Sunday, November 23, 2014

Half the Sky

While there is still no adequate substitute for a family, we are fortunate that Beilyn was part of the Half the Sky program. HTS is a non-profit organization started by an American adoptive mother after witnessing for herself the results of a child being raised in an institution... being raised without the love and nurture of a caring adult.  The program provides specialized training for the nannies and extra resources for the orphanage to help make life-changing differences in these little ones' lives.

Beilyn had a rough beginning, so much more than we know, can share, or even want to think about. She didn't enter the HTS program until she was 7 months old, about 5 weeks after her open heart surgery. The nannies keep memory books with progress reports for each of the children. We received Beilyn's memory book in the mail at the beginning of November. My heart swelled as I saw my daughter's hand prints and footprints, new photos, and new information about her time in the orphanage. We met her special nanny when we visited the orphanage, but I wish I had known then what an important part she had played in Beilyn's life. Hearing her personal accounts of everyday life with our precious Kaiyun was amazing!


A few weeks later, I woke to find a special surprise in my inbox...an email full of photos of Beilyn from April 2013-April 2014! We are sad that we do not have any photos of her prior to 7 months but the photos we have received will be treasured by us and Beilyn!  Here are just a few of my favorites...
Baby Kaiyun 💜 April 27, 2013 - blowing raspberries 💜
Taken two days before she turned 7 months
May 2, 2013 - 7 months old
June 19, 2013 - 8 months old
August 7, 2013 - 10 months old
Celebrating her 1st birthday!! So very special!
October 4, 2014 - 12 months old
December 6, 2013
Christmas Day!
January 6, 2014 - The day before we officially received her referral.
January 6, 2014 - 15 months old
February 10, 2014 - First time playing in the snow! 16 months old
Aww! I don't think she's a fan! 
February 13, 2014 - The day our official Letter of Intent was sent to China. Our LOA was received the next day. 
March 26, 2014 - 17 months old
April 2, 2014 - 18 months
April 29, 2014 - 19 months old and just days away from meeting her forever family! 
As I looked through these precious moments the first time, I thought, "If only I had seen these smiles before traveling... maybe it wouldn't have been so scary."

But then we would have missed so much... in what He did in her life and in our hearts. The valleys are so difficult when walking through them but those are the moments when we recognize our need for Him.

Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
Psalm 63:3


We are so grateful for the work HTS is doing in the lives of children like Beilyn. We didn't have to think twice about signing up to sponsor a waiting child.

How is God asking you to care for the orphans?

Click HERE to donate to Half the Sky (now called OneSky).

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Beauty for Ashes {6 months of forever}

Six months ago (yesterday), Beilyn became our daughter forever.

Beauty for Ashes... for His own Glory.

Isaiah 61:3
To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory.

Our Referral photo, Adoption Day, Now

With her head on my shoulder, I was rocking her this evening and told her "I love you" like I have so many times before but this time she said, "I yu yoo" back. ♥

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Halloween {and other Fall fun}

October 19th ~ Annabelle made us a decoration with things our family is thankful for. She asked each of us for two things and our responses included God, early mornings (I assure you that was not mine), Disney World, home, adoption, art, Leila, Mulan, Cinderella, bottle, food, and family.

October 24th ~ Braylee's feet have been bothering her for a couple of years.  I finally took her to a podiatrist since we weren't seeing any improvement with physical therapy. Poor girl has a couple of issues in both feet. He put her in orthotics and is referring us to another doctor for a second opinion on possible surgery.  In the picture below, evidently, those lines are supposed to be parallel...
After her appointment, we stopped by the Dubois Museum. It's free and my girls love it.

October 25th ~ At first, Beilyn wasn't so sure about playing in the leaves. After seeing all the crazy moves her sisters did, she decided it was pretty fun!

October 26th ~ It was perfect weather for our annual cookout and hayride at church!
All three of these girls' daddies are cousins.
Beilyn's 1st hayride! With Braylee, Ava, and Tim
Sisters to the three girls in the playground picture. Addie, Brynna, & Kari
Syd & Brielle. It's time to pull out more hand-me downs for Brielle. 😄 She's wearing 24mo jeans and sweatshirt here. ha!

October 27th ~ This little cutie is a mess maker! She gets into way more than any of the other girls did.  She is so stinkin' cute though that it's hard to be upset.
Helping mommy make burritos for dinner

October 28th ~  Pumpkin-carving time!

October 31st ~ We went to school for the big girls' Fall parade. Then it was time for trick-or-treating! It was sooo cold outside! We had to come up with new costumes for Braylee and Beilyn so they wouldn't be freezing. Braylee threw together a spy outfit all by herself. Beilyn wore a hand-me down bee costume. Brielle fell asleep in the chair as we were getting ready to leave. 😊
My little pumpkins ready for the parade.
Dorothy aka Brynna - waving to her little sisters in the stands.
Kennedy- Brynna's favorite friend in her class
With her best buddy Addie! 
Ready for trick-or-treating with their cousins
Our whole crew!
Beilyn wasn't shy! 😁 She loved it!