5 Years Old!

I have never seen a child more excited about their birthday than Miss Pearl!  Our day started with getting dressed in her birthday shirt!  She loved it.  Our first event of the day was a visit to the ENT for a follow up.  Pearl told everyone that it was her birthday.  Of course, her speech isn't quite clear yet - so I had to interpret :)  She told the man in the elevator, the lady in the waiting room, the nurse, the doctor, etc.etc.

Next stop was Chick Fil A for lunch!  Lainie was along for the fun since we were out of school!  Pearl told everyone in the restaurant it was her birthday and that worked out great!  The manager gave the girls a free ice cream sundae!

Then it was home to celebrate with presents,

cake,

and a bubble bath for the queen.

All day I've been reminded of the words to a song by Audio Adrenaline:

"Boys become kings, girls will be queens
Wrapped in Your majesty
When we love, when we love the least of these
Then they will be brave and free
Shout your name in victory
When we love when we love the least of these
When we love the least of these!"

Happy birthday to our little five-year-old queen.  

Once among the least of these, now loved and adored!

Our Precious Pearl

One year ago today I met our precious Pearl in a hotel room on the other side of the world. I will never forget how confidently she walked into the room ahead of the orphanage staff.  She came straight to me and NEVER LOOKED BACK.  She walked into that room and into her new life with reckless abandon.  It was if she said,  "Hi. They told me you were mama and that you would take care of me.  So here I am."  She clung to me those 2 weeks in China and every day since.  No one else in China could hold her or do anything else for her.  In that moment she chose to trust me and she never looked back.  I was it.  I was all she had.
I've sat here staring at this computer screen trying to come up with words that would explain the journey we've been on since that first day.  It is only in looking back at her first month or so at home that I realize how far she has truly come.  She has had a major heart surgery, palate surgery, tubes put in her ears, and countless medical and developmental testing.  We've discovered she has a blood disorder called Thalasemia, severe tooth decay, speech impairment, expressive language delay, developmental delay, hearing loss, keloid scarring, orthopedic issues requiring shoe inserts and physical therapy, etc. etc. etc.
Yet, she is our precious Pearl.  She has learned how to love and how to live. She's still tries to be the boss of our house - but she's come a long way in learning how to be a part of a family.  A long, long way.  And although we've been tested more mentally, physically and spiritually than ever before, she is worth it. She is worthy of our love.  She is worthy of all that we have because she is a daughter of the KING.  There will be more struggles and hurdles to come as we journey through life with her, but she is our priceless, precious Pearl and we will go to the ends of the Earth to meet her needs and help her grow into the person that God has intends for her to be.
Here she is tonight.... tucked in safe and sound, surrounded by the love of her family. 

"Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 1 Cor. 4:7

We LOVE you Pearl! 

Mia's Gotcha Day!

January 30, 2010      Xian, China,  Shaanxi Province

Mia has been home three years today!  I thought it might be fun to record her thoughts on this day, so I asked her a few questions.

1.  What do you remember about the day you were brought to your mom and dad?
I was very, very sad and I didn't really know who you were.  I didn't know where I was going.  I thought I was going to your house that day.  I woke up that morning and Nai Nai (foster grandmother) fixed me noodles for breakfast.  She gave me a red grocery bag with cookies in it.  She gave me those so I wouldn't get hungry on the long drive to meet you.  I was really sad that morning.  I didn't want to leave Nai Nai.  I got dressed and my  clothes were not neat.  They didn't look like what a person should wear.  I had boys shoes on  that someone had passed down to me.  Nai Nai and I walked to the orphanage.  She gave me her phone number on a piece of paper.  She told me to call her whenever I wanted to call. The  people from the orphanage came out to meet us.  I said goodbye to Nai Nai and they put me in the car.  Nai Nai and I were both crying.  We drove a long way.  I was very car sick.  I had never, ever ridden in a car before.  Nai Nai and I walked everywhere.  The orphanage took me to get new clothes because my clothes needed to be nicer to meet you.  They also took the paper Nai Nai had written her phone number on.  It was all wrinkled because I had been holding on to it so tight.  They wrote it on another piece of paper for me.  I was very upset because they changed the  paper.  I wanted to keep the one that Nai Nai had given me.  She also gave me a book with some pictures in it.  The pictures were from a day that Nai Nai had taken me to the orphanage to get my picture taken.  Nai Nai told me to be sure to eat good. 

2.  What did you think when you first saw us?
I was scared of Daddy because he was bald and very tall.  I thought his blue eyes were scary.  I thought I did not want to be with you.  I wanted to go back with Nai Nai.  I was crying because I didn't want to stay with y'all.  I was glad that Sherry (our guide) was there so that I had someone to talk to that could understand me.

