• Why We Share Our Story

    Date: 2015.01.15 | Category: Adoption, Faith, Family Life, Hope | Response: 0

    After talking with Cassie today, I decided to take a moment and tell you all why we decided to tell our family’s story through our Facebook page and our blog. Years ago after we had adopted Hope, I refused to talk about her adoption story because I felt like people would think that I was bragging about saving this child.

    You see Hope’s story is amazing. It all started when my husband, who was a fellow in neonatalogy, had a patient born with a heart defect. The preadoptive parents backed out when the doctors found the heart defect and the birth mother decided not to treat, which was one of the three options available for a child born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). Dan called me and told me he just couldn’t write the orders to discontinue support for this baby. We, as a family, decided to take her home and let her feel the love of family for as long as she lived. We had been through the death of a child and knew, with God’s help, we could do this. Not long after we had made that decision, the cardiac surgeon asked for a chance to save her life. We had been given a wonderful gift. We weren’t looking to adopt. We stepped out in fear because we felt that was what God was asking us to do. Hope is now 15 and doing very well.

    But back to feeling uncomfortable telling Hope’s story. I would rarely tell anyone her story. I felt blessed that this adoption happened out of no where. I was so happy to have been given this opportunity. The way God worked out the details was unbelievable, but I still felt like people would think I was bragging. There were two conversations that we always heard if Hope’s story was mentioned. Either we heard that we were going to ruin our family and this was a stupid thing to do or we heard that we were saints.

    One day, years after Hope was born, I was sitting on a bench at the Iowa State Fair. The stranger next to me started some small talk. She asked if I had any children and I said, “Yes, three boys and two girls.” She asked me their names. As soon as I said Hope’s name she smiled. She told me that she loved the name Hope. She had heard the sweetest story of a little girl with a heart defect and her church had been praying for this little girl because she had recently had surgery.

    A perfect stranger had just told me Hope’s story. I took that as a sign from God that Hope’s story was being told whether I was telling it or not. I decided then and there that I had the choice to turn all the praise back to God or to keep quiet and let others do the praising.

    A Facebook friend recently posted this quote. “When God answers a prayer, no matter how big or how small, we need to share it. It’s a stewardship issue. If we don’t turn the answer to prayer into praise, it may very well turn into pride. Giving testimony is the way we give God all the glory.” ~Mark Batterson, Draw the Circle

    I want others to see the miracles that God has done in our lives. I have felt Him call and stepped out in fear and watched Him provide over and over again. This is why I tell our story. So others see the glory of God and understand that He calls us to care for the least of these. Adoption is just one of the ways this is possible. What is your story? What is God asking you to do? Don’t be afraid. It just might be the best thing that every happened to you.

    After talking with Cassie today, I decided to take a moment and tell you all why I decided to tell our family's story through our Facebook page and our blog. Years ago after we had adopted Hope, I refused to talk about her amazing adoption story because I felt like people would think that I was bragging about saving this child. </p><br /><br /> <p>You see Hope's story is amazing. It all started when my husband, who was a fellow in neonatalogy, had a patient born with a heart defect. The preadoptive parents backed out when the doctors found the heart defect and the birth mother decided not to treat, which was one of the three options available for a child born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). Dan called me and told me he just couldn't write the orders to discontinue support for this baby. We, as a family, decided to take her home and let her feel the love of family for as long as she lived. We had been through the death of a child and knew, with God's help, we could do this. Not long after we had made that decision, that the cardiac surgeon asked for a chance to save her life. We had been given a wonderful gift. We weren't looking to adopt. We stepped out in fear because we felt that was what God was asking us to do. Hope is now 15 and doing very well. </p><br /><br /> <p>But back to feeling uncomfortable telling Hope's story. I would rarely tell anyone her story. I felt blessed that this adoption happened out of no where. I was so happy to have been given this opportunity. The way God worked out the details was unbelievable, but I still felt like people would think I was bragging. There were two conversations that we always heard if Hope's story was mentioned. Either we heard that we were going to ruin our family and this was a stupid thing to do or we heard that we were saints.</p><br /><br /> <p>One day, years after Hope was born, I was sitting on a bench at the Iowa State Fair. The stranger next to me started some small talk. She asked if I had any children and I said, "Yes, three boys and two girls." She asked me their names. As soon as I said Hope's name she smiled. She told me that she loved the name Hope. She had heard the sweetest story of a little girl with a heart defect and her church had been praying for this little girl because she had recently had surgery. </p><br /><br /> <p>A perfect stranger had just told me Hope's story. I took that as a sign from God that Hope's story was being told whether I was telling it or not. I decided then and there that I had the choice to turn all the praise back to God or to keep quiet and let others do the praising. </p><br /><br /> <p>A Facebook friend recently posted this quote. "When God answers a prayer, no matter how big or how small, we need to share it. It's a stewardship issue. If we don't turn the answer to prayer into praise, it may very well turn into pride. Giving testimony is the way we give God all the glory." ~Mark Batterson, Draw the Circle</p><br /><br /> <p>I want others to see the miracles that God has done in our lives. I have felt Him call and stepped out in fear and watched Him provide over and over again. This is why I tell our story. So others see the glory of God and understand that He calls us to care for the least of these. Adoption is just one of the ways this is possible. What is your story? What is God asking you to do? Don't be afraid. It just might be the best thing that every happened to you. I know we have been blessed time and time again.

