http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/25877 Mother's Day means more than I can express.&nbsp; Let me explain why.&nbsp; And let me say, my story in no way diminishes the motherhood of others.&nbsp; My story is just mine. In 2000, after being married for 7 years, my hubby and I decided it was time to have children.&nbsp; We had talked about having children through both adoption and birth.&nbsp; And like many families who want form their family through both methods (boy, that sounds like the wrong word, but you get the gist), we thought we'd go the birth route first.&nbsp; Within a month, we were pregnant.&nbsp; And within a month and a half a positive pregnancy test, we were not. It was a roller coaster of a ride (too many details and phone calls to recount here) that ended in&nbsp; my being rushed into surgery to save my life.&nbsp; We were both so scared, and after surgery, so heart-broken. Time went by, and we didn't get pregnant. So, we looked at each other and said,&nbsp; &quot;What are we waiting for?&nbsp; Let's adopt.&nbsp; This is what we've wanted to do.&quot;&nbsp; So we started the long, long&nbsp;process.&nbsp; We gathered a truck load of paperwork and submitted it to the U.S. and China.&nbsp; We allowed strangers to come in and scrutinize us and our home.&nbsp; We wrote a book on ourselves, covering details of our lives we would only share with intimate friends, and submitted it to a homestudy agency.&nbsp; We took the required classes.&nbsp; We read the required material.&nbsp; And we waited.&nbsp; My heart ached for my little girl. On May 23, 2005&nbsp;we got &quot;the call.&quot;&nbsp; Our family coordinator from our adoption agency called us and said we had a little girl (well, not so little for those of you who know her - she was what you might call round).&nbsp; She was the most beautiful sight.&nbsp; I looked at her, and I knew in the innermost part of me that she was my daughter- birthed in China, born in my heart.&nbsp; I had ached and longed for her.&nbsp; I had trusted God that He was taking care of her when I could not.&nbsp; I was trusting God would bring us together.&nbsp; And He did. Now she's 3 1/2 years old.&nbsp; She's wondrous.&nbsp; She's delightful.&nbsp; She's lovely.&nbsp; She's my daughter.&nbsp; And I'm her mother.&nbsp; Happy Mother's Day to me. Mother's Day means more than I can express.&nbsp; Let me explain why.&nbsp; And let me say, my story in no way diminishes the motherhood of others.&nbsp; My story is just mine. In 2000, after being married for 7 years, my hubby and I decided it was time to have children.&nbsp; We had talked about having children through both adoption and birth.&nbsp; And like many families who want form their family through both methods (boy, that sounds like the wrong word, but you get the gist), we thought we'd go the birth route first.&nbsp; Within a month, we were pregnant.&nbsp; And within a month and a half a positive pregnancy test, we were not. It was a roller coaster of a ride (too many details and phone calls to recount here) that ended in&nbsp; my being rushed into surgery to save my life.&nbsp; We were both so scared, and after surgery, so heart-broken. Time went by, and we didn't get pregnant. So, we looked at each other and said,&nbsp; &quot;What are we waiting for?&nbsp; Let's adopt.&nbsp; This is what we've wanted to do.&quot;&nbsp; So we started the long, long&nbsp;process.&nbsp; We gathered a truck load of paperwork and submitted it to the U.S. and China.&nbsp; We allowed strangers to come in and scrutinize us and our home.&nbsp; We wrote a book on ourselves, covering details of our lives we would only share with intimate friends, and submitted it to a homestudy agency.&nbsp; We took the required classes.&nbsp; We read the required material.&nbsp; And we waited.&nbsp; My heart ached for my little girl. On May 23, 2005&nbsp;we got &quot;the call.&quot;&nbsp; Our family coordinator from our adoption agency called us and said we had a little girl (well, not so little for those of you who know her - she was what you might call round).&nbsp; She was the most beautiful sight.&nbsp; I looked at her, and I knew in the innermost part of me that she was my daughter- birthed in China, born in my heart.&nbsp; I had ached and longed for her.&nbsp; I had trusted God that He was taking care of her when I could not.&nbsp; I was trusting God would bring us together.&nbsp; And He did. Now she's 3 1/2 years old.&nbsp; She's wondrous.&nbsp; She's delightful.&nbsp; She's lovely.&nbsp; She's my daughter.&nbsp; And I'm her mother.&nbsp; Happy Mother's Day to me. en-us <p>gave me goosebumps....the good kind :)</p> http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/25877/#c_232631 http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/25877/#c_232631 <p>gave me goosebumps....the good kind :)</p> <p>Wow!&nbsp; I just can't wait until it is my time to get that phone call and to be able to see my little girl for the first time.&nbsp; Amazing story - what a ride for you.&nbsp; Happy Mother's Day to you!</p> http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/25877/#c_232759 http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/25877/#c_232759 <p>Wow!&nbsp; I just can't wait until it is my time to get that phone call and to be able to see my little girl for the first time.&nbsp; Amazing story - what a ride for you.&nbsp; Happy Mother's Day to you!</p> <p>What a precious story!</p> <p>Thanks for sharing.&nbsp; We too talk about adopting.&nbsp; I hope we do in a few years (well at least start the process to).</p> <p>Why in the world does it take so long when there is soooooo much need?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/25877/#c_232930 http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/25877/#c_232930 <p>What a precious story!</p> <p>Thanks for sharing.&nbsp; We too talk about adopting.&nbsp; I hope we do in a few years (well at least start the process to).</p> <p>Why in the world does it take so long when there is soooooo much need?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>thats really cool.&nbsp; I think more people should adopt.&nbsp; She's really cute.</p> http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/25877/#c_233040 http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/25877/#c_233040 <p>thats really cool.&nbsp; I think more people should adopt.&nbsp; She's really cute.</p> <p>just read this post for the first time.  i'm so glad the kiddo is in your and our lives.  you guys just belong together.  could that baby pic be any cuter?  no matter how many tantrums she puts you through, she's worth it and so much more.  you three are lucky to have each other and we're so lucky to be your friends.</p> <br /> http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/25877/#c_234747 http://www.raisingbakersfield.com/home/Blog/bushelandapeck/25877/#c_234747 <p>just read this post for the first time.  i'm so glad the kiddo is in your and our lives.  you guys just belong together.  could that baby pic be any cuter?  no matter how many tantrums she puts you through, she's worth it and so much more.  you three are lucky to have each other and we're so lucky to be your friends.</p> <br />