New Blog

We have started a new journey to get another daughter from China. Her name will be Palin Rae and she turned 4 last week. We started a new blog to follow her at:

http://www.markersmiraclesme.blogspot.com/

Please drop by and see us!

Catching Up

It’s March already! Spring is almost Sprung here in the Deep South. To me, Alabama is just beautiful! On a perfect Spring Day we have no need for shoes! The bright, soft, moist green grass feels soooo good under our feet. A baby blue sky is our television on warm days, as we lay in the grass and make pictures out of the puffy white clouds that float by. Mystic Dandelions grant our Summer wishes as we blow the fuzzy puffs into the air and watch them ride the soft cool breeze out of sight. Thick velvety aroma of Honeysuckle flows like molasses with every breath we take, perfuming our hair, clothes, and encircles the sunbeams as they dance on our skin, embracing us with the warmest of hugs….

Then I scream as Olivia steps on my hair to get to her sister Rachel Lian that has taken OLIVIA’S SECERT DIARY WITH THE VOICE RECOGNITION LOCK! Olivia yells, ”My whole life is in that diary –LIAN!” Lian giggling so hard that it’s difficult for her little knees not to buckle, yet she finds the strength to power on across the front yard and out to the field, Olivia pounces (secret linebacker) she is, and powers her diary, with the voice recognition lock, that contains her entire life in it out of her sister’s tight grip.

Both girls return to my tranquil spot, dripping with sweat, panting exhausting puffs of (I’m gonna kill my sister) breaths, and cheeks redder than anything you will find in the cosmetics’ department. I decided to remain quiet and still, hoping that the peace would return, if I did not flame the fires between these two ticked off Southern Belles. However, as I lay there I started hearing Olivia screaming, “My entire life is in that diary” over and over…

Soon I started to wonder myself, like Rachel Lian had, what is in that diary with the voice recognition lock? I can’t just sneak it one night and take a fast read. That would be wrong…No, I’m her Mama, what if there is something I NEED TO KNOW in that hot pink and orange book of Olivia’s life?

What can a seven and a half year old have to say about her life? SHE MAY HAVE SECRET FEELINGS ABOUT HER NEW SISTER! I WILL STEAL THE DIARY TONIGHT AND READ IT….IT’S FOR THE GOOD OF THE FAMILY!

I had forgotten the entire event until after dinner and the sun started to go down for the night. Just two fast baths, several short DVDS, prayers, numerous “DON’T MAKE ME COME UP THOSE STAIRS GIRLS!”

Three hours and thirty two minutes later the coast was clear…both girls were asleep. My heart was pounding as if I were robbing a bank or working for the FBI. I tiptoed in Olivia’s bedroom, kicked over, Paris, the cat’s litter box, grabbed OLIVIA’S BOOK OF LIFE and ran downstairs to the quest bathroom to have a good read.

IT IS FOR THE GOOD OF OUR FAMILY…with that thought I commanded the voice recognition diary to, “OPEN DIARY” nothing happened, still locked. I changed my voice to sound just like Olivia, nothing happened…again and again I tried to sound just like Olivia and got really good at it; however the DIARY KNEW, I was not Olivia!

I tried to pick the lock with every sharp, pointy item in the bathroom and no luck, the lock would not turn or click in the least! Just my luck, I jumped out of my skin when I looked up and saw Rachel Lian standing at the door watching me. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT OF BED?”

She smiled with her button nose all wrinkled and said,”Bolivia ook no open, broke” It seemed that Olivia’s OOK had been broken for some time and I was caught red handed. Rachel lian asked me to, “bove peese” (move please) so that she could use the bathroom! Then she looked back at me with a chuckle and took the diary saying, “NO, NO BOLIVIA’S OOK, NO MAMA’S OOK.” She was correct it is Oliva’s book and not mine.

The next day started with the same frenzy of a tornado on steroids, find socks that match, shirts that don’t scratch, bows that go, sign all the school papers, put lunch money in backpacks…GO BACK IN THE HOUSE AND GET THE GIRLS SNACKS! On the drive to school I glanced in the rearview mirror to check for glasses, we forget them a lot, when I caught a ping of guilt, as Rachel Lian smiled at me with her button nose wrinkled up as to say, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID…BOLIVIA’S OOK , NO OPEN…

Lian had not told Olivia, however, this was not a good thing, we have discovered that Rachel Lian loves to hold on to moments that humor her and tease you about it for LONG PERIODS of time in many creative ways. I would tell Olivia about my violation of her privacy after dinner tonight in between the bath time and DVDs, that way she will be so into Scooby Doo, that my crime won’t catch too much attention.

