SPRING HAS SPRUNG HERE IN OHIO

Spring has finally come to Ohio after a long cold winter. Every year it never ceases to amaze me just how much I dislike the cold!! And I mean strongly DISLIKE the winter. Coming from New England where our winters are long and cold, there is also the element of snow. For much of the winter we looked at a white blanket on the ground covering all the deadness. Ohio winters are bleak. Not much snow so most of the time we are looking out at gray skies, gray trees, gray streets and well, pretty much a dismal place. Every year I beg to move to a warmer climate where the sun shines most of the year and the leaves stay on the trees!! Anyway, it's spring now and I love this time of year. New birth in so many ways! The flowers, trees, birds, bunnies and other living creatures are coming out to see the wonderful creation God has provided for our pleasure!! Thank you!!

I have not blogged for a month and I can't believe how the time passes. This week Nadya is on school break so it's a nice time to relax. The other girls have already had spring breaks. We are looking forward to celebrating EASTER, the Resurrection of our Savior. I have been reading and listening to recounts of Jesus's last days and it is always a somber reminder of just how much He suffered for us! So, I will ponder his life and death on the cross these coming days.

The family is doing well. Aimee went and got engaged a couple of weeks ago and we are very happy for her and her fiancee, Brett Beatty. In a family full of girls it's a nice welcome to add another son. :)

Nadya

Nadya with BF Abby in Ct. 2006

Beach Babe on Cape Cod 2006

Photo shoot with sister Aimee. 2007

Bekki and Princess Nadya 2004

Well, spring is almost here!! I can feel it in the air and smell the emerging grass and tiny sprouts pushing their way thru the ground. Isn't God great to give us spring after a long cold winter.

I thought I would share some of my daughter Nadya's daily life with you all. It's not all that exciting, but she is growing up before out eyes and I thought she needed some special attention.

Nadya is 13 and thinks she is ready to take on the world. I think that is pretty much what all 13 year olds think. Having several older sisters gives her a view into the gradual freedoms that have been earned and much to her dismay she will have to wait, just like them. My husband and I set our own standard and decided that a cell phone was not necessary until they were working and/or driving. Most of Nadya's school friends have their own cell phones and that makes it very difficult for us and for her trying to fit in. Clothing is also another area that we have tried to adress among the skimpy dress we see everywhere in elementary school and soon in middle school. That is very disturbing to us so we have made a prayerful decision to home school next year and perhaps for Nadya's future years. She will be part of a program called PEP, Providence Extension Program. Our daughter, Bekki, is graduating grom that program in May with a graduation ceremony and diploma. Anyway, this will be a new journey for Nadya and I think she will do very well.

Some things about Nadya:

Compassionate, especially towards animals

Servant, best helper in the house

Strong Willed, Lord help me!!

Smart, very!

Artistic in many different areas

Desires to grow up way to fast

Can argue with the best of them, should be a lawyer

Thoughtful

Loyal

Inquisitive

There you have it. :)

Bekki turns 18!!

Well, my youngest birth child has gone and turned 18 on us!! How did this happen so fast I say! It seems like only yesterday that she was a 14 year old girl trying to find herself among all the changes in her life after our move to Ohio in 2005. I am truly amazed at just how much she has changed and become a woman of great faith. Now, that's not to say that she has reached her potential, but she is on the right road to finding it.

Bekki will graduate from high school in May. She has been home schooled for her entire education and I am proud of myself and of her for sticking to it. It's not easy getting thru high school and making sure all has been completed. I am thankful for a program called PEP for short or Providence Extension Program in which she attended classes two days a week and worked independently at home to complete each weeks studies. The program is very agressive and excellent. There were times when I just wanted to free her from the demands of the program, but she insisted she stay the course and complete it and she will in May 2009. Congratulations dear daughter, you have done well.

