Sammy n' Mick

Our little Chinese get together at Mexican...and some things on my mind

2012-03-04T17:12:00.013-08:00

We had a wonderful weekend. My daughter Remi, two nieces and nephew were at a church retreat (that's not why we had a wonderful weekend! We missed Remi!). Also, one of my friends had a couple of her kids at a weekend church retreat. Lael, Arden and my niece Payton filled out their application to again attend Summit this summer. My daughter Whitney and her husband Brian got home from a cruise. They had a great time, and I'm glad they're home. Even though we had a fun weekend (more on that below), I had other things weighing on my mind. Mainly, I worry about the direction our country is headed. A lot of people talk about how most college professors are so liberal and will attack kids of faith. Well, it is happening to high school and even younger kids. A teacher in one of my kids' classes has been telling our kids there is no such thing as right and wrong, because it is all relative depending on what culture you live in. It's logic like that that leads to the acceptance of honor killings of young Arab girls who don't want to live in the stone age. And we supposedly live in a conservative town!

I think part of the problem is with the church community itself. A lot of Christians have accepted the position that the Bible is not literal. Sadly, even President Bush, whom I admire very much, believes that. I was talking to a very knowledgeable Christian man this weekend and asked him, "Well how far from the Bible can you stray before you're not a Christian?" His answer was, "It is like putting your leg in a street of traffic. How far can you stick it out before it is hit by a bus."

So what worries me more than liberal teachers and professors are Christians who are confusing our kids with their messed up theology. I believe the Bible is true, and its teachings on morality are to be taken literally. But my experience these days is that if you stand up for what the Bible teaches (for example, by speaking out against gay marriage), you are labeled a "hater," and often times the people applying the label are other Christians. Just because I won't stand still while much of society tries to brainwash our kids that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle choice, doesn't mean I hate gay people. And just because I don't want my kids' schools passing out condoms or don't want to buy birth control for a law student who should probably spend more time hitting the books than the sheets, doesn't make me a woman-hater. I really hope I'm not as alone in my thinking as I sometimes feel like I am.

On a lighter note, we did have a fun weekend getting together Saturday night with several other families with kids from China. We had dinner at our usual Mexican hangout. And, as usual, we kind of took the place over. Our kids are pretty comfortable there--maybe a tad too comfortable. We got together again this morning for breakfast at Bob Evans with some great friends we don't get to see nearly often enough. Once again, we kind of took over Bob Evans (at least the section we were in). I looked up at one point, and a lady was standing facing our table just staring at us (she was facing the opposite direction from the table where her party was sitting). Our waitress asked her, "may I help you?"; and she responded, "No. I'm just standing here." Believe me, though, with eight kids from China, I'm used to getting stared it. I've learned to just roll with it.

These were taken the morning after.

I like Dennis Miller! We're trying to get tickets to see him and Bill O'Reilly when they come to town.

2012-02-29T16:11:00.019-08:00

Bret has had around 7 or 8 surgeries since she had her accident and was burned in China. I don't think she had any before we got her. I know I repeat myself a lot about surgeries, but that is what we do. Bret is such a trooper and never complains or much less cries. However, she had an appointment last week that was a little unexpected. I was talking with the doctor and all of a sudden Bret started softly crying. That made me tear up and then I looked at her doctor and he started tearing up. He said he would give us a minute and then he made his escape. Bret and Cokie have been his patients a long time and I think he is really fond of them. When we got home Bret said she didn't feel well. I took her temperature and it was 100.8. I think that was the real reason she wasn't herself at the appointment. I think the doctor thought it was the stress of all her medical treatments.

On the way home Mike and I decided we deserved a good meal and stopped at Olive Garden. Lyric had tagged along and got lucky.

My baby is having a baby

2012-02-25T17:09:00.010-08:00

I'm a nanna!

She only weighed 4 pounds 14 ounces, and my Dad thought I was going to kill her. He said I didn't have the motherly instincts. He was a little different. He called her Whitley for 3 days until I finally screamed, "Her name is not Whitley!!"

My Grandpa called her the Million Dollar Baby. Long after he got dementia he would remember her name, but not mine. Here he was 88 y.o., and he would have to ask to hold Whitney. I thought he would kill her. But he was the sweetest man I ever knew and I didn't have the heart to tell him no.

Guess what I'm hoping for? I'm also hoping she looks like Whitney. Whitney is SUPER smart, and I'm hoping she is just like Whitney... not that Brian isn't very smart too. : - )

Whitney's 1st day of kindergarten. She was so excited. I watched her walk in. Then I got in the car and just bawled.

Another reason I enjoyed Whitney starting school so much was because I knew when Brady started Kindergarten it would be like...look out! Whitney's teacher said things like, "I only have one child this year Whitney's caliber and last year I didn't have any." Brady's teachers used words like "terrorize."

My Dad knew she was really smart. He said it was because she was German??? He would tell me, "Sandra if she doesn't turn out it'll be your fault."

When she was about this age computers were just starting to get big. My Dad called me and told me to get to his house quick! I went in and he said, "Sandra!! Whitney is emailing an old man and his name is Bill Z!" I had to think for a minute, but I wasn't too shook up. Then it came to me... "Dad that is Aunt Adria's new husband." My Dad... "Oh."

Long story short. Whitney graduated from Marian University turned into a "practicing" Catholic and married Brian (that Catholic part was part of the deal : - ), bought a house and then got pregnant. I'm positive my Dad would say she turned out.

Aging out boy's video

2012-02-22T17:46:00.000-08:00

My friend in China knows this boy and says he is a great kid! There is a lot of information about him below.

He is being advocated for as "Oliver." Oliver is on the shared list - however, if you go through WACAP, they have up to $9500 in financial aid!

This is what she told me about him:

Please note: I asked my friend what special needs in China's school means and her response to me was this:

Or special education school. For kids are having very minor special needs like cleft palate or any other kind of disabled kids.
Kids could be wonderful there just having different looking than normal look people.

Dear Sammy,

I met this child on the spot when visiting the orphanage, he is a sweet boy. The belowing is written by the orphanage staff who does the dossiers for children.

"His Birthday is June 21, 1998. He is Cleft Palate after surgery. He had not been suffered any serious injury.

He is outgoing and open. He likes sports, e.g. Basketball, run, badminton, pingpong, soccer, rope, yoyo, etc… He is very good in basketball, badminton and yoyo.

He likes to help young children.

He is studying in Special Needs School which is just outside of the orphanage.

His school result is not so good, though, he is so good in physical achievement and dancing, he attends to school sports game and do performance on festivals events every year.

He is dying for being adopted by family, he is eager for having a warm home which belongs to himself.

When I first talked to him, he dare not look at me, he’s so shy with blushed face. Now we are like good friends. Every time we talk, he is very happy. He has many questions to ask me, always ask me whether there is a family to adopt him or when he could go abroad. I tell him that I’m working hard to find a family for him."

Love you always,

More important information on the boy below:

Here is some more info about the child Sammy is advocating for.
Praying this child who ages out on June 21st will find his family in time- he really wants a family so badly! -Brooke :)

He is being advocated for as "Oliver."
Oliver is on the shared list - however, if you go through WACAP, they have up to $9500 in financial aid! Since, he is in Dongguang Province you will have no extra inside travel cost. It sounds like a family already adopting will have no extra cost to give this boy a family.

1、 Does Oliver want to be adopted by a foreign family?

He wants to be adopted by foreign family.

2、Besides basketball, what other activities does he like to play or do?
He likes playing badminton and yoyo.

3、What does he wish to be when he grows up (job, etc.)?
He wants to be an athlete or a sports coach..

4、Would he like to have siblings?
Yes, he likes to grow up with siblings if he have.

5、Does he prefer to play with older children or younger children (or children the same age)?

Yes, he likes playing and sharing fun with other guys.

6、Is there anyone at the orphanage in which he is close?
He gots many close friends in his class.

7、What are his favorite foods?
He loves juice very much.

8、If he had one wish, what would that wish be?
He wishes to be a painter.

2012-02-20T07:33:00.000-08:00

We have been blessed to travel to China twice with our friends Teri and Mike. Our last trip we got Remi and Shepard and they got Reagan. Reagan invited Remi and Bret to her birthday celebration this weekend. The big one-four! They had a blast! But, turns out Remi is frightened of horses. So, I guess you could say Bret enjoyed the horse part a lot more. Teri said she felt bad, because Remi got such an ugly horse. She said it was the most tame though. I was thinking... "Oh, how ugly can a horse be?" In this day and age of political correctness run amok are you allowed to say a horse is ugly? Let me tell you this horse may be tame, but it is worse than ugly. That'll teach Remi not to be such a weenie!!!

Reagan has the big dimples and is in the pink. She and Remi have been home about 18 months. Thanks Reagan and Teri for inviting the girls!!

Compare this face to this...

face! Remi's face looks like it does when Mike asks her what she learned from the sermon on Sundays. The way Remi likes sports I'm really surprised she was scared of the horse. She can get very competitive on the basketball court.

