A special day.....

Today has been an emotional day.  Today is the day that Amy's birth mother left her to be found.  I will never know the exact day that she was born, only her birth mother will know that day and hold it in her heart forever, but today is the first definate date I have, and the only day that I share with her birth mother, the day she lost a daughter and the day I gained one.  What was going through her mind today - 4 years ago??  Its not very long really is it?  I have been so tearful today, feeling her birth mothers pain, feeling the pain that is to come for my little girl as she one day understands and works through the pain of this day for her, the reality of it all, the loss, the trauma.

Amy was estimated to be 6 weeks old.  I work with LOTS of babies every week, as I teach mother and baby swimming and no two 6 week old babies look the same.  I have in my classes a 3 week old baby that looks 3 months old and a 6 month old baby that is so tiny and barely looks 6 weeks old.  Who can tell really?? And why did her mother keep her for so long?  Was she forced to give her up, or did she put it off and stay in hiding for as long as possible?  Did she know about the benefits of breastfeeding for the first 6 weeks and hold out till then?  How do youlove a baby for 6 weeks and then leave her in a park early on a October morning?  I have been praying for this special woman all day, feeling her pain and her loss.  Praying that she will know her daughter is loved and happy.

Four years ago today I was in China, with Daniel - who was only 10 at the time, and I was loving a room full of 4- 6 month old babies.  I remember nuzzling my nose into the neck of one I had nick-named squishy baby and praying for my own baby, feeling so so close to her, and there while I was there praying.... in China, with my heart breaking for the babies I was loving, my own daughter was spending her last days with her birth mother.  It is a mind blowing thought and has had me blubbering all day.

After doing some obligatory chores this morning, we took the kids to the zoo, and then up to Cromer beach for an ice-cream.  I wanted Amy to have a good day, a special day, to have fun.  I explained to the boys why mommy was so teary today, but I did not say anything to her - what do you say?  How do you explain to a 4 year old?  So, we celebrated having this amazing girl in our lives and had a fun day!

I am sure that there will be many a tough day when she will need to mourn what has happened - and her mom understands all about the need to mourn at the moment!

We have a weeks holidays here in the UK and Colin is off, so we want to attempt a de-clutter and a week of family fun.  Anyway, just wanted to share about our day......

God Bless

Autumn moon Harvest, Thanksgiving FUN!!!

Ellen, Shawn and I planned an Autumn moon, harvest Thanksgiving festival for this weekend.  After much planning the weekend finally arrived and much to our sadness, Ellen and family came down with the dreaded Swine flu and could not come this weekend.  We missed you Ellen!!  We held it in Shawn's new, nearly ready house and it took loads of work for them to make this work!  Thanks Shawn.  We decorated and cleaned and cooked and Ellen planned loads of fantastic crafts for the kids to do.  She also made the lovely Thanksgiving banner you see hanging over the fireplace and a couple of pumpkin pies - thanks Ellen.  I think all who came would agree that we all had a lovely time.  The food was great, the kids had fun, the displays looked good and the company was fantastic!  It was lovely to meet up with old friends and make some new ones.  I love seeing all our adopted kids together. Thanks Kate for all your help too.

Anna, Li-Na, Taylor and Amy-Li wearing the masks they made, the kids all had great fun doing the crafts.

Our lovely puddings, front right is the yummy pumpkin pie Ellen made.

Cant seem to turn Lily around, but how cute is she though?

We made two pumpkin displays and I enjoyed taking photos of the kids with the pumpkins.  We had some rain, but that did not dampen everyones spirits.  I love all the different colours, shapes and textures of the pumpkins

Lovely Aila Mei, just look at that cheeky grin!

The whole group.

Besty Friends.....

Some of the girls, having fun!

The trio, Amy, Alice (Kate's little one) and Aila

Li-Na holding a pumpkin and giving a huge smile....aaahhh (above) and Anna-Li (my friend Ally's new daughter) striking a pose.  Poor girl is recovering from pneumonia.

Laura and Eric with Amy, Aila and Li-Na, Eric and Laura are immigrating to Nw Zealand next March, we are going to miss them loads!! But we are planning to visit hopefully next Dec - Yay!!

God Bless, Love Jules

xxxxx

Reflection.....

I was reflecting today on how much our lives have changed since adopting Amy-Li.  How God has put a passion in our hearts for the orphans in China, not to necessarily adopt them all :-) but to contribute to making a difference in the lives of as many as we can. 

There are of course the financial ways to do this, ie monthly support for kids in foster homes, raising money for various organisations that are in China helping the kids in a more practicle day to day way,...... buying a washing machine or piece of equipment you know is needed (we bought a washing machine for Bao'an SWI when we adopted Amy-Li).  Then, there are the practicle ways of helping.... getting over there and rolling up your sleeves and gettting stuck in, volunteering, loving, helping, caring, cleaning, playing....SO many needs, SO much to do.  I have loved every one of the times I have gone and given of my time and love, and I cant wait to see how many more times God has in store for us to go and give and serve in China.

Then there is educating, not only those who are affected by your adoption, but the local community, people you meet, and of course the people in China... I have been over a few times now to do training in a land based movement programme to teach carers and foster parents how to help the kids in their care.  There is always more to do than hands to do it, but God has placed within each one of us a different gift and talent, a different desire and passion, a heart for different issues in different countries.  If we all did something, did our part, did our best, flamed the passion in our hearts, instead of thinking oh someone else will do it....being on fire instead of being luke warm...... we CAN make a difference.

I LOVE going to China, I LOVE doing training in China and seeing the impact it has on the kids who benefit from it, I LOVE the Chinese children and the culture. I love the Country.  And I oh so LOVE my little girl who comes from this country.  I took something from it and I want to give something back.

