Archive for December, 2014

• Jasmine’s Blog – Merry Christmas

  Date: 2014.12.24 | Category: Jasmine's Blog

  圣诞节

  圣诞节就要到了！我想大家一定都喜欢圣诞节吧！我非常喜欢圣诞节。在圣诞节的时候我们可以打开礼物。你的家人会送你礼物，而且你会收到你最喜欢的礼物！

  其实当我来到美国的时候我不知道什么是圣诞节，因为我在福利院的时候我从来没有过过圣诞节。在圣诞节的时候他们要做什么呢？

  但是现在我知道圣诞节是什么了。圣诞节就是神的生日！

  好多人都收到礼物！还有我们把好多装饰挂在圣诞树上！

  我要告诉你们，我们家人的圣诞礼物就是新妺妺Elyse 和弟弟Max！我的妈妈现在还在中国接我的妹妹Elyse 还有我的新弟弟Max他们很快就会回到这个家庭里来！这是我们最好的圣诞节礼物，我们非常非常的兴奋！我们是非常的开心他们来到这个家庭！

  我们爱你们Elyse Max!!!

  

  Christmas

  It’s almost Christmas! I think everybody likes Christmas, right? I like Christmas very much. In Christmas we can open presents. Your family gives you presents, and you receive your favorite present!

  Actually when I came to America I didn’t know what Christmas is because when I was in the orphanage I never celebrated Christmas.What do they do in Christmas?

  But now I know what Christmas is. Christmas is God’s birthday!

  Many people get presents! We also put many ornaments on the Christmas tree!

  I have to tell you, our family’s present is a new sister Elyse and a new brother Max! My mom is still in China to get my sister Elyse and brother Max, soon they will come to our family! This our best Christmas present, we are very excited! We are very happy that they come to this family!

  We love you guys, Elyse, and Max!!!

• Stage One Complete

  Date: 2014.12.21 | Category: Adoption, China 2014, Elyse, Max

  I am going to try and post from my phone. This ought to be interesting.  🙂 (Hint- it didn’t work. -Cassie)

  We will be traveling to three different cities on this trip.  Stage one – Hefei, stage two – Zhengzhou, and the final stage – Guangzhou.

  This has been the most relaxed adoption trip ever so far.  They messed up our room at the Hilton and we ended up in a suite. A two bedroom suite with a jacuzzi tub that Elyse has loved.

  

  

  We have played cards, shopped, ate pizza and watched some really interesting shows on a channel called Diva.

  

  

  We visited the orphanage and met Elyse’s foster grandmother, mother, father and assorted family.  Elyse spent the first 7 years or her life with them before being called back to the orphanage.  It was a very moving moment in time and I believe allowed Elyse some closure.  Elyse had not seen them for two years and yet she acted like it was just yesterday.  Elyse’s foster grandmother told her to go, love her family, and be happy.  What a gift!

  

  

  

  
  Tomorrow, bright and early, we head out to Zhengzhou for stage two of our trip.  We meet Max on Monday.  I am so ready to hold our boy.  Praying that he isn’t too frightened and ready to he loved up.

  Please surround our little guy with prayer.  I can’t imagine what it feels like to all of a sudden be with other people who look so different from you.   Elyse has done really well. She has been prepared well for adoption. Praying the same is true with Max.

• China 3.0

  Date: 2014.12.13 | Category: Adoption, China 2014, Elyse, Max

  Well, the day is finally here.  We leave bright and early at 4 a.m.    It didn’t sound so bad when we bought the tickets.   What was I thinking?

  It will all be worth it when we meet these two….

  

  

  I’ve been informed that Elyse says, “To hurry up.  What’s taking you so long mom?”

  The countdown chart has been prepared.

  

  Friends even dropped off a little gift for each and every day that we are gone.

  Thanks Foerch family!!!

  This trip will be different in that Dan is staying home.  With Evie and Elijah recently having surgery, we decided it would be better if one of us stayed home.  It won’t be the same without Dan with me.  We’ve never been apart more than a week in the 30 years we have been married.

  He’s sad and I’m sad.

  But he is going to fly to Chicago so that he can meet the kids before everyone else does because that’s what daddies who wish the could go….do.  I love the way he thinks.

  The kids have been kissed and tucked in.

  They all told me to hurry up and get Max and Elyse so they can come home and see the Christmas lights.

  Cassie and daddy have the fort covered.

  Everything’s packed and ready to go.

  So even though I’m sad about leaving my loved ones behind.  I am reminded of the reason we chose to adopt in the first place.  It’s not always an easy journey but well worth it.

  

  Look how far Lainey has come!  She is such a happy girl now.

  Family is a beautiful thing.

  Cassie will update while I’m gone.

  She’s a little busy with some wedding plans, but I think she can handle it.

  Wedding plans you ask?