Mike and Teri took the girls out to dinner. Three cute Guangdong girls!

They went shopping and Reagan got her ears pierced, which always is a big day in itself!

2012-02-17T17:45:00.000-08:00

Right on time! Mike brought me my chocolates the day after Valentines! He knows I insist he buy them the day after so they are on sale and I don't feel so guilty. It isn't really that romantic since I have to wait till he gets home from work and I'm like, "Did you get them?!?!?!" Then he wants to talk, but I'm ready for him to leave me alone with my chocolates. : - )

OK, the Godiva is sweet, but not romantic, or at least the way we do it. But Mike surprised me with something else this year. After taking the kids to school the morning of Valentines Day, I checked my email. I had an email from Mike telling me to click the link below. It is probably more dorky than romantic, but Mike is as sweet as the candy.

http://sammyvday.blogspot.com/

I think Mike threw in the trophy picture and caption just because he is so proud he got to hold the Lombardi trophy. He loves that picture.

Mike got all the kids some candy too.

2012-02-14T11:27:00.000-08:00

2012-02-13T17:29:00.000-08:00

I like you

2012-02-12T18:35:00.000-08:00

Shepard in time out (sort of)

2012-02-10T17:37:00.000-08:00

This was Shepard after we went to dinner tonight. Most the other kids went to watch Remi play basketball, but I made Shepard come home and read. He didn't get much reading done, before he fell asleep. Shepard has a way of pouting when something ticks him off and when his salad came it was with beef instead of chicken. We look at him and he is sitting there quietly, but refusing to eat. Mike tells him to eat it. The next thing we know the waitress feels sorry for him and brings him out chicken. He was already in his mad mood so he barely touches it. Mike actually thinks it's funny and says to me "There's your boy." Mike thinks I baby him too much. : - ) We finally start to leave and Stafan said something to make him madder and he starts kicking Stafan. I grabbed Shepard by the... (not in a politically correct way) and tell him to stop it. Then, he says the "You're not my real mom." Now some people get caught up in how the experts would say to handle this and I'm pretty sure I didn't handle it the way they would say, but it works for me plus, he didn't talk back the rest of the night. My response was "Oh, yeah will I'm the only one you got and if I'm not your real mom then where is your real mom at?" Aah... he may not be a gentleman like Stafan, but I still think he is as cute as ever.

2012-02-09T16:35:00.000-08:00

Ginormous!

Cokie is needing some of this big time!

Cokie has been sick this week with a fever. Last week I thought she had pink eye. Her eye was blood red, so I rushed her to our ophthalmologist. It was a smart move, since he had the right equipment and could see inside her eye. Turned out a cold settled in it. One week later she has a fever. The fever gave her lips that could challenge any lips in Hollywood!!

I'm excited!

2012-02-08T17:44:00.000-08:00

Since last August, Stafan has been going to Riley Hospital once a week to get shots for his allergy to wasps and hornets. He got stung last summer, had a really bad reaction and we spent the night in ICU. Each Tuesday, we get up really early (waaa) and head to Riley. Stafan gets four shots altogether, but we have to wait 30 minutes after the first two to make sure the shot doesn't cause him to have a reaction (they actually inject a small amount of insect venom into his arm with each shot). So he gets two shots and we sit for 30 minutes (actually have breakfast), and then he goes back for two more shots and we sit another 30 minutes. Well, this week the doctor said Stafan is now "desensitized" enough that he will only have to get two shots starting next week. Which means I get some of my Tuesday mornings back. And that got me about as excited as the pig in the youtube.

They give Stafan a timer set for the 30 minutes.

The good part is we get to have one on one time and I get to spoil him some. Stafan is a great kid!

On Christmas break I made Arden go with us. She was thrilled...not.

This week Cokie was sick and didn't go to school so she went with us.

2012-02-06T04:24:00.000-08:00

More important information on the boy below:

Here is some more info about the child Sammy is advocating for.
Praying this child who ages out on June 21st will find his family in time- he really wants a family so badly! -Brooke :)

He is being advocated for as "Oliver."
Oliver is on the shared list - however, if you go through WACAP, they have up to $9500 in financial aid! Since, he is in Dongguang Province you will have no extra inside travel cost. It sounds like a family already adopting will have no extra cost to give this boy a family.

1、 Does Oliver want to be adopted by a foreign family?

He wants to be adopted by foreign family.

2、Besides basketball, what other activities does he like to play or do?
He likes playing badminton and yoyo.

3、What does he wish to be when he grows up (job, etc.)?
He wants to be an athlete or a sports coach..

4、Would he like to have siblings?
Yes, he likes to grow up with siblings if he have.

5、Does he prefer to play with older children or younger children (or children the same age)?

Yes, he likes playing and sharing fun with other guys.

6、Is there anyone at the orphanage in which he is close?
He gots many close friends in his class.

7、What are his favorite foods?
He loves juice very much.

8、If he had one wish, what would that wish be?
He wishes to be a painter.

"Oliver" is in 7th grade in the special education school where English is his favorite subject. His caregiver reports he has a difficult time focusing, but it may be because it seems he has some difficulty hearing. Oliver continually asked for questions to be repeated and watched the lips of the person talking.

His caregiver said his hearing is normal and that he was just nervous, but he said he sometimes can’t hear what is being said. He has not had speech therapy, but Oliver will likely need it due to his post operative cleft lip and palate. He likes watching TV. He enjoys reading comic books, and Batman is his favorite superhero. His favorite sport is basketball and Oliver loves a hamburger.

Another update on this sweet (my friend's words) boy. He is in Zhongshan SWI which is 2 hours away from Guangzhou. Also, I think he is with WACAP.

Please note: I asked my friend what special needs in China's school means and her response to me was this:

Or special education school. For kids are having very minor special needs like cleft palate or any other kind of disabled kids.
Kids could be wonderful there just having different looking than normal look people.

Dear Sammy,

I met this child on the spot when visiting the orphanage, he is a sweet boy. The belowing is written by the orphanage staff who does the dossiers for children.

"His Birthday is June 21, 1998. He is Cleft Palate after surgery. He had not been suffered any serious injury.

He is outgoing and open. He likes sports, e.g. Basketball, run, badminton, pingpong, soccer, rope, yoyo, etc… He is very good in basketball, badminton and yoyo.

He likes to help young children.

He is studying in Special Needs School which is just outside of the orphanage.

His school result is not so good, though, he is so good in physical achievement and dancing, he attends to school sports game and do performance on festivals events every year.

He is dying for being adopted by family, he is eager for having a warm home which belongs to himself.

When I first talked to him, he dare not look at me, he’s so shy with blushed face. Now we are like good friends. Every time we talk, he is very happy. He has many questions to ask me, always ask me whether there is a family to adopt him or when he could go abroad. I tell him that I’m working hard to find a family for him."

Love you always,

More Superbowl Fun

2012-02-05T18:19:00.000-08:00

No doubt, the biggest attraction of this year's Superbowl (other than the game) was the zipline built over Superbowl Village. Mike, Lael, Arden, Remi and Bret got to ride it. My nieces and nephews Payton, Eliot, Erin and Jenna did too. And just to make it a little more memorable, they rode down with Roger Goodell, who Mike tells me is in charge of the NFL. This is him and Remi right before they launched.

Can you see the airplane?

Super Bowl

2012-02-04T19:50:00.000-08:00

http://www.indianapolissuperbowl.com/super-bowl-village/

Kate

2012-02-04T11:00:00.001-08:00

When the song stops you can listen to Kate's video.

2012-02-01T17:35:00.000-08:00

Lain and Erin belong to my older sister, Charly. They live close and every now and then I just see them run through my house like they did on this day.

Cokie

Lyric loves Jeeves. The kids usually fight over who gets to sleep with him. Sometimes they even put him on their top bunks, and he can't get down all night.

Stopped by my younger sister's the other day and Whoa!! Look at these pjs!

2012-01-31T10:40:00.000-08:00

Happy Chinese New Year!

This was the baby's momma. Lael kept saying this is what she wants her baby to look like.

These had pineapple in them and were soooo delicious!

Whitney is coaching Darby in Upward cheerleading and Bret is helping her. Tonight when Whitney dropped Bret off I hear a little voice (Darby) holler from the back seat "Aunt Sammy!! I have a 5th grader scared of me!!"

2012-01-29T13:30:00.000-08:00

Chickie (they played this song in church this morning).

When did Chickie AKA Payton Victoria D grow up and more important where did she get those looong legs?! Unfortunately not from her Aunt (me).

This is me, and Chickie's mom is the little one. Chickie looks like her, but that height didn't come from either of us. You can't tell here, but Becki's shoes were very clean and white. Growing up I heard my Mom make many a comment about whether a baby had her shoes polished or not!

This was my Mom holding Chickie. Becki worked, and my Mom babysat Chickie. My Mom was often too sick to get out of her chair, so she would sit and hold Chickie the whole day! I would watch Chickie when my Mom was too sick to even do that. My Dad was still around then, and my older sister helped a lot too. My Mom died when Chickie was 3 y.o., then I babysat Chickie until she didn't need a sitter. This pic isn't clear, because it is stuck to glass (sorry).

