Still Doing Well!

Today went well. It was a busy day of site-seeing, and we're all a bit worn out. NiNi is doing spectacular!!! She is so affectionate. Laughter and smiles ruled the day. Will write more tomorrow.

Blessings,
 Cindy

Eliza NiNi Willoughby!

It's official!!! Ha Nini is now Eliza NiNi Willoughby! Paperwork is signed, complete with NiNi's hand print on the paperwork. After many pics and thank you's, and a note and gift sent to her foster family, we headed back to the hotel. Nini did great throughout it all. She was awake at 4:30 this morning and she and I laid on the bed snuggling and looking at each other until she fell back asleep around 6 am and slept another hour.. Once back to the hotel, she did get in a good nap, and Virgil and I just sat and thanked the Lord for what He has done! Later we went to Walmart and bought a stroller, which NiNi loved, and some more ramen noodles :-) .

This evening we went out with another dad who is here to adopt a sweet ten year old boy, and our guide, Shirley. She had been told of a good Russian restaurant and we went to try it out. The building itself was incredible, and built around 1925. The food was a lot like what we have at home.

Nini is adorable! She loves her little stuffed dog that straps onto her arm, and she keeps it on almost all the time. She is playful and has a sense of humor. She's a lot like some other members of our family in the fact that you don't mess with her stuff. If she wants to share, you're good, but if you try to take something- look out! She also has a bottomless pit for a stomach ( also like some of her sisters). We cannot get over how much she can put into that little body! We're still waiting on our meltdown. She may save it until we have Ximin and then has to share toys- LOL!

Xiaoyun has decided to go to work for FTIA - our adoption agency . She has had an invitation to stay with Shirley- our agency guide, anytime she wants to come to Beijing. She has taken on almost celebrity status here, since she can speak both Chinese and English. I thinks she's enjoying the limelight ;-).

Shirley has been a huge blessing, and has made the whole process so much easier. So glad she's with us.

Thanks for continued prayers! Love to all!

NiNi Joins our Family!

What an amazing God we serve!!!!! To all of you who have been praying – THANK YOU!!!! NiNi is amazing! She came up and gave me a hug right away. She was a bit timid at first, but sat in my lap right away. There were three other families receiving their children at the same time, so the room was a little chaotic, but NiNi just watched and took it all in. By far her favorite thing was a little doll we brought that made a kissing sound and then said ‘I Love You!’. NiNi is already saying ‘I love you’ from hearing it so many times. I’m not sure what will happen when the battery dies, but we are going back to Walmart to look for replacement batteries ;-) When it was time to take the family photo, Virgil put out his arms and she went right to him to be picked up and gave him a hug. We had smiles almost right away, and as we are walking out of the Civil Affairs office, Virgil had her laughing!!! She was laughing and smiling all the way to the hotel and hasn’t stopped since. The light-up shoes were a hit, and she wanted to change into a new outfit once we showed her the clothes. It is obvious her hair is very important to her and she likes to play with it. I can’t believe how long it is. It is beautiful, and she is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! We’ve played with the beach ball and put different clothes on the doll. Right now she is ‘resting’, which means she’s on the bed watching Mi YaYa videos. Soon we are going out shopping for hair bows.

I can’t begin to tell you all how much of a blessing Xiaoyun has been. She was not only talking and interpreting for NiNi, she also went around the room talking to the other children being adopted. The other children were all boys – two were three years old and the other ten. We’re so thankful Xiaoyun was able to come with us, and she is really enjoying herself.

I expect tears by bedtime, and know that that is a natural part of the process, so we ask for continued prayers in the hours and days to come. Love you all!!

Countdown to NiNi Gotcha

We are in Harbin! It has been a long day, but we are finally settled in the room, and as ready as we can be for our little NiNi. In less than 12 hours we should have her in our arms!!!!! Her little backpack is packed with Lili’s Hello Kitty doll, coloring book, photo album of the family, and the ever important Fruit Loops and gummies. Her clothes are folded neatly in the drawer and her light-up shoes are sitting waiting for her. Please pray for her little heart as she leaves her foster family and all she is familiar with. Elli and Enya are waiting anxiously for our skype call once we are back in the room.