  • Hurting Hearts

    Date: 2015.01.04 | Category: Adoption, Elyse, Faith, Family Life, Grace, Jasmine (Shuang Shuang) | Response: 0

    It all started with tears over the fact that she didn’t want to have a tea party with Elyse and Gracie.  Somehow I knew it wasn’t about the tea party.  Jasmine is usually easy going.   It was unusual for her to balk about something so trivial.  I asked her if Elyse had said anything to upset her and she screamed, “This is boring.  I don’t want to do it.”

    I let her know she didn’t have to play with the other girls.  I let her know that she could just sit in the room and watch them then but it would be more fun for her to participate.  She still didn’t budge on her position and I left them alone in their bedroom.

    About five minutes later Gracie came out saying Jasmine was sobbing.  I tried to get Jasmine to talk.  Cassie tried.  Gracie tried.  None of us had any luck.  I told her I knew that there was something else going on.  I asked her to e-mail me when she felt ready to talk.  She told me there was nothing wrong and I gave her some more time to calm down.

    The sobbing continued.  We continued to try and talk to her.  Jasmine yelled, “There is nothing wrong.  I am NOT sad!  I am NOT mad!” as the tears continued to roll down her face.

    This lasted three hours.

    Three hours folks and she kept insisting it was because she didn’t want to have a boring tea party.

    We’ve had one other huge battle like this one and that battle was over her saying she was stupid.  This was admittedly the dumbest fight ever in the history of fights.  She refused to back down about saying she was stupid.  I told her she knows three languages.  She is doing amazing in school.  She is one very bright, insightful girl and I would not let her call herself stupid.  The fight continued.  She yelled.  She threw her pencil.  She cried and cried and cried all over the fact that I refused to let her call herself stupid.

    I informed her that she could either say, “I am NOT stupid or I was going to make her write it 50 times.”  She still refused.  I got out the paper and the pencil.  She wrote her sentences but she refused to write the NOT.   This part of the disagreement went on for a couple hours.  I tried to let her calm down.  I had Cassie talk to her.  I had Dan talk to her.  I had Hope talk to her.  She refused to say, “I am not stupid.” and the tears continued to fall.

    See we’ve been here before.  I knew the fight wasn’t about the tea party just as much as the other fight wasn’t about her admitting she isn’t stupid.   It was about fear.  It was about having so many emotions over so many confusing thoughts that the simplest thing set her off.  It was safe to be mad about a tea party.  It was not safe to admit your fears.

    I told her that she had to stop and calm down.  I wasn’t going to argue with her.  She needed a shower so I gave her time alone in the shower so she could think.  She refused to talk.  I had already told her she had two choices.

    1.) To let me know what was really wrong.

    2.) To go to bed.

    She chose to go to bed.  I couldn’t believe it.  I gave her the options and now I had to follow through.  It was 6:30 p.m. and she chose to go to bed. I gave her ten chances to change her mind.   I gave her her I-pad in case she changed her mind.  I told her she could let me know just a little bit at anytime and we would talk but that she wasn’t allowed to not tell me the truth.  She couldn’t keep saying “I’m not mad.  I’m not sad. She could ask to talk about it later but she could not keep lying to me about there being nothing wrong.”

    Three hours later I get this e-mail.

    “Are you sad adoption me?”

    Am I sad that I adopted her?  Oh my heart.

    “I do wrong. Do you think I’m stupid?”

    Followed by….

    “If one day you do not want me, I really do not want lose the family.”

    “Because I know what will become of my foture.”

    And then she asked me to come to her room to talk.

    It wasn’t about the tea party.  It was about Elyse mentioning that the nannies told her that she could come to America and be healed.  The nannies had told Jasmine the same thing.  We were about six months in when Jasmine had enough English under her belt to ask us when she would get the surgery that would let her walk.  We had the horrible task of letting her know that there was nothing that could be done.  You can’t fix muscular dystrophy.  We had to break her heart and now we were going to have to break Elyse’s.  I told Jasmine not to say anything to Elyse because we haven’t seen a doctor yet.  Jasmine doesn’t need to be the bearer of bad news that could wait for another day.

