today

I have too many unrelated photos to try to draw them together, so I give up from the start .... but here's (some of) what we did today.

We LOVE the badminton/basketball courts beside our complex playground.  Loads of room to run and roam.  [Anyone looking for a good big sister?  We've got two!]

One of my favorite parenting mantras: "Say Yes to as much as you can, because you will say No to so much."  (Pretty sure I read it in a book but not sure.  Maybe from Shepherding a Child's Heart?) 

In this case the question was "can I wear my pajama shirt backwards as my shirt today?"

[I'm embarrassed to admit how often my NO is not really for their good but for mine.]

We made tortillas with Ashlei's tortilla press.  You definitely want a neighbor with a tortilla press. 

Pure yummy-ness.  Those kiddos are hanging out waiting for scraps. 

The kitchen bar has redefined cooking with children.  They are right in the middle of the action - but without crowding into my armpits trying to get a good look at the mixing bowl.  I love it more than I ever thought I would (and I had really high expectations going in!)

Then after supper I cut Lydia's and Luke's hair.  No pics because, well, I was cutting hair.  Just a little pre-bedtime fun for momma and the five. 

Luke and Lydia have very similar hair - Lydia's just thicker, longer and curlier :)  After the doc trimmed around Luke's head injury, and then I trimmed a bit more to even it out, well... the back length needed some trimming too.  Lydia's wanted a hair cut for weeks now and with the start of school on the horizon it seemed like as good a time as any.  It was a dusting of curls on the kitchen floor when all was said and done. 

I'll get a picture in the morning - Matt will be here (!!!) to admire my work too so there should be plenty of smiles from everybody :)

handmade

John Paul really loves these sock monkeys.  Sometime during moving week he locked onto these two little guys and it was love right from the start.  Now he wants them every time he goes to sleep.  He wants them tucked in beside his ears and he's so careful to keep his arms down by his sides so he doesn't knock them over! 

On this day he even let me cover him up with a blanket - most hot summer days he wants the blankets beside him not on him. 

And if you've ever wondered how long it takes him to fall asleep at naptime?  Well apparently the answer is "not long".  Maybe he was even asleep before I closed the door behind me?!?  My little guy cannot stay still long when he's awake! 

Must have been a good morning for my favorite 2 year old :)

Made doubly special by the handmade goodness.  Blanket from my Mom (his grandmama) and sock monkeys from Matt's Grandma Ruth (John Paul's only living great-grandparent).

recently

We've had a lot of days like this...

and like this....

 

and nights like this..

note the time stamp here - 10:18 pm and it's 90, feels like 95. yeah.

So when Sunday dawned overcast and cooler we knew we were ready for some outside fun (without the pleasure of sweat dripping down your back).   Early service and then long lazy outdoor lunch with friends.  

The kids spent a crazy amount of time jumping off this wall over and over and over again.  

Every now and then the jump got a bit out of control :) 

Maybe that's why John Paul was trying out the bike helmets?

Good to get a cooler day or two, and good to get some good time with Daddy who is traveling this week (and, bummer, many weeks) this fall. 

I think you might call this the last week of summer?  Local school starts Saturday for the girls (more like an orientation than the first day of class) and Isaac will be back at preschool on Monday morning.  I have this nagging suspicion that I should get some rhythm back to my home schooling days but so far we're not there yet.  We are doing a few things though, and I'm thinking we'll build up to a full schedule sometime mid September?  Gotta get the kinks worked out as we figure out what the local school demands will look like and when to best do our home school work.  

Today my helper brought her six year old granddaughter and those three girls played til they were teary-eyed at departure.  After much begging ayi said she would bring her granddaughter again tomorrow.  Fun to have a new friend around and I'm grateful for a little extra language immersion for the girls after a summer of mostly English speaking friendships. 

little wheat

I hope I never forget yesterday.  Easily one of the most amazing works of the Lord that I have ever witnessed. 

here's the background...

Last Tuesday my friend Sonya called.  There was a baby, a newborn baby girl, who needed an adoptive family.  It was a friend of a - friend of a - friend situation and mostly (I think) we were in shock.  Us? Find a family?  Quickly?  We new the family needed to be locals, they needed to be ready to travel, and they needed to be willing to embrace a host of unknowns.  Domestic adoption here is not usual, there is no clear protocol, and this situation was quite unique.  [Actually, I only know of a few domestic adoptions, and each of them are stories that will blow you away!]

