Monday, March 25, 2013
March Madness 2013=Busted Brackets (March 24, 2013)
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Family Day reflections...
Hi everyone--
We just had such a wonderful, relaxing family day! We loved hanging out at COSI, savoring time in the little kid area and realizing that our days in this exhibit are nearing an end... (Kids over kindergarten age aren't allowed in the exhibit...) The girls really enjoyed Chuckie Cheese as well, and Ellie-Kate was just fearless around Chuckie this time-- very cool! She used almost all of her tokens on the basketball hoops, and she earned lots of tickets with her expertise :)
During lunch, though, we were talking, and Ellie-Kate once again expressed her desire for a baby brother. I said that we were too old to go back to China, and Ellie-Kate said that I could just have another baby in my tummy, just like her. Roger and I just looked at each other... We really thought that she understood that we adopted her from China, but we realized that she didn't truly grasp what that meant. She knows that she's from China and that we all flew over to get her, but she obviously didn't get that she wasn't in my tummy on route to China or that someone else was involved. We're praying that the conversation that we so evidently need to have with her will go smoothly and that she'll really be able to understand a very complicated situation for a little five year old... Kind of a bittersweet realization to an otherwise extremely good day.
Need to head off for bed now! More very soon :)
Christie
We just had such a wonderful, relaxing family day! We loved hanging out at COSI, savoring time in the little kid area and realizing that our days in this exhibit are nearing an end... (Kids over kindergarten age aren't allowed in the exhibit...) The girls really enjoyed Chuckie Cheese as well, and Ellie-Kate was just fearless around Chuckie this time-- very cool! She used almost all of her tokens on the basketball hoops, and she earned lots of tickets with her expertise :)
During lunch, though, we were talking, and Ellie-Kate once again expressed her desire for a baby brother. I said that we were too old to go back to China, and Ellie-Kate said that I could just have another baby in my tummy, just like her. Roger and I just looked at each other... We really thought that she understood that we adopted her from China, but we realized that she didn't truly grasp what that meant. She knows that she's from China and that we all flew over to get her, but she obviously didn't get that she wasn't in my tummy on route to China or that someone else was involved. We're praying that the conversation that we so evidently need to have with her will go smoothly and that she'll really be able to understand a very complicated situation for a little five year old... Kind of a bittersweet realization to an otherwise extremely good day.
Need to head off for bed now! More very soon :)
Christie
Happy Family Day-- March 23, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
Family Day Eve... March 22, 2013
Hi everyone--
Tonight, I brought out the three photo albums with pictures from our trip to China, and I asked Ellie-Kate if she wanted to look at them. She didn't really want to, but she searched for pictures after we got her in Kunming. She liked to view the "baby Ellie-Kate" photos. However, she still seemed uneasy about any indication that (a) we had a life before she joined us and (b) she had a life before she joined us. As we were praying tonight, I praised God for something related to our trip, and she opened her eyes and asked, "Why are you praying about that? It was so long ago." We want to be honest, and we want for her to understand what has happened so she doesn't have any surprises as she gets older. Yet, she is so resistant to the whole idea. As far as she is concerned, she's the youngest BAP family member. She was born to be the little sister in our family, and that's that. (She would like a little brother, but that's another story!)
Four years ago today, I remember flying to Kunming. What a flight-- people standing up and opening the overhead bins as we were ascending into the air. Wow! The Kunming Walmart was another culture shock. Yearning for something in our comfort zone, we tried to find a Pizza Hut (like the one that we found in Beijing), but we found Pizza da Rocco's instead. I wonder if it's still there. We were always the only ones in the place, when we were there. However, it was so wonderful to meet Rocco-- an Italian who spoke wonderful English and Mandarin and who was such a tremendous host to us in Kunming. When we got back to the hotel, the girls went to sleep, and I pondered the idea that our new little girl would finally join us in the morning. With a usual "birth," one would enter the hospital and endure medical procedures that would result in a baby. With an adoption, it's so different. I had no idea what to expect... either in terms of the paperwork and procedures or in terms of her reaction to us. Would she cry at the idea of leaving all that she knew? Would she smile and say "Get me out of here?" I thought of pragmatic questions... What did she usually eat? Did we bring the right size of clothes? Would she bring the disposable cameras that I sent in order to get pictures of her life in the orphanage or any of the other items that I sent for her?
