Merry Christmas from the V. Crew!Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
A Visit from Grandma & Grandpa
Shortly after returning home from Mia's re-adoption proceedings, our doorbell rang with some very special visitors! Grandma and Grandpa V. had arrived from New Jersey. Mia was excited to meet them after seeing pictures of them for the last four months. And they were excited to meet her too.
Our first night, we had a great time at our favorite pizza place in town. The next night we were able to have a nice dinner out for just the adults while the kids were at One Way Club. We filled our days with books and games and visiting while enjoying our Christmas cookies, butter letter and bagels from NJ! Our last day together, Steve took some vacation so that he could be home by noon. It allowed us more time to play and be together. We celebrated Christmas, opened presents and enjoyed an amazing meal at home with filet grilled to perfection. Mmm.
It was a wonderful time together and we appreciated their efforts to come. We were thankful that they were able to fly home safely Friday just before the 18 inches of snow arrived on Saturday! Thank you for the special visit Mom & Dad.
Enjoy the photos!
Grandma & Mia
Grandpa & Mia
Mia opening her first Christmas gift EVER!
Pretty dress-up slippers!
Chloe & her new doll with matching scarves.
Caleb & Luke with their pocket knives.
Steve & his girls.
Grandma, Grandpa & The V. CrewWednesday, December 8, 2010
Re-Adoption Day
December 7, 2010 was a very big day for this little girl and for our whole family! Exactly 4 months since arriving home from China, we completed Mia's re-adoption on U.S. soil. The entire proceedings took no more than 15 minutes, but it was a meaningful time for our family. All six of us were there and we were joined by our precious friends Christy and Jess and their girls, Layla & Alaina. Steve and I were asked a few basic questions and then I was asked to give testimony. I raised my right hand, was sworn in and took the stand. It was all very official and formal (and a little intimidating actually). The last question the judge asked me was, "Do you believe it is in Mia's best interest to be adopted into your family?" I responded with a resounding yes. Afterward, I was dismissed and the judge shared some very kind words about adoption and our family.
And then she ruled...
I see it fit for Mia Jane Hui ... to be adopted into this family.
And our little group of 10 erupted into cheers and clapping!
Thank you Jesus.
All 4 waiting to go in...
Steve and his little girl.
The V. Crew with Judge Falstad
Christy, Me & Jess(love you girls!)
It's official!The day continued with more excitement when we welcomed some special visitors bearing gifts and bagels from NJ...another post to come!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Christmas Cards
Steve and I have been sending out Christmas cards and letters since 1997. I have kept one from every year since we began. It is such a blessing to look back on them and see all that the Lord has done in our lives.
I generally wait until after Thanksgiving to figure all of it out, but I recently learned that Shutterfly was offering 50 FREE cards to bloggers! And I am all about a deal. Check out this link and take advantage of the offer
http://bit.ly/sfly2010
When I am looking for a card, I search the ones that say Merry Christmas.
Because Christmas is not just a happy holiday.
It is a HOLY day.
On Christmas, we celebrate the greatest gift ever given.
The birth of Christ.
But it is not just about a baby in a manager.
It is about the Son of God leaving the splendors of Heaven
to live, perfectly.
to love, perfectly.
and to die, perfectly.
Have you ever thought about that?
The whole purpose of His birth was to DIE.
He came to die.
At the hands of His creation.
For me and YOU.
Because He LOVES us.
He was willing to pay the price of my sin and yours. DEATH.
So that anyone who believes in Him will LIVE.
Forever.
FOREVER.
That, my friends, should have us joyfully declaring MERRY CHRISTMAS to anyone we see.
And I am really grateful that Shutterfly has so many options.
For Christmas cards.
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards
I love this one.
You can even make Christmas gift tags there.
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-gift-tags
How cute is that?
They have some fun gift ideas too.
http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars
Seriously, you should check it out.
We have yet to take our family photo...I am hoping to accomplish that this weekend. So much to do.
Stay tuned.
