Another Stocking

A third stocking hangs from the chimney with care this year and it is adorned with one of the sweetest names I know...Ben Cheng-Yu.

10 Month Benniversary

Ten months ago, I loved him with all my heart...but now, I love him even more.

I still find myself amazed at how God planted this little boy in our hearts and he

grew there until we held him in our arms.  But even now, he still grows in my heart---he actually GROWS my heart!   

Happy 16 Months, Cheng-Yu

You are such a happy little boy with a smile that reminds me of how great God is every time I see it!!!  

First Snow

Snow was in the forecast so when I woke up at 7:30 Saturday morning, I immediately looked out the window with high hope.  The forecast was indeed accurate as the ground was covered in a pretty white blanket of snow.  After setting the alarm for 8:30, I went back to sleep on this cold and quiet morning. At the sound of the alarm an hour later, I hurried to get ready to take Cheng-Yu out into the snow...his first snow!  I gathered his jacket, toboggan and the red rain boots that his cousins (Riley, Carson & Scout) passed down to him.  As I scurried around, Scott began to wake up...Cheng-Yu was still sleeping right beside him.  I urged Scott to look out at the snow and we were both anxious for Cheng-Yu to wake up so he could experience his first snow before it melted.  It was going on 9:30 and he was still sound asleep.  We put the clothes on him...STILL asleep.  He woke up as we put on the big red boots.  When we took him outside, he seemed amazed.  Although, he may have just been in shock from the abrupt awaking.  We had him out for about an hour.  He was constantly looking down at the white stuff that gathered on his boots.  I loved watching his facial expressions as the snow dropped from tree branches overhead.  It was a magical December morning...the warmest snow I have ever known.  

Motherhood Through Adoption

A mother chose life and God chose us.

A judge said, "YES" and God said go.

Family and friends prayed...and prayed some more.

A son named Cheng-Yu!

Motherhood through adoption...more thankful than I could have ever known.

Our Story

Tonight, we had the opportunity to share "our story" at a Bethany International Adoption dinner.  After families are united with their child, Amy (our social worker), always invites them to share their experience at one of the international family gatherings.  We went to numerous meetings in the years leading up to adopting Cheng-Yu.  As I would listen to families share, I can remembering wondering what it would be like to be in their shoes and feeling like it would never be our turn.  But on Saturday, it was...our turn.  As I entered the room where families gathered, I was flooded with emotion.  I quickly spotted a family that I recognized.  They have a 3 year old daughter from China.  When I looked into her eyes, I could feel the tears gathering in mine.  It is her!!!  I had seen this family before, but only twice.  The first time I met them, they had just received their referral.  They brought the picture to the meeting and passed it around.  The mother had already framed the photo and I can still remember the way she held it and gazed at her baby girl.  The second time I saw them was shortly after they arrived home from China with this precious little 6 month old girl.  They told their story at that meeting.  And now 3 years later, I look into her eyes again.  What a miracle.  I am so overcome with emotion, just at the sight of her.  It was almost a surreal experience for me.  I watched a dear family sitting in the front of the room with their precious son from India.  I can remember talking to them at meetings as they waited on God to lead them to their child.  Who knew he would be in India?  I could feel God's presence.  What I could see around that room was nothing short of a miracle.  Many miracles.  What a marvelous God we serve.  It was humbling to see what He had done and to even think that at times on our journey I would grow weary and lacking in faith.  

All of these things were going through my head and when it was finally our time to share...my head wouldn't stop spinning.  As I struggled to gather my thoughts and find the right words, my heart spoke.  It wasn't an organized speech.  I couldn't even clearly explain the sequence of events in our adoption story. This was the first time I had attempted to tell our story publicly and it wasn't easy.  It was just one emotional outpouring after another.  I realized, adoption is not a story...it is my heart's song.  So although I had plenty of time to prepare "the story" when our time finally came, it really didn't matter what I had to say.  My heart took over...and sang.  

  

Happy 15 months, Cheng-Yu

Rainy Tuesday...at the Creative Discovery Museum with Jackson & Alisha.  A great way to spend Cheng-Yu's 15th month.  That is until "the fall" that resulted in a trip to the emergency room.  Cheng-Yu tripped and fell into one of the displays at the museum.  His lower front teeth went into his lip (one actually went all the way through).  I was a bit frantic, but Alisha was there to ease me.  I was afraid to even look at his mouth, so she did it for me.  One look, and she said..."yep, your gonna need to take him to the doctor".  As a side note, nobody at the museum offered assistance or even asked if we needed help.  Alisha had to go to the cafe to get ice for me.  Alisha went with me to the emergency room with Jackson in tow.  Jackson was quite the trooper.  He slept through most of the ER visit.  Cheng-Yu screamed through most of it.  We went away with a little surgical glue and our first ER trip under our belt.

