Jonathan 'Bao Gui' Is Coming Home...Praise God!

I am working on a new computer and am trying to learn a new program....please excuse the awkward font and format of this post :)

Hanging on my refrigerator is an invitation to an Adoption Shower for Jonathan Daniel (also known by his Chinese name 'Bao Gui')- The shower was over a month ago (March) but I keep it up as a reminder to Pray and Praise God for little Jonathan and as a reminder to lift his forever family (my friend Lisa, her husband Daniel, and their 4 children) up in prayer

There are some reading this that will remember a blog post I 'posted' almost 2 years ago (see the post at the bottom of this page).  Since posting this, Lisa and Daniel have endured many obstacles on their road to get their son.........Through all of the obstacles Daniel and Lisa have never given up!

Lisa had this to say about the 'in between' of the last 2 years waiting for Jonathan.....

'The adoption process has many steps and LOTS of paperwork. Fingerprints were taken, background checks run, reference letters were written, a carbon monoxide detector was installed, finally a home study was completed.  Through the support of friends, a garage sale and bake sale helped to meet some of the early fees.  Many miracles had already taken place just to get this far in the process.  Days from sending their approved home study to the United States Immigration Office for approval, Daniel was laid-off from his job.  The adoption was put on hold. 

By March of 2012 it became clear that completing the adoption was no longer possible.  With broken hearts we submitted a letter asking for their adoption file to be closed and to be withdrawn as his prospective parents.  It was a loss that was difficult to express.  Would people understand that they were grieving the loss of a son, even though he hadn’t died and they had not yet become his parents? 

His picture stayed on the kitchen window sill and silent prayers were sent from a broken mother’s heart, hopeful that God could restore what had been lost.

When things are impossible in our eyes and we have no resources of our own to boast in, God receives all the glory.

 

With our hope in God and His power to save, we asked if it was possible to try again.  Daniel’s new job no longer met the Chinese income requirement, so they requested a waiver and prepared to fast as they waited for an answer from the Chinese government.  Friends from Canada, Indonesia, China, and beyond joined with them in prayer as they waited to see if an exception would be made.  God moved mountains and it was granted.  With great excitement, we were miraculously able to start his adoption again in July of 2012.  The miracles have continued to unfold: one fee was completely waived, other fees were reduced, a grant was applied toward his referral fee.  Friends who share a passion to see orphans joined with families have provided help and support. 

BaoGui means “Precious Treasure.”  In the book of Matthew we are encouraged to store up our treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Adoption is an expression of love.   More than mere words, it says, “You are loved.  You are special.  You are worth more than any earthly treasure.”  His adoption was not done in human strength, but through God’s great power.  He is a precious treasure who will be given a family name and be pointed to his Savior.  Prayerfully he will choose to accept God’s love and know his heavenly Father too.'

In just a few short days (May 3, 2013) Lisa will be on a plane to China to pick Jonathan up and bring him home- If you think of it would you join me in prayer over the next couple of weeks as Lisa and Jonathan make the transition from Jonathan's Orphanage (where he currently is) to the care of Lisa and then back to the States to join his forever family.  We will also be praying for Lisa's health and safety as she travels by herself and for the health of her 4 kiddo's and husband that will be back here in the States.

A current picture of Jonathan!

 

Friday, July 15, 2011

Bringing Precious Bao Gui Home......

As I walked up to a BBQ that my sister had invited me to this past Wed. night (thanks for the invite sis) I already knew that my child hood friend Lisa was going to be there- My sister had mentioned it as we had chatted on the phone about what side dishes we were going to be bringing (she was bringing cream cheese filled peppers and I was bringing cantelope and chips).  The great thing about child hood friends is that you can go with out talking  for years and years yet when you see each other you have an instant connection- 
I had followed Lisa on face book for the past several years and knew by both talking to her and by face book that she and her husband had added to their family of 4 (they have 2 biological children) 2 additional blessings- These blessings came by way of an International adoption from China.  We instantly started talking about their adoption story.........we then talked about Ellie's adoption story........As the conversation continued, I learned that Lisa and her husband Daniel felt a very strong calling to adopt one more precious blessing from China-  A little boy with significant medical needs named Bao Gui (pronounced Bow-Way).  As Lisa started describing the situation surrounding Bao Gui I felt a stirring very deep in my heart- As Lisa talked on, I knew that I was supposed to share her story with all of you.......my blog friends-


May God Bless and keep little Bao Gui as he awaits his placement with his Daniel and Lisa as his forever family.........

BELOW IS BAO GUI'S STORY AS TOLD BY LISA:

Bao Gui

I guess it’s really BaoGui’s story and it began long before our family knew of his need, before our hearts were touched by his sweet smile and before we knew we were called to bring him home. He was abandoned shortly after birth, most likely due to medical needs that his birth parents were unable to provide for. After being taken into the orphanage he was placed in a group foster home for children with severe medical needs. Under the care of Morning Star Foundation, BaoGui’s basic needs have been met; but his greatest need remains unmet. He needs a family, a family who will love him and advocate for him. A family that will love him just the way his body was created, but also fight to bring healing to his little body where possible. He is awaiting surgery to reverse the colostomy that he has had since infancy and is also most likely deaf, though we do not have any medical details pertaining to his failed hearing tests.  

