China Adoption-Hubei-Holly's gotcha day 

Beautiful people to take an older child. My heart wept when Holly hugged her new daddy, a very touching moment.

I really loved how China’s adoption agency took their time with a little girl for her new parents . Everyone was so patient with her because it will take time she’s not a baby. She’s a gorgeous little girl. Congratulations on your daughter💕

For everyone that has recently commented about concern for Holly and her adjustment and progress, she is doing extremely well, and strongly bonded to all of us. The blog I have kept was updated fairly regularly for a while, but, as life gets busy you tend to not update the outside world as your first priority. Our life got very busy, and Holly has flourished, is 12 years old now, in 6th grade, and a top student in her class. She is healthy, strong, and bright. For more than that you will need to take the time to read the blog, and I will try to get an update on there this holiday week as time permits. Thank you for those who are genuinely caring about Holly. For those that interpreted my behavior in the video as not caring, rude, or whatever, I spent quite a bit of time preparing for that moment, knowing that she would either be shut down emotionally, or, inconsolable. I was glad to see how bonded she was to her caregivers, and yes, it was so frustrating that the officials were hurrying us through paperwork, I felt like I couldn't take the time to ease my new daughter through the trauma of being ripped from all she knew and forced to leave with total strangers that looked nothing like anyone she ever knew. We had worked for months preparing her through the orphanage workers as best we could but were faced with limitations on how much we were able to do. We prepared ourselves for the experience of the actual adoption process in China, as we had already adopted once before from another Chinese province and knew how it all worked. That said, I look back at that video and am actually okay with being firm with her from the start. Children thrive in an environment where they know who is in charge, who is the protector and the disciplinarian. Without it, they are fearful that no one is really going to take care of their needs. And no, we do not believe in corporal punishment of any kind. If you read the blog, you will see a happy well adjusted child.

can't imagine how overwhelming the whole situation must be for her, she seems outgoing and intelligent, and so beautiful, God bless you all

I can't believe the number of heartless comments accusing this child of being a brat or spoiled. Have you ever seen what trauma looks like? Imagine your only family and everything you have ever knew took you and everything you owned and dropped you off to some strangers and said bye. She lost her family!!!! Imagine that! and these strangers don't even speak your language! and she is going and has zero power over this situation. IMagine being so powerless against such a change and losing everything. How is she supposed to understand what is going on at her age. Be emphatic! And stop judging behind your sheltered narrow !I need lives. Some people went through awful terrible ideals in life and all you can do is judge them instead of showing empathy. she's clearly scared and is fighting the only way she knows. People grow up

This is one of my favorite adoption videos, cause it feels real. Nice to see a family not shy away from the tough parts of adoption, which I think a lot of families probably either cut out the tough times or show a small portion and only show the good moments.Also so nice not to hear the likes of a Thousand Years and So Far To Find You like songs been played over the soundtrack. Also no use of bible quotes and family seen the sights. I don't think Holly was been a brat, I think she was just sussing out her new family and this isn't the first time you see this in adoption videos, I bet a lot edit this kind of stuff out cause they just want to show the happy family moments. I like that the mother say's that her new daughter didn't bond with her straight away, no sugarcoating it. I think some viewers want the nice and happy moments with the child laughing and joking after a hour or so with her family but that's not what always happens with Adoptions, it takes hard work and patience.

Thank you that you adopted an older child, they need just as much love 💕

I wish they had put everyone in a quiet “getting to know you” room. ☹️ loved seeing her and Dad eating together...priceless.

Wonderful that you adopted an older child, they are the ones who seem to be forgotten in the adoption process God bless you so glad she is doing well

It would be way easier if they had a quiet place to meet for the first time. Never will understand why they have to do it in a hall with so many people.

To be a real mother is be the only one to understand the most deep fear of your child. You proved to be her mother at the first moment! Your a marvellous!

So many adoption videos like to sugar coat the reality of this process for children and adoptive parents. This is an honest and realistic telling of the story of adopting older children, and especially internationally. This initial fear can be overcome with persistent gentleness coupled with firmness. If there is anything remotely problematic with this initial meeting, it is that the agency personnel stayed around too long. Also, I really hope these parents understand the long-term manifestations of attachment disorder.

It made me cry and it made me happy that she has two loving parents, congrats to you two.

How hard for any child, but at 5! That is so tough, being ripped away from what you consider your family! The new ppl look nothing like all the people you have known, and do not speak your language!

