Thankful Thursday . . .

Well, I started this post yesterday but in what seems to be my new blogging trend, I quit on it.  So, if you are wondering why you are reading a "Thankful Thursday" post on Friday, well . . . that's why.  I'm a quitter . . . or a slow starter . . . or re-starter . . . but I'm thankful!

These two smiling faces were my birthday morning serenaders--                                                                       

after graciously allowing me to sleep in they appeared giggling at my bedside and preformed the sweetest "Happy Birthday" duet.  They then crawled in on either side of me and started chattering about a birthday spankin' . . . until mama said, "Ohhhh no you don't"!  At which point they decided that 49 kisses would be more appropriate and began smooching my entire face--as I counted.  My day was made. Truly.  To be 49 and sandwiched between my very own seven year olds.  Be still my heart.  

I am so very blessed.  We took the day off school and went on a picnic instead--thank you south Texas for a January birthday celebrated outside! My bigs celebrated me, my beloved took me on a birthday date, I had phone calls, Facebook "love", and got to Skype with my sister.  I got a beautiful bouquet of flowers from my sweet friend Terry, who also kept the littles for our birthday date.  Blessed, I tell you!

It didn't end there . . . Terry and I were supposed to have a girl's night on Saturday to celebrate me again--we were going to burger-it-up at Red Rob*n and then hang out together, or so I thought.  Except that when we walked into the restaurant there were other familiar faces waiting there--

to include my big girl, Taylor, and Terry's bestie-now-become-my-friend, Kay!  Don't you love it when friends share their friends?  I bet that makes God smile, big!

So we partook of some delightfully delicious food, and then our waiter brought my complimentary birthday sundae--(which really complimented the large plate of decedent York Peppermint brownies that Terry had made me) and then the girls sang to me.  And it was lovely.  The singing, the birthday love, the fun gifts (which I neglected to photograph), the swiss mushroom burger dripping in honey mustard (which is thee mustard they will serve in heaven, I'm sure of it), the bottomless fries, the free sundae, the brownies . . . ooooh the brownies-- plural, plural, plural!  So good.

After dinner we HAD to go shopping for a little bit (yep, had to) while we waited for 10:00 p.m. to roll around so that we could go Cosmic Bowling--also planned by Terry.  Thank you, friendy!

And guess who kicked bowling booty?  The girl who never kicks bowling booty, because she has an offspring who is a much more accomplished bowler than herself (several offspring really--but only one was there) . . .

Let the games begin!

When all was said and done, the birthday girl had won two outta three games!

(The accomplished bowler offspring took the third game.)

Yes, I was proud . . . 

and not very humble.  At all.

So my Thursday birthday stretched into a very thankful three day celebration.  It was good!

In more thankful news--

these two silly faces that I love

are coming to the nest for a visit on February 29th!

I am sooo looking forward to 

seeing my Brady boy,

 and his Sloane, my daughter-in-love-to-be!

Wedding bells, four months from today!

I could go on and on about my thankfulness, but I will end with this . . . In the weeks since Christmas break I have been ready to throw in the homeschooling towel.  Really.  It's been hard, and we haven't been able to find our groove.  Or get our work done. Or not complain. Or not get mad.  Or not whine.  A lot. (And this all includes the teacher).  And everyday I've reminded myself how blessed I am that I am able to do this--yet myself was NOT buying it.  Through gritted teeth I would thank the Lord for this opportunity to teach these youngest of my treasures.  I was thankful, really I was, but I was NOT enjoying it--not more than a moment here or there.  But, we persevered and we've gotten over the hump, and last week was a little better . . . and this week I can honestly say we are making it, and enjoying each other, and learning--and not just surviving.  Whew.

Thank you Lord for the opportunity to homeschool. Thank you that even when it's rough, you are in the midst of it, cheering me on, whether I am listening or not.  Thank you for patience. Thank you for littles who are learning about You, even if it feels like we haven't accomplished much else.  What could be more important?  Thank you for wisdom as You've helped me work this out, and for littles who are cooperative and excited.  Thank you for never giving up on Your children, no matter how much we pout . . . or stomp . . . or whine.  Thank you for loving us through the tough stuff and teaching me in the midst of it.  Thank You.  Thank you for 49 years of blessings, for 49 birthdays--and for the people I love to celebrate them with me!  Thank you for birds coming home for a visit!  My heart is full.


Blessings from my nest ~

Tina

Happy Birthday to Us . . .

On January 18th, 1964, the eve of my very first birthday I received a gift.  The gift weighed in at just under eight pounds, but the impact that she would have on my life would be immeasurable.  

The gift was a sister.  

She rocked my world, and for the past 48 years she has continued to rock my world.  In a good way.  Mostly.  If you are blessed to have a sister you know exactly what I mean.  We have two younger brothers, but we are each others only.  

She is the only one I shared a bedroom with, from birth until the day I got married.  From side by side cribs . . . to a double bed . . . to bunk beds {she was bottom, I was top}.  She was the only one who knew our secret singing game.  She is the only one who could make me madder than anything by wearing my clothes without asking.  She is the only one who thought it was cool to wear matching shirts, even in junior high.  She is the only one I shared a pajama drawer with.  She is the only one who 

played dolls with me for hours . . . for years.  She is the only one who fought me for bathroom space, daily.  She was the loud to my quiet.  The fast to my slow.  She was the messy to my neat.  My ever present fan and foe.

