Rice & Grits

2 years ago today........

2011-03-31T16:06:00.000-07:00

It was such a surprise 2 years ago to receive a phone call from our social worker with a referral! We had been waiting for over 2 years but had last been told we would be waiting for a while longer. You can read the post about "referral day" back on the April 2009 postings. Here is the little face that I saw looking at me from a computer screen:

I know I haven't updated in a long, long time. Life with 4 active children has kept me super busy and blogging has fallen down the priority list. But I do want to keep some type of record of our journey and today is one of those special days we'll never forget.

An update on Elizabeth: She is doing well attending preschool. Her language skills are improving daily and she is very active! She has been doing therapy for her hand but we have stopped for a while b/c she and John are traveling to Philadelphia to see Dr. Kozin in a few weeks. We wanted Dr Kozin to assess her for surgery and determine a timeline. We had thought surgery would wait until she is about 5 or 6 but now we are rethinking that and waiting to see what Dr. Kozin thinks. When we first met Elizabeth she completely ignored her arm/hand but now she very much uses it as a "helper" and we've even seen some new movements....very slight but still its movement! Elizabeth is fearless and will try most anything. We went to Disney World and she loved the rides and thrills. She does NOT like people dressed up however. So we skipped meeting the characters. She is a girly girl and loves dressing up, playing with her dolls and driving her siblings crazy.

We have been attending a new Sunday School class at church and we are using a book called The Connected Child by Karyn Purvis. She is at Texas Christian and has groundbreaking work with attachment and children who are "from hard places"....ie kids who are adopted. This class has been a HUGE help for us and has redesigned how we approach parenting for Elizabeth and all our kids. I STRONGLY encourage anyone who has adopted, has an adopted family member, works with orphans/foster kids, teachers, social works, therapist, ministers......pretty much anyone who reads this blog I'm guessing has an interest in adoption/orphan ministry. PLEASE read this book. You could be a great help to a child and or parents.

Here are some updated photos.....finally : )

First Day of School

Fall Break in St Louis

Halloween

Elizabeth's 3rd Birthday

Christmas

Christmas Pageant with cousins

Sledding

Disney World

Its fun being a little girl!

2010-08-11T12:53:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to do when I was a little girl was to dress up my cats and treat them like my baby dolls. I'm not sure how much the cats liked that but they tolerated me and my sister doing this for years.

One afternoon Elizabeth came strolling into the kitchen with Cally bundled in the stroller. Our two little kittens are so sweet and tolerant. They've got to be some of the most easy going kitties I've ever seen. These pictures are classic!

Henry, who did not want to get in the stroller!

Cally, patiently enduring her role as the "baby"

One year home!

2010-07-26T05:34:00.000-07:00

I'm a few weeks late posting about our 1 yr anniversary of Gotcha Day and coming home....but it didn't go unnoticed!

We have had an exciting, fun, & busy summer so far. The big kids have done more day camps this year and that has kept things busy. Langley & Mac also did swim team for the first time and the two younger ones got to enjoy each afternoon at the pool. L, M, & Gray have all improved their swimming skills. Elizabeth is completely fearless around the water (good & bad) and loves swimming. She has learned how to swim with floaties and enjoys moving independently around the pool.

We also took a trip to the beach! I was a bit concerned about how this would go for Miss E. This year it was a "family reunion" of sorts. We were sharing a big house with my siblings & parents and the rest of the group was in a 2nd house. There were 28 of us total! I thought E might get overwhelmed by all the people, the new sleeping arrangements, the chaos, etc. But she did GREAT! She interacted with everyone and really seemed very relaxed. She even slept well. Only the first night was a bit bumpy, but even that night was pretty easy. We all had such a fun time...I could spend my entire summer at the beach!

June 28th is a very special day for our family. God gave us both of our daughters on this day. Adoptive families recognize "Gotcha Day" in various ways. Since it is also Langley's birthday I felt it was very important to think through how we celebrate. When we "gotcha" Elizabeth it was June 28 in China but June 27 in the USA. So....we've decided to do a chinese meal on the 27th and retell the stories of that day & our time in China. As E gets older we'll see how she directs this as well. Then we'll have the 28th to focus on Langley's special day. I feel there is a balance to strike in our family. We celebrate everyone's birthdays but not everyone has a gotcha day. But at the same time each child's "story" is important.

Celebrating Langley's 10th birthday!

When I think back on our time in China I have fond feelings and also a grateful heart that we are now home. It really is the "honeymoon" with your new child. Not that everything is "perfect"...far from it. But it is a very special time of getting to know each other. It seems so strange to think back on that day we met Elizabeth and what a stranger she was to us. I now can look at her referral photos and see so much more in her eyes. Even the photos of our time in China I can see things so much clearer now. I think it is such a miracle, amazing transformation that these child go through.

We got 2 kittens in May...Elizabeth loves them!

So to our sweet, beautiful baby girl....Elizabeh Ani. We love you with all that we have and all that we are! You are the PERFECT baby girl for our family. Your brothers and sister adore you and we would be so lost and lonely without you. The joy you bring to each of us is immeasurable. I love your funny laugh, your goofy smile, your sassy spirit, your brilliant mind, your open heart, and above all I LOVE that God gave you to US!!!

A Posting Drought but we survived a Flood

2010-05-06T08:47:00.000-07:00

Its been quite a while since we've posted on our blog! We've had a busy spring with sports, school, trips, and most recently a natural disaster!

Elizabeth is still getting her weekly therapy and she is now wearing a brace at night. We have seen a huge improvement in her hand positioning. We are still waiting on her daytime brace to arrive and I think we'll see even more improvement. She still isn't very big but her legs seem to get longer every day. And she is strong & active chasing her older siblings outside now that the weather is nice.

We took a couple of trips this spring which we knew would be a bit tough for Elizabeth, especially sleeping wise. And we were right. She basically slept with us and the first night in a new place is the most difficult. I hope over more time & experiences she realizes a new place doesn't mean new parents. She still is very much a "mama" girl and is still jealous of affection that I show another young child, including her siblings. We are working on all that...it just takes time, mercy, and patience I think.

Our first trip was to my college town of Athens. In some of the photos you can see the "kenesiotaping" we are using on her arm...its part of her physical therapy.

Then we went to Little Rock for Easter and Grand bought the 3 granddaughers beautiful matching pink Easter dresses. The boys were very handsome as well!

Footwashing at the Resurrection Trail

Most recently our dear town & city were flooded this past weekend. We were foturnate to not have any damage to our home or any of our family's homes. However many, many of our friends are suffering greatly and some have lost everything. We were trapped in our neighborhood for a few days until the water moved off the roads. We did make it to downtown before the waters receded completely....it was unbelievable.

Normal Backyard

Backyard with the "new creek"

One of the main roads going into our town.

Now the school year is quickly ending and we are getting ready for a busy summer for the older kids. Myself and the two younger ones will probably be playing at home alot. We are taking Elizabeth to the beach in June and there she will be another cousin from China! We are all looking so forward to that week at the beach!

It was one year ago .....

2010-03-30T18:59:00.000-07:00

March 31, 2009....."referral day".....the first day we saw Elizabeth's face.......

John was home and got a phone call.....from our social worker...he blogged about it on our first blog. Here are his words about March 31st.......

It seemed like a day like any other. I had taken Mac and Langley to school, Gray was at Mustard Seed. Later that afternoon, your mother was at Gray’s preschool with your sister and brothers to get their pictures taken. I had been working on my presentation for a new job at Vanderbilt for several hours and was taking a nap. I was awoken by the phone ringing. It was Rebecca with Children’s Hope. She was the social worker there. Your mother had spoken to her several times before, but I rarely did. I could sense excitement in Rebecca’s voice. She started right to the point. She said that there was a 16 month little girl who was on the multiple agency list. She explained that you were on the special needs list and that Rebecca thought of us because this precious girl had minor orthopedic problems. She told me you had brachial plexus injury and wanted to know what I thought. What did I think? All I could think of was that God had sent us a wonderful little girl. You were a gift that your mother and I did not expect for a long time, if even ever. Yes. I told her. I asked anxiously. “Can you lock the file?” This meant that no one else could look at you and that we could hold on to you. Rebecca said yes. I told her that I needed to share this with Shannon and that I would call her back. Rebecca said she would send me your file and picture right away. I could not wait to see what you looked like. Now, fully awake from my nap, yet somewhat feeling this was a dream, I called you mother. Just like me, she was stunned by God’s hand bring you into our lives. We were expecting this at some point, but when it actually happened, it still seemed surprising. I know that your mother and I will feel this way when we see you for the first time – brought to our knees by God’s awesome presence seen in you. Your mom was overwhelmed. She was in “the zone” gathering your siblings together, trying to get their picture made at Gray’s preschool. I told her briefly about you. “Yes, absolutely, yes.” That was her answer. Soon she called back once things settled down. By that time, Rebecca’s email came through. I got to see you for the first time. You were beautiful. I read about you at the orphanage and with your foster family. I looked at your picture again. Tears welled up in my eyes. You were to be a part of our family forever. I called Rebecca back. I wanted to make sure. Yes, she said. From this point on, you were ours.

I blogged about it as well:

On March 31, 2009 a miracle occurred. John was taking a nap when a call came from our social worker. She described to John a darling 16 month old girl. John asked her to "lock" the file immediately so we could review her paperwork. John called me ( I had the 3 kids and was in the midst of getting their photo made) So I now a photograph of the siblings the moment our family grew! We were also juggling conversations with our realtor about the contract we put on a home less than 24 hours prior!!! Eventually John and I got to speak on the phone and he read to me her special need and what was written in her paperwork. He saw her photo and said "she is really, really cute" pause pause pause "yep, she is adorable". I drove to my sister's house since it was closer than going home and got on her computer so I could she the referral myself. I fell in love when I saw her photo. She is beautiful. She has soft features, round face, lots of black hair. Her ears tip at the top like my side of the family! John had to go to a meeting so he and I still didn't have a chance to talk. While my son was at soccer practice I spent the time googling her special need. The more I read the more comfortable i became. I consulted with my dear friend who is a pediatrician as well. She pointed out to me that I had blogged in June 2008 that I felt God speaking "November" to me. Well....guess what.....she has a November birthday, my Aunt's birthday. Basically as I just let it all soak in I just knew we had been given a tremendous gift. Her special need is not one we had previously researched but we know she is ours. We didn't know who she was but God did and He brought her to us. We are so grateful. Finally, late last night John and I had a chance to sit together and talk about this little girl. Usually you consult with specialists about the child's special need, etc. With John's training we felt we had some basic insight and realized we just needed to discern if she was our daughter. And God revealed to our hearts.....yes indeed this is your daughter. So before we went to sleep we email our agency our LOI and prayed together thanking God for our new baby daughter.

Little Sprouts Consignment Sale!

2010-02-17T18:19:00.000-08:00

I LOOOOOVE consignment sales. And the spring consignment season is about to begin with one of my favorite sales. I have participated (both buying and selling) in this sale for 3 years. I really like this one because it is only boutique brands. After owning a children's clothing business I have developed a strong preference in children's clothing but I don't like the boutique prices. MANY of the outfits that Elizabeth wears comes from consignment sales. I also have gotten great toys & shoes at this sale.

So if you want to find some beautiful clothes for your children and you live in the Middle TN area then check out this sale next week!

Little Sprouts Consignment Sale: www.littlesproutssale.com

LOCATION:
1725 Columbia Avenue, Franklin
A Few Doors Down From JumpZone

Guests & New Moms Pre-Sale

Thursday, February 25th, 8pm
You must have a pass for the presale.
New Moms Register on website: www.littlesproutssale.com

*No Children Allowed at the Pre-Sale*

Open to the Public

Friday, February 26th, 9am-6pm
Saturday, February 27th, 9am-3pm
Sunday, February 28th, 1pm-5pm (1/2 Price Day)

*Cash & Local Checks Accepted. Sorry, NO Credit Cards. You can, however, use your credit card to purchase a gift certificate ahead of time. See the Home Page for details.

Baptism

2010-01-29T13:47:00.000-08:00

Elizabeth was baptized this past Sunday. It was wonderful having so many of the family members present. Both sets of grandparents and most of the aunts, uncles & cousins were there. It was a big group! She wasn't too excited about having our pastor hold her but overall she did great. When he was holding her (for like 5 seconds) she was wimpering "mommy, mommy, mommy", reaching for me. Our pastor is an adoptive Dad and was very sweet and quickly handed her back to me with his hand still dripping with baptismal water.

A fellow adoptive mom at church came up to me afterwards and said she and her husband were crying watching the miracle of adoption and hearing Elizabeth call for me and see me as her mother. It really is a miracle. I told her I still get a "kick" out of hearing her name me like that. She said she still does too even though her daughter is elementary age.

But I also want to share that its not always that sweet and endearing. I know other adoptive parents read this blog from time to time. It has been so good for me to have seen other's walks and not feel alone in the "bad" times. So here is some of the struggles as we are 7 months since Gotcha Day.

Ever since we traveled at Christmas time Elizabeth has become rather OCD...obsessive compulsive. I've seen kids who are just quirky and want things very orderly. But I truly believe a lot of what we see in her behavior is just an expression of her fear of change, instability, trauma. It is very, very understandable. I mean, this is a 2 yr old trying to make sense of circumstances that even adults can't understand. I want to share this so if other families experience this they might recognize it might be more than just quirkiness if your child is adopted.

