Introducing Little Sister!

We are beyond thrilled to introduce you to our new daughter!

On December 9th, our agency emailed us her file to consider. Could she be our daughter? We have had the opportunity to review several other files but I have never had the reaction I had to little sister's file. 

The Lord gave us the word "Restore" in regards to our adoption. When I read the file the word "Restore" fell on me all over again.

All adoptions in China begin with abandonment. We knew that going into this. I'm not sure why the reality of Little Sister's story was more than I could bear. I went about my day holding it together but by that night it was all too much. EJ found me sobbing in the laundry room.

I was completely overcome.

Our precious girl was found at the age of 2. She had a heart problem and needed to have surgery. I have been told that surgery is very expensive and you must pay up front. Once under the care of the orphanage she received her surgery.

I will never know the whole story. Little Sister will never know about the first two years of her life. You see, it is illegal to abandon a child. Her parents left no identifying information. No birth date. No name.

I picture her, a tiny two year old, standing alone. She is wondering where she is. Where is her family? I weep for her. She must have been so scared. Did she cry? Was she just frozen in fear? I wish I could have been there. I wish I could have scooped her up in my arms. I would have whispered in her ear that it is all going to be okay. Oh how I wish she had never gone through this kind of pain.

I picture her Mother. I cannot imagine the anguish she must have felt. I do not know all the circumstances but I know what it feels like to be a mother. I weep for her. She must have felt so hopeless. I wish I could tell her that I am coming. I will finish the race. I am honored to be the mother of her baby girl. Oh how I wish I could tell her. How I wish I could get to know her.

To my sweet daughter,

We will never know the beginning of your story...

but God knows.

He knows your name. 

He knows your story. 

He loves you so.

Did you know that God says he places the lonely in families?

You won't have to be lonely any longer, my sweet girl.

Your Mommy and Daddy are coming!

We will be there as soon as we can.

Guess what?

You have 6 siblings waiting for you! 5 brothers and 1 sister. They have been praying and waiting for you.

We stare at your picture and wonder what you will think of all of us.

We are praying for your heart.

We are asking God to whisper our voices in your ear.

We love you little sister.

You are coming home!

Love, 

Daddy, Mommy and your brothers and sister

a beautiful birth day

The day began way too early.  We left the house at 4:30am.  My C-section was scheduled for 7:30am.  I prefer the early morning surgery time so I don't have to be hungry all day.

As we prepared for baby E's birth EJ read his bible.  He got a text from one of his friends with this passage from Psalm.  What a blessing to read those words right before we welcomed child number six.

I asked Pop and Grammy to join us early that morning to pray over me before I left for the surgery.  The day started out pretty rough with 4 attempts to place my IV.  I was feeling pretty shaken.

I also asked my sis, Rock Star, to come early to capture our time in photographs.  I am so glad she did.  It is such a blessing to have these memories documented.  In the photo below Pop is praying over me while Grammy and I talk.  Later Pop whispered in my ear, "We trust God with you."  I needed to hear that.  He could see that I was feeling anxious and that encouragement was precious to me.

This man is a rock.  He has calmly walked me through so many of life's big moments.  Look at him put on those scrubs like a pro.

He is also funny and he keeps me laughing.  When you are about to be "gutted like a fish" (as my cousin Mrs. Okie says) it's good to laugh a little.

The moment we have been waiting for...

Baby E is here safe and sound!

Welcome to the world sweet baby boy!

Here he is in the hands of our favorite Dr. K.  

(Baby E is grand baby number 8 that Dr. K. has delivered for my folks) 

Tears of joy as I snuggle him.  I got to hold him a long time right there on the operating table.  I loved the chance to begin bonding right away.  I even got the opportunity to sing the doxology over him as a praise to God while they wheeled me out of surgery.

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise him above ye heavenly hosts.

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Amen."

Daddy is over the moon with love for him!

Isn't he so precious!

I love this picture.  I have to lay flat for some time after the surgery so I don't throw up.  Glamorous, right?  Thankfully, this c-section was the first (out of four) that I did not throw up.  I was so thankful.

Back to the picture...

These moments are hard for me to really see laying on my back.  I love seeing everyone admiring baby E in this photograph.

Pop and Grammy are always excited to welcome a new grandbaby.  He is number 15 for them and the 10th boy.  Wow!  What an incredible heritage.

Aunt Rock Star snuggles baby E.

Aunt Pretty Princess gets her first cuddle.

Papa and Grandma had been watching the older 5 kids all day.  It was their turn to love on baby E.  They always say they got a great return on their investment.  They had one child and so far have 6 grandbabies.  I love that attitude.  They blessed me that day and often by caring for the children.

Aunt DW will be here soon from out of state.  She is anxious to get her hands on this new little nephew.

Baby E

Born February 18th, 2014

7lbs 9oz

20 inches long

Thank you Father for our son.  

We are overwhelmed with love and gratitude.

Our little princess has an announcement...

 

"Good People of the land, I shall be retaining my title as the one and only Princess in this castle.  My baby brother is scheduled to grace us with his appearance in February.  At such time, I will be outnumbered 5 to 1.  The Queen mother and I are confident that we can still keep our royal subjects (all these boys) under control.  Thank you for your attention."

 

The Royal Princess

Adoption Update {and one other little piece of news}

It was May 15th when we got the call that Hope had chosen our family.

 

For the past three months we have been getting to know each other.

 

We have been to 6 doctors appointments together.

 

We have gone through 3 hospitalizations.

 

We have even had Hope and her older children in our home for a three day stay.

 

We are building something special for all of us.

 

We have 3 doctor's appointments left.

 

Then we will have a baby.

 

A BABY.

 

The little man will be here before we know it.

 

Hope is more than ready to deliver him.  She has been extremely sick this pregnancy.  It seems unfair.

 

I am so glad for her that it is almost over.

 

Even though the time is near, I have been hesitant to prepare a hospital bag for our little man.

 

I just kept thinking it was because I was busy.

 

When I pulled out the tubs of newborn baby boy items it hit me...

 

I was a little scared.

 

The last time I packed a hospital bag for a baby boy, we never got to meet him.

 

Once again, I turned my fears over to the Lord.

 

He is in control.

 

His plan is perfect.

 

It is all going to be okay.

 

No matter what happens.

 

Now these precious items are all washed up and ready.

 

He is going to look so cute in his coming home outfit!

 

He will be the 5th baby to sleep sweetly in this bassinet next to Mommy and Daddy.

 

His sonogram pictures have graced our mantel for the past three months.

 

They remind us that someone is missing from the picture.

 

We love you little man!

 

We can't wait to see your face for the first time.

 

You are the answer to our prayers.

 

Until we meet,

Mommy, Daddy and your entire fan club.

 

P.S. Little man...you better be ready for this loving bunch! 

They are excited to be your big brothers and big sister. 

 

Guess what? 

 

You are going to be a big brother too! 

 

Mommy has been working on this little one for awhile now and you will get to meet him or her in February. 

 

I hope you are ready.  It is going to be fun!

 

God is so good!

 

A little tiny announcement