A Special Freckle

One of the things I love about bringing home a new child is getting to know them.

 I love beginning to understand who they are, what makes them laugh, how they like to fall asleep, and so much more.  Even after having my Jillian home two years, there are still new things I find out about her as we walk alongside each other in this life.

I feel like this is one of adoption's many gifts.  The adventure of building a relationship with a little one whom God has made your daughter though you have no fleshly connection is just beautiful.

 My babies are beginning to enjoy doing so much together.  They have even begun to bathe together each night.  It is so much fun hearing them splashing and playing in the tub together.  The other night I noticed this..

 (see that little freckle on the left side of Mei's chest)

on Anna's chest.

There are no other marks or freckles anywhere near this one.  A freckle alone is not something to make you stop and praise God,  but the fact that Jillian has the exact same freckle-in the exact same spot on the left side of her chest

that is something that makes you stop for a minute!  These two, who have no biological connection, have the same mark in exactly the same spot.

Sean said..Of Course they do.  They are sisters!

They are sisters and it is so neat that God has given them this common mark.  As they grow, it will be a reminder that God has marked each of them with this special freckle as a reminder that they are made for each other, perfectly placed by Him in our family.

Em's Baptism

Today my big girl was baptized by her Daddy.

My heart is full of JOY

and 

sad that these moments with her as a girl are flying by so quickly.

 I know it will seem like a blink of an eye and these two will be all grown up too.

Until then, I will enjoy every minute.

Mei Mei Gets Through To Jillian

 Mei Mei has inspired our Jillian to do much already.  

Jillian has never ridden in a stroller.

NEVER.

Strollers evoked terror in her.

(Along with shopping carts and other things she might have to ride in.)

 I'm not sure why.  I will probably never know, but since Mei Mei has been riding in this stroller in the living room being pushed by Daddy and it seemed so fun -Jillian got in!!  Not only did Jillian get in the stroller, but she also let her little sis push her... 

Daily, I marvel at all these two are for each other.

After Jillian gets out, it is her turn to push Anna Mei.

Jillian can get going pretty fast and Anna LOVES it!

Nightly, we can be found pushing this stroller around the circle that is our living room 

having the time of our lives together. It is a good kind of crazy around here.

Just yesterday, Jillian also got back on her swing too after seeing Anna on it.
Swinging is a needed activity for Jillian, but until recently she seemed afraid to do it.
We haven't been able to get her to swing in months.
She has gotten on her indoor swing several times with Anna Mei in the last few days.

And she even spent about 30 minutes letting me push her on the real swing at the park!!
She has never gotten on a big swing-only this platform type, but there she was sitting on the swing next to her sister in the baby swing beaming with JOY!  I couldn't believe it!  I have to admit I shed a tear right there in the park.  Being witness to so much and seeing God's sovereignty first hand as I witness how perfect these two are for each other is a beautiful thing.  How I love them.

On a personal note, I just keeping thinking about how hesitant I was to add another with all of Jillian's special needs.  I keep thinking about how resistant I had been to say yes again.  My our lives are richer because I trusted the Lord and added another treasure in spite of my fear.  Not only that, but Jillian is benefiting so much from having this little girl to call sister.  I really could have missed this!  I am so thankful for all that God continues to teach me about trust and obedience through both of my girls!
 

More About Our Newest Little Lady

She loves her some accessories.

She can be found in her closet digging through her shoes, hair bows, and hats most evenings looking for just the right ones to wear around the house with her pajamas.

She loves to be the center of the world.

She doesn't like to get too far away from Momma and still loves to be carried in the Ergo around the house.

(We were given this little ride on toy as a hand me down. It is her favorite.  She loves the phone!)

She loves to play.

She doesn't love to get too messy.

She loves to be out and watch people.

She's never met a carb she doesn't love to eat.

She is a parrot and says everything we say.

She can say momma, daddy, sissy, Jillian, Emily, water, and Amen.

She is madly jealous when momma loves her big sister too long.

She likes to sleep with a taggy blankie.

We are learning more about each other everyday and it is so much fun.

