Happy Easter!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Bless You Mommy

A couple of evenings ago I was in the kitchen doing kitchen things.  Jadyn has perfected being under my feet in such a short amount of time.  She loves to be right where the action is. No matter what I am doing, she is somewhere close by.  Because we're coming up on Thanksgiving, things have been particularly busy in the Hood kitchen.

I had my hands full and felt a sneeze coming on.  Loudly, out it came without much warning.  I tried to stifle it, but it was pretty loud and boisterous.

"Bless you Mommy" was Jadyn's response to my sneeze.

 In her sweet, tiny little voice - Jadyn "blessed" me.  I  held back a tear or two and my heart felt very full.  Jadyn responded to my sneeze and I realized among the dishes in the sink and the milk spots on the floor that God has truly blessed me, more that Jadyn will ever understand.    Oh, my sweet child,  I am blessed.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Bless you,

Happy Anniversary Chief

June 29, 1985, was the day that we promised before God and our family and friends to love each other for the rest of our lives.

23 years ago today, wow, it seems like a lifetime ago and then again, it seems like only yesterday. There have been many ups and downs in our marriage, but one thing remains true, we have continued to love each other with reckless abandon and live life to the fullest. What changes 23 years has brought us, spiritually, personally and physically. We have grown in our faith and our relationship with the Father by leaps and bounds. We have grown as individuals and as a couple, I love Pat more today that I ever did the day we married. It's amazing how love grows like that. 23 years ago, I didn't know that I could love someone like that, I can't wait to see what the next 23 years bring. :) Oh yeah, and we're in our 40's now, so if you are there, you know all about the changes physically. A wrinkle or two here, a pound or so there! But I must say, it all gets better with age.

Pat, you are the love of my life. Thank you for being my husband and my best friend. You're the one that I share my hopes and my dreams, my struggles and my frustrations, and my victories and my excitement with. We just get each other. Who would have ever though that we would be beginning again with a second family, traveling the world (COME HOME!), and still enjoying every minute that we're together (okay, most every minute).

Sometimes we argue, disagree and we always think that the other one is at fault, but one thing's for sure, we always love. I can't wait until you are back home with us, I've missed you terribly. Happy Anniversary Baby, I love you with all my heart.

Happy Father's Day

I couldn't let the day go by without saying Happy Father's Day to all you Dad's. My Dad is celebrating today with his earthly Father and his heavenly Father and I miss him very much. He was a great Dad and he and I had a very special relationship, I was the baby you know! Dad's are very special, especially to daughters. I am thankful that Pat now has a daughter to share that special father/daughter relationship. Thank you God for blessing me with such a wonderful Dad and thank you Pat for being the Father of my children. I love you.

This Is What Two Looks Like!

This is what two looks like when she gets up in the morning!

This ...

...and this is what 2 looks like while she is playing at church.

This is what two looks like in her "birthday shirt"!

This is what your "loot" looks like when you are 2.

This is what two looks like when she blows out her candle, over and over and over!


This is what two looks like feeding her new baby doll.

This is what two looks like when she is tired of having her picture made.

This is two getting ready for bed with her "cheese" grin.

Sweet dreams two, you make my heart smile.

My sweet, sweet baby girl. I love you so very much and I can't believe that you are two already. What changes you have made since you were first placed in my arms. You have come so far. I can't wait to see what is yet to come. I thank God for you every day. You have brought us more joy that we could ever imagine. You are the light of our lives.

I pray so many things for you, my child. I love you with all my heart.

Mommy

Happy Birthday to our Addie Mei!

Today is a very special day. Jadyn's best buddy is 3. I've spoken of their antics before. What fun it is to have a friend to share things with.

Happy Birthday Addie Mei, we love you very much!

Happy Easter

So, yes, I realize that it is Tuesday already and I have not yet posted any pictures of Jadyn on Easter. She was a little under the weather, but over the top with cuteness!! She was by far, the prettiest Chinese princess that we have ever seen.

She started her morning at 6:00 a.m. with a fever, so we knew that it was not going to be a good thing. She felt pretty good off and on, but most of the day she was just sort of blah. But, thankfully, we think we have isolated the culprit and it seems that there is a terrible molar peeking through that gum. Looks like tooth #17 is on it's way through!

Meanwhile, enjoy the pics.

Yes, she is STANDING on her changing table. Why? Because she wanted to, of course!

Chilly Easter afternoon!

Sweet girl!

And yes, in case you are wondering, I did make her dress!

Thanks for reading!

Amy and the Princess

Merry Christmas to All

and to all a good night.

Jadyn is preparing herself for bedtime with some of her Daddy's tea. She is totally oblivious to what is about to take place. I can't wait to see her in the morning, what will it be like? Will she be overwhelmed? Will she be excited? How will she react. Stay tuned for the excitement! I'll post more picture later and maybe even a video or two (if I can get that one figured out).

