My Full Nest!

My heart sang praises at midnight last night as my oldest bird, fresh from his tech school graduation, flew home to my nest! He was escorted by his proud dad, and brother Brady. He was welcomed in by his proud mama, sister Taylor and bleary eyed baby brother Brogan. (Teddi's welcome and introduction came this morning, as she was sound asleep for all of the excitement last night!)

As you can see from the picture above, The Grinner had no trouble grinning at well past midnight! He was ever so happy to jump into the arms of his biggest brother (whom he hadn't seen since Christmas). Welcome home Bryce! (Poster courtesy of The Grinner, with help from big sis.)

Proud dad and Bryce, at the post graduation

bar-b-que, in Spokane.

Do you see where The Grinner gets his grin?

Look at my tall guy!

Thank you Brady for being the photographer.

Proud mama took this shot before church this morning.

I am so proud of all that Bryce has accomplished. He is now a qualified SERE (Survival) Specialist for the U.S. Air Force. What does that mean? The following is taken from the SERE website --

S.E.R.E. - (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape)
This is a small specialized career field in the US Air Force comprised of approximately 325 enlisted personnel. Air Force SERE Specialists train aircrew members and high risk of capture personnel from all branches of the military. The students are trained in skills which allow them to survive in all climatic conditions as well as how to survive while being held captive.

The SERE Creed ~
I am a SERE Specialist...
I am an expert in Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape. I can survive anywhere in the world and prepare others to do the same. I prove myself by deed and action. I respect every warfighter and consider their needs before my own. I will remember that the lives of those I influence rest in my hands and if they fail the failure is mine alone. I will keep myself in top physical and mental condition, I will never tarnish the honor of fellow SERE Specialists, and I will accept no less from my peers. I do these things so they may: "Return with Honor"

I am one happy mama! It seems not so distant a memory that I would crawl into bed on a cold winter's night praying hard . . . First, for my oldest bird who was in training, knowing that he was sleeping outside in man-made shelters, in deep snow and sub-zero temps, in the second harshest winter that Spokane has ever seen. It doesn't make for an easy sleep when you are a mama. Next I would pray for my littlest bird, still in China waiting to come home to her family. . . . that the Lord would keep her healthy and safe, and prepare her heart to meet us. Finally I would pray that God would help me to be the best mama that I could be to the three birds in my nest, as I mothered them with a part of my heart in Spokane, and another part in China. . . those were tough days!


God is Faithful, so very faithful! Today I watched as my strong, firstborn bird gently picked up my little China bird, his baby sister, and welcomed her with loving arms . . .

My nest is full, and my heart overflows. Thank you Father, for answered prayers, for blessing me beyond anything I could have ever imagined! You are so good to me.

Blessings from my joyful nest!

Tina

I hope to have pictures of all five of my birds together very soon--no small feat!

Word from Spokane . . .

More soon!

Blessings from my proud mama nest!

Tina

Celebration Time!

Go Red Wings! Raise that Stanley Cup high! Texas is where we live, but Michigan is home sweet home, so today we had to take time out to celebrate the Detroit Red Wing's victory!

The Grinner lives on . . . in red and white!

The new team in town

celebrates the Wing's victory--wooohoooo!

My heart melts seeing my Brogie in his new big brother role.

We had a good day. Bry and Brady made it safely to Washington, and will see Bryce graduate tomorrow! Oh happy day!!

Teddi asked several times during the day for Baba, so I would tell her, "Baba bye-bye", and then I would act as if I were holding a phone and say, "Baba, hellooooooo!" to let her know we would be talking to Baba later. When bedtime came we called Baba to say goodnight, and you should have seen her little eyes light up when she heard Bry's voice and answered with a, "Helloooooooo Baba (which sounds like ba-BA), she told Baba night-night as she made the sleepy sign we use, and also told him she had brushed her teeth (again by signing) and then said, "Bye-bye Baba!"

Shortly afterwards I laid down with her to go to sleep, she again said "Baba", and then she signed night-night, and brushing teeth. I said, "Yesssss! You talked to Baba! You told him night-night and you told him you brushed your teeth! Very good!" It was our first conversation! You've come a long wayyyyyyy Teddi Xiao Xiao!

