It's The Simple Things

In between the Dr.'s appointments and therapy appointments, life is settling back into a routine.  We started back homeschooling, enjoying the farm and even a Saturday of visiting garage sales.


Savannah Faith is taking it all in stride.  It's amazing how quickly she has settled into the rhythm of our family life.

This weekend Torie and Michaela took all the little girls outside and did a photo shoot.  They are relishing the fact that I've loosened my grip on my camera.


Here Lily Rose shows the mark of a true farm girl...sporting a dress but still wearing her cowgirl boots!

The series of next 3 photos is SO typical of Lily  Rose and Isabelle.  What started out as an innocent flower smelling session, quickly turned into Lily Rose twirling a flower and "accidentally" bumping Izzy in the nose.  They both thought it was hysterical.  Lily Rose just can't help herself!

 

While the girls walked from photo spot to photo spot, Savannah Faith hung out - literally - in a baby carrier on Michaela's back.  I LOVE those chubby toddler legs!

Over the years, we have slowly sold off our horse herd.  The expenses of adoptions and open-heart surgeries have trumped the need for horse feed and horse show entry fees.  The older two girls, the true horse lovers, have adjusted their riding careers and are now offering to ride for other horse owners.  The beauty of that arrangement is no cost is involved in riding other peoples' horses. 



We are down to our last two "equine liabilities", as Phil lovingly refers to our horses.  Before I was pregnant with Michaela, we bought Hustler, who is now 30 years old.  Popcorn, our aged eventing pony, was a gift to Michaela on her 7th birthday.  They are part of the family now. 

They have taught the oldest four girls to ride and are in the midst of teaching Izzy and Lily Rose the ropes. 

They need to hang on long enough to teach Savannah Faith the finer points of equestrian prowess. I love how quiet they are with the younger girls.

When not enjoying life on our farm, we love to sneak off and catch a good garage sale. 


Last Saturday Michaela, Savannah Faith and I hit the roads to find some deals at a local neighborhood garage sale.  I had resolved myself to the fact that I was going to have to breakdown and buy a vacuum cleaner at Target over the weekend.  But lo and behold, at the first garage sale we hit, a Hoover Wind Tunnel, my dream vacuum, met my eyes.  I didn't even have to bargain...

Yep...that's $5.00 for the most amazing vacuum I've ever owned.  The Lord meets us even in the little things. 


For now we're going to enjoy the next month until we head to Charleston for Savannah Faith's heart cath on May 15th. 



And Savannah Faith is going to continue to figure out farm life.

We're Home...Medical Updates & Family Traditions

Last Saturday we made it home after saying a sad good-bye to Elvin, our wonderful Guangzhou guide.

Savannah Faith was a champ on the 26 hour door-step to door-step trip.  She even slept part of the time.  I wish I could say the same.

Upon our arrival in Charlotte, we were greeted by Phil, the girls and my mom.  We made quite the sight at the airport.  A mass of screaming, giggling girls, exhausted adults and overfilled luggage.

When we arrived  home, sweet friends of ours had dropped off a "Welcome Home Savannah" cake and balloon.  I was so touched by their thoughtfulness.  When you are bringing home your 7th child, it's not always celebrated...

The rest of this week, we just recovered from jet lag and ran from Dr.'s appointment to Dr.'s appointment.  The most important visit was Savannah Faith's pediatric cardiology appointment.

We discovered that in addition to her diagnosed condition of Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA) and pulmonary stenosis, she also has hypoplastic right ventricle.  This means that Savannah Faith is a functioning single ventricle like Isabelle and Lily Rose. 

Dr. Bradley, here we come for another Glen and Fontan.

Of course, this is NOT what was listed on her paperwork or what we had planned, but the Lord had it all orchestrated before the foundation of the earth.  It was no surprise to Him!

We are so thankful that we've been down this road before, and that a first time heart parent did not adopt Savannah Faith thinking she was a TGA toddler.  (That typically only requires a one time surgery and is repairable.) 

Single ventricle children require two palliative surgeries and are just that...palliative.  Long-term prognosis is unknown.  That is our "normal."  So this is not new stomping ground for us. 

Savannah Faith will be in good company and will have two sisters to teach her the "ropes" of Glen/Fontan procedures.  All in a day's work!

Today we carried on a family tradition of dying eggs.  I always struggle with the tradition and how to make it Christ-centered. 

I didn't have to worry this year.  My "big" girls had it all figured out.

With pens poised...

they began writing praises to Him in the languages they know.

From left to right...Michaela put to use her Siswati which she learned recently serving in Swaziland for three months (you can read about it here http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2919769437313367323#editor/target=post;postID=4205469893230608187 ). 

AnnaGrace wrote in Mandarin.  She purchased a side-by-side Mandarin to English Bible while in China and began teaching herself some Mandarin. 

Next is Farsi.  Torie is taking Farsi in college this semester.  She hopes to go on the mission field to the middle-east, sometime after graduating from college and Paramedic training.

And finally, all our girls know some Spanish, so they included Spanish as well.


"After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb....
And they cried out in a loud voice:  Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."  Revelation 7:9a,10


So thankful that Christ not only died on the cross for my sins, but conquered death and rose again and now sits at the right hand of God our Father and intercedes for me!! 


So thankful it's a message for all people and all nations.


Cause for celebration this Easter Sunday.  He is Risen!  He is Risen Indeed!



While I pondered the spiritual truths of Easter, and the older girls were concentrating on getting their translations correct, let's face it....

our younger girls were just making sure they got their squiggly lines and their colors just perfect!

Beautiful!

