twas the night before surgery...

So today is the day! Sweet Gabe is having what will prove to be his toughest surgery to date at 7:30 EST this morning. Our prayer for Gabe is that despite the scarring, his surgeon will be able to complete the needed repair with a tissue graft from inside his mouth. Our deepest prayer for us is that God would be glorified and that our hearts would align with His will...whatever that is.

Thank you for joining with us in that prayer. We have been told via text, email, FB and in person countless times over the last few days that you all are standing with us. That you are bringing Gabe before the Father. One friend had set up a reminder on her iPhone a while back each night around 10pm to remind her to pray for Gabe. She text'd me last night with Psalm 91 to encourage us. Another precious lady stopped me at church and said that she had prayed daily for Gabe for months and would be continuing to do so today.

It moves us to tears.

We love you all. We so adore our beautiful little prince. And we appreciate your willingness to hold us up.

My sis in law helped get our other three babies to my parents' yesterday where they will stay for the week. We are still holding out hope that the repair can be done and that will mean a spica body cast for Gabe. Our thoughts were that they would be better off {and so would we practically speaking} away for the first several days post op. We are anticipating hard, long hours the first few days if all goes perfectly in the OR. Our gratitude to my family is immeasurable. Never once have they let me flounder in worrying about how to care for our other children when one of them needs us most. Never once have they said "no" or neglected to step in and handle everything logistically so that Jase and I don't have to. We are so grateful to my parents and siblings for their love for our babies.

Jase's parents came in from out of state yesterday to be a help to us. Again, anticipating in faith that the repair can miraculously take place. They are so kind to be here...to support us and love on us and Gabe. To do the day to day things that need to be done when Jase and I aren't able to. We are so grateful they are here.

Last night, in an attempt to keep Gabe awake past his bedtime so that he could snack once more before the midnight cutoff...Nana took him out on the porch to play. I snagged my camera and shot some of my favorite little prince. Whatever the outcome today, it will be a while before he is able to run and play like this. So it was good medicine. Sweet baby was pouring sweat and loving every minute with his Nana.

Jase was below us in the backyard and Gabe wanted to be lifted up to see him. He waved and said, "Hi dada!"

Then he stood watching.

As Jase squirted him with the water hose...

and sweet baby got it in the face a little by accident....

and he sought solace with his Nana and made this face....

and I was chuckling so, the shot turned out blury because then he looked at me and pointed at his wet face...

Nana cleaned him up. And we decided it was time for a bath. Soon after, I opened his goody bag from Honey...

gifts for days on end that he can open and play with while he's laid up {hopefully in a spica cast!}. Can I tell you something???

MY MOM ROCKS.

The thought and care she puts into things like this is unrivaled. I love you, Mom. Thank you so much.

His favorite gift from Honey was to be opened before the big day...a stuffed Pooh...his favorite. Oh, how he loves this thing already. So we snapped a quick iPhone picture and put our little prince down for the night...

after he fell asleep in my arms in our bed. :)

For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, 

“Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” 

Isaiah 41:13

facebook :: gabe edition

So I thought I'd throw up some of my Facebook statuses about Gabe. Because I'm a dork and I forget stuff.

The first several are from China and the rest are from home. I'm not great at blogging all of the funnies he does or even the important things I really want to remember but know will slip my mind.

I am great, however, about grabbing my iPhone and whipping out a status. But remembering to blog it?

Yeah, I stink at that.

So, Blogger.

Meet Facebook :: Gabe edition

August 30

Hello from Beijing!!! We are wiped out! It's 11:47pm here and that puts us at about 28 hours of travel! Both flights were delayed, so our luggage is out there somewhere...just not with us. Exit row rocked. We were able to Facetime with the girls {not Joel yet :( } for a few minutes. About to hit the hay and meet our guide bright and early at 8:30 to see this city! Hit a few bumps in the road today but we are resting in God's sovereign goodness AND the fact that we are right now in the same country as Gabe. To God be the glory! ♥ Love and gratitude from the other side of the world~

September 1

We hit the wall today! Waaahoo was it ever smokin' cool! We are beat {again!} and ready to sleep off our fantastic day in China. Tomorrow morning we will hop on a train to Zhengzhou where we will receive Gabe. Less than two days and we'll h

ave that sweet thing in our arms forever! To God be the glory! ♥ If you wanna see how we fared on the wall...here ya go!