A child going home with strangers is bratty? What planet do you people live on? Imagine your child being taken away from everything they know. Do you think they’d be placid about it? Do you think they’d be scared and go fight or flight? Yes her new home was stable but how was she to know that! I see a scared child and posters with no feelings or compassion! Glad the little girl settled well back at her new home.

She's obviously super bright and i think the mother behaved perfectly, difficult to be rejected, glad she is doing well.

I love how you allowed the little one to decide on how quickly she wanted to be near you. You so often see that adoptive parents pick up a child that is kicking and screaming. It is amazing how patient you were and how you allowed her to set the pace.

I stumble across your video and went to finish breakfast and came back and the video was gone. I was so worried that Holly wasn’t going to come back home with you all, but when I saw that she took a liken to her dad, then I knew that she will be alright. I wanted so bad to help calm her down by talking to her in Chinese. I been living in Taiwan for 16 years and understand her personality. I just say that you both have done a great job with Holly. You are good people and parents.

My heart went out to your daughter and yourselves there. So lovely to read she is growing up with you and is a happy girl. I was a tiny baby when I was adopted.

What a wee character she is, not afraid to stand her ground - love seeing this video !

thank you for posting actual documentation of the process instead of having a stupid song in the background so we can't hear anything

I look back on that day and see how scared she was. I just reminded myself at the time that she was demonstrating to us that she was strongly bonded to her orphanage family, and that meant she could bond to us.

She was scared,and i feel so sad for the mother,she just gave her space because the little girl was so emotional 😢,hope she’s doing fine now🙏🏻

She was blessed to have been given a wonderful loving family, time has passed, I'm still watching this video, sure hope you have updated...it's tougher when they can escape on foot, patience, patience, patience, you guys did amazing with her💖💖

must be hard for the older children, who are so used to seeing black-haired, asian-eyed adults, to warm to much different looking adults

世界因有你们才如此美丽!谢谢你们伟大的爸爸妈妈!!! 这孩子是如此的幸运，有这样好的爸爸妈妈，长大了要好好孝顺你的养父母，别回中国寻亲。只有他们才是真正爱你的人甚过亲生父母。

I've watched several of these adoption videos and it must be very scary when the child is old enough to understand that they are going to be taken away from the people that they have known for some time to be with people they just met. They don't realize that their life is going to change in ways they could never imagine. If they did know they would be so happy that they are now going to have a chance at a life with a forever family and they are going to experience the love of a family. I was not adopted, I was the youngest of 4 kids and my dad crossed over when I was 48 and my mom when I was 57 so I had a very stable upbringing. I have 2 brothers who have also crossed over so I only have a sister left so it's good to have family. I never wanted kids because I was too selfish and I'm okay with that but watching these videos really impresses me. The people who adopt have made a great decision and they are the kind of people that change people's lives. I really do respect everyone who does what they have to do to make a better life for these kids. You are in my prayers and God bless you all...

God bless this beautiful family she seems to be daddy's little girl ❤️ so beautiful to see that connection and how everything had flowed from the start to the end may the good Lord pour more blessings upon this family God is good 💞🙏😊

Love her spirit. She was so small, but she was running the show.

Such a cute kid! I think that it's awesome that people are adopting older kids too! God bless!

Now these are people who understand the trauma and fear. Xxx

I have watched six adoptions videos and all I can see is love. Isn’t that amazing? God is good. I want to be adopted too😭but am too old for that 😄 By God’s grace I will adopt a child or children when the time is right. My prayers🙏🏾🙏🏾

So nice to hear that she is doing well and she is happy and loved, how about a 2020 update, that would be cool.

I got to stop watching these adoption videos. My heart can only take so much! Children are so precious! OMG

I think it's written in our genetic makeup but I learned that we all prefer those most like us. Gives a feeling of comfort. Perhaps long ago it was for our tribes survival. ???

