For my daughters ...

On October 7, 2004, I became a mother. It wasn't in a hospital bed after long hours of labor (although some might consider that plane ride from Chicago to Hong Kong 15 hours worth of labor), but in a stranger's hotel room that had a queen-size bed (funny what you remember). A small quiet woman from the orphanage smiled at me as she stepped forward and handed me our daughter, then stepped back and wiped away her own tears. I took in every detail of Elizabeth's face and noticed that she seemed to be summing me up as well. She never shed a tear. She just put her head down on my shoulder and let out a big sigh as if to say, "What took you so long?" And the love that had begun to shimmer when I first gazed at her referral picture took hold with such a visceral force, that it rocked my world. And I have never been the same.

Sometime this year, we will travel back to China for our other daughter. We know she's there waiting for us and hope she's warm and secure, well-loved and well-fed. We were very concerned about her this winter with so many of the orphanages in crisis due to the severe weather that seemed to pummel most of China, and the thought that she might be cold or hungry was extremely upsetting. We will be forever grateful to the Half The Sky Foundation (http://www.halfthesky.org/), whose Little Mouse Emergency Fund provided monies for blankets, warm clothing, diapers, food, space heaters, generators, and so on. By contributing to their emergency fund, perhaps we were able to do something for our daughter, wherever she is.

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero

I am strong and wise and I know no fear

But the truth is plain to see

She was sent to rescue me

I see who I want to be

In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes

Everyone is equal

Darkness turns to light

And the world is at peace

This miracle God gave to me

Gives me strength when I am weak

I find reason to believe

In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand around my finger

How it puts a smile in my heart

Everything becomes a little clearer

I realize what life is all about

It’s hanging on when your heart has had enough

It’s giving more when you feel like giving up

I've seen the light

In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes

I can see the future

A reflection of who I am

And what will be

And though she'll grow and someday leave

Maybe raise a family

When I'm gone I hope you'll see

How happy she made me

And I'll be there

In my daughter's eyes

by Martina McBride