That night after dinner I called for Olivia to take her bath and she sent down the stairs a loud aggravated ”IN A MINUTE!” I knew by her sound something was wrong, so up the stairs I go to find her and her big brother Joshua with Dad’s tools working on THE BOOK.

Olivia said, “thanks MAMA, Lian told me you tried to fix my diary last night, It’s alright, Joshua knows how to use Dad’s tools, just don’t tell Dad, OK?” Rachel Lian replied, “Bolivia ook no work, broke. Hoshey fix, MaMa no fix…tee heee heee” (Olivia book no work, broke, Joshey fix, MaMa no fix…..giggle giggle) She added with a twinkle in her eye, Mama MAD last night…TEEE HEEEEE!

To add to the insult Rachel Lian went on and on showing how I had tried to sound like Olivia over and over, Open Diary! Then it happened! Joshua opened it and OLIVIA’S LIFE PASSED BEFORE MY EYES! As Olivia turned the pages I could not help but to cry…Page after page of pictures she had drawn of our family members and our home with Paris, the cat. Pictures that showed her holding Rachel Lian’s hand, Kissing her Granny Good Bye, Playing on the swing set with the neighbor friends, cooking squash in the kitchen in her apron, and running in the backyard with Brinks and Bear our Bull Mastiff and Black Lab. It was the way Olivia had captured the expressions and inner person of each one of us. A family that the seven members all came from different beginnings, places, put together by God, and now made into one family where we all belong. She, in her creative way put our families love on paper with one sentence in the entire book…. I love, love, love, love my family, my home, and Paris, my cat.

Rachel replied with, “ I nove you Bolivia, cat NO! I NOVE HOME AND COBB TOO” (She loves Olivia, No love for the cat, however Rachel Lian Loves her School Teacher Ms. Cobb!) This leads us up to my next post concerning how Rachel Lian has adjusted to her School Setting and where do we go from here…

Thanks for going on this journey with our family. If ANYONE out there is thinking about adopting a special needs child from China let me encourage you to first pray about it. AND GET GOING WITH IT! Our family cannot describe the LOVE, LAUGHTER, and TOGETHERNESS our special needs daughter Rachel Lian has brought to our family.

She was found under a bridge on a stormy day in the middle of China only two hours old. We adopted her 5 years later in April…..April Showers Bring May Flowers! It was raining on the day our airplane touched ground in China to pick her up!

We are thinking about going back one more time! Olivia and Rachel Lian are both on board with the idea as long as she is a younger sister. Neither one want to move DOWN the chain of command! Our sons Blake and CJ had the NERVE TO GROW UP AND MOVE OUT! Joshua is off to college next year. We will have a house with three Drama Queens, four if you count Mama.

I think it will be good for my husband to have FOUR GIRLS in the house. I LIVED EIGHT YEARS WITH FOUR GUYS before Olivia was born. If you are reading this and you were in our group last April, ask yourself, do I want to go back and adopt another child?

If the answer is yes, LET ME KNOW, I can use it as leverage to encourage my husband, Coy, to GET THE PAPERS MOVING- You know you want to go! -Joy 

Christmas, Reindeer Dust, and Snowballs! In the words of Rachel Lian, "Oh God My"

No not a typing error, Lian is working hard to get her OMG in working order!

It has been way too long since our blog has been updated, however, as always I have very good reasons for my procrastination. Cold and Flu Season has taken up residence at our home and our son, Joshua, has had his second knee surgery...Go Saint Clair County Saints! Can't wait to see what he breaks next football season.

Our son has no sense of pain or when to STOP PLAYING! Rachel Lian loved Football Season, after all her first English words in China were “ROLL TIDE!” Her Daddy felt it important to give Rachel Lian a good understanding of what's important in life :) Both our sons, Joshua and C.J., played football this year. C.J. was the kicker/ punter and Joshua was holder and back up quarter back. Rachel Lian loved watching her brothers play football.

