The Time is Here

We are loaded up and ready to go. This was in the driveway - we were planning to leave at 4:30pm and it was 4:32pm - Go Hoods! that is an accomplishment in and of itself. Of course, we were not quite out of the neighborhood and had to go back for my camera - Boo Amy! now, that's more like it. Seth was talking to my brother and sister-in-law.

Good, we made it. We are riding the people mover, on our way in the airport. Another proud moment for the Hoods!

This is quite typical of the looks that Seth gives Zachary, of course, Zac don't pay much attention to Seth's looks - after all, he's taller than Seth.

This is where things took a turn for the worse. American Airlines was not going to let him get on the plane because he did not have a Malaysian visa (which he is NOT required to have) and said that he would be deported when he got to Malaysia. We told her that we would take our chances, but apparently this AA ticket girl is in charge of the WHOLE Malaysian immigration department. I wanted to say "call them and tell him to be on the look out for him, he wearig a green shirt", but I thought it best to keep my big mouth shut. Pat was mad enough for all of us! :) She sent us to another lady who processed it right on thru, then 5 minutes later, called Seth over the intercom because the Malaysian Immigration Representative for AA (NOT) had talked with her. We went through the same dance with her and finally, she called China Air - they said "no problem" and we were on our way - again. It was, however, quite the scene.

The Zehrs, the Mills, the Overbys and our family gathered around and prayed over Seth. It was a tearful and powerful moment. Thank you guys for making the trek to the airport, you will absolutely NEVER know what it meant to us (me especially) to have that support.

One last quick family picture, not sure why Jadyn looks like she had been in a wind tunnel. I was trying to keep my composure and not fall onto the floor in a fetal position, okay, maybe it wasn't that bad - but I REALLY wanted to burst into tears.

And from here, he was on his own. Wow, he got through that security gate, turned around and waved too us, then came the tears. Seth, we are so very proud of you! We then went to Toots and stuffed our faces - food always helps you know!

Hard Days Night

Well, it's the middle of the night and I can't sleep. Big surprise, right?

Yesterday was one of the hardest days of my life. I can't tell you about how thrilled and excited I am for Seth, but as I sit here, knowing that he is somewhere over the ocean in a plane bound for Taiwan, then Malaysia, my Mother's heart aches. I'm not nervous about him traveling at all. I just want him to love what he is doing. It's the fear of the unknown for me. For those of you who don't know our story, Pat's sermon yesterday was wonderful. He shared a portion of Seth's story and it would be well worth your time to listen to it on line.

Here's the link.

Sermon - Sunday 1/6/07

What a proud and tough day it was. I will post pictures later on in the day, I really need to go to bed. Pray for Seth and for our family. God is good.

Amy

But God, He's My Firstborn...

This is what I have told God many times over the past months.

As you may or may not know, Seth, my firstborn, will be boarding a plane to Penang, Malaysia tomorrow for a short-term mission trip with YWAM (Youth With a Mission). He will be there until he returns to the states on June 16, yes, I said June! That's 5.5 months. If you know the whole story of where Seth came from, where he went, and where he is today - God is truly amazing and He is working mightily in Seth's life. How proud I am as his Mother to see what he is allowing God to do. He is truly seeking God in everything he does and he just wants to tell people about Jesus - it's that plain and simple. Seth has a story to tell - I am grateful that God is allowing him to tell it. Some time ago, he told us that he feel like God is calling him to the mission field. He is currently corresponding with a group in Africa that he is considering becoming a part of AFTER he returns from Malaysia. Wow, is all I can say sometimes.

But, then there is the reality of it all. It's a tough thing for a Mom to let her child go and experience the world, but really experiencing the world, on the other side of the world, scares the heck out of me. I am about to send him to live in a foreign country, by himself for 6 months. At times, I feel almost a choking feeling in my throat when I think about taking him to the airport tomorrow and watching him go through that security gate. He will be living with a group of people that he don't know, in a culture that he's never experienced, in a place that he's never been. Have I prepared him for life? Have I done my part as his Mother? Have I done enough? It was a decision that he made on his own. He prayed over and chose this location - it was all between him and God. But, nonetheless, he is my firstborn. Oh, I know that the God I serve is Sovereign and that He is in complete control, but I am his Mom.

