Happy Five Year Anniversary to the Blog-- March 15, 2014!!

Hi everyone--

I can't believe that it's been exactly five years, to the day, that Britti helped me to set up this blog for our trip to China. Originally, we created the blog to facilitate communication with friends and family back home while we traveled to China for Ellie-Kate. Through this blog, we were able to share first photos and chronicle once in a lifetime experiences.

Upon our return, others continued to express interest in our lives and, especially (and obviously), in Ellie-Kate. People wrote to ask about her progress, particularly in light of some of the scary sounding diagnoses that landed her on the special needs list in the first place. Blessedly, every single one of them turned out to be either non-consequential at all (such as the heart defect and spinal bifida occulta) or a minimal delay in physical development (the hip dysplacia in both of her legs). For those who read this blog regularly, you know that we've still had our share of trips to Nationwide Children's Hospital for other (blessedly minor) issues (such as her ear wax and infections and nose bleeds), but, overall, no one in Athens would guess that we were fortunate enough to spot Ellie-Kate on any kind of a special needs list.

Five years ago, I was in the interesting situation of getting ready to head up a major regional conference. As First Vice President of the Central States Communication Association, "my" conference in St. Louis was scheduled to begin on April 1. Thus, five years ago right now, I was working with trusted colleagues to ensure that all of the last minute details could be handled efficiently and effectively during my time in China. Also, I was putting final touches on my fourth and final volume of Communication Yearbook, a publication for the International Communication Association that I edited. Five years ago today, I sent it off to the publisher. What a day!

Five years ago today, Roger was working hard to make sure that we had everything in order for our trip. We departed from Athens on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, and he ensured that everyone had everything that they needed for the trip (and that our bags could make the 50 lb. weight requirement)-- not an easy task. When Britti and I weren't working on the blog in my office, the floor was covered with pre-packing for the trip of a lifetime.

Five years ago today, Britti was a master's student in history at Ohio University. Although she had other offers, Britti came back to Athens so that she could be near Ellie-Kate after she finally arrived at home. We are so blessed that Britti has always put family first AND that she was able to travel with us to China in spite of her demanding graduate level courses.

Five years ago today, Chelsea Meagan was a freshman at Athens High School. Blessedly, the principal and all of her teachers worked with us, given that she would miss three weeks of school. Perhaps even more amazing, she had just been cast as one of the principal roles in the Rogers and Hammerstein version of "Cinderella" (the Queen), and her director allowed her to miss three weeks of rehearsal and keep her part. Pretty awesome!! Our only challenge? Making copies from text books so we wouldn't have to drag all of them with us around the world. Let's just say that a good chunk of Roger's day involved tediously standing at our printer with huge texts...

Five years ago today, Emmy was a little second grader in Mrs. Tysko's class. She didn't have much homework. Mrs. Tysko asked her to bring in items from her trip afterward. Although Emmy had been the baby for a long time, she was thrilled at the idea of a baby sister, and she was easily the most fluent of all of us in Manderin. (In other words, she could say key words while the rest of us scrambled to say anything that made much sense.)

Five years ago today, I'm guessing that Ellie-Kate was back in the orphanage from her time with the foster family at the farm. She couldn't really move yet, due to her hip dysplacia, so she likely laid on her back except for her time in a high chair for two servings of egg and meat soup-- once in the morning and once in the evening. Although we could tell that the staff adored her, based on their interactions with her during our tour of the orphanage, they likely didn't have enough time to spend with each child. To this day, her head is a bit flat on the back, from hours spent in that position as a baby. Five years ago today, I wonder if she could even know what awaited her? I wonder if her crib mate, Kailan, crawled over to her? I wonder if she could feel that our hearts were already with her?  Five years ago today, we didn't know... We still don't... Her first 13 months is really a mystery, except for some important facts...

From the very, very beginning, we know that God loved Ellie-Kate so much that He entrusted her with a mom who risked everything to leave her in a very public space. Clearly, she wanted her to be found, quickly. Clearly and absolutely, she loved her so much that she did not want to chance time in the elements, animals, etc. She carefully and purposedly put Ellie-Kate where she would be found, risking years in prison and massive fines. Five years ago today, and for every day since, I praise God for the person who brought her into the world and ensured that she would survive. I praise God for the staff for caring about her, as much as they had time and resources to do, and I praise God for leading us to her. Quite simply, I praise God for His plan of allowing us the amazing opportunity to include Ellie-Kate in our family. We cherish her, and we realize the incredible blessings and responsibility of parenting her.

Five years ago, we could not have imagined what our lives were going to be like. We were all forever changed, as any family is with any new addition. Thank you for caring about our journey.

Happy Anniversary!

Christie