FROM CHINA TO CAROLINA: GOTCHA DAY...One year Later and Happy

Since we thought we would never get to China to get Maran it is unbelievable that we have been home a year.

Many things have changed. ALL FOR THE BETTER. First, Maran brings an added light to our family. Who knew? She has touched many and especially her cousin David. I am sure he will not mind me using what he wrote about her. Such wonderful words from a young man who understands without fail what agape is and that a home is a home, deserved by all and especially deserved by orphan children. David and I always said that if we opened ONE person's eyes to adoption then we would be happy. With Cousin David(our nephew), we pray for him a life of happiness, a loving family and lovely wife and with that many children if they are what he wants. If he chooses for some of his to be adopted great. If he spreads the word and advocates for this wonderful cause then hip hip hooray! While we know adoption is not for everyone we are excited about the openness we have received especially from our young and loving nieces and nephews. Cousin David, in turn, has been an inspiration to Maran.

Below is an excerpt from what Cousin David wrote. He is referring to three people in particular in his life that have changed his life. The title of his story is 'GOD HUMBLING ME'.

The final example is with my three-year-old cousin Maran Gieser. I wasn’t ready for Maran to change my life when my aunt and uncle adopted her in October 2010.

Now that Maran’s been in the States, I cannot believe how much joy she has brought me in just the few days I’ve spent with her. Last weekend at graduation, I couldn’t get enough of playing with Maran.

If you would have told me just last September that I would find Maran Gieser the cutest, cuddliest cousin, and be laughing and smiling nonstop when I was with her, I would have pessimistically countered

God humbles me all the time, and this is the way he’s humbled me most recently. Eller, Jack and Maran, thanks for hanging in there and being willing to love me, even if I didn’t have the best attitude at first. I love y’all, and I hope that I’ll do a better job of loving all people through the lessons that y’all have unintentionally taught me.

Instead of looking at all those hungry faces needing homes or adoptions on TV, I shouldn’t dismiss them but think, “That’s somebody’s Maran right there.”

One year later we have this:

A little China Doll who is

*beyond her years of being fluent in English
*ready to perform heart surgery sooner than later as she wants to be a heart doctor
*lover of hair bows
*lover of any and all foods placed before her. She has yet to meet many things she doesn't like
*a caretaker
*everyone's friend
*teacher's pet (IN A GOOD UNDER COVER WAY)
*Daddy's little angel
*Mommy's little helper
*the office wrecker (She is like a one girl wrecking ball when allowed)
*Lover of the outdoors
*Portable Party
*tender hearted
*thinks family and cousins are better than rice and noodles and BELIEVE ME this is truly special
*fearless
*daredevil
*prissy
*loving
*huggable
AND A SOUTHERN GIRL HAS BEEN MADE

We LOVE:

Grits and Green beans
Banana Pudding and Fried Bacon
Waffle House Waffles
Soup that has cooked all day
BBQ in any style, flavor and combination!

ONE YEAR AGO:

We spoke Chinese now we speak some Chinese (still trying to keep it with her) some Spanish, and LOTS OF ENGLISH. We are also pretty good with sign language.

We had on a ragged dress and shoes that were three sizes too small on Gotcha Day. Today we have what we need and some of what we want but we have learned fast that want and need are different.

We hoarded food. We still do it some today but not as bad.

We weighed 17 pounds and we now weigh 36. 19 POUND GAIN. While this is not good for many people this was VERY NEEDED and GOOD FOR HER. (We were told she weighed 25 pounds)

We were 26" tall. We are now 34" tall.

We had on a size 5 pair of shoes that should have been 8. Now one foot is size 10 and the other size 9.

We don't have club feet nearly as bad.

We have eaten more shelled peanuts than you could imagine.

We have shared the love (Blowed kisses) to just about everyone we have looked at.

We have enjoyed Mother's Morning Out and rocked at Pre-K.

We have gotten in trouble.

We have cried to get our way out.

We have heard every day from mommy "Share the Love" and "Be a good Friend and Listener" as well as "I LOVE YOU".

We have shown the world how we can cry on demand.

We can charm you like there is no tomorrow.

We can use little girl "ANTICS" on you and once you figure it out you are hooked in our grasp.

We drink YOO HOO (the only form of Chocolate if you can call it that).

We still will not drink Milk but we will tell you that we like it.

We think cemetery flowers are "BEAUTIFUL" like mommies friend Duckie.

We feel that boo boos should have MANY BAND AIDES on them regardless of where the boo boo is located.

We KNOW that Santa watches us all the time and we know that mommy gets text messages from Santa when we are naughty.

We know that BU*T is a bad bad word and that SH*T UP is equally as bad and we will tell you if we hear you say it. (EVEN IF YOU SAY IT IN A NON-NASTY WAY).

We love singing Baby Jesus song.

We love playing dress up.

We ARE HAPPY that the holidays are around the corner.

There are many more but the best is that Maran loves her family and she KNOWS she is loved. She loves Luke the majority of the time and is a good playmate. She has already learned that it is often better to go ahead and share than to fight over "whose turn it is".

Blessings in the form of children are so sweet. Here we are one year later with a beautiful and smart child who we hope continues to love being here. She often refers to China as "MY CHINA" but she will also quickly tell you that she does not want to go back. Some of the stories I have learned have allowed me to confirm that 100% she does not have to go back (meaning to the orphanage). To visit --- ABSOLUTELY. She will see her native country as much as we can take here there. I personally promise that I will enjoy it a lot more this time around!

Thank you for joining us on our ride. It has not all been smooth and happy but it has been worth every emotion we have gotten from it.

From our Happy Family to yours......

HUGS and "SHARE The LOVE".