A Full Lap and Even Fuller Heart

These sweet babes amaze me.  They kiss.  They play, hold hands, and hit each other.  This sisterhood is forming much quicker than I ever dreamed.  My sweet big girl, Jillian, is doing so well.  I just keep thinking of those words told to us on our adoption day by the official who said she would never learn much.  My is she our miracle.  Her sister was so tired yesterday and Jillian walked up to us rocking in this chair, patted her back tenderly, and handed me Mei Mei's bottle.  I could just bawl.  She is so bright my big girl.  She is so caring and such a beauty.  She is blossoming right before my eyes and I am grateful to God that it is my lap she is sitting on.  How I love and am amazed at all that God has done in Jillian's life.  She is one special treasure!

On Mother's Day..

I walked downstairs yesterday to see my man surrounded by our babes on the couch.  I wish I had a photo of that moment, but it is one that will have to be remembered in my heart because the moment passed way too quickly to grab the camera.  He had them in his arms one on each side and I came up and wrote this..

Today my heart is full because dear friends seeing this Godly man, my love, my best friend surrounded on the couch by two Chinese babies that are ours is just more than my heart can stand!  Nearly six years ago, God planted a seed in my heart.  He gave me the dream of a Chinese daughter.  I never thought it would come true and I never truly thought that I wanted it as badly as I did.  Seeing these precious girls here and being able to call them daughter is a reminder of how faithful God is.  It is a reminder of how good and perfect His plans always are and how perfect His timing is in my life.  Six years ago my heart began to fall in love with the Chinese face and today..my heart is full of love for these two special faces that have clearly been brought to us by God.  The goodness of it all is simply too much for me to take in most days.  How blessed, how amazing, and how loved I am by a God who created me, gave me the desire to call these Chinese babes mine, and led me to them to fulfill His promise through me to care for the orphan.  On this Mother's Day I couldn't ask for more, but because God is the God of abundant life and blessings I might just squeak out a small prayer to Him asking if He might see fit to send me to China again because how could I not want more.

Happy Mother's Day!

To My Jillian

Dearest Jillian,
I wish I could somehow put into words what it is like for me to watch you with your new sister.  I wish I could capture all the joy that I felt on this page when I saw you jump into the ball pit for the first time next to her and play.  We have been working to get you over your fear of the ball pit for months and now, because of Anna Mei, you are in and loving it!  I wish I could tell you adequately what it was like to see you hold Mei Mei's hand for the first time or how I felt to have the two of you on my lap reading your favorite book, but I can't because I simply don't have the words.  You are my miracle.  A survivor.  God has allowed you to experience more healing than I could have ever hoped for when I held you the first time. Watching you this past week with your new sister brings me to my knees.  His plan for you is just so good and being a part of watching it unfold..being able to call you mine is simply still beyond all that I could have ever imagined for my life.  Though you can't speak and are sometimes trapped deep inside yourself..this week I have seen moments of intense love for a little girl whom you have only known for about seven days.  I never imagined when I was first given you, and then handed this autism diagnosis, that you would feel so deeply, that you would love so intensely, and that you would shepherd me into the presence of God again and again.  I am so thankful for who you are and all that you continue to teach me.  I love you and cherish you my dear, baby girl.  Thank you for enlarging my heart so that my eyes would continue to be open to all that God has in store for our family.  Parenting you is such an adventure and I love every minute (even when you spray me with the water hose).
Momma

My Biggest Girl

This teenager of mine is growing up right before my eyes.  In four short years, I will be walking her to the door and leading her out into a life of her own.  I don't know where the time has gone or how it could be over so quickly, but I am grateful to God for the time He has given me to shepherd her heart and all that He has taught me about being a momma through parenting her.  She is a treasure.  A treasure who is quiet and reserved.  One who is not terribly emotional and enjoys memorizing, rational thinking, and staying in the black and white as far away from the gray as possible.  She was an only child for nearly 12 years.  My has her world changed in the last two years.  She has handled it with grace and God has enlarged her heart every step of the way.  I didn't want more than her as I planned out our family.  An only child was my plan all along and so this new, bigger family-that was always God's plan for us-is a wonderful and unexpected surprise for all of us.  She is a wonderful big sister and I love thinking about how God will use all the experiences that we have had with our newest treasures to shape her into the woman He desires her to be.  I can't wait to see how God will use this in her and where He will take her in the years to come.  She is one special young woman and I am grateful to God that He has allowed her to be a big sister.  Anna is already demanding Emily's attention and calling out for her sissy throughout the day.  Emily is answering her call even if it means forfeiting her breakfast.