Mia appears nightly on her stage beginning around 8 p.m. and the show will go on for as long as we allow.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Readoption Day
The last step of Mia's adoption is final. She appeared before a local Chancery Court Judge on Friday with another mountain of paperwork stating that yes, she was a true orphan and that we are fit parents (ha!). She put on her usual little Mia show for him and he scooped her up into his arms declaring he'd take her "if" we ever decided not to....She showed him her pretty dress and shoes and her charm was flowing. We told him we wanted her to be like everyone else but one day she'd realize she doesn't look like everyone else here in Mississippi. He said, "she looks the same to me."
The first 16 months of her life she lived in China, now 16 more months have passed (her adoption day was 2-5-07) and we know more
than ever how blessed we are to have her in our family. Now she's been officially declared a Mississippi girl! She will be issued a Mississippi birth certificate. Mia already speaks with a twang and loves grits - oh my! What are we doing to her?!
than ever how blessed we are to have her in our family. Now she's been officially declared a Mississippi girl! She will be issued a Mississippi birth certificate. Mia already speaks with a twang and loves grits - oh my! What are we doing to her?!Tuesday, June 24, 2008
A Letter from Half the Sky
It's been a month or more since we've heard from the earthquake in China. That reminds me of when Hurricane Katrina hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast, after a few months life for others goes on, but for the victims it is just a beginning of a new reality. Here's a letter I recieved to remind us of the pain these people are enduring, yet also a reminder of how many people devote their lives committed to relieve suffering. If only I were 10% as committed as they.
Hello Friends, A little over a month after Sichuan’s May 12th earthquake, we opened Halfthe Sky’s first BigTop children’s activity center (with preschool, artclasses and counseling) in a refugee camp in Dujiangyan, near the quake’sepicenter. In a town that has experienced so much sadness, the opening wasa happy, festive occasion to welcome a new oasis for fun and support forthe children and the community. On hand for the opening were city andministry officials, child trauma experts Marleen Wong and Suh Hsiao Chenof National Center for School Trauma and Bereavement, and psychologistsrepresenting our newest partners in this important effort, the MentalHealth Centre of West China Hospital at Sichuan University. The experts offered some training for assembled volunteers and, as atevery celebration worth its salt in China, a group of adorable childrensang and danced for the crowd. For a brief moment, the earthquake seemeda world away.http://www.halfthesky.org/work/earthquake08-healing.php#part2 Even before the opening the BigTop had become a magnet for children, aplace where they can play and share even their most troubling earthquakeexperiences. A few days earlier, when the furniture was being painted,curious children arrived again at the tent and were disappointed not to beallowed in because of the paint fumes. Half the Sky staffers couldn’t bearto send the children away so they set up a table outside the tent, on theconcrete platform (above the mud) where the children played with bubblesand toys. Three little girls made themselves comfortable and the oldest, anine-year-old, immediately put a plastic doll face down under a toy tableto protect the doll from an earthquake. She told her friends and a Halfthe Sky staffer about the day of the quake, when her teacher ran out ofthe classroom, expecting the class to follow. Instead, the children sat attheir desks until they heard their teacher yelling that they should getout as fast as they could. All three girls then started cooking with toy utensils, chopping up leaveswith a toy cleaver to make soup. When asked why they were only makingvegetables, one girl said solemnly: “Because we are very poor. This is allwe have.” Another girl, around 10, took advantage of the ample art supplies in thetent to draw a girl with pigtails and a rainbow. She solemnly explainedthat she wants to be a mathematician and the drawing was not a selfportrait. It was a drawing of her best friend, who after the earthquakeleft the area and now there is no way to contact her: “I am afraid I’llnever see her again.” While the volunteers and staff at the tent will provide “psychologicalfirst aid” for the children, they will also refer children toprofessionals at the Mental Health Centre of West China Hospital atSichuan University when first aid is not enough. Children like aterrified 6 year old girl who, after 50 hours, was the only survivorrescued from her primary school. Protected by the body of her teacher, shesurvived with minimal physical injuries. But no one could protect her fromthe emotional trauma of waiting for help for so many hours in the schoolwhere her friends and her teacher died and - after all that - learningthat her father did not survive. Of the many volunteers who helped in the tent or attended our trainingsnone is more impressive than a group of eight survivors from the collapsedJuyuan Middle School, where perhaps 900 children died. Whether pitching into sweep rainwater from the BigTop before its drainage problems werefixed, or helping to set up toys on newly painted shelves, or playing withchildren, these impressive, hardworking teenagers have all decided