a blessed Thanksgiving to all...

All I have needed thy hands hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me...

Happy 7th Birthday Wild Man...

Today you are turning (5+2) or (15-8) or (25-18). Everything is a math problem these days but today the answers are all the same. 7. SEVEN. YEARS. OLD. How in the world did that HAPPEN? In honor of your 7th Birthday, here are seven things that make me gigantically (his word) proud to be your Mommy.

1. I love your smile. From annoyed grin to Cheshire cat smile, they all make me melt like chocolate on a hot summer day. What a handsome boy you are becoming...beautiful both inside and out. Someday I hope you find "a stinky girl" who loves that sweet smile as much as I do. In about 20 years from now. Deal?

2. I love the way you say, "Ohhhhh Moooooooom". It ranges from snarky to sincere but it makes me want to laugh every time I hear it. Sometimes I'm laughing on the inside... but I'm still laughing.
3. I love your silliness. Yes, sometimes it drives me bananas but when you break out that jokelopedia and start reading joke after silly joke (without any inflection in your voice and then a good hardy knee slap at the end) I always get a good chuckle.

4. I love the way your mind works. I am constantly in awe of the gifts God has blessed you. I am certain He has HUGE plans for your life and it is my privilege to sit in the front row cheering you on every step of the way. It is quite possible I will still be reminding you to put on socks before shoes or brush your teeth or put the tag in the back or...well, you get the picture...but I'll still be your biggest fan.
5. I love to hear you pray. You have no problem praying aloud in such a sincere and adult-like way. You always pray for a laundry list of family, friends, teachers, your little friend Uzias in Nicaragua and your friend Susannah. Always. I get a little teary the moment your words start to flow. Before MeiMei came home you prayed every day right along with the rest of us that she would be "safe and healthy until we can bring her home." He answered your prayer and ours as well.

6. I love when you become the little negotiator. Whether it's more Wii time or just one more cookie, you always have a request for more. Always. I know the strong will you have in that little mind of yours is going to lead you straight to the Supreme Court because you can argue with the best of them. I have NO IDEA where you get that from. It must be your Daddy. :-)
7. I love your heart. I love that you have no problem sharing hugs and kisses and pats with your Mom. I know those days will come to an abrupt end so I'm snatching as many as possible right now. I love that you love your sisters (even though they are "stinky girls" and mess up your stuff). I love that you think your Daddy is the best thing since peanut butter. Shhhh...don't tell him but I think he is too.

Now that I'm the Mom of a SEVEN YEAR OLD, I understand why people would say to me as a child, "I'm going to put a brick on your head". That's exactly what I want to do to you. You are growing up. You like Batman, Transformers and Wii games instead of "baby stuff". You'll negotiate your dinner for a little dessert in return. You can tie your own shoes (insert angelic chorus here) and read like a third grader. You have the memory of an elephant. You can fully illustrate the final scenes from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark after seeing it only once. You still hug your Kindergarten teacher every day on your way to first grade--because you miss her--and then you hug your First Grade teacher as well. You are nothing short of amazing to me in every sense of the word. I am incredibly thankful for each day of the past seven years. There is no other title I would rather carry than Mommy and you are the one who started it all.
Happy 7th Birthday Wild Man! You are strong and sweet and smart and brave and Mommy loves you...today, tomorrow and always.

Final Reply

If you would like to provide me with an email address I would be glad to discuss this with you in a more appropriate manner. This will be my final reply to your rude and hurtful comments on MY blog.

Adoption is a choice. It is a choice many families make for various reasons. We wanted another child and there are literally MILLIONS of children in the world who need parents. MILLIONS. Those little lives had already been created so why wouldn't we choose to parent one of those children? We felt this was God's plan for our family. Contrary to what you think, genetic material does not make a parent a parent. Believe me. I know that from personal experience. Yes, there are thousands of children here in the United States and millions in other countries who need families. We chose China because we felt that is where God was directing us. Nothing more. You are obviously very concerned about the children in the United States and I applaud you for that. If you knew me in real life, you would KNOW my heart is for these children. The ones all over the world who go to bed hungry or cold or without someone to tuck them in. It is my heart. It is my calling. It is what keeps me awake at night. I can tell you are very concerned about the children from the United States and I would be happy to provide you with the resources to help you adopt or foster one of them. My email is in the sidebar. One thing to note is you will be required to complete a homestudy which could prove problematic for you given your current feelings. A very good social worker can help you sort through those feelings. I do not know a social worker in Toledo, Ohio but I would be happy to help you find one.

