Tuesday, March 8, 2011

"Color our beautiful family life..."

Dear Mom, Dad and sisters, brothers,

How are you doing?  I am so glad to receive your letter!  I miss all of you everyday!  I am looking forward to seeing you ASAP.  I am studying hard to learn English now.  I hope I am able to say some English when you pick up me.  I am very happy to join your family and become a member of your family.  I hope stay and live together with all of  you!  I love coloring and painting.  I want to color our beautiful family life.

I love all of you!
Wu Shuang


WooHoo! Another letter! What a sweetheart!

Stitches and stones...

Well, it has been an 'exciting two weeks! Two Sundays ago, Shane, being Shane, was wrestling with the kitchen stool, a new and exciting activity he discovered. He climbed under the stool, tipped it to the side, and then as it slipped he tried to grab it and it fell. He scraped his head on the screw and needed stitches! Matt and I took him to the ER and he did so well, considering, poor guy. While they were doing the stitches, we had him bundled in a sheet, I was lying on the bed holding him, most of my body covering his, Matt was holding his feet.  Matt and I sang over Shane's crying "Hey, Shane, don't be afraid..." (to the tune of Hey Jude). By the time they were finished, the nurse was saying over and over "You guys are amazing..." and Matt and I just laughed! Just proves my theory that there truly is a Song-For-Every Occasion, and an Occasion-For-Every-Song!
To add to the fun, last weekend I was rushed to the hospital for a kidney stone and had a procedure done on Saturday to remove the lodged stone. So not fun! I was expecting to feel better by now, but still a bit down and out, so I am exploring new and different things like sitting on my couch and watching some tv...not something I do too much these days. Getting caught up on adoption paperwork and reading, and getting the rest I need to feel better. 
On a happy note on the 27th we celebrated Sophie's Family Day...3 years since she came home. What an amazing transformation in 3 years. She has grown  14 inches, gained more than 40 lbs, and has matured so much! She looked like a pre-schooler 3 years ago, and now looks like a pre-teen. How does that happen? Regardless, she has progressed in so many ways, and one of her favorite things to say now is "Are you kidding me?" That's what I say when I see how much she has changed!






 Happy Family Day Sophie WuMei!

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

My AH...or "Amazing Husband"

I wanted to spend a minute to thank my AH_Matt. In adoption groups and blogs, husbands are often referred to as RH, or Reluctant Husband. Women often talk about having to talk their husbands into first one, perhaps a second or third adoption. Since all of us reach the decision to adopt differently, this is perfectly fine, and natural.
With Matt, however, I think and pray long and hard before I talk to him about the children we have decided to adopt. Why? Because as soon as I say a word about the kids that I am thinking about it, considering it, etc., he is ready to go...without a backwards glance. Most people think that I am the one who moves quickly in the decision making process of adoption, but the opposite is true. I take time, think, pray, and worry about all aspects of adding another child to our family, caring for another human being for all of my days...and often wake up at night and think "No, really, Lord, you can't be asking me to do this again? Surely you are thinking about someone else..."

When it becomes apparent that indeed, God is asking us to do this, I broach the subject with Matt. After a second of "How will we afford it?", he jumps right in. When I told him about WuShuang, he said simply "Let's get her."

How blessed I am to have this man as my husband, to have him by my side to be my partner and my best friend. He works hard and is dedicated to all of us, and he makes me laugh every day. I can truly say he is the love of my life, and I am so lucky to have him by my side.

The day before my birthday I came home to this beautiful bouquet of flowers. It was honestly the most beautiful arrangement I have ever seen, let alone received! I thought Matt spent a fortune on it, and in fact, he put it together himself, with this sentiment:

21 Carnations for the Birthdays I missed with you
29 Daisies for the Birthdays we had together
7 Baby's Breath for the Children we have given LIFE to 
Ferns and greens for the life you have given me
Tulips and Pom-Poms because Purple is your birthday color
A spray of roses because 3 roses together mean "I Love You"


How blessed I am...thanks for loving me, Matt