She was the STAR of the game on the side line, literally passed around the crowd from teacher to teacher all getting hugs and kisses. Coy and I have been totally amazed at how this tiny girl from China has exposed the hearts of so many people in our town. At one of the ball games she received a phone call from her School's Principal to say hello and that she loves her!

Rachel Lian is crazy about her Kindergarten Teacher, Ms. Cobb. She came home from school and announced that she had changed her named to Cobb instead of Graham! In China it was Rachel Lian's job at the orphanage to gather the other children's shoes, clean them, and return them to the children daily. She developed a taste for nice shoes. Ms. Cobb has very good taste in fashion, and wears beautiful shoes. Each morning she greets Rachel Lian and asks for approval of her choice of shoes for the day. Her reply is always, "Oh Pretty shoes Cobb!"

The love and acceptance Lian and our entire family has received from this small southern town is amazing. Coy and I love to attend the local auction house every Saturday night at Johnson's Trading Post and Auction House. We always walk away with great deals on all kinds of treasures, but one night we walked away with a treasure money can't buy.

Rachel Lian had been home with us several weeks when we brought her and sister Olivia to the auction with us. I noticed that many couples had bid on toy bears and baby dolls, all so cute. We were shocked when the Auction Staff handed us the toys and smiled! They had bought the toys for our girls! Rachel Lian yelled Bye to all as we left for the night.

People are amazed at how well she has bonded with us. Even our Doctor commented on how she just fell into place in our family. It's funny to watch how each family member has his/her own special relationship with Rachel Lian. I sat and watched her pick on her brother Josh, poking fun at him and laughing when he tickled her. Out of the blue she told him, "you are pretty" Joshua is her snack getter, drink maker, sock finder. The two are a funny pair to watch each one out doing the other! I love to see their eyes light up with laughter.

C.J. is a Senior in High School this year, he came home from school bragging how all the other students at his school now say, "Wa ai nee", I love you, in honor of Rachel Lian. She is working on her language skills and improving daily.

About a month ago she asked me to "cookie da cat" I was amused at first because "cookie" means, to cook, in Rachel Lian's mind. She insisted that we cook Paris, our fat fluffy puff of fur! "Cat BIG, COOKIE NOW" she insisted... Later that week while shopping in a dollar store she stopped dead in her tracks at the baking pans and frantically grabbed a loaf pan beaming loudly across the store, "MAMA PAN COOKIE CAT NOW!" A young couple caught what she was saying and laughed their way out of the store. I explained to her that Paris is our pet and we do not eat our pets. Every once in a while I catch her staring at our tempting fat ball of fur, she smiles with a twinkle in her eyes back at me.

How can I put into words the Love and Laughter, this tiny girl with the biggest smile you have ever seen, has brought into our lives and the lives around us! Strangers are instantly smitten with her pure honest love for people and life. Happiness oozes out of her pores and is contagious! She now tells us, "I dove you". She may not pronounce every word correctly, but they sound like music to us.

We are learning more about her every day now that she can tell us. The description we received from China concerning her personality was perfect in every way. As a mother I am so thankful for the caregivers love and affection Rachel Lian received in China. Because of this, she is able to give love and affection in return. Her always ready to help others and great attitude is a testament to the examples her teachers provided.

A year ago Christmas, after all the gifts had been opened, the food had been put away, I sat down to rest and realized that I was staring at a small unopened box under the tree. Inside the box was the doll that I handed to Rachel Lian the following April as we met for the first time. This Christmas left little time for any rest with Coy and I working to help Santa check off his list.

Rachel Lian and Olivia met Santa at the local arts and crafts fair. Rachel Lian shook all over with excitement screaming, “Santa pies, good girl!" This means Santa bring prizes, I've been a good girl! She hugged him with all her might and jumped on his knee for a picture. Olivia slowly walked over to Santa and replied in a low whisper," I'm just here for the picture" Meaning in Olivia language, I'm not sure if I am on the good or naughty list so let's skip the unpleasantries, please.

Next item on our list was to go out at night and find Reindeer Dust (looks like colored sugar) to put on our Christmas cookies. Coy always finds Ziploc baggies full of the stuff! Christmas came with a loud, "OH GOD MY!" Rachel Lian stood there staring at the gifts around the tree not sure what to do. Coy handed out the gifts as she opened each one carefully and then carried them one by one upstairs to her bedroom yelling, "Olivia NO, MY PIES!"