The only thing we have "done" to our oldest children is give them a sister. Giving them the gift of an adopted sibling is no different than bringing home a new baby from the hospital. There is an adjustment period no matter how you choose to grow your family. Yes, our adoption has been difficult for our family. That is true but NOTHING worth doing is ever easy. At times, being a wife is trying. When I became a Mother, I spent much of the first three years of our son's life in tears for reasons I do not care to share. Being a Mom of two little people was difficult at times. Traveling to China and wading through extremely hard days was beyond what I was prepared (and I thought I was prepared). The first six weeks home were some of the darkest days of my entire life. But would I go to China for my daughter again (and she IS my daughter by the way)? Yes. Would I sign my name on the dotted line today to adopt another child. YES I WOULD! Why? Because I have been abundantly blessed beyond all I could have asked or imagined. This is my heart. I believe I have been called to be a Mommy above all other "occupations". For me, being a Mommy doesn't involve DNA. It involves rocking babies, kissing boo-boo's and teaching my children to love God and love people. That includes people with rude and hurtful comments. NOTHING worth doing is ever easy but no one ever said life would be. The only thing we are promised is a God (with a capital G) who will walk beside us every step of the way. I will be praying for you, Anonymous in Toledo Ohio. I will pray that He will change your heart so that you can begin to be the change I wish to see in the world.

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do

Dear Anonymous in Toledo, Ohio...

I would be more than happy to reply to your less than tasteful comment. Since you have chosen to remain anonymous I am happy to say what I need to say here. If you look above this post you will see the name of this blog...The Womble Times. This is my blog. This is my family. These are the children God has blessed me...ALL THREE OF THEM! Each and every one GIFTS from God. EACH. AND. EVERY. ONE. Maybe no one ever shared this with you but my Mother always taught me to keep my mouth closed if I had nothing nice to say...especially to a complete stranger. I only allow anonymous blog comments because we have family members who do not have a blogger account. I do not want to take our blog private but I will if need be. I would appreciate it if you would keep your rude comments to yourself. There are plenty of blogs out there I'm sure you would enjoy reading. Feel free to read them (and not ours).

Womble Party of 5...in pics

Yesterday, in honor of our two month Forever Family Day, we had our first family photographs taken as a party of 5. We just viewed the gallery and I'm about to burst with excitement. We have been blessed beyond all we could ever ask or imagine. If you happen to know my first name and would like to see the images, click HERE. The only catch is if you view the gallery you MUST LEAVE A COMMENT AND TELL ME WHICH IMAGE IS YOUR FAVORITE. Our photographer was AMAZING and I would recommend her to anyone in our area. If you would like more info, email me.

Happy 2 Month Forever Family Day...

Two months ago today we met MeiMei for the first time. So much has changed since I wrote this post on our one month forever family day. It was as if a switch flipped and things started to get better from that point forward. Every day has been a new day. Most have been one step forward with only an occasional two steps back. She is coming around with all of us and we are in the middle of finding our new normal as a family.

In honor of this day I have posted our FINAL CHINA POST---SOME BABIES COME BY PLANE. You can find it HERE. Happy 2 month Forever Family Day MeiMei. We love you all the way to China and back again a million times!

So excited I can't stand myself...

Why you ask? Let me explain...

This is my pal Cindy (who I can't link because her blog is private)...
Isn't she beautiful? Cindy and I "met" during the spring of 2008 when we signed with the same adoption agency. We became instant friends and have supported each other across the miles ever since. We had it all planned out. All signs pointed to us going to China together to meet our babies. Same time. Same place. Be there or be square. Ahhhhh...the best laid plans.

As you know, in March we received our referral for this little spit fire...
Unfortunately, Cindy and Dave did not. We didn't lose hope but when April and May passed them by without a referral we knew our hopeful "plan" was not to be. Fast forward to September. We boarded a plane bound for China without her while she was still waiting to meet the face of her daughter here. She was the "CA" I mentioned in this post the morning we left. She was so heavy on my heart that day. We joked the entire summer that they would surely receive a referral while we were in China because I wouldn't be around to cheer her on. Can you see where this is going?

