The Path to Lillie

Summer trip to the Outer Banks

2010-09-01T18:31:00.004-06:00

We had a wonderful summer trip with good friends to the Outer Banks of North Carolina! Lillie and her friends Mac and Kyle loved the water, beach, hot tub, ice cream, day adventures and more. They especially loved adding new pets to their families.... Clara, DJ and Golden Claw were and are very special reminders of our trip~

Swimming and the Wizard of Oz

2010-08-28T13:12:00.001-06:00

We had a wonderful week-end in Glasgow visiting with family and seeing the play, The Wizard of Oz. The play was wonderful and Lillie thought it was especially cool that we knew part of the cast! Caroline, Depp, Tipton and Sims were all in the play, plus Lillie got a chance to meet and "hang out" with Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Witch and more!

Swimming With Friends

2009-10-31T12:31:00.001-06:00

Lillie was a little fish this summer. We had the great opportunity to swim regularly...especially thanks to Mike and Sharon, mom's neighbors. By mid summer, she was starting to swim independently!

Church Camp 2009

2009-10-31T12:27:00.001-06:00

Feeding the Ducks at the Lexington Cemetery

2009-10-31T12:20:00.003-06:00

Lexington Cemetery is both beautiful and special. We are able to enjoy the ducks, beautiful flowers and ponds while also getting a chance to spend time with "Babop". Here are some pictures from one of our visits.

Hanging out with Big E and the Cool Cars!

2009-10-31T12:00:00.001-06:00

High School Musical Birthday

2009-07-12T18:58:00.004-06:00

We had two birthday parties this year! The first happened in Glasgow, where we had our High School Musical Party. Included in this event was seeing the play High School Musical by Glasgow High School. Afterward we had a chance to meet the different characters and get their autographs! We were especially impressed with Troy, Gabriella and Sharpay!

Spring Break 2009

2009-07-12T18:28:00.008-06:00

Lillie and I went to Jacksonville with my dear friend, Rena. We visited her daughter, son-in-law, and grand daughters. Lillie and the girls made friends quickly and enjoyed spending the week together!

Disney on Ice with the FCC

2009-07-12T18:22:00.001-06:00

Sledding

2009-07-12T18:13:00.003-06:00

Lillie loved sledding and was sad when it was time to go home!

Winter...the Ice Storm

2009-07-12T18:06:00.002-06:00

Lillie and Matthew

2009-02-21T20:56:00.001-06:00

Christmas with the Wilsons

2009-02-21T20:44:00.003-06:00

We also had a chance to visit with the Wilson part of our family during the Holidays. It was so nice to spend time with extended family...and for Lillie to get to play with Matthew, Margarette, Ellie and Claire. I always loved having lots of cousins to play with as a child and I am so glad Lillie has that same opportunity.

Christmas Fashion Show

2009-02-21T20:28:00.002-06:00

Mom bought Lillie and Mariel these princess nightgowns for Christmas... as you can tell, they were a big hit! And what about that pose?!?!?!

Christmas in Glasgow

2009-02-21T20:03:00.007-06:00

It was nice to spend time with Family....and for Lillie to get to visit with some of her favorite people in the whole world! She loved playing with Depp, Tip and Sims.... Caroline and Miller.... Alexander and Mariel.... and all of the Aunts, Uncles and Cousins who are so important to all of us. What a blessing.

Christmas Morning at Big E's House

2009-02-21T19:48:00.004-06:00

We spent time Christmas morning at Erik's house. It was a nice way to spend the morning, and allowed us to create a "new" Chistmas routine. With all of the changes that have occured, we wanted to make it new. Lillie loves her presents...especially her microphone and her "Big Huge Ariel".

Catching up....Chistmas Morning with Lillie

2009-02-21T18:41:00.005-06:00

Here are a few pictures from Christmas morning. Lillie and I had a sleep over with Nai Nai, where she wore the wedding veil my friend Nancy gave her until she fell asleep. She put it right back on in the morning..then ran to open her stocking! Santa got a letter asking to delivergifts to Big E's house (my brother) so we went there next!

Just Doing My Homework

2009-01-18T11:58:00.002-06:00

A few weeks ago, at mom's house, Lillie culed up on the couch, covered herself with mom's quilt, and said she couldn't get up...she was sick like Babop. Then she got a pencil, paper and my glasses and decided she wsbetter and needed to do her homework. Let it never be said that Lillie doesn't pretend play! It definately helps ys to know what she is thinking about and processing!

A Sleeping Beauty

2009-01-16T12:47:00.001-06:00

Cooking with Nai Nai

2009-01-02T20:39:00.003-06:00

Christmas of 2006, I gave mom a small apron that said "Cooking With Nai Nai". We finally remembered it, and Lillie loves it.... AND cooking with Nai Nai.

Spending Time Together

2008-12-31T20:32:00.002-06:00

We have spent the last weeks trying to live life in our new "normal". We have been through Thanksgiving, my 42 birthday, and Christmas since loosing dad, each of which was difficult. I must admit, however, that with each holiday, it was family and friends who made it seem less overwhelming. Thanksgiving was our time to be with the immediate family. My birthday, thanks to my dear friend Cissie, included a simple get together with friends. Christmas was a chance to change things up, and I will write about it soon. I am thankful for each of you, and for all of the prayers from friends here and all over the world. Blessings to each of you, and prayers for an uneventful new year. I am certain that I will approach it differently, knowing that each new day together is a blessing and should not be taken for granted. Wishing you a wonderful 2009!

"Mine Heart Broke"

2008-11-26T12:04:00.002-06:00

On Tuesday, my dad lost his battle with cancer. He was very weak and he could not fight any more. We are thankful that he is no longer in pain and no longer struggling, but we miss him very much. Lillie has asked lots of questions and continues to try and process this loss. Last night she said, "Mine Gampa gone. My heart broke." I know baby girl, our hearts are all breaking, but we are thankful for the time we had together. Thank you for your prayers.