I took this at church this morning. My Mom would be so proud and glad that Chickie is at church every Sunday (Chickie loves Jesus, and she loves church!). I have fun embarrassing the kids (even at church) by taking pictures of them.

With her two sisters.

Chickie traveled with her parents to China while we were still waiting to get our Arden. She got to meet Arden in China before we went and got her.

Now they're best buds.

Chickie with her Dad and siblings.

When the song stops, you can hear our church singing it this morning.

2012-01-26T13:12:00.000-08:00

I'm working on my kitchen!

How do you like my curtains?! Not really. This isn't my kitchen.

It's Lucy's! Anyway, I'm working on Mike and it made me feel like Lucy! I can relate to her often.

This place has higher high end. I couldn't afford anything in there, but it was really fun looking around. I'll show more pictures later. They had toilets that we weren't even sure were toilets.
www.ferguson.com

This was outside Ferguson's door. Pretty neat!

I'm going to have one of these in my mansion in the sky!

OK, this is really a bad picture, but it is a black island and I loved it!

Red granite! Can you believe that came out of the earth? God is amazing!

Marble.

This is mine and I'm not talking about Mike! Does he look unhappy? Actually, he was fine with just the granite. This made me think to put the Lucy picture above. When our granite was installed it reminded me of a Lucy episode. Ricky told Lucy she could buy one piece of furniture, but when she got it home she realized all her other stuff looked like CRAP!!!

I really, really like this.

This is what I got. Don't look at the white light switch plates. I'm still working on the room and it is going to take awhile. I told Mike I had to find a hungry Amish man to help my cabinets and I think I've found one.

I saw this sink and loved it.

My granite man got me a deal on this one and I do love it. It is extra deep.

For now these are my curtains. I've got a lot to figure out.

2012-01-25T18:48:00.000-08:00

We went out to dinner at Stone Creek with this adorable family the other day. They moved here from China not too long ago. She was missing being home for Chinese New Year. I felt for her. She said during CNY they like to dress their kids in red. I never knew that.

Their baby girl would not stop smiling and laughing at us. She wouldn't let me hold her though! She was precious.

OK, she said she can't tell my sister and me apart on my blog.

I love this picture of Becki and Bret.

Becki is the picky, picky, picky one!

Shepard was mad here, because I told him he had to speak Chinese with our guests. Then, he says "Well, you like the other kids better than me." Oh, shut up Shepard.

We have friends who live in China. Actually, if you hear me talk all the time about Li Mei, Arden's best friend from China, this Li Mei's family. We were able to have dinner with them the last time we were there. They had a Chinese cook, and the dinner was WONDERFUL!! I wanted to share what Li Mei's mom wrote about Chinese New Year. I thought it was really interesting.

Xīn Nián Kuài Lè! Happy New Year!

We are in the middle of a very quiet celebration for the Allens! Most people have left our city, headed to their respective homes, to celebrate this MOST IMPORTANT holiday for China. The streets are empty, the sidewalks are empty .....and our house is empty....with the exception of three beautiful children who call us Mom and Dad. It is quite a strange feeling to be in China and things be so quiet.....but we are good with this 'strange feeling'! It actually means a time of rest and catching up for us. With the exception of our Sunday service EVERYTHING has been put on hold! There are very few stores that stay open this week. The buses are empty (compared with standing room only, usually). Drinking water will not be delivered again until the 26th. Chinese New Year is QUITE the celebration! ....the only time most people will have the privilege of returning home until next year at this time. And, while we are experiencing much quiet right now, the exact opposite is true as the people hasten out of town! STANDING ROOM ONLY EVERYWHERE!! Utter chaos and confusion suddenly becomes stillness and quiet. Nice....real nice. And, we can't wait for our people to return!

House shopping

2012-01-24T13:37:00.000-08:00

OK, it was really just window shopping, but nonetheless, it was fun. I spotted this really pretty neighborhood. The houses were new, but it was like traveling back in time. The neighborhood is near Carmel. Living in Carmel means you're living on the right side of the tracks. I'm OK living on the wrong side of the tracks, because I don't need the pressure!!

I'm sure these homes are gorgeous in the summer! Notice the doors on the second floor. I really like the dark doors up against the white. I like the blue porch and the gray shutters. I'm wondering if they just haven't had time to paint the black railing. It needs to be white too.

I love this place because of the side porch. It reminds me of what your grandma would have had and so do the green shutters. Again, the front door really shows up. Look at the french doors on the right.

This house is just awesome and my favorite one. It is me!! Not because I think I'm awesome, but because my dreams are.

After looking at this roof I'm thinking these houses might be around 10 years old (only because my roof is starting to do this and that is how old our's is).

The colors all look great together, but they are just not in my dreams.

This one has plenty of personality too. Is that like a... duh?!

I would have never thought to use these two greens together. Do you think they had a professional? I do--especially since it is on the right side of the tracks!!
Look at their dog watching us.

I think they were talking about me.

Cokie Wei Bettina

2012-01-22T15:04:00.000-08:00

is born again!

http://www.billygraham.org/articlepage.asp?articleid=6284

Cokie's Huge News

2012-01-22T05:54:00.001-08:00

Cokie is getting Baptized today! Ironically, it is Chinese New Year. Is God showing us it is His perfect timing? His plan to bring a little orphan from the east to a country where we are still free to learn about and worship Him?

Yes, Cokie is already Saved, understands what that means and is sincere about being baptized. I have to admit, the emphasis on baptism threw me a bit when I first started attending a restoration movement Christian church. I was raised Baptist, and we never talked about being baptized without first saying saved. I think some people think our church believes the act of being baptized itself is what saves. We (at least I) don't think that. We understand acceptance of Jesus as your Lord and Savior comes first. In other words, if you've decided to be baptized and someone asks, "are you saved," it is a big duh! But Christians would never say something that smart alecky. : - )

Seriously, I have come to understand our church's philosophy on baptism and why there is so much emphasis on it. It is because of Acts 2:38. When Peter told people about Jesus, they asked: "What shall we do?" He answered, "repent and be baptized." Peter didn't say "or be baptized" or make it optional. So if God commanded it, we need to do it. Again though, Peter did put the "and be baptized" part after "repent." Repent means to turn away from sin and turn to God. Unless you've first decided to give your life to the Lord, the "and be baptized" never comes into play. Cokie gets that, and I know she's going to do great things for Jesus.

Cokie is the first of our 9-years old (we have 4) that has accepted Jesus Christ. She came to us 2 weeks ago and said she wanted be baptized. At 9 years of age, you have to wonder if they know what they are doing. We called Tyler, who is over our church's children's ministry. He talked to her extensively and gave her a pamphlet to study. We told Cokie if she wanted to accept Jesus it was up to her to come and tell us when she wanted to study it. Every night as soon as Mike would get home from work she would run and get the pamphlet for Mike to help her study. This week, Tyler talked to Cokie again. Tyler asked Cokie to tell him one thing she knew about Jesus. Cokie quickly answered, "He's perfect." They talked some more, and Cokie told him about Jesus' miracles and explained that we're all sinners. He asked her if her Dad sinned and without hesitation, she answered "yes." Tyler then tested her a bit and said, "what about Steve White (our preacher), he gets up in front of the whole church every Sunday and preaches. Does he sin?" Cokie again didn't blink an eye, and answered yes. She clearly gets that everyone needs Jesus. Tyler and Mike then prayed for Cokie and when they opened their eyes, Cokie was all teared up. Because of her tears, we knew Cokie understood.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

God has had His hand in Cokie's life in more ways than you can imagine. My next post will be the miracle we saw unfold before our eyes. And, I have witnesses!!

I took this picture of Cokie in the orphanage one year before we went back to get her. Anyone that adopts from China knows you're not allowed to pre-identify kids in person. Yet, God was in this. In this picture, I took one look at her and fell in love. She was in depression. I smiled, gave her a kiss and whispered "Don't worry. I'll be back." Only God could have given me that peace (and not only that I would be back, but that I wasn't even frightened that she was crippled and could not walk!!).

I got a little carried away on the Gap.

So many times when people adopt they worry about their kids being jealous of the new one. If any child had a right to be jealous it would have been Lyric. When we got Cokie, Lyric was not yet 3 y.o. and only 6 months older than Cokie. This picture says it all about how she treated Cokie from the first day we got her. Lyric was tickled pink over her new sister. Lyric took one look at Cokie's burned legs and has loved her every since. One day they were at the park and playing with kids they didn't know. The other kids raced ahead. Lyric ran ahead of Cokie and yelled to the kids "Guys slow down! My sister has bad legs." The other girls didn't stop, but Lyric did and waited for her sister.

