Happy Birthday Asia-Faith

Today Asia-Faith turns 2 years old!

Labour of my Heart

"I would have given anything to be the one to bring you into this world,

have you from day one, but it couldn't be.

Though I didn't bring you here, still I laboured in my tears.

Through the long nights I prayed you would come to me.

You are the labour of my heart Child,

with all my strength I prayed until they placed you in my arms, Child.

Blessed be the maker of bone of other bone.

He made flesh of my desire and today I take you home.

You are the labour of my heart Child."

~ Author Unknown ~

~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS ~

We had a lovely day. We went to church this morning and then after lunch we went to the beach, well actually it is a recreation area on the beach that has swimming pools, places to BBQ, camping sites, mini golf, and live music - it is really great.

We discovered it yesterday, and spent the day there - the kids loved it! Asia-Faith went for her first swim with daddy in the pool, she was a little scared at first, but then got used to it and didn't want to get out.

The boys were sooo excited to finally find a place where they can swim - just in time for summer - so I guess we will be spending a lot of time there this summer....

Then this evening Nana and Papa skyped us to say Happy Birthday to their little granddaughter, and then all the kids fell asleep - wiped out from all the fun today!

Asia-Faith shares her birthday today, with Granny Mouse (Jason's mom), and it was Papa's birthday (my dad) on Friday, 23. What a month of birthday's.

This week has really been great with Asia-Faith - she is really starting to let her little personality shine through. At least she is also getting used to bath times, and doesn't cry anymore when it is time to bath.

Crying...

Crying no more....

She loves to eat and is definately NOT a fussy eater - she will eat anything - although she doesn't seem to like cucumber too much though. Out of all our children, she is the only one who sleeps right through the night - what a blessing! I just wish the boys would learn a thing or two from her!!! LOL

It is so wonderful to see how much she already loves her brothers - her face literally lights up everytime they come into the room!

Gotta love them!

Mama's little monkey's....

The timing of her coming home was really great (and it can only be God's timing and plan), because Jason and the boys had the whole of the week at home with her to get to know her and bond with her. Tomorrow school begins again.....

On another note, we had to buy another scooter, as we cannot go 6 up on a scooter, that would really be pushing it! So now I have a scooter too - boy oh boy oh boy!!!!

Never mind looking out for cars, or scooters going through red lights, what about the bicycles, and any other "moving object" (ie: 3 wheel scooters, wheelchairs, pedestrians, dogs, etc), coming from all directions!!!! LOL

I used to think driving in South Africa was risky, but at least you just had to be careful that no-one was jumping the traffic lights or stop streets, here in Taiwan, they are comming from all sides! And now and again you might get cut off from an old man pushing his wheelchair along - no problem! No road rage here (well I have hit my hooter a few times! Mostly at the dogs, as they seem to have no clue!!!).

Anyway, so I have survived my scooter episode - I take the two smallest with me, and I even have a little chair type of thing that fits on the "floor" of the scooter, between my legs, where Asia-Faith sits - it is really neat! And then Keanu-Storm sits behind me. When in Taiwan.....

Happy Chinese New Year

Asia-Faith has been with us now for 27 hours. She is really a lovely little girl. Her brothers dote on her, and absolutely adore her!

Today we took a walk with her in her new "pink" pushchair (I finally have pink!). She fell asleep on our way to Church. We didn't make it for the service (we were taking a slow morning with Asia-Faith), but we did make it to wish everyone Happy Chinese New Year. They all say she is so beautiful (of course!), and then the pastor and a few friends all prayed for her (she slept through the whole thing!).

We then came home and I made 2 minute noodles and cheese for lunch - she loved it! Loves to feed herself and I have been told that she will just keep on eating as long as food is in front of her! LOL

Nana and Papa (my mom and dad), called on Skype to meet their new granddaughter! They got to see her and the boys interacting, while all 3 boys were trying to hold her bottle for her! I tell you she is going to have them at her beck and call!!! Needless to say Nana and Papa think she is adorable too, and now want to know when we are coming back to South Africa!

