Flying Strong

Two years ago today my oldest bird, Bryce, flew from my nest.  On February 27, 2007 in the very wee hours of the morning he left for Air Force basic training.  Oh how my mamas heart ached to see him go, oh the tears that I cried.  Six and a half weeks later I watched as he graduated from basic training with honors.  How very proud I was, and how very proud I am of what he has gone on to accomplish over the past two years.  It hasn't been easy, in fact much of it has been unbelievably tough (like sleeping out in the snow protected only by a man-made shelter, in 40 degrees below temps) . . . the kind of tough that has shown me what this strong bird of mine is made of.

Sweet reunion after basic training

Time goes by so quickly . . . it seems he was just my little babe with blond curls and big brown eyes, dependant on me, his mama, for survival.

Wearing Daddy's beret

And now he's a strapping young man, strong and independent.  A Survival Specialist with a beret of his own.  Oh how I love this boy!

I wrote the following poem for Bryce shortly before he flew, (and admittedly also for myself as I came to terms with letting go of my first bird).

Fly Strong

My firstborn bird is getting ready to fly,

He’s perched on the nest’s edge, wings ready to try.

How did we get here? I wish it weren’t so. . .
My babe is a man now just waiting to go.

I say, “Lord I’m not ready; I don’t want him to leave,”
God’s still small voice speaks gently to me.
He reminds me with love, of the last twenty years. . .

Of memories of good times, of laughter, of tears.

“He’s ready, he’s waiting, you’ve done all you can.
You’ve brought him up well from a babe to a man

I’ll take it from here, you pray and you watch.

He’ll soar, you will see, just give him a nudge.

There he goes; flying high, like you knew that he would.
It’s sad and it’s hard, but it’s great and it’s good!”

Thank you Lord, thank you, for holding us up!
My bird as he flies and me as I watch.

To my bird I say, “Trust Him with all of your cares.

He’s the wind 'neath your wings, he’s your strength in the air.”
I love you my God, and I love you my bird,
Fly high, fly strong, take your place, CHANGE the world!

Two years later I can say, "Thank you Lord for keeping Your promise.  Thank you for being Bryce's wind, thank you for being his strength.  Thank you for holding us up."

My bird is flying strong.  I couldn't be prouder.  

I love you Bryce Evan!

Blessings from my nest ~

Tina

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:3

A Word for Wednesday

  You are valuable just because you exist. 

 Not because of what you do or what you have done, 

but simply because you are. 

Just think about the way Jesus honors you . . .

and smile.  

~ Max Lucado

Wednesday blessings from our smiling nest ~

Tina

Prayer Requests (and some randomness)

Edited to update, Monday night--

Claire did well with her surgery, it took a little longer than expected but all went well.  She woke up slowly but peacefully from the anesthesia and then proceeded to eat three popcsicles! Claire should get to come home tomorrow.  Well done brave girl.  We love you!

And in China . . . Ren and Yao Yao have their families!  Thank you Jesus!  At last report Ren was quiet but content, and taking everything in.  He arrived wearing golden silks, so handsome!  Yao Yao's mama reports that her transition so far has been very smooth, and that Yao Yao "smiles all the time"!  

Thank you all for your prayers, and  thank you Lord for hearing our prayers!

Some big events will take place over the next few hours . . .

I would love it if you would join me in prayer for our sweet friend Claire, and for Teddi's orphanage "brother" Ren,  and "sister" Yao Yao, as they prepare to meet their forever families.

Sweet Claire will be having cochlear implant surgery on Monday morning (around 11:30), it is about a three hour operation.  Please pray that Jesus would keep her in His care, and that the surgery would be a success, and also for a smooth recovery for Claire.  Please pray for peace for her family as they wait.  Oh how blessed we are to have this sweet girl just down the street from us.  She is a bundle of pure J-O-Y!  May God bless you Claire, and keep you in His care.

In the wee hours of Monday morning this sweet little man will lose the title of "orphan" and gain a precious family, forever!  Ren will meet his mommy Monica, his daddy Paul and sister Claire in Guangzhou, and four lives will be forever changed!  At the same time, in the same place a little girl named Yao Yao (one of Teddi's close orphanage sisters) will become Olivia. She too will exchange the title of "orphan" for that of daughter and sister.  Oh Lord, how we praise you for putting these orphans in families!  May you give peace to Ren and Yao Yao's hearts as they leave all they know behind for the journey that lies ahead.

Now for the randomness . . .  

