One Year Ago Today...Leaving on a Jet Plane

I get so excited when I read the blogs of other families about to embark on the trip of a lifetime. I remember well that day in the airport bidding farewell to my husband. It was the first time since we'd been married that we were separated. Our choice to have Rob travel and me stay home was difficult in some ways, but it was the most logical choice for our family. Emily becomes antsy after several days at the shore and her picky eating patterns did not bode well for international travel. Additionally, when the choice was made for us to divide and conquer, we anticipated travel almost a year earlier making Emily three, and just not ready.

Originally, a good family friend, John had made the committment to travel with Rob. We were so grateful for such a generous offer. Unforeseen business committments cropped up a very short time before we were scheduled for travel and John alerted us travel would be difficult. Uh oh. My dear friend Gerry had said to me several times that her husband, Jim would be more than happy to make the trip. A fire chief in a major metropolis, Jim would need to take two weeks vacation - I was certain it was just not enough time to prepare. BUT, I made that phone call and Jim answered the phone assuring us that he was up for the challenge. It turns out the timing in which they would be away was already scheduled vacation for Jim. God is so good!

In order to minimize melodrama, Emily said goodbye to daddy at home and had a full docket of plans with Nan while my dad drove Rob, Jim and I to the airport. It was a rainy day, but our hearts saw only sunshine knowing what the end of this trip would bring.

Below is an excerpt from our adoption journal (our original website was set up with Adoption Voyages)

I am drawn back to the evening Emily was born. I had been in labor for 20 hours (no pain, not progressing, frustrating but serene). In a last ditch attempt to progress the delivery before concluding a C-section would occur, I was given yet another high dose of pitocin and an epidural in hopes it would relax my system. It worked like a charm, and like every other surprise Rob and I have had in life, we were rather thrown into the moment, when we were beginning to expect a different outcome. There she was, a beautiful, wonderful addition to a life we were pretty happy with...and I mentioned I would do it again, in a heartbeat, a thousand times over (okay, maybe not a thousand, but I said that!). Rob and I were all alone (there was an emergency in another delivery room), and he told me I'd done good...it was sweet, and then he said something I will never forget, it was a prophesy of sorts. He said, "I promise honey, next time I'll take care of it." Of course we laughed--never in a million years would we guess what life had in store for us.

Today we kissed each other goodbye for a time, so that Rob could go "take care of bringing home our baby girl." Thank you Rob, for keeping your promise.

One Year Ago Today...

These next two weeks mark our Hanniversary! I will be trying to post some reflections of that time, as we celebrate the union of Hannah Leigh into our family. Without further ado



T'was the night before China
And all through the house
Everything was stirring
Especially my spouse

His bags, they were packed
Ready to send
Knowing our wait for sweet Hannah
Was just about to end

We were both a bit nervous
And sad to be apart
but knew our decision
was right in our hearts

And Knight in bright armour
That is our Jim
Packing his bags
And jumping right in

So off to the airport
Look out big Beijing
Our Hannah waits for us
And that's everything!

Easter is Upon Us!

This is the year for cleaning out and cleaning up. I vowed this to myself as the year began and so far, I have kept my word. As I cleaned out my hope chest recently, I discovered a lifetime of memories tucked neatly in what I consider the prettiest piece of furniture I have ever owned. It was fun to leaf through each and every precious card and note, picture and book, that mean so much and tell the story of my life. In that hope chest was my choir folder. I sang with the church choir from age 4 until age 18. My folder was number 8 (my favorite number)and though I cannot recall what I may have sung as a child, all of the songs I sang as a teen were securely packed in my blue music holder.





During my cleaning spree, I found a favorite song, Easter Morn. The tune is so pretty and the words ring with truth and joy.

