Thankful Thursday

Today, on this Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for these precious photos, taken one year ago today, of my precious girl while she waited for us in China.  

I am thankful that someone took the time to do her hair and make-up (yes, make-up) because that means they spent time on her, and with her . . . and knowing that does my heart much good!

I am thankful that these photos are proof that Teddi Xiao Xiao had a special day.

Flying lessons . . .

I am thankful for the love that was shown to her by her caregivers, and I am thankful for the personal notes that were written to her before she left Zhuhai.  What a treasure!  My favorite note (written, I believe, by the nanny pictured above) says this . . .

"You are a good and lovely girl.  You are our happy princess.  We love her.  Hopefully, you can have a lucky and happy new family and study hard.  I hope you can fly as free as the happy bird."

Isn't God good?

I am thankful that Zhuhai's "happy princess" is now "flying as free as the happy bird".

My happy bird.

Blessings from my thankful nest ~

Tina

Happy Chinese New Year . . .

from our Chinese treasure . . . and her very blessed family!

Blessings from my nest~

Tina

Big Steps For Teddi!

I'm backing up a bit (before I share about our Houston trip) so that I can share a couple of Teddi's latest accomplishments.  Before Teddi's palate was closed, sucking through a straw and blowing bubbles were completely impossible.  Once her palate was closed, she had to "learn" how to use it to do these things.  

See for yourself  . . . Teddi's big steps . . .

Sucking lemonade through a straw . . .

Sweet success!

These pictures were taken while Bryce was home 

for Christmas . . .

 so I have to throw in a couple of others too --

Lovin' on big brother.  She was all over him 

while he was home, and by all over, I mean if he 

was home and sitting down, she was ON him . . . 

giggling all the while!  

If he wasn't sitting down, she was climbing up him!

I love to see my biggest bird and my smallest bird together . . .

And now look at Bryce and Teddi, while Taylor is trying

to take a picture from the other end of the table.

(I had no idea that little bird was entertaining her eldest brother.)

On to the second accomplishment . . . blowing bubbles!

Check out the eyes . . . such focus!

Soapy success . . . as mama shouts for joy!

The things we take for granted . . . like blowing bubbles . . .

suddenly become life's smallest miracles . . .

and Teddi's big steps!

So proud of you little bird.  

Miss you my oldest bird . . . blowing kisses to Spokane!

Blessings from my "sweet successes" nest ~

Tina

Happy Eight Months Home, Flit!

What a joy it is to keep up with you, my quick little bird!

I love you!

Mama

Blessings from my nest . . . it's good to be home! 

Tina 

P.S. Thank you dear ones for the sweet birthday wishes, including one from my brother--wow!  How very  blessed I am!

Happy Birthday To Us!

On January 18th, 1964, one day before my very first birthday, my sweet (one and only) sister Amy, was born!  Today on her birthday we are both 45,  and tomorrow I will turn 46!  She was my first birthday gift, born just 364 days behind me.  What a joy to have always had her as part of my celebration, our celebration! We grew up sharing the same room (and bunkbeds) until the day I got married and moved away.  Despite the fact that we have spent the past 25 years living away from each other (sometimes oceans apart) we have remained ever close in heart. Although I led the way by a bit, we learned how to be wives, and then mamas together .  . . and about the time we had our babes nearly grown, we both started over again!  This time Amy led the way, blessed with sweet  Landon at age 38 . . .  14 months later I delivered Brogan at age 41. We became "old" mamas together.  When it was time for my oldest bird to fly off to Basic Training, and beyond, she cried with me, and then she prayed me through it. When the wait for Teddi got long, she stormed heaven on Teddi's behalf .  She shared my adoption dream (from the beginning) and waited faithfully with me.  She has stormed heaven on my behalf again and again, and for that I am grateful.  

She moves as fast as I do slow.  She loves to cook, I cook because I must.  My hair is curly, her hair is straight.  Her eyes are blue, mine are green.  She is an organizer and a planner, I'm a fly by the seat of my pants kinda girl.   But . . .

We both love Jesus, and our families . . . and babies . . . and chocolate . . . and McDonald's cheeseburgers (gross, I know) . . . and sweet tea . . . and LAUGHING, especially together, and we are both lefties!  Given the choice of a day at the mall together, or a day of thrift stores, we would both pick thrifting!  We think a lot alike, and we brainstorm well together . . .  by phone. We are our own comic relief.  She can (and does) make me laugh on the grayest of days. She is my best cheerleader, and she has been my umbrella through many a storm. 

 

 

                 I thank God for the day she was born . . .                 

my sister, my bestest friend . . . 

the greatest birthday present I ever received!

I love you Ame, from the bottom of my heart!

