7 Months

Seven months ago a very scared little 5 1/2 year old boy walked into our lives and an absolutely petrified, horrified little 4 year old girl was literally handed into our lives. 

What a difference 7 months can make! Johnny has been speaking strictly English for so long now that I can't remember him speaking Mandarin. The only word that remains is "ticka." I think it means "this" or something from what I've figured with using our translator app. He actually uses it every time he speaks. Every sentence begins with "ticka." Kind of funny. Lily actually uses the same word. She also uses strictly English, except for "ticka," "how," and both of them use the word "Baba" for Daddy. 

They both also just started school!! Johnny started kindergarten and Lily started pre-school. Yes, I homeschool Josiah and Brianna, but I didn't begin homeschooling them until they were in 2nd and 4th grade. I've had total peace about putting them in public school right now, and will probably keep them in until they hit middle school or so. I will post their first day pics in about 3 years when I get around to it. Tee hee. 

Some of the things that also come with being home a little longer has been that, with Johnny expanding his English, he's able to tell me things about his life in China. He has told me that his foster Mama and Baba had a motorcycle. That didn't surprise me...those things were everywhere in the city. They're more like mopeds. He told me his foster Mama (we call them The China Mama and The China Baba) would set him in a chair to take his shower. He said they didn't have a stove. He told me about a scar he has on his forehead that I'd wondered about. He said he was standing on a chair and he fell and hit his head on the corner of a desk. He said his China Mama put him on the motorcycle and drove very fast to the hospital and they fixed it. He gives everything in accurate detail...he remembers everything.

 Everything. 

There was one night in particular he was in the mood to talk and he gave extremely detailed accounts of moments of his life. That will be a post for another day...sometime soon. Let's just say I cried in front of him...I couldn't hide it...and he cried too. That was about 2 weeks ago. And to be honest, I just have not been able to bring myself to post it. I wondered if I should...it's his personal life...but at the same time I wish everyone knew his story and then got to meet him. What an amazing overcomer. God Himself raised this boy. He is the happiest little boy I know. And soooooo easy to raise!!! He helps me cook and clean. He actually enjoys it and asks to help. (And no, it's not to just be a pleaser...believe me, I can tell the difference!!) When I'm cooking he pulls up a chair and watches. He's such a sweet boy!!!

I'm amazed at what God has done in 7 short months. I know I shouldn't be surprised, but I'm continually amazed at how God answers our prayers. If I gave the timeline of our adoption and how I tried to hurry it along and kept getting so mad and frustrated that it was taking us twice as long as others to adopt. If my home study would have been done just two weeks sooner, I would have only been able to adopt one child. If my dossier would have gone to China just one month sooner, I wouldn't have received my referral for Johnny because he was with a different agency at the time. As a matter of fact, when Johnny was with that particular agency, I was constantly drawn to their website and I had no idea why at the time. It wasn't until after we adopted him that I found out he had been listed with a different agency previously. It's amazing watching the hand of God work. And we get so mad and wonder if God remembers we're here, and we want everything now, in our time line...little did I know a little boy was searching, hoping, and waiting for me as well. That was one of the things he told me that night about his life in China...he was waiting for me just as much as I was for him. He was hoping for me to come get him as much as I wanted to go get him.

I know sometimes we say that children from China didn't choose adoption...to leave everything behind...but this time...this one did. 

Thank you Johnny Le Hai for wanting me as much as I wanted you!!!!

6 Months!!!

We have now been home six months!! I can't believe how fast it's gone...and how much things have changed. When we came home, I brought two strangers into my house, and (to be perfectly honest) I didn't feel any sort of "Mommy" love for them. I felt like I was babysitting someones else's kids and I kept looking at the clock thinking, "When is their Mom going to come get them??" Ha ha. Today...well, (to be perfectly honest again) I love these kiddos so much that recently I've thought about adopting again (did I just say that)????  Johnny and Lily just make it seem so easy. They are just really good kids!

Of course, some day they drive me bananas, but actually every person I know drives me nuts at some point in my life!!  Johnny is a MASSIVE talker. I had NOOOOO idea of this when we adopted him. He was fun and very sweet. Then he went quiet after about 3 weeks home. I knew he was processing the English language. Then he started talking in English...and kept expanding his vocabulary...and kept talking...and talking...and talking. Oh by the way, have I told you yet that he likes to TALK?

He asks questions about everything. Everything!!! Here's a sample:

Baba, what you doin'?

Changing a light bulb.

Why? Is it broken?

Well, kind of. I need to change it.

You need to change the light bulb?

Yes.

Baba, you fix it?

Yes, Johnny, I'm fixing it.

Oh...how you do it?

Well, I need to take it out of the ceiling.

It goes in ceiling?

Yes.

It's broken?

Yes.

You can turn light on?

Yes.

It's broken?

Yes.

You fix it?

Yes Johnny, I'm fixing it.