Here we had went behind the orphanage's back and hooked up with Cokie's nanny. The white male is Felipe. Felipe is from Belgium, but he and his wife were living in Nanjing. They would take Cokie home from the hospital she was living in. He was a great guy and we really enjoyed meeting him. He helped arrange the meeting. Later Felipe's wife said he told her that our kids were better behaved than any he ever saw. Hmmm... I remember Lyric was asleep the entire time.

I guess the nanny was going to show me who the boss was. She immediately grabbed Cokie from me and unbandaged her legs that I had bandaged up. You can tell by the look on my face what I thought about that, but I held my tongue. I think even Lael was stunned. Poor Felipe.

Lyric and Cokie crashing after a hot, hard day touring Nanjing. What a blast (at least it was for me).

I didn't know the first thing about burns. It sure is true... God Doesn’t Call the Qualified… God Qualifies the Called!

This was her good foot sticking out... it only has one toe burned off.

Still in China. We went back to China a year later. We learned while we were in this hotel Cokie's former nurses and doctors were staking out the hotel spying on us (can't blame them).

\

I think Cokie was thinking... these people are OK.

All things pretty

2012-01-17T18:33:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful dinner! At least that is what the furnace repairman said. I liked him even before he said that.

These were very healthy. I used low fat cheese and ground turkey instead of beef.

I know blogs are supposed to flow, but Arden's pants are red like the peppers and these pics are both from last weekend!

Arden and my niece Payton were going to hear some school bands play. When we adopted Arden she was what you would call an older adoption. I had it in my head these two would be close, and I couldn't have asked for them to be closer.

I made Lyric and Cokie wear dresses to school, which they are usually not too excited about.

Look at him! When we adopted Stafan I had no plans of adopting again whatsoever. Sometimes though the best plan is no plan. My friend emailed me his picture and after a couple of days of looking at it I just couldn't resist. Older boys are harder to place than girls and after I looked at that beautiful face I thought that kid deserves a family. I deserve it to be me. : - )

My sister and I were out shopping the other day and saw this. So... pleasing to the eye.

Bret's clinging to her guns....

2012-01-17T16:07:00.000-08:00

http://youtu.be/xNoJ0q6HrK8

and religion

http://youtu.be/Hi-V_ilJu0w

How you doing on your new year's resolutions?

2012-01-12T10:43:00.000-08:00

I rung in the new year with a resolution to be a healthier me! Below was last weekend.

Mike and I started out at Le Peep and I did great. I special ordered my omelet and kept it bland. I didn't even order cheese on it! I love Le Peep. If you can make something there taste bad you're doing good.

Then my sister and I decided to go shopping. We had to take advantage of our time out, so we stopped by Cheesecake Factory.

She ordered this...

and I got this. : - (

Sunday morning Mike and I dropped the kids off at Sunday school. Can you believe we do that? I'm so ashamed-not really. So before Mike and I met them at church we go to Panera. Last Sunday I got this. That isn't too bad, but I should've just had fruit.

This was after church. Talk about comfort food. This as good as it gets. Maybe it wouldn't have even been that awful, but I'm on this cookie kick. I should be this great baker, since I've baked since I was a little girl. But I'm not. The first time I ever baked cookies, instead of using a cap of vanilla I used a cup.

Mike's going to kill me, but look at all the salt!

Here's this week's cookies, and they actually taste very good!!

Very belated CHRISTmas post

2012-01-10T19:05:00.000-08:00

Right before CHRISTmas Mike and I decided to take the kids to the Children's Museum. Indy has a nice one. So we threw some of our kids and a few nieces and nephews in the car--actually two cars and away we went.

They had play houses to die for! The one below is a replica of pharmaceutical mogul Eli Lilly's daughter's.

They honored three typical children that found themselves in extraordinary circumstances: Anne Frank, Ruby Bridges and Ryan White

Above Avery and Gabrielle are Women News Anchors reporting the Ryan White story. I remember years ago it seemed like Ryan White was on the news every night in our city.

Ryan White was diagnosed with AIDS at age 13. He and his mother fought for his right to attend school, gaining international attention as a voice of reason about HIV/AIDS. At the age of 18, Ryan White died on April 8, 1990.

Ruby Bridge's first class room. http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/samoset/gr2rbridges.htm

This room really made you feel like you were in an old class room. Really cool!!!

We ate dinner in their cafeteria.

I think their favorite spot was this Egyptian deli!

Stafan is pretending he is sleeping in an Egyptian living room.

The Terra Cotta soldiers in China. My niece, Avery (L) is from that province.

Yippee! Mike looks like a lawyer, doesn't he?

Washington D.C.

2012-01-08T12:28:00.000-08:00

Mike took the girls to D.C. Actually, I had a plane ticket too, but decided at the last minute not to go. I really try and not to get too political on my blog (really, I do try!), but I am political and this is a post on D.C. so... well. (Warning: if you're a liberal, or a Ron Paul fan, you might want to stick to looking at pictures of Mike and the girls running around D.C. and ignore the other stuff)..

Click on the links to read the articles. Rick Santorum talks about Jesus and asks whether we really mean it when we say "God Bless America." Remember what Obama's preacher of 20 years thinks of the phrase "God Bless America"? It still boggles my mind that Jeremiah Wright wasn't all by himself enough to convince Americans Obama has no business in the White House. Oh yeah...maybe that's because the media (and even our wimpy candidate from last time) wouldn't talk about it. So tell me, Senator McCain, do you still think we don't need to fear Obama as president? Let's hope the Republican candidate this time around is more concerned with winning than being liked by the media.

Did you see this?! Ron Paul is even nuttier than I thought!

Obama says the people of America have lost their ambition, imagination and will... Hard to disagree with him on that, after all, they elected him.

They went and watched an oral argument at the Supreme Court. I love Justice Scalia, so I hate it that I missed that!

Mike said DC's Chinatown was OK, but not as good as Boston's. And nothing compares to San Francisco's (except, of course, China itself!).

This is where President Lincoln was shot.

Ford's Theatre was being refurbished while they were there.

Lincoln was taken to this house across the street from Ford's Theatre after he was shot.

Lincoln's wife waited in this room when she wasn't at President Lincoln's bedside.

Lincoln died in this room.

Right behind Lael and Arden.

They went to a bunch of museums. They saw the plane from the Wright's first flight in 1903. This isn't it in this picture.

This is.

The original United States Constitution and other historic documents are here. Mike got a thrill seeing the real thing. Too bad our president doesn't respect it.

Nothing like a little shopping after museum hopping. Nice shoes Lael.

But I like these better.

They ran from day to night.

And he wore them out. Next time, I'm going.

2012-01-03T18:48:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-02T19:39:00.000-08:00

Did you know that Forever 21 is a Christian clothing store for teens?

They have very affordable and cute clothes too.

Can you tell I was making Bret do this?

2012-01-01T15:50:00.000-08:00

Our 2012 New Year Resolutions

We ate Chinese NY eve. Mike told the kids to make two Resolutions. One for them and one for God. So in no particular order here's how it went--and I want to say we didn't tell any of them what to say or even give them any ideas.

Stafan

Be friendlier to a new guy at school. That one impressed me, because Stafan is a very sincere kid.

Pray before I eat at school and not care what the other kids think.
Stafan was already praying, but I'm thinking Tim Tebow gave him that "I don't care what people think" idea.

Lyric

Stop losing things (not surprising since this was the first and the last time she wore this Christmas hat).

Tell more people at school about Jesus.

Cokie

Do good on my ISTEPS

Tell friends about Jesus (I'm thinking she got lazy and copied off Lyric on the last part).

Shepard

Not push people in the lunch line. OK, he was being totally serious. But I had to burst out laughing when he said it, because Shepard can get ticked if he feels he is being done wrong.

Learn about God.

Remi

Do better in Social Studies (She's making As in math, but not in SS : - ))

Learn more about God. Remember Remi has only been here 18 months. Mike asked her the other day, "Remi what makes God holy," and she answered, "Sin." : - )) Me: "Told you she didn't get it."

Bret

Do good on ISTEP

Ask people about their troubles.

Arden

Get a job

Stand up more for God when people talk about Him.

Lael

Trust God more with my future (She said her's was a two in one).

Mike

Lose weight (no way am I going to tell how much, but Cokie said, "Whooaa!").
Be a better spiritual leader with my family and spend more time studying the Bible with them.

First off this is the only recent picture I have of myself.
Lose weight and get fit. (I'm not telling how much either, but at my age the bar is not that high).

Witness more (Being raised Baptist that isn't that easy for me. I tend to get straight to the point. I'm kind of like... Are you stupid or something?! Jesus is real)!

We attend church at http://plainfieldchristian.com/

Our preacher is really, really good. Today he preached on Matthew 17: 1- 9 and his points were:

FOCUSING ON JESUS TRANSFORMS YOU FROM AN ADMIRER TO A WORSHIPER

FOCUSING ON JESUS TRANSFORMS YOU FROM A BELIEVER TO AN EVANGELIST

FOCUSING ON JESUS TRANSFORMS YOU FROM A FOLLOWER TO A DISCIPLE

2011-12-30T19:17:00.001-08:00

2011-12-30T19:02:00.001-08:00

Miss Guangzhou

2011-12-30T16:32:00.000-08:00

That's what Mike likes to call Bret since she is from Guangzhou.

