HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS!!!

Kelina is 5!!

I can't believe our little girl is 5 today!  She is so excited.  Ever since she found out that she would get a ride on a carousel for her birthday, she has been telling everyone for her birthday she was getting a horse!  We had to keep explaining to her that she would get a "ride" on a horse.  Her party is next weekend but tonight we sung "Happy Birthday" and celebrated with cupcakes.  After enjoying the cupcakes, and cards, and calls from Grandma's, Kelina kept smiling and saying she was so happy.  It made her day to be called a Birthday Princess.  She also got her long awaited carousel ride, and she loved it, giggling the whole time.

Selfishly I didn't want today to come.  Yesterday I was wanting TIME to stop.  I had missed so much of Kelina's early years that I didn't want her 4th year to be over yet;  we had only spent 7 months of it together.  Sadly time goes too fast and she is growing up already right before our eyes (I think she has grown 3"!). 

It was a time of reflection too.  My mind traveling across oceans and mountains to a distant place where the woman who gave Kelina life is and the woman who cared for her for three years in her home.  Their thoughts are on Kelina as she will be in their hearts forever.  I am in awe of these women who loved her and took care of her.  She is special to them.  I missed Kelina's early years, but now I have this precious girl to love and hold for eternity.  They loved on her those first years, but will miss all her years ahead.  I know my sorrow to have missed holding her as a baby or watching her crawl and take those first steps, but I can't imagine the emptiness they must feel on this day without her near.  One thing is certain, Kelina is truly loved!

Sharing Mommy

I volunteered today to help in Kaylie's class at school.  While my friend watched Kelina, they got on the topic of sharing toys.  Kelina mentioned that she didn't like sharing.  At one point in the conversation she said, "I have to share My Mommy too." 
"My Mommy".  It still melts my heart everytime I hear those words from her.  I love that Kelina keeps giving us little nuggets of what is going on inside her head.  Her words show that cemented bond that has taken hold between a mother and a child.  I am so grateful that she has accepted us.  That she wants me all to herself.  Just like a little one should.  This nugget she shared shows us where her heart is.  Any 4 year old wants their Mommy, but how much harder when you've wanted one for so long and now that you have a Mommy, you find out you have to share her with siblings, and Daddy, and friends...
She sweetly curled up in my lap tonight.  After resting her head on my arm for a few, she looked up at me and said, "I love My Mommy and Daddy, Kyle, Kellan, and Kaylie."  At which I replied, "I love Kelina."  She then said, "I don't want to go with Na Na and Yie Yie (her foster grandparents in China).  I want to stay here with you." 
"You will always be with us, forever and ever." 
She must have felt pretty confident in this being true, because the next thing she said was..."Your nose is like a banana!"  (then she said Uncle Chris' nose was "like a chicken's"--i.e. a beak).  Only she could get away with making fun of my nose.  Too Funny!

A Year Ago

A year ago (yesterday) we saw the face of our little girl for the first time!  I asked God the previous night if there was a little girl just right for us whom we could teach about His love for her.  At that moment, unknown to me until the morning, a file was sent to my email.  When I saw in the morning we had a new file to view, I didn't open it.  I sat and prayed for wisdom and I prayed that I would have an instant connection with this child if she was meant to come into our family. 
I opened the file and saw this precious face...

I couldn't take my eyes away from her serious and sweet face...then when I saw this picture, there were so many resemblences to the personality and smiles of our other children...

Matt's breath was taken away when he opened the file.  He always heard that you will just know when you see her and he thought that to be silly and not a response that he would have.  But when he saw her pictures, he knew.  Even though we were anxious and made many many phone calls and had read the file many times, there was a peace present.  I remember being on the phone with a doctor and thinking "why am I asking so many questions?".  I had a peace that she was our daughter and God was bringing our paths together. 

Reflecting back over the year, we are so grateful that we said "yes" to this precious child.  We are so thankful to God for bringing her into our lives.  We can't begin to express our gratitude for the people who helped care and teach her and love on her for the first 4 years of her life.  And we know that we wouldn't have gotten this far if it wasn't for the friends and family who supported us along the way and prayed for our daughter until God brought us together.

Christmas!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

Kelina hung the first ornament on our tree

We purchased 4 ornaments when we were in China to represent the four Christmas seasons

 that Kelina had lived in China

Kelina's First Snowman!

The kids kept telling Kelina all about snow and she learned more from episodes of Curious George and The Cat and The Hat knows alot about that.  She was in wonder and full of excitement at our first snow.  Even though we got less than an inch, Kelina couldn't wait to build her first snowman!  At 8 in the morning, Kelina and I were outside making a snowman while Daddy took pics.  Kelina went out first with just a coat because she didn't realize that it was so cold.  She touched her head when she realized the snow was falling on her hair and getting it wet.  When we started to make the small balls for the snowman, she said "wait a minute" and ran inside to the frig--she had to grab carrots!

 

Thanksgiving

We had a nice relaxing day at Grandma and Pap-Pap's.  Kelina wasn't too fond of the Turkey though she asked for the huge Turkey leg.  Just to add some Chinese flair, we all sat around eating with chopsticks.  The funny part was Kelina ate with a fork!




The girls are looking good in the Turkey dresses Mommy made!



See the cute Turkey bows too!







Grandma and Pap-Pap's Pride and Joy!  There faces are hilarious!