thatthey want to focus on helping others rather than on what they lost on theday their school collapsed around them: “We received a lot of help fromothers. Now we can help. When we help people it helps us,” says one of thestudents, who gathered in a circle in Half the Sky’s BigTop. One smiling boy bears the most obvious scar of that day—a gash that tookfourteen stitches to close. It runs alongside his eye down to his mouth.Like all of the children who survived, he is mindful of friends who didnot: “At first I felt guilty that I survived. Now because I amvolunteering I feel more comfortable.” The students from Juyuan also provide an example of what was perhapsNCSTB’s Dr. Marleen Wong’s most surprising message to the caregivers shetrained in Sichuan. In the midst of the all-too-obvious devastation andpain wrought by the earthquake, Wong introduced new research about aphenomenon called “post-traumatic growth.” A small percentage of children,says Wong, will make positive life changes that are a direct result of atrauma or a disaster. These are the children, says Wong who become “wisebeyond their years, more mature, have a deeper appreciation of life,” inthe wake of a tragedy. “They have new values and life priorities.” One Juyuan student explains that not only has he resolved to volunteer inthe wake of the earthquake, he has also resolved to change his life:“Before the earthquake I was not into studying. Now I think it is the mostimportant thing I can do so I can help my country. I can bring hope to thepeople in Sichuan.” The day after BigTop #1 opened, I had the great honor of carrying theOlympic Torch on behalf of China’s orphaned children, especially thosenewly orphaned in Sichuan and Chongqing. Fifty preschoolers from our Halfthe Sky programs in Chengdu and Chongqing joined me on a rainy Sunday inWanzhou, Chongqing. It was an exhilarating and wacky time. And we didmanage to tell the children’s story – at least to the Chinese media (inthe end, no foreign media was allowed.) We were on the front page of theChina Daily and featured on national TV news. We didn’t quite go global,but it has been wonderful to hear from so many Chinese citizens who wantto help orphaned children. Children in their own communities that theydidn’t even know existed. Half the Sky supporter Anne Chambers has found another innovative way tohelp young earthquake victims. Her company, RED212, has launched anannual Bill and Warren Day (to commemorate the day Warren Buffett pledgedhis fortune to the Gates Foundation) to celebrate business people, big andsmall, as a force for social change. HTS’ Children’s Earthquake Fund is tobe the first beneficiary, by auction of a Monopoly game signed by WarrenBuffett himself! If you or some other mogul you know would like a shot atthis treasure, I’m told there is only one day left!http://cgi.ebay.com/Warren-Buffett-Autographed-Official-Monopoly-Game_W0QQitemZ250260912893QQihZ015QQcategoryZ156999QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Slowly but steadily, Half the Sky is beginning to find ways to recoverfrom the disaster too. Although we are now firmly committed to helpingthe newly orphaned and displaced children of Sichuan heal and hopefullyfind their own “post-traumatic growth,” we are ever-mindful of the manythousands of children to whom we’ve already made a long-term commitment. Right now, our first Blue Sky provincial training is underway in HubeiProvince. Over 100 caregivers from welfare institutions where Half theSky has no programs are at our model center in Wuhan learning about HTS’approach to providing family-like nurturing care to orphaned children. Weare now offering Blue Sky training sponsorships – a great way to help usreach our goal to put a caring adult in the life of every orphaned childhttp://give.halfthesky.org/prostores/servlet/Detail?no=90 This fall, funds permitting, Half the Sky will open new Blue Sky ModelCenters in Xian, Harbin, Shenyang and Qingdao. We are no longer acceptingapplications for this year’s volunteer build but we dearly hope that youwill consider sponsoring a child or supporting the new model centers inother ways. You have been so tremendously generous during these awful weeks. Now, asthe Sichuan story fades from the news, we are even more grateful that youcontinue to remember the children whose struggle is just beginning. Idon’t know how we can ever thank you enough for all you have done andcontinue to do. I hope that watching our progress as we work to rebuildyoung lives – in Sichuan and all over China – will be thanks enough. Youknow we will always keep you informed! This should be the last of our emergency updates. I’ll now return towriting you every month or two. Of course, if you don’t wish to receivefurther updates from Half the Sky, please unsubscribe by sending a blankemail to leave-half_the_sky@titan.sparklist.com If you would like to donate to Half the Sky’s Children’s Earthquake Fundyou can do so by calling Half the Sky (+1-510-525-3377) or visit ourwebsite:http://give.halfthesky.org/prostores/servlet/Categories?category=Children's+Earthquake+Fund If you would like a Canadian tax receipt, please donate athttp://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=s86248 If you would like a Hong Kong tax receipt, please call Half the Sky – Asia(+852-2520-5266) or donate online athttps://www.paydollar.com/b2c2/eng/charity/payInfo.jsp?charityId=4947 If you’d like to view previous earthquake journal entries:http://www.halfthesky.org/journal/ Thank you! with love,Jenny Ps – For our many new friends - Half