I never want to forget the day we met our daughter.
I never want to forget how I felt seeing her face, touching her hand or kissing her head for the first time.
I never want to forget the black lace leggings, the kiss lips t-shirt or the purple worn out shoes she had on when we laid eyes on her that day.
I never want to forget the way she melted into the arms of the social worker because she was scared, but more so because, she was loved.
I never want to forget the amazing caregivers that held her and comforted her when all we were to her were strangers.
I never want to forget how they said “there’s mommy” the second we walked off the plane. Or how they had our family photo book with them and continually tried to show her our picture.
I never want to forget how my arms longed to hold her, but my heart said… wait.
I never want to forget those moments… they are precious and etched in my heart for eternity.
And I mostly never want to forget because I never want to underestimate God’s amazing goodness.
When I feel distant from God or far from Him, I want to look back on our journey to get our daughter and be reminded that He is good, not just sometimes.
He is good all the time.
We are so thankful that we had an amazing videographer and photographer there with us to catch the first few moments we shared together. They made it possible for us to never forget.
Read more about our adoption here.
These videos are so beautiful! Please do more of your journey. Thanks for sharing! ???
I love love love it! It’s beautiful!
Wow, so beautiful!!! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful story.
I love it! The final part makes even more special because you can see how happy she is know. I’ve been following the journey, what a blessing. Keep sharing this moments with us, makes my heart melts every time.
Thank you for sharing this with us. I was adopted as well so adoption stories always make me cry all over myself. So thankful for the choice my parents made 28 years ago to bring a 4 month old baby girl home & love her like their own. Your little girl is adorable. Congratulations!
Omg! What an amazing video! A tear jerker for sure! You guys are awesome! God bless you all!!
Such an incredible video. Thank you for sharing so much of your journey and so much of your heart with us. I’m so happy for you and your family. She’s perfect and you can tell she’s 100% happy and loves you all so much already!
I cried zo hard. Bless u!
God bless your family! Tears watching this video. What a special girl she is and blessed to be a part of your family. The last scene with her so happy makes me smile.
What an amazing video and what a brilliant way to capture the memories and emotions of that day! The smiles on your faces when you saw Janella for the first time are priceless. She will never doubt how much she is loved and she will never doubt how much she was wanted. She belongs with you! God’s story for her put her with you and you are so blessed. I wish you all the joy and happiness in the world as you bond with your precious new daughter!
Wow this is so beautiful! I love your adoption story and your faith in God. It’s wonderful to see how truly happy she is now that she’s home.
Just love knowing love has no bonders and how you got to trust God’s purposes and gratefulness throught this adoption process. Amazing story!
Thanks Mandy for sharing it .???
This video melted my heart, and that last part of it where she is dancing…I can’t even! She is so precious!! and reminds me of my own daughter <3
I “liked” your bedroom decorating post on Instagram several years ago ,which lead me to oogleing over your home decorating ideas on your blog , which then lead to seeing your faith played out in real life as you shared with all of us your struggles and convictions and love of our Lord and Savior , Jesus Christ .
It has been a blessing .
From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for sharing your video and story. It is absolutely beautiful in more ways than I can count. I feel God has always put adoption on my heart. I do not know when it will ever happen, but seeing this just brought a joy to me. Congratulations on becoming a family of SIX!!!!
Oh Mandy & Jeff! This is the most beautiful story ever. What a special memory for you guys to have all this documented. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, it’s been so inspiring to watch.
Thank you so much for sharing your amazing story! We have been waiting five years so far and your story gives me hope. God is such an awesome planner! :0)
Your story is beautiful and inspiring. I’ve been following your blog for a few years now and I’ve been so blessed by reading about your journey to getting your little girl. I couldn’t stop bawling after the point in the video when you saw each other for the first time. Such a beautiful moment. God bless.
What a beautiful video documenting that Amazing day! Goodness, I can’t stop the tears of happiness for you all. LOVE times a million! God bless all of you! Hugs!
Such a beautiful video and story! God Bless your family!
This video made my heart to smile. I am so so so happy for your guys. Janelle is precious. I would love to see more your videos . I watch it with my kids. Especially, that video about orphanage home. After that video my kids been praying for those kids in Phillipines. It really touched their hearts. 🙂 Be blessed.
Honest to god, I was in tears, this is amazing and I’m so happy for you guys and that you were able to document the whole experience this way for her to have and see for herself what loving parents she has, and such an amazing family that she’s been blessed with! God bless!
I love reading about the adoption of you daughter. What a blessing you and your family are to her! God Bless.