Project Chosen

A fellow adoptive Mom has embarked on a journey to share adoption stories with others in hopes that God will use these stories to open more hearts for orphans. She will highlight an adoptive family's story each day in February. Miah's story will be told on February 9th. She writes:

"I would ask that as you come back each day to read the remarkable stories of these “chosen” children, you would pray and ask the Lord how He would have you respond.

Maybe you are being called to specifically pray for orphaned children in a specific country. Maybe you are called to sponsor a child who is living in an orphanage or foster home. Or perhaps maybe, you are feeling a gentle tug on your heart that has opened up a desire to give an orphan child a forever family through adoption.

What ever the outcome, I pray that you will be encouraged and inspired by the beautiful stories of love, faithfulness, endurance and unspeakable joy. May God be glorified as you witness the families that He has designed and created for His good purpose and pleasure!"

I encourage you to visit her blog daily at http://threadsoffaithfulness.blogspot.com

Sunday School

Miah has been enjoying going to church and playing with her friends. We are not able to leave her yet, but she is getting braver each week. It is so fun to watch her interact with other children and play with the toys. We have learned that she loves puzzles and will engage in a game of pass the ball with another child. She seems to be getting a grasp of turn taking, which seems earlier than our other two children. I wonder if growing up with 40 other kids teaches you to take turns earlier?

Why China?

This is a question I get asked frequently. The answer is simple. Because when God called us to get our daughter, that’s where she was. And we went.

6 Fabulous Months

Photo taken July 2009 in China

Miah has now been at home for 6 months! What an amazing blessing she has been to all of us. Mackenzie and Madison are showering their little sister with love and Miah returns the favor to us all. It has become quite the ritual to say goodbye for school or if Mommy or Daddy have to go out for a bit. Miah wants both cheeks kissed and then plants a few slobbery kisses on each of us....and don't forget the hugs. Miah loves to give big bear hugs.

In the past 6 months she has:

*Developed almost a complete understanding of the English spoken at home
*Had her cleft palate surgery and pulled through like a trooper
*Says clearly "No," "Up," "Hello," "More," "bow," "Me," "My," "Jello" and "Ma Ma"
*Knows and uses the signs for Milk, all done, thank you, apple, drink, and eat
*Has enjoyed swimming lessons. She loves the water!
*Has started gymnastics. Jumping on the trampoline is her favorite part!
*Experienced her first Christmas celebration

We are still struggling with the whole food/time to eat concept. She tantrums at least once daily and always about the issue of food. She would like to eat all day long and will stand at the door of the fridge or pantry and cry. When I tell her that it is not snack time she will crumble to the floor, kicking and screaming. I am sure that they did not have an open door policy on the orphanage kitchen, but here she knows where the food is and thinks she should be able to access it whenever she wants. She out eats us all at breakfast, has a morning snack, lunch by 11:30, then a snack after her nap, then dinner and sometimes yet another snack before bed...so you can see we are clearly not starving her. We are trying to stick to the routine in hopes that she will develop an understanding of when it is time to eat.


I love this photo. It was taken at the silk market in Beijing. It is so precious how all the employees gathered around her. Something very cute about a lil' lady looking for her first Chinese dress. We are looking forward to Chinese New Year this year and have all the silk dresses ready to go!

Panda Dress

Miah got this Panda dress for Christmas from Grandma. She loves it. She walks around all day pointing to the pandas and showing anyone who will look at them. Pandas are a huge hit in our house right now!

2009

1997…The year I met Drew

1998 The year Drew and I got engaged

1999…The year Drew and I married

2000…The year I became a mom for the first time to my sweet Mackenzie

2003…The year Madison came into our life and brought with her joy and laughter

2007…The year God put a burning desire in our hearts to adopt a daughter from China

2009…The year God answered all of those prayers and Miah Fu Ni became our daughter!


I thought I’d look back on the past year and highlight how the Lord has blessed us, brought us joy, carried us through pain and always continued to be faithful.

March was a bittersweet month as my grandfather went home to be with the Lord. It is still hard to believe that he is gone and never got a chance to meet Miah. She would have made him laugh...

...a week later we received a very important phone call and saw our daughter's face for the first time

April Mackenzie turned 9 and we received Pre-Approval from China to adopt Miah
May Drew and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary
July Drew travelled to China and brought Miah home

August We celebrated Miah's 2nd birthday
September Mackenzie started grade 4 and Madison started Kindergarten

October We celebrated Madison's 6th Birthday!
December Miah had her palate surgery and we celebrated Miah's first Christmas with family and friends.

We look forward to see what God has in store for us in 2010!

Happy New Year!