May 7: Memorial Service at Inova Alexandria

Today we went to a Candlelight services for our stillborn daughter Abigail Hannah. Steve was a speaker at the event. We had prayer flags, candles, and interacted with the nursing staff bereavement counselors, and also a few physicians and neonatologist. Steve and I were crying. They had harp playing delicate music and it was beautiful. I saw some of the nurses and Orpha from the Alexandria Hospital. There was so much to include in his remarks but Steve didn't want to publish them here. The chaplain said he had not heard as profound words as this is fifty years. Some of the couples were freshly grieving with a recent loss. I need to read over the literature and sort through the items brought home little paper roses with flowers embedded in them. The prayer hearts disintegrate and the prayer is released to the wind. An eastern prayer tradition. They also had the Jewish washing of hands after your return from visiting the dead you wash your hands in order to return to the living. It was sad to know these babies so briefly touched our lives. It was harsh when Steve said his words were about Abby and this blog for the new baby.

Eight days until Andew and Michelle leave for China

Our friends Andrew and Michelle leave for China this month, on May 13th. We hope to follow their journey closely on their blog: http://ni-hao.blogspot.com/

We met them at Barker, at the Waiting Parents meetings, and Andrew and Michelle also took the International Adoption course with us. The final Thursday of the course, they received their referal, and we got to see a picture of their beautiful new daughter, Shu Fang, which they have posted on their blog:
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/3500/1667/1600/shu_03.jpg .

Letter from Senator Warner

Catherine received a letter from Senator Warner. He is strongly in favor of extending the adoption tax credit past its expiration (sunset) at the end of 2010. I've posted the letter in pdf format at: http://home.comcast.net/~slcook/Warner.pdf