The "Day"

I am not a huge fan of the term "gotcha day". There is a sense that I "got" something - that I snatched something. I hate what that implies. 

It is also a day of trauma for our kids; its the day they were taken from everything they knew (no matter what that was) and thrust into a totally foreign - literally- situation. So it goes largely unnoticed in our house. 

That being said, the day each of my children came into my life was special and memorable for me; I am just not sure what to call it. 

This girl....turned our world upside down - in the very best way! 

It has not been anything like what we had expected, but through Katie, our family has learned more about who we really are, and what really matters.

We have learned that forgiveness is always possible no matter what has happened to you.

We have learned that a hug is pretty much always the answer to any problem.

We have learned how to love when it's hard to love.

We have learned how to live large and in the moment.

So happy day to my Katie - you are the one in our family that reminds us the treasures of this world will rust away, but love it eternal. 

An old familiar feeling

A guest post from Doug today - testimony to the truth that God speaks to his people

The first time I knew God wanted us to adopt, I was sipping my coffee at a Good Friday Breakfast at the Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. I was a seat filler at a high end charity event - one I had attended many times over the past 20 years. No big deal - a free breakfast.

Or so I thought. 

The key-note speaker at this event was Senator John Kyle from Arizona who spoke on the sacrifice that Christ had made for us on Good Friday, and if you called yourself a Christian, how were you living up to that sacrifice. Up to that point I had been adamantly opposed to my wife’s suggestion that we look into adoption. 

God spoke through Senator Kyle that day and put a peace that surpassed all understanding in my heart about adoption. Imagine her surprise when I called to tell her we were going to adopt from China

The second time I knew, I was sitting in my office when a feeling of calm overtook me; It was a typical warm and sunny Southern California day and I had just turned from my computer screen to gaze out my window and admire the scene.  

An overwhelming and completely unexpected feeling overtook me at that moment; I could easily see us adopting another child from China. I wondered why that thought had crossed my mind at that time, but I knew it was coming from the Lord because the feelings of peace, calm and joy were clearly present in the thought. 

It was right then that my computer notified me that I had a new email. Imagine my surprise when I saw that it was a note Karen had forwarded asking us to consider adopting again. 

The third time I knew was when China denied our request to foster a burn survivor from China. When Karen informed me of the denial, God put determination in my heart as the words “well, we will just adopt her" came out of my mouth.  

Normally when I react emotionally toward a subject; regret and the words ‘let me re-think that” are not far behind.  

Not this time. 

That peace that surpasses all understanding was clearly present, and the emotions I felt when she was being wheeled into the operating room for her first surgery (less than 1 year later) were confirmation that God was at the helm.

This time God is again putting adoption on my heart. There is  a little girl in China that has had to endure more than anyone should endure in a lifetime.  She has been through hell on earth and has the love of Jesus stamped on her heart that would make Billy Graham wonder if he had done enough during his life to spread the Gospel.  

So here we go again! But, we know the fears and doubts we have about this are wasted emotions.  When God is instructing you to do His will, and you follow;  you will eventually see the blessings he had intended for you, your family and your new child. 

Pray for us. Pray that God will give us the strength, the patience, the means and the wisdom to remember that “His Will Be Done On Earth As It Is In Heaven”!

Because we have the peace - the peace that surpasses all understanding. 

(for those detail oriented people in the audience, she is 10 years old, in Guangdong provence and we have Pre-approval for her. We expect to travel in 9-12 months to bring her home forever) 

To Grandmother's House We Went!

To grandmother's house we went last week for our now annual New Year's trip with my sister and her kids. Grandma & Granddad live in the mountains - with nature - which is a lovely change for my "suburbia" children! 

Katie's job every morning is to feed the birds; they have a love/hate relationship with her..the love how much she gives them, and are scared to death of her enthusiasm as she heads towards the feeders! 

 There is a great trail behind the house with lovely views  

 4 of the 6 cousins - the other two include one who won't stand still...and the boy cousin who you will find is conspicuously absent from all the girl fun! 

 These two are thick as thieves - and have been out of their skin excited for this vacation! 

We also use this time together to celebrate Christmas - and it works out really well to extend the celebrations and gift giving a week or two longer. As the littlest cousin - she gets to go first (but notice the big cousins are standing close by to "help"!) 

 My sister is a "stitcher" too like my mom & Cami - so Cami always really appreciates the gift from her! 

I got really brave Saturday morning and took all 5 girls to Heritage Park Zoo - by myself. With all the animals and other activities - the spiderweb is their favorite part! 

 The pretty girls.....

 SHortly after I took this - I had to explain to her that the railing was to keep her away from the tiger..because as the tiger came over to see her, she was heading over the rail to see him! 

 We also took our cousins to see "Frozen"...for Cami's 4th time! I have to say, I Was reluctant to let my girls see this because the parents die (I really wish Disney would figure another way to have kids be on an adventure without either dead parents or being disobedient to their parents - but that's a post for another time!). 

Dying parents can be a trigger for kids from trauma and things have been good - no need to rock the boat! BUT - Cami really wanted to see it, so Doug took her - and it was fine. The others then went - and they were ok..so we went again, and then again, and then once more! 

A little more outdoor time - we were fortunate that while it can get cold there, it wasn't so the kids were able to be outside and enjoy all the nature comfortably (my little southern China & southern California delicate flowers!) 

To grandmother's house we went...and had a wonderful time! 

Ice Kingdom California Style

One of the good/bad things about where we live in the lack of winter weather. 

It's lovely to be able to play outside all day every day during the 18 day winter break! I never, ever have to dig my car out of the snow. What exactly does it mean "my pipes froze?" 

It's sad that we have no concept of a white Christmas, the beauty of the after ice storm when the world is covered with God's glitter, or any of the other winter-y activities. 

This year, there was an event at the Queen Mary where they created an ice kingdom. They brought in 9 Chinese artisans from Harbin, and went to town creating "The Nutcracker" out of ice. We were blessed with the gift of tickets to the event, so we bindled up and headed over to give our southern California babies a taste of winter.

It is 7 degrees in the structure, so they provide us with parkas - much needed parkas! 

 Every single thing is this picture is made of ice (and 3 minutes in - we all felt like ice blocks!) 

 The had a replica of the front of the Queen Mary - steps up to the top, slide down! 

 Katie loved it.....

 Becky...not so much

 My soldiers!

 Katie had a little trouble with the "no touching (and no licking!) the ice " rule, so we ultimately zipped her arms right into the parka - problem solved! 

The detail and intricacy was amazing

No real winter experience would be complete without some ice skating. Mind you, by the time we finished with the Ice Kingdom, it was 11:30 - and 72 degrees out! We didn't skate long - but they made the most of it! 

 The southern Cal twist on apres snow play hot chocolate in front of the warm fire...gelato! 

 Momma elf with her baby elves! 

While not the "typical" winter wonderland experience, it did just fine for us! 

I am finding that many things "not typical" do just fine for for us!