All in One - Our 1st Gotcha Day & Mother's Day

These amazing pictures (in the slide) were taken by our friend, Carl. He is very talented and has an eye for creative and artistic photography. If you'd like to check out his other work just click on this link:

http://www.carlzoch.com/

I'll also attach his site to my links list to the right.

It's hard to believe that we've only known Mia for 1 year now. Sunday, along with celebrating Mother's Day, we also celebrated our 1st Gotcha Day with Mia. It was one year ago on that day that we first met Mia in Kolkata, India. As we left our hotel to take our cab ride to the orphanage we had never felt more prepared and yet unprepared at the same time. The moment that we'd been thinking about for 2 1/2 years was finally here. We pulled up to the orphanage and were escorted in. As we climbed the stairs to the offices, my eyes darted in all directions hoping that by chance I'd catch a glimpse of her. No Mia, just adults, but I knew with each stair step I was getting closer. Dustin and I made ourselves comfortable in two big chairs facing the administrative workers. Anju, the director, had not yet arrived so Dustin and I were left to wait...like two kids on Christmas morning...hearts pounding with anticipation. But this was no Oklahoma Christmas...this was the kind of Christmas were the air was so thick and hot you could almost taste it and we were practically sweating through our clothes. All of that faded from our minds when, as we waited, we could hear babies crying in the background. I strained to hear each one hoping to recognize her voice from the video we had received 6 months earlier. Just then Anju hurried up the stairs, apologized for being late and whisked us into her office. "Where's my baby?", I kept thinking, but I tried to restrain myself and pretend to listen to what she was saying. Just then I heard footsteps behind us. Heart pounding, I turned around and in the doorway, being held by an ayah was our precious Supritha. What happened next I only remember through video. The next thing I know she was in my arms. So tiny, so observant and not even crying...just studying everything. She was wearing a shirt that said "Marie", which I thought was ironic because "Mia" is a form of "Marie". Each day that has followed has only reminded us of the love God has for us that he would bring us such a gift. She is a part of us and was long before she was born. She was meant to be with us and us with her. I am a true believer in the plan God has for our lives...I can't wait to see the plan he has for hers.

Mia and Bear the day we met...

Mia and bear today...