Wishing for Madeline

I came across this picture online and this story as well.  No new news for us, just that we should be ready for the end of December or early January.  We are more than anxious....

Legacy of an Adopted Child
Once there were two women, neither knew the other
One you do not remember, the other you call mother.
One gave you a nationality, the other gave you a name
One gave you the seed of talent, the other gave you an aim.
Two very different lives shaped yours into one
One became your guiding star, the other was your sun.
One gave you emotions, and one calmed your fears
One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried your tears.
The first gave you life, the second taught you to live it.
The first gave you a need for love, the second was there to give it.
One gave you up—it was all that she could do,
The other prayed for a child—God led her straight to you.
And now you ask me through your tears,
The age-old question of all the years,
Heredity or Environment, which are you a product of?
Neither darling, neither ... just two different kinds of Love.

No News Not Good News

We have yet to get our travel assignments and I am antsy to say the least.  Now that we have a picture, which I talk to every day, I'd really like to talk to her in person, see her eyes sparkle in person, hold her little hands.....in person!  We have tons to do in the meantime, and while Grammy was here this weekend we added and amended the lengthy to-do list.  We are hoping to take some baby items to donate to the orphanage with us, and I've started a pile (shown here) of that and other things we hope to fit in our luggage.  I admit traveling to a country as foreign as China has me nervous, making sure we remember to take all we are required to.  I'm nervous now so that hopefully once we are on the plane I can look forward to visiting this beautiful, historically rich country and most importantly to meeting little Madeline.