4 Ever and Always

As I gaze into those eyes looking back into mine so long long ago, I find it hard to believe that 4 years has flown by almost as if a dream, just a wisp of time and yet so many happy memories we have shared, so much laughter, so much heart melting love...I just can't image a day, an hour when you were not my daughter. I knew you long before I held you, you were there all along in my heart and my dreams.

We celebrate 4 years of wonder and joy today, your adoption today into our family. The day we were blessed to call you our own. Our beloved daughter. You shine so bright and bring such a light into our world that was missing from our lives. We never knew we needed you more than you could ever need us...but looking into your eyes I see that you did need us too. You found roots to grow and wings to fly and each day we watch as you grow into a lady. Each day you amaze us even more than the day before because you are starting to learn and respond to the world around you. You love to sing out loud and cavort in front of a mirror, but in front of strangers you are suddenly shy. Talking, oh man, do you LOVE to talk! Talk, talk, talk...endless chatter :) Luckily you don't mind a one sided conversation most of the time, in fact you prefer to do most of the talking...often in a very bossy tone to the chagrin of your brother...and sometimes even your parents! You are a born leader...just need to work on your people skills a bit....;)

I wish for you a year of laughter, friendship and learning. Explore new things, grow deeper in your blossoming faith - your "prayer cheer" is a very lively new addition to our meals. "GOD IS GREAT, GOD IS GOOD, LET US THANK HIM FOR OUR FOOD, AMEN!!!" shouted out in your loudest voice and with power nucks at the end is just so awesome and I know God is looking over us with a great big smile on His face.

I pray that you will always dream sweet dreams, we didn't have a home this time last year but our "hotel home" was filled with love and laughter each day. Today you have your Princess room which you convinced us to paint pink and is filled with all your favorite stuffed animals and vibrant colors that you love; pink, green, purple, blue and orange.

Your favorite foods are macaroni and cheese, hot dogs and french fries....oh and broccoli...glad you like a healthy veggie! You love most fruits but not bananas.

You named your first cow this spring "Sweet Pea" came up with it all by yourself too. You are very brave and loving around the animals and love to help me dig in the garden. You even love helping around the house...and you enjoy it! Dishes, making the bed, sorting laundry, dusting...whatever the task that needs doing you tackle it with gusto and a big smile...you ask me if you CAN do it, not vise versa...so unlike your momma in that aspect...I could learn a thing or two from you there! *Momma doesn't like housework

You have become my little shadow, and love to follow me everywhere I go...so I hope that I am setting a good example for you to follow. I pray I am leading you in the right direction.

I look forward to all the year holds for our family. You are a treasure and I love you my dear sweet sweet Jaiden! May God hold you and guide you and keep you safe all of your days.

All my love,
Mommy

Happy Anniversary J Babe!

Sept 13, 2006
3 years ago as we sat in a room waiting for our daughter to arrive we had no idea what to expect this child to be like, her paperwork had said she liked playing with blocks, enjoyed music and was very smart. That description was just a tiny scratch on the surface of this child.

She is a beauty, that you know from just a glance at her long black hair and bold shining eyes. Her sassy fire within is a spectacle to behold in one so young. Her ability to chatter non stop has us often wondering if we can even dare keep up. She has a quick wit and a charming personality, shy around strangers but warms almost within moments and her true character emerges leaving them mystified at her glow.

3 years ago we were given a gift of life that has changed our lives completely. We will forever be grateful for this gift and always pray that somehow the family that cared for her, loved her and brought her into this world is as truly blessed as we have been.

While we were in China I purchase some adoption day gifts to present to Jaiden on the anniversary of this special day. I am unable to give her a gift this year because our belongings are still in storage at the moment. We are in the process of moving and currently living in a hotel...so we are not sure what kind of celebration we will be able to have for her tommorrow but it will be a joyful reflection of these 3 years together and the treasure she is. Our Jaiden girl.

Jaiden,
We love you so much more than we can express. Its hard to put into words the deep bond that you have wound around our hearts. It is such a joy to see your face light up in a smile when I come home after a long day, to hear your ear piercing squeal of joy lifts my heart and I am given a gift of splendor and wonder just by watching the way your light fills a room. You are an amazing child that is so bold and courageous that I am often in awe of you...and yet you cling to me when you see a grasshopper, that makes me smile because I know there are some things I can teach you about nature; the wonder and beauty of the great outdoors...you share my love of digging in the dirt and I look forward to the many years we will share putting seeds into the ground and watching as they emerge from the earth. I will do my best to teach you kindness, I hope you will see and learn this from me. I hope you will grow to be forgiving to those that anger you. You have a very quick temper and a bit of a selfish pride for one so young, and you quite often like to push my buttons by being ornery... I hope you will learn compassion and generosity. Give to others and may you be blessed in return. I hope you will grow in your faith. May God lead you through your life and protect you from all perils. I know you will have trials and I pray that you will grow stong and able to lead others. You have the heart of a LION; strong, brave and independent. I hope you will use this gift for good and Godly pathways in life.

Jaiden, more than anything I pray you will always know that you were God's child first. He placed you in our lives for a special purpose and we are so blessed by the gift He gave to us. I know He is looking over your birth mother and father with tender mercy and I have no doubt in my heart that we will someday know them when we meet in heaven. They will see you and know that what they did was what they were meant to do. I know you will always have a place for them in your heart and I hope that if and when you have questions, there will be answers to fill your heart with love for them because I know they have a heart full of love for you. It takes a great and amazing kind of love to make the kind of sacrifice that they made. Placing you in the gateway of the orphanage was the only way they had to show you that they wanted you to have a home, family and love. I am forever grateful for this choice they made, even as I grieve that their heart must yearn to hold you again, to see your beautiful face and to hear your sweet laughter. The music of your heart comes from the beat of their heart. We are joined together by this tiny invisible thread of love...forever joined and forever bound.