UPDATE: Just to update everyone that has viewed this video or followed our blog, Holly is still doing very well. She is a happy healthy 14 year old with dreams and goals and a growing interest in finding her birth family. We support that she wants to find them and at least know why she was abandoned. The answers may be hard, and we have prepared her that she may not find them or that they may not want to be found, but, we are doing everything available to us to try to find them. For those who wonder why we didn't speak Chinese, we actually learned some basics and brought tools to use to communicate with her, which helped a little, but, her dialect was so different from even our translators ability to understand that it was easier to use pictures, and drawings, and a bit of playful sign language than to try to figure out her way of speaking Chinese. We did try to keep her language alive in her, but, she rejected it entirely just a few months after being in the US, which we have learned is normal for international adoptees. Their brain shuts down that part of their language in an effort to immerse themselves in the language of the country they now live in. We tried everything to keep even some basic Chinese in her vocabulary but, as you can see, Holly is very strong willed and resisted to the point of refusing to talk to us if we used Chinese. Now that she is older she is showing some interest in learning Chinese, but, she prefers Japanese, and we are not going to make that decision for her, not that we could, Holly knows her own mind. We will give her all the tools and classes she wants in whatever language she chooses. I will try to get another blog post on the site this month. Thank you for all who support our Holly's journey and who understand how difficult this was for her. We hope that when, at some point, she reads the comments on her adoption video, she will know that many people in the world have a heart for what she has been through and wish her every happiness.

Bless her heart! She’s so scared and unsure. I pray for her.

I loved your video! It was really refreshing to see the good, the bad and all that comes in between. What a firecracker she is - it's adorable and I can't imagine what anyone found to criticize you about! You have a beautiful family.

She seems to like the dad the most

Love takes time. At this stage she must know that she is about to leave everything and everyone she knows to go to a strange place with only strange people .Even an adult would be apprehensive. Wish they could have a more gradual adjustment.

bless that little girls heart what a horrendous confusing ordeal for her to deal with its so sad they have to leave the only home she has ever known to get a better life hopfully she is doing fantastic

this video made me cry, she was so scared.

I'm always happy for a child being adopted by a loving family. Obviously the transition is traumatic for the little girl, but she is a little toughie and will adjust. God bless them .

I cannot imagine the fear these children go through assimilating into an unkown family....love prevails

I think it is wonderful that she had one person she could bond with. Those people who are being judgemental, have been fortunate not to have to walk in her shoes. I am speaking from experience. It is very hard to adjust to total strangers that have been brought into your life. I praise both parents for having the patience and giving her the chance to adjust. I wish the entire family the best.

Thnx for showing the raw hard moments. ❤❤ beautiful, the patience.

She wasn't being bratty. She was scared.

She was saying :"no, I don't want it." "I'm not giving you this." I drew this." "These are Junjun's stuff, don't touch it." Then she was pointing at the camera saying :"that's Junjun." And she kept saying " so annoying." I personally think the "so annoying" is some kind of filler language she learnt from adults, it just expresses general frustration.

I really admired your patients. She's going to make you proud. God bless.

I Love this Video. The parents behaved just right, gave her Space at first but also show her love and safety. It is hard to adopt an older child. You all did great ❤️

I watched the whole video I enjoyed every minute god bless the little girl and her new family

ArealLiveMom -- I knew it was the color of your hair that probably frightened her the most. I am so happy that everything has worked out so well for your entire family. Congratulations.

Aww poor darling, wow its hard at that age to really come to terms that when ur in a place like that with heaps of people its hard to say good bye.

I admire how patient are these parents , I hope someday I can be like they ; ) !

I'm very happy for these children but to them they are being yanked away from the only people they have ever known and taken away. My heart breaks for them.

Shes gonna be a, daddy's girl it seems. Pray it's better for you all. Y'all have great patience and i love that u showed the ups and downs of this beautiful process. Blessings to u and ur family. ❤❤😍😍❤❤👐

Great personality of your little girl... and you are a great family...being a mom...even with your own blood and flesh children is difficult...congratulations for your great hearth and purpose. I am going to watch Holly adapted to your family and country...

You are such a patient, loving mother. 😊💕

She is adorable! Took to Daddy right away. Nice exchanges between them.

You done a great job in adopting the children in China and brought them well. Thanks God for sendig you to china adopt them. God bless you and your family.

Updates and more on Holly can be found on our blog.