I pay a lot of attention to dates and the 23rd of the month brings several thoughts to mind, just thought I'd share a couple . . .

Nine months ago (on May 23, 2008) our little Xiao Xiao, in the grip of her daddy's hand, gave one last look across the water at her birthplace, Zhuhai City, China.  We had visited her orphanage that day and her finding spot, and then we had stopped here at the water's edge to take in one last look.  Even though it has been nine months I cannot yet grasp the emotion of that day, or even put it into words. This picture speaks volumes to me.  

In just three more months, on May 23, 2009, my other little girl will take hold of her Daddy's hand and he will walk her up the aisle to "give her hand away" in marriage.  Oh my, I cannot put into words the emotions that this thought brings to mind, nor do I want to try.  I just want to hold onto my baby girl for three more months . . . and then celebrate the changes that life brings, as they happen.

As I was pondering the "23rd" shortly before beginning this post, I realized that 26 years ago today, on February 23, 1983 I became engaged to my true love!  It was a cold winter day in Michigan.  I was two years out of high school, and Bryan three, when we went and announced to another daddy -- my daddy, that he (and my mama too), would soon be giving their baby girl's hand away in marriage.  On May 4th, 2009, just two and a half weeks before Taylor and Frankie's wedding, we will celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss. Okay, maybe it hasn't all been bliss, but ohhhhhh how life has blessed us, big.  To my true love ~ Thank you for putting a ring on my finger 26 years ago, and for making my dreams come true.

Blessings from my very, very blessed nest ~  

Tina

~ Remember to pray for the babes, Claire, Ren and Yao Yao.  Thanks!

Seventeen on the 17th ~ Happy Birthday Brady!

My middle-man turned seventeen today . . . (actually yesterday, which is when I started this post)

he was my "original baby", the last of my bigs . . . and darn cute, too.  

Wouldn't you agree?  (Please forgive the rainbow background on the picture below . . . my scanner added that.)

Brady came along just as Bryce and Taylor were turning six and four.  It was a perfect baby "position" and it lasted for 12 years  . . .

. . . and then shortly after his twelfth birthday, he got bumped!

Thus becoming my original baby, yet sharing the spot gracefully with his new baby brother. . . who in turn also got bumped!

Brady and Brogan, another match made in heaven!

Brady is my middle-man, positioned between two bigs and two littles -- Though officially he is a big,  and he wears it well.  But you won't find him "wearing" it like anyone else would, because as I already mentioned, he is also my original!  Brady is my outside-the-box kid and he spends most of his time teaching me to parent outside the box.  

I like boxes. . . they have sides, and they hold a specified amount.  They have tops that close, and bottoms that support.  There is an amount of control with a box, they are predictable.  But, there is something to be said for living outside the box.  You can march to your own beat, after all, it's your beat--no one will know if you mess up.  Yet the joy of living outside the box is this, you don't care if anyone cares that you mis-marched.  It just doesn't matter.

Oh how I need that lesson in my life.  I'm constantly worried about "my box".  Does it look okay?  Does it conform?  Is it stylish and up to date?  Do other people like my box?  It's a scary thought for me to get outside my box.  Unprotected.  Wide open.  Nothing to lean up against. Nothing to hide behind.  Nothing to conform to.  Don't get me wrong, as I say this I am speaking of how the world views things.  I know that I am protected by my Heavenly Father, and I do lean on Him.  But I also know that I spend waaaaaay too much time worrying about the way the world looks at "the box" that I choose to put myself in.  Brady on the other hand, looks at the world, and forms his own thoughts and opinions.  He does this guided by the Lord, and Scripture of course.  But no box.  Unlike his mama, he is not influenced by what others may think.  Therefore his thoughts and creativity are wide open.  And as I learn to parent a young man with this way of thinking, I pray for God to help me see things outside the boundaries of my box.

There are no dull moments with Brady . . .

he is loving, and sincere, and deep . . . 

and NOISY . . .

and CRAZY . . .

and he's SEVENTEEN!

See?  He's CRAZY . . .

and I am crazy in love with my middle man!

 

 Happy golden birthday Brady, seventeen on the 17th!

Discovery consists in seeing what everybody has seen 

and thinking what nobody has thought. 

 Albert Szent-Gyorgyi

Happy Birthday Brady, I love you . . . and my nest is blesssed because YOU are in it!

Blessings from my proud mama bird nest ~

Tina

Happy Valentine's Day, Preschool & A Love Story!

A true love story . . . 

