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

Christmas 2011 Recap . . .

We had a blessed Christmas, made full with two very excited Littles, three out of five of our Bigs, and the other two Bigs a Spokane Skype away.  I have never been so thankful for Skype as I was on Christmas day-- allowing me to have all five of our bigs "almost in the nest" for a bit.  Here are a few of the Christmas memories from our nest, as well as a few from Spokane.  

Enjoy!

Christmas eve candlelight service . . .

(Taye and Frankie had to work, but we were blessed to have Bryce with us!)

after church . . .

How are they getting soooo big?

Later in the evening . . .

much, much later . . .

not a creature was stirring . . .

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Taye and Frankie watch the Littles get the party started . . .

Bryce joins in . . .

Brady and Sloane--with the gifts that Brady sent, under the tree . . .

Cool new shirts designed and silk-screened by Brady!

And the Spokane Christmas day activities . . .

Brady pays tribute to his former employer 

(and Taye's current employer) --

HEB grocery store, a Texas landmark.

Sloane goes all out with her gingerbread chalet . . .

complete with an igloo, and gummi bears building a snowman!

Good job guys!

Back at the ranch, our lil' ol' Tex-Mex mutt Aztec,
stayed busy guarding his new treat . . . 

keeping it safe from Mr. Snowman!

A quick snap after Ted's ballet recital

 is as close as we get to a family photo this year . . .

with an "add-on" of our Washington 

soon-to-be-Newlys!

Thank you for stopping by for a visit!

My prayer for you in 2012  .  . .

May the Lord bless you and keep you--

the Lord make His face to shine upon you,

and be gracious to you;

the Lord lift up His countenance upon you,

and give you His peace."

                                -- Numbers 6:24-26

Blessings from my nest~

Tina

He's Home!

 The Littles, patiently watching the escalator 

. . . at midnight  . . .

 Here he comes!

 The Grinner gets scooped!

 Make that a double!

 No words needed.

Taylor and Frankie take a moment to enjoy the

airport scenery

 . . . the only snow in San Antonio.

So happy to have my oldest Big home.  

Looking forward to a visit from Brady and Sloane in February!  

Blessings from my little bit fuller Christmas nest ~

Tina

My Three Sons . . .

This son, my "original baby" (who works in retail and cannot have any holiday time off) will be spending his first Christmas away from the nest. My heart is sad, more for Brady than for me--but also for my sensitive little man whose heart is breaking for his brother who has to be alone.

Thankfully Brady won't be all alone because his sweet fiance (who also works in retail and cannot have time off) will be spending Christmas in Spokane --yet away from her family as well. I am proud of Brady and Sloane's maturity-- and absence of pouting (which I'm sure I would do plenty of if I were in their shoes)! I'm also grateful for the blessing of Skype!

This son, my firstborn, will fly home at midnight tonight! I haven't seen him since this picture was taken last March, in Spokane. That's a long time for a mama. It's a long time for a little brother too, in fact it makes you so excited that you stay up very late keeping your mama company because you cannot sleep.

This son-- my third, the one who is a big mix of happy and sad (and tired) has said a couple of things this week that I just need to share . . .

On Sunday afternoon while waiting in a checkout line, Teddi was whining over a toy that she had seen and whaaaaanted. Brogan looked at his little sister very seriously and reminded her that, "Sometimes Teddi, less is more."

Oh yes, he did.

Is that not a wise Christmas reminder for us all?

A day later, from the back of the van I heard my wiseman say,

"I get what I want for Christmas every year!"

To which I curiously responded, "You do?"

At which point I caught a glimpse of his grinning face in my rear view mirror as he shouted, "JESUS!"

Brogan sooooo gets it.

Someone is having a birthday, and guess what? It's not us. Unless of course you share a birthday with Jesus.

Less is more.

We can get what we want every year for Christmas, year after year, after year . . .

Jesus! The Light of the world. God's own Son-- who came to earth with skin on.

To save us all.

His son, the Perfect Gift.

My sons, near or far, perfect gifts--

from Him.

Oh how richly blessed I am!

Blessings from my nest ~

Tina

Guess Where We Went?

This morning we had the privilege

of attending

"The Nutcracker"

with some of our homeschooling friends--

at the historic

Majestic Theatre in downtown San Antonio!

The theatre truly is a show all on it's own!

The ceiling is extremely high and domed,

and when you look up . . .

it's as if you are stargazing!

Waiting for the show to go on . . .

photography isn't allowed during the show--

but I found these to share

there was so much to behold!

Aren't old downtowns just the best?

So much to look at and enjoy!

The ballet was great!

I love seeing (and hearing) people using

their God given talents to the absolute best of their ability.

Beauty!

Blessings from my "we're a little more cultured today" nest ~

Tina

* To my Brady boy, thank you for the use of your Nutcracker for our pictures! We miss you.