Chic and Bear meet Mouse and Duck

I (Mom) have booked a ticket for Jare Bear too so now its no longer a girls only outing...for those concerned parents out there wondering why I was going to leave Jared behind...he is having some difficulty in school and we didn't think it would be good to take him out for this long but this is a once in a lifetime vacation that we may not get a chance to repeat anytime soon...or before he is a teenager depending on where our future takes us...so Yay! Jaiden is excited (sorta-kinda) that he is coming with...you should have seen her face when I told Jared that he was going...I think she thought that she had to stay home...or else she was truly looking forward to getting away from the guys...hmmmm she is a bit of a Drama Queen and the guys love to bring out her very best theatrics at times...this should be a very interesting week. She is VERY jealous of Jared...I called Jared "Bear" the other day...I've always called her "Chic..chicklet...chica pet...etc" she said "I am not a chic anymore...I want to be BEAR" Threw quite a fit over that too I must say. So any advice on dealing with jealousy? I spend more time with Jaiden than I do Jared...he doesn't get upset with her. I really don't know where the jealousy comes from but she has been that way since we arrived home...anyone else have similar situations happen?

Countdown to DISNEY!!!

Yep folks you read that right, my mom is taking me to DISNEY!!! Just me, no boys... She came home from work last week in a really bad mood fuming about the cold and winter and just going on and on...then she started feverishly pecking away at the computer...then she shows me the most awesome picture....a POOL! I'm so HAPPY I could pee...but I'm a big girl now...pee pee goes in the potty :)

We are going to spend 6 whole days in ORLANDO!!! Well not in Orlando all the time...I am looking forward to seeing my Tonguu sister MARY JOY again and finally getting to meet JULIA...and her brand new sister! My mom has been friends with her mom for 4 YEARS now...and they have never met! Can you believe that? They will probably get all silly like grown ups do...momma says she needs some "girl time" (I just hope we do a LOT of shopping) We did some shopping this weekend and I scored some sweet new slippers (flip flops) I can't wait to cruise the beach now! Mommy says I am going to LOVE the beach!

We will be traveling in the car to the airport (MSP) flying to Orlando on Tuesday, Mar 10 arriving reeeeally late (1030)Then the fun begins! We come home on Tuesday Mar 17...and Daddy RETIRES from the United States Air Force on Mar 20th!!! Yay! We are all so proud of him and very excited about our new adventures that life has in store for us...mommy is a bit stressed over where our new address will be...she is such a CRAB! She needs to live on the BEACH...

Wood Rooster - 2005

Rooster is often seen as the original strong silent type, not unlike the Humphrey Bogart and Greto Garbo prototypes. Most people consider them quite eccentric. Sad to say, relationships with other people are often strained. They are quite moody and can be too outspoken. (Hmmm now who's chiclet does this description fit) They are often self-centered, but can be quite brave when the situation calls for it.

On the other hand, Rooster People are quite talented and capable. They are always devoted to their work and have a reputation for being the hardest of workers. Rooster People are deep thinkers and are pioneers in spirit. They can experience the greatest of joy in complete solitude. Even though often alone, they rarely experience loneliness. Instead, they enjoy their own company and feel solitude helps them in their quest after knowledge.

Shark-tail Soup and fortune cookies are among the keys to good health.

(Jaiden LOVES fortune cookies...but shark tail soup I'm not so sure about)

You can often find the Wood Rooster behind the scenes or in solitary activities. They love bookshops with strong espresso and offbeat music groups, particularly modern jazz or chamber work. They are reserved but at the same time can be quite sociable, too, when the occasion calls for it, always considerate, gentle, and easy going, always liking to please others. They can quickly overcome bad feelings. No one ever feels threatened by their company.

On a bad day, the Wood Rooster can be so mild-mannered, it's easy to ignore them. But on a good day -- and there are many good days -- they are proud and very articulate in expressing their views. In fact, their quiet exterior belies an intense talent in persuading others to their point of view. People are amazed they can talk so much! (Yep! That part abot talking so much... fits Jaiden to a T! but I wouldn't say she is mild mannered on a BAD day or easy to ignore....uh not happening)

Most days, Wood Roosters depend on others way too much. (True - our latest inside joke between Jaiden and I is that she likes to be carried so I ask her "Are your legs working ok? Are they broken? If they're broken we need to exchange them for new legs. We will have to return them to China for legs that work...this gets her to giggling like crazy)

The most important thing Wood Roosters MUST do is to develop an independent streak, to look inside themselves for strength; their careers, financial life, relationships, and very happiness depends on this! (the independent streak is very well developed in this chickie)

Happy Chinese New Year!

This is a sweet little Asian Princess playing a game called "I'm not smiling Mamma" She thought this game was quite hilarious! She's still adorable though :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAIDEN

Today our Princess turned three. She woke wearing the heels that she refused to take off before bed last night and came click clacking into our bedroom to say good morning and hop into bed and snuggle for a while. What did Princess Jaiden want for breakfast on her special day? "Icecream" Green with chocolate chips. Since it was snowing pretty hard this was a bit of a challenge at 6:30 in the morning so instead she had sausages. We made pink and green cupcakes, watched a Dora singalong dvd and had a great day playing Princess. At two we had some friends pop in for a visit and had cake and finally the green icecream with choclic chips.

It was a great day and we are so very thankful to God that we are given the honor of sharing this childs life. She is such a blessing to us and everyone that knows her. She has a great big personaliy and is such a wonder that brings a new joy into our lives every day.