If we do something a certain way (like the order of getting dressed) then she wants to do it EXACTLY the same way next time. She cries & has a tantrum if I don't comply or don't understand that ORDER. And she is still very impatient when it comes to eating. The moment she decides its time to eat she wants all the food in front her her NOW. Sometimes that just doesn't work when you are in a family with 3 other siblings. I have to say the food thing has gotten better but it can still be challenging. Where we see the most fear/OCD come out is at bedtime. There is a fine line you walk as an adoptive parent with being compassionate & providing security but then you don't want to enable unhealthy behavior. So we have about 6 steps at bedtime (I'm talking the actual getting in the bed phase...not bath, storytime, etc). If something isn't quite right then Elizabeth starts crying "uh oh". Sometimes I realize one of the two doors is still open (bathroom & closet doors must be closed) or maybe I tucked the sheet but I didn't tuck the comforter. Sometimes I can't figure out for the life of me what is causing the "uh oh". So we've gone round & round with the "uh ohs" several nights. Hearing "uh oh" over and over and over at 2 am is rather un-nerving. Its kind of like have a fussy newborn...you don't know how to fix it! Now we are doing those 6 things that usually are enough and have stopped trying to fulfill whatever else is not "perfect". Walking that line.....hoping she feels secure as best as we can provide but also helping her learn that real security won't come from a perfectly ordered world. Bless her heart, how in the world can she ever understand? We just pray for God to give us wisdom & patience. And for Him to heal and fill the scars on her heart that only He can do.

Godparents Thomas & Eve

With Pop & Softa

Reading a book with Grand

Giving Daddy kisses. She now calls him "Dahhh Dee" instead of Baba...just like her brothers & sister : )

Quilt Squares 54-64

2010-01-10T20:29:00.000-08:00

We are so grateful to have received some more quilt squares. We are getting closer & closer to the 100 mark! Its not too late to send one & a note. Look on the sidebar for more explanation of the 100 wishes quilt. We'd love to have all our friends & family involved! We only need 36 more!!!

#54 This is from my sweet friend Elizabeth who I always share my dreams with! She has always supported me and shared a heart for adoption.

#55 This square is from my nieces, Charlotte & Caroline's grandparents, Fred & Carol. It is fabric that has been in both the girls nurseries....isn't that sweet!

#56 From my dear friend Kirsten and her family. We have been friends since we were 15 yrs old!

#57 This is from our Little Rock friends the Cullens. It means so much when "old friends" share in the joy of Elizabeth joining our family.

#58 This is from a very, very special person. She sponsored Elizabeth's foster care in China. She stood in the gap financially until her parents could take care of her. Simply this lady was Jesus to our little girl. We are forever grateful.

#59 This is from our sweet friends, The Meadors in Little Rock. A gracious, lovely couple and I love that they wrote words of wisdom to Elizabeth with Owl fabric...very cute.

#60 This is from one of my Mom's best friends and a part of my life since I was a young girl. We are so grateful for the broad circle of support around us & Elizabeth.

#51 & #62 These are from my little nieces, Charlotte & Caroline. Sweet Caroline was born on my birthday and darling Charlotte was born while we were in China. They are precious to us and are wonderful cousins for Elizabeth.

#63 This is from another one of my mom's "soccer girls", the Fiddlers. I love Mrs. Fiddler's sweet spirit and her joy in celebrating as we celebrate life!

#64 This is from dear Auntie Jo. She is an artist....obviously. She created this fabric, its a Batik. And she wrote her note to Elizabeth around the edges. All the nieces and nephews ADORE Auntie Jo and Elizabeth joined the adoration when she met her at Christmas.

6 months together

2009-12-29T09:22:00.000-08:00

Yesterday it was 6 months since we met Elizabeth. Here is a quick photo review just to remember how far she has come! This is PROOF that God still performs miracles!

This was the first time we saw her....bless her heart she was so scared!

Sitting in our hotel room with this sad face....about an hour after meeting each other.

Morning after Gotcha Day....this is what depression and shock looks like on a toddler....

At finding place, she is still so sad, but allowing us to care for her more & more

4th of July in China, 1st day in Guangzhou, 1 week together

A couple of days later....we see more spontaneous smiles

This is a "break through" day. We see lots of playfulness, more affection.....attachment is getting stronger.

US Citizen, landing in Detroit

1st full day home with siblings, July 11th

July, 1 month together, 2 weeks home

August, 2 months together

September, 3 months together

October, 4 months together

November, 5 months together

December, 6 months together

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-27T08:16:00.000-08:00

Its 2 days past Christmas and I finally have moment to visit this blog and share some thoughts & photos. Thank you to all our sweet friends who have sent cards, emails, phone calls, etc celebrating with us as we share Elizabeth's first Christmas!!!

We celebrate Advent in our home and it is wonderful in helping us prepare our hearts for the season. Really...I need to celebrate Advent everyday, all year! I am so "prone to wander, prone to leave the God I love". We use the Jesse Tree and open a door in our permanent Advent calendar each day from Nov 30th leading up to Christmas Day. It is great to review the Old Testament stories that lead up to the birth of Jesus. As I learned in a bible class many years ago....God has one plan...plan A....he didn't go to plan B or plan C as we "messed things up". Nope God has always been sovereign and Jesus was the plan from creation. So the Jesse Tree helps us remember that Jesus has always been there, always the Hero in the story....from Genesis and forever. The children also get to move around the Nativity characters....so Mary & Joseph "travel" during Advent, Shepherds move towards the stable on Christmas Eve. Then on Christmas morning each of children place a "baby Jesus" in the manger (I have several little Nativity sets, so everyone gets their own Jesus!) We will wait until Epiphany when the wise men show up at the stable. My doctrinely correct daughter informs us that "really it was more like many months that they traveled..not days". But we'll give the wise men 12 days get to the stable in our house : )

We also light the Advent candles and as Christmas Day gets closer and closer...the light gets brighter and brighter. Finally on Christmas Day all the Candles are lit and the "Light of the world" fills our home. Isn't it beautiful!

Prior to Christmas we visited John's family out of state. This was the first time the aunts, uncle & cousins got to meet Elizabeth. It was also the first time since coming home with her that she spent the night somewhere else. It was alot to take in for her I'm sure. But overall she did really great. Our first night she was unsure and obviously insecure. She didn't sleep well at all and I slept with her. We both tossed & turned, very much like our first nights in China. But for the rest of the trip...she went to bed easily for naps and bedtime. She was initially guarded with meeting the new relatives but giving everyone kisses by the time we left a few days later. It is really remarkable how adaptable she is. She showed us that she has a strong attachment to both her grandfathers. She asked several times for Papou and sat with him throughout the church service. Here at home whenever her other grandfather Pop walks in the room she runs right to him to be held in his arms. She also loves all her cousins. I think whenever there are children around she feels much more secure.

Just from our experience I would tell future adoptive parents to be careful & mindful about traveling too soon after coming home. We've had Elizabeth almost 6 months and I think she was just now ok to deal with such changes. Since being back home she has shown us a strong need to things to "be in order". There have been more tears at night but we are working through it and showing her that we are still there in the morning. Even "good" changes must feel so threatening to a child who has experienced the trauma these little ones go through.

Here are some photos from Arkansas:

She did NOT like seeing Santa....we did not make her sit next to him or anything....this was just the sight of him!

Now a few more photos from Christmas Eve & day. Elizabeth had a great time! We had an even better time watching her!

Tis the Season

2009-12-18T18:05:00.001-08:00

Its a busy season! I have ton of photos to share so I'll keep the writing to a minimum. These first photos are from Thanksgiving, which we hosted at our house. We were blessed to have my 97 year old grandmother join us. She and my Aunt met Elizabeth for the first time. The photos with my grandmother are precious, don't you think?

The Thanksgiving Table

97 yr old Great grandmother and some of her great grandchildren

Elizabeth mets her Great Grandmother!

Girls night out at the Mini Nutcracker. So thankful that my sweet 9 yo still likes playing with her dolls and dressing alike! How wonderful!!

My kids are so much sweeter than I am! They put on a spontaneous nativity story. This is when the angel appears to Mary...can you tell "she was afraid".

This is my Gray.....love, love, love this photo!

This is Joseph with Mary on the donkey (aka backpack) : )

Watching the Franklin Christmas Parade

Christmas Recital

Charlie Brown ICE at Opryland

It was 10 degrees in there! COLD!!!

The kids had a great time on the Ice slides!!!

All made from Ice....really beautiful

More Ice sliding

In the Opryland Hotel...walking through the inside gardens.

Look who is 2!

2009-11-22T09:38:00.000-08:00

Today we are celebrating Elizabeth's 2nd birthday.

I finished making her cake and took a few photos of her with it.

My sweet friend make her cute little tee and her birthday hat was worn by her sister Langley on her 2nd birthday!

And here are some photos from the party at home with family.....

Grand & Papou gave her this pretty babydoll

Our girly girls

Acting like a 2 yr old! She settled down once we showed her how to blow out the candles :)

Loving on her new babies!

A princess among presents

We had Chinese food for dinner!

The kids all ate with chopsticks!

Pop & Softa with all 9 grandkids

Raise money for Starfish

2009-11-18T16:29:00.000-08:00

I was able to visit the Starfish Foster Home in Xian, China about 1.5 yrs ago. This is an amazing place, where an amazing woman named Amanda cares for some of the most fragile children from the local orphanage. I have a link to the Starfish blog on the right hand side.

Another blogger who is a supporter of Starfish is raising money on her "Thankful" blog post. For every "Thankful" comment left she will donate $1 to Starfish. What a great idea!

So please....any of the visitors here, go to this blog

http://lotsokidz.blogspot.com

And leave a comment under the thankful post to help raise money for the babies at Starfish!!!

November Updates

2009-11-11T17:01:00.000-08:00

I can feel the busyness of the season already filling our home!

We had an amazing weekend of inspiration at the Show Hope dinner and then at our church. John and I discussed how blessed we feel to be a part of the adoption community. Such wonderful families and amazing kids! The plight of the orphan is so big but we celebrate that our God is bigger! One thing I heard from the president of Compassion International, Wess Stafford that has stayed with me is him saying to Believers....you might not be called to ADOPT but you are called to ADAPT. He discussed adapting our finances, our priorities, our churches, our missions to help the orphans. He also stated this is not an option for Christians....this is not an area you can say "that's just not my thing." I also agree with him as he talked about being so close to the heart of God when working in orphan ministry. Its so true! As I've watched others adopt....even years ago, as I've spent time in an orphanage, and even as we've experienced our adoption of Elizabeth. Truly....its such a blessing to be a part of the lives whom God holds so close to His heart.....the orphan. Its simply the gospel. We were all spiritual orphans whom God adopted into his Forever family.

So on Sunday, our church acknowledge Adoption month and Orphan Sunday. We decided to celebrate our families multiculturalism and the kids wore some of their Chinese clothes.

Tonight we prepared our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. The kids were really excited about doing this. So they packed their boxes with socks, candy, matchbox cars, colored pencils, watches, lollipops and several other things. Its amazing what you can fit into a shoebox! We also included a note with a photo of the kids. Langley added a note to her box and I thought it really captures the heart of Christmas. She is a neat kid. This is what her note says:

Dear Friend. I hope you like the gift I'm giving you. I am 9 almost 10. My name is Langley. Jesus loves you very much. He never forgets you. I love you. Now you know someone cares for you and always will. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. God Bless Everyone!

Also today is Veteran's Day and I'm very proud that both my father and my father in law served in Vietnam. At Mac's school they do a wonderful Veteran's Day program. Mac and "Pop" (my Dad) went up on the stage and Mac introduced his hero to the whole school. He practiced several times yesterday how to say "Veee uht nahm". He really did a great job. I was so proud of both my Dad and Mac.

Finally some news about Elizabeth! We got her physical therapy officially started and I'm very excited to see how she progresses with our new PT. We are looking at splinting her hand so that we get her contractures less severe. Our PT is very creative and eager to work with Elizabeth. I'm so thankful to have someone so skilled working with us.

We also did an initially consultation with a pediatric orthopedist who referred us to a hand specialist who we also see this week. The exciting news is that the doctor thinks Elizabeth does have some muscles "firing" in her arm! So there is a possibility that surgery could benefit her. We have many more conversations and testing to go through but it feels really great to know we MIGHT be able to offer her some improvement through surgery!

Here are a few more photos.

Elizabeth fell asleep in her high chair one day...chasing her older siblings is very tiring! : )

Also....had to get in Daddy's alma mater....here is our Vandy cheerleader!

And some cool shots of my big kids playing soccer. I LOVE to watch my kids play their sports....so fun!

November is Adoption Awareness Month

2009-11-03T20:28:00.000-08:00

In case you weren't aware....November is National Adoption Awareness Month. We are fortunate to live in a community that embraces adoption and we are able to participate in several events.

One organization that we are honored to support and be a small, small part of is Show Hope. This organization was started by Steven Curtis & Mary Beth Chapman, who adopted 3 daughters from China. Most in the Christian community are familiar with SCC's music. There are several of his songs playing on my blog : )

SCC has released his new CD and the first track is simply amazing. Its called "Heaven is the Face of a Little Girl". Here are the lyrics:

Heaven is the face of a little girl
With dark brown eyes
That disappear when she smiles.
Heaven is the place
Where she calls my name
Says, “Daddy please come play with me for awhile.”

