{SerEnDipiTy} ~Sunday Snapshot

My life has not turned out the way I planned. I say that often. But I always follow up with..."it has turned out better than I ever could have hoped."

And it's all a marvel to me on a daily basis. I am so so thankful for so many blessings...but mostly for the three people I live with.

A chance conversation with a co-worker at a part-time job led to the blind date with the man I would eventually marry. (See mom...Prince Charming really DID come knocking at my door!!)

A chance conversation with the {somewhat crazy...but that's a story for another time} Social Worker who came to do our home visit for a domestic adoption led us switch gears and find our first daughter in China.

The road to our Jillian is a bit more complicated but no less miraculous. In fact probably more so...and I know without a doubt that a much bigger Hand orchestrated it all.



...and in SORT of the same way...a happy accident led to one of my most favorite photo shoots ever.

The aforementioned accident happened during a visit to a nearby mall (in an attempt to escape the scorching heat) . And it required...ahem...the purchase of a new pair of {dry} undies. When I was buying them, I spotted the dearest little pink bathing suit. On sale. DEEPLY discounted. I did what I had to. It was a must have. Can you blame me??



...and even though I had promised (and held to!) my big girl to keep the beach shoots to a minimum...I had made no deals with the little one. Total score.



So...I had the suit...and visions of what I wanted to capture...but we had no swim cap. I sent my husband (I KNOW!) out to search the one beach store on our small island with no big hopes that he would find what we needed. And he came back with the perfect cap. For which he proudly told me had to ask for help to find. I was indeed VERY proud that he took the time to ask (which in fact MAY be the biggest miracle of this whole post... :-)).



That miracle was followed closely by the miracle of actually getting Jillian to put on the cap.



We kept Jillian up past her bedtime to take advantage of some beautiful light that we noticed every evening...at once pink and golden and soft...perfect.

She didn't seem to mind.



...and in true Jillian fashion, she did not disappoint.



I ended up with a series of basically unplanned photos that capture my girl at her best...and bring a tear to my eye every time I look at them. Serendipity. Those unplanned moments in life? I'll take them!



I'm playing along again this week with Stefanie at Ni Hao Y'all. To see some awesome Sunday Snapshots click the link! You'll be glad you did!

{JOy as BiG aS thE OcEaN} Sunday Snapshot

Last year at this time, we were here at the beach...dreaming big about the coming year and knowing that THIS year, Jillian would be with us. Truly, almost everything we talked about started with the phrase, "Next year, when Jillian is home..."...

...and now, here we are. We blew in to our favorite island Saturday, packed to the gills and looking forward to the week ahead. Although we spent a weekend here in the winter, we couldn't wait to see Jillian step on the sand for the first time...and experience the thrill of the ocean water (and really...here on the Jersey shore...part of that thrill has to do with the COLD water!).

We threw open the sliders while we unpacked the car...and Jillian was mesmerized by the "big kids" on the beach. Every time we told her we would go play in the water, she cheered loudly. And I am not kidding when I say she asked us 112 times about it. She is nothing if not persistent. :-)

By the time groceries has been bought, suitcases unpacked and dinner served, it was getting close to bedtime. But I had a plan for Jillian's first time on the beach...and I am so glad I pushed through. Several years ago, I brought a pink pettiskirt for Lia to do photos on the beach. She was so excited to see the water...and on a whim, I threw the skirt on the minute we arrived and off we went. I captured some of my favorite photos ever of Lia wearing that skirt, so happy and filled with joy to be at the shore. The skirt is still a bit big for my little girl...but in the words of Tim Gunn (who doesn't love that man??)...we "made it work"...to capture Jillian's reaction to HER first visit to the beach! (and she did not disappoint!!!). I am so excited to have "matching" photos of my girls...taken years apart...but sharing the same happiness!

Her fist glimpse of the ocean...



I wish I could share the giggles that came out of her when her feet felt the sand for the first time! It was a puzzler for sure!!



A little nervous about the waves at first...







But then...she decided she liked it...and I am so glad I had my camera in hand. Really...we were on the beach such a short time...but these moments will forever be etched in my mind. I am SO glad Jillian is home...and so glad I have the honor of being her mother. Blessed beyond reason...and so so grateful.



Edited to add this photo of Lia in the pettiskirt several years ago. When I posted the link on Facebook someone asked if I could post a photo from Lia's session. I didn't think I had any on this computer...but lo and behold...I found one!!! :-)

{photos taken with a Canon 50d (bought secondhand but works like a champ! :-)) and a 50mm 1.8 lens}

Join the fun and check out other Sunday Snapshot entries over at Stef's blog!!

What a difference a year makes...

Ummm...can you hear me now??? For the three people who may have been waiting for updates (Hi Mom, Dad and Gram!!! :-))...we are here. Very happily so...but crazy busy. Jillian continues to fit in like she's always been here...keeping us hopping and laughing a good deal of the time. Although she puts her backpack on every morning when we walk Lia to the bus and insists, "Ying Ying SCHOOL", she won't officially start pre-school until next fall when she will attend the same Montessori school that Lia did. Luckily she seems content with her weekly music and gymnastic classes where she generally holds court and regularly brings a tear to my eyes with her tenacity and can-do attitude. While we all might be slightly more worn out at the end of each day...and have had to re-discover the skill of multi-MULTI-tasking...we can't imagine life without our Jillian. She's going places I tell you...and lucky LUCKY for us...we get to come along for the ride.