I am so very proud of him and am VERY excited for him. Pray for Seth and pray for us. He is thrilled and excited, but anxious about leaving Jadyn, go figure! They have become quite close since we brought her home.

If you want to follow his blog, here is the link to it.

Seth's Blog

I would appreciate any encouragement that you can give him and comments that you leave on his blog. Pray for us as we take this monumental step in cutting the apron string.

I love you Seth and I am so very proud of you, my firstborn.

How great is our God,
Mom

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

Patience is a Virtue

I have stepped over to the other side, the Mac side that is. I am proud and excited to say that Pat and I got each other an iMac for Christmas and I am so excited. I am just vaguely familiar with a mac as that is what we used while we were in China, so I know just enough to be dangerous. But I am ready to learn.

So, meanwhile, you must be patient while I am in computer limbo. My pictures are all on the other computer, my printer is not hooked up, I don't know how to get my stuff from my old computer to the new one, but I can update my blog and email from the new one. Yay!

We are steadily preparing for Christmas and almost through with the shopping. We're looking forward to having a little one around the house again on Christmas and fully expect this year to be great. Last year was a tough Christmas as we were so close to seeing her face and knew that she would be spending Christmas alone in China, but now she's home where she belongs and a brand new kitchen (along with a few other goodies) awaits her. So, bear with me, I'll get everything up and running as soon as I figure it out.

AH

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.

Friday Photo Fun

So, I missed last week, but this week is definitely worth the wait. I actually
took the picture a week or so ago when went in to get Jadyn up for church. I
yelled for Zac to bring my camera and when he came into the room he simply said "oh my". I'll just let the picture speak for itself.

7 Months Today

Dear Jadyn,

Today you have been in our arms 7 months, my how time quickly passes. People
say that time flies when you're having fun, and boy, are we having fun!

You bring such joy to our lives and we often wonder what we did before
that special day in China that you were place in our arms. I can't believe
that it's been 7 months and that you are 20 months old today. You have changed
so much, from a little girl who could barely sit up, to a running - yelling -
talking - barrel of fun! You certainly keep us on our toes, but we wouldn't
have it any other way. We must have been some really boring people before
we brought you home.

As I reflect on Christmas, I remember how hard it was last year. Even though
we had not seen your face, we knew that God had you picked out for us and that
most likely, you were waiting for us somewhere in China. And you were. Waiting
patiently in the Fuling SWI in Fuling, China. In just a few short months after
Christmas, we saw your face. It was so hard knowing that you were in China and
we were here, we so wanted you to be with us. But, as the song says, "it's Christmas time again and now you're home". And that's just where you belong - home right here with those who adore you and will watch football and play with your dollhouse at the same time!

I love you Jadyn, with all my heart. Thank you for the past 7 months and for the unending joy that you bring into our lives. As I've said many, many times before, you make my heart smile.

I love you,
Mommy

Fuling Orphanage Video, Fuling China

This video was taken fairly recently at Jadyn's orphanage. It's
just one of the many facilities in China that these precious
children call home. Get yourself a tissue.



Last year, this song wrecked me, and this year it really starts the wheels in my head turning. Watch this video, if you have never considered adopting, listen carefully to the words - they tug at your heart strings, if you are in the process of adopting - go ahead, have a good cry, and if you have your children home where they belong - give them an extra kiss and a hug. Adoption really does change your life.

Friturday Photo Fun

Here is a picture that my brother took last week of Jadyn and me before church. It's one of my favorites.

Jadyn's Dedication Service

Friday Photo Fun

Someone knows WAY too much about the computer mouse. What's funny is that she moves it around and clicks away, like she's really doing something. Maybe she is, who knows???

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 Birthday My Love!

To day is the love of my life's 41st birthday. So in honor of the big day, I'm going to list 41 reasons that we love him so.