Please Pray

2008-11-22T20:22:00.002-06:00

We have had to call Hospice to help with dad's care. He is at home and he is now comfortable. His health has deteriorated very quickly these last few days and we knew we needed support. We are hopeful that he will regain some strength but are also aware that this is probably not going to be what occurs. Please pray for him. For his peace and for his comfort and for his healing, whether it be here or in Heaven. Please pray for my mom and for her to feel God's comfort as well during this time. Finally, please pray for Lillie. Her Babop is very special and she does not really understand what is happening. Thank you

A Special Visit

2008-11-10T20:04:00.006-06:00

We had a special visitor came to see us recently...my dad's cousin Bob! Bob came all the way from Oregon with books and a beautiful new dress for Lillie. ( As you can tell, she loved the bag also) Unfortunately. we don't get to see Bob and his family very often, but love the visits when they occur!

Halloween, Candy, Costumes and Parties...Oh MY~

2008-11-09T19:21:00.004-06:00

Lillie and her boy, Wyatt!

"Scary" costumes and screaming children...oh, the drama!

Super Girl!

Sleeping Beauty was our costume of choice for our halloween parties!

Crystal's Wedding

2008-11-09T19:01:00.005-06:00

Lillie and I attended the wedding of a good friend. It was a beautiful wedding and Lillie loved watching Crystal.... as soon as she saw her she said, "Mommy, want to touch her!" She wanted to get her hands on that silky dress and veil! It was even more exciting for Lillie that she got to see "Fancy Nancy"...which is what she calls my friend Nancy, who is Crystal's mom. As you can see, we had a wonderful time.

Lillie's "Gama" and "Gampa"

2008-11-01T06:26:00.004-06:00

Lillie and I, as many of you know, spend most evenings at my parent's house. She is aware that mom and dad have been/are sick. She has even said a few times, "My gama's sick and my gampa's sick too." (I remind her that her gama is feeling better now) She loves them both very much and we pray for them every night.
Mom is doing well and has recovered from her surgery. She has had some follow-up appointments and all seems well. Dads has not been as easy..his PET scans showed that his cancer has spread and we have new battles to fight. Last Friday, we found out that one of the places the cancer has shown up is in his head, so on Tuesday, dad started radiation for a brain lesion. He will have 15 treatments and then we will talk to the doctors about what comes next. He continues to face the challenges with a strength and an attitude that is amazingly positive. We continue to pray for healing and for strength for him and his amazing team of doctors. Your prayers are also reqested and welcome as we enter a new phase in this journey towards getting dad back to good health.

Carving a Jack-o-lantern

2008-11-01T06:21:00.000-06:00

Bowling

2008-11-01T05:55:00.002-06:00

My friend Denise and her husband and son were in town a few weeks ago. Lillie and I jined she, Lane and some of Denise's family for bowling! The kids had fun...at least the first part of the time, then they had more fun just playing. Lillie decided she was Strawberry Shortcake and Lane was Huckleberry Pie. After we said good-night, Lillie kept saying, "I miss Huckleberry Pie."

Jon Jon's Birthday

2008-10-26T10:32:00.004-06:00

The Big Tree at Fort Harrod

2008-10-26T06:52:00.005-06:00

We went to Fort Harrod with my friend Rena and some of her grandchildren. The kids loved climbing the tree and Lillie loves spending time with Jacob, Claudia and Jon Jon!

Lillie and her Piggies

2008-10-26T06:39:00.002-06:00

Meeting Baby Brady

2008-10-25T08:29:00.002-06:00

Lillie and I got to meet Baby Brady over fall break! We went and spent some time with my dear friend, Trisha, and her beautiful new little guy. Lillie was very gentle and it was nice to spend a little time visiting with Trisha again. Though it is hard to see his little face in these pictures, he is beautiful!

"We Not Find Him Yet?"

2008-10-14T10:33:00.003-06:00

Lately, Lillie has lots of questions. She asks "Why?" about everything! She has also been asking about a daddy. She is very interested in family relationships and will often ask, "Where is my daddy?" or "Where is my baby brother?", both of which I have tried to answer honestly and simply. (To be honest, I had not expected to be answering these questions so quickly.)
The other day we were getting in the car and Lillie said,"We not have a daddy at our house. We not find him yet, mom?" Out of the mouths of babes!

Your right baby, we haven't found him yet!

Our 2nd Annual Jessamine Jamboree Parade

2008-10-13T18:38:00.008-06:00

A couple of weeks ago we went with friends to the Jamboree Parade. We joined Cissie and her family, along with the Brannon family to watch the parade together. There were floats and LOTS of cars with people waiving...and lots of candy! (Lillie said the other day, "More parade mommy...Need more candy in my purse.")

One of Lillie's favorite parts of the day was getting to play with Daphne, Cissie's friend from Haiti. Daphne was one of the interpreters that Cissie and her family got to know this summer while on a mission trip to Northwest Haiti Christian Mission, and now she is now in school here in Kentucky. Lillie loved playing with her braids and even made the comment,"Your eyes like mine!" when she noticed how dark Daphne's eyes were. It was too cute!

Lillie and her Soul Mate

2008-10-11T19:16:00.005-06:00

As I mentioned in my previos post, Lillie and Wyatt have a very special connection. What I must also say is that Wyatt's mom and dad are also special people. Wyatt was adopted from Kazakhstan and they were very helpful thruoghout my journey to Lillie. They are now on their own new adoption journey to bring home their son from Ethiopia. Their family has been such a blessing and I can only hope I can be as supportive og them. You can follow their journey @ Power of 4

The Circus ( With Lillie's "Boy")

2008-10-09T20:08:00.003-06:00

Lately, Lillie will often say that her friend Wyatt is "my boy". She uses this phrase often for people who are significant to someone else.... for instance, when she sees someone with a son or husband she will ask, "Is that her boy?" Now that you have that information, you can imagine how excited she was when we got to go to the Circus with Wyatt and his mom. We were able to get there early to see some of the animals up close, try on a few costumes and see some of the performers up close!

We followed up with some cotton candy ( check out Wyatt's 5 o'clock cotton candy shadow in the third picture down) and hats and got ready for the show!