Chorus:

God, I know, it’s all of this and so much more,
But God, You know, that this is what I’m aching for.
God, you know, I just can’t see beyond the door.
So right now...

Heaven is the sound of her breathing deep,
Lying on my chest, falling fast asleep while I sing.
And Heaven is the weight of her in my arms,
Being there to keep her safe from harm while she dreams

And God, I know, it’s all of this and so much more,
But God, You know, that this is what I’m longing for
God, you know, I just can’t see beyond the door.

Bridge:
But in my mind’s eye I can see a place
Where Your glory fills every empty space.
All the cancer is gone,
Every mouth is fed,
And there’s no one left in the orphans’ bed.
Every lonely heart finds their one true love,
And there’s no more goodbye,
And no more not enough,
And there’s no more enemy (no more).

Heaven is a sweet, maple syrup kiss
And a thousand other little things I miss with her gone.
Heaven is the place where she takes my hand
And leads me to You,
And we both run into Your arms.

Oh God, I know, it’s so much more than I can dream.
It’s far beyond anything I can conceive.
So God, You know, I’m trusting You until I see
Heaven in the face of my little girl,
Heaven in the face of my little girl.

Most of you know the story of the Chapman's and their daughter Maria, who died tragically May 2008. So these lyrics are just so powerful knowing their story.

When I first heard and then read these lyrics my heart paused and pondered on the "bridge" section. I know that place of longing for heaven and the weariness of this world's suffering. Several times, in the face of suffering I have prayed "Jesus come quickly".

When I sat in the orphanage in Hohhot and saw the hopelessness, lonliness, hunger, and disregard for human life...Jesus come quickly.

When I visit adoption and waiting children websites and daily encounter more and more and more children who spend another day alone, with no family, no love, no future....Jesus come quickly.

When I hear of another friend, another parent, another child dying of disease and pain...Jesus come quickly.

When I think of my baby girl left alone at a hospital gate in the cold night of New Year's eve and then lying in a crib, belonging to no one...Jesus come quickly.

I do long for that day when Jesus returns and we are with our Lord forever and He will "wipe every tear". But as I have sat in prayer about "Jesus come quickly"...He has revealed something to me. I am to "go quickly" into the these sufferings of His beloved. I can take with me His story of Hope, Love, Peace, Salvation and tell the story through serving, feeding, clothing, befriending, speaking Truth, and adopting His beloved.

This is Adoption Awareness month. Go quickly! Love His Beloved! He calls YOU Beloved!

Halloween

2009-11-01T18:40:00.001-08:00

We have conquered the first "major" holiday! Whew!!

Elizabeth was a trooper as always. She has gotten so much more comfortable with so much of life in the past month.

She allowed me to put the costume on her as I told her it was a "hat" and a "dress". She likes to dress up and likes accessories....definitely a girly girl. So she went along with the costume. She did not like seeing Langley greenified as Elphaba (aka Wicked Witch) from the musical Wicked. She also does not like people in mask or just "scary" looking in general. I've shown her some of the Christmas stuff and she's not crazy about Santa or anything animated.....can't really blame her when you think about it!

Here is Elizabeth the Pink Poodle, Langley as Elphaba, Mac is Batman, Gray is Spiderman, John is the Wizard, and I'm Dorothy.

We had our "small" group from church over for a pre-trick or treating party. Elizabeth did great with the crowd in the house and had a great time running in the backyard with the big kids. We then went trick or treating. It was really fun "introducing" this odd little tradition but as soon as Elizabeth figured out that something to EAT was going into her pumpkin she really got into it! She happily approached each door and held up her little pumpkin. And she has learned to say thank you "sank ooo". What a sweet girl!

When we got home we barely got her out of her costume and she was sound asleep as we sat her in her bed! I think she had a great time!

Fall Fun

2009-10-20T20:34:00.000-07:00

Alot of different updates and alot of photos......

We are quickly approaching our 4 month mark since we met Elizabeth. She is still doing so well. She continues to fully bond with her family and we enjoy getting to know more and more her fun, easy going personality. Here's a quick flashback. We got an updated photo of her right after we received her referral in March. We stared at this photo for many hours while we waited to travel & met her. We think this photo was taken sometime early last spring. She was about 17 months old. We noticed how bundled up she was in this cute red coat. When we were in China we came across a coat that was very similar. We recently had an early cold snap and I took a few photos of Elizabeth in the cute red coat. Its not exactly the same but pretty close. Doesn't she look different!?!?

We have a really fun backyard. Since we just moved in we are still discovering new things. We have a big cornfield behind our yard and one day Gray's was coloring on the backporch enjoying the fall weather. Suddenly some REALLY BIG tractors came through the field and started cutting the corn. At first Gray was upset yelling "hey, don't take my corn". But I explained to him that it wasn't our corn and the farmer was harvesting it. So he was enthralled watching them cut & shuck the corn....it really was neat.

Grand & Papou made fall visit and this is Papou playing football with the boys in the backyard. We love having them visit and enjoyed making smores with them at the firepit after dinner.

Fall colors starting to burst through the green on our tree.

As I've mentioned...I'm homeschooling my 4th grader. It has been challenging and rewarding. I've learned ALOT about my child and her education to say the least. One of the pros to homeschooling is taking advantage of community events. Recently we went to a historical home's fall/pioneer festival. My kids LOVED visiting the Colonial Doctor. They asked lots of questions about all the instruments and cutting people open.....hmmmm wonder where they get that from??? It was really cold that day...can't you tell!

And today we did one of my favorite fall activites and also one of my favorite photo opportunities.....The Gentry Farms Pumpkin Patch!!!

First we played inside the barn. We went with alot of homeschool friends, most significantly cousins Graham, Davis, & Corinne.

Corinne "weaving"

Gray emerging from the Corn Maze

Pumpkin Portraits

Tire Swing Time

I love this low angle photos of the boys on the Tire swing!!!

Corinne is getting bigger!

Langley is over the 4 ft mark!

Little Squirt

My Big Boy Gray. Mac was busy and I didn't get his photo...dang it!

Go Dawgs!!!

2009-09-15T20:59:00.000-07:00

Now we are getting down to business around here....the serious stuff in becoming a member of this family....kisses, hugs, saying our names.....good stuff. But where we really brainwash, uh... I mean bond as a family is on Saturdays cheering on the University of Georgia Bulldogs!

Elizabeth wears the Red & Black and cheered for the Dawgs! I'd say she fits in pretty good around here : )

Now here's a picture of the cutest UGA Cheerleader you'll ever see.....

2 month Anniversary

2009-08-30T20:20:00.001-07:00

Friday it was 2 months since Gotcha Day. Her she is just one day after meeting us. She doesn't even look like Elizabeth we know now. Grief is just as physical as it is emotional.

It was a much different day than June 28th.......

We took Mac to school and came home and just had a nice day at home. Langley and I did homeschooling while Gray and Elizabeth played in the playroom. We actually got most of our lessons done before lunch! Elizabeth had her usual lunch of PB&J's, yogurt, banana, and pretzels. Then she took a nice long nap while Langley and I organized her room.

I had to wake her up to go pick Mac up from his first full day of school. We then went to my sister's house and played for a little while. And my nephew came home with us for a sleepover. We had dinner, read stories, bath and then bedtime.

Much, much different than June 28th. That day was precious, but that day was HARD, especially for Elizabeth. I'm so glad to be at this stage....settled in and enjoying life as a family.

Elizabeth loves playing outside with her siblings. She gets upset if they are outside and she's not. She'll go find her shoes, bring them to me and say "sh, sh, sh", trying to say "shoe" to convince me to take her outside. Its pretty cute.

And over the past few days we've had a major milestone.....Elizabeth is walking in grass!!! She couldn't stand not be able to keep up with the big kids in the backyard. So she had to give up her grass avoidance and leave the patio! She especially loves riding in the John Deere motorized car. She loves it when her brothers drive.....they drive "wildly".

Health wise she is also doing great. She gained 1 lb 12 oz in only 5 weeks! She grew 1/4 inch. Our pediatrician was kind of "giddy" with joy that she was doing so well. We have an appt with a neurologist this week to start discussing treatment for her BPI. I'm very excited to see how we can help improve her function....at least therapy will help her contractures.

Tonight we had an early fall type weather. It was cool & crisp so we had a fire in our patio firepit. After dinner we made smores by the fire. Elizabeth wanted to sit in a chair in front of the fire like the big kids. We roasted marshmellows and really enjoyed our family time. It does seem like Elizabeth has been with us so much longer than 2 months. She has blessed us all.

Making Smores!

Attachment

2009-08-25T19:58:00.000-07:00

Just a quick story from Sunday at church......

Elizabeth has been going to church with us....meaning worship service....and usually by the time the sermon starts John or I have to step out with her. She isn't fussy, just a regular toddler and is distracting in the service.

I have a few meetings coming up and childcare is provided at those. But we haven't tried any childcare expect leaving Elizabeth with her grandparents for a very short period of time.

So this past Sunday we thought we'd see how it would go taking her to the church nursery. She is very well attached to us so I felt she was ready in that sense. But she is WELL attached to us and expected her to not do so well in being left.

I filled out the enrollment paperwork....I hadn't even "enrolled" her at church yet : ) And I was so blessed that the lady working that table had a daughter adopted from Korea. So I didn't have to do much explaining at all. I asked her to page me immediately if Elizabeth cried b/c I wanted her to know I would return. This mom completely understood where I was coming from!

So I took Elizabeth to her room and the children were having lots of fun. She hesitantly let me hand her off to the nursery worker (with pacifier & blankie in full use!) She whimpered a bit but was interested in looking at the other children. So I headed off to church. The tears welled up in my eyes and heart. Oh my goodness......it hurt to leave her....it really, really did. I was so afraid she would feel "left". Then God calmed my heart and told me it was a new opportunity to show her I WOULD come back. That helped me keep walking away from the nursery wing.

I enjoyed a few worship songs and then on the monitor FLASHED her number.

Honestly......I was relieved to see it! I was wondering how she was doing. Also I still need to feel reassured knowing she is attached strongly to me. Attachment is so important for these kiddos and it can be so complicated and challenging. It is very, very serious. God has performed a miracle in her heart in her ability to connect to us. We are so grateful.

I quickly got to her room. I scooped her up and said over and over "momma always comes back". After that she wouldn't let me out of her sight. So we sat in the nursery together. I was hoping to show her that it was a nice, fun place to hang out. Not sure she was really buying into that idea! We'll keep trying the nursery and see if she gets more comfortable.

But I would say that Sunday's experience was a HUGE success. Elizabeth showed me that she is progressing well with normal toddler attachment & separation anxiety. And I got the opportunity to show her that "momma always comes back".

Starting the school year

2009-08-19T16:54:00.000-07:00

We have "officially" started our school year for Langley. She is my 4th grader whom I am homeschooling. This is a first for me! It has taken about a week to figure out our system....well I had a plan but then had to readjust as dictated by how Elizabeth responded. So as for now we are doing most of our actual one on one teaching time during naptime. Elizabeth doesn't really play independently. She LOVES her siblings, especially Langley and wants to be with her or me at all times. That doesn't really work when Langley and I both need to concentrate on a lesson.

So Langley does her independent work in the morning. I think as Elizabeth settles a little more I can get a lesson or two done during the morning hours as well. Then we have lunch and E takes a nap. That is when Langley and I both can really concentrate on the more intense work.

Mac starts school next week and I'm excited to see how much he's going to learn in 1st grade. What a fun grade! We are working on his summer reading project still. Its due next Thursday so we are finishing that.

Gray heads to preschool in early September and Langley will go to "homeschool school" the two days Gray is at preschool. So that gives Elizabeth some undivided time with me twice a week.

We also started back our music lessons this week and the sports start next week. Elizabeth is about to experience her family in a new pace now. Thankfully her personality is pretty laid back and I think she enjoys the activity (chaos) of a busy family.

Elizabeth is still doing really well in all areas. She still SCREAMS at me when she is in her highchair as I'm frantically gathering a thanksgiving meal worth of food for her at EACH meal! Its great that she is a good eater but jeesh its alot of pressure to keep her satisfied! She eats breakfast at 8:30, snack at 10 and she is screaming for lunch by 10:30! And you BETTER be feeding her dinner by 5:00pm! Her thighs and belly are OBVIOUSLY bigger.....maybe she'll show up on the growth chart soon. We go back to the pediatrician next week and she has her assessment this week for physical therapy. I bet she has gained at least a pound in a month!

I also wanted to post the quilt squares that have arrived. We still need more!!! We are over 1/2 way there but would love for friends and family to still send them if you haven't already.

#54 From my dear friend Kirsten and her family. We have been friends since we were 15 yrs old! PHOTO COMING

#55 This is from my sweet friend Elizabeth who I always share my dreams with! She has always supported me and shared a heart for adoption. PHOTO COMING

#56 This square is from my nieces, Charlotte & Caroline's grandparents, Fred & Carol. It is fabric that has been in both the girls nurseries....isn't that sweet! PHOTO COMING

We are so loving being in our new house. Elizabeth enjoys being outside, going for walks, and just watching her siblings. She still has huge aversion to grass....she just hates the feel of it and cries when we stand her in it....sorry but it kind of make me laugh watching her face :)

We had some family portaits done this week. I'll see if I can upload a few of those. They were done by Joe Hendricks at joehindricks.com He and his wife Rhonda are awesome to work with!

Please Help this Family

2009-08-09T10:57:00.000-07:00

I have been following a family who has been caught in a horrible situation while adopting their daughter from China.

