Time For a New Dream

For over a year now, I have dreamed of a farm house in the country with a garden, clothesline, chickens and goats. Not every one's dream, but one that I have held dearly. Several things I have read in the past few weeks have definitely changed some of that picture. You know that economically we are in for some hard times as a country. An expert on gas prices is now predicting that in 2012 gas will be approximately $10 a gallon. Ouch! Now is probably not the best time to move further away from Randy's office and our church.

When you have to modify any dream, it is a time to really reflect on the pieces you can live without and the parts that mean the most to you. How important is it to be debt-free? How wonderful would it be for you to wake up every morning knowing that you didn't owe another person, bank, etc, anything? How much house do you want to clean and care for? What simple living goals do you want your children to admire and live by? And most importantly, how does your dream line up with God's perfect will for your life?

Here is my new and improved dream - I want a smaller house with a backyard big enough for my children to play in and for a garden. I still want the clothesline, but the farm animals will have to wait. I want to be wiser with the money that Randy works so hard to earn for our family. I want to spend everyday loving on my husband and children. I want to bake bread and wear my grandmother's apron. I want to homeschool my children and help them to develop Godly character. I want to be married to Randy for the next 50 years.

Now, that wasn't as hard as I thought. Have a blessed day and take a minute to evaluate what you are dreaming for.

The Rest of the Story

OK - so I am a little later finishing this story than I thought I would be. A marathon painting session in our master bathroom delayed life for a couple of days :0) Back to the story of the miracle of Mason's foster parents.......

As I posted a few days ago, China does not encourage any contact between adoptive parents and Chinese foster parents, so we did not have much hope during the adoption process that we would ever meet this couple who had raised Mason. I am so thankful that God had a plan! As we got closer to our adoption date, we requested updated pictures of Mason. We were thrilled to receive 3 pictures of our cutie taken with his foster mother and several foster sisters. Of course, we began to show them to everyone who would look.

Our friends, the Zimmers, were in the middle of a very looooong wait for their baby girl from China. Kim had felt that maybe they were to change plans and adopt a toddler or a young child with some specials needs. - the wait time was much shorter. Her sweet husband wanted to wait it out and get the baby they had prayed for...until they saw the picture of Mason's beautiful foster sisters. They fell in love and asked our permission to post one of the pictures online in an attempt to find the agency that had the file for one of the girls. Confusing? In Chinese adoptions, you don't just pick out your baby and make a request. You send in your dossier to the central adoption agency, and they match you with a child. The only exception to this is with special needs children. China allows some files for special needs children to be sent to reputable agencies around the world. Those agencies then try to find local parents to apply for those children. If you see a picture of a child and fall in love, then you have to find the agency that has that child's file. There are hundreds and hundreds of agencies - literally a needle in a haystack type of situation.

Kim posted the picture on a Chinese adoption yahoo group site. Immediately she received a response from a woman in Sweden who recognized the girls. She had adopted a little girl from the same foster home a few months earlier. The real miracle was that she was in contact with the foster mother regularly via email! She contacted Kim, Kim called me, I emailed the adoptive mom in Sweden, and she put me in contact with Mason's foster mother! God has answered my prayer to find these precious people who had raised my son for 4 years. The foster parents and I began to email each other, and by the time we left to get Mason, we had exchanged phone numbers and hotel information. Our facilitator in China was then able to arrange a time for us to meet.

Now back to the Zimmers! They found out that the little girl in the picture wasn't eligible for adoption yet, but the whole process confirmed in their hearts that they were willing to pursue a special needs child. Several months later they were on a plane to China to get sweet Faith who was three and had a heart defect (that had already been repaired in China). What a blessing that darling one is to her new family!

You know from the earlier post that I was able to meet Mason's foster parents while we were in China for his adoption. What a sweet and emotional meeting! They still grieve for him, and I know that he is such a sweet and caring boy because they loved him so dearly. I am forever in their debt.

The pictures at the top of the post are some of the pictures we received when we requested our update on Mason.

God is so good!

Happy Birthday Missy!!

Missy's birthday is today, and what a blessing she is to our family. Missy, you have brought us joy every day of your life. We are so blessed that God chose us to be your mom and dad. We love you sweetie!

The Way it Works

In China, things work much differently than in the US. When the "One Child" policy went into effect in the early 70's, I don't think China had any idea that hundreds of thousands of children would fall into the orphanage system. The government was immediately overwhelmed with babies - mostly little girls. There has been a lot of negative discussion about this situation from people who judge the parents who could not keep these children. Contrary to what we hear (almost daily), the Chinese people are loving, family-oriented, and care deeply for these children. I can't even imagine the sorrow these precious birth parents have felt as they made heart-wrenching adoption plans for their babies.

Adoption was not part of the Chinese culture until very recently. There wasn't even a system in place for Chinese couples to adopt. The government found itself with thousands and thousands of babies and no real plan as to what to do with them. Things were bad at best and did not change much until a TV crew with hidden cameras went into several orphanages and took pictures and videos of the horrible living situations. The pictures shocked the world and created a huge embarrassment for the Chinese government; however, things began to quickly change as a result.