Speaking of the room, for some reason when we went to check in, we were told our room had been upgraded. When we got into the room, I was shocked! We have a suite with a separate sitting room, and three beds!!!!! So much room to spread out and play with NiNi J

BTW- the flight was quite a trip. More like riding a bronco than an airplane. More than once Xiaoyun was gripping my hand, and she and I were both queasy by the time the flight was done (the mystery meat they fed us on the flight didn’t help much ;-)  )

Thanks for all the prayers and keep them coming!!!

Alive and Well

We are alive and well in Beijing!! It has been busy since we got here, but it has so much fun watching Xiaoyun take in the sights and sounds of China again. Virgil and I loved showing her the Great Wall and the Summer Palace. She’s had two authentic meals and loved every bite!!! Yesterday, once we got settled in the room, we met some friends who live here, and they took us to a ‘hot pot’ restaurant. It was quite an experience, and I actually tried several things I’ve never eaten before (I am a wimpy eater). We also took our first subway ride. By far, Xiaoyun’s favorite thing was the book store Josh and Leyah took us to. In about five minutes she had an armful of books, and we had to remind her of our 44 lb weight limit per suitcase for the flight. I may have to really sacrifice and leave my peanut butter here in Beijing (which is probably as sacrificial as I can be ;-) ) We found out that our guide here in Beijing will travel with us to Nini’s province, which is so nice! Shirley has been wonderful and has a great sense of humor. We went to a store down the street tonight, and realized Xiaoyun is a serious bargainer!!! I was looking at a scarf, and Xiaoyun starts grilling the lady about the quality of the merchandise and telling her she was way overpriced. Guess I’ll let Xiaoyun do all the shopping from now on ;-)

 

We also got a few tidbits about the girls today. Eva Ximi’s paperwork said she is ’happy all the time’. Eliza NiNi’s says she is ‘active and outgoing’. It’s hard to believe that in less than 48 hours we will have NiNi in our arms! We leave about lunch tomorrow, heading for Harbin. Soon we will hold both girls in our arms! Thanks for the prayers and please keep them coming!!!

We're Off...

We are on the plane awaiting our departure to Beijing now. We greatly appreciate your prayers. Updates coming once we arrive as time permits!

He Needs A Family Soon!!!

This is Ben and his 'little brother'. I don't know much about Ben except that he ages out very soon. There are a couple of posts about him on Love Without Boundaries website, and he has a large amount of grant money available. I can tell you that our daughter, Xiaoyun, was aging out, and I'm so thankful we followed God's leading and brought her into our family. Our paperwork was completed in ten weeks, and I know another family who completed their's in a month (we were already dossier logged in, and waiting to bring home LiLi). Please consider this young boy who needs a family soon!!!!

This is what someone advocating for Ben emailed me:

I remember that you adopted Xiaoyun right before she aged out. I was wondering if you could pray for and possibly spread the word about sweet Ben who will age out very soon. He has been given a very large grant that will make his adoption almost entirely paid for. I have also heard that the CCCWA would allow him to be added on as a third child. Thank you!
http://www.lwbcommunity.org/an-extremely-generous-adoption-grant-for-ben

Emily's Graduation

Last night, Emily graduated nursing school. Just the other day she was playing with baby dolls (at least it seems just the other day to me), and then last night I'm watching her receive her RN degree.  I'm proud of her perseverance and desire to help others. She is going to make a great nurse!!!!

Happy Birthday Eva Ximi!!!!!

Today is Eva Ximi's 5th birthday. While I wish we  were with her, I pray she is celebrating with her foster family. We are so thankful both she and Nini are with foster families, and my heart is heavy for the families who have loved and cared for them, and who will soon have to say goodbye. We are excited about the fact that, this time next year, we will be watching her blow out her candles. Happy birthday sweet Eva Ximi!!!!!

Update on Ximin and Nini's Gotcha Dates

We received Gotcha dates today! We go to Nini's province first and her Gotcha will be May 20th. We head to Ximin's province on the 25th and her Gotcha day is the 26th. Counting down the days!!!!!

