Friday, December 31, 2010
Happy New Year!
Well, there is no doubt that 2010 has been a huge year for our family. We have not only grown from four to five members, but we have grown in other ways too. Our hearts have all been changed as we have fallen in love with one very special spicy girl! Our hearts have melted at the way she has fallen in love with us too! God has taught us many lessons as we have grown as a family. He has taught us lessons in faithfulness, patience, forgiveness, empathy, and compassion. He has taught us that He is involved in the details of our lives, and that He is in control. We are all changed because we said "yes" to a very special call. We do not know what 2011 will bring for our family. But, we give thanks for the blessings that have been ours to cherish this year. We will never forget 2010!
I personally will never forget sharing in the stories of watching other children come home this year. Two of my closest friends welcomed their new daughters Wesleigh Jane and Kit. And, many of our Pearl River babies found their forever families. I have made new friends this year who are now also home safely from China too, like Lisa (Reagan) and Mary (Lexi.) We have been blessed by the new extended family we have in Arizona. We are so thankful that Nadi and Tung Tung will never have to wonder what happened to each other! We have all been changed by the experiences we have had. I will never tire of watching families created by adoption. I am in awe of the hearts of these families, and it is a privilege to witness the faith it takes to bring a child home.
A special thanks to all of you who visit us here. Thank you for your prayers, for following our journey to Sienna Grace, for standing in the gap when we needed you most, for your sweet notes of encouragement, for the laughs, for the tips, for your heart for orphans, and for the faith that bonds us together! It has been a gift to share it with you!
Happy New Year from our family to yours!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Christmas Day!
It was a very special Christmas. Sienna's expression when she saw that Santa had really arrived was priceless. Ruby's enthusiasm when she saw that Santa had delivered on her Unicorn Pillow Pet request was adorable, and Ainsley's joy in sharing it all with her little sisters was so sweet! Seeing the wonder and magic of Christmas through the eyes of our children was the best gift of all!
Sienna and Ruby started playing with their gifts around 11:00am Christmas Day. They took a break only to eat and to sleep. The next day was a repeat! So fun to hear them giggling their heads off. There is no lack of imaginary play over here! Ainsley received "The Flip" from Santa! She has been busy producing videos... How did Santa know that would be the perfect gift for her!
It has been a very special Christmas and we are so thankful that Sienna was home to share in all the festivities this year!
Blessings,
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas Eve 2010
We had a lovely Christmas Eve last night, even though a few special people were missing from our table. We enjoyed a beautiful service at our church, and then we had a delicious dinner of surf and turf. Aunt Bop and Little Grandma were here to join in on Sienna's first Christmas! We had a special toast just for her, that she loved!
After dinner, our wonderful neighbors called to invite us over for a special visitor, Santa! So we went over there and surprised the girls. Let's just say the look of awe on their faces when they heard his bells and saw him walk in the door were priceless! Not all caught on film.. but, never to be forgotten!
Little Grandma and her newest Granddaughter!
These "TOO CUTE" back packs were a special gift from Nadi for both Sienna and Ruby. They LOVE them!!!! Thank you Nadi!
After we arrived home, I let Sienna and Ruby open just a couple gifts before bed. Ainsley decided she wanted to wait until Christmas morning for any gift opening.. (She's getting so grown up on us!)
Thanks Miss Claire for the adorable flip flops!!!!
One year ago, Ainsley and Ruby were waiting patiently for Sienna to arrive! Now she is home, and they made this Christmas VERY special for her!
More photos from Christmas Day Soon!
I hope you are enjoying a wonderful day!
Friday, December 24, 2010
A Little Merry Video!
Merry Christmas from all of us! We pray you remember the reason for the season, and that you have a blessed Christmas!
"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Luke 2:11
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
A Very Special Doctor!
Monday afternoon we drove down to Children's Hospital. This time we did not have an appointment. It was to surprise a very special doctor with a Christmas gift. It was for Sienna's Hematologist, Dr. Steve. As you can see, he is a bow tie guy! During our frequent visits to his office Sienna and I would always play a game to guess what color his bow tie would be. Every time she guessed it would be pink, which it never was! So, we set out to find the perfect tie to add to Dr. Steve's collection. When Sienna saw him come through the door she ran to him to hand deliver a silk tie with the perfect touch of magenta pink! Not only was he touched by her visit. He even had a pink shirt on!!!! When he saw her, he said "I must have known you were coming today Sienna. Look, I am wearing pink!" This wonderful man, took off the tie he was wearing to try on his new one. With an expert hand and no mirror, Dr. Steve tied his new one. I am confident he wore it the rest of the day! All three girls were beyond impressed watching him!
When we first looked at Sienna's file last October, Thalassemia was completely foreign to us.
I reached out to Dr. Nelson's office. Later that day, he called me personally and spent an hour on the phone with me... He kept telling me, that this was a "manageable dis-order." And, that with proper treatment, Sienna could have a chance at a normal life! He was so kind and encouraging. We have found this to be our relationship with Dr. Steve with every encounter. He was there for us when we needed help in China. He was there for us at our first appointment full of unknowns. He has held our hand ever since. Ultimately it was Dr. Steve that convinced us that it was time for Sienna's spleen to be removed. He has always gone out of his way to email us, call us, or to check in on her even if she was in his office for something else. The day after her surgery, it was Dr. Steve who she shared her breakfast with at the hospital. He just came up to make sure she (and probably me) were fine. Because of him, she takes her medicine two times a day. She promised him she would. There is a mutual admiration between these two.
Merry Christmas Dr. Steve! We are so thankful for you!
Christmas in a Box!
Yesterday a big box of gifts came to our doorstep. You can see who thought
the gift was the box of styrofoam peanuts! Thank you "C" family for
the party in a box! And, thanks Sienna and Ruby for being such great cleaning ladies!!
I know it was worth it!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Tiffany Blue
Three weeks after Sienna came home she and I had our first photo shoot together. It just happened to be in our master bathroom where we have great natural lighting.
She was in her favorite yellow dress. I loved those pictures. You can see them here.
Yesterday, almost nine months later to the day she asked me to take her pictures in the same place. This time in tiffany blue.. You should have seen how fast I grabbed my camera!! As I was taking them, I was thinking how much has changed for Sienna and me. Back in March we could barely communicate. And, she was still checking me out. She was still processing how she got from there to here. She was still grieving all she had lost. She was slowly deciding if she could trust me. Yes, she was starting to blossom, but it is so much more than that now. Sienna still tests me. Sometimes daily. Mostly because I think she wants to make sure I am going to still love her no matter what. But, she has a quiet confidence about her now. The confidence to be silly, happy, sad, and tender. So much has changed in such a short time.
In 9 months Sienna has learned English beautifully, she has gone to school, she has had two successful surgeries, she has grabbed the hearts of four very special doctors, she has learned about Jesus, she has learned her ABC's, she has learned how to spell some words, she has learned to count, she has taken gymnastics and skating lessons, she has traveled, she has played in the snow, she has seen her best friend from China four times, she has embraced being a sister, etc.... Simply put, she has found her place here!
I have heard from some of you that read our blog, that Sienna has opened your hearts to adopting an older child! There is no greater blessing than knowing she has touched families she may never know personally... She is a testimony that with faith, all things are possible...
Sienna Grace, whether you are in yellow, or tiffany blue, I will always love you! You have stretched me in so many ways. You have taught me that I can love beyond what I thought my heart's capacity could hold. You have showed me that being tough can be beautiful! You have taught me again and again, that God's plans are always perfect. I love you Sienna Grace! And, I am so very proud of you! Merry Merry Christmas precious girl!
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
James 1:17
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