Its complicated but basically a new law went into effect on July 1st that adopted children over 2 yrs old must go through TB testing before receiving their Visa to immigrate to the USA. The adoptive community has known it was a matter of time before this was going to create a devastating situation....and now it has.

The Scruggs family adopted their daughter Harper. She tested positive for TB (but has been on medications for 2 months, and various experts say she is not contagious). They petitioned and pulled who knows how many strings to get a waiver for her Visa. But end the end the CDC said NO and this family had to ABANDON their new daughter in China and return to the US. This little girl has been abandoned for the 4 time in her 4 years of life! Here's one part that just P**es me off! If Harper were a "natural born" child of the Scruggs she would not go through all of this. She is being DISCRIMINATED against because she is adopted. She is a child of US citizens but is not being given the same rights.

Please, please help this family and the many others who will be effected if the laws don't change. There are several people in government who could fix this quickly.....we need someone with REAL leadership to step up and fix this injustice! Anyone, anyone???

Please read their website as it explains things much better than I have. Also please watch their video when they had to leave their daughter....it is awful, terrible and will prompt us all to get up and DO something as they have requested.

http://jayscruggs.livejournal.com/

http://www.comicscollaborative.net/goodbye.mov

This should be the link for their Goodbye with Harper

Swimming & girls night

2009-08-07T17:15:00.001-07:00

Elizabeth is still doing amazingly well. She is eating & sleeping well, and is completely at ease with all of us. Not only the immediate family but also the extended family. She particularly knows who her grandparents are. But she is also spending time around cousins, aunts, & uncles. She LOVES playing with all the kids!

I continue to be amazed that regardless of how chaotic it gets around her (and its still pretty chaotic at times with new move in stuff) this little girl just rolls with it! She lets us know when she is stretched beyond her comfort zone and we retreat.

She seems to be understanding alot of English. Tonight I pointed to her shoes and told her to take them to her room....and well.....she did! Tonight she clearly said "eat" and "bath". But she is a pretty quiet kid...not alot of talking, mostly babble.

We did have a special outing today. We joined my sister and her children and went SWIMMING!! My older kids really needed this! I wasn't sure how Elizabeth would take to the pool and all the activity. But of course she did great! She really loved swimming. She wanted to "jump in" to me over and over again until my arms were worn out. She loved sitting on the side pouring water from one cup to another. She was just a joy to see at the pool. The cousins & siblings played with her and at one point they were all pouring water on her. Most kids I would think wouldn't like this but she sat there just laughing and laughing. Again, she is just sooooo laid back!

My sister and I had planned for tonight to be a "girls night/boys night" slumber party. She has my two and her two boys at her house. I have my girls and my niece here at my house. I definately got the easier side of this deal! The girls have been very fun & sweet. Langley is running with the "queen bee" role in this family, especially since Elizabeth came home. Tonight we have played school, dressed up, danced, and they are watching a princess movie right now. We still have fingernails to paint and ice cream with lots of sprinkles to eat. Elizabeth joined in on the dress up & the dancing. We had a Hollywood Dance contest. We must have very talented girls because they all "made it to hollywood!"

Enjoy the photos!

Theses are from the "dance contest"....all made it to Hollywood!

Playing Dress up

One month together

2009-07-28T19:58:00.000-07:00

One month.....we've had Elizabeth in our arms for a month!

It many ways it seems so much longer.....like I can't remember what it was like not knowing her. I remember what it was like to parent 3 children instead of 4, but I have to stop to think about when I didn't KNOW this little person. And for the record the jump from 3 to 4 is a JUMP. I didn't think it was much of a change going from 2 to 3 but I do think going from 3 to 4 children takes quiet a readjustment in parenting strategies.

Or maybe its just the fact that #4 came along with many other variables....like being in a foreign country and she thought she already had parents. Or maybe because 10 days after arriving back in the states we moved into our home. Anyways....we are readjusting our parenting a bit these days and overall seems to be going ok.

I know at "milestone" dates its always interesting to see the progress the children make after coming home. When you go back and look at the gotcha day photos its shocking. I think this is where you get a visual aid of God's miracle work in adoption.

Gotcha Day....sad little girl

Now look at me!!!!

He has worked a miracle in her heart.....she is trusting us, seeking us, depending on us, and maybe, just maybe even learning to love us a bit. And He has worked a miracle in us too. At times, by the power of the Holy Spirit we have loved a little deeper, a little less selfishlessly, hopefully a little more like Jesus. Of course we have been awfully fallen at times especially when the weariness of body, mind, & spirit are overwhelming. But I hope more than anything that Elizabeth hasn't just experienced the love of a family but she has been overcome and captured by the love of Christ. He is big enough for that. To use a flawed family with parents who will mess up to work His miracle of love in one of His precious children. We are so humbled. We are so grateful. We are so loved.

Can't you see it? Don't you see the Gospel in the story of adoption? Each time a layer is revealed it amazes me.........God just wants us to trust Him, seek Him, depend on Him and maybe, just maybe we will learn to love Him a little bit. Have you experienced "Gotcha" with your Forever Father???

To Elizabeth.......Happy "1 month since Gotcha Day" my sweet Elizabeth.....I'll never forget the first time I saw you in the flesh....you took my breathe away. I was amazed by the beauty of your face and your spirit. I knew immediately we had been blessed far beyond we had ever hoped or imagined. And now that we have spent the last month together I am more and more thankful to call you my daughter. What a privledge to get to be your Mommy forever. You make me laugh and smile and have brought such joy to our family. Just like we said a month ago in China....we promise to love you forever!

A few more photos to enjoy

These 1st 3 are at the airport as a group of us welcomed home a family with their 2nd daughter from China! Langley is leading "ring around the rosey" while Elizabeth hangs out in the middle!

Then a photos of all the beautiful girls who made the same journey home.

And the 3rd photo is Elizabeth with her cousin Corinne.

Langley being a sweet big sister to her baby sister.

We are finally in our new home!!! The kids love catching lightning bugs and running around in the awesome backyard. Elizabeth still doesn't like to walk in grass : )

This is just a really cute photo of Gray, he loves wearing his GeGe hat!!!

Our amazing little girl

2009-07-22T18:49:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how God has blessed us with Elizabeth. You could not ask for a sweeter child. She has already been through unimaginable trauma in her past 19 months and especially those weeks we were in China. We brought her home and knew the "changes" were still coming.

See....we have been in all types of "limbo" for the past 2 years.....job, home, finances, etc. And just when we got Elizabeth's referral God starting aligning those stars in in our life. There were still several unknowns but by the time we went to China God had provided all the answers to those "limbo" issues.

So what did we do 10 days after coming home with Elizabeth?

Well, we closed and moved into our new house! It is exciting and long awaited for but I was very concerned with how this would play out with a newly adopted child, who just got ripped from her foster family and trekked across China in multiple hotels, then short stay at Grandparents house. Finally landing at the new home, on my hip as the movers unloaded the big truck and living among boxes and chaos. I am exhausted and overwhelmed......

My Elizabeth? She is smiling, playing with her siblings, only wanting Mama to fill the sleep, food, comfort needs(this is amazing attachment!), and trying to say new English words. Oh, and last night...first night in the new house. She slept in her new bed in her new room and the first time since we met.... without me sleeping next to her. I had a trundle bed ready beside her in case I needed to stay. I was (and still am) prepared to stay if she needed me. She fussed off & on until about 11:00 pm and then slept until morning without a peep! When she did "fuss" I made sure I was in her room (mine is next door) asap and comforting her. I want to PROVE to her that I will be there. I was like a mama with a newborn. I woke several times during the night worrying if she was ok. It was so quiet and she hadn't fussed all night...finally I got up and checked on her several times.....and thank goodness didn't wake her checking in!

This morning I was the first awake in the house. All the kids were sleeping late. I checked on Elizabeth several times and she was still sleeping. Finally at 8:30 I went into her room to wake her....I didn't want her to wake up afraid in the new house. She looked at me and smiled and started babbling.....what a sweet girl.

It seems when she is hungry (which is every couple hours!) or tired is when she is cranky. So hopefully soon we'll get into a pretty good rhythm with those things. She is still a great eater!

As I'm typing this entry we are doing the "fuss" dance right now. Hopefully she'll settle into deeper sleep and we will have the same long time sleep as last night!

I have to brag on my other children a little bit too. Langley has been incredible. I really could not have done this move without her help. She is so good with Elizabeth and probably the most patient human being I've ever known. She certainly didn't inherit that from me! Mac is mostly hands off with E....he just often talks about how cute she is and is ALWAYS the first to announce to ANYONE we meet about his new sister from China! I know Mac will always protect his baby sister. And Gray...the dethroned baby in the family. What a great little boy.....he and Elizabeth are starting to enjoy playing with each other. He is very tender and nuturing (and roudy/boyish at times too). Gray loves to teach Elizabeth new things or show her new experiences. He is ready to show her the world as he knows it!

Also I have to mention the amazing support from friends & family. We are so blessed and they continue to bless us. Next week we have meals being brought to us and with a new house it couldn't be more helpful! Some sweet friends and NEW neighbors and family have brought meals this week. I love living in the south!!! And Sunday our community group from church is having a Welcome party for Elizabeth....I hope we get to share many, many years watching each other's children grow....what a precious group!

Visits with our new niece/cousin Charlotte

2009-07-16T19:05:00.000-07:00

Langley holding her new baby cousin, Charlotte.

Steph and I meeting our new nieces and the cousins meeting each other.

The boys looking cute in their Chinese PJ's and playing with Mac's China chess set.

Uncle T playing E's favorite game....hanging upside down!

Settling in at home

2009-07-14T11:05:00.000-07:00

We went to a birthday party on Sunday night and it was good to see some friends from our son's preschool. Elizabeth did pretty good. She had her first pizza and loved it. She wasn't too crazy about the cupcakes though....not big on sweets. A thunderstorm ended the party early but it was good to be among our friends and socialize a bit.

She fell asleep on the way home and went right to bed, but we ended up having a rough night. Probably jet lag and adjusting to the new time zone. But Elizabeth and I were up from about 3:00 am with crying spells and restless sleep. By 5:00 she was pretty awake and ready to start the day. Needless to say we both were exhausted on Monday. Plus my allergies have kicked in and I'm not feeling too well.

We had Elizabeth's appt today with her pediatrician just for a basic checkup. We are not doing anything with her brachial plexus yet...just wanting to get settled a little bit first. She actually showed up on the American growth chart for height...this surprised me. But weight she's not even close. I need to check on the Chinese growth chart and see where she lands. We also checked her diaphragm as sometimes with BPI there are issues with the diaphragm. It looks great! The doctor did say that her BPI is pretty severe. We'll be visiting with specialists in the future to see if any surgeries would improve use. Right now we will just be doing some physical therapy to keep the contractures from worsening. He also did note that we found the cutest girl in China to adopt! We agree :)

Elizabeth had a great afternoon playing with her siblings. She really does love them and I'm very proud how they have been with her. They love her so much and are excited to interact with her. Mac has told me several times how much he loves her and he's glad Elizabeth is his sister. Gray often says "I love my new sister Lisbith" He also announced to the nurse at the doctors office that "her arm is broken" which stunned the nurse and looked at me very concern until I explained he was referring to her BPI. Langley is simply amazing with her. They are going to be very, very close sisters. I was watching them this morning and thinking how special their relationship already is.

We had a much better sleep last night. She woke around 1:00 am but quickly went back to sleep. We are all awake by 6:00 am though. Today we went and played at a park. Elizabeth loved the swing but was maybe somewhat overwhelmed by the new environment. We saw a sweet friend from church and her children. It was really great to hang out with a friend at the park....life feels almost normal : )

Elizabeth experienced her first trip to the grocery store and enjoyed getting the free "kids cookie". We are still figuring out which foods to buy and what she likes to eat. Today she showed us she doesn't like strawberries, but she likes ham! I told my friend at the park today that even though she is 19 months old we are experiencing lots of "firsts". Like going on the swing....she might have done this before but its a "first" for us since its the first time we've seen her experience each thing. She really is a joy and we are continually stunned at this blessing God has given us!

We're Back!

2009-07-12T10:54:00.000-07:00

I really appreciate freedom of speech after being "blocked" from several websites while traveling! So I'm back to using this blog!

Today we went to church and it felt great to be "home" and worshipping the LIVING God! Elizabeth stayed in church for a little while but she was somewhat "vocal" so we listened to most of the service in the hall. She didn't seem too overwhelmed or scared, which was great.

While we were in China...Langley and Grand (john's mom) picked out some matching dresses for the girls. Langley is a great big sister and wanted to wear their new dresses to church today...I thought they looked precious!

Also I wanted to get caught up with the quilt squares that we have received. We got quite a few right before leaving & while we were gone. Thank you so much to everyone! We still need to collect some more. So please still send them to us if you would like to participate....it really is very special to have our friends and family make this special quilt!

So here are more quilt squares & wishes:

This is #31 from our friends, the Williams. They are very special friends to us and Gray's godparents! We miss them so much and try to find some time each year to vacation together or see each other.

#32 This is from my sister Stefanie & Brook. Stefanie stitched this together from pieces of Corinne's quilt. A very, very special quilt square and wish!

#33 This is from some hometown friends who watched me grow up. They are a very sweet, supportive family.

#34 This is from my Aunt, Uncle and cousins in Atlanta. My cousin Kelsey particularly shares in my love for UGA!