They are all 'My Own'

I have been asked a question that perhaps many ask when they are contemplating adoption - "Can I love them like my own?" I'd like to answer from my perspective.
To begin with, I have six children - three I gave birth to, and three through adoption. They are ALL 'my own'. I have known the labor pains that came from giving birth, and the labor pains associated with paperwork and waiting.
When I was pregnant with each of my first three, I experienced all the emotions that go along with pregnancy - (crying on the Hallmark commercials), excitement of feeling the baby move, the thrill of seeing ultrasound pictures, preparing the room for their arrival.
Now, as I wait for two more little ones to come home, I find myself experiencing those same emotions (as I did with our other three adoptions). Random moments make me cry. I was in a store today, and as I was looking at clothes for XiMin and NiNi, I came across a tee shirt that said 'I love my .... and then listed dad, mom, brother, sister, grandparents, etc'. I started getting choked up. There I was, losing it in the toddler's aisle of a clothing store. Who  would have thought you'd have those same pregnancy hormones even when you're 'paper pregnant'?
28 years ago I washed and folded little clothes and made the room ready for my first child. Today I am still doing the same. Yes, they are a little older (and so am I!!), and the clothes a little larger than with my first child. Yes, there are many unknowns (but isn't that true whether you give birth biologically or through adoption?) When they cry-just as I did with Zeb, Zak and Emily (and now with Xiaoyun, Elli, and LiLi)- I will hold them and comfort them, and try to fix whatever is bothering them. I will rock them, feed them, kiss their skinned knee, say prayers before bed, get up through the night when they have a nightmare, clap when they dance in their princess dress, teach them to read, fix their hair for the prom. Most of all, I will pray for them and thank God daily for the privilege of being a MOTHER to each of my children.

Elli's 3rd Gotcha Day

In some ways it's hard to believe we are celebrating three years since we welcomed Elli into our family, but in other ways, it seems as though she has always been with us. I remember that our goal that day was to get a smile. We'd gotten several pictures of Elli during our paperwork wait, but none that showed a smiling little girl. I dared not hope for more than  smile, especially at the beginning, but I didn't take into account the people praying for us - at the exact time of Elli's Gotcha. God was gracious and sent us not only a smile, but a giggling little girl that has been laughing ever since! Happy Gotcha Day Elli!!!!

Happy Gotcha Day Xiaoyun!

Today marks two years since Xiaoyun became our wonderful daughter. She is such a blessing to us all, and I'm so thankful that we received an email a little more than two years ago that introduced us to an incredible young lady who came so close to not getting a forever family. We are blessed to be her forever family!!!!!

Happy Gotcha Day LiLi!!!!

Happy Gotcha Day LiLi!! Today marks two years since I received my first hug and kiss from one of the sweetest girls ever. We celebrated tonight with some Chinese food and ice cream. Lili had never had ice cream until she was adopted, so our meal was a nod to the past and the present. It is hard to believe that within a month we will be celebrating 5 Gotcha Days – all within the last three years. LiLi is such a joy to be around. She’s rarely still (unless she’s asleep!) and can play for hours with a small handful of toys and Elli. They are an inseparable pair, and it is a delight to hear them laughing and playing together. We are truly blessed!!!!

TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have several things I've been meaning to post, but they'll have to have to wait for another day - but I had to share this great news. Two beautiful pieces of paper with our names, NiNi and Ximi's names, and the words that said come to China!!!!!!! Counting down the days!!!!!

If I Had Three Wishes - by Xiaoyun

Xiaoyun takes classes once a week with other homeschoolers. Her homework this week included a 'quick write' with the topic " If I Had Three Wishes". Below is what she wrote. What a tender heart!!!

If I Had Three Wishes

 If I could have three wishes, the first thing I would wish for is that when I am older I could influence people to help others in need. That way people in need would have a better life. Their children wouldn’t have to go without food and clothing. When the children grow up, they could find good jobs, and then there would be no more poor people. Then hopefully everyone would treat each other fairly

My second wish would be to be a doctor who could take care of any health problems. Not just a doctor who can take care of the spine, or the heart, or other things, but that can take care of any problem a patient has. I could go to China, where the orphanages don’t have the money to take care of the kids and I could do the surgeries for free. Most people adopt healthy children because they can’t afford to pay the medical bills, so I would take care of the health problems so people would adopt them.

My third wish is to work in an adoption agency. I could help other people in different countries understand about adoption. I could explain what to do for an adoption, and help the people that are afraid to adopt older kids. I would also tell the older kids it will be ok to be adopted.

