Thursday, April 24, 2008

Linzhi's "Forever Family" Video

My sister traveled with us to China and she was able to do all of the video taping and picture taking while we spent our time with Linzhi. We will be forever grateful for all the memories she was able to capture. Today Allison emailed me that she posted video from China on her Facebook. I went to check it out only to find she posted our "gotcha" moment with Linzhi and believe it or not, I have never seen this video!!!

Trevor and I opened it and I couldn't hold back the tears...It brought me right back to that moment, I still remember the feel of her corduroy jacket and the smell of her skin.

Blessings,
Amy

Monday, April 21, 2008

Max and Ruby!!!


Happy Monday! Today my sweet Rachel received a blessing that I know she won't forget for a long time. Her FAVORITE TV show is Max and Ruby on Nick jr. Rachel really believes Ruby and Louise (Ruby's best friend on the show) are her friends. Many times she will say "Mom, do you know what Ruby did today..." I just love her imagination and her true love for these sweet little bunny characters.
My sister's partner Karen is in the entertainment industry and is involved in many children's television programs and commercials (I hope I got that right, Karen??) Anyway, she has been involved in production of Max and Ruby and knows the gal who plays the voice of Ruby. Karen arranged for "Ruby" to call Rachel TONIGHT ON THE PHONE!!! We knew she was going to call but didn't know a date or time so unfortunately we weren't prepared with the video camera but I was able to take a couple of pictures. Rachel was too precious and held the conversation for at least 5-7 minutes. She asked questions about Max (he was taking a nap), she asked about Louise, asked if Ruby rides the bus...etc... it was just too cute to watch Rachel's eyes become big and her face a little flushed. So Rachel ended the conversation by thanking her for the call and asking her to call back "next time". Ruby said she would call back and hopefully if she does, I will have the video camera ready. Mommy has to admit, I was a little star stuck too...I love Max and Ruby!!


THANK YOU KAREN AND RUBY for making a little girl's dream come true!


~Amy

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Walking down memory lane...


Tonight, I've been going through little videos and photos of our China trip. We are already preparing for our six month report, I just can't believe it! Where does precious time go? I would love for it to slow down, I'm enjoying my kids at the ages they currently are and I just don't want it to change. I guess you can tell I'm in a sentimental mood this evening. Anyway, the photo I'm attaching is from the day before we were united with Linzhi. I cannot put into words the thoughts and emotions I was feeling. I have never been that far away from my kids AND I was going to be a mother for the third time but it was so surreal... No belly, no labor pains, no water retention, no food cravings (ok, that's one's not true, I crave chips and salsa everyday)...You get my point. Anyway, I fell deeper in love CJ and surrendered so many feelings of being the independent woman that really didn't need anyone to "take care" of me. CJ took care of me on that trip, he helped me when I was feeling my lowest and in my most vulneable state. God is always present and gave me so much peace and comfort but you can't see him, I feel him but I can't touch him. CJ was my tangable peace and I will always remember how the Lord blessed our marriage during those unique 14 days. Marriage can be tough for me sometimes, it's hard for me to always remember I'm only half of the team. I was so used to doing it on my own that we had our power struggle issues, it's hard going from head of house to co-partners but we manage and bottom line, we love each other and need each other and I'm so blessed to go through this wonderful, interesting life with him. He's my rock. =)

Monday, April 14, 2008

YAHOO!




Praise God! Linzhi is finally able to sleep in a bed, all through the night! It's been 5 long months of us tucking our little angel in to her bed on the floor. I know this is common for orphans and we were reassured she would work it out on her own but it was still hard to do, she looked so little on that big floor. Rachel would many times fall asleep next to her but would move to her own bed through the night so this sparked an idea for me...Since Rachel has a full sized bed what if they slept together in Rachel's big bed? It worked like a charm! I will try to snap a picture of how I find them, usually falling asleep holding hands or face to face like they fell asleep talking about Polly Pockets, Barbies or Max and Ruby...Ya know...Sister stuff =)
I absolutely love to watch this precious baby transform from a child that acted as though she had to earn her keep by being as compliant as possible, to a child that is feeling secure enough to be herself, knowing she has a family that loves her and she belongs here with us. I see it in her eyes that she feels she belongs to us and no matter what she does good or not so good, we are never going to stop loving her, we are her family and she is ours. I know we have more to work through because Linzhi still carries a burden in her heart, especially in the morning. There are times I see she's missing someone or something and it takes her awhile to come back to where she is. I believe in my heart, Linzhi is a deep feeler, she senses and picks up on things my other two kids don't. CJ and I talk about it many times, we see the difference between the three of them. Trevor and Rachel had mom and dad's comfort from day one. Linzhi didn't and it's obvious at times. She slightly panics when daddy goes to work and will ask me over and over again "where's daddy" and " he come home" I gently reassure her, daddy's coming home. But at times, it takes until he walks through that door for her to relax. She'll get there, I know it. So today, we rejoice in the blessing that was bestowed on Linzhi and the blessing we get when we go up and check on our girls to see them all snugly and cozy in bed, together! God has blessed us with this child but God really blessed Rachel and Linzhi with a very special bond that will last all their lives, it's beautiful to watch. =)
~Amy




Friday, April 11, 2008

My Trevor




Happy Friday! This post is dedicated to my beloved eldest child Trevor. Last night, he sat next to me in my office and talked about all his hopes and dreams for his future. As I was listening to him, all I could think about was how blessed I was to have been graced with this child. Trevor and I have a special bond, I was so young when I had him (19) and at times, things were tough but I always made sure Trevor had a positive, loving, accepting childhood. What I mean by accepting is that I never tried to influence him into interests I thought he should be interested in, I let him be who he wanted to be. At times it was hard because he is a natural when it comes to baseball but he never had a passion for it like he does for writing, animation and story telling. I am so proud that he never gave up his passion to please someone else.