Lillie loved everything, but the tigers were especially impressive!

I love Lillie's expressions...they say so much.

Hold On, Don't fall!

Wow, that's so cool!

How fast can I eat this popcorn!

My New Look!

2008-10-08T19:00:00.007-06:00

I love my new blog look! I asked Keisha with Blogs for Babies to redo my blog and she did a wonderful job! ( you can go to her blog and check out some of her other work!) I picked out a "kit" from a digital scrapbooking site, then she did the rest. I am so thankful for her hard work and for the bright and cheery new look. With things being so stressful lately, it just felt like something fun to do to cheer things up a bit. Keisha has been so kind and I am so glad I have had the chance to "meet" her. She also a has a beautiful family!
Thank you again, Keisha!

Special Friendships

2008-10-06T18:14:00.002-06:00

Lillie and I have gone to visit my dear friend Ashley and her sweet dog Shelby recently. Ashley has been a family friend for years and I am blessed to also get to see her daily ( or at least regularly) at work also. Her beautiful Golden, Shelby is the sweetest dog I have ever met... she lets Lillie lie on her, sit on her, play with her..... It is absolutely precious to watch! We had pizza, then Lillie and Ashley took Shelby for a walk while mommy rested. We ended our evening looking at the stars!

Updates

2008-09-23T18:37:00.003-06:00

Last week was a week of ups and downs.

Lillie has done well and even got the chance on Friday to come to my school for a tea party. She loved being there and had a great time.

Dad,however, did not get the news from his doctors we had hoped. He is too weak to have surgery at this time, so they will be reevaluating his situation at the end of October. The doctors also shared that the PET scan showed additional "hot spots" in other areas of his body. Though it is possible that these could be caused by things other than cancer, there is also a possibility that the cancer spread to other areas. We are praying for healing and strength for my dad so that he can tackle the next step in this battle for good health.

Thank you to everyone who has included our family in their thoughts and prayers. We appreciate your support and love!

Nai Nai and Babop

2008-09-07T06:04:00.004-06:00

These pictures are from about a week ago. Lillie and Nai Nai were playing with her Potato Head. Nai Nai is doing well...still sore but is making a good recovery.
Babop has had a harder week. I think 5 weeks of radiation and the second 96 hour chemo drip took their toll. He spent some time in the hospital at the end of the week to try and re-hydrate him and get his nausea under control. He is home now, but still not feeling very good. We are hopeful that this will improve this week as each day takes him farther from the last treatment he received. He has lots of tests this week so hopefully we will know what the next step will be soon.
Thank you to everyone who continues to include my parents in their prayers. Blessings to you all.

View through the Rear View Mirror!

2008-09-06T19:13:00.004-06:00

Lillie definately has her own sense of style! Here are a few of the recent looks....
The hat, scarves and mittens were from today....and no, we didn't have a freak cold snap!

Best Buddies

2008-09-06T18:51:00.002-06:00

Visiting with the Ewbanks

2008-09-06T18:39:00.004-06:00

My friend Lourrae was in town recently and Lillie and I went to visit with she and her parents. Lillie loved being able to run around outside the house, and was especially interested in the pond. She and Lourrae went to check out the bullfrogs...the picture is her listening for them. It was nice to visit with such a dear friend. Lourrae is a cancer survivor and has been for many years. She, in turn, has been a support for others dealing with the disease...and we have been no exception. We mett 25 years ago at church camp and she has been a dear friend every since....She is a true blessing.

Kentucky Horse Park

2008-09-06T18:27:00.004-06:00

A couple of weeks ago, we had the chance to join some friends at the Horse Park. The day was hot, but the kids still seemed to have a great time. For Lillie, It was a great time to get to see her friends... Wyatt, Ava, Sophie, Izzy and baby Jenna. I love watching her with children her own age, and love the relationships she is building with these special children!

Our journey toward a cancer free Family!

2008-08-28T19:14:00.003-06:00

The last few weeks have included some big changes for our family. Mom had surgery two weeks ago and is doing very well. The surgeon was able to remove the diseased tissue laproscopically and the pathology reports came back good. They said hers was ealy stage 2 colon cancer, with NO lymph node involvement. The team of doctors are not recommending chemo or radiation at this time. We are so thankful for her wonderful doctors and for all of your prayers. ( I have a few pictures of Nai Nai that I will post soon, however they were not on this camera).

Dad is continuing his treatment. He is on his last week of radiation and is also doing chemo this week. Last week, his hair began falling out, so he went to the barber to get it shaved, and Lillie has been very interested in his head. Her first comment was " I see your head, Babop!" She likes to rub his head...as you can see from the pictures. Though he does not feel well, he remains positive and has done very well with his treatments. His doctor told him he was in the 90th percentile with regard to tollerating his treatment. We are so thankful for this also.

As you can imagine, Lillie often asks about how Nai Nai and Babop are feeling and wants to check on them often. And every night during prayers she says " Thank you, Nai Nai all better. Help Babop all better." We pray it every night and thank each of you for the prayers as well.

Playing in the Sand

2008-08-26T17:40:00.003-06:00

Faith, Fear and Friends

2008-08-11T19:30:00.004-06:00

For those of you who don't know, the past month or so has been very difficult for my family. As I mentioned earlier, my father was diagnosed with cancer of the esophogus and is in the midst of treatment. My mom was diagnosed a little over a week ago with colon cancer. She will have surgery on Thursday and we are praying that she will not need chemo or radiation afterward since it was found early. Both of them are in good spirits and we are very hopeful that by October, both of them will have had their surgeries and will be on the mend.

Along with the fears that these diagnosis bring, I have tried to find the blessings that have also been present this past month...