#35 This is from Allan & Lorraine who are missionaries in South Africa. Such amazing, dear people. And yes, that is Lorraine's handwriting....stunning!

#36 This is from my cousin Sharla. Her family bought home Abby just one year ago. Sharla has always been much more than a "cousin" She is my sister, best friend, closest confidant. I love her with all my heart!

#37 And this is from Abby. My darling cousin who came home from China last summer. She has a funny, tender heart. I know Elizabeth will love her so much.

#38 This is from MacKenzie, Sharla's oldest daughter. She is an amazing girl. She has a heart of gold and is a blessing to all who know her.

#39 This is from our dear friends the Smiths in Little Rock. They have recently grown their family through adoption as well. We cherish their friendship and their example.

#40 This adorable square is from a friend here in our town. She is very talented and made this adorable applique with E's monogram.

#41 This is from one my "oldest" friends...meaning we've known each other since we were little girls. Its so wonderful seeing this quilt made from so many parts of our lives.

#42 This is from family friends, the Januzelli's. We have known them our whole life and they are really family, not just friends.

#43 This is from one of Langley's school friends, Anne Marie. She is such a sweet friend to Langley and helped Langley when it was decided she couldn't make the China trip.

#44 This is from Anne Marie's mom, Lori. She has been a great friend to me and always excited & supportive in this journey. She has done many things to help us from taking care of Langley to making video at the airport homecoming. She is a loyal friend! Sorry these are sideways....I was technically challenged!

#45 & #46 This is from John's parents....E's grandparents, Grand & Papou. They crochet these special pieces for their youngest granddaughter.

#47, #48, #49 Is from a sweet sorority sister whom I've recently gotten reconnected with. Of course the Bulldog is for our shared UGA love. And then the Coke and Polka dots are leftover from her mother's headcoverings when she was battling cancer. What a sweet way to share her love for her late mother.

#50 This is from our friends Eve & William Boger. Eve is more than just a friend. She is loyal, dedicated, and compassionate...especially in regards to children, adoption, and orphans. I'm blessed to call her my friend. I hope I have the correct fabric w/ the correct child, Eve!!!

#51 This is from Alex Boger, he is the oldest boy and very sweet & excited about adoptions. He did a great drawing for Elizabeth's wish.

#52 This is from Ben Boger who has a very tender heart. He truly loves these little ones who find their forever families!

#53 This is from Jack Boger. He is also one of Gray's best friends. I think it is funny that Jack & Gray picked out almost identical fabrics!

Try looking at our other website

2009-06-26T06:19:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone. It appears that blogger is completely blocked here in
China. I can "kind of" post via email but we can't see it at all. It
sounds like photos are sometimes coming through and sometimes not.

So anyways. I'm now posting at our old website. There should be a link
to it on the right hand column. But it is
www.langleysmeimei.com and we are posting under "Travel Logs"

I put some photos there from Shanghai today. I understand none or few
came though onto blogger?? So go check out this other website and
follow us there.
You can also leave comments on the langleysmeimei site as well!!!
We love comments!!! It really encourages us!!!

Shanghai Photos

2009-06-25T23:17:00.001-07:00

We've had a nice day here in Shanghai. The weather is actually pretty nice. Georgia was great escorting us around the city today. We are now resting in the room for a bit, watching CNN. We are going to walk Nanjing Road tonight and walk down to the Bund River. Georgia said it is really beautiful at night....lots of lights. I am especially jetlagged, so fighting wanting to sleep. Hopefully I will sleep well tonight. We fly out tomorrow to Fuzhou in the afternoon. We are very excited to get to Elizabeth's province & settle into our room.

Blogger is completely blocked here in China. I'm going to see if I can get onto langleysmeimei website and if I can I might start posting there. But I'll post on here if we switch to the old website.

We are getting your comments via email so keep 'em coming. My backup folks in the USA are trying to publish comments for me, but don't be discouraged if it takes a while to see your comments.

Here are a few photos from today:

Yu Garden

Shannon & John in Yu Garden

Shannon and Gerogia

2009-06-25T21:53:00.000-07:00

Lunch on Friday

2009-06-25T21:45:00.000-07:00

Shannon and I are with Georgia, a friend of Carrie's. She is an ex-pat
living here. She has been very helpful, especially with corrupt cab
drivers. Shannon is still pretty jet lagged and I am still adjusting
too. We are doing well and will do some shopping this afternoon. Can't
wait to see Elizabeth.

John

Sent from my iPhone

A note from Langley

2009-06-25T18:18:00.001-07:00

Today has been a good day. But I'm still sad about not going to China. I think Gray misses Mommy and Daddy and Mac misses them too. So do I ,very much! Mac is very curious about a lot of things, Gray is well Gray! But I'm more responsible than ever! But I'm still really excited about her coming home! Written by Langley

We are in Shanghai

2009-06-25T06:05:00.000-07:00

We made it! I can't get on blogger....it appears to be blocked. So I'm
posting using another method.

Right now I can't see your comments or moderate them (so that others
can see them) But please keep commenting
b/c we'll get them posted asap.

The flight was good. We were nervous with the quarantine health
officials coming on board but all went well.
We are very, very tired and looking forward to a good night's sleep.

We are so thankful to be here, be healthy, and some HUGE steps closer
to Elizabeth!

Good night from Shanghai!

Getting on the Big Bird to China

2009-06-24T12:57:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's a dark photo but we wanted Langley, Mac, & Gray to see the
HUGE airplane!!! We will check back from Shanghai!

Landed in Detroit

2009-06-24T11:38:00.001-07:00

After a two hour delay we are in Motor City. Shannon and I are in good
spirits. Thank you all for your prayers. We will board for the next
flight in about 2 hours.

Sent from my iPhone

Here we goooooooo..........

2009-06-23T19:06:00.000-07:00

We are so thankful for the support we have received in the past 24 hrs from friends, families and the whole adoption community. Our children are well loved and well cared for while we are gone, and they are going to have alot of fun as well! We have been affirmed over and over again with our decision to leave Langley at home. We have so much peace about that now.

We did have quite a bit of scrambling & changes to make this morning. God was gracious and provided a smooth path to do so. So now we are repacked, minus one suitcase, so things are a bit bulkier and heavier. Once we get to Fuzhou we can unload several things as we have gifts for officials, foster family, and items for the orphanage. Thanks to my father in law we have several cleft bottles to give to the orphanage!

We tried to spend extra quality time with the kids today. We read alot of books, played some games, and had dinner with extended family. It was a good day. Tonight the 5 of us gathered together to ask questions, express feelings, and pray. The prayers were precious. Prayer time was ended with our 4 year olds prayers for all of us to HAVE FUN! Amen, brother! How it must please our father to see his beloved filled with JOY!

I have to share a little from how our big girl is doing. I'm so proud of her. I don't think many adults would be so gracious with such disappointment. She is wise and heavenly-minded. She told me today that she might not be crying and her face might not look sad, but inside she still feels sad about not going. She and I had a big cry first thing this morning when she woke up and saw me outside her door unpacking all of her things. She is sad but I think she is also grateful to stay home when we explained the situation. I do still feel that Langley is a special part of this journey. We had planned for her to blog while in China and I still feel she has a unique way of telling this story. So we have asked her to still blog from the homefront. I hope she will.

Our hearts are full with excitement and anticipation. What a precious feeling to KNOW you are in your Father's hands!

A sad, difficult decision

2009-06-22T22:17:00.000-07:00

As you know we have been at prayer regarding the swine flu. We are concerned at a variety of levels but tonight something was brought to our attention that we could not ignore. The following is a section from the US State Dept.

In some instances, children have been separated from their parents because either the parent or the child tested positive for 2009-H1N1 and was placed in quarantine for treatment. This situation presents the possibility of Chinese medical personnel administering medications to minors without first having consulted their parents.

Through many prayers & tears we have decided to leave our oldest daughter home. We are heartbroken and she is heartbroken. We just felt it was unwise to subject her to risk of being removed from our care and being alone in a Chinese hospital. We are trusting that God has provided us with this information for our protection and given us wisdom to make this difficult decision.

We were completely packed & ready and now we are repacking, changing flights, and rearranging childcare.

We thank God for providing this information 24 hrs prior to leaving rather than 24 hours after arriving.

Calling on the prayer warriors again! Swine flu....

2009-06-20T20:10:00.000-07:00

Swine flu......we know of a family who is quarantined in Beijing right now. A person sitting behind them on the plane had the flu. Now the father has tested positive and the entire family is quarantined in the hospital (3 children, 3 adults). They were due to meet their daughter on Monday in our province! I have no idea how things will proceed with this family. Pray for them.

Also, now China is doing random quarantine's. Really for us quarantine is bad but what is worse is actually getting sick. We are asking for prayers for ourselves and all those adoptive families about to travel for COMPLETE health & protection.

We are worried..... but Jesus tells us not to worry so we are praying and trusting. God help us in our weakness.

He is also reminding me of how He has shown himself and PROVIDED for our every need, especially in recent months. God has brought Joshua 4:21-24 to my heart:

Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’; “for the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.”

I have several "memorial stones" that I need to lay down to remind myself of WHO God is and HOW He loves me. How he has provided, even performed miracles for our family. How He has protected us when we didn't realize we needed protection. How He is all knowing, all powerful, and sovereign over all things....this is Who He Is. That is what I need to remember.

So we lay down our memorial stones first so our children will know and remember the Lord our God. And the that the "peoples of the earth" might also know.

Prayer warriors, join us in praying our way to China and back. May God's Glory shine bright!

Praying this prayer expectantly: Psalm 5:11-12

Because of Jesus we are called Righteous!

¹¹ But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
       let them ever sing for joy.
       Spread your protection over them,
       that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

¹² For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

New Camera & Note from Langley

2009-06-19T17:38:00.000-07:00

We got a new video camera today. Our old one was huge and took forever to download videos. So this should be great for posting videos of Elizabeth while in China. I took a short video for a "test" post. Here it is:

The following is Langley's first post on this blog. I hope she'll do some more in China...I think she will....she loves to write.

Elizabeth is my only sister! I really like the idea of me going to China!YIPPI YIPPI!! COOL!!! I know the flight will be long but its worth it.I think it will be fun but I'm a little nervous , I haven't been this far from home. I think that this will be the best summer ever!Actually I know that this will be the best summer ever! And I will always remember my 9 birthday!

Forever Family Quilt Squares (#26-30)

2009-06-16T23:44:00.000-07:00

We took the kids to a quilt store and each walked through the aisles of fabrics until they found just the perfect fabric for their little sister. John and I selected fabric as well. It was a very sweet time together as we shared our excitement of Elizabeth joining the 5 of us!

This is the fabric Langley selected. I think it is so beautiful & unique.....very much like Langley. She has a beautiful heart and has been praying/dreaming of a sister for years.

This is what Gray selected. He is very decisive. It was the first one he saw and refused to consider anything else. I think Gray loves Elizabeth very much....He is going to be a great big brother!

And this is what our superstar Mac selected. It is very appropriate. Mac spent a lot of time on his card. He wanted to say just the right thing to his new sister. What a sweet boy!

This is from me. These are some of my favorite colors and had an asian look as well. It expresses the beauty that Elizabeth has brought to my heart.

And this what John selected. I think he was the most thoughtful of all of us. Elizabeth is named after his grandmother, Nana. John adored his grandmother. She was a schoolteacher and wanted to find a fabric that expressed Elizabeth's namesake.

New Info!

2009-06-15T18:23:00.000-07:00

When we received Elizabeth's referral we learned that she had been in foster care since 3 months old. Soon afterwards we learned which organization provided her foster care. I contacted that organization and sent letters to her sponsors here in the US thanking them for sponsoring her. Due to China rules, the organization is not allowed to share any information with adoptive parents....they can only share info with sponsors. So we were hoping that perhaps we would meet a sponsor and they would have some type of history or info on Elizabeth.

Last week, a letter arrived from one of Elizabeth's sponsors. We were so thrilled! I called the lady at home and we spoke for a while. I explained how only she could share info with us that the organization wasn't allowed to do that. Suddenly, she realized how her "updates" were precious to us. And she promised me she would look and see how many updates she could find and send them to us. Well, today those updates arrived. I had no idea what to expect or what type of information would be in the sponsor updates.

The information we received today is priceless. We have 4 new photos. We have sets of measurements and can actually create a growth chart for the doctors! We have much more detailed info about her developmental and social growth. And we even have a little more insight into her arm....she can move it!!!

One of the most significant insights is her relationship with her foster family. This precious baby is going to be sad, oh so sad in a few short days. As I pray for my days to get shorter as I want to hold her, I pray for God to lengthen her days with her foster family. I pray that she enjoys their love and presence immensely these few remaining days with them. They obviously have loved her well. I am overwhelmed thinking about how sad my baby's heart will be as she leaves her mother, father, and sister. That is how she knows them. Those are the names she calls them. I am praying for God to fill us with wisdom and grace to love this baby and walk with her in her grief. I am praying for a miracle....for God to create a corner for us in her heart and with his healing that corner will grow as she learns to trust us.

I am praising God for the details in this new information that show us His presence and loving care. Several reports talk about how much Elizabeth loves playing with her sister's "electric organ". When we sent a care package we sent one toy....an electric piano. We didn't know what she would like, but God did. Also it appears she is very close to her sister and we don't know her age but it sounds as though she is older. I wonder if she is Langley's age? And God placed it on our hearts from day one that Langley was to go on this trip. He knew even before Elizabeth was born that she would need her sister during this time.