I didn't sleep much. We had traveled around the world to meet our little girl, and I prayed that everything would go smoothly. I wanted to be able to savor as much as we could while also taking care of the legal, logistic, and pragmatic details. Our guide, who served as our translator, had done little to prepare us. The books had filled my mind with things to fear, not reassurances about the process. Most importantly, I wanted the moment that I first held her to be perfect, special, etched in my mind forever... Just a few hours later, when the night transitioned into the morning, that moment would be as I hoped and prayed.
More memories tomorrow... Thanks for caring about our family!
Christie
Tonight, I brought out the three photo albums with pictures from our trip to China, and I asked Ellie-Kate if she wanted to look at them. She didn't really want to, but she searched for pictures after we got her in Kunming. She liked to view the "baby Ellie-Kate" photos. However, she still seemed uneasy about any indication that (a) we had a life before she joined us and (b) she had a life before she joined us. As we were praying tonight, I praised God for something related to our trip, and she opened her eyes and asked, "Why are you praying about that? It was so long ago." We want to be honest, and we want for her to understand what has happened so she doesn't have any surprises as she gets older. Yet, she is so resistant to the whole idea. As far as she is concerned, she's the youngest BAP family member. She was born to be the little sister in our family, and that's that. (She would like a little brother, but that's another story!)
Four years ago today, I remember flying to Kunming. What a flight-- people standing up and opening the overhead bins as we were ascending into the air. Wow! The Kunming Walmart was another culture shock. Yearning for something in our comfort zone, we tried to find a Pizza Hut (like the one that we found in Beijing), but we found Pizza da Rocco's instead. I wonder if it's still there. We were always the only ones in the place, when we were there. However, it was so wonderful to meet Rocco-- an Italian who spoke wonderful English and Mandarin and who was such a tremendous host to us in Kunming. When we got back to the hotel, the girls went to sleep, and I pondered the idea that our new little girl would finally join us in the morning. With a usual "birth," one would enter the hospital and endure medical procedures that would result in a baby. With an adoption, it's so different. I had no idea what to expect... either in terms of the paperwork and procedures or in terms of her reaction to us. Would she cry at the idea of leaving all that she knew? Would she smile and say "Get me out of here?" I thought of pragmatic questions... What did she usually eat? Did we bring the right size of clothes? Would she bring the disposable cameras that I sent in order to get pictures of her life in the orphanage or any of the other items that I sent for her?
I didn't sleep much. We had traveled around the world to meet our little girl, and I prayed that everything would go smoothly. I wanted to be able to savor as much as we could while also taking care of the legal, logistic, and pragmatic details. Our guide, who served as our translator, had done little to prepare us. The books had filled my mind with things to fear, not reassurances about the process. Most importantly, I wanted the moment that I first held her to be perfect, special, etched in my mind forever... Just a few hours later, when the night transitioned into the morning, that moment would be as I hoped and prayed.
More memories tomorrow... Thanks for caring about our family!
Christie
See ya later, Chelsea Meagan!
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Memories...
Hi everyone--
It's hard to communicate just how much that memories from our trip to China continue to affect me... I remember the tiny plane that we took from Columbus to DC at 6 a.m.... meeting Shannon from Virginia and her mom in the DC airport and learning that they were also on their way to pick up Shannon's new baby girl... arriving in Beijing... trying not to choke after breathing the disgusting air... experiencing our first language barrier in the hotel...
Our time in Beijing was filled with tourist-type activities... tour of the Forbidden Palace, the hotung tour (complete with a meal in a tiny traditional Beijing home), a spectacular acrobat show, and then (blessedly) dinner at a Pizza Hut. Emmy and I lived on Girl Scout Dosidos! We got to visit a Living Hope orphanage, climb the Great Wall, and visit the "Bird's Nest."