September 17, 2009, three days after we met MeiMei in China, I received an email entitled "of course you knew this would happen?" I KNEW the second I read it what it was going to say. While we were in China meeting MeiMei, my sweet friend Cindy "met" her beautiful baby girl in the US...Don't you just want to pinch those Cutie-Mc-Cute-Cute cheeks? She is four months younger than MeiMei and waiting for her family in Chongqing. All I wanted to do that night was fly over to her province and bring her home with us. Ahhhhh...FINALLY!

I found her email at about 11:30 pm China time but I didn't care. I had barely slept the entire trip and I wasn't about to start then. She emailed me the file and I reviewed it with her. It was a perfect match!! I called her via Skype--love Skype--to talk it through. She was screaming and I was whispering into the laptop cam, "I think this is it! I think you just found your baby!" And so we celebrated and we cried tears of joy and we laughed because her husband Dave was in an extremely important meeting and I "met" his daughter before he did. Hahaha--sorry Dave. Isn't that an awesome story? Both of us on different continents but I was still able to cheer her on through the power of modern technology. I think we should get our own Skype commercial, don't you?

Anyway, all that to say, guess who is coming to our neck of the woods tomorrow? That's right. CINDY-Cindy-Bo-Bindy-Banana-Fana-Fo-Fendy......! We have 48 hours to do all the things we've spent the past year and half wishing we could do together. Like go for pedicures and late night movies and solve all the worlds problems over a glass of chardonnay. I'm going to play tour guide, stuff her full of Southern food and enjoy the friendship we have developed in real time. It's going to be a great weekend. I am sure of it.

Cindy--I'll see you tomorrow at Baggage Claim. You'll know it's me. I'll be the one with the three yahoo's running around at the end of the escalator. Be there or be square. XOXO...

Prayers for Lily...

Today MeiMei's "China sister", Lily Mei, is having surgery. Lily was my glimmer of hope in China with her blue backpack, silly faces and happy disposition. She was pure joy (except when her Mommy tried to make her wear the traditional Chinese dress for the red couch photo...but that's another story for another day). The six of us shared one of the most amazing experiences of our lives together. We are friends for life. I wish we could be there today to keep them company. I know what it's like to wait for your baby to come out of surgery. It stinks. Distance may hinder our presence but it doesn't prevent our thoughts. Would you please join us in praying for Lily Mei and her Mommy, Daddy, big brother and sister? I know they would appreciate your thoughts, prayers and well wishes today and in the days to come.

I left my heart...

in southern China

somewhere between Guangzhou and Dongguan

a huge piece of it anyway

where we saw every day life through a different lens

with impoverished yet happy people

and babies cast aside without explanation

and children who need families to call their own

where I can't speak the language

or drive a car

or read a map

or eat a turkey sandwich

or drink a Dr. Pepper

or tolerate the heat

or see a familiar face

or hug my Mother

But you know what? As crazy as it sounds, I want to go back. Today... yesterday... the day before... the day before that... I have felt this way since we came home. At first I thought it was the jet lag or the difficult transition but six weeks later I still can't get these thoughts out of my head. Our days in Guangzhou were hard. SO. INCREDIBLY. HARD. So why in the world would I want to return? I don't know. I can't explain it. I am crazy. CRAZY! My eyes were opened to so much while we were away. I'm trying to figure out how to take these experiences and reintegrate myself back into this incredibly blessed world in which I live.

On more than one occasion I have said to my two oldest... "There are people--children just like you--who will go hungry tonight. Eat. Your. Dinner. " That's nothing out of the ordinary for me to say. I've said those words hundreds of times but it's different. Now I say it and want to run and hide in my closet. And cry. Because I saw it. Not on a commercial. Not in a book. I saw it with my own two eyes and I will never be the same. My lens has changed drastically. How do you keep living the suburban life and pretend you never saw what you saw? It's ironic how something so incredibly difficult can rearrange everything you THOUGHT you knew about yourself.

Now I'm not saying we're all packing up and moving to China (although I would be lying if I said I haven't thought about it). I'm just wondering if anyone else understands where I'm coming from? Anyone? ANYONE? Am I the only one on this deserted island or do I have some friends out there?