Yesterday Bret was minding her own business, which she usually is, and I decided to annoy her... Bret never annoys anyone.

Is it bragging if you're just repeating what someone else says? Probably. The other day Bret's school guidance counselor called about what classes Remi should take next year since she is still playing catch up from China. Bret got to know the counselor since about a year ago Bret was on homebound for a semester. I asked her how she thought Bret was doing having to wear the garment and being around her peers. She said "Bret is so smart, pretty and dresses so cute I don't see why she wouldn't do well. Besides, if anyone messes with Bret they'll have to deal with me." I never even told Bret that.

We've taken Bret back to china twice. I think this was when we were adopting Cokie and I was "scouting" and spyed Arden.

Sorry in advance, because I started looking at old pictures and went down memory lane. I've been accused by the other kids of letting Bret by with stuff. The truth is Bret is a peace maker and rarely does anything to make me mad.

This looks pretty sappy, but I know I didn't pose for it.

This was soon after we got home with Bret. I was worried about how I would bond with an older one. She was 4 1/2 y.o. and even though she only wanted Mike at first she TOTALLY melted my heart the first minute I laid eyes on her. The funny part was I had prayed she would like Mike better than me. I wanted him to want to adopt again. Bret was #4 and he said no more. Boy, did God answer the prayer! Mike would pick her up and she would give me a sly small smile and want me to move away. On the plane ride home out of no where Mike said "Maybe we will do this one more time." That was 6 kids ago.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-12-28T09:14:00.000-08:00

2011-12-26T17:27:00.000-08:00

Merry day after CHRISTmas!

At about 4:30 CHRISTmas Day I decided we had too much food and way too many sweets, so I got the great idea that it would be silly to cut into this cake and not share the "coolness" of it. So, Becki and I along with some of our cute kids hopped in the car and drove it to a near by nursing home. I thought the women would get a kick out of it. Well, they didn't notice the cake at all. Instead they cooed and aahed over the girls. They told them they were pretty and liked their clothes. Becki and I decided we would make cupcakes and have the kids pass them out soon.

I have a friend that takes her kids every week and visits a nursing home. How cool is that?

This is what Gabrielle wore to the nursing home. One lady said to her, "I love you." Gabrielle said "Aaah I love you too?" I do bet the older women liked this fur coat. I bet half of them had one. : - )))

Lael said "You should be taking them a Jesus Birthday cake!" I told her "Honey, if they haven't gotten it figured it by now they are in trouble!"--I'm just sayin'...

Back to the food!

Pretty! I can say that, because Becki made them. She even made the white chocolate snowflakes. They were red velvet cake with white chocolate frosting.

Cokie is a carnivore and always has been. She also made a big deal out of wanting a big Hershey bar for CHRISTmas.

I don't know where I heard of the pickle game, but I did. So we hid the pickle several times and the kids ran around the house searching for a pickle so they could win presents. The kids got a big kick out of it, so I think we'll make it a tradition!

I bought a lot of t-shirts at Go Fish for surprises

Searching for the pickle.

Lyric said she didn't care if she didn't get anything else, but she had to have a pocket watch for CHRISTmas. No clue where she got that idea.

I was just now downloading this picture. I know Lyric's looks and I know my brother's. I asked her, "What was Uncle Roger saying?" Lyric: "Oh, he was just looking at my pocket watch and he said I should shoot the .... with my gun." I'm not going to say what Roger told Lyric she should shoot, but I will say Jeeves was trying to eat my brother up.

I know shocking, but don't worry she loves Jeeves.

Christmas morning we went to church since it is CHRISTmas and not just "Happy Holiday."

Since we went to church on Christmas and had company coming we opened our presents on Christmas Eve (the kids liked that too, but we're not going to make it a tradition).

As you can see Bret is equally excited. : - )

OK, so she asked for these. They are those sparkling things you hang in your door.

Lael liked Cokie's doll--I'm serious.

Bret wrapped a lot of my presents and she was bummed, because she wanted this so I told her to write her name on it too. The perks of being the wrapper.

He was thrilled to hold these up--not.

2011-12-23T18:59:00.000-08:00

I've been teaching my kids to say Merry CHRISTmas and not this Happy Holiday stuff. I looked over and saw Stafan working on this. Shepard asked why people said Happy Holiday and before I could answer he said "Maybe they don't love God."

Shepard started crying in the night and said his legs were hurting. So, Mike gave him some Tylenol and soon after he was wet from his fever breaking. In the morning he seemed OK and wanted to go eat with us. Soon after in the car he vomited, but then was OK again. That night again he wanted to go out to dinner with us. Well, I finished my dinner, but Mike didn't get half way done before Shepard got sick all OVER the table. Poor people around us. Mike was like... man why did I bring him.

The other 3 kids all ordered one piece of bacon and sausage and got that, but Stafan ordered two pieces of sausage. When it came I said "Better luck next time." Mike laughed and said "You're so caring." My friend Ginger always says I have a gift for not caring if my kids like me or not. : - )

I confess I like my tree. I love the old fashion looking ornaments and the candy gum drop string It reminds me of my Grandma's. She was poor, but she loved her CHRISTmas decorations. I'm poor too and have to get my ornaments on sale.

Remi's B-day

2011-12-22T18:16:00.000-08:00

Remi and Shepard have been with us for almost a year and a half.

This was taken at the Hong Kong airport. They were as shy and scared as they looked. We didn't know it then, but Shepard was also in pain because of needing two root canals.

This close to CHRISTmas I didn't have it in me to make a huge deal of her B-day, but the rest of the kids had to clean the house for CHRISTmas day and Remi didn't have to do anything the entire day.

This picture has a special significance, because every time Remi talks to her foster Mom the lady ask her how many shoes she has. Remi answers a lot and then the lady tells her she is a liar. Remi never had her birthday acknowledged in China.

2011-12-21T10:44:00.000-08:00

Lyric Ya Ni and Cokie Wei Bettina

2011-12-19T18:54:00.000-08:00

I mentioned last week that while out shopping I asked a couple of clerks why they didn't say "Merry Christmas" and instead only wished their customers "Happy Holidays." One said he was afraid he would get sued and the other lady looked at me like I was a moron and said, "We want to be courteous and not offend anyone." I was back in Gap Saturday and guess what song they were playing? Well, I can't tell you the name, because I'm not a big fan of rap, but the words in the song were "Michelle and Barack." I kid you not!!! The world has gone mad. So, of course I'm not going to leave that one alone. The cashier, whom I happen to really like said, "Well, he is our president." Oh, I don't remember Bush songs playing over the Gap Speakers. I probably just wasn't shopping that day.

CHRISTmas stuff

Just so we wouldn't fill completely up on sugar.

My youngest sister's kid's Payton, Eliot, Sawyer, Gabrielle and Darby

Lael was thrilled to received this email and to know the hats made it to China!

2011-12-17T21:12:00.000-08:00

swallowsnestzz.org/

Many thanks we got the hats today and have distributed some to our children. We plan to give the others to the local orphanage and also another children's home in our city that helps orphans with HIV. Many thanks, Pam

2011-12-16T18:57:00.000-08:00

Is there a war on Christmas? How many "Happy Holidays" are you getting compared to a "Merry Christmas" this year? Sadly, I've noticed my kid's teachers are writing the dreaded Happy Holidays on their notes. One teacher I've heard is celebrating with her class "xmas around the world." This teacher just needs to leave it alone. Even my gynecologist gave me a have happy holiday and when I said Merry Christmas she got a bland stare on her face and kept on walking. While I was Christmas shopping this week I started asking sales people why they didn't say Merry Christmas. One sales girl gave me a superior "I don't want to offend anyone" and another guy said he was genuinely afraid he would be sued if he said Merry Christmas!

The one thing I'm sure of is I'm more afraid of offending Jesus Christ than the world and I will not stop saying Merry Christmas!

I would love to go in this house. It isn't real close to us, but it is in our county.

I stayed home and cleaned out my refrigerator tonight. This is Whitney after she brought her Dad home. She had taken him out to a ball game and dinner for his birthday. They had a great time!

Check out the Christmas tree in back. I went out and bought them new lights and ornaments. It was pretty plain and Lyric told me they had the worst tree in the house.

More pics of Sunday blessings.

2011-12-13T19:04:00.000-08:00

I was going to use this as a CHRISTmas picture, but I'm thinking I may not even get any sent out. I've been busy!! I didn't want Jeeves in the picture, but every time I call the kids he comes too. I had to crop him out of several.

At this point they just wanted me to stop.

Shepard is such a cute stinker. Tonight he was mad, because I was making him work on Spelling words and multiplication tables. He hasn't really been here that long and is still catching up. He said "I"m going back to China and you can get your money back." Of course, then all the kids burst out laughing which made him worst.