Happy Halloween

We started our day with Aretha Frankenstein pancakes for breakfast (you know you can buy the mix at Bi-Lo).  They are incredible.  Cheng-Yu didn't like them too much, but probably because we denied him the syryp!!!  Unfortunately, Cheng-Yu was running a fever today.  We cuddled up and watched It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown...that may have to be a Halloween tradition.  Of course the most exciting tradition is...trick or treating!!!  Our first stop was Poppa Don & GiGi's house.  They had a special goody bag for Cheng-Yu.  He loves visiting their house.  Next stop, Aunt Melanie & Uncle Will's house.  The crowd that comes to their neighborhood is unbelievable.  There were over 300 trick or treaters!  Cheng-Yu got to trick or treat with lots of cousins (not 300...just 7).  We had planned to pull him in a wagon with Tori Bug...but that didn't last long.  He was determined to walk...the whole time.  I will always remember how he giggled and laughed walking along on the sidewalk because he thought all the other kids were chasing him.  He really was in his own little world.  He was quite the trooper-fever and all!  We celebrated Poppa and Uncle Phil's birthdays tonight as well.  It was a great family gathering.

TUFF Guys do cry!

Tough guys cry when they don't get their way!!!

Down on the Farm

Today, we went to the Mayfield Farm (corn maze & pumpkin patch) in Athens, TN.  Cheng-Yu loved it so much.  Nothing was off limits and he was able to roam with such freedom.  They had a mini maze made with small bales of hay and I think that was his favorite part.  He walked around through that maze like he knew exactly what it was and what he was doing.  The picture of him propped up, looking all worn out, was taken in that mini maze.  He worked so hard....he needed a break!

Boo in the Zoo

Boo in the Zoo was great.  Scott and I took Cheng-Yu on Friday night and he had such a good time that I wanted to take him again.  So on Saturday,  we went again with Grams & Poppa.  I am so glad they went with us.  We ran into the Gentry girls at the zoo which made the night even better!!!  We all had so much fun.

Happy 8 month Benniversary

We enjoyed spending time together today as a family.  My favorite part of our day was this...snuggling with my Cheng-Yu.  

Cheng-Yu,

Eight months ago today...we met you.  You were cuddly from the start.  I will never forget snuggling with you in our hotel room in Taipei on that first day.  The picture of you and daddy on that day is one of my favorites.  My, how you have grown since that day.

I love you so much...Mommy

My Boy

In some photos, I still see a baby Ben Cheng-Yu and in others...I see a little boy Ben Cheng-Yu.

Each stage brings new joys.  My favorite new thing he does is toddle right up and wrap his arms around my neck to give a big hug.  He has been giving kisses for awhile now and I still love those.  He can now say--- ball, bottle, water, NO, that, what, wow, woe, da, scott and maybe a few more.  Still no Ma-Ma!!!

Bare Bones Cleaning

I had a happy little skeleton cleaning my kitchen floors tonight!  He loves the broom and dust pan.  You would think that he must see me do this a lot, but I suppose he knows if he doesn't do it...it may not get done.  Take charge little man!

Ben & Jack

Watching them play together is really a dream come true.  Alisha and I used to talk about how our kids were going to play together and be big buddies.  That was before Jackson was born and way before we even knew we had a son that would be born in Taiwan.  Back in the day, we would meet at Starbucks and make our plans while we sipped coffee.  All the while, God had his own plans for us...and we are so glad He did.  Now we meet and chase two little guys around...no sipping coffee now! 

A Penny for Your Thoughts

He was

He was named Cheng-Yu.

He really exsisted in the city of Taichung.

He was about 19 pounds that day.

He was waiting for us there.

He was the most incredible gift I had ever received.

I will never forget how he looked at me the first time we met.

He was...and is, my son.

Cheng-Yu,

You are a special creation.  God has created you and has done so with great purpose.  I pray that you will realize this deep in your soul and never ever doubt how much you are loved.

God loves you, my sweet boy.  

And I love you more than I could ever express...with all that I am.

Mommy

Grow Me

How do our children grow right before our very eyes and yet we don't really see it in the very moment that it happens?  As I was rocking Cheng-Yu tonight, I thought about how much he has grown.  It made me think about how God grows us each day...right before our very eyes and yet we don't realize it.  It is a slow process in which he molds us.  When you look back over your life, you can see how much your faith has grown or how much your heart has changed.  It is amazing how he does that...one day at a time...trial affter trial....victory after victory....valley after valley...mountain after mountain.  I believe God CAN see us grow in the moment that it occurs.  Every tear that is shed and every joy in our heart.  Slowly, but surely, we become who he intends for us to be.

Fall in Love

I have always loved the fall.  The feel in the air is incredible.  You know how you associate certain sounds or smells with a special time..or not so special time.  The crisp feeling of fall will probably always remind me of when we first learned about Ben Cheng-Yu.