Teddi was blessed by Aunt Dee and Uncle Jay today with a delightful pink, strawberry dish set and sippy, and also a gift card, good thing she likes to shop! She loves the new dishes Aunt Dee, great job! She is so proud of everything that is hers . . . who wouldn't be when you have never really had anything to call your own? That said she does a wonderful job of sharing with Brogan. Her social skills are so much better than I expected. Once again I find myself so very thankful for the wonderful job that her caregivers did with her, raising her to be a generous, caring child. Her table manners are great, she's very neat . . . and very slow (partially due to her open palate, I'm sure.) She enjoys every single bite, and doesn't want to leave anything (and likes almost everything). . . this make for plenty of time to admire new pink dishes . . . plenty of time.

It has been 17 days since this little delight walked into our lives and began life as a member of a family. What beautiful strides she has made!

You are a blessing Teddi Xiao Xiao, and we love you!

Blessed in my nest!

Tina

Taking in Life

in America . . .

Teddi made her first visit to storytime at the library yesterday, it wasn't until I got home and looked at my pictures that I noticed the book so appropriately placed in the little reading gazebo just above her sweet head.

Absorbing the scenes and doing a little coloring after the stories . . . Oddly enough one of the stories was titled, "The Very Lazy Ladybug". Perhaps the ladybug isn't lazy, maybe she's just jet lagged, they do an awful lot of flying you know . . . just something to consider.

Another present . . . yes, a girl could get use to this. Teddi was ever so proud of the bag and spent much time carrying it around yesterday. Thank you dear friends Marrin and Jake for the new signing dvd--it's sure to be a hit!


Big brother gives bubble gun instructions, he is ever so patient with his new little sister. Brogie, my grinner, mama is so proud of you! Teddi Xiao Xiao is blessed to have you for a teacher.

Teddi's turn . . . let the bubbles begin!

One little girl, taking in life in America, one sweet step at a time!

Mama loves you Teddi, and I am so happy you are home sweet girl. So very, very, happy!

Blessings~

Tina

A note:

Bry and Brady just left for the airport (4:45 a.m.), they are headed for Spokane for Bryce's graduation. We were finally able to talk to Bryce yesterday, he was preparing his beret for graduation . . . and he was flyin' high, despite a wearying week of surviving!

Bryce,
Words cannot express how very proud I am of you. My "proud meter" is over the top! I so wish I could be there for your graduation, but life as it is does not allow . . . My heart is on it's way to Spokane with your daddy and brother, and in three days when you get home, I will hug your neck, my grown-up, free flying, getting ready to graduate bird!

I love you! Mom

Lovin' the Sunshine!

China was beautiful, but very wet most of the time. We are so enjoying the sunshine being back in Texas . . . the heat--not so much, but the sunshine is delightful! Teddi loves our swing in the front yard, as you can see she finds it very relaxing.

Lovin' the sun!

Home sweet home . . . it's a whole new world!

More gifts today . . . Sorry for the sideways picture--I have tried twice to turn it. Tonight Teddi's new friend Kylie came bearing gifts, a bubble gun wrapped up in this very cute Teddi tote! Kylie (and family) are friends from church. Kylie is just three months younger than Teddi, she is also from China and as sweet as can be! I'm so sorry I didn't get a picture of her delivering this precious gift to her new friend--everyone was being a little shy! Thank you dear friends for blessing us! I can't wait to see Kylie and Teddi get to know one another!

Teddi also received an adorable outfit today from our dear neighbors the Haines Family. Miss Robin picked out a red, white and blue shorts set for our new American girl. The best part-- their Claire will have the matching outfit to Teddi's when she arrives home from China very soon! My heart overflows when I look to see how God has, and is, surrounding our little bird with friends from her homeland, what a comfort it must be to her.

Flit takes a silly drink to wrap up dinner---spaghetti, she loved it!

Ready for bed, doing a little coloring to wind down . . .

it's working . . . and jet lag still rules this land.

The Grinner and Miss Teddi Xiao Xiao hit the ground running at 4:00 a.m. this morning--yep, 4:00 a.m. Brogie exclaimed, "It's still dark out!" as if to wonder who turned out the lights in his day! We ate breakfast at 4:30 (craziness) and then I managed to get Teddi back down from 6-8 a.m. as well as a long nap this afternoon. Brogie didn't slow down until 5:00 tonight, and then he crashed out--not to be waken up for dinner or anything else . . . . guess he may do the 4:00 a.m. thing again, oh me! The funny part was (well it wasn't really funny this morning) Brogie and Teddi have been playing well side by side, but not really playing together. This morning they decided to cement their brother/sister relationship by playing a yelling/chasing/giggling game at 4:00 a.m. . . . as Bry and I exchanged weary, "What now?" looks--and then managed to get on with the day. When you are three and four years old there is obviously no time to waste! Priceless life lessons taught by jet lagged children.