Our love for the children of China has grown deeper and deeper as our family has grown. Having adopted two of our children from China (both through waiting children / special needs programs) we know the difference that a family can make in the life of a child who has only known uncertainty and loss. We want to make that difference in BaoGui’s life, but the financial obligations that come with an adoption have kept us from being able to move forward with the next step. We have been approved by China to adopt BaoGui, but we need to complete our dossier in order to apply for his visa and bring him home. Right now we need to raise $2,500 to complete our home study through Holt International. We are praying for families to come alongside ours to make this possible. Each adoption is a miracle and a tangible expression of love. More than mere words, it says, “You are loved. You are special. You are worth more than any earthly treasure.”

BaoGui’s name translates “Precious Treasure.”

Our family has been forever blessed by adoption; I pray that many more families would also be blessed as they join us and become a part of BaoGui’s story.

“But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not

destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:20-21

Down Grades and Dumps

While most of my friends and family spent the weekend seeing/ listening to a world recognized Women's Bible Study Teacher (Beth Moore) several hours away I spent the weekend with my boys and Elle's camping...........
A couple of months ago Matt expressed a strong desire to sell our large (and glamorous to me) 5th Wheel.  At the beginning of the purchase, when we were both looking at it, Matt wanted nothing to do with such an 'over the top, unpractical, over-weight' RV and I wanted EVERYTHING to do with it (click the link above to read the story).  Long story short, our 5th wheel went up for sale, sold, and was replaced with....
A sportsman travel trailer. 
It's for the outdoor enthusiast...
H.O.L.D........M.E.....B.A.C.K.

Matt doesn't know this yet but I see it as a teeter totter give and take situation when it comes to this RV'in stuff- Last year we had the RV of my choice, this year is the RV of Matt's choice, next year we will just teeter right back down to my choice!!

While Matt and the boys see this rv as an upgrade (the boys see it as an upgrade because it has a set of bunk beds in the back) I view it as a temporary downgrade- but just temporary mind you because next year is coming fast :)

Also, a word to the wise- When one is using the Sportsman's toilet one should take note of 2 things

• The flush valve is not on the floor like our last RV (you could just use your foot to flush and add water)- the flush and water valve is on the side of the toilet......you really have to lean down and get close to the toilet and TOUCH WITH YOUR HAND the valve (I tried every which way to do this with my foot but had no victory)
• Add water before taking a dump- if not your stool (I used the word stool for my mom and sis who are all about the medical way of saying anything body related....urine for pee, dehydrated when thirsty, etc..) will stick to the bottom and sides of the small sportsmans RV toilet and it will take you a good hour plus having to use the water hose to properly flush!

Hope you all had a FABULOUS weekend!

22 Months........

22 Months........Almost 2.........

I was reading about what to expect from your 2 year old.........'2 years olds are famous for their over-the-top expressions of love as well as anger and frustration'...............OH BOY!

I was also reading about mile stones that we will be approaching this year........

• Potty Training (look forward to a picture of Ellie sitting on her potty on this blog!)
• Her brain will start putting things into categories (dogs and cats will be animals- pants and sweaters will be clothes, etc..)
• She will begin to understand abstract concepts like 'now' vs. 'later'

For now this is what we've got going on:

Some new words this past month are:

• 'She pooped' (this is how she lets me know that she has pooped- I was perplexed when she first started saying 'She' and not 'I' before saying pooped.  Realized that is how she hears Matt and I refer to each other when she has pooped)
• 'Outside'
• 'Corn Bread' (and she LOVES her some corn bread!)
• 'Ellie' (sounds more like I-E)
• 'Josh & Shad' 2 of her cousins names

Capri Sun drinks and 'bug juice' are special treats (we try to keep the Capri Sun to a minimum because it gives her diaper rash).  A Bean Burrito w/o onion but add sour cream (from a local Mexican Restaurant that I 'drive thru' a couple times a week- Can't beat that $1.69 burrito!!) is her current favorite food......

It has been an interesting several months watching Elle's interact with other kids her own age- She started pulling hair and scratching but when realizing that those sorts of behaviors were not going to accomplish anything positive she has started more parallel playing (playing in the same area as another child but not directly with the child). 

Physically Ellie is growing (but still petite):

• Size 4/5 shoes
• 12-18 month clothes
• 20.7 lbs (lost a bit of weight with the stomach flu this month)

April of 2011 is when we 'met' (by way of phone) our birth mother Heather- Ellie's name was chosen by both Heather and I this month 2 years ago (Ellie Marie......Ellie after my mom and Marie after Heather- Her middle name)........Such special memories to 'remember'!