Santa brought Rachel Lian the piano (key board with mic) she had asked for! Now we are awaken every morning to the tune from the Titanic Movie playing and Rachel Lian on the mic singing “I dove you" and other words I haven’t decoded yet. Rachel Lian looked outside and yelled," NO! LOOK NO!" It was a rare sight to see SNOW on Christmas Day in the Deep South!

To make our Christmas perfect we got to spend time with our oldest son, Blake, wife Jessica, and Jenna, the smartest toddler ever! They have a surprise on the way too! Can't wait to hold him or her!

If you are considering adopting a child, may I encourage you to pray and look into the waiting child program. Rachel Lian was in this program and she is a sweet, loving, smart child, full of wonder and fun. The program was easy to follow from start to end. Coy and I would adopt again if we had the funds to do so! I promise not to take so long to post again. Till then, Happy New Year and God Bless You!

P.S. I have to give our daughter, Olivia, most of the credit for Rachel Lian's easy transition into our family. Right from the start at the Hotel in China, Olivia opened up her heart and let her new sister in. She has successfully taught Rachel Lian the ways of an American Child, pizza, happy meals, how to navigate the toy department, and the dangerous task of jumping the cracks in a sidewalk on a scooter.

Olivia was shocked that her new sister didn’t know how to play when she came into our lives. My heart jumped for joy watching Rachel Lian pull her wagon across the yard, she ran inside to return with a doll for her wagon! GOOD JOB OLIVIA, your sister has now learned to play alone!

We could not have done it without you and your wonderful kind heart and CREATIVE MIND! Just try to limit how much time ya'll spend hanging upside down on the monkey bars, no more bubbles in the jetted tub and Paris, the cat, looks better without lipstick!

:) - Joy Graham

Joy to the World - What a Summer!

It has been ONE lost tooth, TWO tonsils removed, THREE birthday parties......
FOUR trips to the adoption clinic.....FIVE hair cuts and a kitty..... in our pear tree,

Since you all have heard from me, life has been in the fast lane. As you may have picked up on I’m in the Christmas spirit due to Kmart’s WONDERFUL Lay-a-way plan!

Let’s start catching up where we left off.

Soon after my last post I was tucking Rachel in bed and saying our prayers as always, we end with “Jesus loves Rachel Lian” and she usually looks at me with her sweet angelic face, smiles and replies, “night, night mama.” This night was a first in surprises as she wrinkled up that button of a nose and said, “I Lian, NO RACHEL” Her last name in China was Lian and she knows it well. Sooo just to confuse you, Rachel is now Lian!

I would like to tell you that Lian is blooming like a rose, however, it’s more like growing Kudzu! She is changing so fast, every day she is different! For our friends not from the South, Kudzu is uncontrollable and grows so fast that it takes over entire forest in one season!

The first day of Summer break Olivia, Lian, and I went on a Yard Sale Treasure Hunt looking for Ooh La La items to decorate Olivia’s new bedroom. Did I mention that Lian expressed her need for her own bedroom?

So there we where, the three of us, with sweat beading down our backs and our hair stuck flat to our heads, taking turns carrying Olivia’s money jar that held over fifty dollars in change she had collected from left over lunch money the entire school year.

Determined to find that perfect “IT” that would make Olivia’s room complete, we scrambled over each other with excitement to GET OUT OF THE CAR BEFORE “IT” WAS GONE! After eight yard sales and numerous bug sightings, we had completed our mission. A beautiful French duvet, two pink and black pallor chairs, a purse that sparkles, and most importantly...a doll that pees.

All that and we had enough money left in the jar to eat out too! While we dined at the Five Star Chic Fil-a, I noticed that Lian was not smiling and when she just sat on the bench in the play area I started to call the EMT , something was terribly wrong, Lian not screaming and running amuck! During the ride back home I watched her in the rear view mirror grow more disturbed to the point of tears. Olivia and I tried to get her to talk and she refused to even open her mouth, keeping it tightly closed. Then it hit me, she must have put something in her mouth!

I DEMANDED OPEN YOUR MOUTH! With her sad tiny black eyes she opened her mouth, took out her front tooth and placed it back into the hole it came from...She must have thought, I come to America and now my teeth fall out! She had been putting the tooth back so it could grow back... I drove her directly to her Grand Father who happens to be missing a tooth and all was well again until...I tried to explain the Tooth Fairy to her! Lian wants nothing to do with a flying intruder!