    But all of her discussions with Elyse brought up the fears that she had before.

    Jasmine told me that she was worried that she would get too heavy and I would take her back to the orphanage.

    Because it has happened to her before.

    Jasmine let me know that she was afraid about having her surgery on the 13th because she didn’t want to wake up in the hospital alone.

    Because it has happened to her before.

    Jasmine was worried that I would decide that she was no longer worth caring for.

    Because it has happened before.

    It wasn’t about a tea party.  It was about her wanting a family.  It was about her wanting to walk.  It was about her wishing she could dream about one day growing up, falling in love, and having a family of her own.

    I’m sharing this story today because I want other parents who have adopted or are choosing to adopt an older child to remember not to take it personally and to remember the trivial fights usually are about something much more.  It’s not about wanting to eat late at night.  It’s about them testing you to see if you will feed them and love them.  It’s not so much about control as it is about fear.  Fear that you don’t love them enough.  Fear that they won’t get food.  Fear that this whole family thing isn’t going to work out.

    I can understand this.  For years when Dan and I met, I would test him.  I would push him.  I would bait him.  I would argue with him.  Why?  Because I didn’t believe someone could truly love me.  My dad and my mom divorced when I was 10 and then shortly after that I was sexually abused, for a whole summer, by an older trusted friend.  It played with my head and my self worth.  It made me believe that men would just hurt and that I had no worth.  This took place over about six months.  Now imagine if your whole life had been one of not feeling loved or worthy.  What if they made you believe that you are so bad that if you ever let anyone know the real you, they would return you to the orphanage? How much would you test?  How much time would you need to heal?

    Dan finally made me see that I could trust him and live each day happy or I could spend my whole life assuming he would leave and be miserable.  I had to make the choice.  These kids are in the same boat.  They have to make that choice but the first couple of years are just trying to figure it out.  They don’t have the language or the maturity to make that choice.  It’s all about survival.  If they learned to survive with manipulation, then they will manipulate.  If they learned to survive by withdrawing, then they will withdraw.  It takes time to let go of the fear and the anger.

    So it’s up to us, the supposed grownups, to remember it has nothing to do with us.  It has to do with fear and we have to remember who the author of fear is.  It isn’t God.  God is all about hope and redemption.  Satan whispers and people doubt.  Please remember that the next time you are in the heat of the moment.  Take a step back.  It’s not about the tea party or them loving you.  It’s about fear that they will one day lose this thing that they can’t even admit that they want.

    FAMILY!

     

  • Stage 2

    Date: 2015.01.02 | Category: Adoption, China 2014 | Response: 0

    Zhengzhou – Stage Two is complete.  (This blog post is late.  I couldn’t get my phone to post from China on WordPress.  We are considering this post – better late than never.)

    The excitement is always overflowing when you arrive in Zhengzhou.  Everyone gets settled, meets the other families, and there is a buzz in the air because they know they will be seeing their child in a day or two.  Most of the time, everyone rides together to the Registration Office to receive their child.  The child may be there when you arrive or they slowly show up as the morning goes on.  These days always bring tears to my eyes.  I can not watch a video of someone’s Gotcha Day/Family Day without crying.  Once you know what it means for these children your heart will be forever moved.

    Many agencies have special affiliations with certain orphanages.  CCAI does quite a few adoptions out of Henan Province.  Zhengzhou is where you end up staying if you are adopting from this province.

    We stayed at the Marriett Hotel which had been recently renovated.  I know there are many, many families who stay there during their week in Zhengzhou.  I wish they would have set aside a couple of rooms that were toddler proof.  The glass closet doors, glass bathroom door, and automated everything from curtains to lights, is too much for a small child to take.

    Max 16

    The lobby was decorated very beautifully.

    Max 17

    A couple nights they even had carolers.

    Max 9

    Wal-Mart is a few blocks away.  You spend your time walking on the sidewalk avoiding motorized scooters, bicycles, and small cars.  Yes, travel in Zhengzhou is exciting to say the least.  There is a lot of road renovations going on making it a little more interesting to travel in this particular stretch of town.

    One night we even saw many biking Santas

    Max 18

    Stephanie and I were especially happy that they put a Subway sandwich shop down by Wal-Mart.  Many of the breakfast menus have American cuisine.  Lunch can be a whole different story though.  I am not adventurous and I do not like my fish looking at me when I eat them.