I generally wait until after Thanksgiving to figure all of it out, but I recently learned that Shutterfly was offering 50 FREE cards to bloggers! And I am all about a deal. Check out this link and take advantage of the offer
http://bit.ly/sfly2010
When I am looking for a card, I search the ones that say Merry Christmas.
Because Christmas is not just a happy holiday.
It is a HOLY day.
On Christmas, we celebrate the greatest gift ever given.
The birth of Christ.
But it is not just about a baby in a manager.
It is about the Son of God leaving the splendors of Heaven
to live, perfectly.
to love, perfectly.
and to die, perfectly.
Have you ever thought about that?
The whole purpose of His birth was to DIE.
He came to die.
At the hands of His creation.
For me and YOU.
Because He LOVES us.
He was willing to pay the price of my sin and yours. DEATH.
So that anyone who believes in Him will LIVE.
Forever.
FOREVER.
That, my friends, should have us joyfully declaring MERRY CHRISTMAS to anyone we see.
And I am really grateful that Shutterfly has so many options.
For Christmas cards.
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards
I love this one.
You can even make Christmas gift tags there.
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-gift-tags
How cute is that?
They have some fun gift ideas too.
http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars
Seriously, you should check it out.
We have yet to take our family photo...I am hoping to accomplish that this weekend. So much to do.
Stay tuned.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
A New Role & Title for me...Court Petitioner
Well, today we completed one more step in this long journey called adoption. I officially "petitioned the court" this morning for a re-adoption hearing. It sounds so official doesn't it? It really was much easier than I thought it would be...
Basically we had to fill out some additional paperwork, gather some additional documentation from our adoption agency, notarize one document and make an appointment with the probate office in our county courthouse. I was there for about 10 minutes. Everyone was pleasant and I left having successfully obtained a scheduled hearing date and time for December 7, 2010 at 8:15am. It all went unbelievably smoothly and I was quite pleased to not have to use an attorney for any of the process. {To all of the other adoptive parents out there, you are FULLY capable to handle this part without spending big dollars on an attorney...it is nothing compared to the work that was required of you to get you this far.} =)
So, why re-adoption? Re-adopting Mia in the U.S. is not a requirement. She is already fully our daughter and legally adopted. And Mia is a U.S. Citizen. She has a Certificate of Citizenship and a social security card. Re-adoption is recommended, however, because in doing so, she will be issued a U.S. Certificate of Foreign Birth which looks almost identical to a U.S. Birth Certificate. Right now she has a Chinese birth certificate (3 originals), but it is in Mandarin and requires us to also carry a translation. We will also be unable to obtain (without incredible difficulty) any additional originals. Thus having a U.S. Certificate of Foreign Birth will make life a little easier when she would need to present a birth certificate (ie. schooling, marriage, sports, etc.) And it will be relatively easy to obtain additional originals. There are additional benefits to re-adoption including the ability to change Mia's name or date of birth if necessary, but the above reasons were the ones that most resonated with us.
So, we will be moving forward with Mia's re-adoption. And our big day is December 7! We plan to have the whole family there. And hopefully we will take some pictures. Anyone else who wants to join us is welcome. =) I was told it should take 10-15 minutes and then... I think this mound of paperwork is mostly done...
except for the post-adoption reports, but those are easy. =)
Off to tackle the house with a new level of authority...
because I petitioned the court this morning. =)
Basically we had to fill out some additional paperwork, gather some additional documentation from our adoption agency, notarize one document and make an appointment with the probate office in our county courthouse. I was there for about 10 minutes. Everyone was pleasant and I left having successfully obtained a scheduled hearing date and time for December 7, 2010 at 8:15am. It all went unbelievably smoothly and I was quite pleased to not have to use an attorney for any of the process. {To all of the other adoptive parents out there, you are FULLY capable to handle this part without spending big dollars on an attorney...it is nothing compared to the work that was required of you to get you this far.} =)
So, why re-adoption? Re-adopting Mia in the U.S. is not a requirement. She is already fully our daughter and legally adopted. And Mia is a U.S. Citizen. She has a Certificate of Citizenship and a social security card. Re-adoption is recommended, however, because in doing so, she will be issued a U.S. Certificate of Foreign Birth which looks almost identical to a U.S. Birth Certificate. Right now she has a Chinese birth certificate (3 originals), but it is in Mandarin and requires us to also carry a translation. We will also be unable to obtain (without incredible difficulty) any additional originals. Thus having a U.S. Certificate of Foreign Birth will make life a little easier when she would need to present a birth certificate (ie. schooling, marriage, sports, etc.) And it will be relatively easy to obtain additional originals. There are additional benefits to re-adoption including the ability to change Mia's name or date of birth if necessary, but the above reasons were the ones that most resonated with us.
