We're Home
September 3, 2007  |  November 18, 2007

Sunday, November 18, 2007 I have been delayed in my final update for our website and several people are waiting to hear how our daughter is doing so I apologize. I don’t know why I have delayed except that I have so enjoyed being a part of this group of families. Following these “journey’s of a lifetime” has been my lifeline and point of sanity since November of 2005 when we submitted our own dossier to China. I feel emotionally attached to everyone and the finality of this last post makes me sad. I do promise however that I will continue to check in on everyone and pray for those traveling as I always have. So, on to how our little Ju-lie Grace is doing. It is surely an understatement to say that our lives have changed radically since she has come home. Each of us has made room in our hearts to love her more deeply than we could have ever imagined. She has brought joy into our lives that we never would have never known if it were not for being parents or big brothers to her. She has been seen by her physician and all testing and exams reveal a normal, healthy baby. Praise the Lord! Her personality is unfolding little by little and what a joy to behold. This little one has quite a personality! She makes us laugh all the time with her budding sense of humor. Her energy is boundless, sometimes to the point where I need the nap, not her. She has a great appetite and shames her big brothers with all the things she likes to eat. Most of the time she is pretty outgoing . Once in awhile she can be shy, this is fine with me. The only area of concern we have is sleep. Since she has come home, she has not slept through the night. She doesn’t wake for long, just a stirring. Mostly to see if we are there and affirm our physical presence. So sleep does not happen in abundance in our household. But with a “tween” and a “teen”, we are regularly up late retrieving or waiting for them to come home anyway. Guess we timed that one right. So to review the last three months since we came home from China in a word, it would be busy. On Labor Day weekend, right after we returned home, we took our first trip to the lake as a family of five. Ju-lie did not want much to do with the water but loved the beach and playing with her new friends. We had many friends and family visit that month. It was crazy and tiring as we all adjusted to our new lifestyle. Returning to school was hard for the boys, not wanting to give up their precious time with their baby sister. The highlight of her day then, and now too, is when they come home. They scoop her up, smooch her cheeks, spin her around and she returns their affections with a big kiss and girly giggles. It still melts my heart each time I watch them together. Also in September we went to the local Balloon Festival held every year. This was Ju-lie’s first trip in our RV and she loved it. She was in awe of the big balloons, especially the doggie. That is one of her favorite words. We’ve waited so long to share this annual event with her and have her meet all of our traveling friends. In October we made a trip to the Pumpkin Patch. This is a special place as we have been going there for years, since our 17-year-old was a toddler in fact. Now the cycle is complete as Ju-lie has made her visit too. Also in October we had Ju-lie’s dedication at our church. She wiggled and squirmed during the prayers and did not stay still for a moment. So, we do not have many pictures to mark the event. Now we’re wondering how her Christmas portraits will be! In November we have slowed the pace quite a bit. It has been nice to have quiet family evenings snuggling up under a warm blanket. Or to play outside in the leaves then come inside and eat hot, homemade soup. Ju-lie also experienced another first this month. We took a family hike up Hadley Peak. She did very well. I’m sure this is just the first of many more for her. Sometimes the best things are the simplest things. They hold life’s cherished moments. This is a good place for me to sum up our journey thus far. Each day is one to cherish for us. Our oldest son has one more year home before going off to college. Our youngest son has just begun attending junior high. And Ju-lie is rapidly becoming less of a baby and more of a toddler each day. Three children, three very different phases of life. But we wouldn’t have it any other way. Each day is a blessing, each child too. Having Joe and Jennifer host this site has provided an invaluable link to our family while we were in China. And it will be a priceless keepsake for Ju-lie when she is old enough to ask questions. There is no way I would have been able to do it myself. Neither would I have wanted to take that precious bonding time away from our daughter to do the updates while in China. But now that we are all home and settled in I have decided to try my hand at blogging. The address is fivelindylane.blogspot.com, if you are interested in stopping by as we continue our journey.

Look, Mom finally got a bow in my hair! Early AM at the BalloonFest Sunny Smiles My First Summit I Love My Kittys

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