China set up an organized adoption agency and began to allow foreigners to adopt these precious ones. Adoptive parents made sizable donations to the orphanages and the money was used to better the lives of the children still in China. The government even allowed foreign agencies into the orphanages to provide training and medical care. As care improved in the orphanages, China began to also use foster homes to house some of the children - especially those with special needs. While many of the orphanages were open to volunteers, adoptive parents, medical teams, etc., China did not allow much contact with any of the foster parents.

Now you know the way it usually works in China - tomorrow I will begin the real story of how God worked things for us!

Doreen, the Tote Bag Queen!

I participated in a shopping tote swap that was offered on the Down to Earth blogsite. I was matched with a precious home schooling mother of 3. Even with a new baby, Doreen was able to make me the most beautiful tote bag ever! She even monogrammed my name on the front. Thank you, thank you Doreen! I will think of you whenever I carry my tote. You are wonderful!

A World Away

Halfway around the world, there is a woman and a man I have only met once, yet I am deeply, deeply indebted to. I now have something that was theirs, that they still treasure and grieve for daily. Our lives are very different in culture and lifestyle, but we share a bond that is eternal. These are Mason's foster parents. The story of how our lives became intertwined is a story of God's amazing goodness and may take several days to tell.

In the summer of 2005, we were waiting to travel to China to get our sweet baby girl, Madelyn. At the same time, our friends the Zimmers knew that God was telling them to go to China - a daughter waited there for them. They began the adoption process and began praying for a baby girl of their own. We went to China, came back with our sweetie, and then felt God saying that we needed to go back one more time for Mason. In the meantime, adoptions in China slowed to a crawl, and the Zimmers found that they were getting further and further away from the dream that God had planted in their hearts. Their disappointment actually led to us finding Mason's foster parents. Want to know how? - tune in tomorrow!

Molly's Great Commission

There has never been another girl quite like our Miss Molly Anne. I watch her and just marvel at all that God has done since He brought her into our family. I have written before about her sweet spirit and her love for God, but lately things have gone to a whole new level. I must admit that I tend to be a little timid about asking people about their faith and beliefs, but not our Molly.

More than once in the past few weeks, she has gone up to people and asked them if they know Jesus. God has led her to some very sweet people who have affirmed her boldness and treated her with such tenderness. She has never read the Great Commission that Jesus gave, but she lives it out everyday. One day we were in Walmart together and Molly asked if everyone in the store knew that God loved them. I told her that, sadly, a lot of people don't know God's love, so......Molly began to loudly sing every song about the Lord that she knew (and she knows a lot!). People were actually looking around, leaving their carts, and coming to find the Walmart songbird. What a joyful morning.

I have learned a lot from Molly lately. I can sweetly share my love for Jesus and not be afraid of offending. There are so many people who are drowning in this world and don't even know that God dearly loves them. Maybe I need to sing a little louder in Walmart and be a little bolder as I ask people if they know Jesus. Thanks Molly!

I wonder what Molly's destiny in the Lord will be. I pray that she will always ask the right questions, seek God's truth, and follow wherever He leads. She is a miracle girl. I love you sweet Molly.

The Right Perspective

if I could change one inner thing about myself, it would be the ability to do a task without it becoming all consuming. When I started this blog, it was primarily a place where Michael, Matt, and Missy could stay connected and see pictures of their sweet brother and sisters. Somehow, the focus has become me whining about my house. Oops!

It is time to get back to what is really important - faith and family. I can't promise that a house picture won't show up now and again, but we are not defined by what we live in but how we live.

Have a restful and blessed Sunday!

Just for Matthew

Our son Matthew has asked me several times to post a picture of the remodeled fireplace, but I wanted to decorate it first. So.....weeks later, here it is!

Mason's caseworker comes in 2 days, and I just got the furniture moved back into the atrium, living room, entry, and dining room this morning. I have been cleaning and hanging pictures like a crazy woman. I think if I don't sleep for 48 hours, I can get it all done :0)

Michael, Matt, and Missy, we love you bunches!

Ta-da!!!!!

The outside of our house is almost finished! The new window and front door are in and painted. The corner window is gone, and we live in a normal house. Whoopee!

If you haven't read the earlier posts that described how awful this house looked when we moved in, just use your imagination - it was REALLY BAD! I think our neighbors have been as excited as we have to see the exterior redone.

The inside is still a chaotic mess, and I only have 4 more days until Mason's caseworker comes - aaaaagh!

The Thankfulness Continues

51. I am sleeping in my very own bedroom again!

52. New blossoms on the plants outside my front door

53. Sweet, patient neighbors

54. The smell of Spring mornings

55. Listening to the birds outside my kitchen window

56. The smell of lavender on my sheets

57. Combing lots and lots of silky black Molly and Madelyn hair.

58. Hearing my family tell me that they love me.

59. Receiving emails from dear friends

60. Being married to my best friend

Long, Productive, and Sad Weekend

Very tired of sleeping in the living room, we painted and painted this weekend so that we could finish our bedroom. We did it! 2 coats of Warm Muffin paint on the walls, 3 coats of trim paint, a major overhaul of the big beam on our ceiling, and new fan, and we are finished except for the pictures on the walls (tomorrow!) and the new carpet (end of May).