1. He is the funniest person I know.



2. His feet are always warm, no matter how cold the night.



3. He is my first love.



4. He's the father of my children.



5. He filled out the preliminary application for adoption and suprised me!



6. He plays "I'm gonna get you" everynight with Jadyn.



7. He prays with me.



8. He loves me like no one ever has.



9. He ALWAYS seeks the Father's face on every issue.



10. He's proud of our boys.



11. He adores "Daddy's little girl".



12. He wants to adopt again.



13. He's hot.



14. He dresses really great.



15. He does our laundry.



16. He sweeps the wood floors.



17. He has more integrity than anyone I know.



18. He's my spiritual super hero.



19. He prays for our children.



20. He prays for me.



21. He lets my dog sleep with us.



22. He loves to shop.



23. He loves shoes.



24. He spends time every day with God.



25. He leads our family.



26. He's so smart.



27. He use to be red headed.



28. He makes me laugh when no one else can.



29. He makes our children laugh too.



30. He lets me sleep with my mattress warmer on in August.



31. He always drives when we go places together.



32. He takes such good care of me.



33. He don't mind if I sleep in socks.



34. He rarely complains about my flannel sleep pants.



35. He likes the same TV shows that I do.



36. He always watches them with me.



37. He always wants me to go to bed when he does.



38. He has a heart for the lost.



39. He has a heart for orphans all over the world.



40. He is our spiritual leader.



41. He's my best friend in the world.

I could go on and on and on, but since he's only 41, I guess I'll stop there. I love you baby, with all my heart. And your children love you too. I hope you had a wonderful birthday!

Friday Photo Fun

Happy Fall Ya'll!

No One Ever Told Me

Six months ago today, you quietly came into our lives. A stranger delivered you into my arms and I quickly began to feel my fears, worries, and the stress of a two year wait begin fade away. The emotions that I felt were the same emotions that I experienced the day that both of your brothers were placed in my arms. The joy was overwhelming and the magnitude of seeing the hand of God with human eyes as 14 families gathered in a small conference room in Chongqing, China and had their lives changed forever.

What have I learned over the past 6 months? The lessons have been many, too numerous to mention here, and one day, I will share all of those lessons with you, at just the right time. The time when you want to know what I learned during the long wait for you to be born, for you to lovingly be placed at the gate of an orphanage in Fuling, China by someone who loved you very much, for your paperwork to be completed and placed on the very same desk as our paperwork, for the match to take place, for the journey to be made, and for the our lives to be forever changed. Oh, the stories I can tell.

But what is ever in the forefront of my mind are the things that no one ever told me. Those things that I wasn't prepared for even though I read, studied, researched and prepared myself to the best of my ability. Like...

...No one told that I would experience an undying gratitude to a country that I only visited for 2 weeks. That everytime I see a picture, watch a show, or simply daydream about our travels, it takes me back to a place that I have developed a love for it's beauty, culture, and it's people - China - a land that I will never forget for it has given me one of it's greatest treaures - Fu Bao Jun.

...No one ever told me that not a day would go by without me praying for the family who God created to concieve, carry, give birth to, and finally place you where you would be found, cared for, and then lovingly deliver into our waiting arms.

...No one ever told me that I would grieve for your China Mother. That I would think about her and wonder what she is feeling. I know she must be very sad and I pray that God will give her a sense of peace. I will never be able to tell her what her gift of life, your life, has meant to me. Her gift has made me complete. I can't help but wonder if she has your spicy personality or your firey temper. I wonder if she holds her mouth like you hold yours when you get sleepy, almost in a pucker. I wonder if she loves the water, loves to go barefooted, or ate lots of fried rice while she was carrying you in her belly because you love it so. Did she place you there in the still of an April night? Did she wait across the road to see that the first person to arrive to work the next morning found you and took you in? Does she wonder now about those round, rosey cheeks and your tulip lips?

...No one told me that I would be changed forever. Oh, I've heard a million times, adoption changes your life, but no one ever told me that it changes everything about you inside and out. Beginning the adoption process, waiting on you, making the journey, and bringing you home changed who I am. It has caused me to want to be a better person - a better wife, mother, and ultimately a better Christ follower. You, sweet Jadyn, make me want to experience every second of being the mother of a toddler again. When I am away from you, I long to be with you. Watching you learn and grow causes me to marvel at the wonders of your mind. I am filled with gratitude for the lessons that you are teaching me.

