Thankful

We had the pleasure of feasting this week with our precious Kindergarten aged treasure.  We went to her school, along with the other 25 families with students in her class, and sat in the hall to enjoy lunch together.  And just like with most other experiences where this precious, amazing girl is involved I was overcome with gratitude to God for her life.  She was once lifeless, void of joy, and hopeless.  To watch her now dressed in her Native American costume just like every other five year old in her class, you would never now how her life began.  I watched her teachers embrace her and saw her willingly receive their love.  I listened to stories of how daily they stop everything and just soak in who she is though it often "interferes" with our own ideas of what we should be doing.  I saw students in her class seek out her attention.  I saw her eating, smiling, laughing, and traveling from each of us in her family to climb and sit on us as if to say.."hey you are here at school with me and I am so happy".  Though she can't speak with her natural voice, I watched her communicate so much! 

 I simply can't believe that God would intrust me with such a precious, precious one to care for.  I never dreamed that others would love her and appreciate her the way I do, but each one of her teachers cherish her.  I certainly never imagined in my wild dreams that she would in return love them back.  My God is so good!  While this journey with our Jillian is not at all how I planned it and her special need is still much, much more than I ever would have dreamed of taking on, friends it is so, so good to call her my daughter.  It is at times like this that I am so thankful that God is the one writing this story and that He didn't stick to my plan or what I thought I could handle because I can't imagine my life without her! 

Here is our sweet family with our big sister too.  She had an ortho appointment so we just extended her time out of school and bribed her with eating.  We enjoyed our "feast" which included subway.  This was probably not on the menu the first Thanksgiving, but it was just perfect for us as we were all together.

A Great T-shirt Project For Gable

Amy at feet to our faith is bringing home another treasure from China.  Gable is waiting to come home and needs to get here ASAP as he has cancer.  His story, and how his family was led to adopt him, is incredible as is this family.  I have been following their blog for quite some time and can see that Amy's heart for adoption and orphan care is beautiful!  I passed along my t-shirt idea idea and she loved it.  So, if you can't get enough of having your adopted treasure's name on a t-shirt and you love to wear your heart for the orphan...GO and ORDER!  They have hoodies, long sleeve t-shirts, and short sleeve t-shirts!

 
Click on feet to our faith to find the order info.

The First Snow

 It makes them snow happy that this white stuff has fallen.  I can't help, but think as I was playing outside this afternoon with my littles that I was made for this.

 I was made to love these girls and spend the afternoon running in the backyard through the cold.  My this girl looks so very big.  I can't get over it.

 There is so much JOY just being with these beauties.  Instantly, my heart is glad just walking near them.

Jilly never, never touches the snow, but today she did.  She wore gloves and she touched the SNOW!  Sweet thing was so happy to be outside.  She would have stayed out hours.

Catch Up..Halloween

Crazy here..I really just find when I am adopting that I can barely catch my breath as my newest babe is always on my mind.  Still without Molly here, there is so much going on.  My babies are growing and changing as they experience each day.  So, here is a glimpse into the last few weeks that I haven't posted.

Halloween...

 Oh, my Anna Mei.  We had a mermaid costume all picked out and ready, but at the last minute before heading out she dug out this dress up garb from her toy bin and created Cinderella.  There was no changing her mind.  She went as Cinderella.

 She loves candy, but hates the "spooks".  She is not a fan of the scary sights.  Her little face quivered as the first ones came to our front door for candy.  I hate the dark side of Halloween myself.

 This was her first Halloween as last year she was so new home that we didn't venture out.  She kept shouting I love, love, love this Halloween!  She really enjoyed it!

 And in true miraculous fashion, Jilly enjoyed it too.  She rang the doorbells and then used her NOVA chat to say "trick or treat".  She could finally say trick or treat!  This momma just glowed watching her participating!  She hates candy of course, but her teen sister was happy to take that over when we got home with it!

 Jillian was a cheerleader.  She had a party at school, and while it took two teachers-one on each side- to assure her enough to participate in the Halloween parade..SHE DID IT!  I watched my baby girl walk alongside all the other five year olds in her class parading before me in her costume.  ADORABLE!
 While she was over stimulated to the max after her classroom party, she was in it all and I couldn't help thinking we have come such a long way! 











When we returned from trick or treating, I watched my biggest girl sit on the steps near our front door with our little Cinderella snuggled in next to her.  I stood back and listened from behind while these two sisters, 15 and 3, chatted.  My camera battery died, but the memory in my heart is precious.  This family that God has woven together for us is so very beautiful.  Sometimes, I just sit back and watch in awe as our life unfolds before us.  We are truly blessed.

New Pictures of Molly Kate

This very minute a momma from the US is in China.  It just so happens that this momma got to meet my baby girl yesterday and took some pictures for us!  My these are precious moments for a waiting momma's heart.  My Molly was tuckered out as they had been playing outside before Katie, the visiting momma, arrived.  Playing outside?  This is a very, very good sign.  She even has bed sheets and blankets.  What a luxury and another good sign of great care.  Katie said she is very healthy.  She looks like quite a chunk for sure.  I can't wait to squeeze those sweet, sweet cheeks. 

Praising God that I get this little glimpse into who she is and where she is coming from.  I absolutely can't wait to be walking that floor with my baby in my arms. 

Eight Quarters

It happens nearly every week when we are adopting. Gifts, to bring home our girl, are freely given to us.  These gifts are donations toward the ransom that holds our girl captive as an orphan.  It humbles me beyond words each and every time.  I pray that I never begin to take the miraculous out of it and that I don't, for one minute, forget to praise God for his provision because truly it blows me away.  Some of these gifts come in cards, via our church mailbox, through USPS, and others are simply handed over.   They all add up and they are all so very important, but it is the one that came Sunday night that has me stopping to record it's origin this morning.  Sunday, we had small group.  We just started our new group about six weeks ago.  It meets in our home and there are about six or so families.  We come together with the chaos that is our kiddos to eat, fellowship, open the word, and just do life together a few times a month.  Last Sunday as a precious seven year old girl, whose momma and daddy are a part of small group, approached our door, she handed me a stack of eight quarters.  "I want to give you this for Molly Kate" was all she said before tears welled up in my eyes.  Apparently, this sweet little girl had been begging her momma for extra chores so that she could earn money to give to us so that our girl could come home.  Oh, that my heart could be so pure and generous.  I can't wait to see this little lady holding my sweet, little girl home forever in the arms of many, many who have loved her already and given so that she could come home.