Keep it up.
We have your sun.
We play outside,
even in the moon
and in the sunshine
because of you, Jesus.
Oh, yeah.
(You think that’s cute? You should hear it to music. Melts a mommy’s heart.)
Drew’s song
Archives for June 2011
Branda, Man Yu, Good Stuff
Happy birthday, Branda. It’s no longer your birthday where you are. But, since it’s Wednesday the 29th still where I am, happy birthday to a woman with a heart that overflows for that which makes His heart overflow.
Branda’s son John is from the same orphanage as our dear Lydia. And, I’ve so enjoyed getting to know Branda since January 2010 when we were first matched with Lydia and desperate for any information we could find about Baoji, Shaanxi, China. Branda has been such a help and encouragement from that point on–and I know she is that for many.
A few days ago, after lots of paperwork and waiting and more waiting and fundraising and doing all that is required in order to bring a child home, Branda and her family met Gabby, the 8 year old daughter they have been working so hard to bring home. Go here to read about the moment they received her. It’s moving and describes so well the experience of welcoming an older child into your family.
Hours ago, Branda watched her new 8 year old daughter Gabriella–Man Yu–say goodbye to her foster family, an event that was heart wrenching for everyone there. Go read their newest post and leave them some encouragement while you are there.
Jiayin Designs joyfully (loads of joy) contributed to Branda’s big fundraising raffle on her blog to raise travel expenses for their family. The winner’s custom charm (“Mama”) arrived Saturday. And, just today, I finished up the homeland tee shirt (which turned out stinkin’ cute on the lime green tee) included in the bundle with the other good stuff. Love that it’s all finished up and getting packed up to send out to Danae (who HERSELF is posting her last blog post from China, coming home with TWO little ones!) on Branda’s birthday no less.
Go give them both some love!
An Owl and a Fish
Whenever the mailman comes asking for a signature for a box from China, I get a little giddy.
I love seeing the new charms that come in–charms for children still waiting in China whose mothers will wear that charm everyday until the child comes home, charms for Chinese girls who are getting older and whose families want to give them a gift to celebrate their story, charms for mothers who want to wear their child’s name proudly and share about the journey of adoption to anyone who asks.
And, sometimes, I get to see some new handiwork to try selling. And, I’m pretty excited about these that just arrived.
When we were in Guangzhou over a year ago, I found someone selling bags like this. I bought a few–one for Ashlyn, one for Lydia, and one for a niece who loves owls. After we were home, I had several admirers ask where they could get one. Helen was on the hunt for more, but she was never able to find them until now.
Isn’t it the cutest purse? The fabrics are all from Dali city in Yunnan Province in Southern China. Then, the bags are assembled in Beijing by seamstresses.
One of the Chinese names for owls is “xiao.” The characters representing “xiao” are also used in expressions relating to ferocity and bravery. Perfect for my two girls.
And, Helen also sent a few of these
I love how the drawstring part is the fish’s pucker. Cute enough for a little girl but also funky enough for me.
The fish is a symbol often seen in China. It represents wealth and prosperity because the actual word in Chinese for fish also translates to “abundance.” Specifically, the carp symbolizes strength and bravery because it swims against the current.
Hmmmm….maybe my girls will have to have both bags.
I’ll be adding these to the Jiayin Designs website in the next day or two, listing them for $20 each. If you love them as much as I do and have to have one…or two…email me and mention this post through the weekend and I’ll ship it to you for free…for abundance’s sake…and just because.
Quintessential Childhood
Poor Daddy had to take nearly a dozen store trips before he found all the hardware he needed for new bolts and all those other necessary things to ensure this thing wouldn’t just fall apart on us.
By that evening, it all looked pretty darn good though we’re still missing some landscaping and the fence that will hopefully be up soon. On Sunday…oh boy…as soon as we got home from church and the kids could change out of their Sunday best, the playground fun began.
I was tempted to get up there myself and giggle like a little girl again.
But, I found this.
Case you can’t read it — one sign said “Kid’s Clubhouse” and the other said “Keep Out Kids Only.” (And, take note of Drew’s particularly devious smile next to the second sign.)
So, that’s how it is, huh?
This actually worked the first time the kids approached the back door. The three big ones actually stopped and yelled into me to ask if they I could give them cups and a pitcher of water since they weren’t allowed in.
They even ate in there.
Well, all but one of them.
Though I may have been tempted to break the rules, climb up into that clubhouse, and eat up there myself, I was not tempted to do this.
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