Life moves on . . . the dirty laundry mountain became more of a molehill today--much thanks to help from Bry. It has been wonderful that he has been able to stay home these few days with us, he and Teddi are having great bonding time, she is falling in love with her Baba!

That's it for now from the sleepy nest!

Blessings~

Tina

Teddi's New Friend . . .

the mailman. He came bearing gifts this morning! Thank you to my longtime friend Karen for the adorable dress, and for the cool big brother frisbee. You had The Grinner grinning! And to Aunt Jodi, Uncle Fritz and guys, wow, what a box of love! Aunt Jod had fun girl shopping, among the items sent was a dress that I had in my very hand the night before in Target . . . I made myself put it back . . . mmm, mmm,mmm, God is good, a double dress blessing! Needless to say, Aunt Jod --we love the dress, and everything else too! Including the Ladybug Game, and the chocolate chip cookies--which I am enjoying this very moment!

Hope to have dress pictures soon . . . Flit was too busy today for such things as trying on new clothes, although mama would have enjoyed it! Imagine dressing a humming bird--enough said!

A girl could get used to this!

Fun times!

The Grinner is very excited about the new game too!

Wanted to also share a picture of the gift mama

received from Taylor's Frankie. Isn't it cool?

Count 'em, 1-2-3-4-5! God is in the business of details!

Lastly, my Xiao Xiao and I watched her

"I'm On My Way" video at bedtime tonight.

(What a sweet feeling to be watching it again with my girl on my lap!)

She smiled and clapped, and promptly fell asleep on my lap!

The jet lag monster continues to rear his ugly head around here, other than that we are doing well. The mountain of laundry still waits to be conquered and suitcases continue to spill their contents onto bedroom floors . . . but we are getting to know our girl, and everything else will get done . . . in time.

I await the graduation and homecoming of my firstborn bird at the end of this week. Bryce, we can't wait to see you, it won't be long now!

If the Red Wings will wrap up this third overtime, and win The Cup, we jet laggers can go to bed! Go Wings!!!

Blessings~

Tina

Jet Lag Gotcha Down?

Sweet girl after her first visit to our church. Teddi Xaio Xaio met

many dear friends who had been waiting and praying for her.

After a 5:30 wake-up and 11:00 a.m. service

(in which she did a fair amount of flitting),

she was wiped out--so was her mama!

Post church: The Grinner goes down for the count, another victim of jet lag.

My girl at the "waiting wall" . . .

she waits no more! Thank you Lord!

Tubby time tonight--a rare still moment.

(Actually she wasn't really still, which is why the shot is a bit blurry!)


Yesterday's firsts . . .

Teddi Xiao Xiao, Duplo Tower Builder Extraordinaire!


"Hello Mr. Potato Head, how do you feel about chicken feet?"

Pool play "bearing arms", ya gotta love brothers!

My Cutie Patootie, in her ladybug sutie!

All in all a very good day . . .

Church was a little on the wild side, that will take time. During praise and worship she was great, she loves music. During quiet time . . . lets just say her quiet time needs a little fine tuning--we'll work on that! We made a trip to Target tonight and did a little shopping. We had to get Teddi and Brogan o-u-t in order to keep them awake for a bit before bedtime. Teddi got new Dora sippy cups, and she is ever so proud! She also picked out a little gift for her waiting friend Claire (but it's a secret . . . 'cause Claire's mama might be reading!)

Our communication gets better everyday. Teddi can now do the signs for more, drink, eat, please, thank you, shoes, cat and dog. I am so proud of her! This morning (bleary-eyed at 5:25) I handed her hungry little self a slice of bread (it's the American equivalent of Dim Sum at 5:25 in the morning--right?) As I handed her the bread she took it and hollered something while flailing her free hand towards the living room (where brother was). I handed her another slice of bread (the new Dim Sum) and she proudly ran and handed it to The Grinner! The Grinner responded sleepily with, "I wanted something else besides bread." So I graciously let him know that it was really Dim Sum. He ate it.

Yes, all in all, a very good jet laggin' kinda day!

Blessings from the nest that needs some rest!

Tina