Adoptive Parents...

You Know You're An Adoptive Parent When . . .


1. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.

2. You realize DNA has nothing to do with love and family.

3. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.

4. The fact that, if 7% of Christians adopted 1 child there would be no orphans in the world, is convicting to you.

5. You spend free time surfing blogs about families who have experienced the blessing of adoption. (In fact, I stole this article from one of them!) :)

6. It drives you crazy when people ask you about adopted child's 'real' parents.

7. You have ever been 'pregnant' with your adoptive child longer than it takes an elephant to give birth.(2 years!)

8. You had no idea how you would afford to adopt but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing where God calls you He will provide.

9. You have ever taken an airplane ride half-way around the world with a child you just met. (Okay, we've never done this, but we did #8 twice, so we still qualify.)

10. You believe God's heart is for adoption.

11. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart and family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.

12. You know what the word 'Dossier' means, and you can actually pronounce it!

13. You have welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.

14. You shudder when people say your child is so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you are the blessed one to have him or her in your life.

-Author unknown

Random thoughts

-I think this new blog template is pretty cute!
-Lovin' almost every sandal here... especially this one.
-Can't wait to finally go to the GA Aquarium during Spring Break.
-My mom (my personal decorator) just got me this for my newly finished kitchen wall. Can't wait to get it. Tryin' to keep things simple and bird-like in my new kitchen.
-My baby turned 5 last week; feeling very melancholy about how they are growing up so fast.
-Xian's MS band did better than any former band in his school at competition the other week; scored all I's. :)
-SO very anxious for my mom to come visit us for Spring Break. In addition to the aquarium, we'll shop (IKEA), go to 'Alice in Wonderland', work in a little photo shoot w/ her & the kids, and enjoy a wonderful week together.
-Would LOVE to go to Spain this summer w/ Xian to visit our exchange student, Ricardo... we talked w/ him the other night. Flights are outrageously expensive.
-Almost done w/ our ktichen - painted & glazed cupboards, newly painted walls, still need to reupholster chair cushions and get window coverings made. Need to find bird material :)
-Next project is our bedroom - repainting all furniture a cappuccino brown and making a padded headboard. Would love to incorporate this print.
-So anxious & excited for more of this spring weather… it has been such a dreary, lonely winter.

Mr. Obama = a symptom

From Neal Boortz:

This quote has been swirling around the Internet. While we are unable to verify who said it, the message is all too important ...

"The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the presidency. It will be easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to an electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails us. Blaming the prince of fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The public can survive a Barack Obama. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president."

Just remember, folks ... elections have consequences.

New shots

Took the plunge and had my very first photo 'shoot' w/ the girls the other day... I did MANY things wrong w/ the 208 pix I took, but managed to get a few cute ones.

Almond Eyes by M.R.K.

My mom's newest passion is writing. I always knew she'd be good at it and she seems to have found her forte' - short stories.

This is the latest one she wrote about Lil’ & Mims… isn’t it lovely!

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ALMOND EYES

          I peered into the crib and looking back at me from a little round face were beautiful almond eyes.   This was my first introduction to my new granddaughter, newly arrived to South Dakota from South Korea.   She was eight months old and fearless.   She had been placed in a foster home immediately after birth and now had arrived at the home of my daughter, her husband, and 8 year old son.   They were thrilled, apprehensive and enthusiastic to have her adapt to her new home.   They named her ________. 

           The all-new surroundings, new faces and new smells did not appear to upset her resolve.   She adapted immediately.    She was somewhat apprehensive when it came to me.  Perhaps she had not seen anyone with white hair before and it startled her.   It took several visits and gradual introduction to bond a relationship. 

           Two years later, a new set of almond eyes arrived, this beauty given the name of ______ (also known as ____).    She came with fear, grief and the saddest face I have ever encountered in a child.   She was in mourning, having just been removed from her foster home consisting of two parents and three children.    She had bonded with them and was in deep anguish.   The only person she would have anything to do with was my daughter and even she could not always console her.   She cried incessantly, could not sleep without someone beside her and generally was very despondent.  Pictures of her at Christmas with the rest of the happy family told the entire story.    It took more than a year and a half for her to finally conform.    My son-in-law tried everything he could to bond with her, but she would have nothing to do with him.  

           Four years later, both of these beautiful little girls are well adapted, happy, exuberant and smart.    They are very different from one another, but they are sisters nevertheless.    Their past is forgotten.  They are completely bonded to their mother, father and brother.   It is hard to remember what life was like before their arrival.