Blessings from my birthday celebratin' nest ~

Tina

Quick Update . . .

Please, please, please continue to pray for the Saunder's family at A Place Called Simplicity. One day after fire destroyed their home on Wednesday, their teenage son Graham had to undergo an emergency appendectomy.  Today, their beloved family dog died of causes unrelated to the fire.  I question how much one family can take . . . but I KNOW that their trust is in the Lord, whose unfailing love will see them through this seemingly unending storm.  May He hide them all under the shadow of His mighty wing, and may our God who never sleeps be their Comfort, around the clock!

Chang has a new name!  She is Sarah . . . 

Sarah Chang for now.  If you haven't jumped over to Joy's blog to see her, I received permission to share a picture.  Isn't she beautiful?  Please continue to lift Sarah Chang and her new family up to the Lord.  This is a huge transition for all of them, each in their own unique way.  Pray that by God's grace Sarah Chang will begin to understand what being a part of a family is all about!  Lord help her to be brave in this very scary time, and please give her mama and baba wisdom with their new teenager. . .  and bless her little sisters too!

We are leaving for Houston in a bit for the long Martin Luther King Jr. weekend.  Along with being MLK's birthday celebration day, it also happens to be my own!  We will stay at Taylor's fiance Frankie's apartment.  (Thank you Frankie!)  Later in the day we will meet up with two special  families for dinner.  One family I have met in person, the other I only "know" through the blessings of my computer (and a phone call or two).  We all have a common bond; that being our adopted daughters from Zhuhai!  Tomorrow Teddi will once again dine with two of her orphanage "sisters". . .  each now surrounded by the love of their family.  I look forward to the occasion with a happy heart! I will share pictures upon our return.

Thanks for checking in!

Blessings from my nest ~

Tina

"The surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others." ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

Will You Pray?

Linn and Dwight, my new precious blogger friends, watched as their Place Called Simplicity went up in smoke today (Wednesday).  They and all of their children are safe, but most everything else was lost.  Thirty years of special treasures, lost.  A while back, Linn and Dwight sold their nice big home (and many of their belongings) in order to simplify their living . . . and get rid of their mortgage.  They moved into a smaller home. . . a cozy log cabin, appropriately named  A Place Called Simplicity.   WHY did they do such a thing?  So that they could bring home more children who were in need of a mama and daddy to love them . . . and they have done just that!  Adding Isaiah from China, and Elizabeth and Elijah, just home from Uganda . . . and one more, sweet Jubilee who still waits for them in China. Jubilee will make ten.

In the few short weeks since I "met" Linn and Dwight and began following their blog (during Linn's trip to Uganda for E & E), my heart has grown to love them . . . my heart has also grown for the orphans in Africa. And as I read what Linn shares  I want to do more, be more, live more simply, and laugh more.  I didn't set out to share all of this, but I can't keep it in!  This family is precious, and they are making a huge difference in the world by being obedient to follow where God leads.  I for one, am incredibly blessed to be a small part of their BIG journey. . . 

Today that journey suffered a sad setback, and they need us to lift them up, as they figure out how to put life back together for their family.  Elizabeth and Elijah were just beginning to feel comfortable in their new surroundings, and now those surroundings are gone.  Please pray for Linn and Dwight as the Lord leads you-- I know some of you are already following them, and your heart aches like mine, for their loss.  Thanks for allowing me to share!

On a happier note, Chang has her family, and a brand new name -- Sarah!  If you haven't visited Joy's blog,  Two Tots and a Teen, go take a look at their beautiful new daughter and big sister! Please also remember Sarah Chang in your prayers as she transitions into her new life as a daughter, and remember her new mama and baba as they go from parenting two tots, to two tots and a teen!  God is good!

Celebration time . . . My friend Doreen's loooooong wait for LOA (Letter of Acceptance from China), ended on Monday, at day 199!  She now awaits Travel Approval so they can go pick up one of the sweetest little guys in all of China.  You can see him here!   Thank you Lord for seeing Doreen through some very tough days!  On another happy note, my dear friend Melissa is getting ever closer to her long awaited Katie, who is in Mongolia.  M's blog is private, so you'll have to take my word for it when I say that Katie is cuter than cute!  And one more happy note--my friend Doris is only TA away from her sweet Abigail who waits in China.  D's blog is private also, so you'll have to take my word again when I say that Abigail is also cuter than cute!  Oh wait, one more . . . Teddi's orphanage "brother" Ren will meet his mama and baba on February 23rd, and then make his "home sweet home" in beautiful Canada.  You can see this adorable little man here on his mama Monica's blog.   I'm so happy for my waiting friends who are getting ever closer to holding their dreams in their arms! 

