Cole is an excellent big brother - to both Carter & Mya.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Sunday Snapshot: Cole
Sometimes it is tough being the oldest kid in the family. I think it is probably tough being 10. That golden age when your folks start actually expecting you to pull some of your weight ;)
Cole is an excellent big brother - to both Carter & Mya.
Cole is my most considerate child. And emotional.
He has a heart for Jesus that needs to be watered.
Cole will pray for his food no matter where he is.
He has a passion for football & video games.
And probably junk food.
He is a pretty good story writer & joke teller.
{Q. Why do seagulls fly over the sea? A. Because if they flew over the bay, they'd be bagels!}
And it is really hard to convince him to get his picture taken ;)
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
11 Months Home
I. When Mya is playing with her kitchen dishes or in the bathtub, she is always making "coffee". I just love it. More than she ever makes cookies or dinner - she makes coffee!
II. Along those same lines..when Mya & I are "out and about" she'll ask me sweetly from the backseat if "Momma needs a latte?"
III.Whenever Mya asks for something if the answer is 'no', she'll ask "later?" and if we say "yes" - she accepts that!! It is really handy in the toy section at the store. I really hope she isn't expecting "later" to pay up anytime soon!
IV. Every single morning Mya asks these questions to her Daddy before he leaves for work -
"Dad, are you going to work?"
"Mya go with you?"
"Do you have chocolate there?"
V. She likes chocolate, but broccoli is one of her favorite foods. (even though I made stir fry the other day and she refused it!)
VI. Of all the fun food that she has to play with, her favorite thing to cut up & serve is play dough. We know because we find it everywhere ;)
VII. I still think she is quite immature. She plays the best with kids who are about 6-7 because they know they aren't on the 'same level' as her. And they are helpful with & to her instead of being competitive.
VIII. Mya loves babies, purses, strollers, nail polish, shoes, shopping, coffee, hats, bows, lip gloss...can't tell she's my daughter at all!
IX. Oohh, on a growth level - Mya has gained another pound in the last month! She is very high on the American growth charts and growing along just nicely ;)
X. We are really blessed by Mya Jian. It is a true joy to watch her grow in our family. happy 11 Months Home, baby girl!
Thankful {my 25 today}
In this season I am reminded of how much I have been given...& how much will be expected of me. I am so thankful for all my blessings in this life & I can't wait to give back.
1. I have known the pit, so I can live life to the fullest out of it.
2. I have the freedom to pursue Jesus.
3. I have the patience of a husband who reflects God more than I ever could.
4. I have helped a little girl celebrate her first birthday with a family.
5. I have known fear and love in the same moment.
6. I have stepped on the Great Wall of China.
7. I have camped with my family with no agenda.
8. I have picked up a book that I couldn't put down.
9. I have grieved others' losses.
10. I have grieved my own.
11. I have bartered under the warm sun in Mexico.
12. I have taught my children how to read.
13. I have exchanged smiles without speaking the same language.
14. I have laughed with friends.
15. I have made smores over a campfire.
18. I have painted.
19. I have withheld help when I could have given it.
20. I have given help when I could have withheld it.
21. I have been given more than I ever deserve.
22. I have walked my children to school.
23. I have given them ice cream before dinner.
24. I have loved.
25. I have been here, if for a breath.
12. I have taught my children how to read.
13. I have exchanged smiles without speaking the same language.
14. I have laughed with friends.
15. I have made smores over a campfire.
16. I have read my Bible on communist soil.
17. I have danced in my pajamas with my kids.
18. I have painted.
19. I have withheld help when I could have given it.
20. I have given help when I could have withheld it.
21. I have been given more than I ever deserve.
22. I have walked my children to school.
23. I have given them ice cream before dinner.
24. I have loved.
25. I have been here, if for a breath.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Orphan Awareness Month
The fact that 147 million children are fatherless today breaks my heart. The harder fact is that the majority of them will never know what it means to have a family.