These are my three wishes.                                                                Evelyn Xiaoyun Willoughby

Easter Pic and LiLi Update

 

Gorgeous group of girls if I say so myself!!!! Easter was a joyous time of celebrating Christ's resurrection, and then gathering with family after church. I don't think the girls enjoy anything more than being with family and close friends.

 

LiLi had another lip repair this morning. As usual, she was a real trooper, and our biggest problem is keeping her from running around and playing. She's really put out that she can't have solid foods for a week. I've said before that I think the surgeon has the easier job ;-) . Hopefully this is the last surgery for her until after she goes through the braces stage.

Two beautiful updates!

                                                               Eliza NiNi

Eva Ximi

 

Our latest (and last before travel) updates on the girls. Both are doing well and their measurements show that they are almost exactly the same height, though NiNi weighs 2 1/2 lbs less than XiMin. Aren't they adorable!!!!!!!!

Celebrating Birthdays

Very early this morning, 28 years ago, a beautiful baby boy was laid into my arms. I was 20 years old, and didn't have a clue what being a mother was. I've teased Zeb (and Zak who came along 17 months later) that they were my guinea pigs. We lived far from family (military), so we didn't have that support system. Though I made many mistakes (and still do!), one thing to me was very clear- I loved being a mother!!!!! Having children's laughter ringing in my ears is something more precious than anything money can buy. We celebrated Zeb's birthday with him and our daughter-in-law, Dana, tonight. Every year, at some point on their birthday, I reminisce with them about the day they were born (occasionally one of them might try to get out of hearing 'The Story', but I never let them off the hook). As the girls and I prepared supper for the evening, I told them about Zeb's birth, and a few stories about when he and Zak were little. While we were sitting at the table, I started telling 'The Story', and once I finished, LiLi says 'Mama, now tell them about me!' She wanted me to tell about her Gotcha Day - her 'birthday' so to speak. I could have cried, it was so sweet, and yet, at the same time, heart breaking.
We celebrated LiLi's birthday two weeks ago, surrounded by family and friends. She loved every second of it! Though I may not be able to share with her the moment of her birth, I can share with her the moment we fell in love with a tiny photo of a little girl who wanted a Baba and a Mama and the moment of her 'birth' into our family. How grateful I am to continue to hear laughter in our home - from our 28 year old to our 9 year olds to our granddaughter,  and soon our 5 year olds!!

Introducing Ximi and NiNi!!!!!!!

                                                                            NiNi

Ximi

 

Today we have the great joy to introduce each of you to our new daughters – NiNi and Ximi. We just received our Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from China telling us we have the honor of becoming the parents of these two precious girls! NiNi is 5 years old and from the same province as LiLi (Heilongjiang), and Ximi, 4, is from Jiangxi province (province below Elli’s). Both girls have been waiting a long time for their Baba and Mama, and it looks as though we’ll be wrapping our arms around them near the end of May. They each have a special need that very well could require surgery shortly after getting home. NiNi has hydrocephalus (untreated, so perhaps a shunt?) and Ximi has some sort of eye disease that appears as though she may be missing part of her iris, and also has corneal scarring. Ximi’s vision is slowly deteriorating and, as of the last update, she can see objects up close only. We are praying she will be able to have surgery to correct, or at least halt, the vision loss. We’d appreciate your prayers for that as well. The girls are so excited, and Elli and LiLi have already decided that Elli will take care of Ximi (Elli is planning on being a doctor so she’ll “be able to help Ximi because she doesn’t see very well”) and LiLi will take care of NiNi (they are from the same province, after all!). They have been making great plans for their new sisters. Xiaoyun will be going with us to China as our ‘interpreter’ – our concern is that Ximi’s eyesight will be completely gone before we get there, and it will be a comfort for her if she has a sister who sounds like her and can talk to her. It will be so nice for both the girls – and me and Virgil- that we will be able to communicate through Xiaoyun.

To say we are excited and anxious to get them home, is an understatement. We are also so very thankful to God to be allowed the privilege of adding these two precious children into our family. Soon, two little sets of hands will have family to hold them, many laps to sit on, arms to snuggle into, cheeks that will not lack for kisses, and the love of a large family and many friends that will always be there for them. Soon, we will hear the laughter of our new children mingled with that of our other children. We’ll have two more sweethearts to tuck into bed at night, prayers to pray, girls to watch bloom into beautiful young women. Oh, what joy!!!!!!

