Jumping into January 2013

January started off with a week long trip to Florida.  We had a fantastic time visiting with family, seeing the ocean and spending a day at Magic Kingdom.  I put most of my updates on Facebook, but want to keep up with my blog too.  It's hard to get the pictures off the camera, onto the computer, posted on Facebook and downloaded to the blog.  Not to mention running the house and everything in between.  So if I'm a little behind in life....at the end of the day.....it's all good.  

     

Mia had a fantastic time at Disney.  She is not into riding the rides, so we mostly stood in line waiting to get autographs from the princesses. Here are a few of her favorites.

Mia's favorite princess is Snow White.  This is as close as we could get.

Jasmin, Aladin and Princess Mia!

Princess Tiana

Rapunzel

Cinderella 

Sleeping Beauty

Mia's favorite Disney Character by far is......Dopey she loves Dopey!

Dopey

The day wouldn't be complete without the castle lit up at night.  Pictures don't show the real beauty.  It was amazing.

Disney was magical and fun, but I truly believe Mia's fondest memories will be her first trip to see the ocean.  Nothing compares to God's creation of waves, sand and shells.  She has been looking forward to seeing the ocean since she first came to America.  We are looking forward to taking her again this summer when she can  swim and enjoy the water.  

It's amazing how much joy a child can bring to your life.  I have been told many times how much of a blessing we are to Mia, but in fact we are the ones who have been blessed beyond words.  Seeing life through her eyes and sharing in this adventure has been the greatest gift.  Thank you Lord!!

Mia Joy

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!!

Nine Months with Mia

"For you created my inmost being; 

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

Psalm 139:13-14

School is in full force at our house.  Mia is loving the 4th grade and is in a super program.  She comes home excited about learning and doesn't seem to mind that she doesn't get much of a break.  English school five days a week and then two hours of Chinese school on Saturdays.    It's not easy learning a new language, keeping up with your native language and learning new skills.  Plus we have thrown piano lessons in there somewhere.  Makes me tired just blogging about it.  She is a fighter and no doubt  will be successful in all that comes her way.


During this past month I have been to two baby showers and welcomed the birth of my great nephew.   Watching the joy and care these women have for their babies left me feeling a little empty inside.  Nine months of experiencing blissful excitement, shopping and the best medical care.  Events that I have had the privilege of experiencing twice in my lifetime.  Putting away sweet baby clothes for the anticipation of a miracle to come.

When reflecting on Mia's entrance into the world I had an overwhelming feeling of sadness.  There was no baby shower, crib, diapers, or even medical care.  How cheated I felt for her.   I will never know the circumstances concerning her birth parents, or the nine months that should have been a celebration of life to come.  I will never know what her birth mother was thinking, or the pain she must have felt.  Questions  there will never be answers for.  What I do know and what brings me comfort is the knowledge that Mia was created in the image of God.  It doesn't matter that I don't know the circumstances.  God has a plan that transcends from what we might feel is right and just.  It doesn't matter that she wasn't knit together in my womb - that I don't have fancy ultra sound pictures, or the technology to have heard her beating heart.  I have something far greater.  God's promise.  A promise that says before we ever came to earth that God had a plan for us and we are of incredible value.  That  we are fearfully and wonderfully made.  No matter who birthed us into this world and what "genetic makeup" we come with, we are all God's children.  


Looking forward to seeing what the fall season has in store for our family. 

Mia loves  riding the bus

If you would like to hear Mia singing Jesus Loves Me go below and mute the blog music.

Thanks for reading and may God bless you and yours.