Here are our sweet new photos. The love is abounding in our hearts!

April 2009

December 2008

August 2008

April 2008

A new dress and more quilt squares(#22-25)

2009-06-12T06:21:00.001-07:00

My sister (stitchingtochina.blogspot.com) made another dress for Elizabeth. Isn't it cute?

She made a matching skirt for Langley as well. She is selling her amazing designs to raise money for their second China adoption. You will LOVE her creations!

This is a square from my niece Corinne. Corinne just had her first trip to Disney World and is very excited about princess, fairies.....and mermaids! I think she and Elizabeth will have a lot of fun with each other!

This is from my nephew Davis. I love the "bad kitties" in this print. Davis is wickedly funny and has a super tender heart. This print makes me laugh....just like Davis always does.

This is from my oldest nephew Graham. Kitties are obviously important in their house! I think this is so sweet and loving...especially with what he wrote!

This is from some friends here in our town. They just had their first baby! How sweet for this new Momma to share in our joy. Congrats on your new little guy!

Langley's VERY SPECIAL birthday present!

2009-06-09T06:46:00.000-07:00

Our oldest child, Langley, who is going to China with us is celebrating her 9th birthday while we are there....June 28th.

I just got an email from our agency and Langley is getting a very special gift on her 9th birthday.....her baby sister!!!

Yep, we are meeting Elizabeth a day early!!!

I've posted our travel schedule on the right sidebar.

So God is giving us our daughters on the same day of the year!

Details, details, details

2009-06-07T20:40:00.000-07:00

I've had the "supply" suitcase packed for several weeks now. And last week we pretty much packed our clothes for all 4 of us. I went back through all the supplies and repacked, taking somethings out and adding some other stuff. We are taking 3 suitcases, all under 44 lbs (China weight limit). We have an extra duffle packed in the bottom of one suitcase in case we need it to bring home gifts.

So here is what is in the "supply" bag:

Diapers (one small pack, we'll have to buy more in China)

Wipes & Beaudreaux Butt Paste

Swim Diapers

Scented small garbage bags for stinky diapers

Ergo (to carry Elizabeth, facilitates attachment)

Gifts for officials (sunscreen, lip balm, maybelline makeup, gift bags & tissue)

BIG box of Cheerios : ) and ziplock baggies

2 small boxes animal crackers

Baby lotion

Exchange outfit/shoes to give orphanage (replaces what Elizabeth is wearing)

Bottles

Super soft snuggly blanket

Soft "lovey" blankie

Art supplies for Elizabeth (we were told she loves to draw & color) "fat" pencils and triangle fat crayons so they won't roll on airplane! construction paper, drawing pad, magic finger painting, coloring book, small magna doodle, foam stickers, regular stickers

Bubbles

2-3 small books

Blow beach ball & 2 small bouncy balls

Stacking cups & stacking rings

1 pair of shoes (we plan on buying shoes in China!)

The 2nd suitcase has our clothes and our 9 yr old's clothes.

The final suitcase has Elizabeth's clothes, toiletries, medications, and snacks for ourselves.

Tonight I worked on a couple of special items.

First is the foster family's gift. We are giving foster mom a locket with two photos of Elizabeth. We hope this expresses some of our gratitude to her! We also giving them a photo album with every photo we have of Elizabeth and a few of our family. I still need to write a letter to include with the gift and have the letter translated.....that's going on my "to do" list.

I'm also creating two little photo albums for Elizabeth. One is "baby einstein" and is so cute. She can chew on it and play with it. I have another one with ladybugs on it that will have more family photos. I'm focusing on photos of her brothers and the grandparents. These are the people she will see the most once at home.

Now I'm going to see what's next on the "to do" list : )

Words that hurt

2009-06-07T06:20:00.000-07:00

I came across this blog: namastechild.blogspot.com and read her entry about PC speech related to adoption. I thought the way she wrote about it was very good. She points out what the child is hearing/interpretting and also the Momma Lion response. Then she states what is best to say. This is very helpful to me on both sides of the converstation. I have learned alot and hopefully don't say the hurtful things I have said in the past.

We all have put our foot in our mouth....if you think you haven't you might want to pull it out right now..Haha! I will share two experiences where I wish I had just kept my mouth shut or at least thought through what I was saying. Both these instances were conversations with adoptive moms that I adore and they both inspired me to adopt. I truly love these families and it hurts my heart that my words were so thoughtless. Praise God for mercy & forgiveness.

Scenario #1: Adoptive mother talking to me about the challenges of her adopted child. Major attachment issues that were destroying their family. I am VERY close to this family. I consider them my spiritual mentors. I have a degree in counseling so in my smugness I say "I just don't think people think through all the issues with these kids who have traumatic histories. I think they have no idea what they are getting themselves into" Her loving, gracefilled, SHINE THE LIGHT into my dark heart response? "I just don't think that is how Jesus would see it or how he would look at these children. He loves them." Uhhhh, not only did that shut my arrogant mouth but it opened my hard heart. Thank you sweet friend!

Scenario #2: Family at my church, B & L. I felt a special connection to the daughter who was adopted from China. God did use this little girl to open my heart to my own daughter! But one Sunday I was helping in the nursery with this mother and her daughter. Another family's newly adopted daughter from China, M, was in the nursery with us that morning. We were told not to put her in a swing b/c she hated it and spent a lot of time confined to a chair, swing, etc. while at the orphanage. When that comment was made I piped in with "The conditions those children live in are just awful!" I continued with some more statements about the horrid conditions of the orphange.....of course all my knowledge was from the family in scenario #1 and the TV news shows. I said this in front of L who was an elementary age girl who also lived in one of those orphanage. Thank goodness her mother was wise. She looked at me STRONGLY and said "Yes, but the children are brave and resiliant and God protected these girls and brought them home" I am so sorry for saying words that were hurtful to L, that was wrong. It is her mother's place, not mine, to explain to her what her life was like in the orphanage.

Here is the excerpt from the other blog.

I don't get hung up on P.C. speech. Say "Special education" or "Exceptional child education"; "Black" or "African American". I don't care. I will say though that my oldest is NOT "Oriental". Things are "oriental", like rugs. People from that far off continent are "Asian." To those who have called my son, "oriental", I'm sure you were doing so out of ignorance, not malice, so no harm done. Please forgive the, "He's not a vase," mumbled under my breath. Now you know.

As an adoptive mom I hear all sorts of comments. And since my kids are usually within earshot, and the comments are often about them, I'm a little more sensitive to what is said, how it's worded, and how it's heard in my kids' ears. I'm going to assume that most people are simply ignorant. Adoption is foreign to them, and well-intentioned, good hearted people ask questions and make comments that really aren't appropriate. This post may shed some light on what I'm talking about.

Comments we hear at Walmart, restaurants, the park, church, school...:

1. "Are those your real children?" What I want to say: "Yes, I leave the fake ones at home." What my kids hear: "Why would someone look at our family and question whether or not I'm a real person? Why isn't Mommy my real Mommy?" What the speaker means, and SHOULD say: "Are they biologically your children?" or "Are you an adoptive family?" My answer: "Yes, they are ours. We are an adoptive family."

2. "OH! Are they adopted?" What I want to say: "Please, make them feel like more of a freak of nature-ask us if they're part iguana." What my kids hear: "Wow-people can tell I'm weird just by looking at me from across the room!" What the speaker SHOULD say: "Are you an adoptive family?" My answer: "Yes, we are."

*Yes...there's a pattern here. "Adoptive FAMILY" is a good, P.C. term. It shines the adoption spotlight on everyone in the family to share equally instead of one kid-the adopted one, often young and insecure-being singled out as being different in front of strangers.

3. "How much did they cost?" What I want to say, and often do because this one makes me mad: "I don't buy babies. That's a felony." What my kids hear: "There is a dollar amount on my worth." What the speaker SHOULD have asked: "How much are the fees associated with adoption?" What I would tell you then: "About the same as birthing a baby, without complications, and there is an $11,000 tax credit to help defer some of the expense."

4. "Aren't you sad you can't have your own children?" What I want to say, and sometimes do: "These are my OWN children, and are you kidding me? Look at them! They're AMAZING! How could I want anyone other than them?!." What my kids hear: "Please Mommy say that you love us as much as you would love a biological child. If other people doubt that, maybe we should too." What the speaker SHOULD have said, PRIVATELY: "Are you sad you couldn't have biological children?" My answer: "No. We chose adoption."

5. "They're so lucky to have you!" What I say: "I'm blessed to have THEM." What my kids hear: "Why are we lucky? What's so wrong with us that no one else would want us?" What the speaker SHOULD have said, "What beautiful children! You are so blessed to be their mom!"My answer then: "Yes, I am!" Besides, I'm a Christian, so luck has nothing to do with it.

6. "I know someone who adopted. They had to give those kids back because they were so messed up and couldn't adjust." What I want to say: "Are you SERIOUSLY saying this out loud in front of my children!?" What my kids hear: "Our adoption isn't permanent; it's subject to my good behavior." What the speaker SHOULD have said: "I know someone who adopted. It can have its own challenges." My response: "Yes, parenting is a big responsibility and it doesn't always turn out like we plan. But adoption is forever, just like with a biological family."

7. "Do you know his real mom?" What I want to say, "I am his real mom." What the kids hear: "I have a real mom? Who are you then?" What the speaker MEANT to say to avoid raising my ire: "Do you have contact with their birth families?" My answer then: "We have limited contact with them, and respect them very much for the loving choice they made."

8. Something along the lines of "Are you babysitting?" "Are you a foster mom?" "They don't look like you" (ya think!) or the long stare that says, "What is THIS family situation?" What I say: "We're an adoptive family." What the speaker SHOULD have said: nothing. Or-you guessed it- "Are you an adoptive family?"

9. "You're just like Angelina Jolie!" What I want to say: "No. I definitely am not. But if sharing one common cause makes you just like someone else, then I guess I'm her clone, despite my five foot nothing-ness, ponytail and sweat pants in the Walmart aisle." What the speaker SHOULD have said: Nothing. I really am tired of this one. Not that she isn't a great person...I just don't like being compared to anyone, and I certainly don't adopt to be celeb.

There are countless other odd comments we've received, but those are the big nine, unless it's Tim and Jason with the kids at Walmart. They get a whole other set of looks and comments! HA! So my point is, if you see a conspicuous family and want to know more, please consider what those kids will hear when you begin asking questions. Think if it were your family. Know that adoptive families have the same amount of love running through them as biological ones, so no...you can't get away with these comments because it won't offend the mom as much as talking about her "real" children. Those are her "real" children. They do offend, and they confuse, but they also open the door for education and productive adoption conversation.

When in doubt, go with, "Are you an adoptive family?" with a big welcoming smile. Leave luck out of it; remember we're all adopted through Jesus, and those kids are our most treasured gifts, so please don't make them squirm in uncomfortability in their grocery carts and set mom up for a long talk in the car on the way home about how we really are a REAL family. (Yes, I made up that word.)

Quilt Squares 12-21!

2009-06-05T15:35:00.000-07:00

How cute is this bumblebee square?! These are sweet friends from church. Their youngest is especially precious to us right now as he lets me "practice" with him. He is the same size as Elizabeth. What a precious family!

This is from a friend in Little Rock....a fellow adoptive mom who is still waiting the long wait for referral. I love that she sent me a vintage fabric from her dear mother. This is a Japanese fabric!

This dear family walked with us through medical school and we grew our families at the same time and pace! They have been so kind & supportive through all types of life events!

Aren't these little girl's cute. This is a fellow adoptive family who has two little girls from Korea. I also know their older sister who has a heart for orphans and has already done amazing work for those precious children.

This cute piece is from my brother's family. We are having two babies join our family at the same time. My sister in law is due to delivery their 2nd child while we are in China! We hate to miss meeting our niece on her birthday but our hearts will be with them from from away.

I think this is just about one of the cutest notes & fabrics I've ever seen. This is from a family that I meet on an adoption blog! The adoption world is really a large family!

This is another piece from another family I meet on an adoption blog. I'm so amazed at the kindness shown by other adoptive parents. This community is what helps sustain you through the long wait.

This is a very cool piece from my dear Aunt Melba. Oh how we love her and Elizabeth is going to love her too! She is the grandmother of 4, and her youngest granddaughter came home from China last summer.

Are we blessed or what? This is from my 96 1/2 yr old grandmother. Elizabeth's great grandmother! Momma Hazel is healthy, active, and witty. When I showed her Elizabeth's photo she thought she was very cute!

Updated Measurements

2009-06-05T04:57:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, before the travel plans went haywire, we got an update on Elizabeth!

We think this is probably a month or two old now so she might a "little" bigger which still doesn't make her very big! I'm taking 12 month size clothes for her. I have few 18 month dresses, just b/c I like dresses longer on little girls. So we'll see!

She is almost 20 pounds

She is 27.5 inches tall.....that's not very tall : )

Her foot is 10.5 centimeters. We think this about an infant size 3 shoe! TINY!

She has 8 teeth up and 9 teeth down.

Oh, and I'll do an quilt posting soon! We have received SEVERAL quilt squares and notes! Please keep them coming. We'd love to have as many home as possible before we travel but will certainly love to receive them even once we are home. I think we are about 1/3 way there to 100 squares!