Our life - 2012

I wrote this a few weeks ago as I contemplated what to say to a church Virgil and I were to speak at concerning adoption.

One of our favorite Christmas movies is it’s a Wonderful Life. I was thinking about that this morning and how George was able to see what life would be like if things had been different. In February of 2009, we read a devotion that spoke to both Virgil and me about adoption. What if we had chosen to ignore God’s nudging? What if we had taken the ‘Road Most Traveled’? This is what 2012 might have looked like:

We’d have begun the year celebrating New Year, and went to bed sometime in the middle of the night.

We’d have avoided the month of January spent in a children’s hospital watching a child go through 4 incredibly painful surgeries and the recovery from those surgeries.

We’d have celebrated Valentine’s Day with a romantic weekend wherever we had wanted to go.

We’d have a sporty little car (after all, there are only the two of us in the house now – no extra space needed).

We’d have eaten out as often, and wherever, we chose.

We’d have gone to movies, gotten together with other couples our age with ‘empty nests’, and I might have even talked Virgil into a few plays/ concerts in Louisville.

Each evening, we’d have relaxed with soft music playing and a good book in our hands.

We’d have planned one (or more) vacations to places we had only talked about when we were young.

Our grocery bill would have been on the small side.

We’d have shopped for new clothes with the changing of each season.

Our bank account would be fat and we’d be planning for retirement in the not too distant future.

It all sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?

But we didn’t choose that most popular of paths. We chose instead to take that ‘road less traveled’. The one filled with uncertainties. The one where we truly had to trust Christ to be all sufficient. Below is our life. The life God has blessed beyond our wildest dreams:

The beginning of January we were able to rejoice with the Angels, as we listened to Xiaoyun accept Christ as her Savior.

A month long hospital stay showed the strength of a little girl (Xiaoyun), and the grace with which she handled all the pain.

Viewing the x-ray that showed her spine went from a 160* curve, to a 67* curve, and along with that the image of space for her lungs to finally expand so she could begin to breathe easily. A true miracle!

Xiaoyun deciding while in the hospital to raise money for 1 million chickens for the children living in the slums of India. (So far more than $44,000 has been given toward that!)

The knowledge that already over 4000 families have received chickens, and more importantly, the Good News of Christ’s love was shared with them.

The sound of 2 little girls (Elli and LiLi), now sisters and best friends, playing for hours on end.

Laughter constantly filling our home.

Watching little stomachs eating until they are full.

Prayers at night for the kids still waiting for families.

Elli planning on being a doctor, working at the children’s hospital where Xiaoyun’s surgery was, and going to China to operate on older orphans who no longer have a hope of being adopted.

Lili’s plan to bring all the boys and girls (as well as her nanny the first 7 years of her life) to the States and give them a home.

Watching little faces sweetly sleeping each night in a warm bed, with the knowledge that when they wake up they’re going to come running and throw their arms around us.

Lili going through another lip repair with the same joyful attitude that she exhibits each day.

Hearing girls playing with their adopted babies, and the fact each plans on adopting once they are old enough.

The joy of listening to girls who spoke only Chinese not so long ago, reading in English.

Visiting grandparents at the beach and seeing the girls as they looked at the ocean for the first time and felt the sand between their toes.

The love each of the girls has for their older brothers and sisters.

Watching our 2 year old grandchild playing with our daughters.

Paperwork begun to bring home 2 more daughters (4 and 5 yrs. old) waiting in China.  Knowing in a few months these lives will be forever changed, along with ours.

God working daily in our lives, as well as, our children’s.

Perhaps the world would say “take the popular road”, but oh the joy, and love we would have forfeited had we went that path!!!!

I look forward to the joy waiting for us in 2013 and pray God blesses you and your family richly as well!
(



 

Family photo to go with Dossier to China

Lili's new haircut. This photo will be sent to China with the dossier for our two new daughters! They can't home soon enough for us!!!

