We successfully surprised my daughter... again. I am beginning to think she is pretty gullible :). We shocked Jacob as well. Erin and Sam were fooled, but they seem to take it all in stride. My parents left for Florida a few weeks before Thanksgiving. They always spend Thanksgiving with my brother and sister and then come home for Christmas. For my kids, the only Christmas they have ever known is one with my parents. They love the excitement that goes along with it. For them, it is a very special time with my Mom and Dad. It means a lot to both my kids and my parents. BUt this year, my oldest neice is graduating from college today! My parents decided to stay in Florida so that they could see her graduate. Before they went, they had a talk with us and shared with us that they would not be coming back until April. It was quite a shock to my kids; but mostly to Emily. She LOVES everything about Christmas with my parents. I think it is such a precious time for my kids to really get to enjoy my mom. Mom becomes a totally different person around Christmas and it is A LOT of fun for them. But for the first time ever, they would not be here. That meant that the kids would not have Christmas. Jacob and Emily were devastated. They love all the decorations and the excitement and the fun of the season. Mark and I came up with lots of different ideas, but all were rejected. To them, it just wasn't Christmas unless it was with Grandma and Grandpa. On top of all that, they realized that if Grandma and Grandpa weren't here, then their cousins wouldn't be either. For as long as I can remember, my brother and his family have traveled to Ohio to be with us during the Christmas holiday. It has been one of the ways that we have been able to keep a close relationship with the kids. They come here at Christmas and we go there during the summer. So it was a double whammy. And for Emily, that meant that she would not see her grandparents for nearly 9 months. She was very, very sad... and spending a lot of time pouting about Christmas. She refused to even think about it. What noone knew was that Grandma and Grandpa had decided before they left for Florida, that they would come home for CHristmas and surprise the kids. We decided to keep it a secret and have a lot of fun with it. As the weeks went by, my brother and his wife begin seeing if their kids could come back with Grandma and Grandpa and surprise the kids too. They arranged a plane trip home for them on Christmas Eve. So... I have been keeping it a secret for a very long time. They were suppose to arrive on MOnday and would fly out Thursday. But... mom starting getting sick and Dad started thinking about the holiday traffic and there were some initial problems with getting tickets to see my neice graduate; before we knew it, the plans began changing and my parents headed back Thursday morning. We are thankful because they would have hit the horrible snow storm on their way home had they waited to leave today.

Despite not having my parents home for Christmas, Jacob was determined to somehow enjoy the holiday anyway. It took me quite a bit, but I convinced him to decorate my parents house (to surprise my mom; though Jacob had no clue that was what I was doing). Emily was mad we did it. She refused to consider doing anything at all that would be Christmas related. She pouted and then Jacob pouted because Emily was being so difficult. I just giggled to myself because I knew that by the evening they would completely forget their saddness. Emily even gave my brother a horrible time for not coming to Ohio this Christmas. I just laughed at her.

Oh - I almost forgot. Wednesday night, Sam was on facebook and I hear "Mom..... can you come here?". I got up and walked in to see Sam with a smile on his face. He says "come here and read this". I figured a friend wrote something he wanted me to read. So I walk over to the computer and Sam points to my nephew's status which says "leaving for ohio tomorrow!". Then he smiles and says "Am I suppose to know this?". I stared at the screen and thought a few moments and then responded with "if you tell any of your siblings, your dead"... of course, I was smiling when I said it! I laughed. I realized that my nephew was so excited about coming that he completely forgot that Sam and Emily are his friends on facebook! Needless to say, Sam was thrilled and couldn't wait to see his cousins!

When my parents arrived, Emily had just walked into a concert. SHe had about 1/2 hour before the concert began so I tried to get her to come pick Sam up at my parents house (so she would discover her grandparents and her cousins). But NO!! She wouldn't come and had a good excuse. I tried everything I could think of, but with little success. I finally gave up and told her to just hurry up when the concert ended. I had told her that Elizabeth really wanted her, but she still didn't come. When my parents arrived, I took my neice and nephew to the concert. We texted Em and told her to come out because Elizabeth really wanted her. She came out and was blown away to discover her cousins standing there! We then convinced her that i had gone to the airport to get them. She was a little baffled because she had seen me just 2 hours earlier, but she never put 2 and 2 together. I told her I had left Jacob with the kids at Grandmas and I would just meet her there. She kept my neice with her (who never gave the surprise away). When she FINALLY pulled into the drive, we hid Grandma and Grandpa in the bedroom. I told Em that I was ready to leave. So I called for Jacob. He never responded (intentionally). I finally sent Emily into the room to get him. She walked into the room and called for Jacob. Then Emily saw Grandpa and screamed and jumped backwards. It was hilarious! She was so EXCITED to see them!

