It's Fall Ya'll

I do realize it has been "fall" for a while now and that winter is fastly approaching, but I need to catch up on some posts so let's just pretend . . . 

 

Fall means apple picking!

 

 

 

Another 1st for Leiney Grace

Apple picking tip - store your fresh apples in gallon ziplock bags in your fridge's fruit/ veggie bin.  They last for months.  We are still eating apples we picked on this day in September!

Leiney Grace and Aunt Lulu have such a bond since Aunt Lulu has been there since Day 1.  She travelled with me to China to adopt Leiney Grace. 

These 2 boys have such a sweet relationship.  I hear Fulton tell Hudson often "Buddy, I can't play with you right now.  I have to do my homework.  You don't want Fulton to get in trouble, do you?"  Hudson adores Fulton - until he gets body slammed on the sofa : )

 

 

My crew plus some cousins - John Parker, Gabe and Kylene - my cousins' children.  Our apple picking trip is a tradition now and since Lulu and Sheri live in "Apple Country", we always do it together.  Making memories is a wonderful treasure!

 

The whole gang!

 

Fall means Happy Gotcha Day to Ellie.  Back in September 2008, we travelled to Kunming, China to meet our sweet little Ellie.  It is so hard to belive that Ellie joined our family 4 years ago.  Wow!  Those 4 years have flown by.

 

 

Fall means Halloween.  This year we had a skateboader/ Rip stick guy, Rapunzel, Ariel, a Ninja, Tinkerbell, and an adorable little monkey!    And 2 teens who refused to be anybody but themselves.  Might have regretted that a bit when it was time to eat candy : )  Their little siblings did share some of their loot!

 

 

Fall means it's hunting season.  Hudson was quite proud of the buck his Daddy brought home in the back of the truck!

 

 

And fall means football!

 

With 8 kiddos, only a few go at a time.  On this day, Shelby, Fulton, and Ethan accompanied David to cheer the Gamecocks on!

Supporting Adopting Families is EASY

 

you probably already know that reading adoption - related blogs is a favorite pasttime of mine.  another favorite pasttime is advocating for orphans - oh yeah, you knew that too.  another one is supporting famlies who are adopting. here's another way you, too, can support a family who has stepped out in faith to adopt!  and these shirts are awesome!  i own 3 and looove them.  buy a great shirt with an awesome verse on it and support an adopting family. these tees will make super christmas gifts too.  just saying!   another win - win situation. 

 

wildolivetees.com

 

Are you ready?

The Family Code is WHITNEY407.

Got it? Goooood

 

and to meet this wonderful family, check out their family blog -

whitneygang.blogspot.com

 

 

A Fighter!

Tao Tao as a 3month old

Tao Tao as a malnourished 18 month old

After we returned home from China with Leiney Grace, my aunt told me not to look at waiting children's photos.  I love my aunt dearly and respect her greatly, but I think we all know that I have not complied with her request.  God has used the orphan crisis to Break. My. Heart. I never knew back in 2006 that this was God's plan.  Adoption at that point had just as much to do with me as with the child I was adopting.  David and I signed up to adopt one child and truly thought our family would be complete. I never suspected that I would return from China in 2007 and  be a completely different person.  But I did.  Never did I think I would return to China in 2008.  And 2010.  And 2012.  But I did.  Never did I think I would have 8 kids.  But I do.  Never did I think I would tell God after 8 children that  "Here I am. If you will equip me, Lord, I will go.  I will love and care for another."  But I have and I do.  As long as I am able and God calls and is willing to equip me, I will go.  (Yes, I know He has to call David too!)
The above pictures are of just one child of many whom my heart has recently been broken for.  This little fellow was found abandoned at 3 months old with a repaired cleft lip.  That says a lot about his birth family and his beginning in life.  Yet, Tao Tao also has a complex heart defect.  Tetralogy of Fallot.  The same as Leiney Grace had.  Apparently that diagnosis proved to be too much for his birth parents.  As you can see from the baby picture, Tao Tao had bright eyes and good color.  That was when he was found.  Then 15 months later, this precious little one was suffering from severe malnutrition and living in an orphanage.  In fact, he only weighed 5.4 kg at 19 months.  That's 11 pounds, 8 ounces.  Lilly, who also suffered from malnutrition when we adopted her, weighed 17 pounds at the same age.  Some of you remember how frail, thin, and sickly she was.  He weighs 5 to 6 pounds less than she did.  That breaks my heart. And I hope it breaks yours.
We are not adopting this little one although we thought and prayed about it for weeks.  However, God has still called me to help this child, one of the least of these.  And I am.  I am doing all I can to get him the medical help he so desperately needs.  Love Without Boundaries has contacted his orphanage who is very receptive of outside help for Tao Tao. The last email I received stated that Tao Tao's ECHO would be sent to a cardiologist in Shanghai to determine what medical intervention he needs first - a heart cath or surgery.  LWB will send him to Shanghai for the procedure.  Please join me in praying for this little one who is indeed a "Fighter"!  He needs surgery to repair his heart, and he needs a forever family.  His file is available from the shared list so any agency can pull it.  I also have it so please email me with any questions! 

