3 years ago...

...we had just gotten home from the hospital, due to the Noodle's broken wrist, when I received the call for our little Mei Mei.

She was living in Wuzhou, Guangxi, in a foster home, completely oblivious that on the other side of the world, a family was crying tears of joy that they finally had their little sister.

She's every bit as sweet as those initial referral pictures, but twice as sassy!  She loves to talk and has quite mastered the art of the photo pose (i.e. hand on her hip!).  Ha!

Mei Mei is fiercely loyal, especially to "my big sister, C" and knows how to dig her heels in when she feels the need.

She keeps us on our toes and we wouldn't have it any other way!  Happy 3rd referral day Mei Mei!

Back to school traditions

As a child, the back-to-school tradition that I loved most was "girls day out".  My mom and I would go out to eat (my choice, naturally!) and then we would go shopping for back-to-school clothes and supplies.  It was always a great time of bonding (even in the teenage years) and I highly anticipated it each year.

Since I have two school age girls this year (whaaaat?!), I got the privilege of taking each one of them out for their own special day.  I had such a fun time individually with of them!

First up was the Noodle.  We dropped Mei Mei off at Lala's and then we got our shopping game on! We had our list ready and hit up Tar-jay.  Thankfully this year her list wasn't as long or extensive as in years past.  After everything was crossed off, we were exhausted!  A special treat was definitely called for and she chose fro-yo.

We chatted and laughed and she talked about how she was feeling starting 4th grade.  I know she loves 1:1 time so this really fit the bill.

A few days later it was Mei Mei's turn.  On that day, we had decided to join our friend for a shopping/lunch date down in AsiaTown before the two of us went off on our own.  As I've said before, both girls love spending time with L and her family.  They are always so gracious to us and have really helped J and I bring the girls' Chinese culture to life in a real and meaningful way (see here, here  , and here ).  Such a blessing from God to have this family as close friends!!

Those would be live eels in that cooler :/

With full, happy bellies Mei Mei and I said hello to Lala and goodbye to the Noodle and then it was our turn to shop. When you're 5, going to Target (again) perhaps isn't always quite as fun and exciting as it is when you're a bit older-haha, but she was a good sport.  She was VERY happy about getting the items off her list and wanted to make sure that she was the one putting the things into the cart--NOT me.

I was hoping to buy her a new outfit for the first day, just like Claire, but when you're being super particular about what you want (i.e. a dress with straps and a zipper down the back) sometimes things don't always pan out.  She didn't seemed fazed and instead was more interested in trying on the Elsa trucker hat with long rat-tail braid going down the back.  That did not make it into the cart, much to her disappointment.

We ended up at one of our local ice cream shops and goofed around a bit while we gobbled up the cold treat.

I'm so glad that I had a chance to take each one of them out for some special one-on-one time before the school year begins.  It was especially meaningful for me because I go back full time to teaching in just a few days.  Aaagh!  I have LOVED this time off, being at home, but I also knew that I would be going back to teaching, so all in all, I feel at peace about this new season of our lives beginning. We'll see what the fall brings!

Preschool Graduate

Goodbye preschool...hello Kindergarten!

Mei Mei finished up last week with preschool and I'm still a bit in shock.  How can two years have already gone flying past?  Wasn't it just yesterday that we were easing her into Sunday School and the 2 year old class and prepping her for her first year of preschool once she turned 3?

But what growth we've seen!  She's completely at ease and LOVES going to school.  Quite honestly, I'm not sure how she's going to cope with not going back until late August!

She is confident in her abilities, exuberant each day when she greets her teachers and (hardly ever) gives me a backwards glance as she's racing into the classroom.

Her language is right where it should be and she's hit all of her developmental milestones, and then some.  Now if only we can get her back on that bike...............

When school was finished and the Noodle and I picked her up, we surprised her with a trip to DQ for cones.

Wondering what the side-eye is all about?  Both of them were fascinated watching the "big girls" aka the teenagers who were also in there getting an afterschool treat.  Ha!

And just because I love a good "then and now" shot...

Here's at the start of the year:

and here she is now:

Oh Mei Mei!  You're on your way sweet love!!

2nd Gotcha Day Anniversary

Oh Mei Mei!  2 years ago we met you at the Civil Affairs office in Nanning, Guangxi, China.  You were clutching onto a piece of candy the nannies had given you.  It was one of the few things you took with you from your old life into your new life.

You were hesitant to meet us at first, but then you got caught up in everything.  It wasn't until we arrived back at the hotel that you seemed to realize things were drastically different than normal.

By that time the tears came but thankfully your sister jumped in with the great idea to entertain you with a balloon.  After cuddles, reassurance and a little dinner, you were better.  The shock didn't set in until a few days later but we were ready to love on you no matter what.

Fast forward two years and look at you!  Still the same bubbly little personality, eager to give a smile and to laugh.  You bring such joy to everyone who meets you!

Two years!  On the one hand it seems as if you've always been a part of our family.  On the other hand, I can't believe that two years ago you were living in China and had no idea who we were or what life was like in America.  

That's the thing about adoption.  While it is beautiful, it is born out of loss.  Loss of a birthmother/birthfather/birthfamily, loss of a culture and/or country, loss of "what might have been", loss period. That is no small thing to be looked over.  The amazing thing is that God takes the loss and sadness and the ashes and He turns it into something we could never imagine.  Something that is infinitely beyond our wildest dreams.

God's BIG plan for all of our lives was that we'd be a family.  Today is a reason to celebrate and to proclaim that you are our's and we are your's--forever!!

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west."--Isaiah 43:5

First Day of Preschool!!

Today it was finally Mei Mei's turn to go back to school.

She's been eagerly anticipating it and couldn't wait to go!!

After we had finished lunch, we grabbed a few photos.  She was also adamant that we pray for her before we left (be still my heart, sweet girl!).

There was no hand holding as she marched up to the doors.  Little Miss Independent!

She did let me get one more shot of her before we went in.

Today and tomorrow she's only there with half of her class for an hour but on Thursday she'll go for the full 2.5 hours with the entire class.

And she's off!