*Lillie seeing the beauty of God's creation... she loved the beach and ocean!
*prayers from friends around the world...Swaziland to Canada to Sweden...
*A wonderful friend who is now watching Lillie until we get through these first difficult months. ( Janet will never know what a true gift from God she has been)
*A beautiful day and a drive... and a billboard I have passed before but never noticed until recently that celebrates the work of Central Baptist's Cancer Center
*Doctors who are working as a team to make sure both of my parents are receiving the best care possible
*A group of Co-workers who are quick to comfort, encourage, pray... and give a hug when needed
*Lillie's wonderful SLP and my friend, Ms. Emmi, who received Jessamine County's Elementary Excellence in Education Award! (Yeah)
*Encouraging notes from families whom I have never met, but who share a son or daughter from the same first home as my daughter
*A devotional sent from a dear friend that was just what I needed... a reminder to lean on my faith...
Psalm 73:23, “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.” (NIV)

There are so many...

And of course, I thank God every day for the blessings that are my Mom and Dad!

Dear God,
I know that you are with us throughout the ups and downs of our lives. Help our family to feel your presence during this time. May we expereince the peace that knowing you are with all of us brings. I ask you to be a constant source of strength for mom and dad- hold them close, dear Lord. Forgive me for those times when I drift so far...sometimes there are so many questions... only you hold the answers.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Introducing Buchoo!

2008-08-11T19:23:00.003-06:00

While we were at the beach, we gained a new pet. Her name is Buchoo (like bus without the s and the word chew) and she is an invisible dog. She is small, fluffy and wears a purple bathing suit. (according to Lillie) One morning, while we were sitting in the beach house, Lillie reached down on the floor and started making a sound like she was calling a dog... the rest is history!

introducing Buchoo

Giving Buchoo a kiss

Putting Buchoo back down to play on the floor.

Buchoo came home with us and still will show up on occasion. She has been quite a source of conversation! Hope you all will get to meet her too!

Lillie Love Seafood!

2008-08-11T19:17:00.002-06:00

Lillie loved all of the seafood that was available while we were at the beach. Between fish (she would eat hers and mine!) shrimp and clam chowder... my girl is a great eater!

Lillie's first time at the Beach!

2008-08-04T18:39:00.005-06:00

Last week, Lillie and I went with our friends Cissie and Ali to Edisto Island. We had planned the trip earlier in the summer and the family was clear that they thought Lillie and I should go ahead and go. Lillie absolutely loved every moment we were there... the sun, the pool, the ocean... she loved it all! We arrived late afternoon on Sunday, but still went to the beach(actually the bay) beside our house. It was nice because Lillie's first exposure was with fairly small waves. Big or small, she loved it!

Family and Best Freinds

2008-08-03T18:37:00.004-06:00

A week ago, my best friend ( and cousin) came to visit with her mom and little girl. She moved to Virginia a few years ago... and now she and her husband and beautiful daughter Ava call Chester home. ( well, not really, but that is another story). Amy, her mom Neva and Ava came for a quick visit while Amy and Ava were in KY. It was wonderful to be together.

And now... a Break from our Usual country of Discussion....

2008-07-25T20:15:00.004-06:00

Two years ago, I was a part of a mission team that went to Swaziland, Africa to learn more about the AIDS pandemic there. It was a life changing experience to say the least. I met people there that I dearly love... we shared meals and faith and heartache and hope. I also met several children, orphaned and vulnerable children, and they were the final push I needed to start the adoption process. I think of them often and pray that life will somehow improve for them.

Well, there is a Swaziland Mission team off on another adventure... this time without me. I am sad that I am not with them, but also know that I am where I need to be right now! If you would like to follow the journey of the team, there are two different team members blogging about thier experiences. (Which presently are a lot of bad travel expereinces) The blogs are:
swazilandjourney.blogspot.com
and
swazijohn.blogspot.com

Check out the adventure. I am sure you be glad you did! ( if they ever arrive!)

Lillie's Ethnicity

2008-07-25T19:48:00.007-06:00

A couple of months ago I emailed a woman named Jane Liedtke. She is the founder of Our Chinese Daughters Foundation, lives in China with her daughter and works to make sure that families have opportunities to learn about their child's first country. I sent her Lillie's picture and asked her about what ethnic group Lillie might be from. I had previously had a doctor tell me that she thought Lillie looked very "traditional Chinese", so I expected to hear that she looked like the Han majority. I was surprised with her answer:
"She has features that would seem like she's not han but from a minority group such as Tu or Dong which are in the region - (such as her eyes and forehead), also has a very Jiangxi looking face shape which is downriver toward Wuhan. Not the typical Sichuan face for sure."
I looked into these groups, found a little information but not anything very detailed. Then, the National Geographic issue about China came out in May. I didn't get much time to really read it, but recently finally sat down with the magazine, only to find out there is an entire article about the Dong minority! The picture below was the first on the page and immediately caught my attention.

I then went to the website and found several more pictures. Here is the site:

ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/05/china/guizhou/amy-tan-text

There are several pictures and a "video" of pictures together. Though I wouldn't say that I saw similarities in all of the pictures, there were a few that showed children that I thought really favored Lillie. In the video, there is one picture of three little girls with wet hair, one of which really looks like her.

I know that I will never really know much about Lillie's past, but it was exciting to see more about a group of people that might hold a connection to my daughter's story. Check out the article and the pictures.... It's very interesting! And...let me know what YOU think!

The Bluegrass Fair...and much more.

2008-07-18T20:04:00.005-06:00

This past week, Lillie and I joined some friends to enjoy time at the Bluegrass Fair. We went around 6:00 and were able to really enjoy the evening. It wasn't too hot, the lines were not long...a perfect night for 2 ad 3 year olds. My dad, who is in the Lion's Club, got us the tickets. We even got to visit Babop while we were there since he was working that evening.

It is hard to believe, but we arrived in the Lexington Airport one year ago today, exhausted, but glad to be home. Lillie has come so far in this year...and has had the wonderful opportunity to develop very special relationships with the people wher were complete strangers one year ago.

On another note, I would like to ask for your prayers. I have not often asked this, but today we found out that my dad has cancer. He, and the rest of the family are remaining optomistic, but I know that the next several weeks will be hard on him. He is an amazing man and father and a blessing to all who know him. Thank you.

