Ivy's Daddy

Ivy "lubbs" her Daddy as she so sweetly states. We celebrated his birthday this weekend so I thought I'd post this picture taken on Fathers Day. (Her hair has grown so much since this photo was taken. Stay tuned for pigtail pics!) Ivy thoroughly enjoys family birthdays and is the self-appointed 'pass out the presents' person. She was hesitant to warm up to Daddy early on, since undoubtedly she hadn't been around men. But he quickly stole her heart. When Daddy leaves for work, Ivy hollers (and I mean HOLLERS), "I NEED A KISS!" Daddy is known for creating the color tickle game. We had been reading a book teaching her colors for some time. She just couldn't seem to learn the colors. I had about decided she was color blind. Then Daddy so brightly tested her with tickles. He asked, "What color is this?" When she responded with her usual "I don't know" he proceeded to tickle her. Oh how fast she blurted out all her colors in an effort to end the tickles. The stinker knew them all along. So now she begs Daddy each night for the color tickle game, and she plays dumb just long enough to survive some tickles.

Ivy doesn't know all that her Daddy did to make her adoption happen. He interviewed numerous agencies, compiled the vast number of documents, and did all the adoption paperwork himself. Someday we'll tell her all about it...even the part where he passed kidney stones on the flight home from China. But he would want me to tell you that he's far from perfect. One of our complaints with social media is that we paint perfect pictures of ourselves. We are a family of sinners who God is faithfully redeeming. We're thankful for a Daddy who is serious about redemption. Happy Birthday Daddy, and thank you for bringing Ivy home. 

 "Adoption is the visible gospel." John Piper

Taken with my Nikon D5000

Favorites

I found the girls playing with my phone on this 4 month "Gotcha Day" anniversary. So here's a couple of my favorite girls talking about their favorites.

This special day

It's hard to believe that today, July 16th, we celebrate three months since we met Ivy and she joined our family. Also on July 16th, twenty-six years ago, our oldest daughter entered this world. How very blessed we are. This picture of the girls isn't the best quality, and it wasn't planned and posed. What I like about it is that it shows some of the things I love most about my girls. They know how to have fun and laugh, and they love each other deeply. And recently I have been able to witness their strength of character, and their hearts for Christ, in their acceptance and love for Ivy. It isn't always easy to bring a new five year old sister into the family. It has it's challenges. But these girls have made it look easy. They constantly choose to love. I am inspired daily by their willing, open hearts. (My guys are also amazing...I just didn't happen to have a picture of them!)

My first baby..July 16, 1986
(hey, don't laugh..those glasses were stylin')

My newest baby...April 16, 2012

"Our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace." -Psalm 144:12

Summer lovin'

Ivy loves the pool. It's hands down her favorite activity.

All the way home from church on Sunday she pleaded, "Daddy, pool water?" (No longer to be confused with "Water Cup"!)

She's settling in to our family very well. And boy are we enjoying her.

She's truly a remarkable little girl. She's smart, funny, adaptable, easy to please, and quick to forgive. She does have quite a strong will. I think she was able to get the attention of her caregivers by using her charm, loud voice, and iron will. It served her well. Here at our home we're working on changing some of that, well most all of that. She no longer has to be charming and loud to get attention. And her iron will? She's softening and learning that she doesn't have to be in control to be safe. All of this is hard work. Yes, adoption is hard. We knew it would be, we just didn't know exactly what hard would look and feel like. Now after turning the corner on our first month, we are enjoying some fruits of our labor. The victories are so much sweeter when you've struggled hard to get there. That must be how Ivy feels. Sorrow turning to joy. We are so proud of her. She's some girl.

"The hard does not minimize His goodness but allows us to experience His goodness in a whole new way." Katie Davis .."Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption"

  Taken with my Nikon D5000

Happy 5th Birthday, Ivy!