These experiences were tremendous, once-in-a-lifetime ones. Yet, I felt like they enabled us to get over the jet lag and mark time before the "big event"-- meeting Ellie-Kate. I shook with nerves on the Great Wall because I didn't want to fall and get hurt before holding her in my arms. I refused to eat anything at all questionable because I didn't want to get food poisoning and ruin my first moments with her. My eyes were on God, and my mind was focused on the task at hand-- getting to Ellie-Kate and then taking her home.
During this time of year, in particular, I keep re-living (at least in my mind) what we were doing and how we were feeling. I've been on Facebook a few times today, and I keep wanting to answer its question: "How are you feeling?" with some memory of our China trip, now four years ago. Others might not understand, but I have certainly smiled and responded when I have observed the posts of others about memories of their own trips. We share that bond-- one that others might well not be able to grasp...
Thanks for "listening" and caring! It's been an incredible four years, hasn't it?
More soon--
Christie
It's hard to communicate just how much that memories from our trip to China continue to affect me... I remember the tiny plane that we took from Columbus to DC at 6 a.m.... meeting Shannon from Virginia and her mom in the DC airport and learning that they were also on their way to pick up Shannon's new baby girl... arriving in Beijing... trying not to choke after breathing the disgusting air... experiencing our first language barrier in the hotel...
Our time in Beijing was filled with tourist-type activities... tour of the Forbidden Palace, the hotung tour (complete with a meal in a tiny traditional Beijing home), a spectacular acrobat show, and then (blessedly) dinner at a Pizza Hut. Emmy and I lived on Girl Scout Dosidos! We got to visit a Living Hope orphanage, climb the Great Wall, and visit the "Bird's Nest."
These experiences were tremendous, once-in-a-lifetime ones. Yet, I felt like they enabled us to get over the jet lag and mark time before the "big event"-- meeting Ellie-Kate. I shook with nerves on the Great Wall because I didn't want to fall and get hurt before holding her in my arms. I refused to eat anything at all questionable because I didn't want to get food poisoning and ruin my first moments with her. My eyes were on God, and my mind was focused on the task at hand-- getting to Ellie-Kate and then taking her home.
During this time of year, in particular, I keep re-living (at least in my mind) what we were doing and how we were feeling. I've been on Facebook a few times today, and I keep wanting to answer its question: "How are you feeling?" with some memory of our China trip, now four years ago. Others might not understand, but I have certainly smiled and responded when I have observed the posts of others about memories of their own trips. We share that bond-- one that others might well not be able to grasp...
Thanks for "listening" and caring! It's been an incredible four years, hasn't it?
More soon--
Christie
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Happy St. Patrick's Day-- 2013!
Hi everyone--
As I cuddled with Ellie-Kate on the couch tonight during "Amazing Race,' it was so surreal to think that we were just beginning our trip to China at this time four years ago... We left Athens and drove to Columbus, and we spent the night at the Hampton in Columbus, getting ready for our very early 6 a.m. flight to DC and then on to China... So many, many memories... Over the next week, I'll be sharing more of them as we reflect on that amazing time in our lives. What a time of excitement and anticipation...
More soon--
Christie
As I cuddled with Ellie-Kate on the couch tonight during "Amazing Race,' it was so surreal to think that we were just beginning our trip to China at this time four years ago... We left Athens and drove to Columbus, and we spent the night at the Hampton in Columbus, getting ready for our very early 6 a.m. flight to DC and then on to China... So many, many memories... Over the next week, I'll be sharing more of them as we reflect on that amazing time in our lives. What a time of excitement and anticipation...
More soon--
Christie
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Four years of memories on the blog... March 14, 2013
Hi everyone--
Well, on this date, four years ago, we launched this blog... WOW-- what an incredible arry of precious memories... what an amazing journey...