Merry Christmas Eve,
Amy

All I Want For Christmas...

...is for you to beat it!

This is our attempt to get a picture with good old Saint Nick and just as I expected, it was not high on Jadyn's to do list for the day. I'm sure she was thinking "who is this guy anyway?"

So, that jolly old man in the red suit was most accomodating and allowed Jadyn to "steal" his seat while he went behind the curtain. We tried to get her to smile and of course, my smart little girl had it all figured out. This was when she looked up and saw him there, the rest of them she had free flowing tears. Well, Mr. Claus was not the least bit offended and still gave Jadyn her favorite thing in the world, a sucker. So all in all, I'm pleased with the outcome.

So Much to be Thankful For

If I listed all the things that I am thankful for, the list would be practically endless. But, the picture above says it all. This is what makes my heart overflow with gratitude, my precious family. I am truly blessed.

From the Hood Family of 5 to your family,

Happy Thanksgiving from the bottom of our hearts.

We love you all!

Happy Halloweeeeeeen!

What a night it has been. Jadyn is learning first hand about the really strange things we do in this country, and she is thinkings it's not half bad.

The dilemna of the day was what to wear, what to wear? She had 3 costumes to choose from, but we settled on what we think was the coolest.

Biker Babe J

Here is the biker babe in all her glory. We went on a hay ride with some friends and had a great time. She got a little fussy, so we hopped off and headed home on foot, luckily, we hitched a ride from the Neas'. Jadyn and I sat on the front steps and handed out candy. She unwrapped about 42 dum dums - which I'm still wondering why I bought a whole bag of those given her current obsession with dum dums. She has to have one for each hand - twice the sticky, twice the fun! And she eats on both of them.

The unwrapping of the Dum Dums!

The Zehr's came over and the kids enjoyed sitting on the porch, handing out candy, unwrapping dum dums, and posing for the camera. Here's some cute shots of the whole crew. A good time was had by all, except that Ashley ended up with something chewed up on her hand that we're not sure what it was, probably a dum dum.

Jadyn is fast asleep, I'm sure that I have a dum dum stuck to me somewhere that I'll find later, and all is well. Good night friends, loved ones and trick or treaters. Jadyn says thanks!

To Share One Moon

Happy Mid Autumn Moon Festival Day. And to think, you didn't even know it was a holiday!

September 25, 2007 marks the celebration of the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival and is the second most important holiday in the Chinese culture. The Chinese Moon Festival is very much like Thanksgiving in North America. Families join together and admire the bright, full moon, while eating sweet moon cakes and enjoying one anothers company.

Under this full moon friendships are renewed, families are reunited, and long lost lovers find their way back to each other. Under the bright moonlight, the families toast each other, family togetherness and wish peace for everyone. Familes also reflect on those family members that cannot be with them on this special night. If only for a brief time, they can be joined together by looking at the same moon. It's a time for reflection on the bounty of the harvest, loved ones, and to wish our families and friends well. This holiday is celebrated by nearly everyone in China, both young and old, rich and poor.

There are many legends and myths from thousands of years ago, but as time has passed, families celebrate much like we celebrate Thanksgiving, with food, family and friends and thankfulness. Chances are, tomorrow, Jadyn's birth mother and father will celebrate this very special Chinese holiday. Teaching Jadyn the Chinese culture is important to us, while teaching her from a Christian perspective. Quite likely, her parents will gaze at the moon and reflect on family members both near and far. Something in my heart tells me that her birthmother will long to know if she is okay. She will think of that very small bundle that she carefully placed at the gate of the orphanage and wonder where she is, is she safe, is she cared for? Having a mother's heart myself, tears fill my eyes as I reflect on the uncertainty she must have in her heart.

So, tomorrow night, I will go out onto my back patio, with the daughter that God blessed us with, and I will hold her close and pray this prayer.

"Father, you are the Creator of all things. The earth, the sun, and the moon are Yours. Thank you for the blessing of this child. As I look at the moon that You placed in the heavens, I ask you to bless Jadyn's birth family. But especially Father, wrap her mother in Your arms tonight. Lord, I pray that if tears fell from her eyes as she looked at the moon, that You dry them. Father, I pray that she will find comfort in You and You alone. As it is only from You that we find perfect peace. Help her to know in her heart that Jadyn is cared for and loved so very much. Give her that peace that passes all understanding. Father, you allowed her to give us the most perfect gift - the gift of Fu Bao Jun - Jadyn Grace BaoJun Hood, and for this gift we will be eternally grateful. Thank you for this gift."

I will reflect on my family, both far and near, on a family in China that we will be forever linked to, and on God's blessings. So, if you happen to notice that beautiful full moon, say a prayer of peace and thanksgiving.

With a very grateful heart,

Amy