Teddi and Brogan's world grew bigger this week with the event of preschool.  On more than one occasion I heard an innocent question from an inquisitive new classmate,  "What is wrong with her nose?" or "What is wrong with her mouth?"  To which I  gave a quick and kid friendly explanation of cleft lip and palate.  Yesterday morning Brogan and Teddi were side by side at my bathroom vanity while I did their hair for school.  Brogie pointed to Teddi's mouth and asked me what was wrong with her lip . . . as if in eight months he had never before noticed.  I asked if he remembered  seeing Teddi's baby pictures that were taken before her cleft lip was repaired, and he said yes.  I then reminded him of how the doctor had to fix Teddi's cleft, and that this was now her special lip.  His reply?  "I wish I had a special lip."  Oh what a match made in Heaven my Flit and Grinner are.  Thank you Lord for this double blessing!  (Please allow me to share one more little love story . . . We have been reading about the days of creation with our little ones and how God added to all that He had made, one day at a time, and each time it was "good".  So I ponder this thought . . . in June of 2003, God created Brogan (in my 40 year old womb).  Nine months later, I birthed a healthy 9 lb. 8 oz. baby boy. Teddi was born exactly nine months and 13 days after Brogan.  I can't help but think that God looked upon my newly born Brogan and then created Teddi in her mother's womb . . . and to that I say, "It is good."  They truly are a match made in Heaven, created in His image.)  

It's been a big week here . . .

Opening Valentines at school . . . an exciting new experience.

My babes had a great first week . . . no tears, new friends, and lots of fun! On Wednesday they traveled by bus (5 minutes each way) to the Post Office.  Mama went along for the big ride.  The children all stood in line and purchased a stamp, and then mailed the Valentines that they had made (for us) the day before.  It was a hoot to see Teddi standing on her tippy toes, handing over her 42 cents to make the big purchase.  Brogan clung tightly to my hand during the trip.  Teddi, on the other hand, was being cared for by a little blond haired girl who decided Teddi needed some mothering.  This included holding Teddi's hand in the line, helping Teddi up the bus steps, and then letting me know that she had gotten Teddi's seat belt "buckled up".   It did my heart good to see Teddi being accepted and made over in such a sweet way!  

Today (Friday) was their Valentines party --very exciting!  

Here they are post-party, with their U.S. Mail bags full of cards and sugary treats to take home . . . to top of the sugary treats already consumed during the card opening festivities.  Nap anyone?  No thank you. And waste this grand sugar buzz? 

Flit, headed for the van.  I love my girl's confidence!

A quick snuggle with big sister before she left for Houston to 

see her sweetie for Valentine's Day. Hi Frankie.  As of today, 

we are in the official "100 Day Countdown" to wedding bells!

My littles.  True love.

Oh how my nest is blessed on this Valentine's Day . . . 

To my own true love, Bryan ~  I love you whole BIG bunches!  

To my three bigs, Bryce, Taye and Brady (and Frankie too) ~I am so proud of you guys and the way you live your lives.   I am so very blessed to be your mom. 

To my littles ~  Brogie, your love for your new sister makes my heart sing!  

And to my Teddi girl~  I am grateful this day that you are no longer oceans away, but a dream come true, answer to prayer, smilin' your special smile-- IN my arms! 

Blowing kisses to Spokane, for Bryce.

Happy "heart filled" blessings from my nest ~

Tina

Wordless Wednesday . . .

Blessings from my blessed nest ~

Tina

Guess who mama just dropped off . . .

at Preschool? 

Yep, it's Flit and Grinner's big day!

Teddi has already been attending speech therapy at our elementary school and is doing well. I was told that she would probably qualify for Preschool Programs for Children with Disabilities, or PPCD, as it is known here in Texas.  The good news is once the testing was done the only thing that qualified her was her communication delay.  On her non-verbal IQ testing she scored on a level equal to other four year olds.  Good job Flit!  Anyway, her communication delay due to her cleft (and changing languages) qualified her for PPCD.  What this means is that part of the morning she will be immersed in the four year old Pre-K classroom (with big brother) and the other part she will receive one on one help from a PPCD teacher, and also from her regular speech teacher, whom she adores.

Brogan could have started last fall in the Pre-K program, but Teddi hadn't been home for very long and I wanted us all to have more time together.  I think that was to everyone's benefit. Brogie is excited about going now, especially knowing tht Teddi wil be there (or at least in and out).  Teddi will be surrounded by her peers and good teachers, in a language rich environment. And I will catch up on the many things that have gone undone since Flit's arrival . . .  oh yes, and help plan Taylor and Frankie's wedding, for May 23!  So this new school routine,  Monday through Friday mornings (8-11) should be good for all of us.  