Cokie had her pinky burned right off when she was in China. We don't know what happened or why, but we're sure glad she's ours.

Merry CHRISTmas!

Today after church

2011-12-11T18:23:00.000-08:00

Arden and Bret

Stafan. He really is a good boy.

After church we went to the Shriners CHRISTmas party. It is amazing what they are doing for burn victims!! For the ones who know Christ there will be a special place in Heaven--I'm sure.

We took our nieces Gabrielle and Darby

I don't know if it was because Cokie was so severely burned that it has taken her so long, but Mike and I both noticed her personality recently took a major change. She has never been shy, but she was meek and quiet, but lately she has started getting down right cocky--in a totally cute way of course! Anyway, Cokie has probably had over 20 surgeries now. She and Bret both are stronger than anyone could imagine. They never complain before or after a surgery.

I've chosen not to tell my kids Santa is real. I don't tell them he isn't either. Since Shepard hasn't been here that long, he is very naive about this kind of stuff. Yesterday he asked, "Mom is Stafan right and Santa won't come if I'm bad?" I just told him what Stafan said isn't true and left it at that.

Germany

2011-12-09T18:15:00.000-08:00

Our son Brady is in Germany. When we got home this evening we had a package from him filled with lots of interesting goodies. Thanks Braid Man.

Dachau Concentration Camp.

This picture is hard to look at.

Don't look at my sugar cookies. I must have been watching TV, because I don't drink.

Bret is holding a rock from the Berlin Wall and it has graffiti on it. He paid money for tiny pieces, but this one he picked up off the ground himself. Bret is really proud of it and isn't letting anyone touch it well, at least not Stafan. : - )

The cup didn't make it. I think this was the second one he bought for me too.

This is where he got my chocolates and you can see the name on one of the chocolates below. I love good coffee and expensive chocolate! I'm like a dog with a bone and nobody can have any of my chocolate.

One chocolate had an edible diamond in it. One had a flower design. The chocolates do not taste anything like our chocolates.

He sent this hat to Lael, but I had Stafan try it on. It says Berlin.

He sent Arden and Remi purses. Remi didn't waste any time putting her school supplies in it.

This song is beautiful, isn't it? My friend sent it to me. Thanks girl!

Lael is 17 and planning her future.

2011-12-02T18:48:00.000-08:00

I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.”

Abraham Lincoln

It was 117 degrees that day in Wuhan, China. Our guide had called earlier and said her flight would be late so she wouldn't be there till the next day, but Bian Yuhong, would be brought to the hotel that afternoon. She was almost 4 y.o. and we couldn't believe that soon we would be laying eyes on the little girl that we had only seen in one small picture. We had been in the room just a little while when we heard a knock on the door. In walked a lady that spoke no English and didn't bother to smile. The woman pulled the little girl into the room. The girl's hair was about all shaved off and she had a huge scar on her forehead. She wore a yellow shorts outfit, black dirty sandals and smelled like pee. Her legs looked like they hadn't seen the sun in days even though it was August. I also noticed she had no scratches on her knees or legs. Aren't kids suppose to have skinned knees from playing outside? The child looked scared and mad at the world. The woman showed the little girl the restroom and walked over and got her a drink of water from our refrigerator. The woman then turned and walked straight out the door leaving the child standing. We had brought Whitney (above) to China with us and we all just stood there looking at at the child who had now curled up in the fetal position and started softly crying. I couldn't speak Chinese and she couldn't speak English, but I thought this was the time I should probably do something motherly. I didn't feel it yet, but I reached down and rubbed her back.

Lael has made hundreds of hats and sent them to the orphanages in China. She now has friends and even teachers who make hats. She has received yarn and several donations to help mail the hats. We mailed off a huge box last week to http://swallowsnestzz.org/ Anyone traveling to China and willing to carry some over with them please contact me at sammynmick@yahoo.com

The children wear layers of clothes, because the orphanages have no heat. The one in the red on the far right looks like she also has a scar on her forehead like Lael did. I also notice one looks burned like my Bret and Cokie were.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-26T11:30:00.000-08:00

the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits or favors, especially to God.

My niece Erin.

The pilgrims and Indians are like my kids and don't want to stand up straight.

My sweet, sweet friend Judy came up with her family and spent time with us. Thanks and come back soon! We love you!

My nephew Corey whom I LOVE.

My older sister Charly has had Thanksgiving at her house for as long as I can remember. She has 6 daughters.

Brady skyped from Germany.

Lael talking to Brady.

We give thanks for the pleasure of fun, crazy, beautiful kids in our lives.

Judy's daughter's Taizo

OK, Ginger, I happen to be cutting cake, but I was telling your Nate he was getting in that picture with those girls!

Now that's better! Judy's daughter Hope on the far right. Believe it or not, Judy has more kids than me.

My sister's friend, Bing.

My big brother.

Cokie still has staples in her head... time to get off the trampoline.

The next night we went downtown to Buca Di Beppo and watched the tree lighting.

That Bruschetta is my favorite thing there!

Look at Judy. She is so photogenic.

Was Jeff smitten with Cokie or was Cokie smitten with Jeff?

Don't know who you are bearded man...

but you obviously want to be in our club.

Mike has 7 daughters

2011-11-17T20:23:00.001-08:00

Whitney, Lael, Arden, Bret, Remi, Lyric and Cokie

I'm getting so good at this! : - )

2011-11-08T14:12:00.000-08:00

OK, that is supposed to be a joke. If you're wondering how I can make light of a surgery, well you can when you have as many as my kids have. If we're not at Riley Children's Hospital having surgeries or getting the kids desensitization or some other treatment then we are doing something like getting wisdom teeth pulled out. This morning we were up at 4:00 am and about 100 stitches later we were back home by noon.

Stafan went with us to Cokie's surgery, because while she was in surgery on the 3rd floor, Mike was taking Stafan to the 2nd floor having his weekly wasp and hornet Desensitization treatments. They told me they have only 3 patients getting treated for this. He gets 4 shots every week for the next couple of months and gradually over the next couple of years it lessens.

This is what Stafan's arm looked like when they were testing to find out what caused him to have to spend the night in ICU. I can say a lot of things about my life, but boring isn't one of them.

Be Still My Heart... Cokie is so cute.

Bret made the card Cokie is holding for their doctor. Do you think I should have combed my hair? Did I mention we got up at 4:00 am?

Cokie got to decorate her own mask.

Check Mike out in the background. : - ) Apparently, he doesn't need a gas mask to go to sleep.

Cokie's pinky was burnt off in the fire--her SN was burns.

This is where I get down right cocky! Our plan was for me to stay with Cokie and Mike to run Stafan back to school after Stafan's desensitization treatment was done. Instead, I pleaded with the nurse to get Cokie out ASAP so Mike wouldn't have to take Stafan to school and then drive right back to the hospital.

Lyric got home from school and ran in to check Cokie out. These girls couldn't be much closer even though Cokie is quiet and Lyric is NOT.

Around here one surgery equals one frappuccino--whether you want it or not.

Orphan Sunday

2011-11-05T19:10:00.000-07:00

We've done it 8 times from China, once from Colombia, South America and once from here. A lot of people think we're freaks for having 10 kids.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James 1:27

That doesn't sound like a request to me. It sounds like a commandment. Whatever it is, the more I do what He wants me to do, the more he blesses me. Thank you God.

Bian Yuhong adopted at age 3 from Wuhan, Hubei China

Kong Wei Xin adopted at age 2 from Nanjing Jiangsu, China

Tian Pei Hu adopted at age 8 from Guangzhou, Guangdong China

Tian Man Qiao adopted at age 6 from Guangzhou, Guangdong China

Alvaro Enrique Pulido adopted at age 3 from Cucuta, Colombia

Bai Ling Yun adopted at age 4 from Guangzhou, Guangdong China

Li Hong Cai adopted at age 10 from Guangzhou, Guangdong China

Huang Shan adopted at age 11 from Guangzhou, Guangdong China

Shi Ya Ni adopted at age 2 from Nanjing, Jiangsu China

Whitney Lauren adopted the day she was born from Indianapolis, Indiana

Unknown orphan

Trick or Treat

2011-10-31T19:02:00.000-07:00

Notice Stafan's costume--I left it up to Mike. : - ((

Lyric was not too impressed with her costume. She said she was a butterfly, fairy, witch. Hey, it was better than when we were kids. We had two choices--a fat ole lady or a Hobo.

My niece Darby was quite the showoff.

My sister made Gabrielle's costume.

We ran into 4 of my other sister's girls.

Have no idea who this baby was, but this was so cute.

Lael Bian Grace

2011-10-26T18:31:00.000-07:00

She is 17 and all grown up. We got Lael (Bian Yuhong) when she was 3 years old in Wuhan, Hubei. I might add she was on the special needs list. She was special need all right--NOT. What she was, was mad at the world -- and she wasn't going to take it anymore! After we got her, it took her several months to get over abandonment, fear and her old orphanage life. Today she is a wonderful Christian girl, has her drivers licenses and I don't want to brag, but she just got selected into NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY! Did you hear me? LAEL GOT SELECTED FOR NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY. OK, so I'm a little excited and proud. Honestly, I would have been surprised if Lael hadn't made it. Thank you Jesus for giving Lael to us.