The president of Compassion International, Wes Stafford, says, "If you are a Christian, orphans are your business."
I agree.
I fell in love with a new song this month called, "Why Wouldn't I?" {by Peder Eide and available on i*tunes} and it is about a child asking about why his parents adopted him - my favorite excerpt is..
.."All of us were orphans too - till in a darkness, love broke through - so give us, Lord, a heart to break - for all the little ones who ache....for someone to hold them, someone to love them, someone to say..Why wouldn't I? Travel so far? To where you are? To call you my own? Why Wouldn't I - when you were so lost, nameless and all alone...?"
To think of my daughter, nameless, among a sea of many - with no one to step up for her and call her their own - breaks me. Makes me long for homes for all those lost.
If you are praying about adoption, I beg you to really search your heart and pray that God will reveal the way and rid your mind & hearts of the shadows of doubt. The doubt, no doubt, belongs to satan.
satan would love for you to believe you don't have the time for another child. satan wants you to think you don't have the money to adopt. satan will convince you that it's unfair to your other children. satan wants to steer your attention to the things of this world, rather than seek a lost child.
There is an orphan crisis and the crisis has a face.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Sunday Snapshot: Carter
Carter was born & named right around the time of a very popular "doctor" show on t.v.
I will deny the coincidence if asked, however.
I mean, who would name their child after a television character?
{My own Mom named me after the Hall & Oates hit song "Sara Smile" in 1977}
I digress.
This year has probably been the most tumultuous in Carter's 7 years.
He became a big brother to a 3 year old girl.
We moved 900 miles.
He began not only a new school, but school for the first time.
He had to make all new friends.
He moved into his own room for the first time.
Carter tends to be on the aggressive side.
But what boy isn't?
He recently joined a "club" at school where the kids talk about their feelings & how to handle situations through playing scenarios, writing stories and drawing pictures.
I love it.
He told me today he acts before he thinks.
I'm just thrilled he can admit it. I still can't.
Carter is incredibly helpful. Yesterday we went grocery shopping and he found me all the best deals. I watched him in the cereal aisle comparing the brands and the prices. I love that he is learning so much this year and can add up which is the better deal!
Carter's favorite things to do are ride his scooter, play in the dirt pile, play with his friends and play video games.
Reading hasn't ranked up there yet.
Carter is actually enjoying school this year. It may be "generic" for the kids to get sent home "Kids of Character" awards, but I'm ok with that.
Sure beats disciplinary letters.
Carter's teacher thinks he has a lot of character.
She should see him at home ;)
Carter really enjoyed being the baby of our family 6.5 years.
And we enjoyed it too ;)
God really blessed us with the gift of our middle child.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Her girl, My girl
My sister & I spent Orphan Sunday together this year. (ok. Lisa's really not my sister, she's my friend..but she has tons of sisters and I have none. So I claim her. She doesn't have to know this:)) Anyways, we spent the afternoon together and talked and laughed & got caught up (so much easier now that we are 12 hours closer?)
The hearts of our families were both called & captured a few years ago to care for God's orphans. We have both been so blessed by knowing that God isn't finished with us yet & He has a higher calling for us - a calling to parent those with none.
My heart aches knowing that her little girl(s) is out there with no Mommy to tuck her in at night. I can't help but pray if there is still a little one out there waiting for me, for you? I know my friend Lisa has a few out there waiting for her & I absolutely cannot wait to walk beside her as she welcomes them into her family!
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls for he has no one to help him up.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 New King James Version
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 New King James Version
Monday, November 16, 2009
Christmas Shopping: Take Two
If you want see others' Christmas Shopping ideas and enter for the chance to win a $25.00 Amazon gift card, stop by Ni Hao Ya'll.
If want to see my first Christmas Shopping post click Here
Now, go post your own ideas & link up! Or not. And I'll win the Amazon Card for myself.....
Toddler (1.5-3 years)


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