Six years ago today {the day we met our daughter}

Six years ago today, our arms and hearts were full.

We had Chinese food for dinner, food a bit different than the food we ate in Xian 6 years ago. And, we talked about that day, remembering how nervous I was, remembering introducing her to the family over the computer, remembering how she surprised us with a sweet little birthmark and dimples. We asked her how she felt that day and then how she thinks she felt when she said she didn’t remember.

Happy and scared.

That’s what she told us.

And, I’m pretty sure she is right with some sad and mad mixed in there too.

When she saw these pictures side by side tonight, you’d never know how she fussed about me interrupting her playing to to take this year’s edition. She smiled and snuggled in as she counted each one and wondered aloud what the next one and the next one and the next one would look like. Our simple little tradition of a photo in the same place in the same way on the same day every year seems to cement for her the permanency of where she is, the forever-ness of family and expectation of good things ahead.