That is a sample of two minutes of our life. Keep in mind that Johnny is curious about everything. So whatever you do, he's right behind you asking how it works and what you're doing. He is either going to be another Thomas Edison or he's going to a mechanic. I don't care which, as long as someone can answer his million and one questions he has during the day!!! The boy wears me out!!!

But, ohhhhh, that million dollar smile!!!

Then theirs Lily, the drama queen. She loves hair, nails, and shoes. Are we sure I didn't give birth to this girl?? But she's not very lady-like. She will be in her underwear with boots on and a necklace. Yeah, not very attractive.

Not to mention Lily is fun to be around! She wears her personality on her sleeve (understatement). You don't have to guess about the mood she's in...she makes it very, (very) clear. Here's proof:

 (Sorry, you can see her crusty nose...kind of gross, but I don't know how to edit out kiddo grossness).

 (Ha ha, think she was mad in that pic?) Tee hee, sorry, in my house, you have a 'tude...I break out my camera...so I can have payback time at your graduation reception and all your friends and family get to see your meltdown from 2012. 

I love Johnny and Lily with all my heart!! They've blossomed here and are doing fantastic. I get kind of sad when people say negative things about adopting two at once. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!!! They love to play with each other and have bonded with every member of our family. 

Six Months...thank you Lord their lives have changed!!! As have ours. I wouldn't have it any other way!!!

Meeting Johnny 6 months ago

6 months later

Meeting Lily 6 months ago

 6 months later

The biggest thing I see from the before and after pics? A glow to their faces, a light in their eyes...and hope.

It's amazing what the power of a family can do.

I love watching God transform their lives (and ours with them...remember, He's not done with any of us yet.)

Bring on the next six months!!! 

(And maybe two more kiddos???)

Yikes! Did I just say that again?

5 Months

Yesterday was 5 months since Johnny walked into our lives and tomorrow will be Lily's 5 month anniversary. Sooooo much has changed!!! 

They just look so much healthier. It's like there's a light in their eyes and a glow to their faces that just was NOT there in China. And their smiles...I live for that!!




Yes, blurry, but oh so cute!

Such a great smile!

Although adopting two at once was hard in the beginning, I'd do it all over again in a heart beat...piece of cake. Yes, the first two months are beyond difficult, but everyone says that even with a single adoption. 

It's amazing that Johnny and Lily speak strictly English now. Johnny is talking in sentences, although it's somewhat broken. But it's only been 5 months!!! Crazy! 

And, wow, are these kiddos happy!!! They get a kick out of everything. 


Everything. 


And everyone.

Here are some pics of their cute little faces...


Guess what Johnny's favorite food is?

Johnny catching a ride from big brother.

Brianna and Lily on the swing.

Lily and her favorite food. Love those pigtails!!!! 

Busted!!!!! Feeding the dog food from her hand...gross!

If you buy a sticker book for your daughter, don't expect the stickers to actually go IN the book!

Look Mom! I picked you a bunch of dead things! 

Yes...these past five months have been very good!!

The One That Got Away

If China would have let me adopt three at once...

Yes, it's true...I would have done it. Three. At once. And I knew just the child. He was 7 years old and had a limb difference. I called the agency that had him listed multiple times. I called my agency to see if they could get his file. I called and emailed advocates who had him listed on their blogs. No one was adopting him. He sat on advocacy sites, on blogs; people were practically begging for this boy to be adopted. But he just sat. 

And I could NOT get him off my heart. I thought about him every. single. day.

All. day. long.

So I prayed.

I prayed a very simple prayer, "God, if he's meant to be in our home, then he will be here when we get back from China. But if he's not, then please find a family for him; please let this little boy be adopted."

That was it. I went to China and came back with my head spinning. I didn't even think of adoption and honestly didn't think about this little boy until a week ago.

I checked with the agency that had him listed...he was no longer there. Reluctantly, I went to the online file that listed kiddos who've been matched with families...and there he was. He has been matched with his forever family.

I was beyond thrilled for him and his new family, and yet at the same time my heart sunk. 

So why was my heart so taken for this little boy? 

One word: prayer. 

Perhaps his new family was not in the position yet to adopt him, I don't know, and may never know until I see Jesus, but I do know this: when something is a burden upon your heart, IT'S FOR A REASON. 

Pray!!! Don't question it, or try to figure out why, just pray.

And speaking of prayer...did you all pray that I would find my camera charger? I had given up hope; I was sure it was in China, but my hubby just walked in with it in his hand. He was shaking his head at me...because he found it in the ONE place I didn't look. Tee hee. I'm so ashamed. Not really.

I'll leave you with some I-phone pics... 

Josiah and Brianna with Lily Anna - yes, Josiah needs new jeans...he's a teen, ripped jeans are intentional...sigh.

Sidewalk chalk for the first time.

Cute as a button...even with hair in her face.

Re-Design

There are a number of things I want to change about the physical appearance of my blog...so bare with me while the blog transitions into those changes!! I figured as long as my good camera was not functioning anyway, now would be a good time!!

You all know by now that I'm not the most tech savvy person out there so this may take me some time!!!