As for Jacob, I had successfully shocked him as well. He was at the house when they all came in. I yelled for him to come out of the bedroom because I had a surprise for him. He walked in and saw Grandpa and about fell over. He was so surprised! After hugs and many shocked comments, he grabbed me and dragged me outside. HE then proceeded to tell me that I had done this to him twice in one year. I wasn't allowed to do it again!

Too funny!!

Since the great surprise, we have been enjoying every minute of having my neice and nephew! We were so blessed to have snow when we woke up today. They long to have snow when they are here at Christmas. God provided the perfect day!!! The snow was great packing snow and the temperature couldn't have been better. We spent nearly the entire day playing outside. What fun we had. Jacob and Eli built the largest snowman we have ever built before! IT was incredible! FAith and Erin joined in at the end for the dressing of him. Then Sam joined us later and built the most incredible deer ever. My dad arrived at the end of the sculpting of the deer and decided to run back into town for paint. He came out and we finished the deer. It was incredible!!! Sam did an amazing job. Then we added the Santa and bag in honor of our cousins. Santa does not EVER visit our home; but it was fun to create him for Eli and Faith. Grandpa had so much fun. HE stayed and helped for all of it. It was fun!!

Sam is such a goof off. He is quite the ham for pictures.
Life is never dull when Sam is around!
But once in a while, I can get him to love on his sisters. Those moments are precious.


This picture sometimes makes me choke up. This is the day before Emily headed back to school. Elizabeth clung to her most of the day. She seemed so sad and didn't want to let her go.



In just a couple of days, Emily will be home for nearly a month. I am looking forward to that time. Jacob is working hard to get all his school work done Wednesday so he can have a few special days with Emily. He loves that one-on-one time with her. He really misses her; probably more then anyone does. She has a special place in his heart! I am confident that the feeling is mutual. Of everyone, Jacob is the one Emily misses most.

Happy Gotcha Day!

Memories of the past 4 years....
(Elizabeth's "gotcha moments" are in the first 5 minutes of the movie, then it covers Ri's adoption)

Our first glimpse of our baby. This is our referral picture.

This is the first moment that we saw our little girl in person. We are waiting for our names to be called so we can hold her.
Our first moments together.












































There are days in every ones life in which every detail and emotion are forever burned into our memory. And when the anniversary of that day rolls around, those memories come flooding back; often as if you are reliving it. On the birthday of each of our biological kids, my memory always takes me back to the moment that they were laid in my arms. I love to "relive" hours that lead up to their birth, the labor, the birth, the first few moments when Mark and I are alone and holding our precious child. I love to think about all that went on that day. They are fond, fond memories for me.

Today, though it is not one of my children's actual birth, it is one of those "forever moments" and times to reflect. Today brings the anniversary of the day we "gave birth" to Elizabeth. Today marks the 4 year anniversary of Elizabeth's "gotcha day". Four years ago, our family traveled to China to bring our precious daughter home. It was just as precious of a birth as it was when we traveled to the hospital to give birth to our biological children. In a room filled with 4 other families and 5 precious little babies awaiting to be held by their forever families.... we waited to hear our name called so that we could hold our little girl. The excitement in the room was exhilarating. There were 22 of us; all straining to see which of the babies was ours. All of was holding our breath and waiting to hear our name called. There was no formal ceremony, no fuss made over the first moments.. nothing happened as I had expected (but isn't that really how giving birth is?) When we heard our name, Mark and I walked forward and the man whom was holding Elizabeth placed her in our arms. In fact, I don't even remember him handing her to me. It was as if everything in that room disappeared and it was only Elizabeth and I. In that moment, I felt as if I had given birth to my daughter. Nothing in the room mattered but her. Just as when you give birth, in that moment all the waiting and anticipating is washed away. The labor, the contractions, the wondering, the fears, ... all the unknown of birth... is wiped away and the only thing that matters is that precious little one that you are finally holding in your arms. The LONG wait, the paperwork, the travel, the fears, the unknowns, the wondering what she would look like, feel like, smell like... it was all gone and FINALLY, I was holding my baby girl.... and she was perfect!

