My Houston Birthday Trip, and a B~day Wish . . .

For those of you taking a first glance, no I did not turn 17 on my birthday trip to Houston . . .

It has been brought to my attention that I have a very faithful blog follower named Hannah. Hannah lives in Michigan and she is the beautiful daughter of my precious blogger friend Bonnie (who just happens to be my sister's bestest friend).  Hannah is turning "17" today,  and I thought it would be fun to honor her here!  Happy Birthday sweet Hannah, may the Lord bless your birthday, and all your days to come!  Thank you for keeping up with us, it blesses my heart!

And now on to my birthday road trip, which actually took place in January.  (I have several good reasons why it has taken me so long to post this, but I won't bore you with them here.) :)  

About two miles down the road I turned to check on Flit and Grinner and this was the sight that met my eyes.

I'm telling you, they are a match made in Heaven.  Precious babies!  

We left San Antonio for Houston on Saturday morning for the long Martin Luther King Jr. weekend.  It's about a three hour road trip.  Much more convenient than the 28 hour road trip home to Michigan.  Sorry, I am easily side-tracked.  Does three hours even qualify for a road trip?  I think it does if you have to stop along the way to use public restrooms.  We did.  I digress.  Again.  Since Frankie the Fiance lives in Houston his apartment was our free (and very comfortable I might add) accommodations!

On Saturday evening we had the pleasure of eating dinner with two of Teddi's orphanage sisters, and their families.  Both families live in the Houston area and were gracious enough to drive to Frankie' side of town to meet us.  There were thirteen of all together (counting parents  and siblings) and we had a wonderful time of fellowship and catching up!

Zhuhai moms . . . myself, Carol, and Kristy

 . . . and our Zhuhai sweeties, Joy, Teddi, and Jen!

On Sunday afternoon (my actual birthday) Frankie took us to a great park in Houston known as Discovery Green. This gorgeous park was created where the convention center parking lot once stood.  They moved the parking lot underground--beneath the park.  How cool is that?  You can only see bits of it here, but there was an outdoor ice skating rink, a great playground for the kids, a small lake, grassy hills to play and roll on, and all kinds of cool stuff . . . like huge sculptures made completely from recycled materials.  It was an unseasonably warm day, and we had such a great time!  Thank you Frankie for taking us!

This water feature was a great hit!

Trying not to get "too" wet.

JOY!

Posing by one of the sculptures.

The littles . . .

and the bigs.

After the park we celebrated with dinner at Pei Wei!  Yum!  Later that evening we went back out for birthday ice cream and gift opening.  It was much fun.  

I forgot my camera, so these last two are courtesy of Taylor's cell phone . . .

I wish I was eating that sundae right about now! 

(Yes, it was as big as it looks . . . it was my birthday remember?)

Happy Birthday to me! 

Thank you Frankie for your hospitality, and to my family (including Frankie) for making it a wonderful time.  I was missing Bryce and Brady, but did receive birthday wishes from both of them that day, as well as a really pretty watch from my bigs!

I am officially 46 years old.  How did that happen?  I never dreamed way back when that I would celebrate my 46th birthday with two four year olds-- who both belonged to me!  Then again I never dreamed way back when that I would celebrate my 20th wedding anniversary with a six week old baby.  Brogie.  I did dream of being a mama, and I wanted it to last a very long time. It is.  I did dream of going to China some day to bring home a daughter.  I did.  I did dream that my older children would grow up to be kind and loving young adults.  They have.  I did dream that I would marry my high school sweetheart and live happily ever after.  I did.  

I am 46 years old, and I am living the dream!  Thank you Jesus.  My life is incredibly blessed!

Blessings from my incredibly blessed nest ~

Tina

 

A Word For Wednesday

Encouragement is awesome.

It has the capacity to lift a man's or woman's shoulders.

To spark the flicker of a smile on the face of a discouraged child.

To breathe fresh fire into the fading embers of a smoldering dream.

To actually change the course of another human being's day, week, or life.  

~ Charles  R. Swindoll

Thank you bloggy buddies for the sweet encouragement you are to me!

Blessings from my nest ~

Tina

More Babies are Comin' Home!

Within a matter of hours in Nanning, China this sweet little man will be an orphan no more! 

Will you pray for little G's heart as he leaves behind all he has known to gain a family forever?  You can follow my friend Doreen's journey to this sweet boy here.  I have blogged about Doreen before.  We "met" while she was in the midst of a painfully long wait for her LOA (letter of acceptance) from China.  The wait hit 199 days!  Doreen will tell you herself that it wasn't always pretty, yet I know she never stopped trusting the Lord to bring His plan to fruition.  Now soon, very soon the wait will be over as G is placed in his mama's arms forever, an orphan no more.

Would you also pray for my friend (and former neighbor) Melissa?  Melissa waited faithfully with me for Teddi, even as she was in the midst of a much longer wait for her Mongolian treasure, Katie.  I am pleased to announce that Melissa and her family (who are now stationed in northern Japan) are headed for Mongolia, as I type!  Please, if you would, pray for a favorable interview process with the Mongolian officials, and that Melissa and Greg, and big brothers Kyle and Cole, won't have to wait long to be united with their little ladybug!  M's blog is private, but trust me when I say that five year old Katie is cuter than cuter, and I for one cannot wait to see her in her mama's arms!

Finally, a little Ren update . . .

Just look at the precious smile of a little boy who is an orphan no more!  Ren's new family is Canadian, so they have left Guangzhou for Beijing to finalize Ren's adoption.

Behold the cuteness . . . Ren and his new big sister Claire who came home two years ago from China.  Claire is eight months older than Ren, but as you can see Ren has stepped into a "big" little brother position!  

Thank you to my friends Melissa, Doreen and Monica for allowing me to share your joy.  Thank you to my bloggy buddies for following along.

Blessings from my thankful nest ~

Tina

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