What a day it was...seeing Ivy open a present for the first time in her life. She wasn't even sure how to do it. She kept acting surprised that this celebration was really all for her! Even the cards were such treasures to her. She continues to look at them several times a day. I don't know who had more fun, Ivy, or her family, who witnessed the surprise and joy in her face.

"Orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names.

They are easier to ignore before you see their faces.

 It is easier to pretend they're not real before you hold them in your arms.

 But once you do, everything changes.."

~David Platt

3 weeks home

I see the remarkable changes in Ivy each and every day. But when I saw this photo of her I saw it in her face..like a flower that just opened. What a joy to watch her blossom. The toil of tending the garden is so rewarding.

“I am waiting and God is teaching me this: I beg Him to bring me close to His heart, to even transform my heart that it might be more like His.  I think orphan care gets us close, because He sees us as orphans.  I think adoption gets us close, because this is how He brings us into His family.  The poor, the beggar, the widow, the prisoner, they get us close to His heart because these people are so dear to Him."  Katie Davis.. Kisses from Katie..A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption

P.S. The Archibald Project interviewed us : https://www.facebook.com/TheArchibaldProject If you're on Facebook please "Like" this ministry! They are passionate about adoption!

Airport Homecoming Pics

"God has a way of using inadequate people, and sometimes He calls us to reach a little higher or to stretch a little further, even when we feel we can’t do any more. We simply trust Him. And then, He gives us everything we need to do the “more” that He is asking of us."
Kisses from Katie.. A story of Relentless Love and Redemption by Katie R. Davis

One week home!

It's hard to believe we've been home a week. Ivy has done remarkably well in many ways. She is developmentally delayed in some areas, due to lack of exposure. It's hard to imagine an almost 5 year old that has never seen 'stuff' just lying around, such as a picture frame, house decor, toothpaste, anything and everything. So everything needs examined for the first time just as a young child would do. She has no reference for the stove being hot, knives being sharp, or the idea that some things are dangerous to put in your mouth. Have you ever tried removing White-Out from a child's eyelids and lashes? It's not as easy as it sounds! The stuff is not water soluble. But she is very smart and learns quickly. She is extremely advanced at observing details and emotionally sensing situations. She doesn't miss anything! I'm sure these are things survivors learn to do.

Her hardest adjustment is sleeping. The first couple nights she slept out of total exhaustion. Now we are facing sleep issues that are very common in children with this type of history. Fortunately she is allowing us to comfort and cuddle her. There are many hurts to heal. We are privileged to be the ones that get to teach her what love and family are all about. Every sight, sound, smell, taste and person in her world is different. That's just plain scary. Clearly she enjoys so many new things in our home, but feeling safe and secure will take time.

Ivy has mastered the following English words: Hi, Bye, Potty, Eat, Doll, Good Job, Uh-oh, All Done, Apple, Banana, I Love You,  and here's my two favorites.."Amen" and "Are you Okay?"  We were shocked when Emma tripped and Ivy asked her if she was Okay! The other night she did something, and I said to Dan, "She's really bright".  Ivy immediately repeated, "She's really bright!".  She often says an unidentifiable Chinese word in front of "Mama". It sounds like she's saying "Crazy Mama".  Everyone gets a laugh out of that. It's an appropriate title these days! She hums 'Jesus Loves Me' throughout the day, and can identify her head, eyes, nose, mouth, hands, knees, tummy, feet, and her water cup. She loves all the foods we give her, even green smoothies which she begs for. The kids get a kick out of that and try to give theirs to her! The only food she's rejected so far is avocado. She acted like that was pretty strange. She begs for fruit of all kinds which is like dessert to her. Tonight some sweet friends brought us Chinese food, and boy or boy did Ivy enjoy dinner. It was so entertaining to watch her gobble it up.

We will post our airport pics once we get them. Here's a couple backyard shots for now. Running in the grass and playing on the play set are the highlights of her day.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit -Psalm 34:18

“As I do what I can, I am able to watch Him do what only He can.”

 from  'Kisses from Katie' A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption