Two full years!

Two years ago today we entered an orphanage outside Beijing and changed a little girl's life forever. We scooped up our little Emma Hope, the one we had been longing and praying for a very, very long time.  The following day she became our daughter legally and officially. She joined our family and we are forever grateful for this gift God has entrusted to our care. 

Emma, you are beautiful and fun and smart and silly. You love passionately and with such emotion.  You often say with a satisfied smile, "this is our family!" You tell us multiple times a day that you love us. You even tell me I'm the best mommy, even though I lose my cool and raise my voice way more often than I should. You are quick to forgive and to apologize. It's been such a joy to watch you blossom the past two years. You have learned and grown so much! I can't wait to see what the coming year brings! 

Your mommy and daddy love you so much, sweetheart! Happy Gotcha Day! 

She wore this shirt the day we brought her home. I thought I would just take her picture in it, but she wore it all day. 

We celebrated with new shoes and ice cream! 

Spring day at the zoo

Sometimes, when the weather is warm and sunny after months of not, and there's a week of rain ahead, you just have to set aside the to do lists and get out.  That's what the three of us did this afternoon. It was so enjoyable. 

The Toledo Zoo is wonderful!

Petting area...

The goats were a little like Elsie. They too like to chew on everything!

They just opened a new aquarium, and we got to touch stuff! Fish are beautiful. 

A warm afternoon had to end with this:

I love my little ladies!

Easter 2015

These are too cute not to share! 

Five will be fantastic

It's Emma's 5th birthday! We've had such a fun week celebrating you, sweet one. This year your birthday is the day before Easter. 

We dyed eggs and you wanted to do "just one more".

We had an ice cream and stories party. Because all day long I hear you say, "Mom, will you read me a story?" Or "Tell me a story, please." So for one evening, that's all we did. We read you stories. 

Today our church threw you the best birthday party ever, the "Egg-stravaganza." There were bounce houses, carnival games and of course, an egg hunt.

And then, Uncle Brennan came for a visit! And he brought presents.  

Emma, you are beautiful and smart and so inquisitive. You love to ask questions. You are polite and obedient, most of the time. You are learning to read and you have the best imagination. You love playing with stuffed animals. You don't like to color, but you will sit and read books all day long! I'm so blessed to be your mommy! 

My favorite moment was yesterday afternoon. Before any of the birthday festivities began, as I was laying you down for a nap, you said, "Mom, thank you for celebrating my birthday." I love your thankful heart and it made me sad to think that maybe your first three birthdays weren't celebrated that much.  You are so worthy to be celebrated! 

Four years and full of life!

What circumstances you were born into four years ago we do not know. What your birth family was like, who was there, where you were, how you were cared for, all of this is a mystery. What we know is that about a month later, they thought it best to trust your future to "fate". 

But God had his hand on your life. You were brought into an orphanage in central China.  Your life was sustained, your most basic needs provided for, but God had so much more planned for you. He chose us for you and you for us. 

We are so thankful for you, Elsie, for your life.  We celebrate you today. We have tried, and will keep trying, to give you the best life we can. You are loved, you are beautiful and you are worth celebrating!

Happy 4th Birthday, little lady! We love you!

All in a day's work

This is what work looks like when you're almost four and almost five!

Elsie's morning of therapies before preschool.  Now that's a tiring day! And Emma helping Mommy post homeschool.

Good news for Elsie

We've been home from the hospital for over a week.  She's been on intravenous antibiotics. Which means we've had to stay up late and get up early to be her nurse and administer them.  Not fun, however they worked.  At her follow up appointment yesterday, they said her infection is clearing up.  Even though they haven't done anything with her scabs yet, it seems that they're changing and beginning to break up more.  The doctor also said she can change to an oral antibiotic. So the picc line is gone. And she can go back to preschool!  

So Monday, we needed to go back to the hospital just down the street for her blood to be drawn.  Sunday we got over a foot of a snow.  Our method of transportation? I walk while pulling Elsie on a sled! 

Doesn't everyone dress like this to go to the hospital?

That was quite a few layers to remove to get blood drawn.  

Elsie has been very brave and cooperative.  But she's also been a bit restless at home.  We're all thankful we can get into our new routine with afternoon schooling.  Pray for perseverance as that means no more naps.  But it might also mean mornings to get out and play in the snow!