 

Another great idea to help orphans - support a fundraising family!  Adeye at "No Greater Joy Mom" is focusing on helping fundraising families bring home their precious kiddos from all over the world.  There are some great items for sale, auction, etc.  Take a peek.  Christmas is right around the corner!  Get a great gift, support a fundraising family, and help a child come home!  That's a WIN WIN situation folks!

http://www.nogreaterjoymom.com/2012/10/online-fundraisers-happening-now.html

In Case You Need A Laugh

It has been another busy week.  I should be asleep yet I just have to share - mainly so I won't forget. 
 
After David returned from his trek to the nearby town where all of our kids' activities are (still asking myself why we don't move there?) to take 2 kiddos to their school's last football game, one of those 2 kids (who shall remain nameless) tells us he has to "type something".  It's 9:00 by now.  His bed time is 9:30.  Well  "type something" actually means a 3 page paper. . . due TOMORROW.  Did I mention that "Nameless" doesn't type.  He pecks.  "Nameless" didn't bother to do this assignment, which he has known about for 3 days, while he sat around for 90 minutes after school waiting to go to above mentioned football game.  Let's just say, after a good lecture, a coveted privelege removed, and a few tears, he went to bed. "Nameless" did not "type something" and will be starting from a possible 90 points rather than 100 when he turns his assignment in on Monday.
10 minutes later, son #2 walks downstairs and proceeds to tell me for the 200th 20th time that he does NOT want to go to the parent teacher conference before I take he and his friends to a fun place to celebrate his birthday, and after I calmly tell him it is NOT an option as said conference and said party are in above mentioned nearby town 30 minutes from home, my husband said something that made me laugh and find joy when I had very little left. . . As we were discussing our not so serene evening with our precious sons, I humbly stated "I didn't even raise my voice."  My witty husband replied "I might have lost my mind, but I didn't raise my voice either." 

Maybe that's not funny.  But to this tired mom on a Thursday night, it was hysterical!

Helping Mama Kong Help Orphans in China

Please take a moment to check out Kim's latest post about how we can help Mama Kong as she cares for 30 special needs orphans in a rural, severely polluted, impoverished area of China.  It's a simple idea really.  And I can't wait to see how God uses a woman in SC with a heart for orphans, a pearl necklace, and  a blog to raise money for a selfless woman in China caring for 30 or more children with special needs!  Who ever said being a Christian is boring?  His miracles are fascinating, inspiring, and exciting!  Let's all be a part of this one: )  Go now: www.catecomeshome.blogspot.com
And to see the documentary about Mama Kong go to You Tube and search for "Lost Children of the Coal".  You will be inspired!

Advocating for Max

 

Isn't Max adorable?  This little cutie has been waiting over a year for a family.  He is 4 years old and is diagnosed with hemophilia.  That sounds like a scary diagnosis, but he is doing very well in the orphanage and is in the Half the Sky Little Sister's preschool program.  Of course he does bruise easily and has to be careful when playing outside.  He is described as extroverted, outgoing and social.  Little Max is fond of listening to music and pretend playing.  Curious Max is also described as being one who can be impatient and stubborn at times - sounds like most little 4 year old boys!  Please spread the word about Max.  And email with any questions: dfbjhb@windstream.net

A Way to Make a Difference

There is some seriously exciting stuff going on at my friend Kim's blog - www.catecomeshome.blogspot.com
This is NOT an adoption fundraiser, but this IS about helping orphans.  Please take a look, pray, and then DO SOMETHING!