A few things about my daughter, Rebecca Lyn

1. Has very strong opinions...could win a debate

2. Excellent writer and speaker...may this ability continue to be challenged

3. Loyal...will stand with her friends

4. Tends to hold her emotions inside herself...ends up hurting

5. Thoughtful of others...will always go the extra yard to make them feel appreciated

6. Musically talented beyond ... plays piano & guitar and loves to write songs and sing

7. Beautiful...inside and out

8. Can be a hard worker....when out serving others

9. Committed to things she believes in....

10. Enjoys baking...that will come in handy when she finds her husband

11. Excellent ice skater...dedicated many years to competitive skating

12. Dancer at heart... always

13. Big sister to her two younger adopted sisters....not always easy

14. Desires to work in ministry with music...would like to attend the Hillsong School of Worship in Australia in 2010.

15. A good friend

16. Will become a driver very soon...takes it seriously

17. Has always wanted to attend a "ball" and be like a princess

18. My daugher...I love you Bekki!!

Brithday Celebrations

Emma celebrated her 4th birthday this past week. I don't know why I am having such a hard time with this new age, but can't they stay 3 a bit longer? I love the age of 3. I was a year full of newly aquired skills:

1. NO MORE DIAPERS
2. SLEEPING IN HER BED ALL NIGHT
3. SPEAKING IN SENTENCES
4. RIDING A BIKE
5. HELPING WITH CHORES
6. BEING AWARE OF THE NEEDS OF OTHERS
7. PLAYING WITH FRIENDS, VERY WELL
8. TALKING TO HER GRANDMA ON THE PHONE (HER FAVORITE PERSON)
9. HAVING A FAVORITE MOVIE, CINDERELLA
10. TELLING HER MOM THAT SHE LOVES HER SEVERAL TIMES A DAY!

Ayway, so long to 3 and hello to 4. I am looking forward to seeing how Emma will bloom this year. I don't wish the days away as growing up happens much too fast for this mama!!

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY MY SWEET EMMA-LIA GRACE!!! MAY GOD BLESS YOU WITH ANOTHER AMAZING YEAR.

Emma's Favorites

Here is a list of Emma's favorites. Donna, I had to steal this from you. :)

1. FAVORITE TOY: stuffed green dog that was a backpack, but she made me cut the straps off! You have no idea how hard it is to find a green dog.

2. FAVORITE THING TO WATCH ON TV: Mickey Mouse Club and doing the Hot Dog dance!! This has been a favorite without fail for 2 years now.

3. FAVORITE CHORE: Dusting with mom or sweeping up with her dustpan.

4. FAVORITE WORD: I'm hungry, all day long. We feed her constantly!!

5. FAVORITE TRICK TO PLAY: Hide behind her bed and jump up to scare me!

6. FAVORITE ANNOYING HABIT: Telling me she's hungry!!

7. FAVORITE DRINK: Apple juice

8. FAVORITE FOOD: Mac & Cheese or anything with cheese!

9. FAVORITE MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION: Any car as long as she gets to go out somewhere. She loves to travel and rarely wants to go home.

10. FAVORITE OUTFIT: Tutu dress :)

11. FAVORITE TREAT: Chocolate chips, reward after going potty that has not ended.

12. FAVORITE THING TO DO: Play with her sisters who are very good with her.

13. FAVORITE COLOR: Green!!!

14. FAVORITE OUTSIDE ACTIVITY: Swimming in the summer

15. FAVORITE GAME: Her Match the Faces game and she can beat her dad bad!

So, I thought this was a lot of fun and it made me really think about what my little Emma is all about. She will be home with us for two years in a few weeks and we cannot imagine our lives without her bubbly personality. She is a daddy's girl during the day and a mommy's girl at night. She adores her sisters and talks about growing up so she can do all the things that they do. I tell her that she needs to stay four for a long time!!