Amy-Li is such a part of this family, I can no longer even remember a time with her not in it.  She balances out the boys, blue, balls, bats, hormones, cricket, and all the boy stuff and brings a softness and a joy to us all.I am so grateful that God hand picked this little girl for our family.  It has been a tough journey at times, emotionally draining on the good days and damn right overwhelming on the hard ones.  Its upside down parenting to the tee.  NOTHING can be assumed or presumed.  Adoption parenting is parenting plus, parenting with a twist. 

I look at some of the adopted kids who are older than her and think, ooohhh...there is still so much to come, but BRING IT ON Lord, for you have equipped us for this and put a flame in our hearts that cannot be extinguished no matter how tough things get, no matter how many rages or adoption isssues we have to deal with along the way, You know we can do it.  You have blessed us in this before we even began. 

Our adoption community, both close by and far away will hold our hands through all the struggles and support and encourage us.  Who would have thought only a few years ago, that these are the plans....
Who knows what the future will bring?  But one thing I know for sure.... His plans ARE for Good, and I cant wait to walk in them, to follow the passion God placed in my heart, and walk the in the destiny He has waiting for me and my family.
Blessings

Blustery British Beach

Really making the most of some family time....we went off to the woods to collect some sweet chesnuts. The kids had a ball and it wasnt long before a competition ensued to see who could find the biggest one. We walked for what felt like hours and got oh so lost, finally came accross the path of another walker who showed us the way back to the car park - what an adventure!




Climbing trees with the boys. This photo was a hoot to take,because Dan tried his hardest to shake me off the branch, there was some pushing and shoving and finally.....a photo - was it worth it?


Ooi, cheeky!!


My kids love the beach, but on this cold, windy, cloudy day on this pebble beach .... it was time for a little reflection.....pondering God's amazing creation, the strength in the waves and the wind, the movement in the sea, the sound in our ears as the wind wipped past.  The sea gulls hovering in the sky.... not bothered at all the the blustery winds. God is amazing...


I love this photo and the movement in the sea. I have not had time to photo shop them, as I am sure with a little play the photo and colours could look a lot more dynamic.

It was not long before the boys were throwing the stones and running and jumping and soon they were pink in the cheeks and out of breath, but oh so happy to be near the sea.  Amy is such a girl and does not run and jump and throw, she is so graceful and lovely and walks around with me holding my hand.

God Bless
A word from Joel Osteen: "If you will release your faith and get up every day expecting God's far and beyond favor, then you're going to see God show up and do amazing things. "
BRING IT ON LORD!!

Walking...

We went for a walk today...it was much needed...

...My boys LOVE climbing trees....

Dad and his BIG boy, they now wear the same shoes -  size 11!!!

Having fun and competition throwing stones at the sign, first one to 10 wins....

A rare family pic...thank goodness for self timers hey?

Daniel nearly 15!!

Taylor 12 and a half...

While the boys threw stones, Amy built a sand castle and got her hands dirty

I leave you with a sign of love that I found hiding in the puddles as we walked today....

God Bless

Happy Birthday to our lovely Aila Mei

Happy birthday to my lovely God-daughter Alia Mei!!!! It was so lovely to celebrate your birthday with you today.  Circumstances meant that I could be a part of the celebrations and not at work - yippee, Praise God!  It was so lovely to be surrounded by all those who love you. You are such a feisty little thing and so so sweet, I love how your mind works and how caring you are.

Finally you are 4!! I think Amy enjoyed being older than you just a little too much!! I had a cousin just 2 months older than me (yes you Clinton!) and he never failed to rub it in - although it tends to be the other way around these days with me teasing him that he is getting old - ha ha!  I cant wait for your party on Saturday so we can have lots of fun.  We love you Xiang Xiang!! Love JuJu, oh and "Aunty" Colin of course

Catching up...

Our friends Ellen and Mike came to visit with Cowgirl, and we had a great weekend.  I took them for a walk to see the ponies and then was not brave enough to walk through the field with the dog, so we turned around and came back!! Silly me!  Thank you for coming to visit us we had a really lovely time! 

Ellen, Jules and Shawn, enjoying a visit and chatting about our many plans and ideas for the Autumn moon festival we are planning in October.  Its going to be at Shawn's new house - so the first place we went to check out was the PUMPKIN PATCH!!  After all that sowing and planting - we are finally reaping a harvest of lots of different kinds of pumpkins. (and some weeds too! - I feel a sermon in there somewhere!) Its all very exciting and it will be a great time to remember family far and wide and talk about birth mommies and all that stuff.  Ellen will also teach as all about Thanksgiving, and we are going to have turkeys and stuffing nad everything!!  We cant wait!!

As it was Mike nad Ellen's 10 year anniversary we decided to go to our favourite Chinese to celebrate (happy Anniversary you guys!!)  Laura and Eric with little Li-Na decided to join us too.

Photo above:   Amy, Li-Na and Cowgirl with my lovely Taylor.

Eric, Laura and Li-Na  (our lovely friends are off to New Zealand soon - boohoo!)

Our family :-)

Cowgirl, Amy and Xiang playing dress up.  Fairies and princesses are a BIG hit at the moment!  Arent they adorable?

My little poser girl, getting so big at 4 and she is SO SO Excited as her and Aila are having a joint party on Saturday, with a princess castle cake!!!  My beautiful God-daughter Aila Mei is turning 4 tomorrow!!

So, will blog again soon as this house is busy busy!!!  Birthdays, party's, school runs, colds (Hudson is not well, so please pray for him),....one of my teachers has to stop teaching, I have had to cancel classes, stress is high,..... but God is faithful and He will provide and His mercies are new every day.  I am riding on His grace and enthroned in His love and all these circumstances will not get the better of me....greater is He who is in me.......

Love and blessings......