Tagged again, but the rules are different . . .

The Rules:

1. Grab the nearest book.

2. Open it to page 56

3. Find the 5th sentence

4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with your instructions.

5. Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book or the most 

    intellectual- Pick the closest.

Sounds easy enough . . .

My friend Robin (Claire's mama) has tagged me, and since I am now 2 or 3 tags behind . . .

 and this one is short and sweet, I'm gonna play . . .

The closest book was the one I  recently won as a door prize (yippee) at my last Mentoring Mom's meeting at our church.  It is a little book called Pearls From Heaven ~ Your Heavenly Father's Words of Love and Comfort, written by Mary Grace Birkhead.  The pages aren't numbered so I had to count them out (yes I play tag legally when I play) . . .

So on page 56 (I think), the fifth sentence says this:

 "He is powerful and over all things."

Okay, now since I want to share the whole thing (because it's really good), here goes ~

You Know The King  (1 Timothy 1:17)      

He has it all under control.

You can give Him your "to-do" list.

He holds all time in His hands.

He is powerful and over all things.

Enjoy each moment.

The King is on His throne.

Isn't that a good word?  It brings to mind two sweet blogger friends, and they are who I am going to tag.  First Bonnie, my beautiful and strong cancer survivor friend, who reminds me in nearly everything she writes that The King is on His throne . . . and that we should enjoy each moment!  And secondly, my blogger friend Doreen who is on day 157 of her wait for LOA (Letter of Approval) from China, to bring home their sweet little man (go take a look he's really sweet)!  Doreen, who could be stomping her feet in frustration, has laid this long wait at the Lord's feet instead. . . She knows that the King is on His throne, and He holds all time in His hands.  Please pray her baby home!

Anybody else wanna play?  Tag you're it!

Blessings from my nest ~

Tina

Oh Give Thanks To The Lord

. . .  for he is good!  For his steadfast love endures forever.  Psalm 107:1

This Thanksgiving night I have been sitting here going through many of the photographs held within my computer . . .  and my heart overflows.  We are beyond blessed.  We have families who love us and despite the distance that divides us, we remain close in heart.  We have health, which we too often take for granted.  We have a warm home, and food in abundance, fresh water to drink, cars to drive, and a job that is secure in a time of insecurity.  We worship the Lord freely, something else we often take for granted. We have a marriage that is going on 25 years strong, big children and small children, and a home where love abounds, and laughter resounds!  This nest is BLESSED . . .

Oh how I love them . . .

I am thankful for my firstborn bird who has flown from my nest and is soaring beautifully on his own.  I am thankful for the uniform and the beret that he wears, which along with representing our country, speak volumes for Bryce's dedication to be all that God has called him to be!  I love that this bird will call me on his lunch hour sometimes just to catch up.  This bird is flying home for Christmas and that makes me a happy mama!

I am thankful for my Taylor bird, who is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.   Taylor's heart for others blesses me big.  Taye does nothing half-way, but gives everything her best.  That is a lot to juggle when you are a full time student with a demanding job in ministry. Despite her full plate, Taylor always finds time to pour into her younger siblings.  To top that off, she is now a fiance.  In six short months my darling bird will fly away in marriage, and  I will gain a son-in-law bird, Frankie.  I know that Frankie will take care of my girl. . . My family is growing, indeed I have much to be thankful for.
I am grateful for my middle guy Brady, my comic relief.  Brady marches to his own drum and teaches me daily, to think outside my mom box.  Brady is loud, and rowdy, and sixteen . . .  He has learned to drive this past year, and I must say I am thankful for his great sense of responsibility. Brady has also taught himself to play some amazing guitar . . . and keyboard . . . and synthesizer.  I am thankful for his talents, and that he uses them! Brady loves the Lord, and the Lord has given Brady a unique view of the world which I see as a definite strength.  Brady is sweet to his younger siblings and will invite them into his room to "hang out".  What could be better?

And then there's  this guy!  As I was looking through my photos tonight I found this picture of my Brogie "holding" his sister . . .
And just this morning I snapped this picture of my Brogie "holding" his sister.  If a picture is worth a thousand words, this speaks volumes . . .  Last Thanksgiving my heart ached to hold a child we only knew in pictures.  This year we hold her.  We hear her laugh, and we see her eyes light up. We see how our littlest guy has changed and grown to meet the challenge of becoming a big brother.  I am thankful for Brogan's patience and unending love for his new sister.  I am thankful that from the moment Teddi laid eyes on Brogan it was "big brother" love at first sight. I am thankful for Teddi's bravery, and for her happy heart that quickly "let us in" to be her family. My heart overflows for these two blessing, who came along later in life, but were so worth the wait.  They are pure joy!  Okay, they are messy, and noisy, and sometimes they double team me . . . but I'm countin' it all joy!

We had a great Thanksgiving today, full of feast and fellowship.  We were invited to Frankie's grandparents to join in their family celebration.  We missed our own families in Michigan, Indiana, Florida, and North Carolina, but we were blessed to be a part of another family -- especially one we will soon have ties to by marriage!  Thank you Zamora Family for welcoming us in!  