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR 2009

Here is Emma and her dragon mask she colored, with moi help. She carried this with for the parade and was mighty proud to do so!! Look at that face! This is the gentleman who did the sword dance. The kids were so facinated with him, they never moved!! He was quite good and talked about what he was doing so we could understand. I think I would like to take a Tai-Chei class this year. (spell check please) Anyone know of one?

Nadya and Aimee hoping for good fortune!! See their pearls!! Thanks Auntie Victoria!! We love them!!
Now, Nadya just had to try these on for size. It was quite a feat for her to fit them into her eyes!! Nice look!!

This is the older girls dance team. They did a traditional sword dance and it was done very well. I am excited that Emma will now be old enough to take lessons.

This is what my husband did during the celebration, read the paper. :) He was interupted when little Miss Emma decided that she needed the mic from the emancee. They requested that Emma's parents please claim her!! She just has to have a mic of her own!!

The sites on the table. We enjoyed all the festive decorations on the tables along with some great little crafts for the kids. Thank you FCC!!!

Emma showing off her lovely Chinese outfit. She often asks to wear one of her little dresses just for fun and of course we indulge her!!

The Red Envelope and gold coins that are traditional.

Happy Chinese New Year to all who celebrate this special holiday! We have cleaned the house and decorated with lights and red lanterns in recognition of the Chinese New Year. This is the year of the OX. On Sunday we enjoyed a large celebration with other families who have adopted from China as well as many from the Chinese community here in Mason, Ohio. The place was packed with families and children adorned in red which is a sign of luck. Emma wore her sweet two piece red and gold princess dress purchased in China by a friend when they traveled last summer. Cindi, thank you. She loved wearing her special clothes and has enjoyed this celebration two years in a row now. We are amazed at just how comfortable she appears in such a large group, must be that so many look like her!! She marched in the Dragon parade this year, a first. She wanted to help carry the dragon, but she is too small so perhaps another time. We enjoyed watching a master sword dance, our young girls who take dance classes and are learning to do the traditional dances, a puppet show, karate demo, lion dance and of course the wonder Chinese buffet. My sister, Victoria and her daughter, Sidney, joined us this year and we had a wonderful time celebrating together. She gifted the girls with a lovely set of fresh water pearls. It was fun having some family with us. Thank you for joining us!! Here are a few photos.

The Best Christmas Present...

City of Qianjiang in Chongqing, China 2009, the birthplace of our sweet daughter, Emma. As you can see it is a very mountaineous city. We hope to visit with Emma one day. Look at this little bed!! This is Emma sleeping in her little bed! No crib!!! She is in the one with the pink head bumper pad. They slept two to a bed, even the tiny ones!!

Emma is playing on the floor mat with some of her little friends. She is the one on all fours!!!

Emma in her walker, the place she spent most of her young toddler years, playing with one of her favorite toys, stacking cups!! She still loves these cups today at nearly 4 years old!!

This is a photo taken when she was around 15 mos. Sometimes it's hard to know for sure, but we have other photos like this taken by other visitors. She always wants to wear a beautiful dress, she asks every morning. I know this is short lived so I will indulge her as often as possible. :) She looks to have a cold and possibly eye infection.

The Chinese woman in this photo is Emma's appointed caretaker, called an Aiyi or auntie. They care for the children until they leave or are adopted, the same person. Each one cares for about 4 children so the other children are Emma's pals.

Tasting the yummy bumble bee teething toy! She is just so cute!!!

Another sleeping photo, sorry they are out of order. :) Emma is in the upper left bed.

Emma and her aiyi with friends. I'd love to know who the little girl in the blue dress is!! Anyone out there know? She is so pretty!!

Entertainment!! Look at the sweet little jammies, I am very sure they were part of a very genereous donation, possibly thru my Qianjiang Yahoo group. :)

Ok, this is only some of the photos we were sent by someone who visited the SWI in June 06. This person was touring with a group to several SWI's in the area which is very big! I am so very thankful that she noticed another photo of my little Emma on the APC group and contacted me! Perhaps one day I will get to do the same for some other family. Thank you!!