God Answers Prayers!!! WE ARE LEAVING JUNE 24th!!!

2009-06-04T13:16:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU to all you prayer warriors!!!

God has heard His people's cry!

We (and our entire travel group!!!) are leaving June 24th! We will return on July 10th.

We have reserved our flights and are now working on hotels and other details.

What an amazing, exciting time. What a blessing to be surrounded by the body of Christ!

More updates coming soon!!!!

Prayers PLEASE...travel issues

2009-06-03T17:36:00.000-07:00

Disappointing news today. There is too much to go into but basically our travel is delayed again.

It is confusing and we're not even sure if necessary.

And I want to clearly state that this is NOT a delay from China. These additional hoops to be jumped through are from the USA government. The inefficiency and lack of foresight is absurd. Countless families and children are going to be affected. It is complicated and frustrating.

What I would like to do is rally the prayer warriors. I believe we are in a spiritual battle. We put all our trust in God's timing & purpose. We also know we are called to pray and put on the full armor of God!

TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!!

2009-05-29T04:23:00.000-07:00

BIG news today!

We have received Travel Approval!!!

This is the LAST piece of paperwork we need from China in order to GO GET OUR BABY!

Now, don't stop the prayers! The swine flue is still causing some adoption problems....

We are waiting to get our Consulate appointment(CA) and get the OK to enter the Fujian province. Over the last few weeks some provinces have refused to allow Americans to enter. So pray, pray, pray that the flue will fizzle away and our appointments will go through next week.

Once we have our CA, then we book our fights! We have been collecting American Express points since we first got married (13 yrs) We are hoping to have enough points to purchase our airline tickets. So while your praying for the CA, would you mind praying for our airline tickets?

So if all goes well..........WE ARE LEAVING JUNE 25th!

And Elizabeth Day will be JUNE 29th!

I also want to write about the miracle of adoption. If you have ever witnessed an adoption, or really any "birth" of any child into a family....its a miracle. I wrote about this some on our first website when my sister was waiting for Corinne. Here is my entry from January 2007 (the beginning of our paperchase):

I have been fortunate to experience my body birth a baby 3 times. I have watched my sister give birth twice. Participating in the birth of a baby is a highly spiritual experience for me. God has given women a special place in that we feel & physically participate in His creation. Both my sister and I had "natural" childbirths, meaning no medications. So I feel I have seen/felt labor in a very pure form. What I remember about childbirth is first, pain. Yes it is painful. But there is this amazing gift on the other side of the pain. Labor is hard work. It requires dedication, resiliancy, endurance, patience, encouragement from others, faith, stamina, hope, and most of all love. I was so honored and blessed that my sister asked me to join her as I watched my 2 nephews be born. She had her husband as her "coach" and I was another person to support her through labor. I watched a beautiful love between my sister and her husband. I watched them depend on each other and their Lord. Every once and while I got to offer a word of encouragement or hold her hand. I was a very small part of the entire labor but it meant the world to me and I think I did help my sister. It was the most intimate experience I've ever had with someone besides my husband. I have been in the "labor" room with my sister for almost a year now as she waits for her daughter from China. And again, I am blessed. I have watched her "blossom" but it is her heart not her belly that has grown. I have found her adoption pregnancy just as exciting and facinating as her physical pregnancy. I've seen her nesting in the early days, working quickly and systematically gathering papers & documents. I've seen her "glow" with excitement with the LID and Referral. I've seen her "joints swell" from standing too long for the TA. And I've seen her grow weary with being "post due", experiencing early labor but not quite in the hospital (or on the airplane) just yet. My sister is about to be on the other side of the labor pains. She is about to receive a precious gift, her daughter. I am just beginning my "pregnancy". I hope I grow as beautifully as she has. My sister knows her child's face & name which I think must be like feeling a baby move in your womb. I'm so early in our adoption pregnancy that I can't feel those "movements" yet but I know its coming. I am amazed how God created our bodies to know how to grow and birth a baby. And now God has shown me this beautiful world of adoption. How a child is conceived in our hearts & minds. And how we "carry" that child through the paperchasing and waiting. And finally we labor with pain, hope, and love. Its the delivery that is the miracle. God delivers that sweet baby into our arms. Perhaps we are delivered as well.....

I'm just overwhelmed since we received Elizabeth's referral. This journey is soooo precious. I'm reminded that the God created gestation of pregnancy is significant and life giving just like the gestation/waiting I have experienced with Elizabeth. Here I am in the last weeks....the final trimester. My hormones are raging. The tears are so close and flow easily. I can't clean enough! I'm reading 2 books at once about parenting her. I dream about her, day and night. I forget things (like my birthdate on my Visa application!). I love my husband more deeply. I want to hold my kids closer. The aching heart & arms are almost unbearable at times.

Thank you God for preparing my heart and spirit to be Elizabeth's mother. I pray that you prepare her heart to meet her family. We love her so much, thank you that You love her more.

18 months old, My sister's sewing, & "presidential" quilt square

2009-05-24T20:53:00.000-07:00

Our sweet Elizabeth turned 18 months old today......a milestone. We are so sad we can't be with her today but are so grateful that she is with her foster family. We really have no idea if our travel is going to be delayed (due to swine flue). The regular timeline (prior to swine flu) would have our Travel Approval arriving this week, but we'll see. We are still hoping it will arrive and we still hope to get to travel June 25th.

Now for a little promotion for my sister.....She has made a darling outfit for Elizabeth and is also making matching shorts for Langley. If time allows she is going to make another outfit for Elizabeth & Langley. She is very talented and her clothes are beautiful. My sister and her husband are in the process of their 2nd special needs China adoption. She has a blog on which she sells her creations to raise money for their adoption. Please visit her at www.stitchingtochina.blogspot.com

There is also a link on the right colume under "My Blog List"

She has amazing taste and the quality of her clothes is simply beautiful. Here is Elizabeth's sweet new outfit:

This week we received quilt square #11!

This comes from a friend from Little Rock, Connie Fails. Connie is the manager of the Clinton Museum Store and is a wonderful clothing designer. She is also a fellow adoptive mom.

She has been so kind and supportive to us since we've shared our news of Elizabeth! Connie sent us this special square and a lovely note. I want to share what the note says since I could only photograph the front of the note. Then follows the photo of the square and a photo of Mrs. Clinton wearing the mentioned suit, designed by Connie. Pretty cool!

For Elizabeth. This square of fabric is unique like you! It is fabric left from Hillary Clintons 1993 Inaugural suit for the swearing in ofthe 42nd President of the U.S. May you follow in the steps of a strong woman of service! Love to you & your family. Adoptive Mom Connie Fails

Quilt Squares 8, 9, & 10

2009-05-18T18:25:00.000-07:00

We received some more squares!

#8 is from another sweet friend whom I traveled to China with last summer, Kristen. She has a heart of gold.

#9 is from John's brother and his family, Rob, Mary Anne, Zoe & Turner. We are so thankful to

have supportive family! I love this Raggedy Anne & Andy quilt as it will always make us think of Elizabeth's Arkansas cousins Zoe & Turner : )

#10 is from "family by marriage"...Meredith & Darren. Meredith is also our very patient, long suffering realtor who has been helping us 2 years sort through housing crisis! If you need a kind, sharp-as-a-tack, honest realtor....you need Meredith!

Elizabeth's beginning

2009-05-12T21:06:00.000-07:00

Be sure to STOP the music down at the bottom of the page!

Click on the bottom right square(looks like a box in a box) under the video picture and it will make it go full screen. I'm not sure how to make it fit better??

Music "When Love Takes You In" by Steven Curtis Chapman

Quilt Squares 2-7!!!

2009-05-12T20:55:00.000-07:00

It is such a blessing to receive these squares! It really is an encouragement to us while we wait to travel!

Squares #2, 3, 4, & 5 are from our friends, the Duncans from church who also lead our community group. They have 4 precious children, whom our children LOVE! I really love each of these fabrics!

Square #6 is from the Clunan family. I grew up with this family and they are so supportive and encouraging to us.

Square #7 is from the Blackford family. We play soccer together and go to school together. Beth is extremely talented and the photo below shows the darling personalized items she made for Elizabeth!

From our daughter's perspective

2009-05-10T19:32:00.000-07:00

I am currently reading a book specifically on Toddler adoption. I have read a few other attachment/adoption books already. But now that we know Elizabeth's age I wanted to get some more preparation for her age & development. What I have read thus far is very enlightening.

We are already making some choices to help facilitate attachment and bonding once Elizabeth is home. We are planning on not traveling, keeping daily routines, limiting outings & visits and other things as Elizabeth shows us what she needs and as we seek God's guidance in loving her well. John and I are in conversation with the children about how Elizabeth might be sad/mad or we might do things differently with her (discipline, boundaries, responses). Right now their hearts are very open & tender for their new sister.....I'm sure that will be challenged once she is home! But I have to say, I'm blessed with 3 tender-hearted and kind children......Elizabeth has an amazing sister and 2 of the best brothers anyone could hope for!

There is a pretty well know article written by Cynthia Hockman-Chupp. Please read it below. As it relates to my precious daughter......she was with her birth mother for 1 month, lived in the orphange for 2 months, lived with her foster family 15 months........and then with us, her forever family until she lives with her Abba Father.

Join us in praying for our sweet girl's heart..........

A Different Perspective

Hanky required. For anyone considering adoption, please read this article.

November 01,2006 / Cynthia Hockman-Chupp

Imagine for a moment....

You have met the person you've dreamed about all your life. He has every quality that you desire in a spouse. You plan for the wedding, enjoying every free moment with your fiancée. You love his touch, his smell, the way he looks into your eyes. For the first time in your life, you understand what is meant by soul mate, for this person understands you in a way that no one else does. Your heart beats in rhythm with his. Your emotions are intimately tied to his every joy, his every sorrow.

The wedding comes. It is a happy celebration, but the best part is that you are finally the wife of this wonderful man. You fall asleep that night, exhausted from the day's events, but relaxed and joyful in the knowledge that you are next to the person who loves you more than anyone in the worldthe person who will be with you for the rest of your life. The next morning you wake up, nestled in your partner's arms. You open your eyes and immediately look for his face. But it's not him! You are in the arms of another man. You recoil in horror. Who is this man?

Where is your beloved?
You ask questions of the new man, but it quickly becomes apparent that he doesn't understand you. You search every room in the house, calling and calling for your husband. The new guy follows you around, trying to hug you, pat you on the back. . .even trying to stroke your arm, acting like everything is okay. But you know that nothing is okay. Your beloved is gone. Where is he? Will he return? When? What has happened to him? Weeks pass. You cry and cry over the loss of your beloved. Sometimes you ache silently, in shock over what has happened. The new guy tries to comfort you. You appreciate his attempts, but he doesn't speak your language-either verbally or emotionally. He doesn't seem to realize the terrible thing that has happened...that your sweetheart is gone.

You find it difficult to sleep. The new guy tries to comfort you at bedtime with soft words and gentle touches, but you avoid him, preferring to sleep alone, away from him and any intimate words or contact. Months later, you still ache for your beloved, but gradually you are learning to trust this new guy. He's finally learned that you like your coffee black, not doctored up with cream and sugar. Although you still don't understand his bedtime songs, you like the lilt of his voice and take some comfort in it. More time passes. One morning, you wake up to find a full suitcase sitting next to the front door. You try to ask him about it, but he just takes you by the hand and leads you to the car. You drive and drive and drive. Nothing is familiar. Where are you? Where is he taking you?

You pull up to a large building. He leads you to an elevator and up to a room filled with people. Many are crying. Some are ecstatic with joy. You are confused. And worried. The man leads you over to the corner. Another man opens his arms and sweeps you up in an embrace. He rubs your back and kisses your cheeks, obviously thrilled to see you. You are anything but thrilled to see him. Who in the world is he? Where is your beloved? You reach for the man who brought you, but he just smiles (although he seems to be tearing up, which concerns you), pats you on the back, and puts your hand in the hands of the new guy. The new guy picks up your suitcase and leads you to the door. The familiar face starts openly crying, waving and waving as the elevator doors close on you and the new guy. The new guy drives you to an airport and you follow him, not knowing what else to do. Sometimes you cry, but then the new guy tries to make you smile, so you grin back, wanting to get along. You board a plane. The flight is long. You sleep a lot, wanting to mentally escape from the situation.

Hours later, the plane touches down. The new guy is very excited and leads you into the airport where dozens of people are there to greet you. Light bulbs flash as your photo is taken again and again. The new guy takes you to another guy who hugs you. Who is this one? You smile at him. Then you are taken to another man who pats your back and kisses your cheek. Then yet another fellow gives you a big hug and messes your hair. Finally, someone (which guy is this?) pulls you into his arms with the biggest hug you've ever had. He kisses you all over your cheeks and croons to you in some language you've never heard before.

He leads you to a car and drives you to another location. Everything here looks different. The climate is not what you're used to. The smells are strange. Nothing tastes familiar, except for the black coffee. You wonder if someone told him that you like your coffee black. You find it nearly impossible to sleep. Sometimes you lie in bed for hours, staring into the blackness, furious with your husband for leaving you, yet aching from the loss. The new guy checks on you. He seems concerned and tries to comfort you with soft words and a mug of warm milk. You turn away, pretending to go to asleep.

