Merry Christmas 2012

Merry Christmas my family and friends!  How fast the season comes and goes.  Time for another New Year to begin.  I'm not sure where 2012 went and 2013 is fast approaching.  So happy to have had four of our five children home for the holidays.  

Enjoying a Christmas Eve tradition of opening one present.  Of course it's pajama's picked out by mom.

Mia's first Christmas morning was fun.  The girls had to wake her up so she could enjoy what "Santa" left under the tree.

Later we went to Grammy's & Poppy's for Christmas Day.  We are so blessed to have such a big family to spend the holidays with.

But let us not forget the true meaning of Christmas.  The birth of our Savior.

Mild He lays His glory by,

Born that man no more may die.

Born to raise the sons of earth,

Born to give them second birth.

~Wesley

May the new year bring you love, peace and blessings! 

Gotcha Day One Year Later

Gotcha Day Dec. 19th, 2011

First Touch

Mia Joy Qing Wilson

Years ago I opened a fortune cookie that read "Seek Joy".   Little did I know that my joy would come in the form of a precious nine year old from Hubei, China.  As I write this blog today I am on day five of the flu.  Mia is home sick too.  So is Baba.  Not how I envisioned the day.  However, her first words this morning were "Today is my Gotcha Day.  What we do today mama?"  Even as sick as she is she knows that today is special.  

Last week Mia was getting ready to go to the bus stop.  It was cold outside and we both had on our coats.  She looked at me and said "That is the coat you had on when you first touched me." I looked at her and said "That is the coat you had on that day too."  For a moment in time we were transported back to a memory  that cannot be described with words.   That is what is so special about adopting an older child.  I would have thought nothing about what we were wearing.  In fact, I was probably lost in the hustle and bustle of getting off to school.  But not Mia.  She sees life through different eyes and a completely different pace than I do.  That's what I love about her.  She keeps me grounded in the moment.

The year has not been without struggles.  We have had eye surgery and countless doctor visits.  Fortunately she has gained six pounds and has grown two inches. Amazing what love and proper nutrition can do.  Older children do come with personalities and traits already intact.  However, I can honestly say that it has truly been an easy year.  The only issue as a parent I have had to face is her independence.  Being an older child in an orphanage she had to fend for herself.  We struggle a bit when it comes to her independence.  She doesn't want my help most times and at first it hurt my feelings.  When we are at church or around friends she is very independent and likes to be around other people.  She has an infectious smile and has many friends of all ages.  I  have learned to let her go and realize this is just who she is.  Miss social butterfly who brings joy to many people.  

Looking forward to spending our first Christmas at home together as a family.  She knows it is Jesus' birthday and is excited that we get to spend it together.  Can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us in the coming  year.  

"Joy is the direct result of having God's perspective

 on our daily lives and the effect of loving our Lord enough to obey His commands and trust His promises."

Bill Bright

Seek Joy!!

December 16th

Last year on December 16, 2011,  Butch and I were flying to Beijing, China to bring home our precious daughter. 

Li Qing 

One year later she is an angel in the Christmas play.  

Mia Joy Qing Wilson
Christmas Angel

"God knows everything.  

He can manage everything,

  and He loves us.

  Surely this is enough for a fullness of 

joy that is beyond words."   

Hannah Whitall Smith

Back on the Blog

Dear friends and family,

Yes, I am back on the blogging train!  It is easy to fall off and then the days go by in a blur.  I can't believe where two months have gone.  Last update was Mia's nine months with us.  I blinked my eyes and now we are fast approaching Gotcha Day on December 19th.  I have good intentions and do keep up with Facebook, but documenting within the blog is a different story.  I am going to add a few pictures and make a few comments and hopefully stay on track.  

October

October brought about lots of fun.  Mia received her third grade bible.   Since she wasn't here to receive it last year she was excited to get it now.  She was also part of the children's bell choir at church.

Dressed and ready to go to school for picture day. 

Love that smile!!  

Princess  Snow White

St. John's Fall Festival

First Jack-o-lanterns - These pumpkins had yummy seeds!!

I think she had more fun passing out the candy than trick or treating the houses!

November 

Thanksgiving came and went with no real pictures.  We hosted Thanksgiving at our house so I was so preoccupied with food preparation and not photography.  My bad!!  However, the next day we did take her to Palestine, Texas for an exciting adventure on the Polar Express.  First, we had to show her the movie so she would understand what we were talking about.  After watching the movie she said "I don't want to go on the train."  The tickets had already been purchased, so we made the three hour car ride and she had a blast.  Whew!  

As you can see this has been a busy two months.  School is going great.  She has her struggles academically, but she loves learning new things.  Math is her favorite and she loves books.  She wakes up with a smile on her face and ready to go.  

~We are truly blessed.  Thanks be to God!!