Happy New Year 2009!!

Well, Happy New Year 2009 everyone!

It's hard to believe that another year is yet upon us, how quickly times goes by! We have much to be thankful for during 2008 and look forward to seeing what this year brings for our family.

First up, Emma did not end up with her surgery on the 30th although we did spend a good part of the day on Dec. 30th at Children's Hospital. Emma had her first of 3 heart echos and EKG's to check on her little heart. All is looking well, she is a pro at laying still for the 40minutes it takes to do the proceedure. The reason they did not do her surgery to remove her tonsils and adenoids is because she is a low maintenace dose of baby aspirin daily to prevent blood clots going to her heart for 6 months. They decided last minute that the risk for bleeding was too high so we will wait until she completes her meds for the heart. We had so wanted to get this surgery done so she could sleep better. Guess we will make it through another few months. :)

We spent New Year's Eve home with our two youngest girls. We ordered our favorite Chinese Food and ate with candelite. We put little Emma to bed early and then Larry, Nadya and I enjoyed watching Prince Caspian. We did not stay up past 11:00PM, getting too old and tired. It was a nice quiet evening at home. :)

It's been flurrying for days and the skies have been gray for months!! I am really missing the blue skies and warm sun!! I am ready to head south!! :) Anyone want to buy a house in Ohio? :) Larry has been very busy with A Child's Hope International setting up meetings with many different people. It's amazing how many people we have met in such a short time! Larry is often on the telephone speaking with folks from various parts of Africa, India and Haiti. He has made contact with people in China as well. The Kids Against Hunger program is wanted everywhere!!!! Check out his blog at www.bergsnest.blogspot.com

Threads for Mia Hope

Emma is modeling one of the sweetest outfits sewn by Robin from Redthreadstitches. She has been sewing away for some time now in order to raise funds to bring her daughter, Mia Hope, home from China. She is nearing the end of that process and waiting on her LOA. Please check out her blog. www.redthreadstiches.blogspot.com

A little video of Emma having fun with the modeling. :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2008

Dear husband got his new coffee maker curtesy of his two sweet daughters, Aimee & Bekki

Bekki examines the gift from Nadya, two of the scented oil decanters! Nice!

Playing Apples to Apples on Christmas Eve!

This stocking is almost as big as little Emma! She was so thrilled with her stocking full of stuff! Notice the tutu I managed to add. :)

Emma's auntie VJ gave her the cutest little backpack full of animals!! She was very pleased!

Aimee's treasured gift. She savored this one since good things come in small packages!!

Twas the night before Christmas and all thru the house....the stocking they hung by the chimney with care....

Well, hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! It's hard to believe that several days have past since that distinct day and once again we are getting ready to begin a new year. I don't know what 2009 hold for us, but 2008 had a lot of twist and turns!

We celebrated Christmas Eve at home with my sister driving up from Kentucky with two of her kids, Ashleigh and Sidney who are 12 & 13. I set out a simple buffet and we relaxed and played Apples to Apples as well as chatted about life. It was good to spend a simple evening together. The girls went to the 11:00PM candlelite service at a local church. :) Christmas day was very layed back. Everyone slept in and then had a lite breakfast while the girls and I prepared brunch for all. The stocking were the first thing to be opened and enjoyed. Little Emma was so excited to open that stocking with her name on it. This is the first time she has fully enjoyed Christmas as far as the gift thing is concerned. We are working on the reason we celebrate Christmas with hopes of her fully embracing that next Christmas. :) The afternoon was relaxing as we slowly made our way through the gift opening. We had some very genereous "Secret Santa's" this winter. Thank you for making our Christmas more special. I decided not to prepare a big dinner since we were all enjoying just relaxing so we put out all our left-overs from the night before and munched on those until we were very full. Larry and the older two girls went to the movies that night to see the movie about Hitler, can't remember the name. Evidentally it was a very powerful movie. So, that was Christmas for us this 2008. No large crowds so we could keep Emma healthy for her surgery that is taking place on the 30th. Enjoy the photos!