the Sky is a global NGO thatestablishes and operates programs that provide emotional and educationalsupport for orphaned children living in government-run welfareinstitutions in China. Half the Sky does not operate orphanages. It is not an adoption agency.We exist for China’s children. Jenny BowenExecutive DirectorHalf the Sky Foundationwww.halfthesky.org Half the Sky was created in order to enrich the lives and enhance the prospects for orphaned children in China. We establish and operate infant nurture and preschool programs, provide personalized learning for older children and establish loving permanent family care and guidance for children with disabilities. It is our goal to ensure that every orphaned child has a caring adult in her life and a chance at a bright future. Want to receive our free Half the Sky newsletter, full of stories and photos, via regular mail? Just go to our website www.halfthesky.org and click on "Join our Mailing List."
Hello Friends, A little over a month after Sichuan’s May 12th earthquake, we opened Halfthe Sky’s first BigTop children’s activity center (with preschool, artclasses and counseling) in a refugee camp in Dujiangyan, near the quake’sepicenter. In a town that has experienced so much sadness, the opening wasa happy, festive occasion to welcome a new oasis for fun and support forthe children and the community. On hand for the opening were city andministry officials, child trauma experts Marleen Wong and Suh Hsiao Chenof National Center for School Trauma and Bereavement, and psychologistsrepresenting our newest partners in this important effort, the MentalHealth Centre of West China Hospital at Sichuan University. The experts offered some training for assembled volunteers and, as atevery celebration worth its salt in China, a group of adorable childrensang and danced for the crowd. For a brief moment, the earthquake seemeda world away.http://www.halfthesky.org/work/earthquake08-healing.php#part2 Even before the opening the BigTop had become a magnet for children, aplace where they can play and share even their most troubling earthquakeexperiences. A few days earlier, when the furniture was being painted,curious children arrived again at the tent and were disappointed not to beallowed in because of the paint fumes. Half the Sky staffers couldn’t bearto send the children away so they set up a table outside the tent, on theconcrete platform (above the mud) where the children played with bubblesand toys. Three little girls made themselves comfortable and the oldest, anine-year-old, immediately put a plastic doll face down under a toy tableto protect the doll from an earthquake. She told her friends and a Halfthe Sky staffer about the day of the quake, when her teacher ran out ofthe classroom, expecting the class to follow. Instead, the children sat attheir desks until they heard their teacher yelling that they should getout as fast as they could. All three girls then started cooking with toy utensils, chopping up leaveswith a toy cleaver to make soup. When asked why they were only makingvegetables, one girl said solemnly: “Because we are very poor. This is allwe have.” Another girl, around 10, took advantage of the ample art supplies in thetent to draw a girl with pigtails and a rainbow. She solemnly explainedthat she wants to be a mathematician and the drawing was not a selfportrait. It was a drawing of her best friend, who after the earthquakeleft the area and now there is no way to contact her: “I am afraid I’llnever see her again.” While the volunteers and staff at the tent will provide “psychologicalfirst aid” for the children, they will also refer children toprofessionals at the Mental Health Centre of West China Hospital atSichuan University when first aid is not enough. Children like aterrified 6 year old girl who, after 50 hours, was the only survivorrescued from her primary school. Protected by the body of her teacher, shesurvived with minimal physical injuries. But no one could protect her fromthe emotional trauma of waiting for help for so many hours in the schoolwhere her friends and her teacher died and - after all that - learningthat her father did not survive. Of the many volunteers who helped in the tent or attended our trainingsnone is more impressive than a group of eight survivors from the collapsedJuyuan Middle School, where perhaps 900 children died. Whether pitching into sweep rainwater from the BigTop before its drainage problems werefixed, or helping to set up toys on newly painted shelves, or playing withchildren, these impressive, hardworking teenagers have all decided thatthey want to focus on helping others rather than on what they lost on theday their school collapsed around them: “We received a lot of help fromothers. Now we can help. When we help people it helps us,” says one of thestudents, who gathered in a circle in Half the Sky’s BigTop. One smiling boy bears the most obvious scar of that day—a gash that tookfourteen stitches to close. It runs alongside his eye down to his mouth.Like all of the children who survived, he is mindful of friends who didnot: “At first I felt guilty that I survived. Now because I amvolunteering I feel more comfortable.” The students from Juyuan also provide an example of what was perhapsNCSTB’s Dr. Marleen Wong’s most surprising message to the caregivers shetrained in Sichuan. In the midst of the all-too-obvious devastation andpain wrought by the earthquake, Wong introduced new research about aphenomenon called “post-traumatic growth.” A small percentage of children,says