Archive for the ‘Ami’ Category
Saturday, June 26th, 2010
Here is our “something big”. 
Our handsome chauffeur
12-passenger capacity for us to work on
Any of the benches can be removed for cargo space
The kids are in love with the large flip down screen
The Honda looks so tiny now!
So there you have it. We are so very excited and feel so blessed that God provided this new van for us. Our Odyssey was just feeling a bit cramped, as it was full to capacity, and we didn’t have any extra room for visitors, friends, or for our family to grow. Instead of getting a basic 12-passenger van we chose to make it feel a little less bus-like and had a slight conversion done on it. We visited a great dealership while we were on vacation in Florida (thanks for the recommendation Charlene!) and after we got home we prayed more about a new vehicle and felt the go-ahead to make a deal.
Chris got a flight out of town at 6am yesterday and was pulling out of the dealership by 11:45am, as I wrote about yesterday. It was an awesome God-wink that at that very moment the deck guys were pulling away from their completed job on our new deck. Chris drove home in 12.5 hours and only stopped once along the way! Needless to say, the van has a huge gas tank and Chris has a strong tank himself. Ha! It was very good to see him home safe and sound in the wee hours of this morning.
Thank you, Lord, that you bless us beyond what we ask or imagine. May we use Your gifts to us for Your purposes and to bless others through them. Can’t wait to pick up our first guest passengers at the airport on Tuesday! Did I mention His perfect timing?!
Posted in Ami, Benjamin, Chris, Elijah, Family, Johanna, Michaela | 8 Comments »
Friday, June 25th, 2010
We are trying a garage sale for the first time at this house (today and tomorrow). We don’t have the best location for a sale and didn’t know how it would go. Well, despite good signs and advertising we didn’t have much traffic at all. The kids are pleased enough so far because they get to divide the profits, but for Mommy’s time and efforts I would much rather have just donated to the Goodwill. Hopefully we’ll see some more sales tomorrow and then the garage will be all cleared out.
Sorry, the kid isn't for the taking; he's a priceless treasure!
The BEST news of the day is that at 11:45 am Daddy called to say that he was heading home with our “something big”. And get this…..at the EXACT same time the deck guys were pulling out of the driveway leaving behind our completed deck! Yea, God!! I’ll post more pictures of the deck later, and I can’t wait to post pictures tomorrow when Daddy is home.
Posted in Ami, Benjamin, Chris, Elijah, Family, Johanna, Michaela | 2 Comments »
Thursday, June 24th, 2010
We finished up our two weeks of swimming lessons today. Ami, Johanna, and Elijah have all had a blast. They also each passed to their next respective levels.
Ami's class practiced using life vests in the diving well
Elijah and Johanna's class in the 16 ft diving well
On the home front, Benjamin has been fascinated with Iron Man, even though he hasn’t seen the movie. He is working on creating a whole outfit to somewhat replicate all the pictures he’s seen. This is one of his helmet creations from Legos.
In other news, Chris flies down to Florida tomorrow morning to pick up something big. I’ll post pictures when he gets back on Saturday. The kids and I will hold down the fort and have a garage sale this weekend. The deck is just about done. And we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of lots of family here next week! That’s it in a nutshell at Wolfe park.
Posted in Ami, Benjamin, Elijah, Family, Johanna | 3 Comments »
Monday, June 21st, 2010
We had somewhat of a low key day, but enjoyed celebrating the wonderful father in our household. We treated Daddy to cinnamon rolls for breakfast, some nice gifts, and then dinner out after church. We are very blessed to have Chris as a positive role model and Godly example to our kids.
Looks like a crowd around Daddy, but I bet we could fit another kid or two in, don’t you? 
Posted in Ami, Benjamin, Chris, Elijah, Family, Johanna, Michaela | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
It’s that time of year again. This year Michaela and Benjamin opted out of lessons. They didn’t want to pursue any more and I’m fine with that. Elijah and Johanna wanted to continue on and it’s good for them to gain more skills. They are in the same level together.
This is Ami’s first time for lessons and she is loving it. It’s so fun to observe your kids with other kids, something I don’t get to do as often as some parents do. Ami is quite the silly one of the group and instigates “fun” ideas, which really means that she isn’t always paying attention to the teacher. There is another little Asian girl in her class with whom she has made fast friends. The other girl is a hoot, too…oh my, I almost feel sorry for their teacher!
Yes, Ami is that dark!
Posted in Ami, Elijah, Family, Johanna | 2 Comments »
Saturday, June 12th, 2010
Through our FCC group (Families with Children from China) we heard about a Dragon Boat Festival picnic going on in town yesterday. It was sponsored by a local Chinese Association which we learned is basically a group of local Chinese that get together once in a while and put on special events. Since Dragon Boat Festival is one of the three top holidays in China we thought it would be fun to attend. Well, other than a paper dragon boat on one of the picnic tables, there wasn’t anything else relating to the holiday. It was just an excuse for the group to have a picnic. There were only three other Caucasians there, but we were warmly welcomed and enjoyed chatting with some of the folks. The kids enjoyed eating some Chinese food and learning some paper folding.