A Special Day

2008-07-16T21:06:00.003-06:00

Last week, Lillie and I went to visit some very dear friends.

When I first started teaching, Rena was my instructional assistant and we became instant friends and learned a lot from one other. I was young and green - she was a wonderful mommy of three children and a blessing to me and the children in our classroom.
Rena and her family have been a part of my life for 19 years....and I have had the chance to watch all three of her children grow up and become parents themselves. All of the grandchildren were at her house last Thursday, so Lillie and I went to visit! We swam, played in bubbles, played barbies, chased lightening bugs...and so much more!

Claudia and John, the two oldest, were both in my preschool class and it was wonderful to see how they have grown. Ashton and Amya both live in Florida, and I don't get to see them very often but they are just precious. Jacob and the baby both are just as cute as can be...and look like thier daddy!

It was such a blessing to spend the day with this wonderful group of people...we may not see one another as often as we should, but when we do get together, it is like being with family - and I guess in many ways, they are!

I've Got Style!

2008-07-16T20:57:00.002-06:00

YES, these pictures were taken in July!

NO, I did not choose the outfit!

What can I say, this is one girl who has her own style!!!!!!
You should have seen the look on Nai Nai's face when we got to her house!

Summer Fun in Glasgow

2008-07-16T20:42:00.003-06:00

These are a few of the pictures from our recent trip to Glasgow. Lillie loved swimming and seeing all of her cousins. (Some of our pictures have not been downloaded to my computer) We got to play, watch Tip play baseball, watch Alexander play kickball, play on the jungle gym with Mariel, meet Miller's freind Amber, ride bikes with Depp and swim with Sims and Caroline. Lillie also got a chance to meet Caroline's friend, Elizabeth.... and loved her! Not only was it great fun to play with "Eh-beth" but now Lillie has learned one of her middle names! We are going back this week-end and I know it will be another wonderful adventure! Lillie and I are blessed with a wonderful extended family and we thank God for them every night.

Early Evening Gown GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!

2008-07-13T13:44:00.001-06:00

I found this site and just love all the things that this creative mommy has made! She makes me want to do more sewing!

Early Evening Gown GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!

Gotcha Day - One Year Later!

2008-07-09T08:03:00.005-06:00

One Year..... 12 months.....365 days..... It sounds like a long time, but feels like a blink of an eye. It has been a year full of changes for Lillie and me.
A YEAR AGO... I picked up a scared, timid little girl. She was still taking a bottle and eating congee and steamed eggs for most meals.

LAST NIGHT, we had dinner with my family. She had fried chicken and corn and grapes and pasta salad ( yes, we are in the South!). She gave everyone hugs and when we left said, " Love you, Babop. Love you, Nai Nai."

WHEN WE FIRST ARRIVED HOME... Lillie was speaking a little Mandrin and slowly learning a few words in English. She was reserved in her play and in her affection toward me.

TODAY... She is a talkative girl, exploring her language and understanding of concepts through conversations ( all the time!) She is quick to give a hug, will give me kisses (this has happened in the last few months. Previously, she would give me a kiss if I kissed her....mostly hello or goodbye. We would go days with her telling me " Too much kisses" or "No kissing, mommy") and loves to sing and dance!

OUR FIRST NIGHT... Bed time was stressful for a scared little girl and a brand new mommy. She woke up several times in the night crying and had difficulty feeling secure.

LAST NIGHT... Lillie fell asleep next to me. She said good night and curled up beside me. Sleep is still something Lillie struggles with, but we have made great improvements over the last year!

Lillie is a blessing. We have had some difficult moments and some amazing moments. All of them, however, are moments together. We have moved from a time when, though I loved her dearly, she seemed like a visitor to feeling like a family...One that I know truly belongs together.

A Match made In Heaven

Fabulous!

2008-07-07T06:07:00.005-06:00

Lillie loves to sing and dance! She was so excited to find mom's headset microphone for her computer...which led to an impromptu concert! She even put on her own lipstick for the event!

4th of July

2008-07-05T20:48:00.005-06:00

July 4th of last year is a bit of a blur... mom and I were preparing to board a plane early the next morning to begin our journey to China and Lillie. A year later, and Lillie is here and full of curiosity!

Although it was an overcast and rainy day, we went downtown for a while, then spent time with Nai Nai and Babop. Lillie helped deliver cookies to everyone and was very excited about the prospect of seeing fireworks. "Pop, pop, pop, Mommy!" Of course, once we got there, she was distracted by the bird poop in front of her...but did seems to also enjoy the "sparklies"! She talked non stop, sang and danced, dressed herself...
It might have been the day to celebrate the birth of our Nation, but is was also a day to celebrate the beautiful little girl that my journey led me toward this time last year!

Below are pictures of Lillie playing beauty shop with Nai Nai. She loves jewelry and brought in several of mom's necklaces and earrings and wanted her to try them on. She even decided to try and put the earrings on for her!

Meeting a Friend

2008-06-24T16:35:00.003-06:00

At the Helping Hand picnic, I had a chance to meet a "blog friend". She has a beautiful family and just recently adopted her second daughter from China. I have followed her journey...and got a chance to see her beautiful daughters in person on Saturday. If you want to check out her journey..... go to http://aladyblog.blogspot.com

More Pictures from A Helping Hand Picnic

2008-06-24T16:34:00.002-06:00

AHH Reunion

2008-06-23T17:49:00.013-06:00

This past weekend was the Family Reunion for A Helping Hand... the adoption agency I used when bringing Lillie home. What made it extra special was that three of the 7 families we traveled with last July were able to attend! It was wonderful to see everyone and to see how different the girls were from a year ago! To say these families play a significant role in my journey to Lillie would be an understatement. Each of them holds such a special place in my heart and to spend time together was such a blessing. I was so amazed at the changes each of the girls have gone through in the past year...they are bigger, their eyes are brighter, their smiles are quick and their love for their families is obvious. God is good!

What a difference a year has made!

Dinner with our Travel friends!