What I'm learning though, is that adoption is actually a lot more common than I thought.  It just doesn't always flow through legal channels and, often times, it's very hush-hush.  More of a "we need help, can you find a family to take our baby, and then someone acts as middle man, passes off the baby and the story stops there" kind of adoption.  Makes me wonder how many adopted children have no idea they were adopted.  And how many parents are carrying heavy secrets that are clothed in silence and shame. 

It didn't take Sonya and I long to rattle off a list of families we thought would be interested.  And I got to make some incredible phone calls.  The "ummm, I know I don't often call you but I have a situation I think you might be interested in and God put you on my heart so anyways, there's a baby girl and ...." kind of phone call. 

One family jumped, said "yes please us" and before I knew it we were on a train, bound for a baby girl that none of us had ever laid eyes on, full of HOPE and FEAR and NERVOUSNESS and PEACE. 

Born to a 17 year old unwed college student who "knew a baby in the womb was a life and a life was preciously valuable" (her words).  

And the adoptive mama was Spirit-filled, and loved this birth mama with the message of HOPE found in Jesus.

And I watched this incredibly brave young lady place her daughter in the arms of a stranger. 

Tears of joy.  Tears of pain.

We got in a car, and drove back to the train station, and brought baby girl home.  

Her adoptive Daddy prayed for years that God would bring them a daughter, a baby sister for their 4 year old son.  He named her Little Wheat. 

I love that little girl.  I love her story.  I love her birth mama and her adoptive mama and the beauty from ashes story that the Lord is writing.

And I still can't believe I got to be there.

the windows (art)

We live on the second floor.  I'm deciding it might be the perfect height.  We are right in the thick of the tree branches and our building is positioned so that we have lots of nice long views. 

Plenty of blue skies this summer it make for some fun window art opportunities. 

self portrait, Isaac

This really incredible opportunity popped up two days ago so very last minute I'm off on a quick day trip with a super sweet goal.  Can't wait to share more when we get back (hopefully, ideally) late tomorrow night. 

oh, and Luke's head?  I gave up on the sweaty slipping band aid but persevering with lots of topical antibiotic and plenty of kisses :)  It looks to be healing up nicely, and only time will tell what the scar will do. 

the first hair cut (not what I expected)

Saturday started off pretty amazing.

First, the little two slept til 7:30.  That's nothing record setting for John Paul but definitely a gift from Luke.  [That little guy is starting to sleep!  6 days this week he napped for two hours!  Huge huge huge progress!  Maybe after 17 months he's leaving his reflux-crazy bad-habits sleep deprivation behind for good!!??!!]

So, still in bed with five kiddos piled around the phone rang at 7:32.... would we like a pan of hot-from-the-oven cinnamon rolls?  Why Yes Please.  {Many many perks to neighbors like these, thanks Ashlei!}

I even said out loud, "this is one good start to a Saturday".  We were expecting a worker (or three) to come look at a few last issues with our house.  Workmen are never easy to have around, but at least Matt was home to help navigate the waters.  And for the afternoon two little friends over to play.  And dinner together this evening for 18 (12 kids, 6 adults but an easy meal with plenty of help on prep work) and just lots of fun.

That was our day, and it was ticking right along when a head first fall turned extra bloody and Luke was possibly needing stitches.

But who could stitch him? when? where?  These issues are never easy here.  The local hospital system is (at times) medically ready and able to handle situations like these, but the crowds make them almost unbearable.  Foreign doctors were not available.

If it was not on his head I would have been more comfortable skipping the stitches but it's his head.  Then again, he's a little boy and it's not like growing up scar-free is a realistic goal.  [Matt is pretty proud of a playground injury that left a scar on his head three decades ago :)]

Back and forth we went, and finally took him to a smaller (crowd-free) clinic and the doc said, "let's not stitch".  And the doctor kindly cleaned it all up and cut off the first bit of those white-blond curls and cleaned some more and - again - felt it was ok to not stitch.

Which sounded like a great idea until an hour after getting home when Luke popped the wound open and walked out of the bedroom with blood dripping down his face.  It's so hot and so hard to get a bandage to stick on sweaty skin and he is a toddler and .....

Gratefully, it has not popped open again today.  Luke seems perfectly content and ignores it until we start poking around his forehead which really gets his fires burning hot :)  He's sleeping now, and we're leaving home for a few days so I'm praying it stays this easy.