    Max, however, was very happy with KFC, double deserts, and anything else they put in front of him.  🙂

    Max 3 Max 6

    I chose to visit the orphanage this time.  Max, Lainey and Maisey were all adopted out of this orphanage and I had never had a chance to visit.  When we arrived on the street leading to the orphanage Max’s demeanor changed.  When we were waiting at the gate, the tears started to fall.  When we arrived at the front doors, he was pretty much hysterical.  I had never had a child respond this way.  Jasmine was excited to show us off.  Ben was 3 1/2 and he just held on tight to Dan, but really didn’t make a sound.  Max took it the hardest.  On one hand, I was upset that we had upset him that much but on the other hand, it was good to see him respond with such a strong emotion.  He hadn’t really showed that much emotion up to that point.   It showed he knew what was going on and understood to at least some degree that he was safe with us.

    The orphanage looked like a nice place.  There were many rooms set up that looked like any other preschool you would see in the U.S.   These buildings can be clean, new, with all the newest gadgets, but they still aren’t a mama or a baba.

    Max 14 Max 13 Max 12 Max 11

    While in China, you receive the child and have 24 hours to change you mind.  There was not going to be any changing our mind and on the second day our adoption was complete.  Max was officially our son!

    Max 7

    We spent our week bonding and getting to know each other.  He loves Zach and Steph. It was sweet watching them bond.   Max liked to curl up on the bed between them all the time.  He likes to snuggle and pat your head.  His little kisses on your cheek are the sweetest thing ever.  He is non-verbal but that doesn’t stop him from communicating.  He is already signing quite a few words.  We knew he was getting it when Steph signed “shoes on” from the other room and he went and found his shoes and put them on.

    max 1 Max 2 Max 5

    At the end of the week, everyone’s emotions change.  They have their child.  They are bonding.  They are ready to move to the final stop, Guangzhou.

    That is where I am.  I just want to go home and hug my husband. I miss him so.  I want to hold my babies and get on with being a family.

  • Jasmine’s Blog – Family and Orphanages are Different

    Date: 2015.01.02 | Category: Uncategorized | Response: 0

    家庭和福利院是不一样的
     
    我觉得家庭和福利院真的不一样，因为家庭有温暖有爱！
     

    我们家有14个人。有时候我们会很疯狂，有时候我们也会非常非常的吵。我的家人是很多，但是我不觉得像一个福利院。有时候我觉得家很幸福！

     
    在福利院的时候我们不能这样。我们只能老老实实坐着而且我们不能出声。如果我们出声音的话阿姨们就会吼我们。当我被爸爸妈妈收养我的时候，阿姨跟我说：“你要到另外一个福利院了。”因为他们说妈妈爸爸有很多的孩子，而且就像一个福利院。可是我不这么觉得呀！我觉得我的家庭有热闹有欢乐！但是福利院并没有欢乐和热闹。有时候我不懂那个阿姨跟我说这个呀。爸爸妈妈这么的疼爱我！这么会是福利院呢？
     
    爸爸妈妈有很多的孩子因为他们有很多的爱心！
     
    Family and Orphanage are Different
     
    I think family and orphanage really are different, because family have warmness and have love. 
     
    Our family have 14 people. Sometimes we would be crazy, sometimes we could also be very loud. I had a lot of family members, but I don’t think it’s like an orphanage.   I think family is very blessed.
     
    In the Orphanage we couldn’t do that. We can only just sit there and couldn’t make any sounds. If we make any sounds, the nannies would scold us. When I was going to be adopted, the nannies said, “You are going to move to another orphanage.” because they said that mama and papa have a lot of kids, and is like an orphanage. However, I don’t think that ways! I think that family have loudness and happiness. However, orphanage doesn’t have loudness and happiness.  Sometimes I don’t understand why the nannies said that to me. Papa and mama love me so much, how this could be an orphanage?
    ———————————————————

    Jasmine wrote this blog post after she and I had a conversation about my Facebook post about people comparing large families to orphanages.  Jasmine started laughing at my comment and then shared what the nannies had said to her when they saw our family picture.   I asked Jasmine why it didn’t scare her to think that she was going from one orphanage to another orphanage.  Jasmine said it was because we all looked like we loved each other and were happy and that never happens in an orphanage.

  • Jasmine’s Blog – Merry Christmas

    Date: 2014.12.24 | Category: Jasmine's Blog | Response: 0

    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!!!

    image

    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 | Response: 0

    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.