Jason was then going out with the boys (she was going to have a nap), but as soon as she saw them heading out the door, she sat up, pointed to where her shoes and pram are, signalling she wanted to go with! So her and I just rode down in the elevator with her (she seemed to be happy with that, and even waved goodbye to daddy and her brothers!). She then played for a little while and then had the rest of her bottle and fell asleep - such an angel.

"Some would gather money, along the path of life.

Some would gather roses, And rest from worldly strife.

But I would gather children from among the thorns of sin,

I would seek a little child with a big toothless grin.

For money cannot enter into the land of endless day,

And the roses that are gathered soon will wilt away.

But oh, the laughing children, as I cross the sunset sea,

And the gates swing wide to Heaven, I can take them in with me."
~Author Unknown~

Forever Family Day....Saturday, 17 February 2007

Well, Saturday seemed to take forever to get here, but finally the day arrived, and we were all so excited.

Deana and Luke, with their son Noah, met us at the train station, and I must say it was so great to finally meet Deana in person! What a wonderful family! Being a mom of 3 boys too, Deana knew our boys would need to run off some energy after being cooped up on a train for 2 hours, so we headed to a park for the kids to play for a while...

It was only just after 10am and our meeting was only for around noon. At around noon we headed to the Family Center and waited, and waited and I started getting a bit nervous that maybe they were not going to make it (it is Chinese New Year after all and a Saturday, so the government offices are actually closed), then Deana said not to worry, if they don't arrive, we will take a drive to meet our little girl anyway - I was so worried, I did not want to have to leave Taitung without her, but I knew God would not have brought us this far, to have us go home and wait a little longer!

Well Luke made a few calls, and were told not to worry, but to meet them at 2pm. We took the boys to lunch (we all ate too, by the way!), and then headed to go and meet our daughter!

It was such an unreal moment when we walked into the room - as we walk in the birthmom is holding our little girl, and she looked so small, much smaller than I had expected, even though she had layers of clothing on! She had just been woken from a nap. The birthmom's sister was there and then the Grandmother arrived too.

For me this was such a difficult moment because I just wanted to reach out and pick up this little girl, but at the same time, I knew this was probably the last time the birthmom and family had with her, so I just left her (altough it was really hard!) and let her sit with her birthmom. After lots of discussion with the social worker and Deana and Luke, it was time to leave. Jason picked up Asia-Faith, and I went over to the birthmom and hugged her, and of course those that know me know how hard it is for me not to cry, but of course as I hugged her, I just said "XieXie Ni" (Thank You), and started crying - it was such a bittersweet moment.

I am just so thankfull that we had the opportunity of meeting and taking photos of the birthmom, aunt and grandmother, which was very special.

When it was time to leave, Asia-Faith was quite willing and fine walking out with us, no problem, until she got into the car and probably realised that all the faces she was seeing were strangers - so she started crying a little, so we gave her a little pink stuffed cat that we had bought her and her bottle and after a few minutes she was fine (and of course all the fussing over she was getting from her brother's helped too!)...

We went back to Deana and Lukes house for a while and she played upstairs with toys and her new brothers. I was a little worried about the train ride home (I wasn't sure how she would react, and thought she might be really stressed), however she laughed and played the whole way home! We basically had the whole train carriage to ourselves on the way home - so it was great!

After having got home and ready for bed, I gave her a bottle and she fell asleep in my arms.

Our family has been truly blessed by this little girl, and we thank God daily for bringing her into our lives.

“the Lord has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118 vs 23 & 24

~ We are a family now ~

We are a family now, a whole,
Of which you are a part,
And you are just as much our child
As any in our heart.

We do not love you differently,
Nor would we give up less
Of all that life has given us
To bring you happiness.

There is no limit to our love,
No boundary you might cross,
No price you may be asked to payNo need to fear its loss.

We are now one, the six of us,
Windows of one home,
As long as we have life and breath,
You’ll never be alone.

~Nicholas Gordon~

Our little princess forever.... in our lives....in our family.....in our hearts.

The train ride home....

Going to sleep, safe in mama's arms....