Four years have now gone by. She is still just as precious as she was no that day. She is as much my daughter just as if I literally gave birth to her. There is NO difference. Her birth was just a little different then my other 4. But she is my baby in every way she possibly could be. We talk about her birthparents. She understands as best a 4 years old can understand. She was very confused when I shared with her that she was not in my belly, but in her birthmoms belly. But it was exciting for her to know that there is some woman in China who was her birthmom. She says she loves her birthmom and wants to know what she looks like. I hope that she will always love her birthparents and understand that for some reason (unknown to us), her birthparents were just not able to raise her. I often explain how it was God's plan for us to be her family. He held her and brought her into this world through her birthparents. And then he held her as she waited for him to bring us to China. We share with her how God told us to go to China because our baby girl was waiting for us there. I thank God for her birthparents and I ache for their hearts. No doubt that on January 21st, their hearts ache the deepest ache possible. That whole week following her birth is probably forever burned into their minds. I pray that they come to know Jesus Christ as their savior and that Elizabeth will trust Jesus as her savior and then... one day (maybe not until we are on glory's side), she will be reunited with them and all will make sense.

Elizabeth is a vibrant, beautiful little girl. She has a sparkle that can warm anyone's heart and a "fear/withdraw" that can break your heart. Her favorite toys ... and I mean FAVORITE... are small stuffed animals (beanie baby size). She and Ri will play for ours with them. It is rare not to have one near by. I have never seen such an active imagination in a child as I do in both of the kids. If stuff animals are not around, they will choose the closest thing and pretend with that. I have seen them takes forks and paper and make an entire story up with using them as the characters. She LOVES movies/tv and if I don't watch it closely, she could sit there all day and be happy. But the minute I turn it off, she is up and playing as creatively as she knows how. SHe never asks to watch tv, but will drop everything the minute I turn it on again. She loves playing outside; but isn't a fan of the cold or the extreme heat. Summer seems to be her least favorite because she gets so hot. She is very, very picky about her clothes. I can not get a long sleeve shirt or dress on her for anything! It doesn't matter how adorable it is, if it has long sleeves, I'm done for. AND... as for short sleeves, there are very few of those that she likes as well. So, her wardrobe is not that big (though I have a closest full of beautiful clothes for her!) She still LOVES her "hulk" blanket. It is the uglies thing I have seen (I am not a fan of the hulk); but my mother-in-law found it at a garage sale just after she lost her blanket that she NEVER left home without. It had the exact same feel as that blanket. As soon as she felt the "hulk"; she loved it. So... I am stuck with my little baby GIRL attached to a blanket that bares the picture of the Hulk on it.

She adores her family. Her Daddy is her hero. He is so patient with her and willing to wait her out when she hits her withdraw moments. He gets down and dirty with her and she loves it. SHe has really missed Emily. When Em was home, she lit up. A few days before Em left, Elizabeth didn't want to leave her side. It was precious. She loves it when Erin interacts with her; especially when Erin takes time to do crafts with her. Sam is the biggest toy around. When Sam is in the room, the volume raises 10 fold! Jacob has become her rock. He is always here and always willing to watch her and always willing to play with her. And Ri... well Ri is her very, very best friend!

Thanksgiving has come and gone and now we are heading into another hectic season. Emily drove back to school yesterday. It is amazing to me the emotions that I have these days. I often hear that growing up is hard... but I am ready to argue that the growing up isn't so hard on the child; but mostly hard on the parent... and even more specifically...the MOM! But, despite the emotions that are flying through me at this stage in my life, I enjoyed every moment I saw my girl while she was home. And... as she so often mentioned... she is safely "home". To her, BBC is now home. Oh, it is just a silly phrase for her and it really doesn't mean all that us adults think of as "home".... but it is definitely a phrase that catches me off guard at times and rattles all those emotions of letting my little girl go.

Surprisingly, I didn't take a lot of pictures. My camera doesn't take very nice indoor pictures, so once winter comes, I really slow down on the shots I take. I wish that weren't the case, though. We only had one opportunity to take a family shot (only one time when we were all home long enough) and we failed to think of it. That makes me very sad. Maybe when she is home during Christmas break.