So, we will be moving forward with Mia's re-adoption. And our big day is December 7! We plan to have the whole family there. And hopefully we will take some pictures. Anyone else who wants to join us is welcome. =) I was told it should take 10-15 minutes and then... I think this mound of paperwork is mostly done...
except for the post-adoption reports, but those are easy. =)
Off to tackle the house with a new level of authority...
because I petitioned the court this morning. =)
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
And now its November
Where in the world does time go? I think about updating the blog often, but somehow I never make it here to do so.
October was busy and fun. As I celebrated my birthday, Mia had her first experience watching presents being opened and candles being blown out. She seemed to take it all in. My parents surprised me (not Steve) and walked into the birthday lunch that Steve had planned for me and the girls. It was super fun and I was REALLY surprised. They also donated their babysitting services so that Steve could take me out for dinner - another great blessing. Thanks Mom & Dad!
This past weekend was quite an adventure. I headed solo to Door County with the kids - a first for Mia. My parents were there to help with and add to the great adventures. The boys enjoyed long hikes along the Eagle Trail with Grandma & Boppa. And the girls enjoyed countless books and many, many games with them too.
While there, Mia spent A LOT of time in the pool. She was incredibly nervous- terrified actually - but she did remarkably well. She definitely does not like to feel out of control (which makes a whole lot of sense for a girl who has had her world pulled out from under her so many times in her short life). She warmed up as the days went on...especially in the kiddie pool.
The crew also got to go to a costume parade and trick-or-treat throughout the shops of Fish Creek. Mia loved dressing up and practiced over and over her "ick or reat" and "thank yous." She was not at all a fan of anyone with a mask on. The scary decorations and costumes were rough on her as well. I think it actually stressed her out pretty badly. That made for a lot of carrying by the Boppa and the momma, but in the end, she was quite pleased to watch candy get dropped into her bucket. =)
Saturday, will be 3 months since we have been home from China. It is hard to believe. Mia is now talking CONSTANTLY. Her vocabulary is growing quickly, but often times we still struggle to understand her. She is much like a chattering two year old - it requires some effort to figure out the words she is using, but she definitely has a lot to say. Her very first full sentence was "no more monkeys jumping on the bed." (Chloe LOVES reading that book out loud to her.) Needless to say, it took a while for me to figure that one out. =)
We are beginning to consider and pray about school options for Mia come January. We are not sure what she is ready for nor are we sure of all our options. It may start with a few hours per week depending on how Mia responds. Please pray that it is a clear decision and a smooth transition.
We are busy.
Sometimes it is really hard.
Somedays it seems like I was absolutely made for this.
Other days I wonder who ever thought that I could be the mother of 4 children.
This fall has been very different for me. I have had to give up some things that mean a lot to me. The most difficult has been giving up teaching (or even attending) women's Bible study on Wednesday mornings. I miss it terribly. I miss the hours and hours of time in The Word. I miss the ladies. I miss the fellowship.
More than anything, I miss the intimacy with the Lord.
He has not left me.
Not. Even. Close.
But the season has changed for a time.
I am doing my best to embrace this season, but it has been harder than I thought it would be. Don't get me wrong, I want this. I'd rather it be easy (just being honest), but I absolutely do want to be the mother of these 4 precious children. I want to use this time to pour into Mia while she is still at home. I want desperately to walk in obedience. It is where the Lord has called me. It was clear to me that the Lord asked me to give these things up for a time and so I have. In return I have gained sweet time with my newest little girl.