Thank you Lord for your bountiful blessings to us.  My heart overflows.

Blessings from my thankful nest ~

Tina

The Gala . . . Amazing God!

Drum roll please .  .  . according to Cindy Foote's blog  the Gala raised $25,200 for orphans, with donations still coming in!  God is AMAZING, and so was the Gala.  So many people worked so hard to make it what it was --an orphan's ticket HOME, many tickets home! 

Look at the precious faces that adorned the tables . . . 

all children who once waited for their own 

ticket home, who wait no longer! 

The "ticket home" actually refers to covering the administrative costs needed to get orphans "paper ready" to be adopted.  Without this help many orphans would never become available, simply because of paperwork that needs to be done on their behalf.  Oh how thankful I am that my own daughter did not remain an orphan forever because of paperwork.  Thank you Father God that Teddi had a ticket home.  Thank you that you brought her to us.

Billy and Cindy Foote lead worship, it was a wonderful

time with the Lord.  Cindy and Billy's daughter Libby 

(from China) is pictured in the centerpiece above.  

They are also waiting to bring a baby girl

 home from Ethiopia.

Bryan and I, and Robin and Gary.  

As adoptive parents we were recognized with special name tags that read, "It is not flesh and blood, but the heart, which makes us families."  Under that was penned in the country we had adopted from, in our case China.  Many had more than one country penned in!

Me, Jenn and Robin

What a joy for Robin and I to meet our blogger friend,  Jenn.  Jenn and her husband were the creators of the beautiful centerpieces.  Jenn and Karl are counting down to Karleigh Mei -- who will be placed in their arms in China in about two weeks! 

Robin and I  

This is for our friend Melissa, who is waiting on Katie . . . Oh how we missed you and wished you (and Greg) could have been there with us on Friday night.

This last picture is not from the Gala, but was taken

at our own church this morning.  It was a sight that 

made my heart sing and I wanted to share . . . 

A table piled high in shoeboxes full of gifts, ready to be

 delivered to orphans in Haiti and Nicaragua.

James 1:27 says this, "Pure and faultless religion is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress." 

Tom Davis, author of "Fields of the Fatherless" sums it up this way, "God gave the responsibility to care for the defenseless to those claiming to be followers of Christ.  It is through our hands the Father's love comes, it is through our voices His voice is heard, it is through our efforts and those of the church that His care is revealed to the ones the rest of the world has forgotten."

Edited to add:  Something has been bothering since I posted this . . .  I believe in a way, the quote above implies that the only people who look after orphans and widows ("the ones the rest of the world has forgotten"), are Christians.  This is a God-given responsibility that many Christians carry out well, yet many overlook.  On the other hand, I feel there are many who haven't chosen Christianity, who do a tremendous amount of good for orphans and widows.  The important thing, no matter what we call ourselves, is that we act! 

Lord,

I pray that you would help us, everyday, to be Your hands and feet.  That we would meet the needs of widows and orphans, and others who need us.  Let Your voice be our voice Lord, that we might speak encouraging words of life and love into all we come in contact with.  Thank you for blessing the Gala, thank you for blessing orphans.  Let us never grow weary in doing good.  In Jesus name, Amen. 

Blessings from my ever thankful nest ~

Tina

Going To A Gala!!

Tonight Bryan and I, and  our friends (and neighbors) Gary and Robin (who are Claire's mama and baba) are attending the Orphan's Ticket Home Gala and I am soooo excited!  You can read all about it on my new blogger friend Jenn's blog. . . she did a great post all about the gala this morning.

Remember little Susannah who was in dire need of a miracle when her parents arrived in China to get her?  Well in following a link on Susannah's blog, I found Jenn . . . who just happens to live here in my same city.  Jenn had the Orphan's Ticket Home Banner on her blog and the rest is history.  Jenn and I started communicating, and tonight I will get to meet her in person for the first time!  And I am so excited!  

As a little side story, as if this post isn't side-trackish enough  . . . For those of you who may not know, Susannah got her miracle!  Her heart is beating beautifuly now and she has made a remarkable recovery surrounded by the love of her mama and baba and her big brothers.  It was all because of Susannah, that I met Jenn, and because of Jenn, and some other adoptive parents that I am hoping to meet tonight, that we are going to a Gala . . . to raise money for orphans.  

Which brings us full circle . . . it is because of Teddi, and Claire, and Susannah, and Jenn's own Karleigh Mei (who waits in China) . . . and so many others like them.  They are the reason we will gather tonight.  So that more orphans will have a ticket home.

For now,  I am off to get ready for the gala. . .  which also counts as a real date with my husband . . . the first one in a long, long time!

Blessings from my excited nest ~

Tina

Thank you to my precious Taylor bird, who will be taking Flit and Grinner on a date tonight as well!  Have fun birds!