We want to celebrate parts of Chinese culture in our family and be around Chinese people when possible, yet it seems like our most awkward times as an adoptive family are when we are surrounded by Chinese people. We get so many questions, people try to speak Chinese to Elijah (which he can’t even comprehend anymore), and we get the usual “lucky kids” or “it’s unusual to get a Chinese boy” comments. We want all of our kids to be comfortable around these kinds of events, yet this or even going to a Chinese restaurant make us all feel a bit uncomfortable because of the comments. We just have to pray and ask for wisdom to know how and when to “culture” our kids.
I love how intently Ami is working on her paper folding!
Posted in Ami, Elijah, Family | 1 Comment »
Friday, June 11th, 2010
A lot more progress was made on our deck this week, but it still feels like it’s been slow going. We’ve had a bit of rain to contend with and a lot more predicted in the next few days. Hopefully in another week we’ll have it completed.
The cedar smells so good and looks gorgeous!
So weird to see bodies just outside our living room windows!
Posted in Ami, Benjamin, Chris, Family, Johanna, Michaela | 5 Comments »
Friday, June 11th, 2010
We’ve had a busy and fun week. Aunt Alicia, Aunt Kate, Elle and Zane came over to play for a couple of days. It had been too long since we were last together and the kids were chomping at the bit to play together.
It was fun to chat about our new cousin, Titus, and to hear more details. We are hoping and praying that he will be home in early August. Isn’t he too cute? He fits right in with our family with those dimples!
3 months old
More rides in the "carriage"
Zane practiced his new climbing skills and discovered the top bunk
Still cute when crying for mama
Mama makes is all better
I love how Zane is holding onto Michaela's hand. He did get brave enough to pet the kitty.
After a rough winter it was so good to see Zane healthy and happy
The aunts were relentlessly teasing Benjamin about his beloved Kitty, but he took it all in stride and dished it right back.
The second our cousins were leaving down our driveway Ami said, “Mom, I miss Elle and Zane. “ Hopefully we’ll see them sooner than later this time! Thanks for coming guys, we had much fun.
Posted in Ami, Benjamin, Elijah, Family, Johanna, Michaela | 6 Comments »
Sunday, June 6th, 2010
I thought I’d try to get in a post before the week got started and got away from me this time!
Yesterday we enjoyed getting together with our local Families with Children from China (FCC) group. Elijah and Benjamin are vastly outnumbered by all the girls, but they all had fun together. There was a Hollywood theme and Ami wanted to dress up in her cheerleader outfit. It’s neat to ooh and aah over all the kids and watch them grow. Even though we all just want our adopted kids to be regular kids, they do have a special background and it’s often noticed by outsiders who don’t see beyond the fact that you are a Caucasian with an Asian child. It’s good to be with similar families and just enjoy playing together.
Also, thanks to those of you who left comments on my last post. I appreciated reading your thoughts and insights. They were great food for thought.
Posted in Ami, Benjamin, Elijah, Family, Johanna, Michaela | 2 Comments »
Friday, June 4th, 2010
We haven’t had a lot going on to post about. It’s been really nice to enjoy being home more without so much of a schedule. With school out and some of our regular activities finished it’s been a breath of fresh air. We’ve finally seen a little bit of progress on our deck and hopefully it will be finished next week. We are really looking forward to the outdoor living space and to sharing our home with visitors this summer. Here are some pictures from the week.
Screaming Eagles landing to start the Memorial Day parade
It felt like a hot July day despite being May for the parade
Elijah enjoyed being patriotic by waving his flag. After he understood what Memorial Day was about he said, "I want to be a soldier so I can help my country."
Day 1 of progress
Day 1 - Exciting to visualize things better
Today's progress, starting to get a look at the cedar
The kids have already spent hours on the rope swing this summer
Oh the ladder always scares me, but they get so much air from the top!
Such a pretty girl!
I want to ask adoptive parents about this last picture. When we were in China last we bought two of these shirts, one for Ami and one for Elijah. It seems like a bad joke, but at the same time it’s cute in a way. If someone outside of the adoption realm were to have given us these shirts I honestly probably would have been appalled. They seem tacky to me, yet cute enough that it was okay for me to buy them. It’s still a dilemma for me. I haven’t allowed the Ami or Elijah to wear them away from home. I love that two of my kiddos were born in China and I want them to be proud of that fact, yet I don’t want these shirts to degrade them as if they were a commodity that can be purchased. Know what I mean? So any of my adoptive friends that are reading this, feel free to share your thoughts!
Posted in Ami, Benjamin, Elijah, Family, Johanna, Michaela | 8 Comments »