Your family is beautiful and full of patience ❤ I see the years have been a blessing

i wish we all could adopt and she is beautiful and can tell how much you love her already

Congratulations, she is beautiful and scared, a little time will heal those wounds!🙏🏼🌻👼🏻🦋❤️

She sure is a strong willed kid

I am an adotive parent too. Our daughter was fostered by us in UK for nearly 5 years before the adoption when she was 6. I have a concern about how the introduction happened as I think they should have had a few visits, at school, at home before she went to her new parents. Also I think that during the wait for approval for adoption the new parents should have to learn some basic Chinese. Imagine how scary it must be to see these people for the 1st time, you are scared and cannot speak to them

Awwwww She was a little scared!!! There was so many people in the room!!!! I know momma and papa will take care of her. She’s precious. She’s going to fit right in with her new family!!! GOD CHOSE YOU BOTH, TO BE HER PARENTS, BEFORE SHE WAS BORN!! I’m sending prayers your way! Thank you for sharing this video with us!!! What a Beauty!!! GODS BLESSINGS ALWAYS. ❤️💋🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

future adopters to note. The experience of this case shows if you have blonde , orange or any other colour hairs that is not black or dark brown, it will scare a chinese child. If you wear your hair long n wild , it will look even more scarier to the poor child .. So pl do tie up your hair up into a bun or cut it real short before you go pick her up .

I think they should have met her in a nice quiet place and let her become familiar with them. This is traumatising for her!!

It's hard to believe that most of us know these children are usually put off by blonde hair. This mom could've toned it down a tad for the child's comfort

Please Watch Videos of Orphanage Of All Countries, (Specially Vietnam), You will find that Orphanage are not Taking Care of Childrens, They cries, They in Cribs, But Getting not enough Care / Attention etc... Even though , why majority of people Adopt only from china ?

A tough situation. I hope it got better for everyone.

Woow she is cute.. thanks for loving her

New dady is really good person ❤❤❤🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪

Oh! That’s was last Saturday that I stumbled over this video, and happen to be searching through some channels and recognize your faces and I was so happy that I found Holly...

May you all live happily ever after!

awe that's so heart breaking, poor little girl :( what a shame she's older before being adopted. Bless her.

It’s the blonde hair.

Must have been so difficult with language situation. A bright child that would adapt beautifully. A lovely story which continues to grow. X U.K. x

I feel so bad for this little girl. She doesn't understand that she is getting a forever family.

Que paciencia de la Sra , la nena tiene un carácter Mama. Mia

It's funny how some of these children take to the men and it always seems that blondes scare them they used to only see dark hair

I am born and raised from the same city where Holly was adopted!!!

It’s wrong the way these adoptions are made, surely there would be a better way of the children being integrated into a new family life, both for the child and the new parents sake. More adjustment time for the child allowing them to see the parents more often prior to the actual Gotcha Day. I felt really sorry for the new mother, the five year old rejected her instantly. Be it a child, infant or baby, being handed over in such a way on that first meeting, must be terrifying for the child.

God, this format for adoption is the worst. Chaos, noise, crying kids, officials doing paperwork right there in front of the child with her backpack on. It's like one of those sad dog shelters, makes me depressed. At least there was not any of the sugary saturation of Christian music blaring over the whole thing. At least this was realistic.

Honestly, she's beautiful

Of course a child doesn’t want to go to a total stranger. I think the way the child adaptation works is not really good. The should gradually introduce the child to the parents so that they get to know each other and bond before the adaptation.

God bless You Guy's, look how quickly She came around.

THIS is one of the reasons people want to adopt younger children.

Interesting how you turned the camera off for her meltdown. I don't think I could have watched it anyway.

Shes adorable very beautiful little girl poor baby god bless thos couple for taking her but its got to be harder for the older ones its all so sad as happy and her being sick with that cough cant help any god bless her she is one of a kind.

P.S. Quite frankly I believe you should have learned enough of her language to comfort and console her through this nightmare. I am 72 yrs old and it will be traumatic for me!!!!

If you are going to adopt a child from another country learn that country's language. It would probably be more comforting for the child to understand who is talking to her and then adopting her.

I love watching these type of videos because I want to adopt one day. But it breaks my heart when the child cries and endured some much lost fr their foster moms.

Of course, I will love her. I take her into my life right now. No askings are given and no answers wanted.

Being scared does NOT excuse that horrible behavior! I couldn’t do it!!!

Que triste meu Deus. A menina não quer ir com eles.

Hope people should come to India too for adopting kids. Their condition is very bad here..

Te deseo lo mejor del mundo que esta vida que te vio nacer logre que estos Padres Te Hagan Felices desde Chile 🥰🙋‍♀️🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱

Tanto que aconsejamos que no te vayas con extraños y ellos de buenas a primeras quieren que la niña se adapte a gente extraña 🇲🇽✌️🤦‍♀️