People come to the house. You can feel the anxiety start to bubble over as you look into the faces of all the new people. You tightly grasp the new guy's hand. He pulls you closer. People smile and nudge one other, marveling at how quickly you've fallen in love. Strangers reach for you, wanting to be a part of the happiness. Each time a man hugs you, you wonder if he will be the one to take you away. Just in case, you keep your suitcase packed and ready. Although the man at this house is nice and you're hanging on for dear life, you've learned from experience that men come and go, so you just wait in expectation for the next one to come along.

Each morning, the new guy hands you a cup of coffee and looks at you expectantly. A couple of times the pain and anger for your husband is so great that you lash out, sending hot coffee across the room, causing the new guy to yelp in pain. He just looks at you, bewildered. But most of the time you calmly take the cup. You give him a smile. And wait. And wait. And wait.

How would each of us handle all these changes?

How would this impact us for the rest of our lives?

Tentative Travel Dates & 1st Quilt Square!!!

2009-05-07T12:22:00.000-07:00

Things are progressing.....its so exciting!!!

We got an email from our agency today with "tentative" travel dates of June 25th!!!

We are still waiting on Travel Approval (TA) but it appears our agency thinks its coming soon.

We've got to get busy around here!!! We have a super exciting weekend with John's parents visiting, Gray's bday party, 2 baseball games & 2 soccer games. Next week we have to start focusing on preparing Elizabeth's room and making packing lists! I feel like my brain is going to explode but it is very exciting.

Also today, our first quilt square arrived in the mail! Thank you to my sweet friend Mary and her family. We went on a mission trip last summer together and she has the sweetest spirit!

Here is a photo of Square/Wish #1

Nesting and thrifty shopping

2009-05-03T09:14:00.000-07:00

Its amazing how quickly my nesting instincts set in once we received our referral for Elizabeth!

We are currently in an "interesting" situation as we have been living with family members for a while now. Its a very long story and we are hoping anyday to be in our own home. That being said, nesting is almost impossible because #1 this isn't my home #2 most of our "stuff" is still in storage in another state! Part of that "stuff" in storage is all of my oldest daughter's baby clothes! And I had gathered a few items over the 2 year wait for when we travel to china (like stacking cups!). I never, ever imagined we would not be in own home by now! We are praying constantly if it is God's will for us to be settled in our own place by the time we bring Elizabeth home. There are some pretty major things that have to fall into place but we are hoping. Our family we are living with are extremely gracious and we are very comfortable, so really we don't lack for anything. But it would be so nice to be in our own space with our own "stuff"...its not great stuff but I miss it!

I have felt that I needed to gather a few things for Elizabeth in case I can't get to the baby clothes in storage. Plus its just fun to shop for a little girl! I am a certifiable "thriftaholic". I love finding GREAT deals. I don't like to just shop & buy stuff. But I do love finding wonderful, special things at amazing prices. I love boutique brand children's clothes but don't like paying retail prices! Thrift shops, consignment sales, and garage sales are one of my favorite past times. I even used to sell stuff on Ebay and made a little $$ while hubby was going through school. So I've picked up a few sweet things the past couple of weeks. I can't wait to see my girl all cute in these things!!!

These are a few things to take with us for entertainment, etc. I'm putting photos of the brothers and some of us in the photo album for Elizabeth to look at while we are in China. Her referral said she likes music, so I got this Little Einstein music toy (from Easter clearance!). Then we found these cute sunglasses in a boutique for 75% off! A small tube of bubbles as I have been told that many children in China love these and they don't sell them in China. And finally some bottles...we plan on feeding her with a bottle to help facilitate attachment.

This is a beautiful angel sleeve bishop dress by Anavini. The photo is terrible! I found this at a consignment store for $8!

I love this sweet Luli & Me cherry/raspberry dress. It is so sweet. Found at a thrift store $4

I got this darling Anavini outfit on Ebay as well for $6. The dogs are chasing butterflies...so cute!

This is my favorite brand...Kissy Kissy. It is the softest, sweetest clothes! I found this on Ebay for $6.00!!!

This is Baby Lulu. We found this at COSTCO! It is so soft. Much prettier than picture shows!

This is a darling Kate Mack swimsuit that I have been saving for 2 years! My family used to run a children's clothing sale twice a year and this was one thing leftover from that business!

How cute is this Lili Paris set??? Got it for $1.00 at a garage sale!

It might be too small but taking a couple of sizes since we're not sure of her size.

Do you want to help a miracle????

2009-05-01T10:36:00.000-07:00

I just read about a family who recently adopted an older girl from China. During their adoption trip they learned that their daughter has 2 biological brothers!!!

This amazing family is trying to adopt the younger brother and have him reunited with this sister.

Please visit their website and read this amazing story.

And, please if you have ANYTHING to give, please consider financial support of their efforts.

Their website is

wwwourchinagirl.blogspot.com

PLEASE notice that there is no period(.) between www and the rest of the address. It is suppose to be that way. THANKS!

Isn't it amazing when God lets us see His hand at work!!!

The Good and the Bad

2009-04-29T09:08:00.000-07:00

First the Good......
This morning a sweet package arrived....Our official referral & LOA from our agency. The only thing we had received up this point was via emails. Electronic mail just doesn't have the same impact as REAL mail. I love seeing the "official" documents with the chinese characters and the official referral letter from our agency with Elizabeth's photo.

This is Elizabeth's "official" referral photo. I'm guessing she's around 9 months?

I heard the UPS truck coming up the driveway. When you get a NSN(non special needs) referral this is a HUGE moment b/c it is often in that package that you first see your child's face. Although we have been looking at Elizabeth's photos for a month now it was still a very special moment to officially hold in our hands the "referral". Gray is home today so I let him receive the package and have his photo with the UPS delivery guy!

Now the bad.....

It appears that due to the Swine Flu, adoption referrals and travel approvals from China are going to be put on hold for 20-30 days. This is not official yet but it is pretty rampant in the adoption rumor community. We trust that God is good in all things and even in this His timing is perfect. We were hoping to travel in 6-7 weeks but now we're not sure.

LOA!!!

2009-04-28T14:12:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note.....

We receive our LOA also known as the Seeking Confirmation Letter. This is China's official letter that approves us to adopt Elizabeth!!!!

Now we wait on our travel approval, apply for Visa's and go get Elizabeth!!!

We are estimating that we will travel in about 7 weeks......sometime in June!!

Thank you God!

Homeschool and Forever Family Ponderings

2009-04-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

I can't believe its been almost a month since we first saw Elizabeth's face! A blessing in having 3 children is staying busy during the long waits!!! I find myself thinking about Elizabeth all the time, but I do have 3 other little people to focus on as well.....oh and I have a husband too!

Without going into LOTS of details.....our family has been through a lot the past 2 years. We have been living "day to day" for 2 years.....truly not knowing or having solid plans for the future. I'm a planner so this has been a great lesson in patience and TRUST. I can say that my heart has changed, not perfected, just changed. I am more comfortable in the land of "unknown" now. I guess I've learned over and over and over again.....I'm truly not in control, even though I still fall into the traps of thinking I am. Giving up control is a challenge but it sure is a peaceful place to live. I still long for solid plans and predictability. I feel God is answering my prayers and at the same time asking me to take more steps in faith in the unknown.

This week we are taking a new step in faith. I live in a community that is very strong in homeschooling. I've admired and even envied those families who homeschool. I find it interesting but not a fit for me. This past year the idea of homeschooling has been floating in and out of my heart & mind regarding our oldest daughter. I have wrestled and prayed over the idea for months. My husband and I had actually decided to NOT homeschool just a few days ago. Initially the decision felt very peaceful. But the following 24 hours after our "decision" I was just not at peace. My mind, my heart would race and ache with the decision. My daughter attends a wonderful school and she is very happy there. But I just feel she needs to be home this next year. I knew this was God leading me because when He is leading me there is an element of trust. I sat in the school office and shared my heart and was warmly encouraged. I realized that like all things God calls me to its not because I'm equipped but because HE is equipped. Now, I am going to give my best but I'm not doing this because I am an incredibly skilled teacher. But I do feel God has led me to homeschool my daughter and He knows what she needs and what I need. So now I am praying for wisdom in selecting curriculum, support groups, and tutorials. I am still a bit nervous but mostly very, VERY excited.

One other bit I wanted to share today is from our 4 yr old son, Gray. He talks nonstop about Elizabeth. I really didn't expect him to be so interested. What comes out of his mouth stops me in my tracks and make my heart swell. When we first got her picture he would carry it with him for days. He would sit in his carseat and stare at her photo saying "this is my baby sister". He now asks me several times a day "when are you going to bring my baby sister home???" He gets rather impatient with my replies of "we have to wait in line some more" or "not yet, its not our turn". We have had this same conversation almost daily for several weeks now. A few days ago he wouldn't drop it. Finally, exacerbated he said "You know my baby sister is WAITING for you!"....."She is wondering where you are!!!" Well, that just broke my heart. Yes, Elizabeth is waiting for us and somewhere in her heart I hope God is growing a longing in her for us. She is with the only woman she knows as a mother, her foster mom. I am so grateful for that. Gray knows who his Mom, Dad and Family are and he just can't imagine being so far from us, waiting for us.....he is desperate for Elizabeth to come home.

Adoption is such a reflection of the gospel and God's love.... this makes me think about those who are already "home"...in the constant presence of the Father. Those who LIVE with the Father, in His home, in His arms. Those who have left this earthly home, which we cling so tightly to because it is all we know. We fight the idea of dying and leaving this earthly home. I"m sure my sweet Elizabeth will fight leaving her foster mother. Its like our life here is our foster life, not our forever life. We experience love and blessings in the foster life but it will never be the fullness we will have in our forever life in heaven. We were not designed to live in a "foster" world, we were designed to live in a PERFECT world with our Father. That is why things are so broken on this earth.

Gray's desperate heart for Elizabeth to come home shows me how Jesus must long for me and all his beloved to come home and live with our forever family, with our Forever Father in our Forever Home.

17 months old and nearing 30 day LOA wait

2009-04-26T21:03:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth turned 17 months on Friday.....we hope we get to bring her home soon!!!

Also....this could be a big week. It will be 30 days on Thursday that we have been waiting for our LOA (letter of approval) also known as Seeking Confirmation Letter (SCL). It appears that MOST people wait between 30-50 days....so we hoping for the shorter end of that timeframe.

We have been trying to learn some basic mandarin phrases to communicate with Elizabeth. Here are some phrases we are trying to get better at saying:

I love you

Are you hungry/thirsty?

Do you like that food/drink?

I am Momma/Dada

This is big sister/big brother.

Do you need to potty (we don't know if she'll be potty trained??)

I'm terrible at Mandarin. I've been praying for God to perform a miracle in my mouth and ears so I can hear, learn, and speak. It would be a miracle but that is what He is known for!

Meeting Elizabeth

2009-04-20T14:56:00.000-07:00

On March 31, 2009 we were introduced to our 2nd daughter.

She was born in November 2007 and is waiting for us in Fujian, China.

We can't wait to hold her in our arms!

Rice & Grits

2 years ago today........

Its fun being a little girl!

One year home!

A Posting Drought but we survived a Flood

It was one year ago .....

Little Sprouts Consignment Sale!

LOCATION:1725 Columbia Avenue, Franklin*A Few Doors Down From JumpZone*

Guests & New Moms Pre-Sale

Thursday, February 25th, 8pm*You must have a pass for the presale.*New Moms Register on website: www.littlesproutssale.com

Open to the Public

Friday, February 26th, 9am-6pmSaturday, February 27th, 9am-3pmSunday, February 28th, 1pm-5pm (1/2 Price Day)

Baptism

Quilt Squares 54-64

6 months together

Merry Christmas!

Tis the Season

Look who is 2!

Raise money for Starfish

November Updates

November is Adoption Awareness Month

Halloween

Fall Fun

Go Dawgs!!!

2 month Anniversary

Attachment

Starting the school year

Please Help this Family

Swimming & girls night

One month together

Our amazing little girl

Visits with our new niece/cousin Charlotte

Settling in at home

We're Back!

Try looking at our other website

Shanghai Photos

Shannon and Gerogia

Lunch on Friday

A note from Langley

We are in Shanghai

Getting on the Big Bird to China

Landed in Detroit

Here we goooooooo..........

A sad, difficult decision

Calling on the prayer warriors again! Swine flu....

New Camera & Note from Langley

Forever Family Quilt Squares (#26-30)

New Info!

A new dress and more quilt squares(#22-25)

Langley's VERY SPECIAL birthday present!

Details, details, details

Words that hurt

Quilt Squares 12-21!

Updated Measurements

God Answers Prayers!!! WE ARE LEAVING JUNE 24th!!!

Prayers PLEASE...travel issues

TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!!

18 months old, My sister's sewing, & "presidential" quilt square

Quilt Squares 8, 9, & 10

Elizabeth's beginning

Quilt Squares 2-7!!!

From our daughter's perspective

Tentative Travel Dates & 1st Quilt Square!!!

Nesting and thrifty shopping

Do you want to help a miracle????

The Good and the Bad

LOA!!!

Homeschool and Forever Family Ponderings

17 months old and nearing 30 day LOA wait

Meeting Elizabeth

LOCATION:
1725 Columbia Avenue, Franklin
A Few Doors Down From JumpZone

Thursday, February 25th, 8pm
You must have a pass for the presale.
New Moms Register on website: www.littlesproutssale.com

Friday, February 26th, 9am-6pm
Saturday, February 27th, 9am-3pm
Sunday, February 28th, 1pm-5pm (1/2 Price Day)