I love the Lord!! He is so wonderful, and I credit Him with all of the many blessings that He has provided to our family, especially with the gift of Ellie-Kate. I praise Him for gently and lovingly closing doors and opening this incredible one. I praise Him for leading us to China, to Living Hope Adoption Agency, to the special needs list, and to our sweet Ellie-Kate. I praise Him for His divine timing. He enabled us to charge through all of the paperwork and approvals in just four months so that we could be right in line, at just the right time, to be able to see Ellie-Kate's beautiful eyes just as she came up on the special needs list. He allowed her to stay on that list for two months, just enough time for Him to open our hearts and minds to the possibility of welcoming a little girl with so many scary sounding conditions. He gave us the courage to step out in faith and to take our little girl in our arms!! Truly, praise the Lord!
Of course, it's no mistake that I have been reading (and re-reading) Hebrews 11. What an inspiring chapter about faith!! If you haven't turned to it recently, I urge you to re-read it. It's a "shot in the arm" reminder of the need for and the beauty of faith. (I've actually been "stuck" on it for the past few days as I journey through the New Testament this year.)
Hebrews 11:1 proclaims that "[n]ow faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Of course, the passage refers to our faith and hope in Christ. However, on a much smaller level, it also captures what was happening with me as I struggled with infertility and the desire for another child. Throughout the entire journey, I prayed for God's will. I don't always do that, I'm ashamed to say. However, especially after we started going to Columbus for fertility treatments, I resolved to "let God be God." I gave it to Him, and He answered. Even though my test results were amazing, we didn't have a child. Even though my body responded in ways of someone quite younger, we didn't have a child. I interpreted these responses as God's way of telling me "not 'no,' just 'not yet.'"
If you would like to read the story of how I started to grasp God's plan for our family, please read our very first blog post, back on March 14, 2009. Quite simply, for me, our journey to become "a family for Ellie-Kate" was one of faith, hope, and, ultimately, obedience. God didn't just answer my prayer with what I wanted. He blessed me with something much, much more-- yes, a fourth beautiful, healthy daughter with an amazing personality, a warm and wonderful disposition, a brilliant mind, and an intense knack for sports. However, beyond Ellie-Kate, He has taught our family about the blessings of stepping out in faith. Those steps took us around the world and brought us into the lives of people that we would never have met otherwise. He bolstered our courage, provided our finances, broadened our world, and enriched our lives in such powerful, incredible ways.
He blessed us with this journey that we have shared with you for now four years. Thank you for caring about us. We pray that our story has been a blessing to you as well.
More soon--
Christie
Well, on this date, four years ago, we launched this blog... WOW-- what an incredible arry of precious memories... what an amazing journey...
I love the Lord!! He is so wonderful, and I credit Him with all of the many blessings that He has provided to our family, especially with the gift of Ellie-Kate. I praise Him for gently and lovingly closing doors and opening this incredible one. I praise Him for leading us to China, to Living Hope Adoption Agency, to the special needs list, and to our sweet Ellie-Kate. I praise Him for His divine timing. He enabled us to charge through all of the paperwork and approvals in just four months so that we could be right in line, at just the right time, to be able to see Ellie-Kate's beautiful eyes just as she came up on the special needs list. He allowed her to stay on that list for two months, just enough time for Him to open our hearts and minds to the possibility of welcoming a little girl with so many scary sounding conditions. He gave us the courage to step out in faith and to take our little girl in our arms!! Truly, praise the Lord!
Of course, it's no mistake that I have been reading (and re-reading) Hebrews 11. What an inspiring chapter about faith!! If you haven't turned to it recently, I urge you to re-read it. It's a "shot in the arm" reminder of the need for and the beauty of faith. (I've actually been "stuck" on it for the past few days as I journey through the New Testament this year.)
Hebrews 11:1 proclaims that "[n]ow faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Of course, the passage refers to our faith and hope in Christ. However, on a much smaller level, it also captures what was happening with me as I struggled with infertility and the desire for another child. Throughout the entire journey, I prayed for God's will. I don't always do that, I'm ashamed to say. However, especially after we started going to Columbus for fertility treatments, I resolved to "let God be God." I gave it to Him, and He answered. Even though my test results were amazing, we didn't have a child. Even though my body responded in ways of someone quite younger, we didn't have a child. I interpreted these responses as God's way of telling me "not 'no,' just 'not yet.'"