Wong, will make positive life changes that are a direct result of atrauma or a disaster. These are the children, says Wong who become “wisebeyond their years, more mature, have a deeper appreciation of life,” inthe wake of a tragedy. “They have new values and life priorities.” One Juyuan student explains that not only has he resolved to volunteer inthe wake of the earthquake, he has also resolved to change his life:“Before the earthquake I was not into studying. Now I think it is the mostimportant thing I can do so I can help my country. I can bring hope to thepeople in Sichuan.” The day after BigTop #1 opened, I had the great honor of carrying theOlympic Torch on behalf of China’s orphaned children, especially thosenewly orphaned in Sichuan and Chongqing. Fifty preschoolers from our Halfthe Sky programs in Chengdu and Chongqing joined me on a rainy Sunday inWanzhou, Chongqing. It was an exhilarating and wacky time. And we didmanage to tell the children’s story – at least to the Chinese media (inthe end, no foreign media was allowed.) We were on the front page of theChina Daily and featured on national TV news. We didn’t quite go global,but it has been wonderful to hear from so many Chinese citizens who wantto help orphaned children. Children in their own communities that theydidn’t even know existed. Half the Sky supporter Anne Chambers has found another innovative way tohelp young earthquake victims. Her company, RED212, has launched anannual Bill and Warren Day (to commemorate the day Warren Buffett pledgedhis fortune to the Gates Foundation) to celebrate business people, big andsmall, as a force for social change. HTS’ Children’s Earthquake Fund is tobe the first beneficiary, by auction of a Monopoly game signed by WarrenBuffett himself! If you or some other mogul you know would like a shot atthis treasure, I’m told there is only one day left!http://cgi.ebay.com/Warren-Buffett-Autographed-Official-Monopoly-Game_W0QQitemZ250260912893QQihZ015QQcategoryZ156999QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Slowly but steadily, Half the Sky is beginning to find ways to recoverfrom the disaster too. Although we are now firmly committed to helpingthe newly orphaned and displaced children of Sichuan heal and hopefullyfind their own “post-traumatic growth,” we are ever-mindful of the manythousands of children to whom we’ve already made a long-term commitment. Right now, our first Blue Sky provincial training is underway in HubeiProvince. Over 100 caregivers from welfare institutions where Half theSky has no programs are at our model center in Wuhan learning about HTS’approach to providing family-like nurturing care to orphaned children. Weare now offering Blue Sky training sponsorships – a great way to help usreach our goal to put a caring adult in the life of every orphaned childhttp://give.halfthesky.org/prostores/servlet/Detail?no=90 This fall, funds permitting, Half the Sky will open new Blue Sky ModelCenters in Xian, Harbin, Shenyang and Qingdao. We are no longer acceptingapplications for this year’s volunteer build but we dearly hope that youwill consider sponsoring a child or supporting the new model centers inother ways. You have been so tremendously generous during these awful weeks. Now, asthe Sichuan story fades from the news, we are even more grateful that youcontinue to remember the children whose struggle is just beginning. Idon’t know how we can ever thank you enough for all you have done andcontinue to do. I hope that watching our progress as we work to rebuildyoung lives – in Sichuan and all over China – will be thanks enough. Youknow we will always keep you informed! This should be the last of our emergency updates. I’ll now return towriting you every month or two. Of course, if you don’t wish to receivefurther updates from Half the Sky, please unsubscribe by sending a blankemail to leave-half_the_sky@titan.sparklist.com If you would like to donate to Half the Sky’s Children’s Earthquake Fundyou can do so by calling Half the Sky (+1-510-525-3377) or visit ourwebsite:http://give.halfthesky.org/prostores/servlet/Categories?category=Children's+Earthquake+Fund If you would like a Canadian tax receipt, please donate athttp://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=s86248 If you would like a Hong Kong tax receipt, please call Half the Sky – Asia(+852-2520-5266) or donate online athttps://www.paydollar.com/b2c2/eng/charity/payInfo.jsp?charityId=4947 If you’d like to view previous earthquake journal entries:http://www.halfthesky.org/journal/ Thank you! with love,Jenny Ps – For our many new friends - Half the Sky is a global NGO thatestablishes and operates programs that provide emotional and educationalsupport for orphaned children living in government-run welfareinstitutions in China. Half the Sky does not operate orphanages. It is not an adoption agency.We exist for China’s children. Jenny BowenExecutive DirectorHalf the Sky Foundationwww.halfthesky.org Half the Sky was created in order to enrich the lives and enhance the prospects for orphaned children in China. We establish and operate infant nurture and preschool programs, provide personalized learning for older children and establish loving permanent family care and guidance for children with disabilities. It is our goal to ensure that every orphaned child has a caring adult in her life and a chance at a bright future. Want to receive our free Half the Sky newsletter, full of stories and photos, via regular mail? Just go to our website www.halfthesky.org and click on "Join our Mailing List."
