I believe that my family has been the greatest blessing of my life. I met Will and Harry the day they were born in the hospital. Those were amazing and miraculous days that I will never forget. I met Kate in an airport in Richmond, Virginia just moments before midnight on April 4th--- 5 years ago. Just as birth is one of God's miracles, so is adoption. God always knew that Katie Ru would be in our family. Always. And Kate and I both knew the moment we laid eyes on each other that this was meant to be.
{this was the moment}
Today is 5 years since I held my daughter in my arms for the very first time. Today is 5 years since she completed our family. I will never forget that day. I will never forget that moment of love that passed as we looked at one another for the first time face to face. It was truly miraculous. I try to celebrate this day with Kate in some small way every year. I will admit that sometimes the boys get a little jealous that Kate gets an extra day of celebration (her birthday AND her forever family day). Anyway, this year, I am picking Kate up from school a little early (during free play time) and I am taking her to do something fun. She wants to get her nails painted and have ice cream I think. I just look forward to the special time together. Kate and I have an incredible bond that only God could have orchestrated.
Kate is such a spot of sunshine in the peanut house. She is a light to us all. I thank God for bringing her to us. I pray for Kate's birth Mother and her birth family that they might know in their hearts that she is safe and loved beyond all imagination.
I know that most of you have seen this video, but for new readers, here is our homecoming video....
And here is one of our first photos as a family of five...
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17
So happy for you, Kate and your family on this special day!!!! God is good and adoption is love! So glad you did not take too long of a blogging break-love to see your beautiful photos of your beautiful family!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Kim,
ReplyDeleteMother and daughter time is the most special isnt it? I treasure my dates with my girl.
Hope you are feeling better soon
Yve
what a special day it is today!
ReplyDeletelea
xo
Happy 5 years! I love the video and can watch it over and over again :)
ReplyDeletebeautiful post! happy forever family day!
ReplyDeleteHappy 5th Birthday, sweet, sweet Kate! Hope you feel better soon Kim!!
ReplyDeleteBEAUTIFUL photos and a BEAUTIFUL family.... you are blessed.. Love ya..
ReplyDeleteI've have always loved your "Anniversary of Kate" post and the video is a tearjerker!! The picture of her looking at you w/those fat little cheeks is by far my most favorite picture of you and her ever!! Congratulations on KATE DAY!
ReplyDeleteLove, love, LOVE this look back!! Kate is such a lovely young lady now... what a tiny peanut she was :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on 5 years with your amazing Miss Kate!!
oxoxox,
Stefanie
Kate is turning into such a sweet little girl...but that baby face seriously she looks like a little doll!
ReplyDeleteAlso checking in to see how your family is faring with the tornados in TX. I am not sure how far away you are from them, but when I saw what happened and I thought if I knew someone in TX I thought of you and your family...funny how the blogging world works!
Happy Forever Family Day, Kim! Yes, you can certainly see the love you and Kate both have for each other from those very first photos. They make me smile. :) Actually, today is our Forever Family Day (April 4), too! I met my daughter, Mayah, in Guatemala City exactly one year before you meet your sweet Kate. Have a wonderful time celebrating today; you both deserve it! Love to you both!
ReplyDeleteHappy Forever Family Day, Kim! Yes, you can see the love you both have for each other in those very first photos. They're so sweet! And just think of the wonderful bond you've got now and will have forever! Actually, today (April 4) is Forever Family Day in our family, too! I met my daughter (who's six) in Guatemala City exactly one year before you met your sweet Kate. What a neat thing to have in common! I hope you're doing alright down there with the crazy weather, and I hope everyone is safe. Have fun celebrating with Kate this afternoon; I'm sure she'll just love the "girl time" with you!
ReplyDeleteSuch a special day for your littlest peanut and your whole family!
ReplyDeleteI started following you during this time, and it has been so fun to watch your Kate grow...she IS a blessing to your family...have a wonderful day together :) mmwwwahhh xoxo
ReplyDeleteI love these new pictures of Kate, what a joy she is. Her hair is gorgeous too!