I can't believe that it's been 6 months already - time really does fly when your changing diapers. Jadyn, you have renewed my soul, given me a new love for life, and simply put - you make my heart smile. Thank you for teaching me all these things while climbing on the dining room table, sticking your hand in the toilet, kissing cows, jumping on the leather couch with your shoes on, and allowing me to step in your breakfast banana in my sock feet. You, sweet one, are a master teacher. I only hope that I can continue to learn the lessons that you have for me. I love you with all my heart, Jadyn Grace BaoJun Hood.

Mommy

The Obsession Continues

Be very, very quiet, I'm hunting dum dums!

I briefly mentioned in a previous post about Jadyn's current obsession with Dum Dums. Well, it's getting worse and it looks as though we are going to have to have some intervention. For whatever reason, I purchased a bag of the little devils for Halloween and she know's where they are, no matter how many times that you move them. I think she has Dum Dum ESP! Well, this is what we are dealing with due to her obsession with the Dum Dums.

Hmmm, where are those dum dums?

Caught in the act!

And this is after I put them in a bag and put them in the closet. She still searches for them. We can't keep her off of the dining room table. Oh well, a tootsie roll will have to do.

Friday Photo Fun

Well, here it is, what you have been waiting for all week - my favorite photo of the week. Let me just tell you, it was a tough decision this week as there were a significant number to choose from. I'm sure, however, they will be made available for public viewing at a later date.

I went into Jadyn's bedroom to get her up and couldn't resist going back and getting the camera. What a face. God has blessed us with such a beautiful little girl (if I do say so myself) and we are so thankful. We are taking applications for Jadyn's husband as we fully believe in and support arranged marriages! ;)

Pancakes, Football, and Cow Kissing!

Today was a super fun day. We started the day with our Saturday morning favorite breakfast food (well, Pat and Jadyn's Saturday morning favorite) peanut butter pancakes with cool whip. With that kind of beginning, I'm sure that your thinking that it just can't get any better - but wait, it does! We went to the Rec Park and watched Pat's football team play football. His little league team is in the play-offs, the semi-finals to be exact. They beat Franklin in over-time. I am much too old for over time games - my heart just can't take it any more. I needed something for a headache after it was all over. But, nonetheless, they won and will play their championship game next week! HOORAY Daddy! Football will FINALLY be over. (don't tell Pat I said that)

Next we went to the church for the Fall Festival. Let's just say that the highlight of the day was the petting zoo. Jadyn touched, man-handled, checked the teeth of, and kissed (yes, I said kissed) every animal in the pen, even the duck. Here's a run down of the animals she kissed -

• a little brown goat (complete with horns) who was not particularly impressed with the kiss,
• a white sheep, that was less than cooperative but was jerked into line when Jadyn grabbed the hair, fur, wooly stuff on either side of it's head
• a black and white bunny
• a black and brown sheep who wanted another kiss which is only expected behavior from a black sheep
• a rather dirty, large pig who got a kiss right on the forehead
• a black duck who's bill was grabbed and kissed before he knew what hit him
• an alpaca/llama looking thingy
• and finally her favorite - a sweet brown calf with big eyes. He got more than one kiss, I'm thinking there was a little favoritism involved here.

You are probably saying to yourself that you can't believe I let her kiss every animal in the pen, but I did. She thought it was great, the animals enjoyed it, and I'm almost sure that a germ or two won't hurt. But, never fear, we did clean our hands with hand sanitizer. Anyway, here's a few pictures from our very fun day.

By the way, check out her shirt. It says "I'm Famous in Chongqing". I ordered it off the internet and she proudly wore it today. She's pretty famous here too - at least to a calf, a duck, a bunny, a goat, 2 sheep, a pig, and a llama looking thingy, and oh yeah, a mom who allows her to kiss farm animals!

Later,

Jadyn, who kisses cows and Mommy, who lets her!

Friday Photo Fun

What do you do when you tire of someone being in your face with a camera all the time - you simply put the lens cap on for them. I LOVE this picture - Jadyn is over my camera and she simply picked up the lens cap and put it where it belonged - she is such a smart girl!

A and J (who is NOT ready for her close-up Mr. DeMille)