2008-06-23T17:49:00.012-06:00

We had a chance to get together with 3 of the 7 families in our travel group at Dinner on Friday Night! It was so amazing to see the girls and the changes in each of them..even as they were getting re-acquainted. Here are a few pictures from that night!

Lillie Mae

Serine

Bella

Lillie Elizabeth

Another Wedding for Lillie

2008-06-20T13:56:00.003-06:00

My Friend Jessica got married on June 5th. Lillie and I attended her wedding, and it was beautiful. It was outside, so Lillie got to stay for the ceremony and only talked a little. Mostly it was to tell what was happening. "Girls" "Boys" "Basket" " Flowers" and my favorite " Jessie Hat. Jessie Pretty, Mommy"

Fate, Fuling, and an angel named Gin Gin!

2008-06-16T08:13:00.007-06:00

Once upon a time, there was a woman who knew she wanted a child. Though her ideas about the future changed with time, she still thought of adoption often. Taking that first step, however, scared her...especially as a single woman...Could she provide all that a child would need? Could she financially handle the experience? Was this really God's plan for her life?
Well, a few years passed and shecontinued to talk to friends about her dream. Lots of people encouraged her and she continued to look into adoption, though she still wasn't sure even which country to consider.
Then, one day,her good friend Anna said she had a friend who was a single adoptive mother. She said Kate would be in town and thought it would be a great for us to meet.
I walked into Anna's house and I was first greeted by a beautiful little girl named Gin Gin. She looked at me with her beautiful brown eyes and said, " Andrea, your baby is in China!" I laughed, knowing that Kate and Anna had told Gin Gin to say this! Kate and I talked and I watched Gin Gin and Sophia play and I began to feel a bit more certain....maybe I really could do this! But did I move ahead? ....well
A year passed, and I finally decided to fill out an application and send it in. ( The reasons behind this are another story, and ultimately involve another little "angel" that helped Lillie and I find one another). After a month, I was matched with a beautiful toddler from Fuling, China. I quickly emailed Kate to tell her I was finally taking a leap of faith and that I had a daughter in China, just as Gin Gin had said. Kate quickly responded with news that Gin Gin clearly knew more than either of us... as fate would have it, Gin Gin is also from Fuling! It was the first in many "God moments" that occured throughout the adoption process, each giving me the knowledge that Lillie and I were truly meant to be together.

On Saturday, Lillie and Gin Gin met for the first time! Gin Gin walked up and said, " See Andrea, I told you your baby was in China!" You were right Gin Gin and I thank God every day for that!

I am finding more and more that God speaks to us through "angels"... special people with whom our lives intersect. I am so glad I listened to the prophetic words of a beautiful 2 year old!

Thankful Thursday

2008-06-12T08:05:00.005-06:00

These pictures are from a month ago, but I love them because they show how truly loved Lillie is! (Obviously these pictures were takenbefore Emory had open heart surgery and dad broke his collar bone!)

11 Months since Family Day!

2008-06-09T18:09:00.004-06:00

It is hard to believe it has been 11 months since China said Lillie and I were a family! She was "mine" in my heart 10 months previous, but our offical meeting and formal paperwork states our family day as 7/9/07. I think back often to this time last year, and what was occuring in both of our lives. I was on a mission trip with my youth group in Southern Texas and Mexico. The group picture is the amazing group of youth and adults that were a part of the mission trip.

Every time my phone rang that week, the kids would all ask, " Is it the call???" Each time, I was sad to tell them it was not Grace telling me I had travel approval. We then took a day trip into Mexico. We visited an Orphanage there and several of the communities that Good Samaritan Southwest Ministries is working in. It was hot and dusty and we had no air conditioning in the van. The picture says it all!!!!

My phone rang while we were still in Mexico, the kids all got excited, and I didn't know what to do! I worried that I would pay this huge amount for the call, only to find out it wasn't "the call". As soon as we reached the border I called and got the message...I had travel approval!

Halfway across the world, Lillie was still at the SWI. She had never heard English, she was living with many other children and had no understanding of how much her life was about to change. She had seen a few pictures, possibly had a few people tell her I was " ma ma" but I know that it was not something she could even begin to fathom.
11 months later, here we are... Lillie is sitting in the floor cutting and drawing and talking up a storm. She told me tonight that her dinner was 'licious. She has started to say "Love you, Mommy" clearly and has even said it without prompting a few times! ( She especially loves to do the sign for it!). She is happy and full of joy. She is loved my many!

Saturday, we went to our friend's Pig Roast. Last year it occurred right after we returned from China and was Lillie's first "outing". She stayed in my lap the entire time, fearful and uncertain. Her little head had recently been shaved and she was very quiet. This year, we sported pig tails and a swimsuit. She laughed and played and swam, making new friends and loving every minute of it! I found myself watching in awe...thinking about the difference.
What an amazing journey we have been taking together and how many great adventures are yet to come!

Time With Babop!

2008-06-09T17:57:00.003-06:00

Recently Erik picked up a keyboard for Lillie at a yard sale. It stayed at mom and dad's house, so Lillie often will get it out when she is there. She and Babop were playing it recently ( before he broke his collar bone) and I loved watching them together! The pictures say it all!

Earthquake Update

2008-06-02T18:10:00.006-06:00

It has been three weeks since the devastating earthquake hit Sichuan. Fuling, where Lillie is from, was at one time part of the Sichuan province, until Chongqing became a municipality. I have looked for informaiton and updates, but am surprised how little I hear about it. ( I know that is a generalization, but with the statistics, it seems there would be more about it on the news)

Here are the numbers of people affected by this devastation as related by Love Without Boundaries:
71,000 dead
5 million homeless.

In an effort to really grasp the magnitude of the devastation, LWB made some comparisons:

71,000 people dead:
That is 6,000 people less than the population of the city of Melbourne, Australia.
The war in Vietnam claimed the lives of 58,217 American soldiers.

5 million homeless:
That is two-thirds of the population of New York City..that is two-thirds of all the people in NYC suddenly without a home!
The population of Finland is 5.2 million...almost an entire country homeless.