Two tonsils as big as golf balls had to be removed, the ENT explained to Coy and I. My heart sank as my mind raced to come up with a way to explain what and why we were going to allow this to happen to our tiny dragonfly. All I could come up with was the plain out truth. Lian shook her head yes as I explained the Doctor had to fix your throat.

She came out of surgery great. As soon as the meds started to wear off she grabbed her slippers and got up to walk out when the nurse chuckled, “wait you are still above the legal limit to drive out of here, you’ll have to take a wheel chair” with that Lian climbed up into her Daddy’s arms and we went home.

Two weeks later I had the realization that not only had the good Doctor removed her tonsils he had changed my little Dragonfly into a termite! She now eats day and night everything she can find! Lian lost four pounds and gained five back.

Over the summer our son Joshua turned seventeen, Olivia seven, and Lian six years old!

Lian LOVES Birthday parties. Coy gave her several gifts in one large pink gift bag with bright flowers on it. I know the bag well since she drags it with us on all car rides! She keeps markers, paper, books, and the doll that pees in it at all times. The bag is so big she has to drag it around. She holds up six fingers when asked how old she is and she adds one more finger for Olivia since she is seven.

We are working with an International Adoption Clinic to set up a plan for Lian’s development. Speech is on her list of things to do, however, we understand her perfectly well. Fine motor skills are not up to an American six year old yet.

I do not understand why it is that a child raised her entire life in an institution with special needs kids is tested four months after coming to America with a test used for American six year olds.

When shown a picture of a wagon Lian said car since it had wheels and pull cause that’s what you do with it. She had never heard the word wagon before!

Do not label a child LEARNING DISABLED that has learned fifty plus new words in English and can follow directions in only four months! That is all I have to say about that at this point...

Lian loves school and her teacher. Out of five kids she is the only one that wakes up excited and ready to go to school. She buzzes around the house eating pancakes while the others drag up from bed.

The long hair was pretty and hot this summer. Lian wanted a hair cut with Olivia. They both got shoulder length bobs that look so cute framing their round faces.
Olivia wanted a kitten and since I felt that she was old enough to take care of it, I agreed.

Off to the Animal Shelter we went, Joshua, Olivia, Lian, and myself each of us tossing out our ideas of what type of kitten to get.

Olivia wanted a white fluffy one. Joshua stated that he did not care, as long as he did not have to change the litter box, Lian just screamed CAT NO SIT NOW! I envisioned a Persian cat that it’s owner had to leave due to a job transfer (I tend to dream big)

When we walked into the shelter we entered what is called the new arrival cat room that consists of a screen porch with a couch and thirty or so new inmates of all colors. Olivia did not see one she wanted so we moved to the next room.

This room was inside with air conditioning and floor to ceiling cat cages with cats so fat that they looked like dogs! I am not kidding! OBESE CATS EVERYWHERE NOT ONE NORMAL SIZED CAT! Lian flew into a spinning frenzy screaming CATS NO SIT NIGHT NIGHT HOME NO CAT NO CAT!!!!! The attendant explained that this was the Adult Cat room and we followed her to the Kitten Room.

The Kitten Room was the same as the other room, however, no obese kittens! We saw over fifty of the cutest kittens alive all very playful lined up one cage atop of the other till they covered the whole wall. It took a long time playing with the kittens before Olivia picked out a sweet long haired girl kitty with one yellow arm and one gray arm.

I left Joshua and Lian in the Kitten Room while Olivia and I paid the fees and filled out paper work, when Lian came running down the hallway screaming, “ JOSHEY CAT EAT OH NO!” I returned to the kitten room to find Joshua standing with his back up against the cat cages, stiff and unmoving. When I looked behind him there where four kittens, two holding his shirt and two holding his shorts, it seems that kittens like that, I just got out of football training smell! EWwwww in Olivia’s words.

Olivia named her kitten Paris and we have been in cat bliss for four weeks now. That is Paris the city, not Paris Hilton! Lian keeps an eye on Paris and a good distance from her at all times so far. Lian is not too fond of animals, she likes to be in control and animals don’t always listen to her.

