Memorable Dates

This week has been filled with a lot of stuff - both physically to do and mentally to work through. Combined with all the Easter activities, I didn't get a chance to write about an important date that we celebrate this week. Celebrate is the wrong word - because we don't do anything special really, but I will always pause on this day and remember.

On April 4, 2008 we received a call that would fundamentally changed our lives. I answered the phone call from our agency, conference called Doug in and heard Mei tell us "You have a daughter". It was both the end of a three year odyssey and the beginning of an amazing journey.

On April 5, 2008 - we saw our daughter for the first time. This picture is from February, 2008 ( I wonder if the UPS man has recovered!)

Same baby girl - two years later.....

I can not look at these two pictures side by side and not fall on my knees in gratitude to the One who makes these transformations possible. It is through His strength, mercy & grace that we have walked this journey. Who would have thought that the serious, solemn shut down baby we saw that day would be come the feisty imp that inhabits our world and rules the roost!

Becky was His child long before He entrusted her to us for the time being - and she will be His long after we are gone. He held her in His hands for the 14 months that she lived without her family, and He brought her exactly where He wanted.

I believe that God has redeemed my daughter's life through the miracle of adoption. I believe that while she had a less than perfect start in her life, He has risen beauty from the ashes. How can I look at this precious, adorable child and believe otherwise?

There is no better time than Easter Sunday to celebrate our own resurrected lives - changed through Jesus Christ. This Easter, our family got to share, for a brief moment, the resurrection we've experienced because of the Resurrection.

We invite you to watch

I can see clearly now.....

...my glasses are here!

Yes - we didn't think it was possible, but she got even cuter with the addition of her spectacles! When Katie had her eye exam, I also scheduled one for Becky - Katie's eyes are perfect- Becky is extremely near sighted with an astigmatism - just like her mom...go figure!

She keeps them on fairly well - and so far has only thrown & broken them once....

Easter Joy

Easter was filled with a lot of festivities for us that began last Monday - but it was hard for me to write about the fun things until after we had celebrated the Risen Lord.

The week leading up to Easter is hard for me - remembering the sacrifice made for me always leaves me so sad until we actually enjoy the Resurrection. This year, I felt led to fast from after communion during Thursday night church to sunrise Easter morning. I fasted not just from food, but from my computer - no email, no blogging (reading or writing), no Google, no Facebook - didn't turn it on once. It was easier than I thought (although making 4 dozen chocolate covered strawberries while fasting should be recommended to the CIA as a form of torture!). When my headache started on Friday afternoon from caffeine & chocolate withdrawals, I thought of the crown of thorns and it didn't hurt so bad. When I felt cut off from my "social network" - the words "My God, my God, why have your forsaken me" made me realize my separation was inconsequential.

Sunday morning, while the food tasted good, the words

He Has Risen Indeed

taster even sweeter!

So - on to the festivities! Last Monday, Tanya hosted on awesome Easter party for the Lucky Mommys - some of the originals shown here!

After an awesome lunch, it was on to the official Easter egg hunt; for it being her first Easter, Katie figured out the "egg hunt" concept pretty quickly!

Becky tends to get sidetracked from collecting eggs by seeing what's inside of each one!

The China kids - what an awesome looking group! It is getting slightly easier to get them all to sit still for a picture - next step will be to get them all looking up & smiling at the same time!

Friday afternoon we had an egg dying party at the house - messy...very messy...but fun! We had Vincent & Paloma and our very special friend Hannah who was visiting her grandparents (our good friends Art & Linda) who live across the street from us

(some were more interested in eating the eggs than dying them!)

Sunday morning - the aftermath of the baskets..they needed to check all under the grass to make sure they saw everything! (this made daddy just a little nuts!)

We went to early service this year (early being 9 am!) because we had and egg hunt & lunch planned for 11:30 for 8 kids and 18 adults - so I dressed up the poor children and dragged them out front at 8 am in the chilly morning to get our Easter pictures - I'm thinking it was worth it - they are awfully cute!

And the hunt is on!

once again - more interested in what's inside the eggs....

We had a lot of people, but a lot of great food and great fellowship!

What a wonderful way to celebrate the Risen Lord!

Alleluia!