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
4 Kunming Kuties Reunite
My how they have grown! One day I hope they will desire to seek each other out on their own. Their paths were intertwined for a time in an orphanage in Kunming China beginning in June '06. Mia was moved for a while to a foster care village about 100 miles away but was returned to Kunming just before we adopted her. Now as they grow and mature I wonder if they will be curious to know about the other girls with whom they shared such intense beginnings. Will they want to stare into each others eyes and feel this connection? Will they want to know that they are not alone in this world because they were abandoned as infants? Will they be curious to know what circumstances brought 9 beautiful Yunnan blessings to grateful American families?
They are truly gifts.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Pishin' with Daddy
Every day Mike takes Mia fishing. She loves the outdoors, her Daddy, and feeding the ducks almost as much as she does reeling in the inevitable catch. I am hoping to join her more this next week as school's on Spring Break. I need a little color on my white legs and Michaela and I have a lot of relaxin' to do before the final push for summer.
This year is clicking along so fast. Mia speaks in sentences now. It's amazing how much she's learned in one year. Now we're focusing on her self control. Do we ever get through working on self? She's still quite headstrong and many a screaming fit this girl can throw. Her potty training is going slowly but surely.
We've almost fininished the final steps of the paperwork. Our final homestudy report has just been sent to Beijing so this means that the social worker will not have to visit again. Yeah! We are almost done with her "re-adoption" paperwork, which means that we'll petition our local court here for her to obtain a Mississippi Birth Certificate. Our little girl from China is growing up a southern girl "fur sure!"
Monday, March 24, 2008
How Beautiful....How Beautiful!
How much can we cram into one weekend......? I was exhausted from all the frock and shoe shopping (how fast they, ALL FOUR, do grow!) cooking (World's Best Carrott Cake), basket filling.....music memorizing for our church's adult choir....children's department filled to the brim....balloon release (and Mia freaking because she wants to keep her balloon) rushing after church to the family gathering and FINALLY...egg hunting late in the evening at home in the freezing (well it was sweater worthy) temps. But how marvelous the time to celebrate. I wouldn't have it any other way. Spring break is 2 weeks away. I've got my books bought and I'm gonna sit...sit...sit...alot! What about you? How was your weekend?
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Slurping My Blog
Why would I want to do that? Well, I've found a way to publish my blog to a book format. So far, I've not gotten past the technical details and have spent about 4 hours trying to figure out how to slurp. Nothing's easy. Any ideas on why blurb won't access my blog? Sounds like a Dr. Seuss book, doesn't it. :-)
UPDATE! I finally figured it out and am in the process of editing the past 2 1/2 years of stuff. I am thinking of deleting this site since I am blogging less and less.
UPDATE! I finally figured it out and am in the process of editing the past 2 1/2 years of stuff. I am thinking of deleting this site since I am blogging less and less.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Monday, February 04, 2008
Celebrating Our First Year Together
This time last year we were meeting our babies in Kunming, China for the first time. It was chaotic and surreal. This was the day Mia was born into our family and we will celebrate February 5th (well it's already the 5th in China!) as a special day forever. How blessed we were to share this day with another family that recieved twins. All three were placed with the Kunming Childrens Welfard Institute and share the same last surname, Guan, given to them by their orphanage director (because of the area of town they were found.) They will hopefully grow up knowing they are not alone in the world and that this life is full of hope, mercy and grace, if we search for it.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
I Do It!