Love this picture..........Kate hugging Ellie

Some Sort of Version and A Man Child :)

6 weeks ladies and gentleman..........
thats how long some sort of version of the flu has been in my house (ellie had the stomach flu this week)........
But whose counting the days anyway :)

My beautiful sis and her youngest Toby (will be 3 months old this month)-
He's a 'man child' being that he weighed 16 pounds at a little over 2 months old and is loosing all of his
hair on the top of his head but keeping it around the back and side of his head....like he is an older balding man!
Auntie Loves You Toby James- you are so precious!!

Easter

Started this Resurrection morning with a wonderful service at our church (one of my favorite messages in the ten years minus two that we were living in Hawaii we have attended our Church)- came home just long enough to heat the carrot souflee' (Deb B. I saved you a piece cause I know you'll LOVE it...hee!) and grab the raspberry pretzel jell-o dessert out of the fridge........We then headed out to my uncle Reid and Aunt Anne's house to celebrate with my side of the family.

A GREAT DAY- Not only a Holy Celebration of Christ's Resurrection but a time for friends and family to get together and EAT SOME GOOD FOOD :)

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

My Nana (my dad's mom) with some of her great- grandchildren

The Two Thousand Dollar 'Flu-Cation'

Have you all ever heard of a 'STAY CATION'- I heard the word for the first time several years ago from a friend whose family was going to stay home (and do fun things) for their family vacation that year.  Her husband and kids all had the week off and they were going to experience local points of interest during the day and be home at night- Free lodging in the evenings and economical family fun during the day.  This would ensure that the family still had their 'vacation' without breaking the bank.......

Sounds fun right.........

I'll bet you've never heard of Flu-Cation! 
Ya, I had never either until a month ago......
You get to stay home for about a week just pretty much hanging out on your couch with a raging fever, body aches, head ache, chills, sicker than a dog  etc..
I got the flu
Then Matt
Then Ryan
Here comes the part when my post title all comes together and makes more sense
Our Dear Precious Eli got the flu- He started passing out shortly after getting it (Like I mentioned a couple of blog posts back) and needed to go to the Dr..............Dr. C ordered some lab work to be done (which came back fab) and just for extra precaution an EKG (a quick check of the heart)
insert here that we have a $5000 Health Insurance Deductible
$800 EKG
Dr. C called later on the same day as the heart test was done to let us know that Eli's EKG had shown some swelling on the right hand side of his heart.........He assured us that this could be just the way Eli's heart 'is' or that there could be more to the story-  A further test would need to be done (an ultra sound of the heart) and the test results would need to be read by Dr. so and so at a Children's Hospital several hours North of us- This news is hard to take when you have a month shy from 17 year old not able to stay standing because he keeps blacking out........
The Echo-Cardiogram was ordered
$1400
Cha Ching $$$
 (of course the money is never questioned even once when you are talking about your children's health- It's an understood non negotiable........I can only joke about it now because.........)
Praising the Lord that the phone call we got today regarding Eli's test results show that the flu virus Eli had seemed to affect his heart (just for that time period) but as of today all is good and the virus is gone- He has a clean bill of health
Whoop Whoop!

Who needs a family vacation (spent that moo-la to have a.....) When you can have a Flu Cation!!

p.s. All joking aside we are so thankful that our Eli is ok- Love you Eli Ben!

p.s.s. Hoping this is the last post about the flu that I ever write... SO OVER THE FLU-



Seriously- This should say 'I have 4 million friends and we all live at Stephanie's house'

21 Months Old

5 days ago Ellie turned 21 months (18th)........
Matt and I were just talking about how fast time has gone!

Some of her current favorites:

• Elle's enjoys being read too.  Her current favorite book is 'Mama Mama Papa Papa' that her auntie Erika gave her and 'Animals on the farm' (a flip book) from her auntie Becca.   
• If it's not pouring rain you will find us as the park or in our back yard- The slide at either place is Elle's favorite place to be.  Her brothers taught her how to climb up it, how to slide down on her stomach, feet first, side ways...........I'm not sure if it is park etiquette to allow the 'climbing up' (or the rocks she likes to put down the slide)- :)
• Pancakes or waffles smothered in butter and syrup, blueberries, oranges (the citrus will still give her diaper rash if she eats to much), sausage gravy, Chicken and Biscuit crackers, and raisins are her favorite foods (this changes weekly)
• She loves riding in the car, riding in her stroller, riding in her bike.......and loves being out and about 'people watching'

Things we are working on:

• For some reason, when Elle's sees a child about her age that is wearing a pony tail, she never fails to not pull that pony (the poor child on the receiving end).........We're working on not hair pulling (hee hee.......for some reason that last sentence cracked me up)
• Not throwing food off of her plate (or high chair tray) when she is done (it took Ajax and a scrubber to get all of the dried food off of the wall and floor around her high chair)
• Biting........

Growth:

• 21 pounds
• 29.5 inches long
• A head full of some of the most adorable curls you have ever seen
• Wears size 4 shoes (some brands she can wear a size 5)
• 12-18 month size clothes (Gymboree)
• Size 3 Diapers (Huggies)

Ellie Marie you are an incredible blessing, a treasure, and so very loved!

Jayme and Ellie (Jayme is 2 months older)