Special Delivery from a VERY Special Friend!

Today's story is brought to you by the Letter "L" (for Linzi) and the Number "9" (for Linzi's birthday). Linzi got a very special package in the mail this week from her Wuwei "sister", who also happens to be named Lindsay!



Here are a couple of my favorite photos of them together in June. Are they not the sweetest little friends you ever saw?!!! It was so amazing to see them together and they way the instantly "connected". Lindsay and Linzi are from the same orphanage and are about the same age. We can't wait to see them together again in October.






THANK YOU LINDSAY FOR THE MOST PERFECT GIFT. WE LOVE YOU (and your family too!)!!!




Lindsay and her mom always know exactly what Linzi likes. This is Linzi's very own Sesame Street story. Look closely at the pictures - it's Linzi!!! She was so surprised to see herself all over the book. In the story, Elmo asks Linzi to come to Sesame Street to help them find the missing letter "L" and the number "9". So Linzi rides her tricycle (one of our fave pics!) all the way to Sesame Street and the adventure begins. This is the CUTEST book EVER and Linzi LOVES it! We were not even able to read it to her the first night because she wouldn't let us turn the pages!

Eric has put his foot down. NO MORE PETS!!! If it wags its tail, if it has fur, if it has scales, if it has wings, if it breathes, it cannot live here. And that goes for fish too! With 3 VERY active kids and 3 crazy animals, it's no wonder we sometimes feel like our house is spinning out of control. At least our kids are smart, I can't always say the same for the animals. But we love them anyway.

Teddy

Isn't he just the cutest dog you have ever seen?!!!! We got him from a local rescue group. We must have had "SUCKER" printed across our foreheads when we met him. He had been separated from the rest of the dogs (probably because of his naughty ways). There was a roll of paper towels in his pin and he was joyfully tearing it to shreds while we said "AWWWW. Look! He's so playful". Eric had one moment of sanity and pointed out that he would probably do that to our house. Then the moment was gone. We signed the papers, paid the fees and took him home. He's not too bright and we are not sure he can see to well through all that hair. But he is the sweetest and funniest dog I have ever had. Just looking at him makes me laugh!

Annabelle

We can't figure out if Annabelle is a Princess or a natural born killer. When she is inside, she is as sweet and as loving as she can be. She is endlessly patient with the kids and our kitten, Sophie. She purrs anytime you pet her and really enjoys the pampered life. But she can only stand to be indoors for a few hours at a time. Then the great wild beckons and she is off chasing birds, mice, bugs or whatever else she can find. She is a skilled and crafty hunter. I pity the small animals that try to make a home in our backyard.

Sophie

Sophie is our baby. We got her when she was just three weeks old. My friend Autumn had rescued the mama cat and was caring for them in her garage. The mama cat became sick and couldn't nurse anymore. Autumn called me one Saturday morning and was so upset. One of the kittens had already died and Sophie was barely hanging on. We had to feed her with a bottle every couple of hours, including night feedings. During the day, I wrapped her in a papoose and tied her on to me while I did my things around the house. Just like carrying a baby in a sling! She would nestle in and sleep for hours like that. Those were the good ole days. Now she is an out of control 5 month old kitten! She is into everything, constantly on the attack and tearing up my brand new leather sofas (hence, the NO MORE PETS Rule). I am afraid the term "Curiosity killed the cat" is an all too true saying. She's not even six months old and I am sure she has used up at least 3 of her 9 lives! Let's see, there was the time she fell in the bathtub when it was full. . . there was the time she tore a hole and crawled inside Alex's boxspring and somehow maneuvered through all the pokey springs with being impaled and just the other day, Amanda plucked her off the STOVE, while I was COOKING!!!

VOTE for Mandi

She's as sweet as candy!!!

Mandi is running for student council. Today, she will be giving her speech and passing out candy with her slogan on it. Nothing like a pack of M&M's to win over a fifth grade classroom! That's my Mandi! Anyone who knows her knows that this is one honest politician. She REALLY IS as sweet as candy! She is also the smartest, kindest, most thoughtful and most reliable person you will ever meet. We are so proud of her. We really don't deserve such a perfect child!!! She is my rock. When the rest of the household is melting down around me, Mandi swoops in to the rescue. She is wise beyond her years and has a heart of gold. Mandi is a better person than I will ever be. All I can do is sit back and learn from her.

Two Years Ago Today . . .

It's hard to believe it has already been two years! On the other hand, I can hardly remember life without Linzi. It seems as if we have always been together.

Two years ago today, we had just landed in Lanzhou. After an hour and a half bus ride to the city, we were delivered to the Sunshine Plaza Hotel. We were told we had one hour to get our room assignments and get ready for Linzi. I remember thinking that Linzi, the other children and their nannies were probably somewhere in that very same building, waiting for us. How very surreal. I don't know what we did to make that hour go by.

Finally, it was time. We hurried off to the conference room. Outside, it was a rainy and chilly day. The pollution combined with the rain cast a dreary fog over the city. But in that conference room in the Sunshine Plaza hotel, the love of seven families was shining it's very brightest. The room was aglow joy and anticipation as we gathered for the moment we had all dreamed of for so long. In my memory, everything is a blur UNTIL the moment nannies came in the room. From that point on, I can remember every second, every detail, every breath I took. They walked around the conference table and sat in chairs on the opposite side of the room, facing us. I remember scanning the babies, trying to figure out which one was Linzi. My eyes locked with Linzi and her nanny. I remember that I wasn't completely sure if that was her, but I secretly hoped it was. They were all beautiful, but THIS child was looking into my soul. Her nanny never took her eyes off of us either. It was like she was sizing us up and deciding if we were good enough for her little charge. Eric knew instantly that it was Linzi.




Linzi is wrapped in the pink blanket. Notice how she and her nanny knew EXACTLY who we were!!! They had obviously been studying the photobook we sent.

When they called our names and the orphanage director handed her to me, time stood still. In that moment, we fell head over heels in love with our youngest daughter. It is a moment that is forever etched in my heart and a part of who I am. God was smiling down on that room that day as seven families and eight children found each other. It is a love that is so huge, so all encompassing, there are no words to give it justice.

And to think that we love her even more NOW than we did then! Who would have thought it was possible! Here's to two years of more joy, love and laughter than we ever imagined or deserved.


And here she is today.

Tonight we will watch the long version of her video. Then I will tuck her in with lots of love and a special book I bought for this day. Letters of Love From China is a story written from the birthmother's point of view. I know we will never know the real story, but in Linzi's case, there are many tangible clues pointing to the fact that her birth mother cared and struggled with the decision she faced. We are forever grateful to her for giving life to this amazing little girl. We are forever grateful to God and China for allowing us the honor of loving her!

Linzi's Birthday Party

We had Linzi's birthday party a week early because my parents came up for the festivities for both Linzi and Alex. This was Linzi's first birthday party and she had a BLAST! I am so glad we waited until this year because last year she just didn't have the social graces to entertain her friends! :-)

My Baby is a TEENAGER!!!

On August 29th, my baby boy became a teenager! I can't believe it. Where does time go? Alex may THINK he is a cool teenager, but to me, he will always be my baby boy, my SUNSHINE! I have always called him Sunshine or my Sunshine Boy. As a baby and small child, he was always the happiest, sunshiniest child I have ever known. At some point, he grew up and decided that his overdose of enthusiasm was no longer cool. Now he tries really hard NOT to be so sunshiney, but he just can't help it.
His sweet, loving and goofy ways make me smile everyday!




I LOVE YOU SUNSHINE!!!! Thank you for thirteen wonderful years full of joy and laughter.

Love, Mom