New Pictures of Our Thea!

What a wonderful gift to have these updated pictures of our little girl!  

We were told that our 'dainty little girl' is now a whopping 22lbs (only 5 lbs less than Nathaniel!) and has 6 teeth already!  Just look at those kissable cheeks!!  Glen thinks that she has really nice eyebrows too...lol :) 

A couple days ago we decided to send Thea a care package through a company called 'Red Thread China'.  In arranging to have the package sent, they just told us tonight that Thea is not in Duchang at the orphanage or in foster care, but rather she is at the Shepherd's Field Children's Village in Wuqing, Tianjin Province (just south of Beijing).  You can imagine what a surprise this was to us...this is about 700 miles from where we thought she was!  Even more of surprise is that the updated pictures show that her cleft lip has been repaired!! 

We immediately started researching all that we could, and have discoverd what an amazing place our little girl is in.  We feel so incredibly blessed that she is being cared for in such a loving, caring, and beautiful facility.  Here are some pictures of Shepherd's Field Children's Village...

The most incredible thing happened while researching about Shepherd's Field...we found a picture of our baby girl...and it dates back to sometime before she was 5 months old!  What a treasure this is for us to have!!  If you visit the website http://www.chinaorphans.org/index.html  and then click on 'Sponsor a Child'...our Thea is the first child you will see...they have her named as 'Allison'.

Glen and I are filled with many emotions about all these recent discoveries about our little one.  It was extremely hard to see OUR daughter featured on a website page to be sponsored.  And while it is such a relief to know she is being so well cared for, we have also been told that since she is being adopted, they will now move her back to the Duchang Country Orphanage.  We are so worried about how difficult this adjustment will be for her...especially knowing that she will then have to adjust again when we bring her home.  I am also unsure about how I feel about her having her cleft surgery done already...this was a BIG surprise to us.  I just have to keep reminding myself that God is in control...without doubt He has our little Thea in His protection.

We obviously have a ton of questions...so I have emailed Shepherd's Field with hopes of getting a reply soon.  We are definitely curious as to whether her palate was also repaired...and also when they might be moving her back to Duchang (or if they might let her stay at SFCV until we go and get her).

I hope to find out more soon...

gayle

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
~ Jeremiah 29:11