Thankful for the Sacrifice

Today, on "thankful Thursday", I could go on & on about my husband, my children, my friends, my material comforts, my answered prayers or the host of other blessings in my life. But really, I can't. Because today, two thousand years ago, my Savior began the long road that would lead to my salvation. He took my sin to the cross and suffered unimaginably so that I could be reconciled to my God, my Creator. He undid the deed Adam did. One man saved all. That is what I am thankful for today especially.

When I think, really think, about what Jesus did - FOR ME - it breaks my heart. That someone so perfect, so pure, so holy, would become stained with all my unworthiness, my sin, my brokenness, because He loved me. He gained nothing, except me. And I'm not worth the pain. From tonight until Sunday morning, there is a darkness and a heaviness in my heart as I remember HIs act of sacrifice.

Joy will come in the morning-but for now, there is no light.

I want to suffer with Him - to somehow acknowledge that in some small way I "get it". That I appreciate (such a small & inadequate word) Him climbing on the cross for me. I want to cast my eyes solely on Him for the next few days - to be reminded of His sacrifice and thus His love for me. Easter is a season of celebration, but the celebration is only meaningful when kept in concert with the sacrifice. The resurrection means nothing without the crucifixion, and all too often it's all too easy to forget the suffering and sacrifice and just celebrate the gift.

It's also all too easy to think it's someone else's really ugly sins on that cross - and that it's not my gossip, or self centeredness or controlling behavior (yes my friends - need for control is a sin), or ugly thoughts, or complaining, whining and general unpleasantness that carried Jesus to the cross.

So I will remember this year till He is Risen on Sunday - every time I want to check my email or facebook, or eat a snack or sandwich, or check my friends blogs - I will turn away from those things of the world and turn my eyes upon Jesus as He suffers and dies for me. It's the least I can do.

Helping Daddy?

Early this afternoon, after church and lunch on the back patio, I came inside while Doug picked up with the girls "helping him". He also was going to hose down some of the furniture.....guess what else got hosed down?

It all worked out ok - the patio got cleaned & the girls did too!!

Birthday Dinner

The birthday celebrations might have been more taxing on the mother than the birthday girl..which is why it's taken tow days to get this post done! After the pre-school celebration, we went home and tried to get some rest - and then it was on to the "grand finale!"

Becky is blessed to share her birthday with one of her favorite people in the entire world. Paloma turned 12 on the day Becky turned 3 - and it seemed only fitting that we should have a joint celebration. So we packed up the presents, cake & balloons and ventured out to Old Spaghetti Factory.

The birthday girls....

Uncle Doug with one of the birthday girls!

Daddy and Katie

Adding mommy to the mix...

And it was on to presents! Becky's kid party was a "no gifts" affair - and I was really pleased with how that went. I think we will maintain that tradition going forward - she loved getting cards from her friends, and truly their presence was her present!

BUt - she does love her gifts, so the family came through...

One of the highlights for everyone of the birthday dinner was that Tia Annie joined us! She's been gone WAY too long...and it was nice to have her back!

She, of course, came bearing gifts....

including these darling headbands!

We have spent the last two months in what we jokingly (sort of) refer to as the "princess de-throning" process here. So this gift from mommy & daddy is a little contradictory....

but too cute to pass up!

"My royal subjects (aka - all of you people) let me just thank you for a wonderful birthday celebration! It was no less than I deserved - but I am very grateful to all who sent me good wishes!"

A joint cake - I think that Becky & Katie are just now recovering from all the sugar they consumed during the birthday marathon!

We had so much fun celebrating Becky this year on her birthday and it was so joyful that I almost forgot that for someone half a world away, this day probably brings up so much pain. When I stop to reflect on the gift this child is to our world, I can not forget that for another mother far away, there is a void that will never be filled. I pray that her birth family would have peace, and I mourn just a little that they will never know this very special gift of God - they will never hear her laugh, or appreciate her sense of humor and her teasing spirit, never hear her sing or cry or pray.

I love that I get to watch her grow up. I love that God has chosen us to shepherd her into a little girl and then a young woman, and that He has entrusted us with her heart. I feel so undeserving of this honor - and I can't wait to see the plans He has for this very amazing child..oops - I mean princess!