Why China, Why Now?

I got this video from the Open Doors website. It really touched me as I continue to think about the country that gave our daughters life. I think of the two couples who brought them into this world and the roles they each played. I wonder if any of them know their creator? I wonder if, as they think of these angels, they have a peace in their hearts as to what has become of them. I wonder if my daughters...the beautiful, precious gifts of God that are standing here next to me right now...will have a role to play in sharing Christ with their homeland someday?
Oh...so many things to think about, so many things to pray about, so many things to put safely into God's hand to perfect so that I don't totally screw them up!!!

"Bar Map Beep?"

It is no secret that our Lili LOVES to eat. She is not terribly picky, although she definately has her favorites. One of her absolute, all time, better than breathing favorites is her Barley Max Capsules. She eats them every single morning. She would rather eat them than do just about anything else. She doesn't swallow the capsules mind you...she CHEWS THEM UP.

Now, I have to pause a minute to tell you that although we also take Barley Max, I wouldn't, on a dare, chew them up. Barley Max is wonderful stuff for the body...I mean fabulous...but it tastes like you are chewing up the front lawn on a bad day. To swallow the capsules is not a problem, but to CHEW THEM UP???? Uh...whatever!! Regardless...chew them up she does.

She comes in to David every morning and climbs up into his arms and says the same thing...not "good morning", not "I love you", but "Dad, may I have Bar Map Beep?" She usually downs anywhere from 8-10 of them. We have to stop her as she would most likely eat the whole bottle if we let her...anyway, here it is on video for you to enjoy!!


Have a blessed day!
Shelley

I had no idea...

Tuesday with Aly~

Okay...so I admit that I have a really bad headache today. I woke up with it and it has been agrivating me all day. I got nothing done today, except that I took the girls outside to play for awhile. (secretly hoping that the fresh air would help, but alas... it did not!) On the way out I hollered to Aly to come back into my bedroom so i could put a clippy in her hair and keep it out of her eyes (PRAISE GOD...she finally has hair long enough to BE in her eyes!) Anyway she came in the room with her hair all crazy going everywhere. I said, "Wow...that is some hairdo" she went over to the mirror and after looking at herself for a minute or so she said, "I look like some sort of cock-eyed pinguin!"

Don't ask...I don't know...I just work here.

We came back in from playing, I half heartedly threw some lunch together and promptly collapsed into my recliner. Aly ate her lunch, but didn't finish her yogurt. I vaguely remember her telling me that she was full and didn't finish it. I made some comment about saving it as she would be hungry again in about 3 seconds. So I came into the kitchen later and saw it sitting on the counter. I figured that she just decided not to finish it. About that time she came bounding into the kitchen. She didn't say a word, but was humming along like a little bird. She came up next to me and motioned for me to hand her the yogurt. I did. Then she went over to the tupperware cabinet and pulled out a tupperware container. She twirled the little do-hickey around to find a matching lid and then began to scrape the leftover yogurt into the tupperware. When she finished, she was very aware that the container she had chosen was too big for the tiny amount of yogurt that was left. So, she went back to the cabinet and got out yet another, much smaller container and transfered said yogurt into the new tupperware. She then put the lid on it, put it in the fridge and dumped all the other stuff in the sink. She turned, smiled at me and off she went. My jaw never left the floor. I had no idea that she even knew where the tupperware cabinet was, much less how to put leftovers in one and put it in the fridge. Oi...my life is about to change...I can feel it coming!!!

Conversations with Lili~

The following is a sampling of the ongoing conversation that I have with Lili throughout the course of most every day now for about the last 3-4 days:

Lili: "Momma? Wass at?

Me: "that is a window"

Lili: "Inn-oh? Hi Inn-oh!"

Lili: "Momma? Wass at?"

Me: "that is a wall"

Lili: "Waaah? Hi Waaah!"

Lili: "Momma? Wass at?"

Me: "that is a book"

Lili: "buuut? Hi buut"

Lili: "Momma? Wass at?"

Me: "that is the sink"

Lili: "dink? Hi dink"

and on it goes

I'm missing my Momma today. I would sure like to call her and tell her what smart grandbabies God gave her. I guess she already knows...she and God are probably talking about it right now!!!

WOK ON!!!

Yesterday afternoon we gathered with new friends to celebrate Chinese New Year. We started off at the library for crafts, music, ribbon dancing, fan dancing and one big monster Dragon Dance!! It was great fun and the kido's all had a blast.

After our fun times there, we all decended on a local Chinese restaurant for some delicious food and fellowship. (...and yes, they knew we were coming...we didn't just show up!) and finally we ended with fireworks in the parking lot (also know as popping bubble wrap!) It was a hoot!

There were about 50 people in attendance and to see all those beautiful little girls and boys in their adorable traditional Chinese dress was indeed a sight!

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy!!!

Lili made a little Dragon

Aly working on her Dragon

My little Chinese jumping bean...a two year old in motion!!!

