Thursday, May 21, 2009

WE ARE OFFICIAL.....RA ARRIVED TODAY!!!

"Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant." Psalm 135:3


After much anticipation, the Walrond family is overjoyed to introduce our newest member...



Olivia Xin Rui
(about 9 months in this referral picture)

She was born November 9, 2007, in the Shaanxi Province and found the next day at the gate of the Social Welfare Institute of Hanzhong City. Her caretakers describe her as "having bright eyes and fair skin, with a sweet smile.....a lovable baby!" We agree! That sweet smile was once wider as she has a repaired cleft lip and a palate that will repaired once she is home. God in his infinite wisdom placed us in an area that is home to Operation Smile...Olivia will have great medical care! We look forward to welcoming her with arms opened wide! Our next hurdle is Travel Approval (TA)...in about a month!
Below are her other referral photos.





Within days of joining a Yahoo group of families that have adopted from the same orphanage, a wonderful woman who was traveling back for a second adoption offered to take photos for waiting families! We were thrilled! More recent pics are posted below...along with the great news that this orphanage is helped by Caring for China, a Christian organization that provides wonderful nurturing for those living there! We are forever grateful that Olivia has already been learning about her Heavenly Father and His love!

(about 12 months old)



(April, 2009 with her favorite Ayi)


(April, 2009)



Hope you enjoy the pictures! Please begin to pray that God would prepare our hearts and hers for our meeting! Thanks to all for your prayers!

6 comments:

  1. Congratulations Walronds,

    It looks like we may be traveling together. We, too, just received our RA today and were told travel will most likely be early to mid July. Your baby is precious! Savor the moment. God is ever faithful!

    ReplyDelete
  2. She is beautiful! What joy! So happy for your family. We are adding an Olivia to our family, too. Just waiting for that RA. God bless you all.
    Barbara Richert
    AWAA WC Program

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow! What a beautiful family you have! And your newest is just precious! Looking forward to following you on this last bit of your journey to her!

    Blessings,
    Jenn

    ReplyDelete
  4. She is adorable! Can't wait to follow your journey! Enjoy this time.
    Jennifer Vinyard
    AWAA family waiting on our RA!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congratulations! She is beautiful! Looking forward to
    following your journey!
    Blessings,
    Kathy

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, these pictures are so much better than the little cell phone shot that I saw! I'm jealous because I sure didn't have pictures like this of Carmen! You don't know how lucky you are! We have precious little to show Carmen of her time in China. I know that things are changing all the time for the better in that department!

    ReplyDelete