Vivi Jo Is Coming Home!

Miss Vivi Jo and her new family are traveling home from China as I type.  They will arrive in Texas on Thursday evening.  Please pray for them as they travel . . . especially for Vivi, who suffers from motion sickness.

Congratulations once again to Kim & Paul, Britney, Mark, Hayden, Max . . . and Vivi Jo!  Thank you Lord that one more of Your little lambs now has a family to call her very own.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, Vivi Jo.

Blessings from my celebrating nest ~

Tina

Six Sweet Months!

May 19, 2008 is a day that is forever etched in my memory.  It is the day that I first laid eyes on my daughter.  The ache that had long been in my heart went away the moment I laid eyes on her.  The wait was over.  I was whole once again.  It's hard to believe that it was six months ago, I can't imagine life without her.  I have chosen a picture from each month that she has been a part of us.  I present to you, my girl Ted . . .

This was a mere hour, maybe two, after Gotcha.  We had just arrived back at our hotel room. Teddi was enjoying her new sippy cup (see the water dripping from her chin), and had a tight hold on her baby doll.  If you look closely you can see the little teddy bear on her shirt collar. . . God's final seal.  She was unbelievably happy to be with us.  There were times of sadness and grieving, and looking back at some of the pictures her scared little face makes my heart hurt. For the most part though it was if she already knew us . . . such a happy girl.  God had prepared her heart!

June . . . our noodle lovin' girl . . . Home Sweet Home

 . . . meeting big brother Bryce

. . .  learning to live in a family

 . . . ever so brave!

July . . . the discovery of donut holes, mmm 

. . . and swimming . . . and fireworks, 

and so much more.

August . . . ice cream in Michigan . . .

meeting Grandmas and Grandpas,

aunts, uncles and cousins . . .

surrounded by love!

September . . . celebrating the first day of 

Fall with paper, glue and Grinner. . . 

as well as making her way

 bravely through palate surgery . . .

and recovery.  Strong girl.

October . . . showing Grinner how to skateboard

 . . . loving Play-doh and markers,

scissors and paper . . . dress-up . . .

 and Hot Wheels . . . and playing outside.

November . . . swinging and smiling

 . . . and talking . . . and laughing . . .

and talking .  . . and singing . . .

and did I mention talking?  

And sleeping through the night!

Yay Ted!

Teddi, 

You are everything I dreamed of, in one tiny, brave little package.  You love life, and we love you!  We are so proud of how far you have come baby girl!  To hear you say, "I love you" makes my heart sing.  To hear you pray makes me so proud to be your mama.  To hear you giggle with your brother makes me giggle too.  Thank you sweet girl for the joy you bring to us.  We love you Teddi Xiao Xiao with all our hearts.

Blessings from my grateful nest~

Tina

A Girl Named Ted

I should have seen it coming . . .

. . . it has always been a topic of discussion between my sister and I, how we have painstakingly chosen the perfect names for our children, making sure that what we have named them is just right.  The right first name . . . the right middle name .  . . the right "shortened name" if case may be . . . the right initials when it's all put together . . . and of course making sure it all sounds good with the last name.  I know, I know . . . all good parents do that.  But .  . .

The topic of discussion is this--  Why do we go through all of that trouble only to turn around and call our children something else?  My Bryce was "Buddy", Taylor was "Birdie", Brayden is Brady, and has also been known as "Little" and just "B".   I have a nephew Thayne who became "Scooter", and my niece Taryn Lanae has the best second version of her name -- "Tuh-rin Luh-nin" or "Rynie" for short!  My nephew Landon Drew, as a baby was "Double D", because he looked just like his daddy, Dennis.  My nickname for Landon, is "Land that I love".   Short and sweet, right?  Nope, but I love it! Lest we not forget my littlest babes "Flit" and "Grinner".  I grimace inside when I admit this, but I sometimes call Brogie, "Bubba". . .  that is what living in Texas will do to a northern girl!

Nine years ago God gave me the name Theaodora, you can read the whole story here.  I immediately thought of the nickname Teddi . . . and that was that, no painstaking process.  Teddi had a name, and God had chosen it way before she was ever born!  Actually she's had many names, I am sure her birth mama painstakingly chose her very first name and I would love to know what it was.  When she was three days old she was given the name Zhu Fu Xiao.  Zhu for her city, Zhuhai. . . Fu, meaning fortune or blessing . . . and Xiao, which means smile.  So it is, that our daughter became Theadora Fu Xiao, or Teddi . . .

or Ted! Like I said, I should have seen it coming.  Our little Xiao Xiao worked her way up to Teddi Xiao Xiao, and then into Teddi-- and now her littlest big brother sweetly refers to her as, "Ted" and she doesn't mind a bit. . . and it's catching on.

I think it is a sign of true love and affection when we "rename" those who mean so very much to us.  Or it may just mean we're crazy . . .

If that's the case, then I'm crazy in love with a girl named Ted!  

Blessings from my nick-namin' nest ~

Tina