When I dropped them off they were both excited and smiling.  This is huge for Brogie, who at age three was not happy at all to be dropped off at preschool.  Teddi embraced her first day as she has nearly everything else in her new life. . . with a flit and a wave (and one extra hug) she was off!

Oh my, this nest is quiet.  I'm not sure if I like it . . . yet.

Blessings ~

Tina

Thankful Thursday . . . late.

I spent much time on Thursday thinking about many "thankful" things,  I just didn't have time to post.  So I started this post on Friday, and now it is late Saturday . . . so here you have my Thankful Thursday -- Weekend Edition

I am thankful first of all for our new World Vision sponsor child.  Wait, I need to back up.  I am thankful first of all for Linn and for her new babies Elizabeth and Elijah, and for the way that their story brought Uganda to the "front and center" of my heart.  As I watched Linn's story unfold in Uganda (along with many of you) my heart ached for Uganda with that uneasy helplessness of . . . what can I do?  Linn's journey took place back in mid December.  During this time I had been spending time on the World Vision site picking out "gifts" for our loved ones. Of course I couldn't help but take a peek at the children needing sponsors.  Long story longer . . . after inputting some information on the WV site I located a little girl in Uganda, born the same year as Brogan, and sharing our sweet Teddi's birthday.  To make it even sweeter, her name was Winnie. For those of you who may not know, our last name is Winder -- that did it!  I was in love with Winnie!  So I showed Winnie's sweet face to Bryan and began to pray that God would show me if we were to be her sponsors.

Fast forward a few weeks . . . The kids and I picked out a library book called, "I Am A Kenyan Child", a great book by the way.  Midway through the book the author introduces a precious girl, named . . . you guessed it, Winnie!   About a week later I was sitting up late reading more of Linn's blog and she had linked back to Jubilee's story (Jubilee is their daughter waiting in China).  Well, guess what Jubliee's "given" name was on her agency's list?  Yep, Winnie! Thank you Lord, that's two!  The very next day we received mail from World Vision. Not only did the back  of the envelope picture a little girl who looked to be about the same age as Winnie, but the accompanying verse said it all . . .  

See for yourself  . . .

That made three!  Thank you Lord for speaking to my heart.  Our sponsorship is official.  So, on this Thankful Thursday--Weekend Edition I am thankful for Winnie, a precious five year old girl in Uganda who now holds a piece of my heart.  Click here if you'd like to find someone (or another someone) to hold a little piece of your heart.  There are so many.

Now more thankfulness .  . .

I am thankful that a little year old girl named Fu Chang, who in December was a thirteen year old running out of time in a Chinese* orphanage, is now at home with her FOREVER family in Texas!  God moved mountains to bring Fu Chang a family in just two weeks time (a miracle for anyone who knows anything about international adoption) and on January 20th, 2009 beautiful Sarah Chang turned 14 in China, no longer an orphan but a daughter, and a big sister! Welcome home, Sarah Chang.  I am so thankful!

I am also thankful to know that my dear friend Melissa will soon be on her way to Mongolia for her very own little ladybug named Katie -- who happens to be the cutest little five year old in the land!  As I have shared before, Melissa was my neighbor here in Texas.  When Melissa and I met in July of 2007 she and her precious family were already waiting to be matched with a little girl in Mongolia.  We had just started our paperchase for Teddi; and Robin, my neighbor two doors down (the opposite direction) was also waiting to be matched with their treasure from China--now known as Claire (who ended up coming home just two months behind Teddi). Melissa's family relocated overseas while we were in China getting Teddi, but Melissa waited faithfully with Robin and I all the way to the end . . . and now we REJOICE knowing that after a painstakingly long wait, it is finally Melissa's turn to go get her girl!  We miss you M!

I am also thankful to know that three of Teddi's Zhuhai "sisters" and one "brother" are all getting very close to meeting their families.  Ren will meet his family first on February 23rd--you can follow his story here!  I am also thankful to have learned just this week that another Zhuhai family was pre-approved to return to China for their second Zhuhai daughter! Both of these girls are older child adoptions (nine-ish or so).  What this means is that Alison, who came home from Zhuhai just a bit ahead of Teddi,  will now return to China to bring home her orphanage "sister" who will then become her sister forever!  Oh, how I love that! 

