Yes, it has taken me 5 months to do an update but, HERE IT IS!!!!
Let’s just say life with four children is quite hectic!!!!
The laundry is never done. There are always dirty dishes to be washed.
Someone always has snot on their sleeve and most days I wonder, "When is the last time I washed my hair?"
WOULD I TRADE ANY OF THIS?????? NO WAY!!!! EVERY BIT OF IT IS A HUGE BLESSING!!
God has blessed us with the opportunity to be the parents of four beautiful children, one of which just happened to be born in China.
I stand amazed every day trying to soak up our newest Miracle, Gracie Mei Yao. So many, "FIRSTS" have occurred in Gracie’s life after we adopted her and brought her home to Missouri. Her first Krispy Kreme, Her first church service, her first time having brothers, her first visit to the park, her first....EVERYTHING!! Everyday used to be just the SAME OLE SAME OLE!! Now, the little things that we used to consider, JUST NORMAL, are now a new experience for Gracie Mei and we hope we never take the little things for granted again!!
She has changed so much in the past five months and I cannot even begin to describe how wonderfully she has transitioned into our family. She now loves her Daddy. In the beginning he wasn’t her favorite person but, oh how things have changed!!
She eats most everything now. When we first came home I practically fed her every meal at our favorite local Chinese restaurant because that’s all she would eat. Her taste buds have come alive and she is now open to new things.
She loves all of her brothers and pretty much "RULES THE ROOST." That seems to be okay with her!! They want to give her everything she wants and always make her smile. She is such an amazing lil girl. She has been through so much and doesn’t even act like she knows any different than being a member of our family.
We cannot imagine life without our lil princess!! China was so much fun that we cannot wait to go back!! Gracie’s roots are there and now part of our family lives there. The people of JingDeZhen Social Welfare Institute were so warm and kind to us. We are so grateful for the love and care they showed to our daughter before she became our daughter. They told us we would always be welcome there and they would love to see Gracie again. We promised them we would come back to visit and we plan to keep that promise.
We are now connected, them and us. Not by blood but the bond we share goes so much deeper than I could ever describe in words!! We do not look the same. We do not live even remotely close to each other. Our languages are different and when they speak, I do not understand. But, the love the showed us, was in a language that was universal. I understood them and they understood us.
All I can say is that God is AWESOME!!!! He planned this. He had everything mapped out right down to the tee!! All the worry, the crying, the sleepiness nights praying God would keep her safe until we could get there to hold and comfort her!!
SHE WAS WORTH IT ALL!!! I would do it all again in a heartbeat!!!
Anyone who is considering adoption, I say..............GO FOR IT!!! TAKE A LEAP OF FAITH AND ADOPT!!! The adventure is amazing and you will never be the same!!!!
Will we adopt again?? I don’t know. Do we want to?? YES YES YES!!! But, God will have to plan that out too...................Wait maybe he already has it planned out!! STAY TUNED and we will see!!!
Anyone wanting more information on international adoption, call CHILDRENS HOPE INTERANTIONAL at 1-800-991 6620.I cannot tell you how great they were and how wonderfully they take care of every lil detail in China and back here in the states!!
Please feel free to email us at bill_rockhold@hotmail.com We would be glad to answer any questions!!
Much Love
Bill, Bambi, Jacob, Chevy, Elijah and Gracie Mei Yao Rockhold