Here is Lili just looking beautiful and showing off her Dragon Tatoo

Daddy and Aly decorate a Kite.

Two precious little hands

Lili and her Poppy!

Aly and her friend Betsy

Not sure what the look on Aly's face is, but it is about the best picture I got of the two of them. At least they are both looking at the camera!!

Oh my...there just are no words. I am overwhelmed by this child!!

The Dragon Dance. Notice the big dragon head on the right behind the lady in red?

Here is Aly under the back of the Dragon as it made it's way through the room.

Chinese New Year - 2008

GONG XI FA CAI !

Year of the Rat 4706

Chinese New Year is the most important date on the Chinese calendar. The beginning of the lunar year symbolises the act of starting over with renewed hopes for happiness and prosperity. It is also a time to renew ties with family and friends, through family reunion dinners and social visits and by honoring ancestors.

New Year festivities traditionally start on the first day of the lunar month and continue until the fifteenth, when the moon is brightest. In China, people may take weeks of holiday from work to prepare for and celebrate the New Year.

At Chinese New Year celebrations people wear red clothes, decorate with red paper, and give children "lucky money" in red envelopes. Red symbolizes fire, which according to legend can drive away bad luck. The fireworks that shower the festivities are rooted in a similar ancient custom. Long ago, people in China lit bamboo stalks, believing that the crackling flames would frighten evil spirits.

Chinese New Year ends with the lantern festival on the fifteenth day of the month. Some of the lanterns may be works of art, painted with birds, animals, flowers, zodiac signs, and scenes from legend and history. People hang glowing lanterns in temples, and carry lanterns to an evening parade under the light of the full moon.

As Christians, we too will be celebrating Chinese New Year with our children this year. For us it is a reminder of the rich heritage that our beautiful daughters were born into on this earth. Because that is their earthly heritage, we will remember...for them. At the same time, we will teach them of an even greater heritage that they too can claim as their own. One of a loving and infinate Father who sent his only Son to die on a cross so that they might have eternal life with him...far beyond this earth and all of it's many cultural celebrations!

This New Year we also look forward to starting over with renewed hopes for happiness and prosperity, but the hapiness and prosperity we seek is not of this world. We seek a happiness and prosperity that is beyond what the world sees. That is the heritage we wish for our daughters! And there is no luck involved!

We seek to teach our daughters to evaluate their lives in light of their commitments to Christ, to thank God for his abundant provision for them and for our family, to remember others less fortunate and offer help in any way we can, to daily cultivate a genuine faith in our lives, and to give honor and respect to family that came before us by honoring our parents.

As far as the color red, which symbolizes fire and can drive away bad luck...well, to us it symbolizes the blood of Christ! It doesn't drive away bad luck, but it does wash us white as snow!!

~Father, thank you for our beautiful daughters! Thank you that you chose them to be born into the culture that they came from. I do not pretend to know why you needed them to be of Chinese heritage, but I so look forward to seeing the plans you have for their lives unfold. I thank you that you chose us to be a part of it!! I pray your blessings over this family. I pray that you will continue to guide this family in your ways and give us courage and strength to do your will. Give David & I the wisdom and knowledge to raise these gifts from you with all the tools that you want them to have to acomplish YOUR purposes in their lives!

In Jesus name...Amen!~

Liliana Grace MinQin Swindler (age 2) & Alyson Ming-Lian Swindler (age 4)

You know you are an adoptive Mother if...

I have gotten this from a number of different people and I finally decided that maybe I am supposed to blog it! I have no idea who actually wrote it, but it is SO TRUE!!

You know you are an adoptive mother...or SHOULD be an adoptive mother if:

1. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has ever made you lose sleep.

2. You realize DNA has nothing to do with love and family.

3. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.

4. The fact that if 7% of Christians adopted 1 child, there would be no orphans in the world is convicting to you.

5. You spend free time surfing blogs about families who have experienced the blessing of adoption.

6. It drives you crazy when people ask you about your adopted child's "real" parents.

7. You have ever been "pregnant" with your adoptive child longer than it takes an elephant to give birth (2 years!)

8. You had no idea how you would afford to adopt but stepped out in faith anyway knowing where God calls you He will provide.

9. You have ever taken a airplane ride half way around the world with a child you just met.

10. You believe God's heart is for adoption.

11. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart and family is one of the most important legacy's you could ever leave on this earth.

12. You shudder when people say your child is so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you are the blessed one to have them in your life.

13. You know what the word Dossier means and you can actually pronounce it!

14. You have welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.

Well, I AM an adoptive mother X2 and somedays I am so blown away that God would not only let me parent a child, but that he would choose me to be an adoptive parent! How honored and blessed am I!!

~Thank you Abba, that you chose to honor me with these two Angels to raise for YOU for this time. Please guide and direct my steps so that I can be the Mother you want for me to be for THEIR sakes and for YOUR Glory! Amen~