Tribute to Jie Jie

"How do you memorialize your child on what would have been her 29th birthday? This is only one of a myriad of ways. I chose to update Naomi's blog with a tribute to her Jie Jie. Our precious Shasta went to be the the Lord on Monday, October 1, 2007 as a result of a fatal automobile accident. Her husband and children were with her when the accident occured, but thankfully, are physically unharmed. Eric, Olivia, and Amanda are now living with Eric's mother and struggling to find the new order in their lives. Shasta had been homeschooling both girls in the "cabin in the woods" less than two miles from where we live. Now the children are enrolled in public school in the next county and seem to be adjusting to their new routines.

This past year has been a gift from God for our family. Shasta was close enough to be "information central" when we made the big trip to get her little sister, Naomi. We had time together in such a rich way that we might not have had if they'd still lived in the next county.

There is no way to sum up a life in just a few paragraphs. Shasta lived well, loved well, and knew her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I have many, many wonderful memories that will be shared in the stories that I tell her daughters and her little sister as they grow to adulthood.

Shasta Leigh, I love you so much.
Momma

July Highlights

July is a month of milestones

Pix Fix

Here are a few recent Naomi pictures. My blog posting may be sporadic for awhile. Miss Naomi is VERY JEALOUS of my computer time. She is doing well and amazes us every day. Her vocabulary is increasing and her eye for detail is awesome! We are so very blessed that she is part of our family. Reflection on how God orchestrated all the circumstances for this precious child to be our daughter is humbling.

MOTHER'S DAY

This day was a day I've waited for and dreamed of for a very long time. My baby girl was in my arms at last, and her Daddy and I publicly dedicated her to the Lord and committed ourselves to bringing her up in a loving Christian home in the presence of and with the blessing and support of our church family.

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4) How this Scripture verse has sustained me through the years! Even in the long years of waiting for the child that would one day be ours, I found that delight in the Lord. My God kept the hope alive in my heart when I didn't want to hope anymore. I have truly witnessed great and mighty things! Blessed be the Lord!

ZOO BIRTHDAY PARTY

Naomi's first cousin, Savannah Leigh Thigpen, turned two years old on Saturday. We took Granny and went to the birthday party at the Jackson Zoo on Sunday afternoon. It sure felt like summertime! You can see all the cute little red faces having a good time. It really was fun to see so many little ones playing happily together.

The Birthday Girl

Waiting for the "petting" animals.

"What'd ya think's in there?"

"A real rabbit! Can I touch it??"

BREAKFAST WITH DADDY

On most mornings our girl has her two eggs and toast for breakfast -- don't know what I'll do when she "burns out" on eggs!! Now she's getting a bit more adventurous with food and wants a "bite" of whatever her Daddy is eating. This morning it was Hardee's special breakfast sandwich. It's pretty obvious that she was enjoying the food and the company!

JOHN DEERE FEVER

Here Naomi sits on her Daddy's favorite "boy toy." It seems the John Deere fever is quite contagous where we live. We were called to Grandma Putt's and Papa Chuck's for a special surprise for Naomi. Papa Chuck had bought the ultimate John Deere "boy toy" for his yard and also got a John Deere tricycle mower with front loader and dump cart and a John Deere cap for our little girl. It was so fun watching the faces of everyone as it was unloaded from the truck and then again when she was placed in the seat. I took a few precious pictures that I hope will capture the moment.

SMITH GIRLS MAKE SPECIAL MEMORIES

Naomi and I went to visit our Smith friends - Adele and Mallory - in Richton today and had the most wonderful time. We were treated to fantastic country cookin' at The Sweet Magnolia Restaurant, and then went to Adele's home for the children (and the Mamas)to spend time visiting and playing. It was overwith much too soon, but Naomi and I needed to get back for a quick visit with her Papaw Ned and then on to our house for a few minutes with Daddy before he left for work. Be sure to check out Adele's blog link listed "A MEI MEI FOR MALLORY" for more of the story in pictures.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN...

These pics are from our first days as a family in China. Our adoption journal where these were first posted has now expired, but I have the CD version of our story that I would be happy to share with those considering international adoption.