Please keep all of the affected people in your prayers and remember to be thankful for all of the blessings in your life

Taking Time to Love and Enjoy

2008-06-01T12:14:00.004-06:00

Lately, I have had a hard time just being mommy. I mean, it is the time of year (end of school) when everything is being finalized for this year and we are thinking about the next. It is the time of year that I am sleep deprived and so I am not as patient as I wish I was with my daughter. It is the time of year when the sun is up later so it is EVEN HARDER to get Lillie to bed.
There has also been a lot of pain around.... I have been so distracted by the Earthquake in China and the devistation left behind. Erik's friend Emory had open heart surgery...and is doing well, but still has a lot of healing to do. My dad fell and broke his collar bone last week and is also in the process of healing. Lillie worries about Babop and "Ne" (what she calls Emory) and that they are sad because of their " big boo boos" as she calls them.
Finally, I have been thinking about Steven Curtis Chapman and his family. His daughter Maria, his youngest and adopted from China, died tragically last week. In an even more painful turn of events, she was hit by a car driven by her teenage brother. I cannot even begin to imagine the pain they are in, or the healing that will need to occur.

Below is a song he wrote and the story behind it. It is called Cinderella and is about not taking little moments for granted.
I am going to try even harder to remember that the most important thing is Lillie and to take time to laugh at the little things... knowing that she is a blessing, even when she is painting herself and the carpet with mascara!

Dear God,
Please be with everyone who is suffering...who has lost their way...who are searching for peace and grace in this crazy world. Help me to remember that every moment we have together is a precious gift.
Amen

Disco Anyone?

2008-05-24T18:39:00.005-06:00

Lillie took her glittery headband, some sunglasses and lip gloss....and this was the conclusion! Makes you want to get a perm and wear a Members Only jacket, doesn't it?

Mulan? Geisha?

2008-05-18T14:01:00.003-06:00

The other day I left the room and returned to a cloud of baby powder! We keep it around the house to help with her prosthetic, but she thinks it is fun to play with all the time. Well she had it on her legs and arms...but the funniest was her face! It was completely white! I tried to talk to her about making good choices, but it was hard not to just laugh.

What Big Feet You Have!

2008-05-18T13:56:00.001-06:00

An Earthquake in China

2008-05-13T16:03:00.003-06:00

MMonday, there was an earthquake in southwest China that measured 7.8 on the Richter scale. The area around Chengdu in the Sichuan Province was the hardest hit, with thousands of lives lost. The area where Lillie is from, Fuling, is around 200+ miles from there. As you can imagine, there are a number of waiting parents who are terrified for their children and awaiting news. Reports from Fuling are that the new orphanage has sustained some structural damage, but that all children are safe. There have been hundreds of aftershocks, one reported to be as strong as 6.0. Relief workers have arrived in the epicenter, Wenchuan, and are still checking on Social Welfare Instututes in that area. Please keep these children, their homeland, waiting parents, releif workers, etc. in your prayers. There are organizations that will be taking donations to help with emergency relief in the area, including Love Without Boundaries (LWB) and Our Chinese Daughters Foundation (OCDF).

Time with the Wilsons!

2008-05-01T17:25:00.004-06:00

About a month ago Janice, Claire and Ellie came for a visit. The above pictures are from dinner at Aunt Anna's house. Adam's family also came, so it was great fun having everyone together!
The below pictures are from Church that Sunday. We went to Twin Pines to participate in the service. Tracy Parker, the student associate there, was on our trip to Swaziland, so the entire service focused on our trip. It was wonderful to get to share the experience again...and to spend more time with Janice and the girls.

The Arboretum

2008-05-01T17:06:00.008-06:00

After we were rained out at the Kitefest, we went to meet Lane and Denise at the Arboretum. It was a chance to spend a little more time together before Denise, Barry and Lane left to go back to DC. Lillie and Lane had a great time!

Kitefest

2008-05-01T16:58:00.005-06:00

Lillie and I went to Kitefest the weekend of her birthday. We saw kites and dancers and other local FCC families...but Lillies favorite part of the day was the corn! She had two peices and at it ALL! I am so thankful for these opportunities that we have together... what a great memory!

Sewing with Nai Nai

2008-04-28T16:38:00.002-06:00

A Special Visitor on Lillie's 2nd Birthday

2008-04-24T20:24:00.005-06:00

On her second birthday, I sent Lillie a cake and hoped that she would have a chance to share it with her friends. She was, however, blessed with some special company I knew nothing about at the time. A woman named Melissa and her beautiful daughter were in Fuling for a visit. Marie is also a Fulinger and had come to spend some time at her first home. These are just a few pictures I received a few weeks later after Melissa inquired about who Yun's family would be.

A couple of weeks ago, I received an email from Melissa asking about how Lillie was doing. I replied, telling her that Lillie was full of energy... and quite the drama queen. I told her about how funny she is and how she loves to play with her
dolls and to dance and sing. Her response was:
' I can't believe that is the same child!!!??? She was always so sad when I saw her, but clearly she has found profound happiness and joy. "
It was a powerful moment for me. A moment when I knew just how little I knew about my daughter's life before, and how much it has changed since we became a family. I thank God for the many people that have been in my daughter's short life...and for the many Fuling families that went before me and have provided support the the SWI. I only pray I can also make the same impact on another family!

Thoughts of China

2008-04-23T18:47:00.005-06:00

Three years ago today, my beautiful daughter was found by the gatekeeper at the Fuling Social Welfare Institute. As you can see, she was dressed in a pink outfit and wrapped in blankets. Though paperwork said nothing was with her, the pictures show a small plastic bag with formula inside.

My thoughts over the last several days have gone to a woman in China who had to give up her child three years ago today. I don't know why she made the choice...whether it was because of the one child policy, because of limited resources, because of Lillie's limb difference.... but I feel certain that it was painful to leave the child she carried 9 months. I can't even begin to understand the pain that must go along with not knowing the future of your baby. I have cried a few times, feeling the overwhelming joy I experienced since Lillie's arrival...knowing she must feel the same overwhelming pain. I pray that she can feel a sense of peace. That she knows Lillie is loved. That she will somehow know that she is included in our prayers, along with the others in China who love Lillie.
I am so thankful for the pictures I have of Lillie's first day at the SWI because I think they will help Lillie know she was loved, even as she was beginning her life at Fuling SWI.