Update from the World's Worst Poster ;-)

It has been a while since the blog was updated. Between recovering from my back surgeries and Enya’s second lip repair it has been a busy summer.  (Oh, and did I mention we're in the midst of paperwork to bring home two more daughters!!!! More about that to follow) We were able to take the girls to the beach (my parents live there), and show them the ocean for the first time. They were so excited and awed by it all. To see their faces and watch them dig their toes in the sand and run into the waves, was such a joy for us! We had them take swim lessons before we went (they were all afraid of the water), and by the time we came back home, they were all swimming! Their pride at accomplishing this was a wonderful thing. We were also able to take them to the lake with Virgil’s family. They enjoy being around extended family so much, and had a blast catching fish with their older brother, Zeb.

I thought I’d update you on each one individually so you might have a snapshot of who they are and who they are becoming:

Xiaoyun – It has been an amazing transformation with Xiaoyun. In the year she has been home, her confidence level has soared. She has went from being considered unwanted (in China), to almost celebrity status here. She’s been the ‘featured woman’ in our local newspaper, been interviewed live at our local radio station, has spoken to a group of middle school girls at a youth camp, and has raised more than $41,000 for the kids living in the slums of India (so far that has provided around 7500 families with a pair of chickens!!!!!). She now goes with Virgil and helps him with community programs that he might have. Between advocating for orphans, raising money for India, and her miracle surgeries for her back, she is very well known around town. She held a yard sale, and between donations and sales, she raised $1000 toward more chickens, with enough left over to help a little girl from her province be placed in foster care for a year. (We had many people to donate items / money/ and their time. The girls also got rid of many toys – some they really loved – because they knew it would help other boys and girls.)  Xiaoyun’s puppy, Sammi, has been the best physical therapy she could ever have. She went from being pretty sedentary (healing from surgery and with the brace on) to running, playing, and taking care of Sammi. Her brace came off two days after she got Sammi, so the timing was perfect. She has so much fun with the dog and has taught her quite a few tricks.

Elli – now home two years- is our little scientist. She is so inquisitive, loves learning new things, and has her life planned out. She plans on being a doctor (and going to help older orphans who need medical care), a seamstress (so she can sew clothes for orphans), and a mama. She wants to get married when she’s 25, have 5 years of ‘just time with her husband’ ( her own words!), and then she wants to adopt 2 kids and give birth to 2 kids. I’ve never heard a child plan their life like she does. Her memory is incredible and she really thinks about the things she hears and sees. She plays doctor all the time, and it works out well because LiLi wants to be a nurse. Elli is still a bit introverted, though she has decided she wants to try dance again this year (she skipped last year). Her hip dysplasia is doing better. For a while we were afraid she would require a very painful hip surgery, but when she went back in May it showed her bone in the hip socket was beginning to turn down, so the doctor feels no surgery will be needed. Elli loves to watch science shows, particular those with animals. She has really taken off with her reading, and it is so fun to listen to her read a book.

LiLi-
I have never met a more compassionate child than LiLi. She is also so incredibly thoughtful. For example, she’ll come in the bathroom and watch me get ready in the morning. The other day, when I went in there, my toothbrush was sitting out – with toothpaste already on it, my contact case and cleaner, and the hair brush was laid out. She had also organized all the drawers in the bathroom.  She looks for ways to help – without being asked. She prays daily for her ‘little brothers and sisters’ still in the orphanage. When we inquired to see if there were any girls from her orphanage that were on the Waiting Children’s List, they said no. When we told LiLi this, she replied ‘That is so sad’ and it bothered her quite a bit. Her plan is to be a policewoman or a nurse, and when she is older she wants to bring all her ‘brothers and sisters’ and her ayi (nanny who cared for her since she was a baby) here to live with her. She is an early bird who wakes up with a smile and goes to sleep with one. She told me the other day she wanted her lip to look like mine (as well as her eye). It broke my heart. I tried to explain we are all created differently and she is beautiful just as she is, but even more than that, her heart is beautiful (which is what truly matters). I did tell her she would be having more surgery next year, and then again in another two or three years, and she was glad to hear that.

Elli and Enya play so well together and are inseparable. They can play for hours in their bedroom, and I love hearing them pretending with their baby dolls and Polly pockets. How quiet and predictable our life would be without a house full of wonderful girls!!! We are truly blessed!