April 1st is no longer “April Fools Day” in our family; it is our daughters “Gotcha Day”!

One year ago today, Nicole and I met our daughter for the first time. We had traveled to Taipei, Taiwan to adopt Szu Yu Chen (Emma Szu Yu). I remember pulling up to the orphanage, stepping out of the cab, and taking a deep breath. All the anticipation, questions, anxiety…flooded my soul. How will this 4 year old little girl react? What will she think of her new family? How will she get along with her brothers? Will she love us?

We walked up the stairs to the meeting room where Szu Yu and her foster family were waiting for us. When we opened the door…she ran to us and said “ba ba, ma ma” (daddy & mommy in mandarin). Then the reality hit her. She ran back to her foster parents and didn’t want to let go. I know she was scared. I know she had the same questions, anticipation, and anxiety we had. What will my new family be like? Will we get along? Will they love me?

Looking back one year later, I’m SO thankful Nicole and I took the risk to adopt a child into our family. I have a beautiful, precious daughter!

This has been an amazing year & has far exceeded my expectations. She and her brothers DO get along. She DOES love her new family. She KNOWS she is loved! It’s as if Emma has been with our family since birth. My prayer for Emma is that she will never doubt her place in our family, that she will always have a sense of belonging, & that she knows she is deeply loved.