Everyone is finally healthy. It was a longer road then most illnesses around here; but one in which we recieved grace and made it through without any serious complications. I praise God for that! Our family seems to be making some changes in our lifestyle. Sam and Jacob have discovered the joys of lifting with their Daddy. Unfortunatley, Daddy hadn't been lifting for a while, so he is a little on the sore side. Erin is dating a young man who is very focused on working out; thus, my little girl is very focused as well. It is fun to watch. All three kids have really changed things around here. Jacob ran 9 miles Thanksgiving morning! Wow... it was amazing. We are very proud of his accomplishment. With their focus; it seems Mark and I are being dragged right into it.

About 6 weeks ago, Sam and his girlfriend asked me to swim in an alumni swim meet. The alumni take on the high school team. I only laughed at them! I haven't swam laps for at least 20 years and I haven't competed for more then 30. And.. worse... I am so out of shape it is ridiculous. But... I committed to trying to get into shape. I even went to the Y one time to swim just to see if I could still swim! I was doing great up until the swine flu hit. Then all workouts stopped and my eating went back to my usual diet (not great). So... I pretty much gave up the thought. But I couldn't give up the guilt. I had promised that I would do it. The night before, Sam's girlfriend sent me a text and told me it was ok if I didn't go. That made me feel worse. Then Sam begged me to do it and told me my excuse was a cop out. He was having fun with me, but I couldn't shake it. So..... the next morning I woke up and struggled for an hour with whether I would swim or not. Deep down, I knew I couldn't quit.... but I wanted to sooooo badly! Despite my fear of getting in a suit in front of so many I knew, my fear of dying in the water, and my fear of utter humiliation, I mustered the courage to dawn a swim suit out in public and climb a starting block in front of way too many friends and acquaintances. Oh what a horrible feeling that was! I wasn't the oldest there, 2 others I use to swim with joined the alumni team for a day as well. But most of the alumni had just recently graduated and are or have swam on a college team. It was quite the experience. After getting over the horrible feeling of walking around in a race suit in front of my peers and my childrens friends, I managed to get in the water and warm up. I hadn't dove off a block since I competed 30 years ago. I was very fearful of that. But I managed to get up without any incidence and dove into the water without breaking anything (I know I couldn't have, but I kind of felt that I might), and I managed to do still breath when it was all done. FOr a brief moment, I was swept back to the days when swimming was my life. When I hit the water, the "race" inside me came flooding back. I no longer felt 46 years old, but ... for a moment.. felt young again. THe taste of competition and racing overwhelmed me. It was a very strange sensation. And in the end I was actually still able to pull myself out of the water. I am glad that I did, but now I am haunted by the race. In the heat of the competition, I had forgotten about who I was racing and why I was racing. It was almost an out of body type experience. I was oblivious to much of my surroundings. I was back to the "race" that lived in me so deeply 30 years ago. Just before I hit the end of the race, my senses came back to me and I remembered the people in my life. But it was too late, I had made the mistake of allowing competition to rule my life. It was a race that meant nothing to me; in fact something I had dreaded. I only did it for my son and his girlfriend. It was a race that meant a lot to them. And in the end, I forgot about it all and ended up hitting the pad just before the one person I wanted to win! And now, everytime I think of the race, I die inside. This young lady is an incredible girl and a very good swimmer. She loves the sport and does very well in it. That one race was meant to encourage her and I allowed that brief thrill of competition to destroy it. Mark has always said how competitive I am and I have always gotten frustrated. I thought I had put that spirit to rest. And when I wanted it resting the most, it came out strong. Fortunately, this young lady is a beautiful young lady who is ready to work hard to take me on at the end of the season. I can guarantee that even if I try my hardest, she will beat me! She is determined and talented!

As for the rest of our lives, we are all doing well. I am so thankful for all that God has given us. We have 6 beautiful, healthy, wonderful children. I have a husband who STILL treats me like his princess, I have in-laws that so many women would be envious of!, I have a beautiful roof over my head, food on our table, clothes on our back, freedom in our country, and I can go to sleep at night not fearing whether any of it will be there the next day. I lay my fears and concerns at the feet of Christ; knowing that no matter what, He will hold me and carry me through.