red shoes

The blog of our China trip wouldn't be complete unless I share the story of the red shoes. Brooklin came to us wearing a pair of sandals that didn't fit well along with a tshirt and shorts that all smelled of moth balls. I am sure the orphanage holds these items of donation for child delivery days. The day we visited Shaoman Island shops I wanted to find her a pair of shoes that fit her. We tried on several before deciding on these. Brooklin wore them the rest of the day. That night Paul put her to bed, I went to check on her and felt something hard so I pulled back the covers and there were her shoes. She had gotten out of bed to put the shoes in bed with her. We watched her and she would lift up the covers and peek at her shoes. Next she was kissing the shoes. So we just let her sleep with her new treasure. It makes me realize how important her new shoes are to her. We take for granted shoes and just put them on each day. Brooklin clearly had never owned a pair of shoes before. Her feet are hard and callused. She has now been with us for 43 days. She is a joy a very happy girl that is always smiling. She now has more than her red shoes but they are truly her favorite pair. How very blessed we are to have this happy little girl in our home.