OUR LITTLE GIRL IS GROWING...

Playing in the Swan Room in China

Playing in Our Yard in Lake Como

We've had our sweet girl less than three months, and we're in awe of how much she's grown - physically, mentally, and socially. Looking back at the pictures from our time in China really show the difference.



I've read so many times where adoptive families say that they feel like their child has always been with them. We're in that camp now. Naomi just fits so perfectly in our family. She is loved and adored. Joy and laughter follow her. God is blessing our family so much through her and with the wonder of His goodness and love.

BETHANY ANNUAL SPRING PICNIC

Today we attended the Bethany Christian Services Annual Family Picnic at Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church in Jackson. It was our first Bethany event as a new family with Naomi. We really enjoyed meeting all the adoptive families. There were several adorable Chinese girls happily playing. We already knew Ron, Adele, and Mallory Smith, but by the end of the event we'd made so many new friends, some I'd already met online through the Yahoo groups. It is amazing to see and feel the bond between the families and know that God networked us all together to enourage and support one another.

The threatening weather kept many families away. We just loaded up the Blazer and hoped for the best. According the the report from the National Weather Service, a severe thunderstorm moved across Jackson just minutes before we drove through. We experienced only minimal rain driving and once we arrived, the sun came out and made for a beautiful day. God is good!

To see more pics from the event, follow the shutterfly link on the left.

AN EASTER STORY

What I'll remember most about this Easter was the unexpected cold snap and God's provision.


The story begins with a beautiful pink dress that Grandma Putt had given to Naomi shortly after we arrived home from China. It was to be her Easter dress. It hung in her closet for weeks just waiting to be worn to church on Easter Sunday. Grandma was always concerned that it might not fit, but I knew it would. Our girl is petite and needed the smaller size.


The warm Spring days had finally arrived and it would finally be the perfect weather to wear the pink dress - oh, and did I mention that it was sleeveless?? Who would have ever thought that "Old Man Winter" would drop in for one last visit, and on Easter weekend at that! Well, I hoped for the best since Naomi did not have a sweater for the dress - not in white, not in pink, not even in "feminine!" I'd even begun to think that we might not even get to attend Sunday services unless I could come up with an alternative dress. I had even talked to God about my dilemma.


Fast forward to Saturday morning. I was making preparations for an Easter gathering in our home that evening and had made strawberry pies for dessert. This is a dessert that I cannot make without taking one to my Uncle Billy. He's either a good liar or he really, really loves my strawberry pies! Anyway Naomi and I had taken a pie over to his house that morning and had a nice visit with my Aunt Jane. Uncle Billy was still at work at the time. As we were leaving, Aunt Jane asked me to wait, that she thought she had something Naomi could wear. What she brought out from the bedroom was the most beautiful white sweater trimmed in pink that would be a perfect companion to Naomi's pink Easter dress. The moment my eyes fell upon that little sweater, I knew God had heard and answered my prayer in the sweetest way.


Our little girl was very beautiful on her first Easter Sunday at Bay Springs Baptist Church. Thank You Father; Thank you Grandma Putt; Thank you Aunt Jane.

THE "BLOG" DECISION

This one's for you, Sam!!

Knowing that our web adoption journal was about to expire, I had been wrestling about whether to continue sharing our experiences with the online community or to slip quietly into our little family life and file the adoption journal away as a keepsake for Naomi - which was my intent from the beginning.

What I did not realize then, was how many lives would be touched by our journey to bring our daughter, Naomi Cai Heng, home from China. My anticpated "audience" was to be only our family and a few close friends - a tool we could all use to communicate while we were in China. I've since learned that many others have viewed our journal and that waiting families have found encouragement and comfort there.

It is my "waiting" friend, Samantha, who is the primary catalyst for this new blog. Believe me, I know the comfort of seeing pictures of a friend's child who is already home from China. Pictures of my friend Adele's daughter, Mallory, were always a bright part of even the darkest days of waiting. My Uncle Billy was also instrumental in my decision. He reminded me that the internet is a good way to share events and pictures with family, both near and far.

Welcome to Naomi's Niche!!