Emma's tutu dress

Emma loves to wear her tutu-dress as she calls it. As you can see she is embellishing the tutu-dress with her precious jewels and other assorted accessories. She is such a girly girl and so much fun watching her. Her daily request is to wear a dress to which I, her mom, try to indulge her in most days, even with jeans under if if necessary to make my sweet girl happy. :) I know all too well that one day she will not want to even look at a dress so I will sit back and enjoy this time in her little life.

Photos of Emma's Big Day!!

Hello again! I thought I would show you in pictures how our day went. This first photo is the device Emma had placed in her heart. The one she has is 22mm in size. This is before it goes into the catheter, see the photo where it is attached.

This photo shows the device up close. It is made ot titanium and mesh. As you can see it has a mushroom shape on both ends. The middle is called the waist and is what is plugging the hole in Emma's heart. Over time her tissue will grow over this device and it will become part of her heart permanately. Praise God!! I am in awe of just how miraculus this surgery is!! Not long ago Emma would have had open heart surgery. Technology is amazing!

Here is Emma and her primary care nurse, Sara, preparing for the surgery. Emma had lots of questions, like how to work the T.V. :)

Getting impatient with the waiting. We were scheduled to have the surgery at 11:00AM so we arrived at the hospital at 9:00AM and the surgery did not happen until noon. She was very hungry and let us all know it!! Poor baby.

On our way to surgery. As you can see, even with the sedation given to her in the room to help her along she was still awake and ready to drive to her surgery! :)

Surgery is over and she is in recovery with her best buddies!! Doggie and Pinkie! :) She has the oxygen mask close by because we found that she would drop too low when she was sleeping.

Thursday morning and ready to role!! What a difference a day makes! Emma loved traveling the halls in her little sports car!

All cleaned up, new pj's and lunch in bed!! We were waiting to be discharged on Thursday afternoon.

Emma and her other nurse, Sara. I cannot say enough about the day nurses at Children's Hospital in Cincinnati. Thank you!!!
So, that is it in pictures in a nutshell. Hope the visual helped. :)

No surgery today...

As many of you know, Emma was scheduled to have her heart surgery today. Well, typical of many kids this time of year she got sick. Yes, I tried my best to keep her healthy, but someone else picked up this tummy bug and brought it home!! So, the surgery has been post-poned until next Wednesday. Tuesday she will have all her pre-op done at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and then the surgery on Wednesday morning at 10:00 AM. Please keep her in your prayers and we will keep you up to date on the happenings. Here is a photo of her yesterday, poor sick child.

THANKSGIVING

This year we decided to spend Thanksgiving in Boston with some of our family members. This was quite a feat since we live in OHIO! Packing up 6 people and flying is no simple task! I agreed to bear the brunt of this task since my husband is in the early recouperating stages from a double hernia surgery. He could offer no physical assistance which made the process of moving all our luggage somewhat challenging!! But...I did it...we did it...and had a great time once we arrived at Larry's sister's home. We spend Monday the 24th to Sat. the 30th enjoying an extended visit with family we rearely see. The matriach, Grandma B, joined us and observed all of her adult children, 5 of them, their spouses, children and grandchildren!! We filled this house that is typically a quiet place with joy and laughter. Thank you Jeanne & Tim for allowing us to move in!! The newest family member, Emma, whom we adopted from China in the spring of 07 had a great time getting to know her beloved grandma and other family members. She will have some wonderful memories. :)Here we are cooking away in preperation of the delicious meal

Chowing down and conversation!

This photo should have come first, the table before chowing down all that food!!! I looked so nice.

Emma with one of her favorite cousins!! Ginny she enjoyed your attentions all week!!