I can't find Lael's referral picture right now, but here she was around 7 years old.

Lael decided for her birthday she wanted to eat at FAGO DE CHAO. It is a Brazilian restaurant. We let her take her friend Nate who just happens to be a high achiever like Lael. We had a blast at this place, because none of us had ever eaten there and it was very interesting. I highly recommend it.

In case you haven't been and are interested, here's what to expect. The waiter comes up and gives you a list of instructions on how it all works. First, notice the green circle that says "yes please." They serve 15 very expensive cuts of meats. When you want them to bring it to you you turn the circle up, and when you want them to stop you turn it over to red. We kept it green most of the time. The waiter said we must "glide" the meat to our plate with our tongs. OK, I can glide!

I picked up the fork and oh my goodness! I didn't even know they made forks this heavy. I know they don't sell them like that at Walmart. : - )

Oh the salad bar was so good we were torn on whether to stop eating salad or go for all the high cholesterol. We mainly went for the high cholesterol.

This was a huge bowl shape of Parmesan cheese.

Nate was like us and was laughing and loving it! Now this was service.

Keeping it coming baby!

Here Mike and Lael were making fun of me, because you're supposed to share the potatoes and I kind of took all of them.

Right after Lael got home. Still sporting the famous orphanage hair cut and still mad at the world. After she learned enough English she told us how she was sprayed with cold hoses for a shower and there there were no chairs to sit at when you ate. She had some infections we had to get cleared up and after she got some hair she was good to go. :- ) Whitney was used to being in charge around most kids, but I'll never forget after Lael got her English Whitney saying to her "close the door!" Lael kept right on going and said "Do it yourself." Whitney has respected Lael every since.

Sarcastic answers to dumb questions.

2011-10-26T17:31:00.000-07:00

In the adoption world you get a lot of odd questions and comments. Tonight Mike took the kids to the Wednesday dinner at church. He and the kids both love it! I'm not exactly into it and usually don't go. Mike said a man he didn't know sat down at a table beside them and kept looking over at them and smiling. He said the man seemed nice enough, but got in a lot of the usual things like "Wow! Ten kids! How big is your house?" Do people really think orphans in China each have their own private bedroom and bathroom? So I couldn't help but laugh at some of the snappy answers served up to this guys weird questions. The man looked at Mike and then said to Lyric, "Do you like this man?" Lyric said "Yes." Man: "Why do you like him? Lyric dryly: "Because he is my Dad." Man: "What is your favorite thing about him?" Lyric: "He has a job." On second thought, maybe Lyric wasn't being sarcastic. I guess with all of the Occupy Wall Street nuts out there, there is something to be said for having a Dad with a job.

Lyric on the right with her cousin Gabrielle."

Wedding Fun!

2011-10-20T19:09:00.000-07:00

Our good friend Jennifer's son got married last weekend.

If you read my blog, you know Jennifer traveled to China with my sister and they adopted two beautiful babies. Jennifer adopted Katie and my sister, Becki on the left, adopted Gabrielle. The babies came together and now they look like twins. Hmmm...

Gabrielle has on the black. Katie is with Jennifer's grandaughter who happens to be the prettiest thing ever!

Becki's sons Sawyer and Eliot. As you can see, her boys are always dressed a notch above mine--OK two notches. But Lyric did say this week her teacher used her as an example as to how to dress warm on the field trip the next day. Does that count for anything? LOL I remember when I was a very little girl my Mom seeing another little girl in cloth tennis shoes--and it was wet and snowy. My Mom said, "Her mother should be horse whipped!" Funny, the things your remember. I know some people are thinking, "maybe she didn't have any thing else," which is true, but we didn't have a lot either and my Mom always made sure I was dressed warm. Oh, don't get me started on our country's entitlement problem. : - )

Payton is still not happy here, because her Mom made her wear hoop earrings. She is happy and dancing above, because she agreed to get on the dance floor if she could take them off. People are always talking about "picking your battles." Ha! We may compromise a little, but we don't pick battles.

I'm tired and have had enough!

Me too! We got 3 rooms, my sister had one, we had one and we put all the older girls in one.

The morning after. They think the buffet is cool!

And then a long drive home.

When we got back home, we had lunch with Jennifer's family, because they drove the newlyweds to the airport, which is close to us.

2011-10-11T17:29:00.000-07:00

My sister and I decided to have a Fall party. My sister is much more creative than me. I basically told her everything I wanted and she could actually do it!! She did all the pumpkins, invitations and a lot of the cool treats! The weather was wonderful!! I think everyone enjoyed it. I know we did. We got to see some people we hadn't seen in a long time, and it meant a lot!! I even had a cousin from out of state come and spend the night. I really wish I had taken pictures, but I was too busy having fun. The pictures I got of the actual party were taken by other people. We've already been told we need to do it again next year. If only we were guaranteed more weather like we had.

Becki and Arden working their magic. Arden is really good too. This reminds me of a couple of weeks before when I was cleaning out the garage. I took several loads to Goodwill. Stafan said "Momma you should pay us, because you really didn't do anything except tell us what to do."

You May Say Bull, but I Think this is a Ghost

2011-10-04T10:44:00.000-07:00

I really like this picture I took on vacation, but I never got around to posting it. This lone bull kind of freaked Mike and me out, because of the sign it seemed to be guarding over (see next picture). We didn't see any other cattle anywhere in sight. It was almost like a ghost. So close to Halloween makes the picture kind of appropriate.

This was the long route we took home from Santa Fe. I wouldn't change anything about the trip, but I think next time I'll fly.

If you're looking for CHRISTmas gift ideas these bags from Lillian Vernon are really nice and not that expensive. I bought them for my older teenagers when they were young, and they still use them.

I can't go out without someone bringing up we have 10 kids. They seem to want to hear how rough I have it. The truth is I love EVERY minute of it.

My kids are the joy of my life. I only have one thing I wish I could change,and that is I'm getting older and not younger. I would adopt 10 more in a heartbeat.

We went to a party the other day, and a lady cornered a couple of my kids and asked them so many questions even I was shocked (and I've pretty much heard them all). Questions like where do you sleep, how many in a room, do you share clothes, do you run out of hot water and--I kid you no--how often do you wash your hair. Now that made me mad!! If you're going to ask those kind of personal questions, you need to be paying me. You know like a reality show. I'm not kidding!! So I was a little insulted until we got an email saying they wanted to have dinner. LOL

Then, yesterday at Walmart a woman told me she could "feel" I was different. Hmmm... thank you.. I think. I thing what she was "feeling" is called "I don't care what people think as long as God is pleased."

Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it. Psalm 37:3-5

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-28T13:50:00.000-07:00

Everyone Loves Lyric

2011-09-26T17:33:00.001-07:00

2011-09-23T21:20:00.000-07:00

“Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves,
We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!”

Humbert Wolfe

My sister and I are in the spirit! We went pumpkin shopping.

I guess I take too many pictures. Now I can't stop my kids from posing.

Bret is our 6th in braces and she has to have 4 teeth pulled out this month to make more room.

Hua Hua needs a home!

2011-09-18T18:55:00.000-07:00

HuaHua's story starts at about 2:24.

This is what I was told the response from Love Without Boundries was about her:

If your or another family is interested in possibly adopting Hua Hua, they should contact Lily at lilyqiuchina@hotmail.com. Lifeline, the agency Lily works with, is trying to help place some children with HIV, but most orphanages won’t submit a file without a committed family. While Nanyang hasn’t filed on this child yet, if a family would definitely step forward, then Lily could work with them to submit the paperwork.

All Girls Allowed

2011-09-18T18:45:00.000-07:00

It’s a Girl!

2011-09-18T18:30:00.000-07:00

click below on IT'S A GIRL.

It’s a Girl! Documentary Film – Official Website

What happens to me?

2011-09-15T13:01:00.000-07:00

Teens in China share the same dreams as teens in the US. Unlike young teens in families, children raised in Chinese orphanages face a very scary future. In some countries, children as young as 14 are made to leave their "home" and begin life as an adult with no family and few skills.

In China , young people are allowed to remain in their orphanage only until the age of 16-18 years. However, their future (or lack of) is set years earlier. In China on their 14th birthday by law, orphaned children become ineligible for adoption. This is true for both international and domestic adoptions.

In the orphanages, only the strong survive. Here are some of the strong. They are girls that are just as deserving as any other adopted or biological child here in the US. I'm always irked when people say how lucky my kids are to be adopted or be in the US. Do they not think their kids are lucky? I don't think they would appreciate me telling their kids how lucky they are not to be orphans.

The girl in the yellow was our daughter, Arden's best friend. She was Arden's only "family" and Arden's protector. Her and Arden stay in contact, but as fate would have it these girls are still there.

When we were there a year ago we got to meet the girl in the black.