So, last night Trevor tells me he would like to pursue a career in the arts and would love to work for the animation department at Disney. I looked him straight in the face and said, I believe you will with all my heart. I know all kids love Disney but my child was slightly obsessed with Walt Disney, the man and from the time he was a little, little boy. When my sister and I took him to Disneyland in California, he was more excited about walking the main street that Walt Disney himself walked... I knew then this kid had a dream. I believe God gave Trevor many talents like Walt Disney and he is being obedient to God and listening to the path he wants him to take. Trevor is going to write a letter to the Walt Disney company asking what he needs to do now in order to be an intern, volunteer or employee in the future. I can't tell you how proud I am of this kid! I love him so dearly! I found this quote by chance (more like led to) last night, I wrote it down, gave it to Trevor and we put it in his bible...

"If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole thing was started with a dream and a mouse."
~Walt Disney

Monday, April 7, 2008

"Locked up"




Well, Rachel is doing much better with antibiotics and vitamins...so she was back to her sneaky little self today and decided to lock her sister up...That's right, , she locked her little sister in the bathroom! I was making dinner when I hear this faint little "mommy"..."help"... It was Miss Linzhi requesting help from mommy! I started to look for her and I asked Rachel if she knew where she was at??? Rachel looked straight in my eyes and said "I locked her in the bathroom for a time out" There's no way I could get angry with her because she was so honest about what she did. Made mommy proud BUT we still had to rescue Linzhi. Since Rachel locked the door from the inside and shut it, Linzhi couldn't get her hand up to unlock it so I had to figure out a way to get the door open. Thank God for acrylic nails!!! Insert like a key and turn.... Bingo, open!! Linzhi was free!! Now, I did sit Rachel down and told her not to ever do that again. She had to apologize and hug her sister and say a prayer to Jesus for forgiveness. We've been doing this with both of the girls lately and it seems to help them both realize it's not right to hurt another person and it's important to ask for forgiveness from the person that was hurt by their actions and to ask Jesus to help them next time they get mad at each other. Now, they are 4 and 3 so as long as this is a consistent practice as they age hopefully they will think before they become cross with someone. Here are some pictures of the event...enjoy!

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Poor Rachel...


That's what Linzhi LuLu says about her big sissy Rachel. Poor Rachel is very sick with a double ear infection that has hit her hard! I don't think I've ever seen her this ill or in this much pain. It's so heartbreaking to see my happy go lucky kid turn to a screaming, miserable little patient. I hope this is all making sense, I've had about 4 hours sleep in two days!!! CJ was out of town on business when this all hit, he came home last night and we tried to take shifts but honestly it's hard to rest when your baby is screaming from pain. CJ took Rachel to see the doctor while I stayed home with Linz and immediately he said she had a bad infection. In all of my 15 years of mothering not one of my kids has ever had an ear infection so I was very alarmed tonight when her ear started to bleed!! I immediately called my mom (she's a nurse) and paged the doctor, got reassurance from both that is can happen so not to worry...YEAH RIGHT! Me not worry about one of my kids...Just doesn't happen! This evening she is finally resting on the couch next to me as I type. CJ and I are going to wake her up shortly to give her another dose of the antibiotic and some Motrin so maybe we can ALL get some sleep! I even kept Linzhi Lu up long enough that by the Grace of God, she may sleep in past 6:45 AM. We shall see!
Update on Trevor. I am so proud of my kid!!! He has really decided to tighten things up in his life and this is all coming from his will (and not mine... ha ha). Anyway, he has started to work out 5 days per week, quit drinking soda, eating slower ( we both are trying this new method and it's working, we're both eating 1/4 to 1/2 less) AND he is doing extra credit at school. WAY TO GO TREVOR... WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU! He is a Godly young man and I see how he's working hard to live a healthy life for the Lord. Praise God!
Update on Linzhi. I love this baby girl of mine. She is blossoming everyday! She actually loves to watch me cook and seems to want to learn about it all. I am not a great cook but I do let her help me since she seems so interested... Do we have a Rachael Ray on our hands??? We shall see... Linzhi is also showing more and more attachment to us, she is starting to be over dramatic when she gets a bump or takes a spill. We love to love her up and we're so happy she comes to us for comfort. I can't believe we've had her for almost 5 months. I am so looking forward to summer with her. I want to see her enjoy the beautiful outdoors and all the fun she will have in the pool with sissy.

Have a wonderful weekend!
Blessings,
Amy
ps... Hannah Moore is doing good, she had a high fever after surgery so she was not yet released from the hospital. Susan is so exhausted, she just got back from China (on business) so I'm sure we'll speak more soon. Thank you for all the prayers!