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.

First trip to the Salon

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

An unexpected guest...

This is Jaiden midway through our road trip home

oh look! What is this in my green blankie!?

A ladybug!!!

Now how did that get into the car? It was SNOWING when we left KC that morning!

oh what fun! She spent many minutes watching it walk around on her blankie

I love him! I will name him George!

What are you doing George?
Look...George is on my finger....

*split second after this photo was taken George decided to walk up her finger and into her sleeve which brough forth the most ear piercing of screams and the shaking off of hand as you could ever imagine...poor George was sent flying onto the other side of the car and landed on Jared's jacket....
Thank You for saving me...and George, Jared! You are such an awesome brother!

Friday Photo

Here's Jaiden, helping me blog :) Anyone want to guess what we had for supper?

Things to make you laugh out loud

I am just laughing out loud about some of the things Jaiden says:

passing gas: "my bootie burped"

"I wanna hop the pop" listening to Pop goes the Weasel

Her friends name at school is "Wine girl" I was so confused as to why a toddler would be referred to as a wine girl...unless of course its because she whines alot so I asked and found out that since there are two Ryans in her class they are each referred to by gender: Ryan girl and Ryan boy (Ryan the girl is the one that is her friend)

Jesus loves me...and brocoli

Sitting here with Jaiden, singing softly in my lap "I'm singing Jesus Loves Me... she's singing Jesus Loves Me...and brocoli!



where does she come up with this...Too funny!

Look at them now

Gotcha Day 2006

Make a Smilebox greeting

Has it really been two years....

7 familes sat in a "waiting room" in China, eagerly anticipating the delivery of our beautiful bouncing Tonguu girls. Their arrival caused quite a stir...and our lives were forever changed.

I knew it was her the moment I laid eyes upon her, she was second into the room and her long dark hair hanging to her shoulders gave her away long before I saw her face. I rushed across the room to get a closer look and nealt before her, sitting forelorn on her nanny's knee. She just gazed at me without a flicker of expression, but not a bit of fear. She did not cry, this brave little child dress in a green Minnie Mouse suit, pink sandals with strawberry barretts in her hair.

There was commotion; I could hear Li Ping calling out names in the background - I am not even sure when he called ours but suddenly the nanny stood up and brought Tong Min Se to us and placed her in my arms. She smelled so good, earthy and fresh. I remember the smell of grain, like a freshly threshed wheat field. Then she started getting a bit restless and I wanted photos so I handed her to Daddy. Her expression never changed those first few moments, she faced this whole new world and strangers with strange eyes with not a tear in those beautiful brown eyes. We sat down with her and lost ourselves in her immediately.

By the time they'd called our name to go complete the adoption paperwork, she was beginning to perk up and show us her personality. She sat upright and gripped the edge of the executive desk, looking very regal and sure of herself. Amusing herself and the room with her captive demeanor and vivacious personality.

Within moments we were wisked away by our directors, whom did an awesome job of keeping us all on track that day. It was a whirlwind after that and I don't remember much about what happened around us because I couldn't take my eyes off of Jaiden. She; this most perfect child and so full of life and vivid personality. As I write this today, two years later I still can't hold back the tears of wonder and awe that come bubbling up. How blessed we are to be holding such a wonder of life. I don't know how we ever lived before her. Our lives are so full of her, she lights up our days with joy and simple goodness. At times her headstrong demeanor challenges us beyond our years of parental knowledge and at these times I wish that she'd come with instructions...but even then I love her...with a deep strong emotion I didn't know I was capable of feeling. I know I would defend her with my very life and there is nothing that I wouldn't do to ensure her happiness. At times I wonder if it is us that is teaching her or her teaching us...to be stronger, braver, more assertive...in turn I hope we are teaching her unconditional love, kindness, strength of character, faith. We have so much to learn from each other. So many years of joy and fullfillment to share.

We forged a bond on this day. A bond with 7 families that live miles apart. Our bond runs deep and can never be broken. It is a bond of life, joined by the red thread of China that flows from the hearts our daughters and binds us together as one family. As our daughters share this bond, so we share it as their families. I am so grateful to God to have had the chance to travel to China, to meet these families and to grow to know each other, to laugh and cry together as we watched our daughters adapt to their new Mommies and Daddies. Although miles separate us now and we miss seeing them every day, I know when we meet again the years will melt away and it will seem as though we never parted.

So today I thank God, I thank China and mostly I thank a very special unknown someone who had the courage, the strength of character, the kindness and the faith to place her child under the archway of the orphanage and walk away. That first step must have been the hardest move she has ever made and yet she had the courage to take it. I've often heard it said "a hero lies within us" and looking into Jaiden's eyes, I know it is true.

Daddy's Home!!!!

You know how most times you know someone has pulled up to your house or is coming to your door if you have a dog that barks..... well we have a daughter that SQUEALS out "YAYeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee DADDY'S HOME!!!!" Whenever she hears his car in the drive, or if we are in another room and she hears the front door...when the garage was clean enough that Daddy could park in it she would do this everytime she heard the garage doors going up. It is an ear piercing scream so he can usually hear her well beyond the closed door so each day as he comes home he is greeting with a smile....and a SCREAM! Can't beat that for a homecoming!

Bubbye Slippers

Jaiden was very upset this morning when I had to put SOCKS and SHOES on her for the day. She pitched quite the fit and its not so easy to get socks on a two year old that is holding onto their foot with a death grip. She's my girl, what can I say? :) She likes to go barefoot just as much as her mom. It almost broke my heart to have to take her from the beloved flip flops...aka "slippers" which she has worn since spring...she is on her second pair. Its not easy to find flip flops in her size either so the ones she currently wears is rather large on her feet but she doesn't care...they are "sparkley" You should see her run in them...you'd think she was wearing running shoes. She is a girly girl with a tomboy attitude :)

Make a Smilebox postcard

What would you do?

....If your child used her lip gloss to create art on the TV screen?

Yes, this happened here tonight...

Moments like this makes the terribly LONG wait, the days of total meltdown (pre and post adoption) totally worth every second...