She Knew She Was Home

 Recently, we were able to make a trip home for a very special occasion.  We stopped by our old neighborhood park.  This place was one of Jillian's most favorite in the world at that stage in her life.  She was a swinger then.  She hasn't been into swinging like that for years, but here, in this place where she was a swinger, she was swinging and swinging just like she did when she was two and these were her stomping grounds.  This momma's heart knows that she knows when she is home.  I know she remembers these places where we overcame so much, and where light shown through her dismally dark world as she learned to live in our family.  These are the places where her heart, ever so slowly, opened up to receive our love.  These were the fields we ran with her, stared into her eyes, and just learned to be still together.  There is something so very sweet about being home with this baby where her life first began with us by her side.

 It is especially sweet to have Molly here now.  Those early days, nearly five years ago now, I longed to bring home more, but never dreamed we would actually do it.

 Seeing them all together, though they were gathered from different corners of China, as sisters in matching clothes playing here in this place makes my momma's heart fill with gratitude that God would bless me so!

 I remember Jillian, at two, climbing here for hours.

 Jilly's love of gravel was born in this very pit as she would spend hours raining the gravel over this giant tire.  She would watch it fall again and again.

We stopped on this hill many, many times as we played here.  Through snow, falling leaves, and rain we explored this park.  Now, we are so far from it as we live in another state, but it is still so near to my heart.  Beautiful memories were made here.  Moments that define me, and changed my life as I was able to reach my first beautiful Chinese treasure walking beside her here.  God restored her before my eyes in this neck of the woods, and it is so very special to walk with her here again!  We have all come a long way in the last two years since leaving this place.  We have added two more daughters, and continued to see God move in ways we never dreamed.  I can't wait to see where the next five years take us, but for now I long just to sit and savor these days together.

DIY Lightbox Play

Have I mentioned how much I love to play?

I am planning a little learning unit all about the moon to do with my little girls this month because of the mid autumn moon festival, and I knew this kind of light box would compliment our unit perfectly.  It was a rainy night when I introduced it for the first time.  Thank goodness I had it finished because rainy nights can be a killer as we are stuck inside.

 I set out some translucent jars and bouncy balls on the box initially.  The girls moved the jars, unscrewed the lids, rolled the balls, and put the balls inside the jars for a long, long time while the light shined through.

 Then I remembered an old transparency set I had from my teaching days, and set out the shapes for them to explore.  Anna "wrote" her name.

 They had great fun exploring the shapes and colors.

 Is she not so cute?

 The glow of the light made creating so much more fun!

 Before long, houses were being created, and shapes were being named.

Jilly even came down off her trapeze bar that is mounted to the ceiling in our playroom to join in.

Making this box was so easy, and we have continued to play with it.  I took a 60 quart clear under bed clear storage container that I had laying around to make our box.  Then I bought a 16 ft string of rope lights that I also purchased at Walmart for $12.00.  To assemble the box, I had to drill a hole in the side of the storage container so that the light cord could come out the side in order to plug it in.  Once the hole was drilled, I strung the lights throughout the box, put the cord through the hole, and plugged it in.  I used some "spider web" Halloween decorations on top of my light in the box to diffuse the lights.  You could use colored tissue paper, parchment paper, or a number of things to change the light if you want to experiment.  I just had this webbing on hand, and so I threw it in there.  This project cost less than $15 to make because I had many of the items on hand, and the container stores easily under the couch in our playroom. I love it and so did the girls!

Our First Day At the Beach As a Family of Six

A family of six? Typing that makes me giggle as I never wanted a large family.  I sure never dreamed any of this for our life, but it is so good.  We love the beach.  It is one of our favorite places in the whole wide world.  It is only a twenty minute drive for us and it is totally free. What could be better? I remember sitting at the shores of this lake last August naming Molly Kate and now she is here with us!

 This is definitely Jillian's absolute favorite activity.  She LOVES the beach.  She was thrilled to be here.

Molly Kate doesn't love water so she didn't go near it much, but she enjoyed shoveling the sand in her bucket.  And isn't she adorable in her sun hat?

Anna Mei has grown so much since last summer.  She is a big girl who is so helpful and she loved being at the beach.  She said, "Thank you mom for this day.  It is so fun to be at the beach."  LOVE!

Molly Kate eventually asked Daddy to carry her out into the water a bit.  He did exactly as he was told, and walked in the water while she was in his arms.  She didn't smile too much as she was very unsure about this place, but she did enjoy sitting under the tree on the picnic blanket eating lunch.  The girl is becoming such a good eater.  Emily enjoyed the beach too, but wouldn't let me get any pictures of her.  :)  She is such a blessing with the girls.  It was a blessed day.  I marvel at how easy adding daughter number four has been.  She fits right in with us perfectly!

How Do I Even Begin to Explain?

