one of our best meals while in China.

(in my opinion) 

We intentionally tried to have me (Ang) hold Jyla....even though I was her last choice.

YES!  he ate it.

she can hardly see over the table....but cheerios made her happy.

After Jyla's surgery she stayed in a small children's home.

This was her crib. 

In China you need to take your own nurse with you when you are hospitalized.

This was Jyla's nurse after her surgery. (& she is a Christian!!!!!) 

Jyla & Scott really enjoyed the pigeon head.

I'm telling you...in China they eat every part of an animal that we throw out.

Can you read that??  Yes, this is on the menu.

*one* year ago

ONE year ago today

we were flying home from China with our tiny-tiny almost 2 year old girl!

This picture (below) is one of my favorites from our time in China.

Jyla didn't walk on her own much (she could...just didn't want to) =)

Getting on the plane in Guangzhou-headed home.  Quite the flight!!!!!

Scott's parent picked us up at JFK. 

They were a very welcomed sight! 

I will never forget how grateful we were to see familiar faces

& how nice it was to sit back & let them navigate home. 

We had no more mental energy.

They brought lots of "american snacks"....we were in our GLORY!

Such a fabulous "Welcome Home"!

Our fridge was stocked with all of our favorite foods. (from various people)

My house was cleaned from top to bottom (thank you Janelle!!!)

& there were even a few bins of clothing to borrow in Jyla's size! (Kathy) 

So many blessings.

And here she is today.

1 year later.

It has been quite a year.

I often don't go into "everything" regarding our transition home with Jyla-

because it is complex & overwhelming for me to communicate about.

She is definitely growing (at least in height...even though her weight is barely gaining.)

She is starting to smile more.

Just in the past few days she has started saying "I love mommy".

Just out of the blue....so sweet.

We celebrated her "Gotcha Day" (the day we 1rst met her) when we were at the beach.

It was a sweet time.

We went to one of our favorite seafood restaurants.

Jyla was quite happy with her dessert!

Jyla even got to dance!

When we were waiting for our table they had live music & an older gentlemen asked Jyla to dance.

She was loving it!!

doing spins & twists.....

only Jyla!

All that to say...

IT'S BEEN A YEAR!

wow!

God has been faithful.

I have seen clearly my many weakness's (that i didn't realize were there;))

I have seen Scott's unending patience & LOVE for his daughters.

I have seen Addalie's self-less-ness...(how is she only 3?)

I have seen Jyla starting to trust us in deeper ways..

I have seen LOVE -deepening in our family.

*I am so behind in blogging, but I am hoping to post some of my favorite China pictures later...& also some of the pictures that I took of Jyla Grace on the beach a few weeks ago.*

Stoltzfoos Triplets!

Recently I got to take pictures of these three little ladies.

They are so adorable.

It was a privilege to spend some time with them & their sweet mommy.

 

 

Preschool

Today was Jyla's 1rst day!

SHE WAS SO EXCITED!

Her "pack-pack" (what she calls her back-pack) is almost as big as her.

The teachers request them to have a full size back pack with folders in for all of the important papers etc.  They are so organized!  Love it!

Jyla came home with this paper.

It made me a bit emotional as this was her very first day of "school"

& she colored a paper like this! 

(w/a little Asian girl on it ;) & such a sweet little rhyme.

A special blessing from the Lord this morning.

Preschool

Preschool started today for Addalie.

I can't even tell you how excited she was!!

She woke me up & got herself dressed (usually it's a chore!!!)

& she gulped down her bfast so fast that she said she had a stomach ache...

she was ready to roll! 

Addalie has always loved going to preschool.

There are always lots of fun activities planned

(& school is a great place for her to get her "crafty-fix"....she LOVES painting/drawing/coloring/gluing/cutting & creating!!!)

I am impressed with how much she actually learns.  As I looked over the curriculum for this coming year, I am excited for her.  It is also a good environment for her to continue to learn how to interact/communicate with other children & adults (teachers).

This year she is going to a different school than the past 2 years.

She is growing up so quickly.  So soon she will be going to "real school".

& Jyla can't wait for her chance to go later this week!

there were some tears shed when she couldn't go with Addalie this morning.

(Addalie is going 2 days a week.  Jyla will go 1 day.)

Labor Day Weekend

With some of our best friends at the beach......

We were thrilled that the Bookers agreed to make the long trip up to join us.

Such fun times.

More pics to come.

(when I get home ;)

Addalie is our mediator

When I can't get J to eat (even if it was her favorite food yesterday)...Addalie usually can.
I am thankful for A's patient spirit.