Advocating for Jason

 

Jason - waiting for a family since 2000

 

I was asked by Xiaoqing, the SN coordinator for BAAS, to advocate for her Journey of Hope children.  I have great respect for Xiaoqing as she helped us bring home both Hudson and Leiney Grace, and she found Mei Mei and Di Di on the shared list. She also willingly released them to another agency so they could be adopted together by our friends, the Queens. (BAAS does not allow the adoption of 2 unrelated children at the same time.)  Of course, I agreed to advocate for these mostly older children who are male, but I will admit that advocating takes its toll on me emotionally.  It is so hard for me to look at these sweet faces and read about these children yet know that in all likelihood, many of them will age out of the orphanage system in China and have very uncertain earthly futures as well as eternal ones.  My heart is truly burdened by the orphan crisis in our world.  God commands His church to care for orphans yet so many in the church (ie Christians) seem to view the orphan crisis as a distant problem and not one that is worthy of their attention or their dollars.  If every Christian family adopted 1 orphan, there would be No. More. Orphans. - well at least for a little while - then sadly, the cycle would continue.  Adoption is not the cure for the orphan crisis.  To solve it, we have to get to the core reasons of why children are orphaned in the first place and then work to resolve those issues.  But as long as there are orphans and there is breath in my body, I suppose I will be longing to bring another child home, and I will be here advocating! 

 

So let's talk about JASON!

Abandoned as an infant

Fostered at age 4 years

Has repaired cleft lip and repaired cleft palate

Is Hep B positive

Is doing well in school

Makes 90% or above on his scchool exams

Described as introverted, not talkative, and likes to do handiwork

Speaks more now than when younger

Speech is clearer now

Likes to take small toys apart and

then likes to put them back together.

This cute little boy needs a mama and a daddy.

I can just see he and his dad, tool boxes in tow, working on a project around the house.

 

Please spread the word - copy this post or parts of it  to your blog or post about Jason on Facebook, etc.  Jason only has 2 years left ,and then he will never have the chance to be adopted.  EVER!

 

And We're Off. . .

To School That Is!

 

Life might be a little simpler if all 8 kiddos were under 1 school roof.  Homeschool roof or traditional school roof.  No such luck. 

 

#1 Chinese Immersion Charter School

 

Ellie - an excited 5Ker!

 

 

Lilly - an eager 1st grader!

 

 

Leiney Grace - a super excited 2nd grader.  This is her first time attending a traditional school.  In China, due to to her orphanage's rural location, she  went to school in the upstairs room at her orphanage.  We have homeschooled since February - for bonding and to catch-up academically.  It was such a joy to watch her pick out her backpack and lunch box- more firsts with my precious 9 year old little girl.

 

 

 

Ethan - minimally excited 3rd grader.  School is not his favorite activity, but he did admit to having a little bit of excitement on Day 1 (wish it would have lasted!).

 

 

Nihao, school!

 

 

 

#2  Christian School

 

Katie - social butterfly who flits around in 8th grade.  "What's not to love about school?  It's where all my friends are!"

 

 

Fulton - very eager 6th grader who could not wait to flee from prison homeschool.

 

 

Katie adequately warned Fulton to act like he didn't know her when they were at school.  I was appalled.  Growing up, I always wanted a sibling close in age to share school life with.  Obviously Katie does not desire that!  We always want what we don't have - sad but oh, so true.

 

#3 Homeschool

 

Shelby - content (being in prison  homeschooled) and very studious 10th grader.  Shelby does attend a wonderful bi-weekly co-op for English II, Algebra II, and Chemistry.  Unfortunately, it's an hour away thus the need for a 3rd carpool - sigh!

 

Hudson - mostly happy, occasionally reluctant preschooler.

 

So my days are filled with juggling 3 carpools, homeschooling Hudson, teaching Spanish I to Shelby and minimally assisting her with other subjects, and coping with chaos in the afternoon when 5 of the above mentioned children want help with homework! Is it May yet?