Saturday, December 13, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Luke Gets Tooth!
Luke's first tooth popped out on 12/12. Well, at least that is when I noticed it. He tends to stick out his tongue quite a bit, which makes it difficult to see. The tooth is just barely above the gums and is impossible to capture in a picture, but I just wanted to acknowledge the milestone.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Riding Bike's with the Cub Scouts
Wanting to spend some quality time with the kids, I (along with the rest of the Masyr 6 minus Luke) decided to join Noah's Cub Scout Den for a little leisurely bike ride. Did I mention the bike ride was about 12 miles? I was thankful that the trail was pretty mild and completely isolated from traffic. I am totally out of shape, but really wanted to hang with Noah, his friends and the rest of the family. It was so worth it!! We all had a great time! I felt very proud of myself for keeping up and truly enjoyed every minute of it.
The only bummer of the trip was that we couldn't bring Luke. It is not recommended for kids under 1 to ride in a bike trailer or wear a bike helmet. I missed him terribly, but was glad that Grammy and Grandpa were taking care of him.
Some of my favorite moments -
- Evan and I both looked back at Faith and realized that she had started eating the hot dog buns. We never said she couldn't! She was too cute and very self sufficient.
- Samantha gained an admirer. One of the Boy Scouts showed quite a bit of interest Sam. It was cute to watch her tow the line of being nice and trying to distance herself. For once, she was happy to hang close to mom.
- Noah took so much pleasure in opening the packages of hot dogs, just because he could use a pocket knife.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Concert at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Gotcha Day - December 5, 2005
This picture was from our first day with Faith. She had already had her bath and a new outfit on. This was one of the best pictures we could get. Her expression was very typical of our first three days together. She refused to smile, but she instantly liked being held. She would only cry when we put her down. She still likes her daddy to hold her! Did I mention she is a big time Daddy's girl? Trust me folks, it is extreme.
Faith posed for this picture without any prompting. She has come along ways in the last 3 years.
The pictures below were taken at the Civil Affairs Office where we met our daughter for the very first time. The first picture is what we saw when we walked into the building. Faith is the one with the bald head. We were not allowed to get close enough for a good picture.

December 5th is such a precious day. It was orchestrated and ordained by God. His voice had never been so clear in my life (or my ears had never been so open). It was our destiny and his plan to make this precious child our daughter at this very precise time and place. It was a miracle and blessing, so much more than we deserved. I am still in awe when I look into those beautiful brown eyes. I have a daughter from the other side of the world. She could not be loved anymore if I gave birth to her myself. She grew in my heart before I ever saw her face.
As an adopted child myself, I have a few pet peeves. The thing I hate the most is when people say, you have 3 of your own and one adopted. No folks, they are all my own. Well, technically, they are God's. I would give my life for any of my children and could not choose one over the other.
Dear God, Thanks you so much for my precious Faith. I am so glad that you were they with her when she was all alone and that you kept her safe. I am also thankful for the nannies that you placed in her life. May I realize my blessings and be the best mom that I can be. Amen!
Almost Gotcha Day! Looking Back
Three years ago, we were in China anxiously anticipating meeting Faith for the first time. I remember wondering if she would be afraid or sad. We already loved her with our whole hearts and yearned to wrap our arms around her. I was picturing her leaving her entire world behind; Probably being in a vehicle for the first time since she was 2 days old. Her living situation may not have been optimal, but it was familiar. I now can look at Luke and see how much he wants for his mommy. I wonder if Faith felt like that about someone.
Although our main focus was on meeting Faith, I am thankful for the days we had in Beijing. We were able to see some of the most spectacular sites while getting to know the other AWAA families. The highlights included Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and the Great Wall. The Chinese people we encountered were very welcoming and nice. As I talked to some Chinese women, my heart broke for them. Some were angry that others would abandon their baby, but I feel strongly that most of those doing the abandoning truly had no choice. I have no doubt that Faith's Chinese mommy loved her. My joy is her heartache. I picture a beautiful women watching as a stranger scoops up her baby in his or her arms. With every fiber in her being she wants to take her back, but instead she prays for her baby to be safe and to have a good life. In a moment her little bundle is gone! She feels a lump in throat, a hole in her heart and can no longer stop the tears. These are tears of mourning for a child you will never know.
Well that is it for today. More will come on Gotcha Day 2008!
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