Gracie's "Gotcha day"

Today is Gracie's gotcha day, meaning it is the day we got her four years ago. I honestly can't believe it was four years ago. She is such a blessing. I can't even imagine my life without her.

For me, Gracie and Titus's "Gotcha days" are like their birthdays. It was the day that they were "Born into" our family. So I want to dedicate this post to Gracie and sharing what a blessing she is to our family and some funny things that happened along the way...
Since we have now had Gracie as a family for four years, I want to share the four funniest stories that happened to Mom and Dad in China. Some of them are slightly unpleasant, but they're amazing to think about anyway. I will start with number four and work up to (what I think is) the funniest.

4. While Mom and Dad were on the plane, Dad gave Mom the money belt. It had ten thousand dollars in it. No, I didn't accidentally type ten instead of one. It really did. They had to bring all that money to finalize the adoption. And they had to bring it all in cash. So once they landed in China, Dad asked Mama to give him a few hundred dollars to exchange for Chinese yen. Mom reached for the money belt (which had been around her waist) and it wasn't there. You can imagine her fright! She said that she grew pale, and when Dad asked her what was wrong, she said quickly, "Nothing!" Praise the Lord, she found the money belt that had fallen past her waist. I was cracking up when Mom told me this story later, but I'm sure it wasn't so funny at the time... This brings us to number two.



3. After one of their first days in China, Mom, Dad, and everyone else in their group went to a Chinese restaurant to eat. Mom said that she has never been so tired in her life. They had gone on just about every tour imaginable, had a time change, and were ready for bed. Everyone was just kind of eating, but not really eating at the same time. Then, all of a sudden, they heard this man vomiting profusely. Mom told me later that it sounded as if he was dieing. It just wouldn't stop. It went on for a few minutes, then a few more. Everyone was so tired and (now!) disgusted that they couldn't eat. So they just started laughing. Finally, after about ten minutes of this ongoing illness, the man just walked out of the restroom like nothing was wrong! By this time, everyone in Mom and Dad's group was laughing hysterically. This poor man was so sick but then acted as if he was perfectly fine. This story rightfully earns the spot of number three in the funniest China stories countdown.

2. This next story I truly wish that I could have witnessed. Mom and Dad were sitting in the lobby of the hotel where they were staying, and a Vietnamese lady noticed that they had adopted Gracie. They started talking, and apparently this lady and her husband were Vietnamese but had moved to Los Angeles, CA. It's funny, because Mom said that these people probably weren't independantly wealthy, but they certainly had enough to go on. So anyway, they were talking to this couple and the lady mentioned that her sister had just had a baby that she couldn't afford to keep. She asked if my parents wanted to adopt the child! Mom was thinking, 'First of all, you don't know us at all, and secondly, why don't you help your own family?!' But she just said, 'Oh, it doesn't really work like that. It would take lots of time.' The lady then looked kind of embarrassed, and I feel a bit bad for her. However, this definitely deserves number two! It is so funny that a whole five minutes after she meets my parents she wants us to adopt her neice of nephew!

1. The funniest thing that happened to my parents in China. Specifically, my mom. Well, she had to use the bathroom soooooooooo badly one day when they were visiting Summer Palace. So she went to a public restroom and nearly passed out. She told me that she has never, ever, ever in her life smelt something so incredibly and pungently AWFUL. Imagine the worst smell ever. This bathroom was probably about ten times worse then that. Not only this, but there was one poor woman who had to sweep everything into the holes that are used like toilets. There is no sewyer system, just a deep, dark hole that is used in place of a normal restroom. At least what we think of as normal. Mom couldn't work up the strength that would be required to go in there without passing out. So she left, but she decided to try one more time. So she went back in, and a girl was eating her lunch in the restroom, right outside the bathroom door!!!!!!! I cannot imagine. This is about as funny as it gets, folks.

Anyway, that summarizes the funny happenings of D & M (Daddy and Mama) in China. Do you agree with my order?? Which do you think is the funniest??

Anyway, back to Gracie baby. I can't even begin to tell you, Gracie, how special you are. You have brightened my life. I pray that as you grow older, you will grow into a young lady who fears the Lord and earnestly seeks His kingdom in faith and love. You are a gem. Next only to Jesus, you are my best friend, my most loyal companion, and my most loving little sweet heart. You are so athletic, talented, beautiful, and special. I love you! We are so blessed that Gracie is in our family, not just because of her talents, but because of her heart. God bless you, Grace Hannah.