Look who is turning 4!

June 24th is Kate's special day... she turns 4 years old. She has been in our home for only 7 months, but in our hearts for much longer. I have said before that when I left China three and a half years ago with Meigan I felt that I was leaving part of my heart behind. When I left China last November that missing part of my heart came home with me. She is an absolutely amazing little girl, and in so many ways I feel like I am just getting to know her. We have made much progress in the last seven months... I can't wait to see where we are this time next year. So in honor of her 4th...
Four Fun Photos...

Four of My Favorite Things....

- Kate is an amazingly resilient child. She has been through so much in her four years, and she has come through it with a spring in her step and a smile on her face. She was given Chinese name Kai, which means "victorious." The Lord has certainly had His hand on her, and because of that she is certainly "victorious."

-Kate lets nothing hold her back. She may not hear, but she has not let that be an obstacle to her in any way. She is outgoing and fun loving. She plays hard and loves to learn.

-Kate is so expressive. She shows the spectrum of feeling on her face. When she is excited her eyes light up like no child I have ever seen, and you can't help but be excited. When she pouts her eyes certainly tell all, and the lip... oh, my the lip. She also uses her facial expressions to get you to laugh, she loves to make people laugh.

-Kate is the ultimate girly girl. She loves her dresses, heels and jewels. She watches me carefully and imitates precisely. The other day she was shaving her legs with the ladder to her doll's playground set... she was so careful.

Four prayers for the coming year(s)...

-I pray that Kate's implant surgery will be successful and she will receive the gift of hearing. I pray that the transition to the world of sound will be smooth and without fear. I pray that she would enjoy the world of sound and spoken language and that she would make quick and steady growth in understanding as well as verbalizing language. I can't wait to hear words like: mom, Meigan, and Jesus. She works to say "I love you," and I can't wait for her to hear me say "I love you."

-I pray that she will begin to understand who Jesus is, that she will receive Him as her Savior, and that she will love Him with all her heart and be passionately devoted to Him for all her life.
-I pray that she will understand that she is wonderfully made by God and be content and confident in the way that He has made her- physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
-I pray that she grows spiritually as quickly as she does physically and mentally.

Kate has been a part of our family for just seven months, but she has been loved by us for much longer. We love you kiddo! Happy Birthday, Kate!

SURPRISE!

This is Jamie, Beth’s sister, posting today. I have hijacked my sister’s blog today in honor of her 40th birthday. I wanted to let you know a little about my sister from the perspective of her two precious girls.

This is Meigan:

I asked Meigan a few questions about her mommy and here is what she had to say:

What is your favorite thing about your mom?
Meigan’s reply: loving her

What makes your mommy so special?
Meigan’s reply: she is happy

What is your mom really good at?
Meigan’s reply: making lemonade,

and putting pretties in (pretties are what Meigan calls hair clips)

When it came to talking with Kate about her mom, my communication skill are not yet that far developed. I think I was able to capture photos that tell the story well of how Kate feels about her mom.

Mom

I Love You
I think you are super!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Heading into 40, but feeling 80!

The big one is just around the corner. I know that Oprah says that 40 is the new 30, but right now that is certainly not how I am feeling. It has been a tough couple of weeks at our house (if I am totally honest, a tough several months), and I think that we are all feeling a little run down. I feel like I am hanging on by a thread most days, and I really don't like living life that way. So, as I turn the tens column one digit higher I am going to try and make some changes... that will hopefully add to the quality of my life and to the live of those I love dearly.

Here is my list (one in honor of each decade I have lived):

1. I am going to be more committed to my daily quiet time and Bible study. Oh, how I want my girls to have memories of their momma reading and loving God's word.

2. I am going to go to bed at a decent hour, even if that means I don't have much time in the evenings to myself.

3. I am going to begin to watch what I eat more carefully. Yikes, I have put on 12 pounds in the six month that Kate came home. I am in no way blaming her, it is just that I am definitely a stress eater... and adding to my family has been a little stressful.

4. I am going to be very careful not to over commit myself and my family. We so very much need time just to be together, hanging out, laughing, playing and talking.

The Threshing room

I love the book Hinds Feet on High Places. One of the places that the character Much Afraid visits is the threshing room. When I read this post today it made the concept of the threshing room so much more clear to me. I am a very visual learner, so I love the beautiful pictures that God paints in His word.
If you can take a moment to read this post, http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/2008/06/threshing-floor.html

Words to make you think

I feel like I have not had much to say lately. I liked Jill's post and thought I would try it myself.

Sitting: Only to read bedtime stories and wait for little ones to fall off to sleep.
Suffering: Too many sleepless nights... too much caffeine and too much on my mind.
Pondering: How I am ever going to get everything done before the end of the school year.
Feeling: Excited about having more time with my girls this summer.
Seeking: More time to spend in God's word.
Wondering: How I will feel in 13 years when my girls begin to think about life beyond my little nest... see Jamie's recent post to see why this is on my mind.
Loving: All the silly things my girls say and do.
Reading: Not anything much beside Fancy Nancy and Bad Dog Marley. Hope to spend some time reading grown up stuff this summer.