There is so much more I am thankful for, but I will share just one more for now.  A week ago Friday we were blessed to be invited by Robin (and family) to their church to see the African Children's Choir.   Oh my!  To say that I was blessed does not even come close!  If you ever have the opportunity to see these precious children of God -- GO!  (And if you've seen them already you know what I'm talking about!) I will give these little wonders a post of their own soon!  We were allowed to take pictures, and thanks to Robin's family we had great seats in a crowd of 600! For a hint of what it was like think pure JOY, in motion!

That's it for my Thankful Thursday-- Weekend Edition, thanks for staying it to the end! 

You bless my nest!

Blessings ~

Tina

Wordless (Wacky) Wednesday

And blessings from my "never a dull moment" nest ~

Tina

P.S.  Guess who is starting preschool next week? (Okay, so it was almost wordless . . .)

Here's a hint: He's incredibly grinny, and she looks to be practicing for an audition with the Village People.  More to come . . .

Thank you Amy and Margaret!

I have been doubly blessed with the "Friendship Award" that is making it's way through blogger land!  I met Margaret while she and I were both caught in long waits for our LOA's, we cheered each other on through the wait . . . all the way to China!  Margaret and her family brought Graeme home one month behind us.  Like Teddi, Graeme is cleft affected. . . the boy has the most precious grin ever--and I think he wears it in his sleep!  Amy is my new blogger friend.  Amy has a beautiful way with words, and a beautiful family. . . and they are waiting faithfully to bring their daughter and sister home from China!  I am blessed to be called a friend of these special ladies!

The Friendship Award 

These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find friends and be friends.

 They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of 

these prizes are cut, even more friendships will be propagated.  

Please give more attention to these writers. 

 Deliver this award to eight more and include 

this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

So without further delay, I will spread the love to  . . .

Robin ~ My dear friend and neighbor and mama to Teddi's sweet Claire, at For the Love of Claire.

Melissa ~ My former neighbor, now living far away in Japan, boohoo. . . soon to be mama to the cutest little ladybug in all of Mongolia, wooohooo! Melissa's private blog is Bug Family Adventure.

Kim ~ One of my oldest and dearest bloggy friends.  I have "followed" Kim to China twice   on her journeys to Max and Vivi Jo--pure JOY!  Kim is at Celebrating Everyday Life.

Sarah ~ This dear friend has an amazing heart and she graciously shares God's love and wisdom through her blog.  She blesses my heart!  Sarah and David have five precious children who all have a special story of how they came to join this sweet family!  You can visit them at Our Journey to Grace.

Beccy ~  My former Texas friend moved north, mama to two sweet boys at WanderingGarden

Suzette ~ A new bloggy friend, and fellow military and adoptive mama at  Living By Faith!

Tammi ~ Fellow military wife, mama to bigs and littles, and adoptive mama to Madi who is cleft effected like my Teddi girl at Enjoying Our Journey.

Doreen ~  Soon to be mama to the cutest little boy in China, Doreen recently ended a 199 day wait for her LOA and kept the faith!  You can see her sweet family at Journey Of A Blessed Family

That's eight. I hate to stop . . . although I am incredibly sloooooow at all of this hyperlinking, and it has taken me FOREVER to write this post!

If you are in my blog roll, please know that you are important to ME and you all deserve this Friendship Award!! So if you want to take it and spread the love go ahead . . . really . . . go right ahead!  :)

To ALL of my bloggy buddies ~ You bless my heart every time you share your hearts, and I thank you . . .

from the bottom of my very blessed heart (and nest) ~

Tina

Go Kurt Go!

"If you ever really want to do a story about who I am, God's got to be at the center of it. Every time I hear a piece or read a story that doesn't have that, they're missing the whole lesson of who I am." - Kurt Warner

I'm not a huge football fan, but I am a Kurt Warner fan, so that is how I'm picking my Superbowl XLIII team today.   It's a girlie way to pick, I know, but hey, I'm a girl!  

We had the privelege of hearing Kurt Warner speak at a National Day of Prayer event held on Lackland Air Force Base in the spring of 2004.  His heart for the Lord is genuine, and he puts his faith into action continually, to improve the lives of others.  He's the real deal.  He and his beautiful wife Brenda have seven children! I love this guys heart.

Kurt, and four week old Brogie,

hangin' out  after the prayer breakfast . . .

Go Kurt Go!

Blessings from our football watchin' nest . . . 

Tina