Our story begins in October 2001. A precious girl is born on the 31st in a Chinese province named Shaanxi. She arrives at the Children’s Welfare House in a town named Baoji on November 5, 2001. Halfway around the world, in the USA, a couple decides to adopt a child. The country they will adopt from is not yet clear. They spend the next 11 months confirming their decision, completing a home study and trying to decide where to adopt from; so many choices. A red thread begins to weave.

Like a cloud clearing overhead, the decision is made, China. The future looks bright ahead! There is an ocean of paperwork to be finalized; our work seems never done. The thread continues to weave.

The Dossier (mountain of paperwork) is completed and stamped at the China Center for Adoption Affairs (CCAA) November 5, 2002, one year to date from this young girls arrival to the Children’s Welfare House. In our hearts this was not just happenstance; the connection was made.

In January of 2003, during one of my many visits to the agency’s “Waiting Children” page, we see a picture of Qian Ai Er. What a precious child. Such excitement comes over me. My heart is beating so fast. My attention moves to her written description; a heart problem. I spent two years working in heart surgery after I finished school. I immediately feel a connection with this child; she is our daughter. The next day I called the agency. She was still waiting for her Forever Family. There goes my heart again. We must bring her home. Home to the family she was meant to be with, and so goes the legend of the red thread.