Our oldest son, Blake and daughter in law, Jessica spent last weekend with us bringing along the prettiest, smartest, most loving one year old grand-daughter in the South, JENNA!

We all piled in my SUV, with french fries under the seats and crayons melted on the carpet, and drove into town for a visit at the Zoo.

Everyone had a nice time. Jenna sighted a BALL in one of the animal cages! Olivia loved the pink flamingos and Lian.... well lets just say she took enjoying the zoo to a new level. We walked along the bridge and watched the swans swim when Coy spotted what looked like gum ball machines filled with bird feed for the swans and ducks. Lian saw him putting money in the machine and came running with force! I thought this will be a great way for her to overcome her animal distaste!

Coy instructed her to hold her hands under the spout to catch the food , which she did. The swans came swimming with speed and honking with excitement for their new found food source. Coy said throw the food to the swans Lian. Which she replied NO! And then she ate the feed much to the swans disbelief! Like a CD on pause, the honking stopped and they swam away holding their heads low to the water...Olivia repeated EEEwwww to herself the entire outing. And right or wrong Coy, Blake, Jessica, and I laughed our way out of the zoo.

My point is this; Our culture’s focus is on what a person cannot do more than what one can do. Look at the stories I have told to you here. Lian has graced our family with love, laughter, and a much greater understanding of what truly is important in this life.

The bond she has made with us cannot be broken. Before Lian, we had forgotten to be thankful for so many things. Example, Lian still yells, “YEA HOME” when we pull into the driveway. EVERY TIME I cook she says, “Thank You MaMa”

Today I bought the cutest pair of bright orange converse high top shoes with black dots painted on them and black ribbon laces with orange dots at a secondhand store for two bucks. I thought they will look cute for Halloween.

When Lian saw them her mouth hung open, her eyes big and she said, “PRETTY for Olivia” I explained they where for her not Olivia. She looked shocked that I had bought them for her. Sitting down right away to put them on she was the happiest child I have ever seen, repeating, “Pretty for Lian” it is now nine at night and we just now got her to stop stomping the wood floor with them and saying, “Not Olivia’s pretty, Lian’s Pretty shoes”

Am I alone in seeing the pure enjoyment of loving and being loved? I am a little concerned that her shoes will clash with all of her clothes if she should decide to wear them daily. Well that is the best I can do to fill you all in. I forgot to tell ya that Coy put in a pool this summer and Lian can swim! That is a whole different story that I will share next time! Live, Laugh, and Love that’s what its all about. -Joy

I like to Dance!!

Joy to the World – Our Daily Routine

I finally found a spot of time to sneak a moment to share a glimpse of daily life with our new daughter, Rachel Lian.

Every morning she hops up into my bed and skims across the covers like a Dragonfly crosses a pond, always smiling, and giving me a “fist bump”, we call this GIRL POWER!

Next, it’s downstairs to breakfast where she always eats all of her food and giggles out a Thank You. She helps me find Olivia’s shoes and waits as I get everyone ready and off to school.

As soon as the screen door slams she is in high gear to get dressed for the day, repeating Car get YE YE eat” You see most days of the week we find great pleasure in the company of my wonderful Father In Law, Coy Sr. He has been so helpful with Rachel Lian adjusting to other people and really entertaining along the way! She loves him and looks forward to teasing him daily. When we say Ye Ye she instantly laughs. It is so cute.

Ye Ye has lunch with us and tells her stories just as if she can understand what he is saying. I am always surprised when she gives the correct response back to him...she understands way more than we thought she could.

Next, we do our daily shopping. This is our favorite adventure! She likes to ride in the shopping cart and wave with a “Hey” to all that we meet. She is so excited in the fruit department that she kisses each fruit item I place in the cart! Some days she has to eat a banana before we leave the store. As always she makes me put the cart back when we are done just as we found it. She is still surprised to see our car in the parking lot waiting for us, this makes her very happy! I have to really watch her when we carry the groceries in she will pick up items that are too heavy for her.

All of our children help out in their own way when asked to do so, however, Rachel Lian follows me around and watches to see how she can help. I roll up the laundry in a towel so that I can carry it to the washer and here she comes dragging it for me, she loves to push the start button! I just packed up the winter clothes and was dragging a heavy bag of items to place in the attic when all of a sudden it got easier, Rachel Lian left her playing to help me carry the load all on her own!

