Thankful
It might be Corny but here is my list!
I serve an awesome God.
I am back to running (after 10 years since I completed the NYC marathon) I am up to 3miles 3x a week and feel great!
I was asked to speak at a public event on Dec 12 about our adoption.
Lucy is the joy of my life, She does cart wheels, wears pig tails and got promoted at swim lessons this week.
We finally received her passport and she is officially ready to travel to China!
Jb is the rock of our family, spiritual leader, financial provider and a terrific father!
We completed our 8 hour parenting class.
My dad is coming to visit us this week and he is going to help install a new garage door opener.
I have a two day work week.
I bought some really fun winter boots and can't wait to go sledding.
My house is clean and I am no longer sick so I can return from the guest room back to my BED!

And the chase begins!

 NEWS FLASH! Today we received Lucy's official Ohio State Birth Certificate. Yes, the actual document!! It only took 10 months, more tedious paperwork and $1,100.00 dollars. All that matters is that we have it!So tomorrow we will be going to CVS for passport photo's and then mail in the application Tuesday morning. It is official that we are beginning our second adoption.

Watch out China here we come!

circles!

Tonight our family came full circle!

If you ask lucy she'd say that her sheets on her bed are circles, but tonight was surely a wonderful Circle of life. In May of 2006 I tried to convince Jb to adopt and it was the video of Steven Curtis Chapman's family adoption story that touched Jb's heart in a way I will never forget. Right in our living room we watched the DVD from America World Adoption Agency and it was because of his testimony that we began the process.

Jump to The Van Wert County Fair the day before Labor day we were walking through the Commercial Building when we stumbled upon Jerry Beard at the Niswonder Performing Arts (PAC) table advertising Steven Curtis Chapman (SCC) concert in good old Van Wert! Jb purchased our tickets and Jerry explained that he may be able to arrange for us to meet SCC. How amazing!

As the weeks past before the concert we discussed how special it would be to attend. I made a little sign for Lucy to hold up during the show that reads "I'm adopted b/c of U SCC". Last week Jb received a lovely call from Jerry informed us that he made it happen and we will get to meet SCC back stage after the show for a special meet /greet!

So tonight we attended the show as a family! What a sweet time of praise and worship music along with great stories and mission work for orphans through SCC's organization called Show Hope. Please check it out as it supports orphans and families who want to adopt. After the show we got to meet SCC. We hugged him and Thanked him for helping our family make the decision to adopt. He will never know what an impact he has made to our family. He signed her scrap book "Lucy, you are a special treasure! SCC". We are ever grateful to Jerry for making the arrangements for us to meet SCC, it surely is a night our family will never forget and will cherish in our hearts forever!

 I took a couple of things from the concert. SCC's mother's favorite bible verse is Proverbs 3 vs 5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths. Thus being the very verse I clung to in the weeks prior to leaving for China when I doubted the finances would be provided and worried about every little detail of our trip.

And last, A song called "do everything" that recently hit #1. It is in everything that we do that we need to honor and follow the Lord. If only we listed and followed great things would come our way.

Time of my life!

As I follow this series at church called "Time of your life" I realize I only have one chance to get it right. Despite the mistakes and regrets it is sure an awesome feeling knowing that that the lord is speaking to my heart in such a neat way right now.

That gentle whisper that I hear is that like an adoption "being Chosen" God pursues me each and every day. It is my choice to Obey, follow or ignore. I think so few people truly know what their purpose is in life and I feel honored to know without a doubt that mine is to be a mother to orphans. Something so Godly and beautiful happened to me during my times of trouble and sorrow. I know that because I followed with my heart to adopt the first time he blessed me beyond my wildest dreams.

With that he makes everything beautiful in it's time. Just check it all out in the book of Ecclesiastes!

Anyways some of you may ask... Another adoption? and the answer is yes! Yet again if it were my choice it would happen in fast forward and I'd be packing for China right now. Instead I patiently wait for a few small things that are completely out of my control to take place. Please keep John and I lifted in prayer as we prepare to make some really big decisions to bring another child home.

And of course I will keep you posted!I stole this from a friend's blog but if your reading this ask yourself... Got Love? Adopt. what are you waiting for? if it's not your calling to care for the fatherless then who is that you know? What will your legacy be? years, decades after you pass on, what story will you leave behind?

Turning 4!

August 5th 2011

Today we started our day by singing Happy Birthday to Lucy as we walked up the stairs to wake her for the day. She rolled around and giggled and told Jb and I that we were silly!

I dropped her off at Wee Care Day Care and returned early at 2:00 to surprise her with a birthday cake, balloons and treats for her and her class. Days before I asked her what she wanted for her big day and she responded with Dora pajamas!Thats all. Then when I asked her what type of cake she wanted she said Dora and Tinkerbell. So both it was!