"Not flesh of my flesh, nor bone of my bone, but still miraculously my own -

Never forget - not for a minute - you weren't born under my heart, but in it!"

~Fleur Conkling Hejlinger~

The call....

On 2nd February 2007, I opened my email to find a message reading “ok, are you ready”, from Deana. My first thought was she had a big fundraiser planned!

Instead, it was a message saying they knew of a little girl who was available for adoption!

I immediately tried to call her, however I couldn’t get through (in all the excitement I had forgotten to dial the area code!). Eventually I got through, and we chatted and I said “yes” we were definitely interested!

Then she told me that if we were committed, she could be home with us by Chinese New Year! (which was only 2 weeks away), and that would mean she would be with us to celebrate her 2nd birthday (25 February).

“I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.” 1 Samuel 1 v 27

A few days passed, with no news. Eventually we were told that we could come to Taitung and fetch her on Saturday, 17 February!

We were all a bit concerned that we would not get train tickets as it was Chinese New Year! Never fear when God is near!!! It just so happens that when we went to book the tickets on Thursday morning, there were only 2 tickets left to Taitung (and we were a family of 5) on Saturday morning, 17 February! That could only be God!!! - no problem - we will take them and take turns sitting!!!

Guess what else??? The carriages are seperate - one was carriage 3 and one was carriage 8 (so we would be separated for the 2hr train ride - no problem!). Turns out we have a wonderful friend, Jack, who accompanied us to the station, and managed to get someone to swop a ticket with us so that we were at least in the same carriage, and then someone else swopped tickets again so we could have 2 seats next to each other - how awesome is that? God is good!

So on 17 February our family of 5 was going to be a family of 6!!!

Child Of Mine

I haven't met you yet or seen your little face,

but in my heart you hold a very special place.

My hopes grow with each passing day,
even though you're miles away.

I know you're there waiting for me,

as I am here waiting to see,

the child God has sent from above,

to make me a mother and share all of my love.

~ Author Unknown ~

The journey begins...

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” Acts 20 v 24

Well, this story started a long time ago, (for me). I really believe that God planted the seed of adoption in my heart when I was a very young girl, and was slowly watering that seed over the years.

When I met my husband and we were discussing children, I let him know that I would like lots of children including an adopted little girl from Asia. God knew the desires of my heart, which is why he sent me the husband he did! We have 3 beautiful boys, and we have moved to the other side of the world (we are from South Africa, but we are now currently living in Taiwan).

A little while after moving to Taiwan, I started researching the possibilities of adopting from Taiwan, however I could not find an agency to work with us as no South African had adopted from Taiwan before (this is what I have been told numerous times), and so they are unfamiliar with the South African law, and therefore unable to assist us. This did not stop me. I then found out it was possible to do a private adoption (without an agency) - the only snag is to find an "adoptable" child yourself, and not speaking Chinese, it was not going to be an easy journey. I had met a few families online who had adopted independently while living in Taiwan, so I knew it was possible.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29 v 11

I then met Deana Pan online while looking through various homeschooling blogs, and I believe it was not through coincidence, but through God. We started chatting online and I then mentioned to her that we were looking into adopting a little girl from Taiwan.

Deana and I had been in touch through these months and I discovered that they also had a children’s home, Morninglight Children’s Home in Taitung and I expressed interest in perhaps helping with fundraisers to help them raise money to buy a piece of land to build a bigger home.

I continued my research for months, joined many adoption yahoo groups, and prayed hard for months! Many times I thought it was never going to happen, but I would remind myself that God would not put the desire in my heart without supplying what was needed to take care of it.

“Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me.” Psalms 55 v 1 & 2

Adoptions start in Heaven.....

God plans adoptions from Heaven,
And he searches the world...... you see,
For people who long to be parents,
People like Daddy and me.

Then, in His own time, He answers,
The prayer they've been praying so long,
And He finds a child who is waiting
To fill their hearts with a song!

You are the child who we prayed for,
So special, so precious, so sweet!
The one who we'll cherish forever
The one who makes our life complete!

~ Genie Graveline ~