MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I was going to post an update for Christmas...And then...I received a crystal clear message of a family that is actually living Christmas.  So instead, here are some updated pictures of the dynamic duo and one of the most amazing posts I've ever read. http://buildingtheblocks.blogspot.com/2011/12/room.html

The cuteness and fun factor are on the rise with these two...And did I mention their energy level has slightly increased?

Our thinker

Daddy's girl

Like father like son

Our spunky whiz-kid

He's loves to play ball with daddy and she's daring and loves gymnastics (or as Hadley would say..."nastics mommy")

She's the comedian and he's our analyst

free spirit and giggly

Then and now...1 year today

One year ago yesterday, we held Hadley for the first time.  One year ago today was our "Forever family" day in Nanchang (Jiangxi), China.  It was just about one year ago today that Brandon and I left Orlando, FL for China.  When we left, we had no idea what to anticipate upon our arrival and I know that neither one of us expected what actually transpired.  An amazingly precious little life was placed in our arms and officially our baby girl on August 8th, 2010.  It was an overwhelming journey that began back in 2007 and in 2009 we had a shift in our journey that lead us to our son, Wyatt and then soon after...To our daughter, Hadley.  Looking at our baby girl last August, I knew we had a sick little peanut that was going to need both Medical attention and the unconditional love of a mommy, daddy and her brother to get her through what her first 18 months had not given her.  I've chosen to keep the details of Hadley's story private because I believe that while blogging is therapeutic in some ways to a family and helpful to other families in process...I've struggled with what is truly mine to tell.  I've never quite come to a happy medium in that regard and so until I do, her story remains "her story"...To tell at a later date, if ever.  What I can share and will share is that my assumption that it would take a loving family, full of nurturing was not all our daughter needed.  What Hadley needed most was Gods healing power and mercy to repair and restore her precious life.  One year ago, I never, ever in my wildest dreams could have imagined that we'd be in the place we are in today.  Never did it cross my mind that Hadley would be a new creation (Revelations 21:5- He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.").  I look back at the day we met Hadley in China and the fears and concerns that filled my head.  Today I am reminded yet again that HE MAKES ALL THINGS NEW!  Should I have been surprised by His mercy and love for our daughter...HIS daughter.  She's our walking miracle and testimony of the power of prayer and Gods grace, mercy and love!  Today I marvel at how far she's come...At how far we've come.  Today I marvel and weep in admiration of the King of Kings who makes all things new!!!  Thankful that He chose us to not only parent our daughter but to watch His hand move in her life!   


We love you Hadley Jo!!!  You are an amazingly feisty, happy, joyous, energetic little girl and we adore you!


                                                               THEN

NOW- 2011

Heart surgery today

Hi all,

Today at 12:45 one of our very good friends precious daughters is having heart surgery.  Our friends will be posting updates on their blog (below).  If you would please remember them in your prayers, they would be so thankful!  

Hugs and love,

Robin

http://www.weknowwhatloveis.blogspot.com/

Precious 2 year old and Helen update

Hi all,
Wanted to let you know that Helen still does not have a family.  Please join me in praying for her!  I sent her file to our local Pediatrician in hopes of getting info to share with anyone who inquires about her. The long and short of what I learned is that she should be just fine if she is adopted and gets help for her scoliosis but if not she runs the risk of paralysis later in life.  The thought of that is just heartbreaking and unnecessary, she's such a doll!  If you'd like to review the info that I gathered from our Pediatrician as well as the Radiologist, please email me via the comments section and I'll happily send you the info that our Pediatrician gave us.  Also, Madison Adoption Associates has several video clips of Helen from their recent trip to China.  If you'd like to see them, please contact Madison @ 302-475-8977 (ask for Sara, Lydia or Diana)


Today I received an email from an agency with several waiting children.  One little girl struck me!  She desperately needs a family!  She is absolutely beautiful and her story tugged at my heart strings.  The agency is allowing me to share this small blurb on her and said that I could pass on additional info privately if you email me.  If you are interested in learning more, please email me.  This sweet little girl (we will call her, Sarah) is 2 years old.
Sarah came to the orphanage at one 

month old.  She has been diagnosed with a con- 

genital heart defect called Tricupsid Atresia. In the 

US, she would have already had her first heart sur- 

gery - without surgery, she will only have a few 

years left. Sarah is described as a pretty girl with 

good mental and physical development.  She is a 

bit shy, but can make her needs known when she 

is hungry. Sarah needs a family who can support 

her through her future heart surgeries and help her 

to live a long and healthy life.