As I planned the surprise at her school, her teacher had the kids out in the yard playing while I set up the small party. When they all arrived we sang and then it hit my like a brick. My daughter didn't like being the center of attention, she was shy and reserved. When it came time to blow the candles out she didn't know what to do. It kind of made me sad.

Not so much the idea that she doesn't understand the whole Birthday thing, the fact that her birth mother missed such a wonderful day! May we never forget her and the greatest blessing that she gave and chose life for Lucy!

Tonight we celebrated Rock Star style with some friend's at a local camp ground. Lucy loves our camper and asked for a camper party! Like always she is spoiled rotten and reeived many of special gifts.

Today we slept in, rode our bikes to the pool, napped, enjoyed a bbq dinner and then took an evening bike ride thru the camp ground which we renamed from Huggy Bear to Red Neck Yacht Club! I thank the lord for providing for us to adopt this special little lady and giving my husband and I a heart for fathering the fatherless!

Princess and The Frog!

Last Saturday March 12th our Friend's the Rickards (Lucy's BFF, Kenlie) asked us to join them at the Fort Wayne Collisium for the Disney Princess on Ice show.  When I asked Jb if we could go he responded "only if I can go too"!too funny.

So Off to Big lots we went, splurging on over $60 of Princess gear. The gown, glass slippers, handbag, jewelry, lip gloss, nail polish, a crown and a sparkle wand...

As we walked into the show we noticed that in the row behind us was a lady and her Chinese daughter. During the show Jb, fighting sleep decided we needed popcorn and soda so he went down to the concession stand during which he bumped into Sheri and her daughter. After the common conversation of where is your child from they discovered that our children are from the same exact orphanage in China! How could this possibly be... a half a world away, the same orphanage in China and now our children meet at the Collisium.

As Jb sat down to tell me this I chucked thinking to myself. Yeah, sure what ever! He can hardly remember how to spell my name nevermind the small village and orphanage in which Lucy was found. Well eat my thoughts because after the show Sheri confirmed the news.

My eyes began to swell with tears because Sheri got her daughter 5 years prior to us. When you were allowed to see the facility and meet the nanny's/ foster parents. In addition she was able to visit the orphanage and town from which Lucy was born, left and raised in for the first two years of her life. Of course she sent me photo's of the precious place in which Lucy's birth mom chose to leave her . In addition she connected me with someone who is working on getting me baby photo's and reports of Lucy when in the care of the orphanage and foster care. This is priceless to me because up until this day we accepted that we will never see a baby photo or know anything about the first two years of Lucy's life.

The night closed with the production saying "Dreams do come true", with that I am blessed that Lucy's birth mom Chose life for her! For that I will forever be greatful for her and the gift she left for us.

Anniversary of Gotch!

The last 24 hours have been such a wonderful reminder of what we experienced last year while in China! I truly can not believe it has been an entire year since we got Lucy. She seems to be part of our life forever. I guess that is why they might call us a forever family. I also feel that since she was born in our hearts years earlier we just feel like she belongs and always has.

I reflected last night while falling asleep, how nervous and anxious I was to meet the little orphan girl across the World in Nanning a year ago. I remember walking up into the building knowing she was inside and how I felt I could barely breath. I had no idea how to take care of a child and what would lay ahead of me. As the year unfolded it is clear how it really didn't matter what material items we had or knowledge about care. It came down to LOVE. All she needed was a mother and a father and pure love. If you know her now, you know how loved she is. I know with all my heart that she never doubts our love for her. This humbles me to no end thinking this is how our heavenly father loves us. Like an orphan who has nothing, torn cloths, soiled and afraid. Us as sinners are much alike. Knowing the lord just wants to take us in and love us, forgive us and tell us it will all be ok if we just believe and trust in him.

Tonight I prayed with Lucy before bed. She obviously doesn't understand what all I was saying but she brought me to tears when she repeated "Lord thank you for our family"! I cherish her little hand in mine. May the door open or close this week with the idea of adopting again. John and I have a visit from our social worker to close out Lucy's adoption tomorrow. Jb and I are heavy hearted for the orphans that are just waiting to be loved. I don't know how financially this is even possible right now but I stand knowing and trusting if this is his will, we will follow.

This past Saturday Jb and I took Lucy to the Ymca swimming. After we ran into someone who we barely know. He obviously was surprised to see Jb and I carrying a child and when he saw Lucy's face his reaction was priceless. He shared how he was adopted and had always wanted to himself. Now that he has 4 children of his own that opportunity has closed. When we told him we would do it again in a heart beat if it weren't such a financial burden, his response was that he would like to donate money and help us. Right there in the middle of the Ymca I started to cry. I have been asking the lord if this is your plan to make it loud and clear.

In the bible the lord makes many reference to caring for the orphans and widows. He doesn't tell us how or specifics! So tonight I close with I will trust and follow if you lead me. I am so grateful for this special little piece of Jesus that he gave us. What a wonderful year it has been.

Lucy You Meng Ke Brown "GOTCHA" January 25th, 2010 at about 1:40 pm