Thankful day 3

Today I am thankful that it is a beautiful Carolina blue sky Saturday. We have lived in many cities but God had brought us here some 16 years ago. It is an incredible community to raise kids. Today I got to watch Lily and Cali run around and play "soccer". The weather was incredible and the Carolina blue skies could not be any more beautiful. Only our Creator could have created such an incredible color blue and splashed it across our sky for us to enjoy. Thank you God, the one and only Creator.

Thankful day number 2

I am a wife, mother,sister and daughter. Today I am thankful for my mother and all she is to me. She will never read this because she does not own a computer, does not use the ATM, no drive-thrus and just learned how to use her cell phone. She is beautiful and full of life. She spreads mulch in her garden and scrubs her windows. She was a widow in her mid 40's and never dated again. She said she found her one true love and that was enough for her. She had to get a job and raise the 3 of us on her own. Her future plans changed but she eventually rose to the occasion. She moved into Manhattan for a fresh start and lived there for about 15 years until she retired and moved south to be closer to me and her much loved grandkids.She bought her first house at age 65. She started to drive again (not much need to drive in NYC). She loves each of my children equally. She still worries about me. She cooks dinner and leaves it in my fridge once a week. We have coffee together and catch up on family gossip. She attends most of my kids sporting events. She always has a basket of candy for my DH and children in her frig. She makes us Sunday dinner and takes such joy in serving us.I look at her and marvel at all she has been through in her life and I am honored that she is my mother.

Thankful continued...

My darling daughter Greyson has complained to me that I have not updated my blog enough lately. She is right. So I have decided that between now and Thanksgiving I am going to update my blog each day to express one thing I am thankful for in my life each day (and then throw in random stuff that might be amusing)
Today I am thankful for Greyson.
I am thankful that she has the heart for the under dog.
I am thankful for the way she helps me with her younger sisters.
I am thankful that from the time she could pray out loud, I can count on her to be my pray warrior.
I am thankful that she prays with Lily and lets her sleep with her.
I am thankful that she thinks it is nice when other families' speak kindly of eachother.
I am thankful she is now taller than me-LOL!
I am thankful that she tried a new sport this fall.
I am thankful that she is my daughter-I love you more than all the sand on the beaches!
PS-random item number one-as I sat down to write this post, Cali had to peeeeeee and Lily was sure there was a monster in the laundry basket. So I took Cali to the potty and placed the monster in the washing machine. All is good now, for the moment....

Thanksgiving

Yes folks I know it is way too early for Thanksgiving decorations. My mom would kill me, she hates when the stores decorate for Thanksgiving in September,Christmas in October,Easter in February but since she does not own a computer this will be a secret kept from her LOL! I was really looking for an autumn background and this one popped up. I did not see the Happy Thanksgiving until I put it up on the blog but I decided it was meant to be... and it is right because I should be giving thanks whether it is September, November, February or June! Lily had eye surgery this week. I was a mess! She went into the OR like a champ but she was WILD coming out of the anesthesia. Kicking, screaming, punching. My mind went right to Cali who underwent her cleft lip surgery in China. Did she have some one to comfort her, some one to monitor her pain, to hold her if she was screaming? I do not know... then I thought of all the other orphans with medical needs. It makes me so sad. There are great organizations-Love without Boundaries,Half the Sky Foundation, Maria's Big House of Hope (founded by Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman in honor of their Maria Sue) that do care for those most in need. It is my dream one day to be able to help these children through one of these groups. I am so thankful to them and the sacrifices that they make everyday. Really incredible people. So that is what I am thankful for today, in September.

Our One Year with Cali!

Not sure how far I will get on this post but I am going to give it a try. One year ago we were in China anxiously awaiting the arrival of Cali. I was excited yet scared. I was sure but not sure. I was a confident parent, I was a challenged parent. I was saying goodbye to one child heading off to college and saying hello to another child that God was giving me the privilege to call my own. I was stepping back into a foreign country that this time around did not seem so foreign. I was reuniting with old friends and meeting new friends. I was praying for the days to go quickly so I could hold Cali and was wondering if Cali's foster mother was praying for the same days to go a bit slower as she knew the day was coming that she would have to say goodbye. We as mothers are the ones to hold our children when they are sick, hurt, scared-this is what Cali's foster mother did for my or should I say our daughter. God chose her just as He chose me. Cali's biological mother was also chosen and brave. She could have aborted Cali, hidden the pregnancy, perhaps nobody would have even known of the baby that God had placed in her womb. But no, held that baby until delivery and then placed her safely to be found. Who could ever know the pain of never knowing...
The ladies and men that I met in the Xiamen orphanage were remarkable. They worked with the children who are the least of all of their society. Who do we care for that are lesser than us?
Cali's one year with us has had its challenges. Adjustments were made, sleep was a privilege. Lily had many pieces of hair pulled out... Cali has learned to say, "I so sorry." Lily has also gained a sister. Yes, a REAL sister, just like her other real sisters-Tylar, Madison and Greyson. I just had some one ask me me today if they were "authentic sisters" humm....what are you really asking... YES that are real sisters! All six of MY children have been chosen be God to be real siblings and real children of mine and Greg's. Lily has come between Cali and other kids and announced proudly "Hey, that is MY baby sister!" I have seen Cali soften the hearts of many people. She loves to be carried on Peter and Greg's shoulders and she loves to dance around. Her favorite music is Hannah Montana-you should hear her belt out "The Climb"
She asks me to pray at night when I lay with her. I pray that I can be all that God has put before me, for you my dear Cali, I thank you for letting me in your heart and calling me mommy.


Scroll down and look at how she has grown!

Gotcha Day 8/31/08 and today, one year later!

This was the first photo on gotcha day!

China 2008-A walk down memory lane....

Fall 2008

Winter 2009

Spring 2009