Photo Shoots: Models and Brides

When Phil and I Skyped yesterday, he asked about the model and wedding photo shoots I mentioned. He hasn't been back to China since our first adoption in 2001 and couldn't picture the photo shoots on Shamian Island. We thought it would be fun for me to post a Day on Shamian Island.

 

This morning was a typical day. First we saw a Chinese sports model posing in her different athletic outfits.

 

It seems that each model on the Island typically has a specialty...shoes, handbags, sports outfits, regular clothes. You get the idea.

Next we saw the line of purses. We never did see the purse model. Maybe she was finished with her photo shoot before we arrived on the scene. They looked like they were inventorying the bags as we walked by the area.

 

After passing the typical female models, we saw a first. A male model. He had a great sense of humor and even posed just for me.

 

 

Next we passed multiple bridal photo shoots.
 

 

Our guide explained to us that brides and grooms contract with photographic studios as far as twelve months in advance of their wedding. The studios allow the brides to borrow dresses for their sitting portraits. Strangely (to us in the States) these are NOT the dresses they will actual wear on their wedding days. The photos are taken and if for some reason the engagement is broken, the bride and groom split the photo package. Evidently this is not uncommon. 

Another interesting departure is many times the dresses are not white.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the photo shoot day, the bride and groom may pick a traditional package which includes just photos in their wedding dress and tux, or a complete package which includes non-traditional photos. We saw one bride, earlier this week, in shorts, combat boots and her veil. We're assuming this was part of her non-traditional package. Today we only saw traditional dresses.

 

 

I had to laugh when I saw this bride taking a break for lunch. Who can blame her. These photo shoots can last hours.

 

The highlight of the day was our first sighting of a Russian model. Elvin, our guide, told us that Shamian Island had become a popular place for professional Russian models. We saw that first-hand this morning.
 

I'm sure we've seen this model on the front of some magazine. Although the other models we've seen on the Island looked like professionals, this model clearly worked on an entire different level. Instead of traveling witht just a few "helpers", she traveled with an entire entourage.

 

Not only was their a photographer and light crew...

 

but she also had a complete wardrobe, 20+ pairs of shoes, jewelry and a wardrobe changing crew to help her.
 

 

She knew exactly how to pose with no coaching.
 

 

And after a 5-10 minute shoot in each outfit, she did a quick change right there on the street behind her handy, dandy black curtain that her assistants held for her.
 

 

She knew how to pose as if she was walking in a door, walking up stairs (foot in mid-air without looking awkward), leaning on the wall, etc. Just like you see in the professional magazines.

They touched-up her make-up after each outfit change which took an amazingly short time...maybe 2 minutes. It was astonishing.

 

Although I admit it was fascinating to watch, I couldn't help but think of the verse in Proverbs...

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Proverbs 31:30

I pray that Phil and I will not be influenced by the world but instead will train our daughters' to pursue beauty as they run hard after the Lord and His truths. Only then will they truly be beautiful as they shine His light to those around them.

 

After watching the hoopla, we set out to take a few last photos before we leave the Island tomorrow.

 

 

After just two photos, our little princess fell fast asleep in MIchaela's arms.

 

Trying to decide what to do next? Well you didn't have to ask me twice. We went to my favorite spot, Starbucks, and got a nice cup of coffee to relax and enjoy the rest of the afternoon.
 

 

Tomorrow we head to Hong Kong on the train for a quick night's sleep in the hotel. Then on to Chicago for a connection to home sweet home in Charlotte.

AnnaGrace's Photo Shoot

Shamian Island, where we are staying while in Guangzhou, is a popular site for model and bridal photo shoots. Not only is the atmosphere different than surrounding areas with it's lack of vehicle traffic, it's also a photographers dream with all the wrought iron and architectural details which "shoot" so well.

Our guide told us that not only Chinese models flock to the Island, but Russian models are beginning to use the Island for their lay-outs as well.

Since we were not able to get AnnaGrace's photos done in Changsha as hoped, we decided to do our own photo shoot yesterday.

We bought a traditional silk dress, umbrella and fan (thanks Brenda Scott for the great idea) and began touring the Island for good photographic spots. Although the weather didn't cooperate as we'd liked, the clouds rolled in and it began to rain towards the end of the time, we still had lots of fun!

Following are a few of my favorites....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can tell that Savannah Faith was fascinated with her big sister's afternoon events...

 

Pearl River Dinner Cruise

This trip we experienced a first...a Pearl River Dinner Cruise. Although I've heard about this excursion from other adoptive parents, our agency has never booked it for us. So this was a special treat.

 

 

 

 

The 2 hour dinner cruise began with a scrumptious dinner buffet complete with an array of Chinese dishes including spicy chicken, fried rice, noodles, beef dishes, steamed buns, fresh shrimp and too many other options to mention. Of course Savannah didn't avail herself of any of the goodies. She just patiently waited for her bottle. It's okay. I think I ate my helping and hers.

After the meal we went on the top deck and enjoyed the scenery on the river. We passed the CCTV tower, now the 2nd tallest tower in the world. It's second only to the a tower in Dubai.

 

We also passed the location of the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Asian Games. Elvin, our guide, has toured the inside of the facilities. Although quite impressive, he said they don't hold a candle to the Olympic location in Beijing, the Bird's Nest.

 

When Savannah Faith became bored, Elvin was a good sport and took a turn entertaining her. Every adoptive family who has enjoyed Elvin's talents as a guide knows how wonderful he is with the children. He now has a 14 month old son of his own. I can only imagine what a great father he is!

 

After enjoying the fresh air on deck, we were entertained by a juggling clown. The children especially appreciated her talent. Even Savannah Faith was intrigued with the show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow is a day off, so we will enjoy a little shopping around Guangzhou.