Happy Birthday - The Party!

2008-04-21T18:02:00.004-06:00

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Happy Birthday - Part 2

2008-04-20T20:29:00.007-06:00

Saturday, Lillie had a birthday party. She had friends and family surrounding her.
I can't help but think about the contrast of this birthday as compared to her first two. I am thankful that she was with nannies who loved her and that she had friends and the cake I sent, but it does not begin to compare to being with her family.

I think these pictures tell the story....

I thank God for my daughter and for the chance to be together for her third birthday!

Birthday Girl...part 1

2008-04-20T16:47:00.003-06:00

Saturday, April 19th was Lillie's birthday and we had a wonderful day! Here are a few pictures from the early part of the day... pre party! Lillie was ready to open her presents as soon as she woke up! I can't believe my girl is now a 3 year old!

Princess Lillie

2008-04-07T16:20:00.005-06:00

Lillie got a princess set as a late Christmas gift. She loves the jewels and the high heals. With her prosthetic foot, I wasn't sure how well she would do with the shoes. Well....... she tried and tried and finally got to where she could walk in them! That's my girl! The last picture shows her trying to walk in them. (If you are wondering about the red mark across her right foot, it is from the elastic band of her "shiny shoes"....Dorothy shoes in pink!)

More Pretty In Pink Pictures

2008-04-04T17:25:00.003-06:00

Think Pink

2008-04-02T19:07:00.003-06:00

Well, as many of you know, Lillie is very impatient about having long hair. She wants to put her hair in a pony tail...not so easy at this point! Well, I found this wig and purse set on sale and..... the rest is history. She loves it, of course. And the purse is now one of the 4 she carries all the time! She is such a funny little girl!
Jessie....this wig definately reminds me of you!

Off to Easter Lunch

2008-03-30T07:17:00.006-06:00

These pictures are of us waiting for Nai Nai and BaBop to come and pick us up to go to Aunt Anna and Uncle Bobby Day's house for Easter lunch. We had a great meal and enjoyed seeing family. Lillie loved hunting for eggs too....though chasing a duck was her favorite. They are on mom's camera, but I will try to post them later!

Oh, and if anyone can help me with how to make my pictures go the right way, please let me know!

Going to Church

2008-03-29T20:28:00.007-06:00

These are pictures from Easter morning! We had to add a sweater because it was so chilly. We started to church with 3 bows in our hair and 3 purses.... and once we got inside I had gotten her down to one bow...but the purses remained. And the duck is from Aunt Cristy and Uncle Erik!

Easter Morning

2008-03-29T09:05:00.002-06:00

Lillie followed a trail of eggs down stairs to her Easter basket and was very excited about her new things. I think the greatest excitement however, was the candy in each egg! This girl has a serious sweet tooth!

My Little Artist

2008-03-22T17:59:00.004-06:00

Lillie wants me to draw pictures of people all the time...stick people are the drawings of choice! Well the other day she started trying to draw her own. I thought this one was pretty good! I am so excited that she likes drawing, painting, coloring, etc. She is becoming quite the little artist...another way she is like her extended family...especially her Uncle Erik!

Pig Tails

2008-03-22T17:52:00.004-06:00

We finally are able to get Lillie's hair into little piggy tails! Although it is still not as long as she would hope, she does love being able to keep bands and bows in now. And I think it is pretty cute!

Lovely Lillie

2008-03-21T18:04:00.003-06:00

The other day, Lillie was digging in the drawers and found these. They are nail covers...from the days when I went to the tanning bed ( I know, bad for me) and had my nails done. That was a lifetime ago, it seems, but Lillie found them to be great fun!

Helping another Adoptive Family

2008-03-20T18:08:00.003-06:00

Do you like the way my blog looks? Would you love to update yours and help a beautiful little girl and her family at the same time? PLEASE visit the blog http://aladyblog.blogspot.com and take a chance on winning the make-over!
Here are the basic rules:
The suggested donation is $5
You can donate through our Chip In Account on the blog.
You can enter as many times as you would like. Please make sure you leave a comment on the blog so Mrs. Ladyblog has your email and she will assign a number to each entry and send you an e-mail with your number(s)
The drawing for the BLOGOVER on April 8th. That is less than 3 weeks away!!
Here is a picture of their beautiful daughter!

Thank you!

Lillie's Buddy Levi

2008-03-20T17:54:00.005-06:00

Lillie and Levi were together in lots of pictures while they were at the SWI. Amazingly, we traveled (the Martins and I) the same time to meet our beautiful children and were able to get to know one another. Their older sons traveled with them and we often talked about how Lillie and Levi seemed to have a mischevious connection to one another. Levi (Fu Bao Chao) just turned 2 and here are the pictures his mommy sent for us to see. What a handsome boy his is!

Lillie and Levi at the SWI. (Yes, Levi is a boy and yes, he is in ruffles and bows.)

Our first "real" snow!

2008-03-08T18:01:00.004-06:00

Oddly enough, it waited until March to give us our first "big" snow. We got between 3 or 4 inches, and Lillie had a great time checking it all out today~

I think I will see what this stuff tastes like!

Walking in circles...

What a fun day!

New "China Clothes" from Ms. Mindy

2008-03-08T17:56:00.004-06:00

My student teacher the last 8 weeks found a Peddler's Mall (of all places) that sells outfits from China. Qipaos, pants with long sleeved shirts and even shorts outfits! The short outfit has become Lillie's favorite new jammies! She loves them! Thank you Ms. Mindy!

Thank You Ms. Katrina!

2008-03-08T17:43:00.005-06:00

My friend, and co-worker Katrina bought Lillie a special gift. She found this beautiful head band of yellow hair at the dollar store and I must share that it has been quite a hit! Isn't she lovely?!?