This week (April 25th)one year ago, we received our referral call and saw Jillian's face for the first time. We tried to do the "right things" before assembling our paperwork to commit to adopt her...had her file reviewed by an International Adoption Clinic , talked to other families who have children with limb differences, researched treatment options...but...she truly had us at hello. We received the call at about 10:20 pm...just as we were getting ready to head to bed. We quickly looked at her file and contemplated a Special Need we had not specifically checked off on our agency's checklist...and then we got to her photos. Jim kind of chuckled when he saw her for the first time...the same reaction he always has when he likes a photo I have taken of Lia...and when I heard that...I knew. I knew she was the ONE we had been waiting for. She was the REASON we had waited. We sent our Letter of Intent in that week...and traveled to bring her home last November.

So...this is our version of a Sunday Snapshot...just call it "What a difference a year makes..."

Our first snapshot of Yu Ying...this was taken when she had just turned two years old...



Our first update...in June, 2011...she was 2 1/2 and had been moved to foster care...



A surprise (and much needed!) update in August, 2011...when we learned Jillian had a foster sister (see her arm in the photo???)!



We missed Jillian's 3rd birthday by mere weeks...a tough blow to this mom who did everything to be in China for the big day...but we sent a cake...and were thrilled to receive 50(!) photos of the party! (10/24/11)



FINALLY...our first REAL glimpse of our girl...look how brave and trusting she was (November 14, 2011)



An impromptu photo shoot about a month ago...a day where everything I did struck her funny!



And of course...the first photo at the top of this post...taken today...you understand why I had to lead with THAT one, right??? We're in the throes of a massive rainstorm in our parts...and we let the girls run a bit in the rain. They got some new rain boots for Easter...and, well, it seemed the perfect day to give them a great test run. Jillian wasn't sure at first...but before long she got the hang of it and had a great time. It is her expression in the top photo that makes me love it so. It's the same one she has when she is checking with me to make sure she understands my directions...or whether she should use a fork or spoon...or if it is REALLY okay to run in the rain...so so sweet and eager to please. And really...I just want her to know she had me at hello...

{Photo taken with Canon 50d. ISO 200, focal length 50mm, f/1.8, Shutter speed 1/200}. Edited with actions from the Florabella Collection.

To join in the "Sunday Snapshot" fun...head on over to Ni Hao Y'all...

For Jillian...a love letter...

To my sweet Ying Ying Jillian (as you now call yourself),

You have been with our family for just over one month (one month and two days to be exact...because you are a girl who likes things just so...). I can scarcely believe where we've all been and what we've done over those four short weeks...and yet, here we are, safe at home, Christmas tree twinkling in the corner...and life continuing in it's normalcy all around us. It throws me for a loop every now and then as I contemplate you...and the miracle you are.

When you took your sister's hand and walked out of the Civil Affairs Office...so brave and so trusting of us, I knew you were special. I knew the prayers of many many friends and family...and indeed our own daily prayers for many months had been answered. I did not doubt that the hard times would come...the sadness...the confusion...the anger...the grief...but I saw in you, in those first few moments, the determination and the strength that is sure to see you through the inevitable hardships that come our way in life from time to time.

In the months we were waiting for China to tell us it was okay to come and get you, Mommy talked a lot with many other Mommies. In one e-mail...a very special Mommy told me that you would "wow" me every day. I believed her. And she was right.

Ying Ying Jillian...you are a miracle. A gift. I am so overwhelmed to call you daughter. I am so thankful for the days we've shared...and can't wait to see what the next 30 days...and years will bring.

You do, indeed, "wow" me. Every. Single. Day.

Pigtails

He-no!

We have just passed the two week mark with Jillian...and we are amazed at just how far she has come. She had her first doctor's appointment yesterday...and received four immunizations. Today she is battling a fever...but is still just as sweet and smiley as she can be.

One of the things I worried most about was communicating with Jillian in the first few weeks. I can honestly say that this has been a non-issue. She makes her needs known by pointing (and saying the Chinese words as well). We just keep trying until we get it right. She shakes her head no until we do...and has been so patient with us! Additionally, she really seems to understand what we are saying to her! She follows directions like, "Put it in the trash can", "Give it to Lia", and "Do you want to take a bath?" (which she LOVES now, by the way!).

And in the past three days or so, we have seen a small explosion of English words creeping in to her vocabulary. I wanted to take a minute to get those words down so I can remember one day how it all happened...

Mama
Daddy
Lia (although she really calls Lia "Mia" so insistently, I jokingly asked Lia if we should change her name! :-))
Nana
Papa
thank you (SO cute!)
More
love you
bye bye
yummy
hi
shoe

...and my favorite:

hello ("he-no" said with great gusto! :-)). She says this when she "answers" her play cell phone...so darling.



She has gotten much better about putting on different clothes each day...and yesterday picked a new pair of shoes from her closet to wear...the first pair since we got her. They happened to be two sizes too big...but they were sneakers like Lia had on...and she was so happy with them, that I just put them on and off we went. Still the cutest three year old ever...even with clown feet. :-)

We are still shaking our heads over how easily Jillian has fit into our family and lives. She is a joyful, determined, sweet, giving child. We are so so thankful and humbled by the blessing of having her home forever.

Settling in...and loving life.

Jillian continues to make big strides each day she is with us. It's hard to believe that it has only been two weeks since she walked into the Civil Affairs Office shaking her little head "no". We have all fallen hard for the little girl with the huge personality. She is a bit of a flirt...and a comedian...and one of the best snugglers I have ever come in contact with.

Lia will return to school tomorrow...and is looking forward to celebrating her (sayitisn'tso) 7th(!) birthday this week. It is one happy event after another around here these days...and we are hanging on tight, trying to take each and every one in for all it's worth. Life is good...and we are so thankful.