Mayana update & Happy Mother's Day

To all you moms, expecting moms, and future moms ... a very happy Mother's Day!

Almost exactly one year ago - at beginning of May 2008 -- we were studying a photo and brief description of a girl on the other side of the world - she was nearly 7 1/2 years old. Boy, was she cute! And God certainly was shining His light on her. But our hearts were not quite ready to commit fully. W e wrestled with the decision for a few days ... "Should we say YES? Or should we wait? After all, we never really considered adopting a child this old." I wrestled with a desire for a younger child - more cuddly and dependent. In the end, though, we could only say "YES!' Her destiny and ours were intertwined, it seemed. So we sent our letter to China. "Yes, we want to adopt her."

While only one year has passed and only a few months have passed since returning from China, we can hardly imagine life without our beautiful blessing, Mayana, who lights up the room with a radiant smile and loves to hug us all.

Mayana started sounding out words today – enough to put into two short sentences. “This cat is sick. This cat is sad.” Yeah, Mayana!!

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Interesting things that Mayana has told us.

• She told us today that she had three different foster mommies – three different houses – before she went back to the SWI (orphanage). She had foster brothers and foster sisters, all younger than her – ages baby to age 4. She helped to take care of her younger siblings, including a baby. (“I know how to do-a baby. Like dis!” she says, cradling an imaginary baby in her arms. She is all smiles!)
• One time her foster family took her and her foster siblings to the beach. They did not go in the water. They (she and her little foster sister) were too little. (She saw a picture of us at the beach, at Tybee Island, GA, and that prompted the memory. ("I go "dare" in China. Can Mayana go dare? – Grace, Lia, Mommy, Daddy? Tomorrow?")
• At the SWI they had big bowls of food on the tables where many children sat, and they could take lots of food from the bowls. The food was good.
• Mayana slept in a bunk bed, top bunk, with Gabbie (Mao Huan He) on the bottom bunk.
• They did not see snow in China; it would get cold for only a little while, and then it would get hot again. It was sunny most of the time.
• There were “two houses” at the orphanage. The older kids went to the “house” where they did math (she says math but means “school work”). But where Mayana stayed, they did not do school work. (“In China Mayana no do math. Big girls do math. Not Mayana. Mayana in little house. Littles no do math.”)

Funny things Mayana says.

AnneMarie told Grace & Lia, “When Molly comes, you can’t hog her.” Mayana asked, “Why no hug Molly? Mayana no can hug Molly?” she says with a frown.

“Mommy, I go you. Why no go you, Mommy?”

Several months ago, when Kayla did not serve her the food she desired at lunch time. “I go China. I tell - You no feed Mayana!”

“You taka picture me. Send to China. To teacher in China. Lotsa pictures Send to China.”

“I help you maka food. I lika maka food.”

“Gwacie no cleana da woom.” - Grace did not clean the room.

I lika dat one. Dat one over dare. Dat one beautiful! Mommy giva Mayana?”

I lika da orangies.

• Mayana still enjoys most everything - all kinds of food, every outing and adventure, time alone in the yard, time playing with sisters, inside or outside, drawing, cutting, pasting, etc, - but one of her favorites is cooking with Mommy. She is a seriously good helper, too, great chopping vegetables, cleaning things, mixing things, etc.

I could go on, but we're just so busy living the life that it is nearly impossible to find time to write about it. Have a blessed Mother's Day!!