ONE YEAR AGO...5 LIVES CHANGED FOREVER!!!

ONE YEAR ago TODAY, Oct. 16th, 2006, at my dance studio, Encore Centre for DANCE at 5:30pm - My life changed FOREVER!!!! In one email and photo attached, I would see my DAUGHTER for the FIRST time!!! She would own the name: Thuy Trang and our hearts would then accept her into our lives, home & hearts FOREVER!!!! Now, Maile Noel Thuy Trang Carlson and HOME with us, we LOVE YOU and cannot believe we saw your tiny, stoic, frightened face for the first time last year, MON. Oct. 16, 2006!!!! WOW, A LOT has changed in ONE year!!!!!

Upon acceptance of our sweet baby girl, we'd get an updated photo of you. Your referral photo (above) was in JUNE 2006, when you were brought to Ninh Thuan Orphanage, 18 mos. of age and around 17 lbs!!!!! Now, even in this photo taken OCT 2006 (about 4 mos. of being at the orphanage) you look STRONGER, healthier, more alert...determine to SURVIVE whatever God gives you. We are BLESSED He gave YOU to US!!!!!

This photo was taken in FEB 2007, one month before we went to get our daughter!!!! She looks stable and healthy, still scared but those PIERCING EYES would be the window to your soul of HOPE, LOVE, JOY and HAPPINESS that awaits for you on the horizon. We are FOREVER IN LOVE with you Maile Noel Thuy Trang. You have opened our hearts to feel a greater LOVE & JOY that we would have NEVER known. Plus, you LOVE pink, glitter and to DANCE...what more could I ask for!!?? Ha ha - LOL. THANK YOU Maile for sharing your life with us, we are humbled, grateful and in awe of your laughter, silliness, smiles and now to hear your VOICE!!!! LOVE YOU BABY GIRL!!!!!! Mommy & "Ba" & big brothers

PS- HAPPY 3rd B-DAY ANNA MULLIEZ!!!! What an honor and JOY to share in your life. Half way around the world, from the SAME orphanage as Maile, you would share days before your FOREVER FAMILIES would come get you!!! NOW, you can celebrate your life and b-days in AMERICA, Home of the "Free & the Brave." THAT IS what both you and Maile and all the orphans HOME are now, FREE & BRAVE!!!!!! We love you & cannot wait to see you again soon!