And through it all, He is pruning me. It hurts. And sometimes it seems like the prettiest branches are the ones that He cuts off.
To make room for new growth.
Richer, more fruitful, beautiful growth.
That declares the work of The Master Gardener.
I am fully confident that,
even in the midst of the difficulty,
it is right,
and ultimately,
it is for my good and for His Glory.
And for that I am grateful.
Below are some pictures from October...
the one with Grandma & Boppa & the kids did not go so well as I asked them to stare into the sun - oops!
October was busy and fun. As I celebrated my birthday, Mia had her first experience watching presents being opened and candles being blown out. She seemed to take it all in. My parents surprised me (not Steve) and walked into the birthday lunch that Steve had planned for me and the girls. It was super fun and I was REALLY surprised. They also donated their babysitting services so that Steve could take me out for dinner - another great blessing. Thanks Mom & Dad!
This past weekend was quite an adventure. I headed solo to Door County with the kids - a first for Mia. My parents were there to help with and add to the great adventures. The boys enjoyed long hikes along the Eagle Trail with Grandma & Boppa. And the girls enjoyed countless books and many, many games with them too.
While there, Mia spent A LOT of time in the pool. She was incredibly nervous- terrified actually - but she did remarkably well. She definitely does not like to feel out of control (which makes a whole lot of sense for a girl who has had her world pulled out from under her so many times in her short life). She warmed up as the days went on...especially in the kiddie pool.
The crew also got to go to a costume parade and trick-or-treat throughout the shops of Fish Creek. Mia loved dressing up and practiced over and over her "ick or reat" and "thank yous." She was not at all a fan of anyone with a mask on. The scary decorations and costumes were rough on her as well. I think it actually stressed her out pretty badly. That made for a lot of carrying by the Boppa and the momma, but in the end, she was quite pleased to watch candy get dropped into her bucket. =)
Saturday, will be 3 months since we have been home from China. It is hard to believe. Mia is now talking CONSTANTLY. Her vocabulary is growing quickly, but often times we still struggle to understand her. She is much like a chattering two year old - it requires some effort to figure out the words she is using, but she definitely has a lot to say. Her very first full sentence was "no more monkeys jumping on the bed." (Chloe LOVES reading that book out loud to her.) Needless to say, it took a while for me to figure that one out. =)
We are beginning to consider and pray about school options for Mia come January. We are not sure what she is ready for nor are we sure of all our options. It may start with a few hours per week depending on how Mia responds. Please pray that it is a clear decision and a smooth transition.
We are busy.
Sometimes it is really hard.
Somedays it seems like I was absolutely made for this.
Other days I wonder who ever thought that I could be the mother of 4 children.
This fall has been very different for me. I have had to give up some things that mean a lot to me. The most difficult has been giving up teaching (or even attending) women's Bible study on Wednesday mornings. I miss it terribly. I miss the hours and hours of time in The Word. I miss the ladies. I miss the fellowship.
More than anything, I miss the intimacy with the Lord.
He has not left me.
Not. Even. Close.
But the season has changed for a time.
I am doing my best to embrace this season, but it has been harder than I thought it would be. Don't get me wrong, I want this. I'd rather it be easy (just being honest), but I absolutely do want to be the mother of these 4 precious children. I want to use this time to pour into Mia while she is still at home. I want desperately to walk in obedience. It is where the Lord has called me. It was clear to me that the Lord asked me to give these things up for a time and so I have. In return I have gained sweet time with my newest little girl.
And through it all, He is pruning me. It hurts. And sometimes it seems like the prettiest branches are the ones that He cuts off.
To make room for new growth.
Richer, more fruitful, beautiful growth.
That declares the work of The Master Gardener.
I am fully confident that,
even in the midst of the difficulty,
it is right,
and ultimately,
it is for my good and for His Glory.
And for that I am grateful.
Below are some pictures from October...
the one with Grandma & Boppa & the kids did not go so well as I asked them to stare into the sun - oops!
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