full and plentiful. And with Emilee, my life is wealthier beyond belief with love and joy. She is proof that there is life to be found in the smallest of seedlings, and hope to be nurtured for the future.

Emilee is very physically active and loves to clap around the house with the zest and exuberance of a great performer. She has a happy disposition and eagerly waves to everyone that passes her. Her soul radiates to those near her with the intensity of the sun and spreads a ray of light to those lucky enough to be in her presence.

Emilee loves exploring, studying, and learning new skills and tricks. When she learns something new, she is keen to show them off. Currently she is doing tumble saults and Jumping Jack and she can stand on one foot while lifting the other unbent foot all the way up to her head. She has mastered feeding herself and now likes to feed everyone around her. She has become quite good a puzzles and loves to build skyscrapers with lego and wooden blocks.

Emilees personality is emerging more and more every day. She has such a hardy laugh and has the funniest personality.

Emilees vocabulary is FINALLY starting to emerge. Its progress is slow and often unclear,babbleshe babbles up a storm with the zest and enthusiainaugural inaugural speech. I often kid that she is bilingual,haven'tst havent identified her other language.

At her 18 month doctors check up she has grown leaps and bounds. She is currently 35 1/2 inches tall and weights 24 pounds. A big difference from the 17 pound, 29 inch baby that was placed in my arms.

But her most fertile development yet is how quickly she has transformed into such a loving and contented child. She continues to be one of lifes most keen observers, she is determined to snatch every single bit of experience that beckons her.

When I catch myself in a quiet moment, admiring my little babe, the word that always comes into my thoughts is courage. And I marvel at the passion that accompanies my daughter as she navigates her new world around her. Courage is, after all, a price paid for reaching a state of peace. So, in many ways, my little girl has most certainly earned whatever aspects of a good, loving life that I could possibly offer her simply by having had the courage and determination to push through the arduous and intense journey in the early months of her life.

Life will peel away one opportunity after amy precious myprecious child. And there will likely be some times when the world will attempt to hold her back. My little treasure holds an abundance of spirit in her fresh new soul, and her light will no doubt shine so brightly each and every day that even the dark times will be overcome by her resilience. This is one of my many hopes for her.

As I click away and capture her image in the numerous photos that I take of her, I witness one miracle after another. Emilees potential for joy is limitless and it is my deepest hope that all throughout her life, she will find ways to open her heart to more and more love with every life experience that crosses her path. Emilee has a future ahead of her that holds great plans that none of us can know, perhaps not even her. But if the past few months are anything to go by, then look out world because she is destined to shape the lives of every living creature that is fortunate enough to share any part of her journey.

Yes. Nearly 5 years ago, I fell in love with an imaginary child. Nearly 11 months ago, I fell in love with my childs photo. And on the 29th of March, 2006, I fell in love with my child. And simagined that Iimagined her to be. With many lovely couldnts that I couldnt possibly have dreamt possible.

So this is our story so far.

And stories create the circles of life.

The life of our forever and ever family.