I visited a new doctor to get my physical papers completed for the China side of things and it actually happened.  She said, "Why do you adopt these children when you are fully able to have children of your own?"  "Why do you take this child who has a defect without knowing their genes ?" (after seeing Molly's picture)  How do I even begin to explain the incredible love of a Savior who loved me so very much that he willingly gave up his own life so that mine might be saved?  How do I even begin to help someone understand the reasons why we go to China to willingly embrace a child as our own when they don't yet know of this incredible love that, by God's mercy and grace, I have experienced as I have accepted his son as my Savior? The truth is I love because he first loved me. 1 John 4:19  I have been given this incredible opportunity to share this love with those least who desperately need to know it because he has lavished his love on me though I don't deserve it.  I have been called, as have all who believe in him, to be his hands and feet.  This is a deep honor and privilege that I don't begin to deserve. 

It also deeply blesses me to be able to watch this................ 

Anna Mei

Jillian

turn to this...

 as the love of my Savior is shared with our precious daughters because these two, this life God has called us to, is one of the greatest blessings of my life!  I can't wait to see Molly Kate smile, like these two beauties, as she learns the love and security of belonging to a family sharing Christ's love with her.

No Words..

I have no words to express how grateful to God I am for relocating us fifteen minutes from a beautiful, crystal clear lake with a rocking beach.  Our five year old treasure, who has numerous challenges and overwhelming anxiety which causes most activities to be challenging to say the least, is completely content-even overflowing with joy-when water is present.  When we told her we were going to the beach this morning, I am not sure she remembered the beach concept as she wasn't super enthusiastic, but when we rounded that corner on the road to the beach and she spotted the water out of our van window she just clapped her hands and squealed.  She raced to the shore as soon as we let her out of the car with the biggest smile on her face.  To watch this dear, dear girl enjoying life so very much today at this place is to know true joy in your heart!  This treasure once so close to death is alive and thriving!  God is so good to allow us a small part of who she is becoming!

 I even got her to wear arm floaties.  Until last week, the sweet girl wouldn't go near them.  She would not even play in a pool when someone was wearing them.  I knew if I could get them on her she would love the independence and ability to float so last week I did it.  I got them on her and she LOVES them.

 She is so cute signing LOVE BEACH this afternoon.  My this treasure is so adorable!

She loves to "swim" with those floaties.  She is full of smiles while we play.  When we had to go she just kept signing SAD.  We will be spending many, many summer days here.  It is a 15 minute drive and it is FREE!  Seriously, could it be any better?

 Anna Mei was thrilled to be going and sang WE ARE GO TO BEACH..again and again while driving out there.

 Em played with her sisters and followed them into the water again and again!

We had one perfect day!  I said we should get a camper and a boat or maybe we should just keep driving the fifteen minutes to this little piece of paradise so close to home.  Praising God in deed for His goodness and provision for our family in placing us here as so many things about this city are just perfect for our family!

A Trip to DQ

My girls are so happy here.  I was trying to be optimistic about this move in the days leading up to it.  I have done my best to prepare these ladies by talking about our new home and using pictures and praying..lots of praying, but I never dreamed Jillian would be so happy so fast.  My word she has grown so much in the last two years.  It is hard to believe, even though the images of her first fifteen months with us are deeply imbedded in my heart, that this is the same child who came home with us from China.  Would you just look at Jillian clapping and smiling?  We walked in the wagon to the neighborhood DQ.  Jill would NOT eat any ice cream, but enjoyed teasing me.  She would open her mouth just until a bite got close and then she would close it up.  Anna Mei on the other hand ate lots and lots of brownie delight.  She was delighted with our evening activities and the hot fudge.

 I made Em pose because now I have proof that she is indeed here with us too.  She didn't want to, but a mother's I say so is very powerful some days.  She got to play a little 3 on 3 with her daddy, some of her new bball teammates, and her coach informally today.  It was great for her, but left her pretty tired because after an hour of bball, she had two hours of volleyball to practice.  Good times!  She is so busy.  This high school schedule is very, very full.  I suppose we will adjust.

Here is a picture of my little sweetie sporting some Iowa goodness.  She is growing up so much!  Notice Jillian in the back of the cart.  She is indeed already even comfortable enough to be shopping here.  I never dreamed she would adjust so quickly.  I am visiting the school program at the end of next week for her.  I need wisdom..lots of wisdom.   This is one special treasure I have and I really need God's guidance in deciding what is best for her as far as schooling goes. Until then, I am enjoying my babies and settling into this new life with JOY! 

God's Miraculous Provision

I wish with all my heart that I could record every detail of the last week.  It has been so good in so many ways, but I know that I will never do it justice or remember all that has been on my heart.  We had an amazing crew of friends who came on Friday in Pekin to pack us up and send us off.  Many of them even gave up their Saturday to drive here and help us transport all of our stuff.  Thank you Eric, Rebecca, Chris, and Chris!  Sean's mom came up with us and helped us get settled in as well. We love you!