  Oh! Did I forget to mention what happened the other night?

  Well, Reece graciously included all her siblings and surprised Cassie by proposing at Jolly Holiday Lights.

  Jolly Holiday Lights is a couple miles of lighted up signs and at the end you can get out and get a picture with Santa.

  So we loaded up the bus….

  

  and the siblings had their picture taken.

  And then…

  

  She said “Yes!”

  It seems we have lots of good news to share!

  We will be home soon!  Please continue to keep us all in your prayers.

  Max and Elyse as their lives change.

  All those that wait at home.

  Zach, Steph, and I for safe travels.

• Jasmine’s Blog – I Got a Letter

  Date: 2014.12.09 | Category: Jasmine's Blog

  In our care package, Dan sent Jasmine a letter.  He prayed and prayed about what he should say.  Months after she was home she shared with me how much that letter had meant to her. 

  (From my blog “A Leap of Faith 3/14)  Third, she shared that she cried the day she got the letter from her daddy. Dan started the letter by saying “To my beautiful daughter”.  (Jasmine told me it said pretty daughter, but it actually said beautiful.)  Jasmine told me she had always been told how ugly she was and that she read her daddy’s words over and over again and believed them. (I remember Dan worrying over whether the words in that letter were the right words. He so wanted her to know how much he loved her. I love his heart.)

  Jasmine’s heart was moved by a letter written by her daddy who she had never even met, but she believed his words.  She told me she took his letter out time and time again and read the words and cried because she was so happy he was coming for her.  She said the nanny’s would say, “What if they don’t make it in time?” and Jasmine would reply, “They are coming.  My daddy told me so.”

  I Got A Letter

   

  When I heard that there was a family going to adopted me, I was very happy! Then a couple of days later the family who was going to adopt me sent me some stuff. I felt very happy! They gave me some clothes, pants, and a pink bear. I liked it very much!

   

  I also got a letter. It’s from Dad. When I saw the letter, I felt so touched that I cried. Never had people said that I am very pretty and beautiful!

   

  That was the first time I got a letter that good. I really felt touched by the letter. I never thought that people would say things like that (she is beautiful). I thought that Dad is a very very good dad! 🙂

   

  I love you, Dad!

  

   

  收到一封信

   

  当我听到有人要收养我的时候，我非常开心！没过几天要收养我的家庭寄东西给我，我感到非常的高兴！她们给我了一些衣服，裤子，还有一个粉色的小熊。我很喜欢！

   

  我还收到一封信，是爸爸写给我的。当我看到这封信的时候让我很感动的都哭了。从来没有人这么的说我美丽又漂亮！

   

  这是我第一次收到这么好的信！这封真的真的让我非常非常的感动。我真的没有想到会有人这么说我，我想那个爸爸一定是非常非常好的爸爸!:)

   

  我爱你爸爸！

• Jasmine’s Blog – Children’s Day

  Date: 2014.12.08 | Category: Jasmine's Blog

  Jasmine and I had been talking about whether or not she had any days, while in the orphanage, that made her happy.   She said that there was one day a year that all the children looked forward to….

  Children’s Day
   
  Every year we have a Children’s Day on June first. At that day, our orphanage would have some volunteers that would take us to four places. 
   
  The first place we go is the zoo. We saw a lot of animals. They are so cute! My favorites are birds and rabbits. My least favorite is snake. I remember one time we saw a huge elephant.
   
  The second place we went is KFC. Our favorites are chicken nuggets and french fries. Every time we would eat until we were very very full.
   
  The third place is the playground. In there there was a horse (merry-go-round). The people said we can ride on it. So I told my sister I want to ride because I like horses. We are very happy when we ride horses. Then we rode a car. That car is very fast! However, I like it!
   
  The fourth place is the movie theater. We were watch BaLaLa. That’s our favorite! The we went back to the orphanage. 
   

  That is the best day.

  

  Jasmine found these pictures on the internet.

  

  六一儿童节
   
  每年的六一儿童节，我们福利院都会会有志愿者带我们出去玩四个地方。
   

  第一个是动物园，我们看到好多的动物他们好可爱哦！我最喜欢的动物是兔子还有小鸟！我最不喜欢的动物是蛇。我记得有一我们还去看又高又大的大象。

  
  第二个地方我们是去肯德基。我们最喜欢吃的是鸡腿和薯条。我们每次都会吃的很饱很饱。
   
  第三个地方是游乐场。在游乐场我们看到马(旋转木马)，有人说我们可以坐上去。我就对姐姐说我想坐上去因为我很喜欢马。我们坐在马上的时候都很开心。然后我们又坐车子，那个车子好快呀！但是我很喜欢！

   

  第四个地方我们了去电影院。我们看的电影是巴拉拉小魔仙大电影。我们最喜欢这个电影了！然后我们就回到福利院。

   

  这一天是我最美好的一天