Six Months With Mia

Yesterday marked our six month anniversary with Mia.  It's amazing how time goes by so quickly.  Her doctor's report was good.  She has grown 4 centimeters and has gained 3 pounds.  We go back in four months.


On Thursday the social worker will come for our second home visit.  I think she will be surprised by the changes in this short amount of time.  We just completed swimming lessons and vacation bible school.  Such fun.  Her language is progressing rapidly.  They other day I asked her if she was sure about something.  I can't even remember what I had asked because her response took me by surprise.  She said "I'm not sure I'm POSITIVE."  Such a big word for just learning English.  She has a sense of humor too.  She asked me if I would "paint her tony tails."  I said do you mean toe nails?  She said yes, I was just speaking Chinese.  Just love this precious little girl.

Adoption is not a fairy tale and we do have our moments of adapting as a new family.  Mia's personality and habits have been developed way before she came to us.  However, we have all bonded and grown these past six months.  It is painful when she confides certain events from the orphanage and her treatment there.  But, everything happens in God's time and we are so blessed to have her with us now.  I can't wait to see what the next six months have in store for us.  

The above video is from vacation bible school.  They had a talent show and she wanted to sing in Chinese.  To listen to her sing just go to the bottom of the page and mute the blog music. 

Castle Project

Graduation Pictures

From Baby Steps to Graduation

To my precious son on your graduation day,

As I sit here writing this letter I’m asking myself “Where have 12 school years gone?”  It seems just like yesterday you were off to Kindergarten and now graduation is here.  Time marches on at a pace that is hard to keep up with.  Part of me feels like I have wasted so much time and the days have melted into each other.  How do I tell you everything you need to know before you are gone and on your own?  I remember when you were small enough to hold in my arms.  I didn’t know how fast you would grow wings and fly away.  That this time in our lives would approach so soon.  All parents have regrets; wish I would have read more books to you, played more games and just sat and held you in my arms.  You will understand soon enough when you have your own children and find yourself the head of your family.  There is no greater responsibility, or joy, than to parent a child.  

 Here are a couple of mom's tidbits that I want you to take with you as your journey off.

The only thing in the world you can change is you.

A good reputation is more valuable than money.

Everything we have - money, possessions, even our abilities and talents are gifts from God.  Use your gifts wisely.

Kindness is everything. 

With God all things are possible.  Matthew 19:26

The Bible is true.    Never let anyone steer you away from God’s word, or His grace.  Turn to God’s word in all times.  Good and bad.

No matter where life takes you son; you will ALWAYS be loved by your mama.  I have always been proud of you and I know that God has great things in store for you.

All My Love,

~Mom

   

Five Beautiful Months

Relaxing in Poppy's hammock

It's hard to believe that five months ago today (December 19th, 2011) we took Mia into our arms as our daughter.  She came to us as this tiny, timid girl and has blossomed into a bubbly, beautiful, beaming beauty.


Mia has gained 3.5 lbs and has grown an inch.  Even with that she is still small for her age, but has such a huge personality.  I take her back to the endocrinologist the last part of May and I think the doctor will be surprised.   With all the love and nourishment she is getting it will be no time until she becomes a healthy ten year old.  You wouldn't believe that this is the same child.  Her language development is just incredible.  Sometimes I forget that she doesn't understand everything that I'm saying.  It's so easy to communicate our thoughts and feelings.  Love is a universal language.


Here's a funny story - Mia was complaining about doing her school work.  I told her she needed to do her school work to get a good education, so she could get a good job when she grows up.  She looked at me and said "Mama I no need school and a job.  I grow up and do nothing just like you do."  "Nothing" my daughter thinks I do "Nothing" all day.  Maybe she will actually have the opportunity to stay home and be the master of nothing in her home.  I certainly hope, so because there is no greater joy than to be able to take care of your family and do "Nothing."


Mother's Day was so special.  Mia slept with my card so she would be able to give it to me first thing in the morning.  I will cherish it forever.  


We decided Mia needed a pet.  Through a friend of Michael's we found this precious 7 week old mini Rex rabbit.  She is so sweet.  When we got the bunny on Mother's Day she was shaking.   Mia told us "she is scared just like I was when you first got me.  I shake too.  But I'm no scared now."  


Thank goodness that she is not afraid and she totally fits into our family.    

Mia and Honeybun

Honeybun 7 weeks old

Together At Last

Two parents, five kids (ages 10-25), and two states (Texas & Mississippi).  Hum....what are the chances of getting us all  together? Just about zero.  Not to mention that everyone has their own agenda going on when we are home.  But we did it.  Yeah!!  It was so awesome to have all the kids together under one roof, even if it was for only a couple of days.  I didn't get the perfect pictures that I wanted, but what I did get was lots of laughter, love and smiles.  Enough to last until the next time we are together again as a family.       

Mia's 10th Birthday

Saturday, April 28th, 2012


Happy 10th Birthday Mia Qing
April 25th, 2012

To say Mia was excited about her birthday would be an understatement.  She has talked about it from the moment she knew we were going to have a party for her.  She would say "It's my first birthday ever!"  She would look at the calendar and count down the days.  She would tell everyone who would listen "It's my birthday in .....days."


I can't imagine being 10 years old and never having blown out a candle, or opened a birthday gift.   Maybe the irony is that since we are her parents now this actually was her first birthday.  We weren't there for her the other years and her actual "birth day" would not have been a celebration, but a day of grieving for a set of parents who will never know this precious child of God.       


We wanted Mia to feel like a princess on her special day and from her smile I think we more than accomplished that goal!

Easter Pictures

These pictures are a little late in coming.  Just now finding the time to get on the computer and download a few pictures.  Took Mia to the eye doctor yesterday.  All looks good.  We will go back in six months.   Next month we go back to the endocrinologist to see about her growth progress.  She hasn't grown any taller, but the good news is she has gained two pounds.  We registered her to attend Chinese school on Saturdays.  It is a little late in the semester, but we don't want her to lose her native language.  English is coming along great!!  They other day she told us that she waited a "very, very, very, long time for us to come and get her."  She started to cry and it just broke my heart. We told her we got there as fast as we could.  Now she is counting down the days until her first birthday party.  April 25th she will be 10 years old.  She is so excited.  We did give her an early present.  We decided she has done enough waiting so we gave her the bike early.