The girls did amazingly well and played in the water in the backyard all day here at the new house while we settled in.  We had lunch provided for us on Saturday by our new church family and many, many who stayed well into the afternoon setting up beds, unpacking, cleaning, and helping us get settled.  We felt loved and were overwhelmed by the way everyone served us.  Saturday night we had dinner delivered by another sweet church member who even went as far as finding out what my Jillian eats.  She brought Jill's yogurt and applesauce as well as yummy homemade pizza with delicious cake.  I cried sweet tears of joy because she thought of my baby girl's needs and met them without even knowing us.

The week has continued on much like this.  We have had visits by many with cookies, hugs, and welcomes.  We have attended a staff cookout where we spent time together with the school and church staff swimming, eating, and visiting.  This is an amazing place and while we are sad to leave the many that we love in Pekin, we are excited to get settled here and to start doing life with this incredible congregation.

Thursday we spent the day with some of the church families at a local beach.  You all know my Jillian LOVES water and sand! This beach is beautiful, free, and very close to our house.  Many may just see this as a lake, but as I looked across the crystal blue water I just thought of God's miraculous provision!  A crystal clear lake, much like the beautiful Gull Lake where we happily spend a week at family camp every summer, only twenty minutes from our new home.  This is a place that we will be spending many happy summer days with our new family of friends.  I heard one of the moms say that she likes to spend time together with other ladies of the church because she is never leaving Cedar Valley and so if we are going to raise up our kids together, we should know and love each other.  Music to this mommas heart!  Walking alongside these friends and doing life together is going to be a true pleasure.

My sweet babies have also found open arms already and this momma is thrilled.  Em seems to have found a wonderful young lady who is in her class and shares her name.  EF seems like a great girl and is delightful to talk to.  She is an answer to prayer indeed.  Anna Mei has already learned to say Abby and looks for her whenever we are with our group.  She likes to be held and Abby is amazing with her.  She has ministered to this momma so much with how very willing she is to help me take care of the girls while Sean is back wrapping things up in Pekin.  Abby walked carrying Anna Mei to the car from the beach yesterday which was a HUGE blessing and she was in the pool the entire time I was on Tuesday helping with the girls.  A little lady named Jesse has taken a liken to my Jillian too and watched me signing to her yesterday so she could pick some up.  Jesse is a tiny fourth grader, but still let Jillian climb all over her in the water.  Jillian kept signing sit and Jesse wasn't sure what it meant so she asked and then sat every time Jillian told her.  Both of these girls are from the same family and they have beautiful hearts.  I can't wait to get to know them more!

Truly, I can't believe how seamless this move has been.  My Jillian hasn't missed a beat.  She even seems more comfortable in this strange, new house than she did in our familiar one in Pekin.  I can't explain it.  I have no words, but what I do have is a God who holds us each in His hands.  How I love the Lord who has written this entire story for us and who knows every detail before it is revealed to us.  To God be much glory for the way that we have been loved by these beautiful people in the last week.  I hope that I have the opportunity to show God's love to them many times as we walk beside each other in the years to come.  Cedar Valley Bible Church seems so very special and I am grateful to be able to call it home!

Eyeglasses Games

 (This is real life people.  An undershirt, sweatpants, and that hair..it's how we roll around here.)

This little treasure is very in to playing with, examining, and putting on eye glasses right now. 

She loves to spend hours on my lap moving my glasses around and taking them on and off.

This is an incredible game because it involves SO MUCH eye contact.

Eye contact is not easy to come by with our little one.

Trouble is she can be a bit rough on the real thing 

and I don't really want to encourage her to play with them

BUT

the eye contact is so good and she was so interested

that I decided to purchase several pairs of $1 reading glasses.

I popped out the lenses and keep these frames in several of her play areas.

SHE LOVES THEM!

She loves to put feathers in them, drop beans through them, and wiggle them up and down

all while I have them on of course.

It is great fun and she is SO cute in those little frames.

(Having her wear them works on her tactile defensiveness issues too!)

All of this therapy is taking place with this new eyeglasses game 

and there are so many benefits for her within the context of play.

I love to play

and

I am so thankful to have such a fun little one to play with me!

A Shower for Jill

Oh the goodness of it all. It is just far too much for me to comprehend. A shower for my Jill! Thank you dear friends. You mean the world to me. How I wish I could show you my thanks adequately. How I long for you to understand what a huge part of this journey you are and how I could have never done this without the encouragement, support, and prayers you have so readily offered.

A beautiful cake...


Sweet gifts...


A shower crasher...


Wonderful friends...


God is so good! In ten days, we will meet our little girl. Can you phathom what the Lord has done? I continue to stand in awe of all that He is doing. One amazed and blessed momma I am!!