ReplyDeleteShe is such a blessing, I also feel that about my family. I feel so overwhelmed and blessed.
Happy 5 years with your beautiful girl! That sweet video still make sme choke up. She really did look perfectly content with you from your very first moments together! It has been such a treat watching your sweet girl grow, and wow have your handsome boys grown ALOT since then.
ReplyDeleteGin =)
Such a wonderful day to remember and celebrate!! Just think about two weeks after your special day we were in China holding Clara Beth for the very first time! We are so very blessed!!!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Robin
Beautiful post :)
ReplyDeleteBEAUTIFUL pics of Kate!!!!! I LOVE her hair!!!!! What a happy night that was!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter!
Love,
DI
Love this post! Also love how Harry has his hand on Kate in the family pic. Started his bond with her. Mom/Daughter bond is wonderful. My daughter turned 25 last week and we are best friends! It gets better as they get older!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine what it must have been like for you, waiting in the airport for her to arrive and the excitement when you finally saw her coming toward you. Kate is a beautiful little girl, congratulations to your family on this most special day!
ReplyDeleteWow! Time flies! I remember this day so well. The airport pictures brought tears to my eyes. I was sooo excited for your family. You are one blessed mama!
ReplyDeleteSo precious!! Miss Kate was definitely created to be a part of your family! She fits seamlessly! Happy 5 years!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy 5 years to Miss Kate (from Richmond!)!
ReplyDeleteKim thank you for your messages of support and kindness, you have been a wonderful blogging friend. I came to visit a few of my favorite blogs for much needed diversion. Its been a rough 3 days. This post made me happy...and I needed the inspiration...your beautiful family makes my heart sing, truly! Happy Easter!!
ReplyDeleteHappy 'Forever Family Day' Kate! :-) I love love love the pictures of you two looking at eachother, so sweet:)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely precious!!! Love Kates pictures. She is a natural. We are coming up on Hannah's 5 anniversary of the day we saw her for the first time, on 4/9. Time does fly.
ReplyDeleteHappy, happy five years together!!! Hard to believe it has been five years since we met our sweet girls for the first time. Kate is right where she was meant to be. I hope ypu enjoyed a special day together. She looks pretty as ever! Happy Easter to all of you!
ReplyDeleteI had to gather myself before commenting on this post. That video had me in tears - it is so sweet! I know I have told you this before but I have wanted to adopt since I was a little girl and it touches me so deeply when I see/hear adoption stories. Kate is so precious and so are your boys.
ReplyDeleteAnd oh my! She looks so beautiful and all grown up! LOVE her dress!
Also, thank you so much for the mass card! You are so sweet. I will bring it with me next time I go to see my aunt and uncle.
You have the most special family!! Have a wonderful Easter!
ReplyDeleteI hope you will Come and enter my amazing Cross Bottle Guy Giveaway! (from Artie of Color Outside the Lines)) They are very spiritual...
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
So precious!! Happy family day.
ReplyDeleteI've seen this before but I just watched the entire video again. The most precious thing EVER!
ReplyDeleteI love this post!! Not just because I can totally relate (this was the very first year Em said, "Hey, she gets more celebrations than I do!" but because it is so special. Love seeing Katie Ru growing up...she is a precious jewel. Thanks so much for sharing. Because this was our five year mark, Hannah sent a HUGE basket of goodies to Jim at the firehouse instead of asking for cake or a special event. So, I baked cupcakes with purple icing and surprised her with one in her lunch box and she got to choose dinner (flounder and baked potatoes with lots of salt and butter, mama!) Thankful we share this inexplicable bond :) Happy Easter!! Love, Heather
ReplyDeleteOh my. That video! I just left my 2 young boys sitting watching Arthur unable to pull myself away. I love the face on your older boy (Will? Harry?) watching the laptop, I love that your husband went to go get Kate (fathers don't get to birth a child, so this comes close!) The whole thing is so sweet. Happy for your family.
ReplyDeletei can't believe how much time has gone by, she has blossomed into such an amazing little girl!!
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