Two Beautiful Princesses Arrived Home

Our nieces are home and are adorable!  Can't wait to get the 2 Chinese princesses and the 2 Ethiopian princesses together for a photo shoot this spring.  Check out their blog to follow the rest of their journey. 

Busy Winter Days

Today we've had a "heat" wave with 38 degrees. Whew - bring on springtime!

We've been keeping busy (as usual) this winter, I'm not sure we'd know what to do if we weren't busy. But, it has to be the proper type of busy- things that will help our children to grow and mature, things that will help others, things that please and honor our Savior - that's a "good busy".

I have gotten much better at not stressing that my house isn't just "so" in order to be with the girls or tackle a more important task. It's not always easy for my "everything in it's place" personality - but hey, I'm getting there. I'm trying to remember that in such a short time they will be out on their own and I'll be wishing I was tripping over small plastic animals with oversized heads. ;)

Nat participated in the 3rd grade spelling bee and took home 3rd place. We're proud of her, she did her best which is all she wanted to do. Megan had a field trip to GR and got to ride the bus which she was so excited about. Last night she realized that she has a loose tooth so she's walking around continuing to wiggle it hoping to make it come out. Recently she hasn't wanted to brush her teeth. So, we told her that the tooth fairy won't accept dirty teeth. She ran into the bathroom and started brushing away. :)

We celebrated the Year of the Rabbit for Chinese New Year with a great dinner with fellow adoptive families and then a big celebration with crafts for the kids and fabulous Chinese entertainment from various groups.

Here's a few pics from our busy winter days. We hope that no matter what you are busy doing, you too are doing a "good busy".

My Nieces are coming home!!

My BIL & SIL are on their way to Ethi*opia finally to bring their daughters home!  They leave today and should be home next Saturday.  You can follow their blog here.  I can’t post any pictures but let’s just say – they are beautiful little girls.  E is 2 1/2 years old and B is 1 1/2 years old.  It will be fun to have little toddlers around again!

2010 Catching Up

The last several months of 2010 were busy, tiring, fun but not without great challenges as well. After Megan’s birthday in June, the summer just went crazy which led to an even busier fall and then some tough events happened and low and behold it’s 2011. Whew! So, in an effort to catch up and try to share our family journey, I thought I’d post some pics and stories of the last several months of 2010. So, here we go…

Fun Times during the summer: bowling, playing volleyball in the yard, zoo trips, the beach, and so much more! On one zoo trip Nat decided she wanted to do the high ropes course. It was definitely a lesson in letting go for Mom. I was so nervous watching her but she was confident and wanted to go again as soon as she came down. I’m glad she doesn’t have fear of heights like I do.

Chi*na Reunion with 4 of the 11 families we traveled with back in 2002. Getting together with our adoption family is always a highlight of our summer.

Our 40th Birthdays! We weren’t going to do anything special for our birthdays except surprise the girls with a trip to Disney we had planned for the end of September. However, my sweet husband decided we needed to do something special for my birthday. I woke up to balloons and presents from the girls and Kyle had told me to pack for 4 days and what specifically to bring. Being the “control freak” I am sometimes, I needed to know exactly what the plan was and who was taking care of the girls but Kyle assured me he had everything under control and to relax. Hard to do sometimes but I tried. Well, long story short… he planned a wonderful trip up north to Mack*inaw and the U.P. for a few days. At first I was quite hesitant to go away just the two of us but, once gone, it was quite refreshing and fun! He had everything planned, he’s great at being romantic & fun. Well, on our second night gone, we ended up pulling back into the same hotel we had checked out of earlier that morning. I just laughed & asked why we checked out. He said he had to keep me guessing and if we didn’t check out I’d know we were coming back. Too cute!

So, we pull around to where our room was and I notice a truck that looks similar to my FIL, hmm, I wonder silently but quickly dismiss the thought because why would his truck be here? Meanwhile, Kyle is totally distracted by who knows what and doesn’t hear me chattering about a wedding party bonfire down on the beach…. he’s grabbed our luggage and is heading into our room. I head in, still chattering, put my stuff down, silently notice how disheveled our bed looks (that’s odd), turn around and coming out of the bathroom are my daughters yelling “SURPRISE”!!!

