Jin Xiu's Journey

MY LITTLE SNOW BUNNY

2012-01-26T10:32:00.002-05:00

THE XUWEN 6

2012-01-25T10:40:00.000-05:00

On January 25, 2006 myself and the rest of the April 27th Log-in group received a picture of their angels. Among them six families received red threads connected to six beautiful princesses in Xuwen, China. These precious children would finally be placed in our arms on March 29, 2006. But on January 25th we finally got a glimpse of our forever children. A year later I created an update college of the six Xuwen girls. Every year I try to create an update picture, its truly amazing to see the girls grow and blossom.

As I sit back and look at all the colleges from years past, I am amazed at how much they have grown. each girl is unique and special and very beautiful. But they share one thing in common, the home they shared for their first few months.

2012-01-25T10:34:00.007-05:00

January 25, 2012

Six Years Ago today the stork delivered my daughters photo to me. It came via the Internet at 6pm and as it downloaded I caught glimpses of an angel pixel by pixel. I had dreamed of this face for years and the reality of it was even more spectacular.Like the rest of the April 29ers we knew that the referrals had come to Great Wall Adoptions the evening before and that they would be calling us with our precious children’s Information the next day. I didn’t sleep a wink thinking of this special treasure that I would final get a glimpse of the next day. January 25, 2006 was the longest day of my life. I knew that GW would start its calls around 8am, so I patiently stood by the phone awaiting my turn. It was a true labor of love. Every so often I would glance on the Internet and check to see how many others in my group got their referrals. It seemed like everyone but me had a referral. My heart grew more anxious and I grew more stressed. What was taking them so long? Was their something wrong? Did they forget me? My friend Kathy and my mom kept calling me the whole day with encouraging words to help me pass the time. But 5pm I became frantic. Where was she? I called GW and I was told that they would get back to me. Surely they had called everyone but me. I knew something was wrong!!!! At 6pm, Beth finally called. My mom was sitting next to me and Kathy was on my cell speaker phone. Then I finally heard the words that I had been waiting for my whole life. “ Congratulations, you have a daughter” I'm sure she said something else after that but I didn’t hear it. When I finally stopped crying she gave me the information I had been waiting to hear. Her name was Xu Jin Xiu and she was 5 ½ months old. She was living in Xuwen SWI in Xuwen, Guangdong province and she was a very healthy and happy baby that loved to smile. Beth then told me she was sending over all over her documents and pictures via email. I hung up the phone with her and downloaded the file. As the four pictures downloaded. I was captivated by the beauty and purity of this child.. She was beyond any expectation I could ever have wished for. She was perfect!!Emilee turns 5 ½ years on January 28th, and on March 28th we will celebrate 4 years together together! They have been the happiest, most amazing years of my life. I thank God every day for blessing me with my precious daughter.

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THROUGH THE YEARS

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2011

2010

2009

2007

SNOW PUPPY

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THE PAMPERED PUP

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THE FIRST SNOW OF THE YEAR

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MENT TO BE TOGETHER

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JULIETTES NEW BED

2012-01-23T09:58:00.001-05:00

2012-01-23T09:20:00.000-05:00

2012-01-22T07:36:00.000-05:00

MY GREATEST LOVE, JOY AND HAPPINESS

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I JUST LOVE THAT LITTLE FACE

2012-01-21T20:53:00.002-05:00

THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

2012-01-21T20:50:00.000-05:00

LET THE FUN BEGIN

EMILEE'S FAVORITE EXHIBIT, THE EGYPTIAN WING. SHE KNOWS EVERY PHARAOH BY HEART. ITS SO MUCH FUN GOING WITH HER.

NOW THATS A FIREPLACE

THE NEXT TOP SUPER STARS

2012-01-21T20:37:00.002-05:00

SILLY GIRL

2012-01-21T20:33:00.001-05:00

A NIGHT OUT IN KOREAS TOWN WITH COUSINS

2012-01-21T19:28:00.000-05:00

MY JULIETTE

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Our Beautiful Xuwen Family from France.

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2012-01-21T07:36:00.000-05:00

2012-01-21T07:31:00.000-05:00

GUESS WHAT WE GOT?