And hoping that his future wife thinks a little scar along the hair line is attractive :) 

I'll gladly tell her that while my mother's instinct preferred a few stitches what God provided was different.  It's a gift, one of the many gifts, of living here.

It's also nice to have the first hair cut behind us!  Maybe the next one will be a bit less traumatic. 

now we are six

When I was one I had just begun
When I was two I was nearly new

When I was three I was hardly me
When I was four I was not much more

When I was five I was just alive
But now I am six, I'm as clever as clever;

So I think I'll be six now for ever and ever. 

A.A. Milne

I think six is a great age.  At least one of my favorites so far.  So big, and still so small.  But really, when I stop to think about it, there are so many great things about every age (and they each have their challenges too).  So best is just to choose to enjoy every single year?  Yes.  And be thankful that we have it... the year, and the child :)

Lydia and Matt started the day with a breakfast date, such a special way for Matt to love this daughter, and she glowed (in her fancy dress and he woke her up with a whispered "Lydia, it's your birthday, time for our date" which might be the best way to wake up on a sixth birthday). 

Post-date it was time for some family gifts. 

No one wants to miss a bit of the fun.  Julianna gave her a bell for her bike and Isaac gave her a princess movie.  The littlest two brothers gave kisses :)  And she's the thrilled new owner of a pink Lego carrying case and lots of girly Lego accessories.  My Lydia has a brain like her Daddy, and Legos are a great outlet for all that engineering-like energy. 

Skype-dates and new-toy-playtime and lunch (mac n cheese request) and picking up a spend the night friend (Callie) and more playtime and a little frosting the cake snack/decor. 

When the birthday cake hit the table excitement levels were high :)

And there's nothing quite like candles lit in your honor :)

Movie night in the living room capped off the celebrating. 

Happy Birthday Lydia.  We love your dearest second-born.  You are a good gift and a perfect gift for me.

camping

[First note, in my last post when I bemoaned the passing of time .... and I was all "too bad it's August 10th already" and in reality it was already August ELEVENTH.  oh well.  shows how often I use my calendar, huh?  It's not the first (or last) time I had the date wrong.] 

But I know with absolutely clarity that today is the day before my second daughter's 6th birthday!  Oh my Lydia, what joy you bring.  We are ready to celebrate with balloons on the light fixtures and cake waiting for frosting and a little friend coming for a sleepover and a breakfast date with Daddy and presents to open.  Lydia is one easy to celebrate little girl :)

Before the camping trip becomes too much a part of history I want to make sure and post some pictures.  Matt and two other friends (fathers) joined forces and planned an incredible camping trip.  God simultaneously planned an incredible summer storm with huge booms of thunder and light-up-the-sky lightning that made for a rainy muddy night, but the smiles were still big when they all rolled back home the next morning.

Pre-storm (hot and sweaty) hiking

 

and cooking (a repeat camping spot for Matt and the kids, this area is home to some sort of old youth camp so there are abandoned fire pits and concrete bench/tables with an incredible view of the valley below)

Something about a hot dog cooked over a fire... it just tastes better that way!

And a mini-celebration for Lydia's birthday with S'mores instead of birthday cake (of course!)

 

After sundown the clouds rolled in and the night got wet things and the sleep got harder to come by.  Oh, and muddy.  Really really muddy.  There was much gear and clothing and shoes to be cleaned up the next morning, that's for sure :)  The kids all crashed here (while John Paul and Luke ran wild circles around them) and the Dads worked on gear clean up in our parking garage. 

Worth it, at least I *think* that's what Matt and the other dads would say! 

I know there are more camping trips in our future.  John Paul is definitely ready (he got left out of this trip since the other kids were all elementary school-ers) and our Luke isn't too far off.  Matt took Julianna on her first camping trip before her second birthday!

What? August?

Seriously.  Y'all.  It's August tenth.  Am I the only one surprised by that?  It just seems that this summer passed by at lightning fast speed.  [I'm blaming it on the move.]

Lydia and John Paul and I got home in record time on Friday night.  We were all a little sleepy on Saturday but it wasn't anything a nap couldn't cure :) 

I saw Lydia's exhaustion turn into a stream of constant chatter.  She talked for the entire last half of the flight and only stopped three times to take a breath.  I promise. {or at least it seemed that way}  It's actually kind of fun to hear her.... almost like stream of consciousness talking that can be pretty entertaining. 

