Previous years, I have taken many things for granted; my wonderful husband, the 3 sons that we have been blessed with, their laughter, their smiles and the many things that seemed to come so naturally to our family.
THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT!!
I never realized how many lil things add up to being one huge, magical, awesome thing such as our journey through the process of adoption our daughter, Gracie Mei Yao from China just 6 short months ago. I can’t believe she has been with our family for only a little while. It seems like she has always been here and I could not imagine my life one day without her just as I could not imagine one day without any of my 3 sons.
Id love to say that this Mothers Day was PICTURE PERFECT, but I would be lying if I said that!! Bill and I had gone to bed around 11:45pm and Gracie decided she would get up around midnight. She began to cry and the crying continued until the wee hours of the morning, 4:30 am to be exact. She was inconsolable. We could not calm or comfort her no matter what we did. I wanted so desperately to make her happy or stop whatever was causing her pain. Yet, I could not. She finally exhausted herself at 4:30 and slept until 7:20 am. First, on the selfish side, I thought......."Dear God, I’m gonna die if I don't get some sleep!" Then, it hit me. I wonder where her birth mother and foster mother are right now?? I wonder if they are awake, unable to sleep from the pain that they feel in their hearts for the loss that has occurred in their lives after having to give up Gracie. Are they wondering, who is holding the child they once mothered and cared for?? Are they somewhere praying that someone will comfort her if she awakes crying at midnight?? Gracie’s birth mother kept her for 6 days before abandoning her. What a hard day that seventh day must have been. We cannot imagine! Gracie’s foster mother cared for her from day 7 through the age of fifteen months when we adopted her. How her heart must break longing to hold that baby girl she once cared for as if she were her own.
Oh, I pray God will comfort and bless these two strong Mothers this Mothers Day. These two Mothers each had their own assignment for my child. The first, Gracie’s birth mother was supposed to carry our baby in her womb for 9 months until it was time to deliver a healthy baby girl......and she did. To Gracie’s Birth Mother....... Thank You is never enough!
The second, Gracie’s foster mother cared for her from the time she was handed to her at 7 days old, until we arrived......and she did and did it well. We can tell by Gracie’s personality and actions that she was cared and loved for so deeply. She is warm and loving and also strong willed and determined. I’m sure these characteristics were instilled in her before she became a Rockhold......but we will never know.
To Qiao Yun, foster Mother.........Thank You could never be enough!
We planted three trees on this First Mothers Day with Gracie. One tree for each of the mothers that she has had in her life. My tree is in the middle of the two other trees. Without them on each side of me, doing their job, I could never have done my job.....which is being Gracie’s Forever Mother!!
To think how different everything would be if God hadn’t planted that Beautiful seed of adoption in my heart.
As Gracie will grow and blossom, we will watch the three trees grow and blossom. As she gets big, I’m sure the trees will also get big.
Every fall, when the trees turn red, I will always think of the two women who out there somewhere, love my daughter from afar.
As I said before............THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT !!!!
Thanks God.........But, I guess Thank You will never be enough!
To all the Mothers out there, Happy Mothers Day!
To those of you going through the process of Adoption, longing to hold your child, please know that it will all be worth every second of the agonizing wait. The first time they tell you in a small room in China..... "TAKE YOUR CHILD" all the sleepless nights will melt away.
Your child is waiting for you. God knows their name and knows where they are at this very moment. He knows the number of hairs upon their head! He has someone caring for your child long before you arrive. Have faith and know that that person will do it and do it well ......... and Thank You will never be enough! We pray that Adoption is a circle that will never be broken. We hope it continues forever until every last orphan is saved. We have seen the faces of the children that are LEFT BEHIND. We know God knows where they are too at this very moment. If you haven't considered adoption yet....WON'T YOU PLEASE??
We can’t wait to add another one to our family. It’s all in Gods timing.
Much Love,
The Rockhold's
Bill, Bambi ,Jacob, Chevy ,Elijah and Gracie Mei Yao
