A Story of Adoption

The following article appeared in the summer issue 2006 of Children�s Hope International magazine. It is written by our own Candy Flannery describing their adoption of Elle Rose.

�It was my late mother�s birthday, the day I received the referral photo� when I first looked into the eyes of my new daughter. It was special to me because my mother used to sit and watch the television broadcasts of starving children in other countries. She wanted so badly to save them all. My sisters and I weren't starving, but we were adopted.
Over the years of our lives, like most kids we didn�t know that we had it so good. My mother and father were of average income. We didn�t have name brand clothes or expensive junk food. And even though our parents had adopted us, we just considered ourselves an average family.
When one of my sisters and I, along with my youngest son, went to China, I experienced a whole new perspective on adoption. I was suddenly thrust into a world of emotions that I could never fully explain to anyone who had not been adopted. I realized at the moment Elle was put into my arms how blessed I was to have been adopted. I looked at the face of this little Chinese girl and saw myself in so many ways. There was a huge sadness I felt for her, but yet an enormous amount of happiness, too.
The sadness I feel for these children overwhelms my heart but I feel an enormous amount of happiness for these little girls that so many of us Americans are waiting to adopt.
When my little girl was actually put into my hands� the emotion running through me was amazing. My mind was so jumbled and I was in a total state of shock. She barely cried and was everything I was trying not to expect. She is a blessing from God! God knew this was going to be my child and I knew that the moment she was put into my arms. She is, however, on loan from God and I intend on doing the best I can for her throughout her life.�

• I'm Glad I Was Adopted! -Oct 09, 2005