September 1

Wide awake at 4:19am thinking about how tomorrow is now today and tomorrow is really tomorrow. Profound, I know. But it means that Jase and I will meet our son...in less than 36 hours. It's just pretty overwhelming to consider. Resting in God's goodness.

September 2

Who has 4 thumbs, took our first train ride ever {let alone across China!} today, got in a fender bender while in a taxi and will meet their son in a mere 11 hours? This couple! WooHoo. Our adventures continue. ♥ For HIs fame~

September 2

man. i've held it together so well until right now and i'm sitting here in the bathroom at 3:42am while jase sleeps and i can't stop crying. we're going to meet our Gabe in 6 hours. 6 hours till everything changes for our sweet boy. it's almost too much to take in and the emotion and gravity of it all has hit me hard. add to that, the Thai Tornado is about to have his Darth Vader party back home b

ecause he refuses to not turn 6 while we are in China. stinker. how we miss our babies. sorry y'all. i'm so emotional. but my heart is just breaking for Gabe and selfishly missing my Joel right now so much that it physically hurts. ready to hit this day head on and know that whatever happens, our great God will meet us there. ♥ to all~

September 3

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The Lord was and is so faithful!

September 5

Dear Cousin Claire, thanks so much for letting me borrow the Boba! I rocked it out tonight on our walk to Walmart. Well...actually, it rocked me and I slept snug as a bug on my mama! ♥ Gabe

September 7

i'm sitting in the most amazing hotel i've ever stayed in. 700 square feet of space in our room! crazy! Gabe really struggled last night being off his schedule after our flight was delayed and he missed his afternoon nap. his congestion is still bad and he had a hard time. we are heading out in 30 minutes for his visa medical exam...hoping they will give us some new meds or insight on how to help 

him maybe. they may not...it may just be to check him out generally for entrance into the States. if that's the case, we'll talk to our guide about seeing someone for him if needed. was so good to see our babies on Facetime again this morning...Gabe kissed the iPhone three times, once for each sibling. ♥ he's a keeper, this boy. a definite keeper. love to all~

September 14 via mobile

Eating lemon pie {courtesy of my mother in law!} on the sofa with Gabe at 4:30am. Jet lag is in full effect but wow...does this boy ever like pie!?! Welcome to America sweet baby! We've got some kickin' food here!

September 15 via mobile

Who would be up at 2:30am eating chocolate chip cookies and Golden Graham's? Not Gabe and I...no, never! Lol. Home sweet home is so true. Jet lag lasts a while but forever family is, well...forever! ♥

September 15

This is how we rock 2:30am. :)

September 16 via mobile

We made it till 4am this morning. :) The little prince and I have had our snack and are watching a little TV. Poor Jase has food poisoning from the plane ride home...he's sick, sick, sick. :( Hoping he will turn the corner in a few hours. He is miserable. Gabe is much better! New antibiotics and breathing treatments are working their magic! Have a wonderful Lord's Day everybody! We'll be hunkered down here. :)

September 22 near Canton

Joel introduced Gabe to the fine art of light saber fighting this morning. It was a proud moment for the Thai Tornado. Gabe picked it up pretty quickly and they both shared lots of smiles. Ah. Life is good, God is great.

September 28 via mobile

For Friday night movie night at Team R house, we're introducing Gabe to one of my faves...Mulan! He is loving it! Sooo happy our little China prince is home. Still not over it yet. ♥

October 3 via iOS

That would be Jason under the little prince and the Thai Tornado. These boys love their daddy. ♥ Blessed.

October 3 via iOS

...and then they let him out. :)

October 7 via iOS

Syd did this in the kitchen and then walked out. We heard him fussing and well...here's a Gabe in a box.

