Six years ago today on July 11, we adopted the most wonderful 8-year-old girl, whom we named Hannah.

In Taiwan, children who are 7 or older have a say in their adoption. As the judge in a small courtroom in Hsinchu, Taiwan, repeatedly and directly asked our incredibly brave little girl if she realized she may never return to her native country or to her birth family, she carefully listened. She asked her if she wanted to go to the United States with my husband and me to join our family, whom she had only known for four months. I will never comprehend how she could be so stoic through it all. In Mandarin, the only language she had known, Hannah agreed to the woman’s questions, fighting back tears, as I sat on the other side of the room weeping and feeling so grateful for this beautiful child. The emotions and pain she must have felt were palpable, and she handled herself with complete grace. I am still in awe as I reflect on her ability to have endured this monumental time of her life so well.

Thank goodness!! Because Hannah is one of heaven’s best gifts I have or will ever receive!

So we celebrate! Every year on July 11, or 7/11 as we like to write, is ironically the birthday of her birth father. We are forever grateful for our daughter and recognize her as nothing short of a miracle in our lives.

Happy six years of being in our family, Hannah! We love you more than words can say, sweet daughter.

She picked out this pink dress on a shopping spree for Hannah Appreciation Day at her first trip to a store called Called to Surf while we were in Utah a few days ago.  Add the mini blue cupcakes and you end up with Called to Smurf!