Notice the shirt is backwards as well as the shoes, but Mia is SO PROUD and insistant that she does everything herself. It makes for a real struggle when we're in a hurry. She's a very independent little girl, but a joy!
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Sukiyaki and Sushi
Last year we were at Mary's eating our Japanese feast with our cell phone close by...waiting for "the call". This year Mia is gobbling the delights and enjoying herself like she's lived here all her life. She's made so many friends and "adopted" so many family members in the past 11 months.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
A Perfect Ending to an Awesome Year!
I finally figured out how to add a video! Scroll down to "Put your little foot" - My sister and mama just love the Mia to pieces.
Merry Christmas to All!
All first Christmas' are special. Yet somehow Mia's first Christmas is especially tender. She is our joy and we enjoy every moment in her presence. Every first for her is re-lived by those who see her expressions. Right now she's freaking over an annoying house fly. She pays close attention to the tiny details of life and is so sensitive to world around her. We love to watch her reactions to new things. I just sit and marvel at how the year has turned out. This has certainly been a year to remember.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
10 month Anniversary
I
It's unbelievable that she's been ours for 10 months. This same time last year I was beginning to think that the adoption would fail. The batches were creeping by in a snail pace and just as our "number" was about to come up, the cut-off date missed us by one day. As sadly as 2006 passed, 2007 has been a year of rejoicing. God blessed us with our referral on January 3rd and even though we were skipped in the December batch, we ended up traveling with that same group! If you have a moment, just scroll down to last years posts and see what a difference a year can make. I could go on and on about the many ways God has proved to us that His hand has been in this adoption from the beginning of conception.
On November 11, 2004, with hearts sensitive and open to adoption, we were given an opportunity to consider adopting from China, at that same time a little girl was conceived in Yunnan province. Nine months later she was born just as our paper-work landed on Chinese soil. What started out being an 8 - 10 month wait suddenly clamped down and the referrals were halted to a trickle. "Why?" we wondered. But God knew that the baby that was to be ours would not be given up by her birth parent until June of 2006. As we neared our 12 month anniversary of our log-in in Beijing, the orphanage in Kunming was just preparing the paper-work of one year old Guan Yun Zhu. She was to go to a foster-family for a short while where she must have been loved very much. I can only imagine how hard it has been for all those who've been a part of her past to let her go. We are eternally grateful for their love and care.
On January 3rd I received the wonderful news that our little girl was from Kunming, the city of eternal spring and one of my favorite tales, the lost city of Shangri-La, a city known for high mountains in the clouds. My scripture verse that day read, "Let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, and righteousness spring up with it.." Isaiah 45:8 (NASB) Many people say that we've "saved" a little girl, but I know for certain that she is "saving" us in so many different ways.
This year has been a year of abundance. Our hearts have grown and our Mia is happy and healthy. I can't begin to express my thankfulness. "
"Joyful, Joyful we adore thee!"
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Little Pumpkins
There's just no end to the words Mia is speaking now. She's sometimes even putting two words together, especially when it's to command our dog, Abbie, to sit...down...DON'T! Mia continues to speak her "Chinese jibberish". You'll swear she's speaking her native tongue, but alas, how can that be? Today in the Chinese restaurant she eyed someone at another table and proceeded to introduce her family to them. Her social skills have improved tremendously. She even stays in the nursery "alone" at church and is quite happy.
Monday, September 03, 2007
New Friends
Hello to my new friends from Florida State University! How much fun I had playing peek-a-boo and "put-the-band-aid on your leg"! I will miss you and often call your names. Please come back to see me and my family soon. Love, Mia
p.s. my family really enjoyed the visit too.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Birth Day
We celebrate her birth and rejoice that we get to be in her life. How precious a child's love and the laughter is just icing on the cake! Not only has she captivated our hearts, but it's spilled over to Grandmothers, cousins and others. Just two years ago she was born, but she was planned well in advance by God. Two years ago our paper-work touched China's soil as Hurrican Katrina touched the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We so desperately wanted our wait for her to be minimal, but alas God knew that her paper-work would not be ready until October of the NEXT year.
She was meant to be ours, but we will always remember who's she was for her first birth.
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