If you would like to read the story of how I started to grasp God's plan for our family, please read our very first blog post, back on March 14, 2009. Quite simply, for me, our journey to become "a family for Ellie-Kate" was one of faith, hope, and, ultimately, obedience. God didn't just answer my prayer with what I wanted. He blessed me with something much, much more-- yes, a fourth beautiful, healthy daughter with an amazing personality, a warm and wonderful disposition, a brilliant mind, and an intense knack for sports. However, beyond Ellie-Kate, He has taught our family about the blessings of stepping out in faith. Those steps took us around the world and brought us into the lives of people that we would never have met otherwise. He bolstered our courage, provided our finances, broadened our world, and enriched our lives in such powerful, incredible ways.
He blessed us with this journey that we have shared with you for now four years. Thank you for caring about us. We pray that our story has been a blessing to you as well.
More soon--
Christie
Saturday, March 9, 2013
What a month...
Hi everyone--
Four weeks ago, at almost exactly this time, I was holding Izzy in my lap, not knowing if he had broken a leg in a fall or what. At around 10:35 p.m., we heard a thud on the stairwell, and Izzy came down, looking disoriented and limping. We called the vet, and he told us to give him a baby aspirin. Of course, we didn't have any so Roger ran out to the store while I watched the ND-Louisville game while holding Izzy. Five overtimes later, Izzy had taken the pill, and we left him in the downstairs bathroom to be safe for the night.
After watching him decline throughout the day on that following Sunday, we drove to Parkersburg and then to Medvet in Columbus. Izzy could barely move, and we thought that he might die that night. We felt guilty that we didn't respond faster, and we wrestled with spending so much money, but we did what we could with the information and resources that we had, especially as the girls begged us to help him.
Four weeks later, Izzy is so much better. He can walk around and climb up and down the stairs. He's still stiff, especially in his back left leg, but he's on the road to recovery after his stroke. We are so grateful that we drove to Medvet in the wee hours of the night and that we sought help for our precious kitty. We chuckle (and cringe at the cost) at approving a MRI (particularly one at Children's Hospital), but, given how everything has turned out, we consider the money to be well-spent... Not quite a Disney vacation but well worth it to look in his eyes and know that we cared for him in the best ways that we could find.
Praise God for watching over us during all of the travel throughout the past month, and praise God for enabling Izzy to get better. We're all very, very grateful!!
Hope that everyone has a great rest of the week-end!
Christie
Four weeks ago, at almost exactly this time, I was holding Izzy in my lap, not knowing if he had broken a leg in a fall or what. At around 10:35 p.m., we heard a thud on the stairwell, and Izzy came down, looking disoriented and limping. We called the vet, and he told us to give him a baby aspirin. Of course, we didn't have any so Roger ran out to the store while I watched the ND-Louisville game while holding Izzy. Five overtimes later, Izzy had taken the pill, and we left him in the downstairs bathroom to be safe for the night.
After watching him decline throughout the day on that following Sunday, we drove to Parkersburg and then to Medvet in Columbus. Izzy could barely move, and we thought that he might die that night. We felt guilty that we didn't respond faster, and we wrestled with spending so much money, but we did what we could with the information and resources that we had, especially as the girls begged us to help him.
Four weeks later, Izzy is so much better. He can walk around and climb up and down the stairs. He's still stiff, especially in his back left leg, but he's on the road to recovery after his stroke. We are so grateful that we drove to Medvet in the wee hours of the night and that we sought help for our precious kitty. We chuckle (and cringe at the cost) at approving a MRI (particularly one at Children's Hospital), but, given how everything has turned out, we consider the money to be well-spent... Not quite a Disney vacation but well worth it to look in his eyes and know that we cared for him in the best ways that we could find.
Praise God for watching over us during all of the travel throughout the past month, and praise God for enabling Izzy to get better. We're all very, very grateful!!
Hope that everyone has a great rest of the week-end!
Christie
OU wins against Miami-- March 9, 2013
Girl Scout Silver Award project... March 7, 2013
Special moments... March 6, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
Grateful...