She is my constant support, even if it's from thousands of miles away . . . even if we go weeks without hearing each other's voice.  Our hearts are bound.  We've shared the highest joys and we've shared hard things that have made us stronger in the end. We think alike.  We like the same things.

We love nothing better than to escape it all and run of to a Goodwill together-- and then follow the bargain hunting up with a McD's cheeseburger and sweet tea.  We are that easy to make happy, together.  She has prayed more prayers for me than could be counted.  We rejoice together and we cry each others tears.  We are sisters.  We laugh hysterically {at things that aren't even funny}, we make each other mad, and we crack each other up again.  If you know my sister, you know laughter.  It is true.

Thank you mom, for my very first birthday gift.  

You did good. 

Ame, I love you.  Through the ups and downs.  The fun stuff and the tough stuff.  Together or apart.  

Happy Birthday sweet Sis. 

You are my favorite gift.

"For there is no friend like a sister
In calm or stormy weather;
To cheer one on the tedious way,
To fetch one if one goes astray,
To lift one if one totters down,
To strengthen whilst one stands."
-- Christina Rossetti

Blessings from my thankful nest~

Tina

Teddi's 7th Birthday in Pictures

This is a lot of pictures, but in my defense we celebrated twice . . . and well . . . yeah, it's a lotta pictures.  One of these days I will make my blog into a book, or two, or three--and little bird will be able to look back and remember just how much fun it was to turn seven!

Good morning birthday girl!

Let's celebrate it up with a big chocolate donut,

and wash it down with a big chocolate milk!

Followed by an afternoon pizza making party with 

our friends Emilio and Elysia, and their mom Neri.

So thankful for this brother/sister pair, 

who my kids love to play with 

{and laugh themselves silly with} 

-- it's a joy to see how 

much they truly delight in one another.

And I happen to adore their mama, too!

Thank you Lord for new friends!

Teddi listening to us sing "Happy Birthday"--

and giggling uncontainably!

Opening a silly present from big sister and Frankie . . .

extreme sour pickles!

Along with fun girlie gifts from her friends!

Silly girls!

Is this a happy SEVEN year old?

She picked Chinese for dinner --

I was so impressed with her chopstick skills . . .

until I realized she was using them upside down.

Giggle.

On Sunday we had a "family"

celebration . . .

roller blades from mama and daddy and Brogan!

Lots of fun stuff for a girl to be excited about . . .

from friends and family.

Some spending moolah, thank you grandparentals!

New jewelry from Taylor and Frankie,

ooh-la-la!

A sweet, soft bear (we named Fancy Fu)

from our adopted Auntie Terry . . .

to be followed by the cake of a little girl's dreams

 lovingly created by Auntie Terry!

Wow!

 Teddi jumped up to give her cake a look

and exclaimed, "I am jealous!"

We let her know that she didn't need to be jealous

it was all hers!

 Thank you Auntie Terry!

Seriously, can you believe the cuteness?

And then we sang Happy Birthday again--

and the joyous giggling began anew . . .

 and continued  . . . 

 the full length of the song . . .

 uncontainable joy.

Seven years worth!

Happy Birthday Teddi girl!

We had so much fun celebrating YOU!

Blessings from my nest~

Tina

Teddi is 7!

Today we celebrate the seventh birthday of our youngest treasure.

Our Theadora Fu Xiao.

Theadora means Gift of God.

Fu is blessing or fortune,

and Xiao (shee-ow) in Teddi's case

(as described by her nannies) is smile.

Teddi is indeed our gift from God.

Our smiling treasure.

It's who she is.

It's part of her DNA.

Teddi is a happy girl.

Today while we were driving my sweet girl told me that they remember her birthday in China--"because they miss me . . . so they remember my birthday". When I asked her whether she meant at her orphanage, or her China mommy, she very confidently answered, "Everyone in China."

Sigh.

My heart hurts.

Somewhere there is a birth mama who had to kiss her precious girl goodbye. We can speculate why--but we have no answers. There probably never will be answers this side of heaven. As Teddi says, "God knows, cause He knows everything."

I am fairly certain that there is a mama in China who remembers this special day. Oh if I could only let her know that her baby girl is safe-- and sooooo excited to be turning seven! If I could let her know that her baby girl is smart, and compassionate, and more ticklish than words can tell. If I could only thank her for the gift of life she choose for her daughter . . . so that she might be our gift.

If only . . . I could let her know that she is happy.

It's part of her DNA.

It's who she is . . .

If only . . .

For now, I will rejoice. I will rejoice enough for two mamas. Our gift, who celebrated three birthdays in China, will celebrate today for the fourth year at home. The scales have been tipped. Her birthdays as a daughter now outnumber her birthdays as an orphan. Thank you God for this indescribable gift.

Happy Birthday Theadora Fu Xiao.

You are loved . . .

all the way to China . . .

and back.

We love you!

Mommy and Daddy

Bryce, Taylor & Frankie,

Brady & Sloane,

and your best friend and brother

(and fellow seven year old) Brogan

Blessings from my nest ~

Tina