3.  What do you remember about your time in China with us?
I really liked the watercolor paint and the playdough that you brought me.  I did NOT like taking a bath in the tub because I had never done that before.  At Nai Nai's house we only took a bath in a bucket.  I had never seen a potty before either. (note from mom - I left details about the bathroom conditions out - Mia thought she might be embarrassed if anyone knew what their bathroom was like), The floor in the house was cement like the floor in our garage. There was not a sink.  Nai Nai got the water from outside.  She heated it up on a little fire in the house.  We had a table where Nai Nai, her husband and her real granddaughter sat.  BoBo (another foster child) and I sat at a small table on the floor.  There were two beds.  Nai Nai, her husband, their granddaughter, and Bobo and me all slept in the same bed.  There was another teenager girl who was part of the family that slept in another bed.  Nai Nai's granddaughter lived with us because her mom needed to work.  We were in the same class at school.  Nai Nai treated her differently than she treated me.  She got better stuff than me. 

5.  What was school like in China?
We learned some of the same math.  We learned how to add and subtract.  My teacher was a woman.  I didn't get to tell her goodbye.  I left during winter break.  We had nap time. I didn't have any friends there.  I don't know why.  We played on the playground after naps.  We learned how to write Chinese characters but I didn't learn how to read.  If we got in trouble the teacher would spank your hand with a ruler.  I got my hand spanked sometimes.  I don't remember why.  We always walked to school.  Nai Nai walked us there.

6.  What did you do to have fun?
We used sticks as phones.  We played with dirt.  We didn't have any toys outside or in the house.  We played outside a lot.  We got very dirty.  We only took a bath every seven days.  We took baths outside.  We had a TV.  We watched a cartoon called The Pleasant Sheep.  There was a bad wolf that tried to get the sheep.  We did our homework.

7.  Did you celebrate any holidays?
 Only Chinese New Year.  We put red signs on the door.  All of Nai Nai's family came.  Some boy, maybe my cousin, played with us.  We played with his toys.  His mom was a real mom.  She brought him stuff.  He even had a jade necklace.  We could see fireworks.  We built a fire and jumped over it.  Now I think that is dangerous.  We didn't get any presents.  We ate eggs, and chicken and noodles.  There was not any cake or pie like at Mamaw's house. 
We didn't celebrate birthdays either.  I didn't even know what day my birthday was on.

8.  What is the first thing you remember about coming home?
I was really surprised  how many people came to see  me when I got home. I thought my house was very big.  I couldn't even find my way out the door.  I thought my room looked really nice.  At first I was scared to sleep in my room because I never had a room with windows.  I was used to everyone sleeping in the same room.  I didn't tell you that because I didn't know how to say it.  Once I learned English - like maybe at the end of the school year (June), I started to really like being here.  Then I saw how much fun it was to have a big family.  I was so excited to have my first birthday when I was  8.   I never had a birthday before.  I really cried a lot at first because I didn't really know that it was going to turn out to be this good.

9.  When you think about being adopted now, how do you feel?
I feel like I really love y'all because y'all have done great things for me.  I have learned a lot of things and I am in a better place than still in China. 

10.  What would you tell a little girl in China that is about to be adopted and come to the United States?  I would tell her that you are going to be in a really good place.  They will love you.  If she is scared I would tell her that it would be okay.  You can learn English by listening to people.  That is what I did.

11.  Do you miss China?
Well, now that I am here, I would like to see the people I knew there.  I think about them once in awhile.  Sometimes I look at their pictures.  I miss them, but I am not sad anymore.  I am happy.  If I had the chance to go back to Nai Nai's house I would not go.  She can't send me to college.  I am happier here.  Nai Nai wasn't my real family, but I still loved her.  Now I have real family.  I wouldn't want to leave here.

Mia with the picture of she and Nai Nai that she keeps in her room.

We love you Mia and we feel so honored and blessed to be your family.  You are the strongest, bravest, most loving girl we have ever known.  We love you FOREVER!
Mom and Dad

Who Would Have Ever Guessed?

I was blessed to have a college roommate who became a lifelong friend.  We were total strangers when we moved into our door room in 1988.  Now, years later we are still the best of friends.  Little did we know way back then, that each of us would some day travel to China to adopt a daughter.  I am fairly certain that in our 4 years of living together, we never EVER expressed a desire to adopt.  So, who would have guessed that today, my dear friend, Christy, would be standing in the very places I have stood in CHINA while adopting a beautiful daughter?  And I do mean beautiful!  I am so proud of you my friend!!!!!  Congratulations Davis Family!  Welcome home sweet Camille!!!!

Thankful

Wow.  6 months since my last post.
Busy.  Busy.  Busy.  Around here.