2012-01-21T07:28:00.000-05:00

2011 IN PHOTOS

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JANUARY

FEBRUARY

D ISNEY

MARCH

FLORIDA

TEXAS

SBD PHOTO SHOOT

HOUSTON TEXAS

DANCE RECITAL

SCHOOL PHOTO

APRIL

DAISY CELEBRATION

MAY

CHEERLEADING

THE HIGH LINE

JUNE

EMILEES KINDERGARDEN GRADUATION

EMILEES 6TH BIRTHDAY

JULY

ROME

ISLE OF CAPRI

FLORENCE

TUSCANY

PISA

VENICE

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

ANDREWS BAR MITZVAH

DECEMBER

GRACES 7TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

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2012-01-15T11:09:00.003-05:00

2012-01-15T11:09:00.001-05:00

2012-01-15T10:40:00.001-05:00

SWEATER BY GRANDMA

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2012-01-15T01:31:00.000-05:00

2012-01-15T01:27:00.000-05:00

FRIEND OR FOE !!!!!!!!!!!

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off to school

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2012-01-13T11:11:00.000-05:00

2012-01-13T11:10:00.000-05:00

2012-01-13T10:49:00.000-05:00

JESSICAS AWESOME PIZZA PARTY

2012-01-11T10:08:00.000-05:00

2012-01-11T08:59:00.001-05:00

THANK YOU COUSIN NINON AND AUNTIE MARRIANE FOR YOUR AMAZING GIFT........ WE LOVE IT

2012-01-11T08:58:00.000-05:00

PUPPY LOVE

2012-01-10T09:44:00.000-05:00

2012-01-10T09:29:00.000-05:00

MY GIRLY GIRL MAKING LIP GLOSS---- THANKS JENNA AND MARISOL

2012-01-10T01:38:00.000-05:00

JULIETTES NEW SWEATER

2012-01-08T10:11:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2012-01-06T21:48:00.000-05:00

EMILEE AND JESSICA PARTYING LIKE ITS 2012

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SCHOOLS OUT-- ITS SKATING TIME

2012-01-05T13:00:00.000-05:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2012-01-05T12:48:00.001-05:00

MAKING HOLIDAY CUPCAKES

2012-01-05T10:11:00.000-05:00

ABBY AND MADDIE ENJOYING THE SNOW

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2012-01-05T02:14:00.000-05:00

COUSIN NINON AND MARIANNE OF FANCE ENJOYING THE HOLIDAYS TOGETHER

2012-01-05T01:12:00.002-05:00

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS

2011-12-29T12:34:00.001-05:00

2011-12-29T12:29:00.001-05:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2011-12-29T11:23:00.000-05:00

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was kind of slow at our house. Emilee and I have been fighting cold this past week. I even lost my voice for a few days, OK stop laughing. Friday Emilee came down with a cough and was really out of sorts. All she wanted to do was snuggle and sleep. Christmas Eve we canceled plans and decided to stay home. It was a good thing we did. Emilee had a fever and all she wanted to do was sleep. I felt so bad for her. What a way to spend Christmas Eve. In her Christmas letter to Santa she asked him to make her feel better. The next morning she woke up flushed and stuffed. Santa had brought her everything she wanted but health. After opening her mounds of presents and enchanting me with her smiles and poses for my photo amusement she pushed all the toys away and wanted to go back to sleep for a bit. Thankfully she was feeling better later that day.

In case you wanted to know what Juliette was up to Christmas day. She has a ball frolicking with the wrapping paper.

2011-12-29T10:51:00.001-05:00

LA LA FUN

2011-12-29T10:47:00.001-05:00

ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF HANUKKAH.............................. WE HAD SILLINESS

2011-12-29T10:29:00.000-05:00

MASTER CHEF AT WORK

2011-12-29T02:35:00.000-05:00

GUESS WHO JUST GOT AN EASY BAKE OVEN.....

2011-12-29T02:09:00.000-05:00

XUWEN COUSIN MISS CLARA ENJOYING HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

2011-12-29T01:33:00.002-05:00

2011-12-28T18:04:00.000-05:00

Last week Emilees class had a holiday workshop. Afterwards Emilees best friend Jenna, her Mom , Emilee and I decided to get tickets for the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. The show was great and we had a wonderful time walking around the neighborhood meeting the Ginch, Cookie Monster and Minnie. After the show we walked over to the tree and watched the skaters skate on the ice. I truly love New York this time of year. Its so magical.

