Time flies

We will be celebrating our 8 year "forever family" adoption anniversary in less than a month. 

I seriously can't believe how quickly these years have flown by.  We're on the last few months of Emma's senior year too.  Sigh.

Sisters...

Sisters are joined 

HEART to HEART!

Life is definitely more FUN with a sister...

Tea party
November 1977

Thank you God... for sisters!

~ A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost. ~
Marion C. Garretty

Sibling Love...

My blog has quite the mix of readers (especially a certain special 12 year old that lives in my house) and so I'm pretty careful with the topics I decide to write about. When we first came home with Josie, it wasn't all roses. We were struggling with severe medical issues, crazy night terrors and sibling rivalry that was downright heart breaking.

Last night after the girls were in bed, Chris and I were discussing just how wonderful things really are between our our two girls. It's exactly what I used to dream about when I pictured finally having two daughters and being a family of four.

For the most part, Josie has always been obsessed with her big sister.

She bonded with Emma immediately in China and I still believe that taking her out of school and bringing her with us, was the best thing we could have ever done.

That being said, our first year home wasn't smooth. We're now on year two and I can honestly say that their relationship has elevated to a whole different level.

Without being asked, Emma often plays with her much younger sister, offers to let her wiggly/noisy little sister sleep in her new pre-teen bedroom, and always makes good on reading a few bedtime stories (especially when her little sister isn't feeling well). She has learned to be patient and share the spotlight (which isn't an easy thing to do when you are an only child for nearly 10 years).

Believe me it's not always perfect, but it's magical and we're so proud of Emma.

Thank you for being such a good role model and big sister to Josie.
We love you very much!

Monday Musings...

We had 2 animals taking naps in the sunshine at our house last Saturday.

I hope your weekend was relaxing one. How many more days until the weekend?

PS. I'm trying to remain positive. I was hoping to come home from work this evening and see new carpeting installed in Emma's bedroom. Nope. It didn't happen AGAIN. The cement board is laid for our mudroom and half-bath/laundry and the entire house stinks of God knows what kind of glue, but there isn't carpeting in Emma's room...sigh. We're ALL ready to have one part of this construction project come to closure. Stay tuned...

PSS. Did I tell you that Emma has been teaching Josie addition? I'm not kidding. Josie can add objects together. She's 3 and she can do math! I swear Josie is trying to read too. Emma is such a natural born teacher.

Emma...you are one amazing BIG sister!!

Don't forget March 2nd is Dr. Seuss's birthday. How about celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday by starting off the day with a book? I don't think I can get my family to eat green eggs and ham. Don't forget my dollhouse give-away. The drawing is 3/3 at 6pm EST.

A Special Letter from Emma to Josie

Emma was given a homework assignment to write a letter to someone special. She chose to write a letter to Josie.

Dear Josie,
Thank you very much for everything you do for me. Although you can't read yet, I still want to thank you for brightening my day and showing me how much you love and care about me.

I want you to know I secretly love it when you keep touching my stuff and trying to talk to me when I'm doing my homework and say crazy things. I always listen and make comments in my head of how much I love you. Everyday I wake up knowing that I'm the big sister, whether I like it or not. I always am so amazed that a little girl can pull through such a hard heart surgery or life as an orphan.

Thank you for being my baby sister. I love you.



Your big sister, Emma.

Flashback Friday

I'm always in awe at how much the girls have changed in one year...especially J.   Amazing what heart surgery, proper nutrition (some extra hair) and lots of love can do for a child. 

Happy Friday and soon-to-be Mid Autumn Moon Festival! 

Please visit Mia's blog. They've had some additional set-backs which require Mia to undergo another procedure. Both Melinda (the Mommy) and Mia could use some extra prayers right now.

This never gets old...

Normally, Chris does drop-off and pick-up from daycare. This was Josie's reaction when Emma and I surprised her at daycare.

I can't tell you how seeing their happiness melts all my daytime stress. It makes all those years of waiting and struggling to be a family of four, a far distant memory. 

This is what it's all about....

It's been a long week at work (next week is going to be even worse) but when I came home and saw my two girls so happy with each other, everything was good with the world again.







Bring on the weekend!!!

Wordless Wednesday

5 month sister anniversary

As of August 16th, Emma has officially been a big sister for five months. Although we have our moments of jealousy and frustration, the girls adore each other. The age difference is far bigger than Chris and I ever wanted, but we couldn't be more in love with our girls'.

In honor of our five month Josie day, I've gone through some of my favorite sister pictures from our China trip and compiled a very short video of the girls taken our first 24 hours after we received Josie.


Emma helping feed Josie on our first night together

Nanchang Day 2 with Josie

Nanchang Day 3 with Josie

Playing with dolls in our White Swan Hotel room

Sneaking in a kiss at the White Swan Hotel breakfast buffet

Navigating stairs with Josie at the White Swan Hotel


Every night before bed, Emma insists on "one more kiss" which turns into "several more kisses" on her sister's head. It just melts my heart watching this bedtime ritual. Happy five months, Josephine Xue Kenward!