My thirteen-year-old daughter, Bao Lian, is absolutely incredible. 

She was adopted by my husband and I three years ago from Vietnam, and she has been nothing but a blessing in our lives.  We are indeed made richer because of her, and it is because of her that our own two sons, ten-year-old Glendon and eight-year-old Tanner, have become more caring, compassionate towards other people.

Now, when it comes to interests, Bao Lian is like most thirteen year olds'.  That is, she loves talking on the phone with her girlfriends,  reading, playing on the computer, shopping, dancing, listening to the latest rock  hits on the radio, and having sleepovers most weekends.  Very typical, right?

Well, there's nothing typical about her.  You see she has no eyes.

She was born this way.

People are shocked when they first see her:  she has very little in the way of eyes on her face.  She does have a nose, a  mouth, and a perfectly-shaped, round, moon face; however, for some reason, as she was developing in her mother's womb, her eyes didn't form. 

As you can probably imagine, she's blind.  She uses her fingers to "see" or read, and she also has a seeing eye dog (or a long, white cane with a red tip) for getting around.  Her other senses (taste, hearing, touch, smell) are heightened; they're twice as sensitive as most people's.  She's had to learn to rely on her other senses since she doesn't have the ability to see.  It's only natural.

Bao Lian has a beautiful singing voice.  In fact, tomorrow, Christmas Eve, she will be singing at our church; she will be singing "O, Holy Night".  She's done this for the past two years, and people are always blessed when they hear/see her in person.

Bao wants to be a singer when she grows up.  She wants to sing gospel music, or soft pop. 

I wouldn't put it past her in reaching her goals.  She's reached every goal she's set her mind to; she is extremely determined!

We adopted Bao when she was ten; we wanted a little girl; instead, we got an older one, but that's okay.  It didn't matter to us that she had a severe physical disability; we were more than ready to love her as our own.  And that's exactly what we've done.  She is our daughter now, forever and ever, and we can't imagine our family without her.

We don't know if we will adopt again, but maybe we will.  If God wants us to have another child, who are we to argue with Him?? Not a good idea to argue with God!  LOL 

I will write in here again, as we have more stories about Bao and her will to live in a world not geared for her specific handicap.  She is worth bragging about, and I am very happy to be her mother!  Take care and may God bless you mightily, especially now, during this Christmas Season!  And above all, Merry Christmas; may it be full of love, blessings, and joy!

~Sincerely, Aldene Cramer, Bao Lian's mother, Yuma, Arizona.  :)