October 11

Gabe talking on my iPhone :: "*^&^$%$#^((*^&^%"
Siri :: "I'm sorry, Kam, I can't locate a pizza restaurant in Iraq."
Gabe :: "($(#*&$@&^$(#&%_#(#&"
Siri :: "I'm sorry, Kam, I can't call Iraq either."
Gabe :: Tosses the phone in the floor.
We've been wondering for weeks what this kid is saying all the time. Apparently, there's a fantastic pizza joint in Iraq and he's dying for some. ♥

October 21 via mobile

Pretty sure Gabe just said his first prayer. Of course I know that he is a mere 20 months and has limited understanding! But just pick me off the floor, please. Each night before bed, I hold him and tell him over and over that his mama loves him. He puts his head on my shoulders, his legs and feet around my waist and then I bow my head and pray for him. Every time I say "Jesus", I feel him raise u

p and watch me. When I finish and say "amen", I open my eyes to see him sporting this huge grin. Tonight when I finished, I looked at him and the same big smile was there...and then he bowed his head, closed his eyes and said, "Je Je......%#^{£~¥?£~*~*#¥!" What a precious gift he is. Oh, parents. Our children are watching. May we be found faithful as we strive to live a life of faith before our babies. ♥ And may that be the first of countless prayers our little prince will pray. "Out of the mouths of babies and infants you have ordained praise." Psalm 8:2

November 3 via mobile

Two months today! I can't believe it's already been two months since a very quiet and brave little prince was placed in our arms. This morning, with that funny smile that I adore, he sits in my lap feeding me Cheerios one by one. So grateful that he is here for forever. November is National Adoption Month and many churches will host an Orphan Sunday emphasis tomorrow {ours is next week}...if you've ever wanted answers to your questions about adoption, I'm your girl! It would be my great pleasure to sit with you {let's have coffee!} and share with you how the Lord has so beautifully grafted our sons into us. ♥

one year in heaven

I was oblivious that our sweet Seth had died on this day a year ago. I was going about life, missing him, and pleading for the healing of his heart, but trusting that it would all be okay. And the Lord had already made everything okay, perfectly. Selfishly, that's the privilege and the curse international adoption. Of your child being halfway around the world. You get the blessing of not knowing and the intense pain of truth and realization.

You always, always want to know more. Begging for news. But deep down, not wanting it to come because fear is a powerful thing to carry.

It's hard for me to fathom that this year has passed so quickly. At the time, everything seemed to be slowly spinning out of control. And it seemed that the funk in which I found myself, would never leave. I waited and prayed for the fog to lift. To see clearly. To laugh again. 

And the Lord Himself brought my laughter back.

The last week especially, my thoughts drift to sweet Seth. Dusting the guest room where his box of things lay. Opening it to see his beautiful face for the first time in several months. And then to know the date, November 10th, was coming.

Many quiet tears this week. And with them, the promise that all is well with our precious boy.

I'm at peace but he is perfected.

I'm mourning but he is rejoicing.

I'm holding onto faith but he has sight.

Though I would move heaven and earth to hold him and touch him and whisper loves in his ear, I cannot be sad about Seth's death anymore. I can't be sad that he is there and not here. It was completely within the Lord's hand and will to take him. I know that full well and I rest in His sovereignty.

Today, my tears come out of gratitude.

Praise God, I am grateful.

And it took a long time to say this.

Seth's death was best.

Best. 

Best for him, without a doubt.

Best for us because even though we weren't sure at the time, our son still waited in Henan, China.

And best for Gabe who is, at this moment, napping peacefully in his crib in our room. Dear Lord, how precious is this boy. We are blessed beyond what we deserve with his coming to us.

The beauty from ashes that I spoke of  and that the Lord's Word proclaims, is most assuredly ours today.

"to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified."

Isaiah 61:2-3

every year

So every year we do this. I can't help it. I adore fall leaf pictures! And with four of them this year, it was again a must. Not much to say about these other than I adore my babies and fall is without a doubt the best time of the year! 

Happy fall y'all!

a barista, a hippie chickie and the dynamic duo {asian version}

So late again. So much going on! But Halloween, or Candy Day as I've affectionately reasoned it to be, came and went a week ago! Our kiddies were stoked that our church held it's fall festival again this year. We don't always have one but did this year and it was pretty great. Lots of games and candy and hayrides and candy and animals to pet and you guessed it...candy. 

Kennedy has officially entered the time in her life when church fall festivals are not at all about kids her age, rather they are for her younger siblings. :( So she went trick or treating with some friends and had a blast doing so...but it hurt my heart a tiny bit that she wasn't with us. She did take a few shots with her iPhone and sent them to me that made it a little better!

Kennedy & M ready for some major candy taking!

It was a beautiful day and we of course headed outside before the festival to get the obligatory costume pictures. 

My mom drove up to go to the festival with her grandbabies...our three and sweet Claire Bear who was sporting the cutest ladybug costume you've ever seen!