This man is the orphanage director where 5 of my kids lived. We have had the pleasure of meeting him and I've only heard good things about him. I think here he has taken the older girls to dinner even though I know some of them are out on their own. Arden's friend told me she really liked him. I think he must have a kind heart and cares about the kids.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-13T18:34:00.000-07:00

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Lyric is 9

2011-09-10T09:59:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it. At the time we adopted Lyric, I knew I wanted to adopt, but I was looking for a child around 4 or 5 years old. The new list of kids came out, and the only ones Mike and I were interested in were babies!! When we first chose Lyric, I was almost sick because of my age!! I could not imagine chasing around a two-year old. It took me three days to get over it. Now that Lyric is nine, I've been thinking how awful it would be if I had let my age stop me from going to get her. That was also the same trip I spotted Kong Wei Xin. So one year later we went back and adopted another 2 year-old, Kong Wei Xin, and we named her Cokie. Since we got Cokie, she and Lyric have always been like peanut butter and jelly and have brought us more happiness than I could have ever imagined.

Lyric is our shinning little star. Even yesterday when I was dropping her off at school a lady came up and introduced herself. She said her daughter was in Lyric's class. The lady had met her daughter for lunch, and Lyric was at the table. She actually told me she wanted Lyric to be her daughter's friend. LOL I immediately thought, "who wouldn't?" Did I just say that?

Since we are such lame parents (meaning we're usually not ready for our kids' birthdays when they arrive), I came up with a plan. We tell our kids that since they are so special, we will celebrate their b-day all week long. So this year Lyric's b-day was on a school day. I gave her a little present that morning and did manage to make her a cake. When Mike came home from work he took her to a game store and let her pick out a video game as a present. The celebration was still going on Friday, and Mike took Lyric along with a ton of her cousins to Jillian's (an arcade downtown). Then Saturday, I took her another cake when we got together with friends at our usual Mexican hangout and had her another little party. Mike told Lyric that he thought her ninth birthday may have been the most celebrated birthday a kid has ever had. Lyric answered, "there's still Sunday!" It just so happened Whitney had a cookout planned for Sunday, so we told Lyric it was for her. : - ) In these pictures Lyric had just ate spicy wings and they are still on her face.

We get stared and smiled at like crazy. I understand that, but every now and then you get the nosy mean look. I told Mike, "well, you know the Chinese gangs are the worst."

Lyric was 3 y.o. here with her orphanage director. We took Lyric back with us to adopt Cokie.

Saturday night

2011-09-04T05:36:00.000-07:00

We had dinner last night with some people that I love, and here are some of my favorite pictures that were taken. I know I explain our adoption stories a lot, but it is confusing if you're not paying attention. : - ))

Our Remi with Abigail--best friends in China and then God put them 20 minutes apart here in the US. Nothing makes Remi lighten up like getting to see Abigail.

Abigail's Mom, Jan and my sister Becki.

This is one of Abigail's brothers with Remi's cousin Eliot.

Whitney and Brian

Robin with her daughter Hadley.

Bret with Hadley and Hadley's brother Wyatt.

Jennifer and Robin. Jennifer traveled with my sister, Becki. Jennifer adopted Katie and Becki adopted Gabrielle. Jennifer works at Crisis Pregnancy Center--actually, so does Robin, but a different one. Through Jennifer's Center Robin adopted Wyatt (above) and Mike did the legal work for his adoption. Now we all love each other--a lot. : - ))))

Katie on the left and Gabrielle on the right.
I was driving down the road with Gabrielle right before Katie got here and Gabrielle says, "Katie is coming and when Katie comes I get craaaazy." Cokie chimes in, "When Katie comes you get bossy."

Gabrielle and Cokie who are cousins. Are you getting all this?

Arden with one of Jennifer's daughters.

Why does this picture make me laugh?

I often get what I think is a strange question--Do they (my kids) like one another or do they get along? Yes, they get along and yes they like one another, they even love one another.

This one makes me laugh too. Fox News body language expert would say something like they are boldly assertive and forward, pushy and aggressive.

Have you read the book SHANGHAI GIRLS? The two main characters are sisters and are called the beautiful girls. Gabrielle and Katie could be them. Their nannies in China handed them to Jennifer and Becki together.

Katie excited about her little sister's big news.

The weekend

2011-08-28T16:40:00.000-07:00

My house needs cleaned, because I ran around all weekend. These are just a few of the things we did.

My niece is in the band. I wish I had taken a picture of her up close!

We had breakfast with my Uncle who is almost 80 years old. He is into Reflexology and I'm thinking I need to be too.

Bret laid around on Sat. because she spent the night with a friend Friday and they stayed up too late--don't know what Jeeves's problem is.

We ate out on Friday. People think I cook all the time, but I don't. This is Cokie in her new Crocks we bought at the fair. She has about every color. They are her favorite kind of shoe, because they slip on and off her brace easily. They are never on sale, but I splurge on Crocks for Miss Cokie.

We all went to church on Sunday. My kids attend Sunday school and church almost every Sunday even when I don't. The law is--I mean the rule is you go until you're 18 y.o.

I love to shop! I'm a sale shopper though. Even my candy has to be on sale.

I'm addicted to Godiva and it is the only chocolate I'll eat. I tell myself I deserve it. : - )

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-25T06:10:00.000-07:00

The meanest post I've ever posted, but

2011-08-21T17:27:00.001-07:00

before you look let me just say I did tell Miss Picky I was going to post this and she just laughed. Miss Picky is with her son Eliot.

Looks innocent enough doesn't it?

2011-08-20T21:22:00.000-07:00

I went to the State Fair three times this year. I told you I love the fair! These are just a few of the pictures I took showing just a few things we did and ate. I'll be on a major diet this week. :( I also have to make a video. Lyric is really mad that I have not made one in a long time. She loves my website, but not so much my blog. She wants to know why I have two and asked today "Who does that?!"

We got home late, tired and dirty. We had to first pick up Jeeves at the sitter. My sister Charly is the sitter, and Jeeves goes there almost everyday. More about that later. : - ) By the time we got into bed it was late. I still drug by butt out of bed and we all got to church. I should get to bed and try and catch up on some sleep, but instead I'm playing on here. Oh well...there are worse habits.

Go Sarah!

Our hearts go out to all the people who were injured and the families of those who lost love ones at the State Fair last week. We pray that God's presence will be felt as they heal and grieve.

Flashback Friday

2011-08-18T18:04:00.000-07:00

This is the first picture I ever saw of Remi. The orphanage named her Li Hong Cai, but Remi remembers and can write her birth name. When I saw Remi's picture and video she was at China's new adoption camp. She was trying so hard not to cry. Her whole life depended on her doing a good job, and she obviously knew it.

She was told she had a family and here she is holding up a picture of us I sent.

Her life has changed just a little. : - )

I must have heard some talk that China might be more open to adopting two, but it was the very, very start of it and had hardly been done. Just a few days after inquiring about Remi, I called the agency and asked if I also could have Shepard. The woman at the agency answered, "I think they will. I will just tell them no one is adopting the boys!" That of course is true. Most Americans go for the girls. Shepard is such a sweetie.

We got this picture of Shepard several months before we traveled to get him. Little did we know his two front teeth had been knocked out, and he was living in a lot of pain.

He has a sun grin here, but it shows off his teeth that took a whole year of dental work to get in shape.

Shepard is the exact same age as Stafan, which makes Stafan mad. Stafan says "he is sooo weak." Shepard takes great pleasure in getting under Stafan's skin, and he does a good job of it. Shepard's favorite thing to say to Stafan is "Hi Bob." I have no idea why he says that.

Stafan is in the green McDonald's tshirt. This was taken probably a couple of years before we even knew he existed. God knew though. Look at all the other pretty orphans. The little girl behind Stafan was burned. I saw her a year ago, and she is still in the orphanage.

Stafan now.

I know I say this all the time, but I so enjoy my boys!! Mike on the other hand, keeps spoiling the girls.

Then there is Arden. This was taken a few months before we got her by my sister who was there adopting. Arden was 11 y.o. She was one of the first older kids to be adopted from her orphanage. Looking back if God had not moved mountains she would have aged out since they were not doing older adoptions at the time. The legal cut off for China is age 14. By the time China started doing many older adoptions Arden would have missed it. God is good!!

Arden now at age 16 y.o.

No one probably loves Arden any more than her cousin Payton does. Yes, Payton has on the same shirt as Remi does. She bought it at American Eagle. I saw it, and I asked Arden if she wanted one. She said in her cute Chinese accent, "Payton have one. We respect one another's clothes." Well fine--I don't. It is on sale now and since I'm not rich... forgive me Payton.

Frog Giggin'

2011-08-14T18:01:00.001-07:00

Mike took Stafan, Shepard, Lyric and Cokie and their cousins Eliot, Sawyer, Gabrielle and Darby "frog gigging" last night. They didn't come back empty handed. Cokie's already got one trained. Click here, and she will show you. Let's hope Jeeves doesn't get jealous.