Thinking of Sunny, and Lily, and Yao Yao (Teddi's orphanage sisters) who wait on paperwork, so that they may join their forever families who are waiting on them!  May it happen soon!

Blessings from my nest ~

Tina

Wordless Wednesday

Blessings from my (almost wordless) nest ~

Tina

A Little More Birthday . . .

Last Sunday, Taylor and Frankie blessed Teddi with a trip to Build* A Bear, for her birthday. They didn't build a bear, but instead a sweet pink monkey name "Strawberry".  Teddi was proud to bring her monkey home and show her off, but insisted that the monkey go directly back into her "hooooome" which was the cardboard carrying box.  Finally, yesterday Strawberry was allowed out of her box for a stroller ride, and has remained out.  Welcome "hooooome" Strawberry monkey!

Yes, I think that's the one!

Come on monkey, time for some stuffing . . .

 . . . that's better!

Grinner graciously assists in the grooming.

Pink shoes to go with the perfect pink dress!

One Strawberry monkey, ready to go hoooome!

Thank you big sis and Frankie, you guys rock!

"For me?"

On Tuesday friend Claire came bearing a birthday gift!  

"I LOVE markers . . . this looks fun . . .

 . . . it is FUN!  

Thank you Claire, you're the best!

Surprises also came in the mail from Papa and Grandma Suz, to include fun face paint, which we hope to play with soon!  Thank you too, to our blogger friend Sarah, and Teddi's email buddy Lily (Sarah's daughter) for the precious sparkly "4" card, complete with ladybugs!  Teddi was birthday blessed!

Blessings from my nest ~

Tina

Thankful Thursday (Updated)

I am sooooo very thankful for the time that I was able to spend with my oldest bird.  I miss the little boy that he was (it's true what they say, they do grow up quickly), but I am so proud of the man he has become.  I will be even more thankful when I hear from him (hopefully tonight), and know that he is no longer sleeping out in the frigid temperatures of northern Alaska, while honing his survival skills!  I love you Bryce. . . phone home brave bird.

I am also thankful for more "China sweetness" . . . I found out yesterday that a beautiful little girl named Chang, who will turn 14 on January 20th (thereby making her no longer adoptable by China's standards) is about to get a family just in time!  Chang has watched as many of her friends have left the orphanage, and has longed for a family of her own, and now . . . my blogger friend Joy is going to be her mama!  Chang is getting a family for her 14th birthday -- a mama, a baba, and two little sisters who are also Chinese treasures.  Please pray for this family as they prepare to travel tomorrow to meet their new daughter.  It has been a whirlwind of affairs . . . they already had a dossier in China, but just started the paperwork for Chang when they heard about her the very end of December, and by very end, I mean less than two weeks ago, and they leave for China in the morning!  Anyone who has done a Chinese adoption knows that God's hand was in this!  Thank you Lord for giving Chang a family!

I am also thankful for all of my sweet blogger friends who left birthday wishes for my little bird . . . Thank you dear friends!

My nest is blessed on this Thankful Thursday, and everyday!

Blessings~

Tina

Update:  Bryce called about an hour ago, he is in safe and sound.  Four days o-u-t in the mountains of Alaska, actual temps 30-40 below zero, windchill 60 below!  Brrrrrrrrrrrr, doesn't even begin to cover it.  He slept in three different man-made shelters (as in he was the man who made them).  The instructors leading them said this was the coldest weather they have ever been out in. Bryce talked of sitting around a fire at night (nearly on top of the fire to keep warm) while taking turns knocking the frost off of each others backs--as they sat around the fire.  He also told of putting warm water (snow melted over the fire) into a vinyl pouch that hung from a line around his neck.  The water pouch then went in under all but one of his five layers of clothing, next to his body (think thermals to a huge parka).  He walked away from the fire to his shelter and within ten minutes, the warm water which was up against his body, was turning to slush! That's cold like I never care to know!  He is in a warm room tonight, and will fly back to Spokane on Saturday, which I imagine will feel downright balmy after his mighty Alaskan sleepover.  Thanks to those of you who prayed for my bird.  I am thankful to report that he is thawing out!  T~

Teddi's Birthday . . . In Pictures

You belong litle bird!

Starting the day . . . a doughnut, with sprinkles, life is good!

Introduction to a birthday tradition . . . the celebratory poster made by mama!

I'm four . . .

let's get this party started!

Now we're talkin', it's present time!

Oh what fun!!  Teddi's favorite gift was her very own pink Leap*ster!

This was especially exciting, since she has been eyeing 

Brogan's green Leap*ster since China!

Grinner makes a special presentation.

Anticipation . . .

and then a precious smile, as we all sang "Happy Birthday" to 

our little bird . . . she was lovin' it!

Sweeter than the cake -- our little bird is!