John Paul's exhaustion just ramped up his activity meter but (praise Jesus!) he is at such a great age to fly.  Old enough to understand that we must do what the flight attendants say (no tray tables during landing, no standing in your seat for take off) and old enough to entertain with stickers and magazines and other little seat-friendly activities that I manage to pull out of my head at necessary moments. 

His head bobbed during landing but once the wheels were on the ground his "Daddy-finding-meter" peaked and there was no more resting for my little guy who was eager to locate his Daddy.  Once Matt was found and John Paul was settled into his car seat he was asleep in seconds! 


It is good to be home.  (Although it feels empty tonight - Matt took the older three on a end-of-summer camping trip with some friends.) 

5 days with two

Today is our last day.  In just a few hours we'll check out, head to the U.S. Embassy for John Paul's passport, and then straight to the airport for our flight home.

Yesterday morning, dropping off all his documents.  When the process is complete John Paul will be the fourth of our five children to use a certificate of citizenship to claim U.S. citizenship.  Only Lydia was born in the States and claims citizenship with her birth certificate. 

We. Are. Ready. 

Boarding for our flight here.  I'm prepared for a long night at the airport and a much-delayed flight (like almost all flights here... ugh) but still hoping that the smiles stay big and maybe even that we land at a decent hour. 

I am so eager to get back home. 

But we've also had a great time these five days here .... so fun for these two to really spend lots of exclusive time together.  I've enjoyed hours with Lydia and John Paul and missed my other three desperately.  Luke strains to get inside the computer when we Skype.  And I miss Isaac's voice, and Julianna tells me - often - she "needs me to come home right NOW".  And I MISS MATT!!!

Mostly, it's been a really enjoyable trip.  Lydia and John Paul have been absolutely incredible.  Perfect little travel companions :)  The age difference between them (3 years) seems to be a great fit for a trip like this - plenty of fun together but also a strong older/younger dynamic going on.  And Lydia is my least likely to get bored in this situation too, she spent hours in the pool perfecting her handstand while John Paul plunged off the wall over and over and over and over again.  When John Paul swims he spends 90% of his time jumping in, getting out, jumping in again, repeat. 

I've eaten more meals with these two as my dates than ever before (and possibly ever again!) 

Matt (with lots of help) has done a stellar job as full-time Daddy.  But we are ready to be together again too - this has been a weird dynamic, most other times it's him on the road and me at home. 

I'm off to play some cards with Lydia (John Paul taking an early nap) before our 3pm departure for the embassy/airport!  Woohoo!  WE ARE HEADED HOME!!!!!

John Paul (one year home)

Today marks ONE YEAR since John Paul came home. 

It feels very significant!  It is very significant! 

It also feels odd to celebrate in two different cities - Matt and three at home, me and two here in Guangzhou.  John Paul doesn't know the significance of this day (yet!) but we'll celebrate every year. (And hopefully, next year, together!!)

We ended the day with a skype call home which was a big treat.

 Everyone was excited to see and be seen. 

And there were plenty of stories to be told. 

Skype-ing home wasn't the only fun thing we did today though.  We hit the zoo this morning, via the subway (crowded!)

It was sweltering and the first hour was our best.... after that we all started to wilt.  Not just us, even the animals :)

After a refreshing rest time in the comfort of our air conditioned hotel room it was off to the hotel swimming pool (trip #2 - and I'm sure we'll go every day!)

And a walk through the hotel grounds before our dinner and skype date.

Our paperwork is processing right along.  Monday afternoon was the very important medical exam for John Paul.  We're currently waiting on blood work results (due back tomorrow, Wednesday) which will complete our file for his visa application.  With medical results in hand we'll head to the Embassy on Thursday morning. 

All should go smoothly and we'll be issued a U.S. visa on Friday afternoon.  Plan is to pick up John Paul's passport-with-visa en route to the airport for our 6:45pm flight home.  It would be a blessing if all these steps go off without a hitch (including no bad traffic when we are airport bound on Friday cause I am not interested in missing that flight!)

Two days down, three to go.  We are doing just fine.  I miss home.  I miss my other children.  I MISS MY HUSBAND!  Julianna told me tonight she could not make it three more days without me :)  Love that little girl :) 

[Maybe I'll get to writing a more reflective post about a year with John Paul.  There were certainly moments I wasn't sure if we would make it to this big landmark day!  Mostly, today my heart is full of gratitude for where we are and where we have been.  Our hotel is home to plenty of other adoptive families, most of them right in the middle of the tumultuous first days/weeks with their new children.  It's good perspective for me... wow, what a difference 365 days makes!]