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    ^CD35674DD7573FDB7383CB2E5F6F313290282C7C9C56E16CF5^pimgt2_distr

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

    ^F07ACE21FB80889B889743DA39D72549AD29230EC371D62894^pimgt2_distr

    ^CD336FB49198D780578062E0A06DA85EE360CC562FC6FD5EAF^pimgt2_distr

    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!

    ^5F00F68D995304865D1E3E5C75F8720AC5B95032D918AB871E^pimgt2_distr

    ^06FC6D3A1CEDF4E797B5A756D3E0D2A12796142DAC2DF9DBD8^pimgt2_distr

    ^142FF5EC36B94B7CF90C9714261C203552750A7D07DF595A63^pimgt2_distr

    ^1BD7E3633F0C41BD986C7A0F4D407E5D4E3DF0421BC21483B6^pimgt2_distr
    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 | Response: 0

    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….

    Elyse 1

    bi 2

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

    The countdown chart has been prepared.

    countdown

    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.

    lainey 1

    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….

    family Christmas

    and the siblings had their picture taken.

    And then…

    Christmas

    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 | Response: 0

    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!

    Jasmine & 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 | Response: 0

    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.

    Children's Day 2

    Jasmine found these pictures on the internet.

    Children's Day 1

    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
     
    Children's Day 3 Children's Day

  • Jasmine’s Blog – What’s on My Mind

    Date: 2014.11.30 | Category: Jasmine's Blog | Response: 0

    心事

     

    妈妈每次都能看到我的心事，我也不知道为什么妈妈能看到我有心事。

     

    今天妈妈看出来我有心事。今天妈妈圣把诞节的树抬上来，大家都有好多好多的东西桂上去。我只有一个花（装饰）。妈妈说在每年我可以选一样东西。我的姐姐妹妹哥哥弟弟他们有好多好多的东西，因为他们从小有他们的童年。

     

    当每次我看到他们有他们妈妈爸爸小时候的照片，我就会好羡慕我的姐姐妹妹哥哥弟弟。我真的好羡慕他们！

     

     

    其实有时候我想说如果我是妈妈爸爸的孩子那该多好呀。可是我从8岁的时候就变成孤儿了。

     

    其实今天我不想哭的，但是被妈妈看出来了。我忍不住就哭了。但是我的心还是好痛好痛。

     

    What’s On My Mind

     

    All the time mama can read my mind. I don’t know why mama can read my mind. 

     

    Today mama read my mind. Today mama put Christmas tree up. Everybody has a lot of stuff to put on the Christmas tree. I only have a flower ornament. Mama said every year I can pick one thing (new ornament). My sisters and brothers have a lot of stuff, because they start collected when they are little. 

     

    Every time I saw they have their mama and papa’s picture when they are little, I just admire my sisters and brother. I really admire them!

     

    Actually sometimes I want to say I am mama and dad’s kid, but I became an orphan when I was eight.     (I asked Jasmine to clarify this sentence because I wasn’t understanding what she meant.  After a bit of time, she was able to say that she wished mama and baba had adopted her right away when she was left at the orphanage at the age of 8 instead of when she was 14.)

     

    Actually today I don’t want to cry, but mama read my mind. I can’t hold anymore, so I cried. However, my heart is still very very hurt.

    ——————

    Every year we buy an ornament for the children that represents one thing they have really loved over the year.  I knew as soon as we started putting out the ornaments that Jasmine was sad.  I had already told her we would buy more this year since she understood Christmas better.  We had talked about it a bit and I thought it was all better but when I tucked her in to bed, I knew she was really, really sad.

    She tried over and over again to explain what she meant by saying she wished she was mama and dad’s kid.  We tried Google translate.  We tried to have the other girls listen and see if they could figure it out.  I just couldn’t grasp what she was trying to say.  I thought maybe she was saying she didn’t feel like she was Dan and my child as much as the others, but she kept saying, “No, I know I am your daughter.”

    She admitted she was jealous and felt bad about it.  I told her it was a natural reaction.  That it was good she understood that she was jealous and now she could think about ways we could make her not feel as jealous.  Daddy woke up with the great idea to make her ornaments with the pictures that we received from Love Without Boundaries.  We had pictures from each year she was in the orphanage.  We could fill her ornament box with good memories of those years.

    Then after I posted in Facebook about how it hurt my heart that she has to go through this type of pain, others asked if they could send her ornaments.  What a great surprise this will be for her hurting heart.  She can’t grasp that her life matters or that others care.  It will be another reminder every year, as we get out her ornaments, that so many people have prayed for her over the years.

    Older child adoption is hard.  There are many things you consider before you bring them home that you know will cause them pain and then there are these everyday things that take you by surprise.  They hurt my heart too because I can not make it all better and I really, really wish I could.

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