But, despite the busyness that this life holds for us, I wanted to take a moment just to share what's happening in the life of our family.  Here goes....  in the form of a "I'm thankful list"

I'm thankful......

that Mia enjoyed her 2nd birthday at home in January.  She remains our most serious and determined child.  So much of her personality shaped before she even knew us.  She turned 9.

that Will, our kid who enjoys every second of every day, turned double digits in January.
I'm grateful that his ATV accident this year left him with only a few faint scars.

that our precious, precious Pearl arrived home safe and sound on her 4th birthday in February.  I am so glad that my dad and I got to experience the trip to China together.  So grateful that the surgery to repair her heart and palate were successful.

that Lainie, who still exudes joy from every fiber of her being, turned 6 in February. It was the joy that she brought our family that left us wondering what would happen to the other orphans left behind.

that our beautiful Jillian, turned into a teenager in March.  She is such a good role model for all of her little sisters.

that Trey, had his 16th birthday in April.  I am thankful that he was able to go to Honduras in the summer for his first mission trip.  I believe the course of his life has been set by the things he experienced on this trip.  To say that he is a "good kid" would be the understatement of the century.

that Bobby and I will celebrate our 20th year of marriage in 2013.  Had we known on that sunny June day what the future held for us we would have been terrified.  I am so thankful that we have shared the same hope and dreams for our family.

that I lie awake at night quite often.  My mind filled with visions of children who still wait for families.  Children just like our Mia, Lainie and Pearl.  Hard to fathom they were once forgotten orphans.  Hurts to much to linger on that thought.

that I live a life that is often uncomfortable, yet so fulfilled.

that even though I would certainly love to be a stay at home mom, I do have a job that I love.

that I work with wonderful people who encourage me each day!

that my laundry sometimes consumes me.  It means we have played hard, and had fun another day.

that this year we watched 3 of our neighbors bring home children from China.  We now have a small Asian community at our doorstep :)  Who would have ever dreamed it?  Welcome home Tulah, Drew and Isabella.

that my college roommate leaves for China on Friday to bring home sweet Camille.

that on the days when we wonder where the $$$ will come from for the next medical bill, God shows up in tiny ways to remember he has it all under control.  Many thanks to the anonymous givers who have been such an encouragement to us.

that many of you still read this blog after so long.

that I fall in the bed exhausted every night as a result of a completely blessed life.  Some days are extremely difficult.  Some days are more than I think I can do.  Some days there just isn't enough of me to go around.  Some days I cry.  Some days I feel very inadequate.  Some days I wonder why - with all of the wonderful mothers in the world - did God choose me to be a mom to six.

that people stare at us when we got out.  Being an "abnormal" family sometimes brings us under scrutiny, but I am grateful that we chose to be abnormal.  It has brought us joy unspeakable.

I am thankful for this extraordinary life.  Made possible only by the grace, peace, hope and love that God displays in our lives every single day.

That is all I have time for now.  The list could go on and on.....

Many blessings to you and yours this Thanksgiving!

A Miracle For Mei Mei

This is Mei Mei. 

She lives in an orphanage in China.
Isn't her smile contagious?  She has lived in an orphanage since she
was 2 years old.  She will turn 9 in August.  She had surgery to repair her
Spina Bifida at age 3.  My friend, Jan Bryant's recently adopted daughter is from this same orphanage.  Mei Mei was Leiney Grace's best friend. 

Leiney Grace Bryant and "Mei Mei"

She has lingered on a waiting child "list" for over a year- waiting - just waiting for someone to say "Yes."   This child, one of approximately 147 million orphans, is so
desperate for a family.  Mei Mei is suffering daily from a lack of medical
attention - she walks on deformed and painful feet. . .she can barely wear
shoes. . .she may need a bilateral amputation.  Can you imagine walking on this every day?

Mei Mei needs a miracle because despite the tremendous medical needs she has, her greatest need is finding a family who will love her forever and teach her about the greatest love of her Heavenly Father.




You can help!

Sadly, many times the money is all that stands in the way of a child finding their forever family. . .
it seems that those who have the money don't have the "calling".  So as we
expectantly wait to see exactly which special family the Lord has ordained
for Mei Mei, we want to offer everyone a chance to help provide a grant for Mei
Mei's adoption. 

You can make a tax deductible donation through Live Again Ministries:

www.live-againministries.org

Just click on donate.  Be sure to put Mei Mei's name in the note section.

You can also find information on the website about how to mail in a donation.



If you blog, or Facebook, please consider re-posting about Mei Mei.  I have seen the adoption community pull together in powerful ways to help orphans find families!

I have great faith that the Lord is indeed going to place Mei Mei in the
loving arms of a family who will provide all that she needs to grow into a
healthy and happy young lady.  However, if for any reason Mei Mei is not
adopted, the money raised through these fundraising efforts will be used to
support another orphan's adoption.  An orphan who resides at one of the
orphanages where our adopted children were cared for in China before God
placed them in our families.

May God grant Mei Mei a miracle and may He be glorified through all of our
efforts!

If you would like to know more about Mei Mei or how you can help, contact Jan Bryant, at
dfbjhb@windstream.net

Lainie's Letter Home to Chenzhou

Recently Lainie had the opportunity to participate in a 'scrapbook' for her orphanage.  A sweet lady was traveling to Chenzhou and offered to put together a scrapbook of Chenzhou adoptees and deliver it.  We were honored to put together Lainie's page.  We are so thankful the care and love she received in the Chenzhou Orphanage.  I have no doubt she was well loved and deeply cared for.  I could hardly believe my eyes as I sorted through photos for her page.  She has grown so much!  She continues to be an absolute joy.  She has more zest for life than any child I have ever known.  I hope her caregivers can see her joy and radiance when they see this page: