March is here!

It's hard to believe that my sweet lil Rosie is turning 9 on March 13. 

My girlfriend did a quick photo shoot last week and made this beautiful collage. 

Thanks, Juls! ( Beautiful Beginnings Photography~ check her out; she's FANTASTIC!)

I wish my words could adequately express how much I love this little girl. 

My days are brighter because she's in them. 

She doesn't care if my hair is graying and tangled and I'm dressed in my jammies. As we daily read her Bible, she often watches my face as I read to her, gently touches my cheek and whispers, " I'll always love you, Mommy!" 

Her ninth birthday reminds me of her birth mom and I wonder many things~  Does she dream about where Sophie is?  

What does she look like~ does she have an infectious smile, a quick wit, incredible intelligence, a love for music, art and animals?

 Does she love grilled peanut butter sandwiches and bananas? Is she short, but have extra long legs? 

Does she have thick, course, black, shiny hair? Does she love people?  Is she athletic? 

Is she loving and brave?

Yes... I'm convinced she has these qualities. 

Any birth mom who would love her child enough to realize she can't care for her and desire to give her a better life is both loving and brave!

Will she ever hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Yesterday, Sophie asked if we could go back to China to swim in the Marriott pool and sleep in the beds. 

My prayer is that someday Sophie would like to relearn Chinese and go back to share the Gospel in her native tongue.

I'm so grateful the Lord has given Sophie a heart softened to Him. 

Her favorite activity is sitting down to read her Bible in the morning and evening. I asked her tonight if she wanted to read Misty of Chincoteague...."No, I'll go get my Bible." 

There is no greater joy than knowing that Sophie is learning to love God with all her heart, soul, mind and strength. 

I love you, sweet Sophie Rose~ Happy 9th Birthday! 

We traditionally sing to the birthday girl on the hour she was born. Because we don't know, we opted for a 7:30am sing-a-long....she liked it better this year than she did last year!!!

Sophie and Daddy went to Sight and Sound in Lancaster to see Jonah! What a treat~ A HUGE daddy/ daughter date!

Mommy :D 

December 1st Prayer

Sophie's bedtime prayer tonight~

" Dear Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for my sins; please help me obey you better tomorrow. Thank you for my family and friends; please heal Mommy and Ellie of Lyme disee ( how she says disease) Please forgive me for sinning against You. In Jesus Name, Amen.




Today during school, we were reviewing our time line. Magna Carta, St. Thomas Aquines, Marco Polo, The Hundred Years War, The Black Death and Joan of Arc and we came to The Great Papal Schism......

I have to continually remember that Sophie has NO pegs with which to hang any of this information on. I have to literally teach her how to even pronounce each word. ( "Con - stan - tin - o - ple" ....."Okay, now...Constan-tin-o-ple.....Constantin-o-ple" ....Constantinople"....You get the picture!)

So we continued playing this game with the time line cards and I realized that instead of saying "The Great Papal Schism" she was saying, " The Great Papa Skittles!"   Too funny!

How Much I Wanted You

It's been so long since I've written.

Many days Lyme disease seems to have overrun our family; it's been a hard season, but God is using it for His purpose and glory. 

Sophie Chats.....

Bedtime tonight consisted of snack of a Pina Colada Slurpee, a Christmas bedtime story, lots of snuggling and singing and of course, our nightly "chats." 


"Tell me about how much you wanted me, Mama."~ Sophie

I reviewed the amazing story from the beginning to the end, reminding her that daddy and I were somewhat like Mary and Joseph minus the angel appearances. ( God put her on my heart first, then daddy later.)


Mom~ "We waited 3 long years until God thought it was time for us to come to China for you." 

"You wanted me really bad, didn't you, Mom?"~ Sophie


"How do you know that Soph," ~ Mom


She jumped out of the sheets and proceeded to wave her arms wildly about....."Because of the way those people stuffed me in that car with you the first day... I knew you really must have wanted me!"


We rolled on the bed with great laughter, sang our songs and she is sleeping soundly as I type. 


Oh, how I love that sweet girl!

Reflecting on our first year together

My Mamma's heart is so encouraged tonight ~ encouraged at God's faithfulness to our family, encouraged and reminded daily that His love is everlasting, steadfast and true, and encouraged that I can have a new 8 year old at 46 and can keep up with her most days!!!! 

Last year tonight, Sept. 10, 2010, we were flying home to the USA  with our new daughter! 


The 3 long years we waited have melted into the past and my days are consumed with love, joy and teaching this very smart Missy how to love the Lord with all her heart, soul, and mind.


 We celebrated our Family Day~ the day we met Sophie Rose for the first time! 

What a wild cat she was that day!

She told me that she only found out that she was going to get a family the night before. 

I understand why they do that~ they are protecting the munchkins in case something happened that we didn't come...but there was NOTHING gonna hold this mamma from FINALLY getting her girlie. 

Below is her account about that life changing day, August 25, 2010, written independently at school last week:

"Today is Family Day. The nannies told me I was going to have a  family, but I didn't know what that meant. I saw my mother, but I didn't know she was my mommy. I was scared and cried when we got in the car to leave.

In one year I've learned how to speak English, write in cursive 

( "Beautifully, I might add!" said Mom.), jump rope, ride a scooter and a 2 wheeler.  But the best thing I learned about was Jesus dying on the cross. I'm glad we're a family. I love you all."

Sophie Rose chose to eat at China Garden for Family Day followed by a trip to downtown Baker Park in Frederick and then home for dessert. 

She read the above story to our family later that evening.

So many people, when we tell them our story say, "Wow, she is so lucky!" 

 But God, in his rich mercy, planned for her to be with us from the foundation of time.  

We are the blessed ones.  

Sophie has enriched our lives daily with her lighthearted, infectious laughter, her silly pranks to her brother, and her curiosity about the Gospel! 

I'm grateful to have bore 2 children from my womb and one in my heart~ my little dancing princess~ Sophie Rose. 

" I'm so glad I'm your Mamma!"

Our dear social worker made her last home visit. We love you and are incredibly grateful for you Debbie!