...we received Tahlia's referral. I honestly don't remember much about the day and if it hadn't been for the fact that I wrote it on the calender, I might have totally forgotten about it. Unlike Jazzie's referral day which is still so ingrained in my mind, I remember very little about Tahlia's. When we were waiting for Tahlia, I was just so busy with taking care of Jazzie and I wasn't consumed by the wait like I was with Jazzie. But when the call came on May 23, 2005 I was just as emotional and happy as I was the day that we received Jazzie's referral.
However, when I first saw Tahlia's referral pictures I was taken back by the fact that I wasn't sure how I felt about this child. I had fallen in love with Jazzie's referral pictures immediately and I had expected the same thing to happen upon seeing Tahlia's referral pictures, but it didn't. I stared and stared at her pictures, trying to feel something. I felt guilty for not falling in love with her. I couldn't sleep at night because I wasn't even sure if the girl in these pictures was really my daughter:
I had haunting thoughts of there being some sort of mistake and up until the very moment that I saw Tahlia for the first time in China, I had doubts whether or not all of this was meant to be. Of course, upon taking her in my arms, all those doubts went away. She is my girl and I love her and there is no doubt that she was meant to be with us.
Just like I've done with with Jazzie, I have taken Tahlia's picture with her referral picture on the anniversary of our referral day. Here she is today:
And last year:
2007:
2006:
Happy Referral Day, Tahlia. We love you so much!
Happy Referral Day!
Posted by: Krista | Monday, May 25, 2009 at 06:42 PM
Happy Referral Day, everyone! What a beautiful tradition you have. :)
Posted by: Two Kayaks | Sunday, May 24, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Happy Referral Day! She's grown so much. Even in the pic from last year she had such a baby face and now she looks like a little lady. So adorable.
Posted by: Angel | Sunday, May 24, 2009 at 09:45 AM
Happy Referral Day my dear friend!
Posted by: Tammie | Sunday, May 24, 2009 at 07:57 AM
It's so fun to see how much they have grown! Have no idea how 4 years passed by so quickly! Thanks for the photo idea.. I've been using it every year and love it!
Posted by: karen | Sunday, May 24, 2009 at 06:53 AM
Happy Belated Referral Day !! Sweet as a Pea then and Sweet as a Pea now. :0) Such a cutie patootie!
Posted by: RobinWhite1@aol.com | Sunday, May 24, 2009 at 06:34 AM
It's hard to believe its been 4 years!
Posted by: Sharie | Saturday, May 23, 2009 at 07:22 PM
Happy Referral Anniversary!! such a cutie! LOVE that look in her 2007 pic : )
Posted by: Laura | Saturday, May 23, 2009 at 07:13 PM
Happy referral day!! It's hard to believe how much she's changed just since last year!
Posted by: ShariU | Saturday, May 23, 2009 at 05:00 PM