All day long she waits to get Olivia from school. She repeats, “Car Bolivia” I explain to her it’s not time and we will go get Olivia. She accepts this till she starts to miss her again. When Olivia jumps in the car the two act as if they have been apart for months, the hugging, kissing, jabbering, good grief it’s only been eight hours!

I am very proud of Olivia and the way she has accepted Rachel Lian into the family. I thought that we might have a problem since she had been the baby for six years. Olivia has turned over her entire room to her sister (NOT THE DSI) and that’s ok, she needs her own things and space too. The two act like....sisters! Learning together, fighting together, and playing together. I thought it was cute when Olivia asked to bring her sister to school and show her off.

Dinner is one of Rachel Lian’s favorite events. She is the only person at our table of six that will eat everything. She still acts fast if anything should drop off her plate. I have to remind her at restaurants not to clean the floor! She likes dinner at home the best with everyone at the table. She told the Doctor at the Asian Adoption Clinic that her Ma Ma cooks! The Doctor seemed surprised at how many times she referred to us as MA MA and BA BA. I’m still not sure why this was a surprise?

Finally, it’s bath and bed time. She loves them both. Every night she smiles and lets us know she likes her bed. She will tell me, “Ma Ma Ba Ba sleep car get Ye Ye eat”, this is her way of explaining what our schedule will be tomorrow. The next morning my little Dragonfly will skim across the covers and give me Girl Power to start my day! How blessed can I get?

She has let her guard down and is in full swing of teaching us all about her. I called myself having a language lesson with her the other day and she pointed out and repeated home, book, music, the members of our family, cat, swing, shoes, wind, flower, tree, car, peanut, color, eat and brush. So far these are the words she has mastered! Then she looked at me firm and repeated a string of her own language, threw her hands in the air, swung her hair back and I just know she said to me, Can you say that? She thought it was funny whatever it was...

We have not seen any fits or violent behavior only a tiny little girl with a big heart that wants to love and be loved. She will put her hand on her hip and whip out a few of her words at times but she just has a way of getting tickled at herself...I am amazed at how she understands us. Her receptive language skills are great. She will follow directions! HOW DOES SHE KNOW WHAT WE ARE SAYING! Her expressive language skills are growing each day!

Anyone who thinks that you do not bond with your adopted child as you would your birth children are completely off track! At this very moment I feel as I did with my infants. Loving their smell, watching their eyes spark when they grasp a concept, hearing them speak their first words, hurting when they get a boo boo, clapping when they learn a new task, melting when you can FEEL their love for you....It does not get better than this.

My husband, Coy deserves to be bragged on and here it goes....From the first time he found Rachel Lian’s picture on the waiting child list he bonded with her. He followed his heart and the spirit that lead us to her. Never giving up on the paper chase and making the funds to reach her without a doubt in his heart.

From the first sight she held onto him tightly as if she knew him already. Through crowded airports and on long almost never ending flights she was not afraid and did not cry as long as she held his hand. To this day she yells yea HOME when we pull up to our driveway.

Love can and will break all obstacles that are standing in the way. We have the proof.

If you are reading this and pondering over adopting a child let me encourage you to follow your heart, trust God, and GET GOING, DON’T LOOK BACK!

Check out the special needs waiting child list too. Rachel Lian was on this list. Her special need was love and a new pair of GLASSES!

Thank you for all of your prayers. Please continue, things are sooo good. Keep it up!

Till I steal the computer from Coy again,
Joy :)

Jenna turns 1

This weekend we went back home for Jenna's birthday party. Can you believe that our granddaughter is 1? Seriously, can you even believe we have a granddaughter? Are we really this old? Ugh!

Anyway, we had a blast spending time with our oldest son, Blake and his family. We are so proud of them. Rachel Lian and Olivia had fun in the jumper and eating cake and ice cream. She travels well on the road but was so happy when we pulled up at home. She yells, YAY! and then runs around saying home, home every time. It is so precious to see how thankful and greatful she is to have a home and family.

Josh went with us as well but CJ stayed behind. He had to go to the Prom this weekend. Josh and CJ are playing spring football. It looks like I know where we will spend Friday nights this Fall. They only have 2 more weeks of school. They better find jobs if they know what's good for them. I've seen the list that Mom has waiting for them and trust me, they are better off getting jobs.