MY LITTLE ARTIST

2011-12-28T17:46:00.001-05:00

A PORTRAIT OF EMILEE AND MOMMY

2011-12-28T17:43:00.002-05:00

2011-12-28T14:15:00.002-05:00

I will admit it is hard to believe that Christmas is here.. Perhaps it is the lack of snow as a backdrop, or the pace we have been going at recently... The Emilee are ready... And, I think the Elf on our shelf is ready for a break from this crazy house!! As for Mrs. Claus... Let's just say she has a few loose ends to tie up!

Happy Holidays to all.

I AM SO BLESSED......

2011-12-28T06:06:00.000-05:00

HOW CUTE IS THIS PUPPY?

2011-12-28T01:09:00.000-05:00

BABY ITS COLD OUTSIDE

2011-12-27T11:31:00.001-05:00

JULIETTES FIRST WALK

2011-12-27T11:02:00.002-05:00

EMILEES HOLIDAY WORKSHOP AT SCHOOL

2011-12-27T01:06:00.012-05:00

JESSICAS HOLIDAY COOKIE DECORATING PARTY

2011-12-24T19:51:00.011-05:00

ANDREW AND JULIETTE--------

2011-12-24T19:44:00.000-05:00

2011-12-24T19:41:00.001-05:00

2011-12-23T10:04:00.002-05:00

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM JULIETTE

2011-12-23T10:00:00.001-05:00

BABY ITS COLD OUTSIDE

2011-12-23T09:56:00.001-05:00

JULIETTE GETTING READY FOR RAINDEER TRAINING SCHOOL

2011-12-23T09:52:00.001-05:00

EMILEE AND JENNA AT THE NUTCRACKER

2011-12-23T09:28:00.001-05:00

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

2011-12-23T09:11:00.001-05:00

COUSIN NINON BRILLANTLY PLAYING HER FLUTE..........BRAVO

2011-12-23T09:09:00.001-05:00

PRANCER ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF HANUKKAH

2011-12-23T09:07:00.001-05:00

BFF

2011-12-23T09:05:00.000-05:00

PARK TIME

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2011-12-23T04:16:00.000-05:00

2011-12-23T02:15:00.000-05:00

XUWEN COUSINS MALIAH AND LIBBY WHO BOTH LIVE IN TEXAS ENJOYING A FUN TIME AT MALIAHS 6TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

2011-12-23T01:48:00.000-05:00

THE GEEK SQUAD

2011-12-23T01:12:00.001-05:00

SIX VERY TIRED YOUNG LADIES HAVING DINNER AFTER A LONG DAY OF SHOOTING THE SBD WINTER 2012 LINE

2011-12-22T11:23:00.002-05:00

THE INCREADABLE MS SERVANE WITH HER PEANUTS

SILLINESS AFTER THE SBD PHOTO SHOOT

2011-12-22T11:16:00.002-05:00

MORE FROM MONTREAL

2011-12-21T11:11:00.001-05:00

THE OLD PORT OF MONTREAL

THE MONTREAL SCIENCE ECPLORANTION MUSEUM

WALKING WITH DIONOSAURS

BUBBLE GIRL

MONTREAL, CANADA

2011-12-18T09:02:00.001-05:00

DOWNTOWN MONTREAL

LAVAL

THE COSMODOME

BACK AT THE HOTEL

2011-12-18T08:40:00.001-05:00

LOVING JULIETTE

2011-12-18T08:20:00.003-05:00

I JUST LOVE THAT FACE

2011-12-14T11:54:00.003-05:00

CAN YOU TELL WE LOVE HER

2011-12-14T11:50:00.000-05:00

UNCLE BOB CAME FOR A VISIT

2011-12-14T11:44:00.001-05:00

This past week our good friend Bob came for a visit. It was so wonderful having him here and Emilee just adores him. My entire life he has had a special place in my heart and life so it was wonderful seeing my daughter have the same feelings. Bob especially took a liking to Juliette. We were all worried that little Juliete may some how get packed in Bobs suitcase and land up in Arizona. LOL.

Bob , who knows we may all come for a visit soon.

THIS IS HOW THEY BOTH FELL ASLEEP THE FIRST NIGHT

2011-12-14T11:37:00.003-05:00

INTRODUCTING JULIETTE

2011-12-13T12:00:00.000-05:00

2011-12-13T11:50:00.002-05:00