Isabel Faith: One Year Home.

Exactly one year ago today, Tom and I met Isabel for the first time. 

 

I have spent a lot of time going through all of the photos from the past year, re-living our adoption trip and appreciating afresh all the wonderful new friends that shared a momentous life event with us.

 

If you have a few extra minutes in your day today, we invite you to experience a recap of Isabel's adoption and first year of grafting into our family.

 

We thank God for her--for preserving her life, for allowing us to be a part of her story, and for the chance to love her and be loved by her.

 

 

 

 

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;

I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

Psalm 9:1-3

 

Praise the Lord with us.

 

 

"Tank-full Tuesday"

Many bloggers use weekly titles like "Wordless Wednesday" (to post photos only) or "Thankful Thursday" (to talk about what they are thankful for). 

I was just struck this morning with the many different things for which I am extremely thankful.  So, in the vein of Thankful Thursday on a Tuesday, it's "Tank-full Tuesday" because I am thankful and the tank of my heart is full of gratitude.

• Jared survived his 3-week stay at SALT--where the boys were challenged physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  He learned a lot, made some good friends, and rose to the occasion for the many challenges they threw at him.  And it's so good to have him home again, bug-bitten and weary as he is.
• Lilly and Isabel are, most of the time, really a lot of fun together.  They crack each other up and when they smile at one another, my heart melts.  Even though we are working on behaviors and attitudes in many areas with each of them, I am thankful these sweet little girls get to grow up together.
• Anna is maturing and is becoming a hard worker at home and a helper at church.  She is helping the preschool teacher for this week's vacation Bible school at church and is really enjoying it.  She is also enjoying her summer league swim team which is a little bit less intense than her year-round team.  She is dropping time on all of her swims and is one of the fastest girls in her age group, which is a nice change from being middle-of-the-pack during the winter season.
• I am thankful for healthy bodies and minds, for an extended period of an infection-free Lilly, for a church family where we are making new friends and hearing solid Biblical preaching, for neighbors who are friendly and fun and helpful.
• I'm thankful for a partner in Tom--for shared love, vision, and commitment.  Even though our lives are so full and time for us to be alone or "date" is limited, I am thankful for the fact that Jared and ANna are old enough and responsible enough (and Bella is comfortable enough already) for us to head out to run quick errands or grab a quick bite together now and then.
• I'm thankful for our families and the upcoming opportunities we're going to have to spend time with each of them this summer.

Tanks for reading!

It's the Little Things...

...that make my heart happy. 

Today we delivered some of Anna's too-small dresses to a neighborhood friend (it will be years before they fit Lilly and Bella).  As we approached their door, my friend opened her door with a wide smile and arms full of her own daughter's too-small clothes to pass on to Lilly and Bella (neither of us had known the other planned to deliver hand-me-downs today...).  It was a funny moment.   I so appreciate the blessing of sharing clothes and other no-longer-needed items with others.

But to top that off, after I had explained to a very curious Bella what all the things were that our neighbor had just handed us, I said to her (in Chinese and also in typical mother-fashion): "they just gave us all of these clothes for you and Lilly!  What do you say to her?"  Bella, smiling widely, began to say "谢。。。“ (Xie...) but before she got to the second 谢Xie in Xie Xie she stopped herself and said carefully "Sank You!"  (yes, with an "S" rather than a "Th") Oh my goodness, I was so proud!

Just a few minutes later, we headed to our neighborhood park for some sun and sliding before lunch.  When we arrived, the slides were all wet.  Two very disappointed little girls didn't know what to do.  One disappointed mama didn't know what to do at first either...I hadn't brought a towel and didn't want to totally soak my own bottom by sliding down first.  They were really wet.  So...Superdad to the rescue!  Tom arrived in response to my cell phone call with a nice big towel and took care of all that water for his girls.  Hooray for Superdad!

Within another few minutes, who arrives at the park but Anna (Jie Jie or "big sister" as Bella calls her) bringing with her a tote filled with stuffed animals.  The three girls proceeded to play a game of petshop, using playground mulch as their currency, and--for the first time ever--Bella engaged in imaginary play with Anna. 

Oh my heart. 

Love those little things.  They all add up to big things.