Again, for info on either of these girls, please feel free to email me.

Robin

Helen

Madison Adoption Associates recently held a camp for kids from Bao'an.  There are SO-SO many sweet children that are in need of their mom and dad...Please contact Madison for questions on these precious kids.


My eyes filled with tears as I looked at Helen's sweet face...There is just something about her that is so warm and tender.  This is what Madison had to say about Helen.


For information on Helen, please contact MAA at, (302) 475-8977

Helen 

DOB 5/10/01 

Scoliosis, Nevus on back 

Helen is sweet, smart and very social.  She LOVED Lydia and constantly sought her out.  The nanny 

described her as very loved, smart, social, loveable and very affectionate.  She loves to give and share 

hugs. 

Helen loves to play with the parachute.  She lives at the orphanage but goes to the regular public school 

in Grade 2, where she is doing very well and excels.  She is very good with basic English knowing basic 

terms, phrases, colors and numbers.  Her greatest wish is to be a singer.  She loves butterflies.  She has 

a lot of friends and is very comfortable with both children and adults.  She states she really wants to come 

to the U.S. as she has many friends who have already been adopted. 

Although Helen’s scoliosis is quite extensive, her mobility is very good.  She walks, runs, jumps and loves 

to hula-hoop.  We asked the orphanage if we could sponsor a brace for her so MAA will follow up with 

this. 

When we asked to see Helen’s back, she refused to let us see it or let Dr. Bonnie feel it.  She is clearly 

embarrassed.  We pray she finds a family who will build her up and help her reach her highest potential.  

Helen will do very well in a family. 

China Bridge of Hope

We learned not too long ago about the Bridge of Hope Summer program that will be put on this year in June or July.  This program has previously not encompassed China but this year they will!  Its very exciting and a new opportunity for the children and families participating.  Its my understanding that approx 40 children will be participating, ages 6 and up.  They are taking host family applications for interested families into mid-March.  Ideally an interested family would be paper ready, with a completed home study.  You can get a much more detailed description of the program by reading the information that I've cut and pasted below and contacting your appropriate contact based on where you live.

Bridge of Hope Summer 2011

Information Sessions & Regional Coordinators

Here are names of BOH regional coordinators who will offer information sessions for families interested in learning more about hosting possibilities this summer.  If session dates are listed, please RSVP to the coordinator to receive details about times and locations.  If dates are not yet listed, please contact the coordinator to indicate your interest in attending an upcoming session.  Sessions will include an overview of BOH, discussion about issues of older children from institutions, and presentations by past BOH hosts.        

  

CONNECTICUT Kathleen Hickey, 203/459-2659,  HYPERLINK "mailto:kwhickey@earthlink.net" kwhickey@earthlink.net

Saturdays January 15, February 19, March 12—Monroe, CT

MASSACHUSETTS Todd Kates, 617/926-5480 x241,  HYPERLINK "mailto:tkates42@aol.com" tkates42@aol.com

Saturday, February 12—Watertown, MA

ILLINOIS Michaelyn Sloan,800/252-4152,  HYPERLINK "mailto:msloan@stmaryservices.com" msloan@stmaryservices.com

      Saturday, January 22

LONG ISLAND, NY Marisa Bernhard,  HYPERLINK "mailto:mettaworks@aol.com" mettaworks@aol.com

Debra Servinskas,  HYPERLINK "mailto:debserv@optonline.net" debserv@optonline.net

Sundays February 6 and February 27—East Northport

MID-HUDSON, NY Liz Evans,  HYPERLINK "mailto:elizabethpevans@yahoo.com" elizabethpevans@yahoo.com

Terry Naumann, 914/302-6760,  HYPERLINK "mailto:selavy@optonline.net" selavy@optonline.net

Sunday, February 13—Yorktown Heights

NEW JERSEY Janet Bodner,  HYPERLINK "mailto:bridgeofhopenj@yahoo.com" nj_bohrc@yahoo.com, 908/696-0851

Trish Tatrai,  HYPERLINK "mailto:ttatrai@verizon.net" ttatrai@verizon.net, 609/584-1939

Deborah Phillips,  HYPERLINK "mailto:deborahphillipsprivetera@yahoo.com" deborahphillipsprivetera@yahoo.com, 732/446-1328

Sunday, January 30—Manalapan, NJ

Sunday, February 27—Millington, NJ

WASHINGTON DC AREA   Patrice Gancie, 301/587-4400 x207,  HYPERLINK "mailto:pgancie@cradlehope.org" pgancie@cradlehope.org

Saturdays February 5 & March 5—Silver Spring, MD

New auction items...

