Life Lately

Life lately has been crazy.  A good kind of crazy.

Life lately has been full of lacrosse games.  Kanika is in her third year of playing and I still don't understand the rules any better than her first year of playing.  But one thing I do know about lacrosse, games are never ever cancelled because of weather.  And with one of the windiest, wettest and coldest springs on record it can make supporting player # 11 a bit painful.  So it's substance over style.

Life lately has me trying to learn some simple Chinese words and phrases.  If I were to meet  Mason and Reagan today I could great them with, "Hello!  I love you.  I'm your mama.  Do you have to go to pee pee?"

Life lately has been one of decisions.  Well, not really decisions more like decision.  Bonich has decided to attend college at California Baptist University.  She had her heart set on a school in Texas so this decision was a difficult one for her.  Our girl learned first hand that God's plan isn't always our plan.  It was a very long journey to get to this decision but we know she is going to where God wants her to be.

Life lately has me trying to rekindle a relationship with this thing.

It's still very much a love hate relationship but we are working on it.

And last but not least, life lately has brought some good news.  Some seriously crazy good news.  We learned today that our Article 5 has picked up and is being delivered to the CCWA.  And now we wait for our travel approval.  We should hear something in the next two to four weeks.  We are planning on traveling sometime in mid June!

Life lately has been crazy good.

Prom Dresses

This last Saturday night was Prom Night for the girls.  Bonich knew from the very beginning of the dress search that she wanted red.  So we looked and we looked.  We tried on and we tried on.  She found the perfect one on-line.  Not only was it the perfect red but it had pockets!  Those pockets are her favorite thing about this dress.  We hoped and prayed that it would be a perfect fit.
It was:

Kanika has had her dress for almost two years.  We had it made on our last trip to Cambodia and it's been hanging in her closet ever since.  I think the girl has tried it on at least once a month for the last two years.  Saturday could not come soon enough.
The two year wait was worth it:

When I look at my girls I am so thankful for the gift of adoption...there is no way in the world that Dan and I could have made such beauties!

My Young Adult

How is it even possible that this sweet face

so quickly became this amazingly beautiful face?

 
My oldest turns 18 today.  Yes, 18.  That's 1. 8.  I am the parent of a young adult.  It’s not the word 'young' that I’m getting caught up on; it’s the word 'adult' that is getting me a little choked up. 
I still don't know how I feel about it.  I’m actually a little more accepting of it than I thought I would be.  It’s probably because she is so excited.  This girl got dealt some health issues that could have made her bitter, insecure and just down right angry but she is just the opposite.  She loves life, is happy, and secure with who she is.  She is the most fearless person I know.  She is small but the girl is mighty.  And have I mentioned…an adult.
Happy Birthday to my girl.  My young adult girl.  I love you.

L-O-What?

Our LOA came last Monday.  I wasn’t expecting it for a few more weeks so it totally caught me off guard.  Most parents at this point get excited, do this thing called the happy dance or scream from the rooftops that their LOA came.  Not me.  I just sat there.  Sat there looking at the computer monitor and the email subject that read: “Your LOA has arrived!” 

Dan and I work together and even share an office together.  For the most part it works for us.  I love having him around and on days when he is out making sales calls I get a little lonely.  Last Monday was one of those days I was glad we work together.

I called him over and pointed to the email subject on the computer screen.   I opened the email and we read it silently.

After we had read it he asked me, “you ready for all this?”   I answered with, “I’m scared.”

I really am starting to get a scared, nervous and freaked out.  Did we hear God right?  Two at once….what were we thinking?  Are we really going to be able to handle it?  Are we too old and out of shape?   Life is really good right now with the girls, should we have just left it alone? I could go on and on and I'm sure if you were to ask Dan he would say that I have a time or two since last week.

As scared, nervous and freaked out as I am—I find that I have moments of excitement for what God has in store for us.  Being able to hear Mason’s voice for the first time or being able to hold Reagan’s hand.  Watching my girls interact with their younger siblings, Dan being dad to his first son and having one more daddy’s girl in his world.

So yeah, our LOA arrived.

God is Good

Ever wondered what a miracle looks like?

It looks a little something like this:

(apparently miracles aren't too fond of the snow)

 Our little gal was recently called a miracle.  Just 16 hours after her complicated surgery, her stats were normal, her breathing tube was removed and 4 days after surgery our girl was moved to a normal room!

We are overwhelmed with God's faithfulness, his hand of protection and healing on our little gal.

God is good.

Birthday Day

Today is her 5th birthday.  We found out that she spent it in the operating room; she had her heart surgery.  It was 12 hours long, very complicated and the doctor feels it was a success.  I am relieved it’s over but I know that the next 24-48 hours are critical hours for our little gal.  I am praying for her recovery to be absolutely complication free.

On Monday we got our monthly update on her and found out she is one brave little gal:

Recently she went to the hospital to have an angiogram.  Reagan didn’t complain the entire day and only cried during the anesthesia.  The nurses commented about how good and courageous she is.

I can’t wait to meet my courageous girl and this time next year be with her when she blows out 6 candles.

Happy 5th Birthday Reagan Joy Qingqing.

My Valentine

He makes me laugh like no other person could ever do with the exception of Will Ferrell.

He is willing to do most anything for me with the exception of holding my purse.  One would think I induced some sort of bodily harm just by asking him to do so.

He is my better half.

He most always asks rather than tells me that he is going golfing.

He knows how to make my favorite Cambodian soup and will make it whenever I ask even if it means going to the Asian market 30 minutes away to get the ingredients.

He has the most generous heart of anyone I know.

He cringed but said okay when I asked if I could post this picture for the world to see.  If that isn't true love then I don't know what is.