Oh, that was goooooood!

And one more shot from her actual birthday 

yesterday. . . oh mama . . . stop!

Sweet girl, how blessed we are to celebrate 

four years of life with you!

Blessings from my nest ~

Tina

Happy Birthday Little Bird!

My Teddi will be four when she wakes up on Monday morning and a rush of emotion is pouring through my head and my heart . . .

Thankfulness.  Last year we had a party . . . presents . . . balloons . . . a ladybug cake . . . and candles blown out by Grinner.  We had everything but the girl, only photographs of her sweet face.  This year we have the girl, and oh is she everything we prayed for and so much more.

Delight.  We celebrated Teddi's (pretend, as Brogan calls it) birthday on New Year's day, before Bryce left.  She was so excited she beamed . . . it was all about her, and she knew it.  Delight!

Shock.  When I wake up in the morning I will be the mama to TWO four year olds.  I am 45 years old!  Why does this still shock me?  Life is good.

Awe.  As I have mentioned before, I have those "pinch yourself moments" when I realize that a nine year old promise from the Lord has been fulfilled and I do indeed have a daughter from China . . .  she was born in 2005, while I waited faithfully (most of the time) for God to bring about His plan.

Longing.  For a way to let Teddi's birth mother know that her baby girl is safe.  That she is loved beyond measure.  That she is happy and healthy, and so very funny.  That her dark eyes sparkle. That her voice is squeaky and her laughter is pure, silly joy!  My mamas heart weighs heavy this day for another mother's heart.  . .  the heart that beat a song of comfort to my little bird while she was carried in the womb of a woman I'll never know. My own heart cannot grasp the emotion of it all.  The loss.  How do I say thank you for an indescribable treasure who is now my own daughter?  It's beyond me.  I have no words . . . only tears.

Gratefulness.  That God would orchestrate something so perfect.  That the baby girl I prayed for by name, for years before she was born, would come to me with a tiny teddy bear embroidered on the collar of her shirt.   Oh Lord, how marvelous are your works!

Pride.  I am so very proud of you little bird!  Teddi, you have flown a great distance in your four years of life.  You are delicately strong.  You are brave.  You are happy . . . a happy that comes from within, despite circumstance.  

Thank you Lord for our little bird, may you bless her birthday . . . and may You keep her tucked under Your wing all of her days!

Blessings from my celebrating nest ~  

Tina

Party pictures to follow soon . . . I had to get my thoughts down first.

My Sweet Teddi

I just have to back up a bit, and share a few pictures of my girl in her Christmas dresses.  I bought all three of these dresses before Teddi ever came home, and couldn't wait for the day when I would see her wear them.  To give you an idea of my thrifty-ness (and God's provision for my baby girl)  I found all three of these dresses, over a span of time, at consignment shops. Total cost for all three dresses (including one cute hat), $17.00!  The joy of seeing my sweet China treasure home for Christmas and wearing the dresses that hung waiting in the closet for so long, priceless!

Wait . . . I just remembered, two of the dresses I found in Michigan while visiting my thrifty sister's, favorite kid's consignment shop.  My sister had store credit at the shop both times, so I didn't even actually buy them, my sweet sis let me "buy" them using her store credit for what she had consigned!  Thanks Aunt Me-me for the cuteness!  My total cost, refigured . . . $4.00!   The joy of seeing my girl . . . still priceless, even when she insists on accessorizing by sticking out her tongue!  Love you Teddi girl!

A quick catch-up . . .

My oldest bird flew back to Spokane Friday night . . . it was so hard to let him go.  He knew he would be leaving for Alaska shortly upon arrival back in Spokane--sometime Saturday or Sunday.  Turns out he was scheduled to fly out at 5:00 a.m Saturday morning.  So by the time he called us (Sat. afternoon) to say he had made it "home" he was in Anchorage!  He was in Spokane for about four hours -- he landed, repacked, and flew, all while we were still asleep. He will be doing outdoor survival training for four days in Alaska--it was -47 (yes, negative 47 degrees, actual temp) when he stepped off the plane.  If you think of him, please pray for his protection, and my peace of mind (while I ponder the fact that my baby is sleeping in a snow cave somewhere in the Arctic).  I worry about him, but am so very thankful that he is not deployed.  Please remember our troops (and their families) who are deployed, or are preparing to deploy.  (Thinking of your Tyler, Linny.)

On the home front . . . our baby bird will turn four on Monday!  We celebrated her birthday on New Years Day while we had everyone at home.  It was a very special day for Teddi, and for us as well . . . especially after celebrating her birthday last year without her home.  I will share all of the birthday pictures soon, hopefully on her actual day!  

Blessings from my ever thankful nest ~

Tina