Check out the new items available for auction to bring Liliana home to her family!   Click on the icon below...



You can also read more about their journey at... http://dreamingofteafortwo.blogspot.com/

Fabulous online auction to bring home a very sweet little girl!!

Another China mommy and blogging friend of ours is working to bring home their precious Liliana!  Please take a minute to check out her online auction with BEAUTIFUL items!  You won't be disappointed.  They are hopeful that they will raise enough money by February 7th to purchase their plane tickets...Click on the icon below...

It's been 6 months today!

Its 6 months today that we arrived back home from China, very-very early in the morning with Hadley.   We had what turned out to be an amazing faith filled journey with so many unexpected twists and turns that landed us at just the perfect time and place... Nanchang, Jiangxi China.  Looking back at the pictures from our days in China, I feel like it was years ago in some ways.  It feels even further away when I look at our precious daughter now!  She's filled with JOY and laughter all of the time, even as she tells me..."no-no-no" shaking her head, with the cutest big smile :)  So, very different than that short 6 months ago when she was so very sick, weak, could not sit up unassisted and in desperate need of medical care and her family.  6 months later she's a different little girl.  We still have challenges to work through but don't we all face that?  Isn't that just a part of the Christian journey and not isolated to adoption?  Doesn't it have alot to do with how we cross those bridges and how we chose to view them?  TODAY everything is new for Hadley, its exciting and fun.  She is filled with life and energy!  There are so many things that she enjoys...She has thoroughly enjoyed the snow and the outdoors, even when I'd prefer to stay inside toasty warm.  She loves story time at the library and the toddler dance parties they have there.  She loves to blow kisses and put bows in her hair.  She loves the song, "head shoulders knees and toes" and always wants me to play it again and again.  She runs to the door with her brother yelling, "da-da, da-da" when we hear him pull in the driveway.  She has adored her brother from the very day she met him.  Which reminds me of an instance just two days ago when he was feeling very sick...He's not one to fuss and on this day he kept crying and crying as we tried to console him.  Hadley kept bringing him toy after toy and handed him one after another in hopes of cheering her brother up.  You could see the tenderness she has for him. 

So I started out posting to celebrate her 6 months home with us even though it feels as though she has always been with us.  I realized as I got half way into it that I could go on and on and on with little chance that I'd stop sharing all of the blessing Hadley has brought to our family.  I remember at one point, early on in the adoption process, of bringing home our second child that I prayed God would point us to the child meant for our family.  That sounds so funny to me now because...It wasn't until much later that I realized that not only did God sovereignly place our little girl in our arms but equally as important, we were the precise family that she needed as well.  I don't say that in the sense that we are, "the perfect family" but there is something about us that she needed and needs and so we were chosen for her and her for us.  The responsibility in that still blows me away!  Brandon and I talk about how fortunate we are to have been given the gift of parenting our two little ones.  Had you told me 6 years ago our lives would look the way they do today...I would have stopped you in your tracks and said, "I highly doubt it!"  Boy am I glad that I'm not responsible for writing the story of our lives because we would have missed out on joy unspeakable!  Yet another reminder of how amazing the God we serve is!

1 Peter 1:8-9

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

                                            November 2010

Precious and perfect!

                                         Me and my brother

                          Loving kissies for my brother

  Look at us!!! REALLY....Does life get any better than snow, mom?!

This is the life!!!  (January 2011)

Hugs,

Robin

Indifferent?

I haven't been online much over the last couple of months because we've been on the go and not online much lately.  The last couple of days, since returning home, I've taken time to catch up on some blogs that I follow which brought me to, http://www.jewels-of-my-heart.blogspot.com/ and in turn brought me to the video I've embedded below.  My husband Brandon and I sat and watched it together twice and were so convicted. The Lord used Eric Ludy in this message in a tremendous way.  Its well worth taking the time to watch....