A Sweet Surprise...

I was getting the little ones ready for bed this evening when I noticed them.

The first one I saw was posted ever so subtly on the bottom left-hand corner of Lia's bathroom mirror.

A few minutes later I found the one in Alex's bathroom.

Two teeny-tiny, gender-specific, age appropriate chore charts for my two non-readers to help them get themselves ready for the day.

So cute.
So creative.
So not my idea.

No, this was not my doing.

This was not even my suggestion.

This was Lauren's idea from start to finish.  She even explained it to them and they are loving it.

 Seriously, sometimes I just don't know what I would do without that girl!

I'm trying to remember what I used to do in my spare time when I was 12.

I'm sure I read some books.
Procrastinated on chores.
Probably watched way too much TV.

But one thing I'm sure I never did when I was 12 was try to learn a new language.
By myself.

But that's what I've found a certain 12 year old (who happens to live in this house) doing lately.
At night, after her compadres have gone off to bed...
Or in the afternoon when she has some down time...
I'll come around the corner to find her hunkered down with her Chinese textbook, her whiteboard, and her insatiable desire to learn Mandarin.

A desire given by Him.
To learn a language not her own.
Because a love has been formed for a culture and a people very different from hers.

It started with her love for her sisters.
And the many children still waiting for a home.
But it has since grown into something much, much more.

And she wants to go back.
Someday.
In some capacity.
And I have every reason to believe that she will.

But for now she studies on her own.
With a little help from a textbook.
And our resident expert.

 And I watch and I wait...

 

for this beautiful seed that has been planted to come to full bloom.

Happy Birthday Sweet Lauren

Twelve years today.
My how time flies.
But even though it's been over a decade since you first graced our lives with your arrival, some things are still the same....

Those big blue eyes.

And breath-taking smile.

Your creative spirit.

And occasional bad hair day.

But as you grow, I'm discovering that there are so many more wonderful things to love about you...

Like how you love your family.

And your friends.

How you love those in need.

But most importantly, how you love Jesus.

And there is no greater joy for this momma than knowing just how much He loves you, too.

Happy Birthday Lauren!

The Duet

Sisters.
I don't have one myself so it's all a little new to me.
This phenomena called "sisterhood."

Most of the time they are inseparable.
Occasionally they need to be separated.

They are completely honest with one another about everything.
Sometimes a little too honest.

But watching these two work together for the past few months on their duet has been quite enlightening.

The laughter.
The crying.
The joy.
The frustration.
The criticism.
The encouragement.
The silliness.
The determination.
The things that are shared between sisters.

When they started their practicing, it was individually, each focusing on their own parts.
But then they came together.
And they had to learn to listen to each other.
And learn to be patient with each other.
And learn to support one another.

And they did.

And the end result was beautiful.

A Little Sunday Afternoon Sweetness...

I'm not sure which is sweeter...

...the little boy who can now ride all the way to the cul de sac and back on his Rad Cat bike complete with Spider Man helmet and bell.  (Bonus:  He rings the bell when he reaches the top of the hill).

...or his big-hearted big sister who goes with him not because Mom or Dad asked her to but just because she wants to...

...or the gentle giant who watches when they leave and stands guard at the edge of the yard until they make it back home safely.

OK, so the dog is an easy third, but I still thought it was a sweet gesture on his part.

"Three is a Magic Number"

That's what I learned from Schoolhouse Rock.

And that's what I'm learning from my girls.

My three girls who share one room, that is.

There's a lot of things I'd expect to hear when 3 girls share a room together (oh, cynical one that I am). And from time to time I get some of that (not gonna lie).

But for the most part, when they are all together, dancing, drawing, dressing up...doing those things that they do...


what I hear is laughter,

what I sense is  joy,

and what I see is love.


Again, we are only 2 weeks in and we still have a long, long way to go.  But His grace in this situation (especially in the relationships of the girls) continues to amaze me.


And I just love being amazed by His grace.

Another beautiful story...

Written by God
Illustrated by Lauren and Caroline

Lia, Carly, Lauren, and Lily

Family

I have one more picture to post of Lily. (OK, actually I have several more but I'm trying to pace myself...)

This one was posted on Kim's blog this morning.

It is Lily holding the picture that Lauren drew of our family.

Our family as she sees it.

Because Lauren doesn't need to wait for any government to validate what she already knows in her heart.

Lily is her sister.

Our daughter.

A part of our family.

And only a few short days and a little air space continue to separate us.

Sunday Snapshot {Lauren}

If Lauren ruled the world...

there would be mandatory sleeping in everyday and no hairbrushing allowed until at least after lunch.

There would be dessert after every meal.

And a slumber party to attend each night.

Her most important meetings wouldn't be with heads of state or rulers of other countries...

...instead, it would be time spent simply hanging out with her family and her friends.
  No agenda.  Just a lot of giggling and loving.

And food.  Lots and lots of food.

And though we are different in many ways this child of mine and me...

I have to admit there are many days I think to myself...

if Lauren did rule the world...

well then, what a wonderful world that would be.

The Big Night

Thursdays are usually looong days for us.  Yesterday we left the house at 8:30 in the morning and didn't get back home until 11 at night (right before these little princesses turned into pumpkins).  But it was so worth it.

We started with dinner.  Took a little while as these 2 were determined to eat their Chinese with real chopsticks.  (I admired their tenacity but opted for the fork myself.)

Then it was off to the big event. 

They were giddy in the car and giggly all the way until performance time. 

And then for the next 3 hours we were blessed to hear music and stories and testimonies from a family that has come to mean a lot to us over the past few years.  None other than...drum roll, please...

The Chapmans

SCC himself, his sweet wife, as well as his sons

I loved watching these two take it all in and grin from ear to ear every time he spoke about his sweet girls and adoption.

But I have to say that the highlight for me was finally being able to meet "in person" my bloggy friend Kristi and her husband (who are proud parents to 3..with 1 waiting in China...of the cutest kids I've ever seen.  I didn't realize that they would be there as well but what a sweet surprise it was!  And since I am secretly plotting an arranged marriage between her Caleb and my Lia, I felt that this was an important first step in making that happen.  Just sayin'  :)


Blessing upon blessing, I tell you.  And a great night all around.

He's Coming to Town

No, not the bearded guy in the red suit (although signs of his coming are starting to crop up everywhere).

It's him, you see.  And I promised myself that if he came within a 60 mile radius, I'd take my girls to see him.

Simply because they love him.  And his family.

And I love the fact that they love him.  And his family.

So tonight is the big night.

We'll get all gussied up (well not really, but I will make them brush their hair...love you, girls :)  ) and we'll head out.

 And hopefully the night will be everything they've long-imagined it would be.

Two Girls, An Ocean Apart

Across the ocean, a little girl waits for her family to come.

In my home, a little girl waits to meet her new sister.  And while she waits, she writes this poem.

To Lily

 From your sister Lauren

Lily's smile stretches wide

From one cheek to the other side.

It glows, she beams!  She laughs so long.

She smiles as she sings a Chinese song! 

Her voice is lovely like a dove,

Given from our God with love.

She sings and laughs and smiles with care

She makes people smile everywhere.

Her name Lily Claire Pingli

Is special for her and special to me

To her "Lily" means "love and favor"

To me "Lily" means "my sister forever."

Lily's wonderful, amazing, and smart.

She's lovely, true, and sweet at heart.

She's gorgeous, precious, pretty, plus

She's going to come and live with us!

It just doesn't get much sweeter than that.

The poet