I SCREAM!

Then, my MIL & FIL (it was their truck). I SCREAM and LAUGH!

Then, my Dad, my Mom and my Grandma! I SCREAM, LAUGH, and start to CRY! I’m SHOCKED! I playfully hit Kyle saying something like, “how’d you do this?” Wow! But, the surprise didn’t end there. While I was calming down & chattering a mile a minute about the trip so far, Kyle & the Dad’s went to get pizza. We went over to the lobby area and before walking in Kyle wanted to get a picture of me. This is because my mother didn’t have her camera ready to capture the shocked look on my face – I know – I was a little irritated too – doesn’t she know I’m a scrapbooker?!? Anyway, just as I walk into the lobby area, I see my BIL and SIL too. That did it! I’m now on the floor LAUGHING & CRYING trying NOT to wet my pants. WOW! My husband got me good! My sister & her family were not able to come otherwise all of my immediate family was there. I couldn’t believe it! It was so much fun! Thank you Kyle – you’re the best!!! (His 40th bday would be 6 days later & I’m now thinking, honey, you’re going to be disappointed because I didn’t plan anything like this!)

We enjoyed the rest of the weekend together and took the girls over to Mack*inaw Island. Megan had her first ferry ride & carriage ride too. It was the BEST birthday party ever!!!

First day of school! Nat started 3rd grade and Megs started preschool at Cal*vary Schools. They’re very excited and looking forward to their new year.

Dis*ney was MAGICAL! We had so much fun!! Not only was it the first time for the girls, but Kyle had never been to Mag*ic King*dom either. We took the trip with “Jake” G’ma & G’pa but they weren’t able to do a whole lot because of the high humidity, that was a big bummer! It was a lot of fun. The girls met all the Princesses and most of all the other characters, and their favorites, Mul*an and Mary Pop*pins! We’re looking forward to going back again.

Natalee’s 8th Gotcha Day! Hard to believe it’s been that long already. It’s gone so fast. We have been so blessed to have you Natalee as our daughter! You are an amazing young lady and we love to watch you grow and mature. You are so patient and kind and have a sincere desire to honor God in all that you do. We love you Nat!

Trunk or treating fun! We have a Magical Mic*key complete with light up hat and our sweet Alice in Won*derland. They had fun making their costumes from things found around the house (except the hat – which came from Dis*ney).

Christmas was a busy time but it wasn’t without blessing. This Christmas Megan got more into the meaning of Christmas and understood it better than last year. She was thrilled that she was able to give some special gifts that she picked out with her own money from the kids’ workshop at a local church. She’s still big into San*ta, which we never had with Nat. It’s sweet to see her innocence and pure joy at the thought that San*ta snuck into her house to leave her something special. My girls were blessed beyond measure by all the wonderful gifts given to them. In all honesty, it was a little overwhelming. I have some thoughts on this and will save them for another post another day.

Natalee’s birthday is 5 days before Christmas and this year we decided to have a little mini-getaway to a local hotel. The girls had a blast as they were treated to breakfast in bed and swimming for two days solid. It was a nice treat for everyone, time to just relax and be together before going back to school and starting a new year.

God’s beauty in our backyard!

“Forget the former things: do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV

I also like how The Message says this passage. “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.” Isaiah 43:18-19 The Message

God has been so good to us this year. Yes, we’ve had difficult times in our attachment/bonding process but overall, it’s good. We can be thankful for SO MANY things. We look forward to the new thing that God is going to do in each of our lives and in the life of our family. Stay tuned, thanks for catching up with us and Happy New Year!

To Ethiopia!