We received a sad phone call early this morning. A beloved uncle died suddenly last night, leaving behind a precious wife and several grown children. The wonderful news is that we know beyond a doubt where he is tonight! Orville loved his Lord and his family - what a great legacy he leaves behind. Rojanna, we are praying, praying for comfort and peace to flood your heart tonight and in the many days to follow.

Tomorrow the wall man returns to finish texturing and painting the dining room. Hopefully, by Wednesday we will be able to put most of the furniture back where it belongs. Mason's sweet adoption caseworker will fly in on Sunday for his last post-placement update. We have warned her about the house - I hope she believes us :0)

Here are a few before and after pictures of the bedroom. Not the best quality - I will try to take more in the morning.

Have a blessed Monday!

There Was a Little Girl...

There was a little girl who had a little curl, right in the middle of her forehead. When she was good, she was very very good, and when she was bad...everyone told her she was a baby princess and was still the most wonderful 3 year old in the world.

I love you Madelyn!

Meet the Newest Member of the Family

No, not another adoption (although I would love that!). This guy came straight from the fridge. Madelyn's preschool teacher asked her class to make something out of vegetables, and Madelyn came up with this creation. I think she is a genius!

Still sleeping in the living room with the "old man," but hopefully we can get our bedroom finished this weekend and move some of the furniture back to where it belongs. I should have some pictures of the new window tomorrow!

Help! I'm sleeping in the living room with a man who just received his AARP card!

I think we have reached an all time low with house remodeling :0) The entry hall furniture, the living room furniture, and the atrium furniture are all piled up in the den. The dining room furniture is in the living room, and we just moved our bed into the living room tonight. The rest of our bedroom furniture is in the atrium. Confused?!? Just imagine that none of our furniture is really in the correct room. To add to our misery, the flooring company is a "little" behind, and won't be able to finish the flooring until the last week of May.

I spent about 2 hours today trying to scrub concrete dust off of my kitchen cabinets and floor. Randy is a "macho man" and removed all of our tile flooring with a jack-hammer thing-y on Friday. It stirred up so much concrete dust that it set off our smoke alarm. By the time I found a phone to call in the false alarm, I could hear the sirens from the fire truck coming down our street!

The fun event of the day was seeing Randy's AARP card come in the mail. Apparently when you turn 50, you can be considered a senior citizen. Did I mention he has a 3 year old? I would really, really tease him, but I will turn 50 in a few short months and I don't want any retaliation.
When the house is topsy-turvy, it is a blessing to know that God is in control, and I have much to be thankful for. (But I still don't like sleeping in the living room!)

Home Again

We had such a great weekend seeing our Missy girl and meeting more of her sweet friends! It was a quick trip - we left at 6 yesterday morning and were home by 3 this afternoon. Randy and I treasure the close relationships we have with our children and love to spend time with each of them. We are richly blessed.

One of the funniest things that happened over the weekend was Mason's discovery of a sewer cover next to Missy's house. His eyes lit up, and he began signing "Ninja Turtles!!!!!" He and the girls then tried to pry the cover off so that they could see the turtles in person. Needless to say, the cover was too heavy to lift, so they started shoving leaves and grass down the little holes in the cover - I suppose so that the turtles would have some lunch.

We packed a lot into our short trip - lunch, croquet, ice cream, a fun playground, dinner, coffee, and breakfast. Obviously, we didn't starve! Randy and I are ready for a good night's sleep. Our little ones LOVE to stay at hotels. They were so excited last night that they didn't sleep well - and neither did we. We haven't slept on such hard mattresses since our 3 adoption trips to China. :0)

We came home and worked in the yard until dark. I got the front flower bed and 7 big pots for our patios planted. The chairs in the front of the house have new cushion covers, and Randy mowed and watered the yard. Now we are dirty and tired.

Tomorrow starts another day of remodeling, home schooling, and laundry. Life is full, and I love it that way.

The Princess, the Dog, and the Disaster

When God gave us Molly Anne, it was apparent early on that she had a dramatic streak in her. Everything she feels, she feels deeply. What fun to watch her include the other 2 into her grand plans. Randy and I were invited to a lovely presentation of a play tonight involving a princess and her very hungry dog. I know you can tell by the picture that a fun time was had by all!

The dining room is ready for the remaining demo and should start seeing a rebirth by next week. Mason and Randy went to Home Depot tonight and rented the tile remover (jack-hammer). When they got to the tool rental department and Randy showed Mason what they were getting, Mason was sooooooo excited. Apparently he had seen a lot of jack-hammers in China. His mime of a jack-hammer in operation had us rolling on the floor. :0) That sweet boy loves to help his daddy with the house. He will be the only person in our family who is sad when the big remodel ends.

We are heading to Oklahoma tomorrow to see out sweet Missy girl! What fun to see her, meet more of her friends, and get away for a couple of days. Michael and Matt, we love you bunches - have a safe and blessed weekend.