In a land so far away, on a hillside there
Jesus died upon the cross, all our sins to bear
Born a child of lowly birth, in a manger stall
Lived a Life of peace and love, died to save us all

Jesus healed the sick at heart, Jesus healed the lame
Walking on from town to town, preaching in God's name
He had a destiny, not to be denied
So for all the sins of man, He was crucified

There is a bit of a story that goes with the song. The choir director, Mr. Nelson, a very funny man, was usually all full of jokes, but one particular rehearsal, he was tired and not in the mood for our usual antics. He would prompt us at the chorus, however, we always sang the words incorrectly...what should have been

But, He rose on Easter morn, the battle He had won,
Angels rolled the stone away, His work on Earth was done
Sing the glory of Christ on high
In Heaven He shall reign, until the day He comes to Earth again.

became

Buddy rose on Easter morn, the bad doll he had won

We consistently slurred the words in a way only youth can do and after several times of stopping and starting, Mr. Nelson lost it. He yelled and ranted, and we, certainly not thwarted by his little tantrum continued to talk with one another and giggle despite his disgust with us. Then, the choir clown, Kenny spoke, "Actually, Mr. Nelson it's not really wrong, He is our buddy. I mean that is what He wants from us, right? A solid relationship - to be our buddy, our go-to guy." There was silence. To this day, I am unsure of whether it was because we thought Kenny was about to be asked to leave or because we all recognized the value in his observation.

Jesus is most definitely my "go-to-guy". I think Kenny was onto something. Webster defines "buddy" as companion, partner and friend. Yes, Kenny, you definitely understood.

Happy Easter Week!


Dying Easter eggs

On a Serious Note

I love Easter, some of my future posts will reflect how much I love Easter. But, this week my heart is sad, for three very important prayer requests. Please indulge me and pray for three important people in our lives.





First, there is Ray. Ray is the child I have provided home therapuetic services for since he was six years old. He is now eleven. Ray is a child affected by Autism. On a normal day, life is never normal for Ray or his family. When you spend as much time in someone's home as I have spent in their home, you discover that somewhere along the road, you have become family with this family. Ray is sick and has been hospitalized since last week. I was hoping that this post would not come to pass because I hoped he'd be home by now, but he is not. The key words are abdominal abscess and no desire to eat, which if you knew Ray, you'd know this is very serious. Pray for healing for Ray, for wisdom for his doctors and nurses and truly for peace and rest for his family. His mother and father are taking shifts, but because of some of Ray's individualized needs this is tiresome at best and outright exhausting for the most part.





Then, there is Leanna. She is a dear friend, prayer warrior and genuinely amazing woman who delights in serving others. She was visiting family in another state and almost on a plane to come home. She fell, broke her hip and has now been operated on in a strange hospital, far from home. She is not feeling well and just plain needs prayer. I spoke with her yesterday and though she sounded good, her frustration is apparent. I am certain her greatest heartache is missing time with her immediate family at home. So, she could use prayer for quick healing and much less pain. We are praying for her husband, who is by her side and also for all the medical personnel caring for her.





Finally, you can visit Lori here to offer up some love. Apparently in Hague related issue, there may be some tentativeness in their adoption. They are a waiting family and having been in their shoes, waiting and waiting, I have seen the joy that is the other side of that wait. I pray for them the same outcome and my heart is heavy for any and every family waiting, hoping, dreaming of their children from China, experiencing bumps in the road and uncertainty. I am sure of God's plan for our families, but know firsthand the desperate moments that can pop into our lives when waiting for something so precious, so desired and loved.

In this season of newness and spring, I pray for newness in the lives of those I've highlighted and hope for them joy.

Posts are Piling Up

To the tune of When the Saints Go Marching In...

Oh when the posts start piling up,
Oh when the posts start piling up
How I'd love to get them published
When the posts start piling up

Oh when the wash is a mile high
And dinner needs to be on the table
And the kids clothes won't iron themselves
I can only do what I am able

And I can't hide,
Oh just can't hide
Those chores will just have to get done
And the posts will pile up
Til the rise of the new day sun

So I'll be back
Oh yes, be back
Just a few things more left to get done
Oh how I miss my bloggy blogging
Stay tuned for ladybug fun....