Got some attention on that title.  :)  No, it’s not us that is going to Ethiopia, but rather my BIL & SIL.  They leave this morning for their first trip which is for their court date.  They are adopting two precious little girls E & B who are 2 and 1 respectively. Please pray for safety, good travels, passing court, and for the time they spend with their girls that their hearts would bond.  Here’s their blog to follow their journey Love Has Many Flavors

Learning to navigate together…

Well, my last post was tough… sharing the struggles we’ve faced with M and her trauma.  But, as I posted before, God has given us GRACE!  We’ve also received knowledge and wisdom that we didn’t have before.  Right around the time of my last post, we were searching for some way to help M deal with her anger and trauma.  We found a program through our agency, Bethany, called ADOPTS – it’s a 14 week program of individual counseling/therapy and a support group for 6 weeks.  We’re almost finished and all of us have grown closer together and we’ve learned a ton about trauma, the effects on children, and tools to handle it.  M has grown so much in her trust for us and in handling her emotions.  The road is still bumpy right now, but at least the road blocks are being removed and we’re learning how to navigate together! 

Rough Roads - Grace Needed

Okay friends, time to be real. Not that I haven't been real all along but this time it's gut wretching...heart tearing...REAL. One of the reasons for continuing our blog was to keep things real... honest and provide a glimpse into our journey as a family. Along all roads there are at times bumps, rough patches, areas where you have to go reeaallly slow. Well, we've been experiencing one of those types of roads this summer, which is why there hasn't been a post since June. yikes. As we continue to share our journey, we hope it offers encouragment to others, we hope you hear our hearts and we hope that God is glorified in and through us.

Adoption is one of the most amazing gifts and blessings. But... It. Is. HARD. (sometimes)

For the past seven months we have been struggling as a family to help M deal with her emotions. This is a huge challenge just in the fact that she's only 5 and really doesn't understand her feelings let alone have the ability to always verbalize them.

Let me explain what I mean. Sometime around January/February she began to have these anger outbursts, she had a few before this but it was at this time they started to become more and more frequent, we had a harder time helping her calm down, she was physically violent and she began saying some pretty hurtful things. Things that no five year old should ever say - or even know about. I was shocked and TOTALLY unprepared for this! I took it very personally the things she was saying and let them hurt me. As a result I started to put a wall up around myself and would just go through the motions in caring for her, not really caring because I was hurt.

I would get really frustrated (and still do sometimes) with her behavior. Her defiance. Her anger. I found myself lacking control and getting irritated with her instead of being helpful... I was adding to the problem. Many days I found myself just sobbing because I couldn't figure out what went wrong... what happened... how did we get here on this road? And why?


Then she got really sick and we ended up in the hospital for a few days and she had my undivided attention while I helped care for her. The wall came down - partially - and I saw just how needy she really was. How she has fought for herself her entire life.

In Ch*ina, you have to provide your own nurse to take care of you when you are hospitalized. Since she was alone those first few months of her life, an orphan, most likely there were nannies who came once and awhile for her but were not there 24/7. Being in a hospital anywhere is scary for a child, going through surgery, recovery all that stuff and to be alone - my heart aches thinking about it. An infant needs attention & care, espcially one who is ill. So, M has always fought for herself... trying to get what she needs or thinks she needs... and not really letting anyone too close. It breaks my heart to think of the things she's endured in her young life and then I get upset with myself for letting it affect me. I'm the adult. I should be able to look beyond the words, attitudes, and fits and just see her need.

Ya know - that is one of my favorite old hymns, "He looked beyond my faults and saw my needs". It's so true! God looks at us, His children, and probably wants to put a wall up sometimes, shake His head and cry when He sees our attitudes and actions. But yet, despite our failures, faults and fits... He loves us - so much that He gave His son for us. I pray that I can be more Christ-like toward M and see her needs and not her fits.

The walls of my frustration and shortcomings are coming down and are instead being rebuilt with grace, mercy, compassion and patience. Everyday is a challenge, some easier than others... but we get through it only because of the GRACE of God. G R A C E - it's a word we have been learning the full meaning of. Not only have we been teaching our girls about GRACE but also we've been learning this ourselves as we too are reminded of the GRACE that God has given to each one of His adopted children. We deserve NOTHING and yet He so faithfully loves us... cares for us... and provides for us. What we DO deserve, Christ has paid the penalty for us. It's amazing - Grace that is!

Yes, I've failed many times in my responses to her. But, praise God, for His mercy is always new, fresh, just what I need. He is doing a new thing in M and in each one of us! We are learning that His grace is sufficient for all we need.

Lamentations 3:21-24 "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.'"

2nd Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."