Just about exactly one year ago I opened my e-mail and saw her picture. The picture of a little girl that would become our daughter, Annie Kate.
I remember gasping, unable to breath. I remember thinking, oh my God can we do this? I waited two days to show her picture to Tim. This was real. The picture we were shown was of XinTian at age 2, but she was now 3. The photo was over a year old. What do we do? We had 48 hours to "accept" or not.
I'd love to say that I knew in my heart that everything would be just fine but the truth is, I was terrified. As my mother might have said: "Was I biting off more than I could chew?"
Tim and I would go back and forth several times. We couldn't sleep or think.  Every time we thought we were being realistic, one or the other would say, "But... then again... maybe we could...may be we should." We prayed. We looked for a "sign." We asked each other, was that a sign. We asked stupid questions like, what room would we put her in? Then we would look at each other and say," Ok that's not really a serious concern."
One phrase repeated in my mind,"If not us then who?"
Tim called our oldest son Timmy in Fl who had already simply said: "Go get her, bring her home."
It was a role reversal, father asking son for advise.
Timmy said, "Tell me,what are your concerns?"
 Tim replied, "I just don't know if mom and I can do this at our age."
 Our son said, "And what makes you think you will be doing this alone? You have all of us, our family and the Hillis. We are all in this together."
 That was it. The doubt was lifted and this little angel was ours and we knew it.
One year later we cannot imagine our life without her. What a gift, what a blessing, what joy she has brought to our lives and family. What a difference a year can make.
What a difference 7 months can make in the life of a child. Annie Kate has changed so much from that scared, confused little girl who was lead into a large conference room and handed over to a strange man and even stranger woman. The only one who look normal to her was Molly... thank God a sane person she must have thought!
Yesterday was a routine visit to Dr. Nirgudkar, our pediatrician for the past 30+ years. Annie Kate has repeated the assessment she heard him say: "Dacor say, I doing great."

Annie Kate has gained 1 1/2 lbs, grown 3/4 of an inch and is the 25th percentile. More importantly her adjustment, emotional development and attachment has progressed at warp speed. She is so happy, comfortable, smart, entertaining and has such a passion for life. She has embraced each of us as her family and knows she is home. She loves us and I know she comprehends that she is loved by us. She accepts that it is normal to have each of us wrapped around her finger.
Last year at this time even my rose color glasses did not see this beautiful scene we are so blessed to share and experience every day as a possibility!
Life is good!

Kayaking with big sister Molly!  "Don't getta me wet," Annie Kate would tell Molly as she paddled around the lake.

The lake is Annie Kate's new favorite place. She is in the water any chance she gets. Our neighbors came to meet her and gave her some wonderful gifts. Among the presents were a pair of pink "sunny..gloss..eez." Annie Kate loved them.
Try as we might to warn her that swimming with the coveted glasses was risky, she insisted... down went the glasses to the bottom of the lake when Baba lifted her onto the raft with him.
At dinner the story was: "Baba lossed my pink sunny...gloss...eez, darnit!"
Enter 9 year old neighbor, Aaron. While swimming at our dock Annie was again beating up on her dad's indiscretion regarding the priceless glasses. Without us noticing, Aaron put on his mask, search around the dock and found the glasses.
Annie Kate was thrilled. She put on her glasses... and jumped back in the water but this time she held onto them...for now.

Last month, while at the lake, I jokingly asked Annie Kate if she had made her bed and picked up her clothes which is the rule for being able to go in the water or on the boat.
She said:"I be right back" She returned pulling my hand saying: "Come I show you."
The above picture is how she made her bed..."all by my cell phone," she proudly exclaimed.
I was not sure if I was thrilled or sad that she could accomplish such a task so well at her age. I asked her if she made her own bed when she was in China...she happily said, "yes me did."
I choose not to dwell on what was likely expected of this little girl at such a young age while in China. I am going to celebrate that her skills will serve her well in life.
She knew how to make her bed, we did not teach her. She was able to picked up all her clothes and neatly put them back in her little duffel bag placing that in her closet.
The good news is she is very proud of her ability to be self sufficient and to help.
The bad news is her adult and almost adult siblings have yet to reach her level of personal responsibility.
Solution: From now on Annie Kate is in charge of supervising all clean up. Let's see her brothers and sisters ignore her... as it is, they hang on every words she says, find it impossible deny any request she makes and love it each moment they spend with her.
This seems like a win/win.