Thankful Thursday

It is because we are different that each of us is special. ~ Brian Dyson





Growing up, my mother often remarked about how much she enjoyed the differences between my brother and myself. And we are very different! It would be cumbersome to list all of the ways we are different, but there are some ways we are very much the same. We share the same parents, parts of the same childhood and we'd lay down our lives for one another. All the differences fade in comparison to the depth of love in our soul for one another. And so, it warms my heart when I see our daughters sharing their childhood and growing in that relationship. I'm thankful for those simple moments when I am trying to get dinner on the table and a box of crayons and plain paper provide fifteen minutes of conversation and screechless interaction. (Crayola really does deserve a thank you note from our family:)

Bubbly from the beginning, Emily gathers up life and relishes each moment in her own finesse-filled way. People often ask, "Does she ever have a bad day?" And, of course, the answer is , "YES!". Emily is Petunia Picky-pants when it comes to nourishment. Hannah approaches things differently, breathing in each moment with a variety of responses, constantly surprising us and forever revealing answered prayer. Hannah has this very cute habit of "Oooooohing and Aaaaaaaahing" as soon as food is placed in her sight. She will eat pretty much everything and particularly likes vegetables. She loves to shop for clothes and accessories, Emily could not be more bored with anything than to be forced to try on clothes. I must say, I agree with my wise Mama, I enjoy the differences.

I am thankful that Emily asked for carrot sticks for snack this week and ate them! She also ate yogurt covered raisins and LOVED them. It may seem a small milestone to some, but for me, it was paramount.

I am thankful for Hannah's persistence. Though trying at times, at the delicate age of 21 months, her perserverance will help her in life and hopefully propel her to do well in the things she loves.

I am thankful for my mother and dad. They are encouraging parents and grandparents. My dad has been particularly helpful these past few weeks, with my most cranky computer. Between business trips and volunteer meetings, he has made time to help me and I appreciate that.

For all of us eighties and nineties girls, Dirty Dancing and Ghost are rites of passage, icons of our past...I plan to pray for Patrick Swayze and am not ashamed to admit my never-ending fascination with his movies. I'm thankful our friend Sam, also being treated for Pancreatic cancer is doing so well.

Finally, I am thankful for friends and family who take the time to remind us how special we are. In the daily grind, it is easy to look outside your own circumstance and assume everyone else is doing it better. I think it is a natural symptom of being a mom. This quote that I stumbled over this week has particular meaning,

"I guess what I have really discovered is the humanizing effect of children in my life, stretching me, humbling me. Maybe my thighs aren't as thin as they used to be, maybe my getaways are not as glamorous. Still, I like the woman that motherhood has helped me to become." ~ Susan Lapinski

Time Well Spent

May you live all the days of your life. ~ Jonathan Swift




I looked around. The floor needed to be mopped, the house needed straightening, there was a pile composed of three days' mail that needed sorting and there was an assortment of laundry that needed to be folded and ironed. (I am completely sure the laundry holds staff meetings after we all go to sleep deciding how it can look more daunting the next day than it does this day - does it fluff itself into those piles or what?) I had an extra day this week due to a student's vacation, but I was battling a sinus infection/flu thing and there was lots to be done at home. And then I glanced into the family room, both girls were gathered at the window staring at a bird that was dangling itself precariously close to the house. It was a gorgeous day, cold, very cold, but no wind and the sun was as bright as I have seen in a while. Emily was muttering something about springtime.

And so, without as much as a second thought to all the things that should have been done, I knew what needed to be done. Emily has a favorite park, people bring their dogs there to walk and it has a fun playground. I quickly gathered hats and coats, stood in the doorway and announced we'd be going for a ride to the park. The entire sentence had not left my lips and Emily had her boots in hand. I had even picked her up early from school that day in hopes of some fun girltime that afternoon while Hannah napped, but I realized in the nick of time that we'd have more fun in the fresh air, all three of us, than staring at the same four walls.

The playground was covered with snow, so we agreed on a long walk through the horse trails. We met four dogs (and their people), fed six ducks, said "hi" to anyone and everyone who passed our way and even caught a glimpse of an experienced rider on her horse way out in a meadow, it was beautiful.

Some of my to-do list still waits to be done. It's okay; someday they will be off doing their own thing and not have time for afternoons in the park. Emily continues to talk about "Ace the dog" who licked her hand and Hannah challenges her zeal with a very loud, "Ewwwww, yuck." They high five one another and giggle, giggle, giggle. My love affair with the washing machine, mop and vacuum doesn't stand a chance:)