Hi everyone--
I am so grateful that we started this blog, nearly four years ago... I pray that memories from our trip to China... the people that we met (and the lives that now intertwine with our own)... Emmy's pigtails... and, of course, baby Ellie-Kate will never fade. However, as we near this anniversary, for the first time, I couldn't put my finger on the exact day that we left for China. Thus, I popped online and scrolled back to our very first few blog entries... March 23 is our Family Day, and it is etched in my mind and celebrated every year, but I am so glad that we began this online journal of our lives.
It has morphed into a family memory book of precious moments throughout our lives. Ellie-Kate is now a happy, healthy, dynamic five year old. Emmy is a 12 year old middle schooler, no longer adorning those adorable pigtails. Chelsea is a college freshman, and Britti is engaged, with a career. Yet, this blog has enabled us to chronicle those lovely transitions and turning points in our life journey. This blog continues to be about "A Family for Ellie-Kate," and, sometimes, it is just as funny as Disney Channel's "Good Luck Charlie," with the running theme of a video journal that big sister Teddi started for her new little sister, Charlie.
I praise God for Ellie-Kate and for all that she has brought to our family. She's such a special gift from God, and I treasure all of the memories that are about to come to mind as we celebrate our upcoming anniversary of our family's biggest adventure-- our trip to China so that we could bring Ellie-Kate home to Ohio!
Have a great week-end, everyone!
Christie
I am so grateful that we started this blog, nearly four years ago... I pray that memories from our trip to China... the people that we met (and the lives that now intertwine with our own)... Emmy's pigtails... and, of course, baby Ellie-Kate will never fade. However, as we near this anniversary, for the first time, I couldn't put my finger on the exact day that we left for China. Thus, I popped online and scrolled back to our very first few blog entries... March 23 is our Family Day, and it is etched in my mind and celebrated every year, but I am so glad that we began this online journal of our lives.
It has morphed into a family memory book of precious moments throughout our lives. Ellie-Kate is now a happy, healthy, dynamic five year old. Emmy is a 12 year old middle schooler, no longer adorning those adorable pigtails. Chelsea is a college freshman, and Britti is engaged, with a career. Yet, this blog has enabled us to chronicle those lovely transitions and turning points in our life journey. This blog continues to be about "A Family for Ellie-Kate," and, sometimes, it is just as funny as Disney Channel's "Good Luck Charlie," with the running theme of a video journal that big sister Teddi started for her new little sister, Charlie.
I praise God for Ellie-Kate and for all that she has brought to our family. She's such a special gift from God, and I treasure all of the memories that are about to come to mind as we celebrate our upcoming anniversary of our family's biggest adventure-- our trip to China so that we could bring Ellie-Kate home to Ohio!
Have a great week-end, everyone!
Christie
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Snow much fun!! March 6, 2013
March 3, 2013-- Adventures at Baylor
Dinner with Chelsea and Katie-- March 2, 2013
Chelsea Meagan's ADPi "Take a Date" event at Six Flags on March 2, 2013
Chelsea Meagan had a great time at Six Flags in Dallas while I stayed back in Waco. We found out about Take a Date after I booked my airline ticket to come out for the Alpha Lambda Delta induction, and it was fine. I used the day to catch up on reading that I needed to do for my book project. I slept in, read over breakfast at Denney's and then back at the hotel, took a wonderful (although windy) walk about campus, stopped in the bookstore, headed back to the hotel for more reading, and then went to the mall to build a bear for Ellie-Kate. The ones in the bookstore were not nearly cuddling or friendly enough looking so I headed for Build a Bear instead! However, I did find two books at the bookstore that were hits! One book, "Heaven is for Real," caught my eye, and I had to buy it! I literally read the whole thing in one sitting that afternoon!!! It was AWESOME!! Cannot recommend it more highly! Very inspirational!! Another book, about Bruiser, the Baylor Bear, has definitely been a hit with Ellie-Kate ever since I gave it to her.
I have to admit that I felt more than a bit guilty for enjoying such a productive, inspiring, and relaxing day... However, I'll also admit that I truly enjoyed the chance to read, relax, and shop for an entire day. It doesn't happen often, and the day was a wonderful gift!
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