Big Announcement!!

I am a little scared to announce this, and I have toiled with posting this over and over, because it means a huge committment on my part and a little fear of failure, but here it goes...

I am planning on writing a book on Jiliang's Adoption Story THIS SUMMER. I starting writing it while I was off, but of course, I didn't have an ending to what seemed to be a huge set-back: her unbeknownst, serious heart issues. I was hopeful, but I didn't know how my story would end - not that life is ever that simple.

I thought that I would get a lot accomplished when she was in the hospital for 24 days, but no such luck. Returning to work had me put that project on the back burner, but I knew that summer break would come soon enough, which I officially begin on June 19th.

A lot of you have asked what you could do to help our family. We feel extremely blessed by the support, love, prayers and encouragement that many people have given us. If you would still like to offer support in some way, you can encourage me to finish this book and spread the word once I am done. I could definitely use some prayers and cheerleaders in my corner. I promise that it will be amazing, as many of you already know most of the story.

Starting Saturday, it is game on!

Thanks!!!
Jill

New Pictures

Jiliang and Big Brother, T.J.




Memorial Day Weekend

Jiliang was afraid of the marching band and the shots fired

Belated Mother's Day Gift & A Tribute to Family

On Mother's Day, I spent the entire day at Mott's Children's Hospital with Jiliang, which began day 20 out of 24 total days in the hospital. I certainly would have liked to have spent a leisurely day at home with both of my children, but it was not possible that particular day. My husband began a new tour at the fire house, so I had to balance spending time with both of my children on Mother's Day. Just the thought of choosing between my children on Mother's Day was daunting. Luckily, I was able to take T.J. to the hospital with me, and my dad met me at the hospital. My dad visited Jiliang, entertained my son, and then took him back to his house. I was very thankful to have the opportunity to spend time with both of my children.
Leaving Jiliang at the hospital that night tormented me. I stayed as long as I possibly could, but she clung to me and begged me not leave. I cried all the way to the parking lot.
As I was leaving the parking structure, my sister called me. I knew that she had purchased some concert tickets for us, but she decided to surprise me that evening with the news that she had actually gotten upgraded VIP tickets, center stage, with Meet and Greets with the band. What a pleasant surprise to an otherwise emotional day, not that it could ever erase the memory of my daughter's tears.
I am not usually a person that would get excited about band Meet and Greets, but this particular band, NKOTB, is the reason that my sister and I are more than sisters today - we are best friends. I say that because we are 5 1/2 years apart in age, and when you are 17 and your sister is 12, you don't necessarily have a lot in common. Music became a common thread for us. I have the best friend I could possibly ask for today. She always knows how to brighten my spirits, she has helped me in my greatest times of need, including opening her home to me when I needed to leave a difficult situation to come back home. Tonight she is taking me on my first Night Out since I left for China in February. Tonight, we get to go back in time and treasure all of the memories that existed before life got so complicated. Tomorrow, I return back to reality to my wonderful kids, to celebrate a family day at the pool, with my AMAZING husband and kids.
Hold on to your family, for they are the people in life who lift you up in your time of need. They are the ones who make you Smile, show you that you are never alone, and convince you that you next moment of joy is only steps away from your nearest sorrow.
Thanks for reading. God Bless you all today.
Jill :)

Appreciation

Tonight, my husband and I were watching T.J. and Jiliang joke back and forth. Scott said, "Of all of the kids in China, how did we get so lucky to get this one whose personality fits so well in our family, and gets along so well with T.J.?"
It is certainly true that she was divinely picked for us. :)

Updates on Jeremiah and Chrissie's Family

In just a few short hours, my dear friend, Tami, will be meeting her son Jeremiah for the first time. Jeremiah is a wonderful special needs little boy that waits for his forever family in Taiwan. The Sizemore family has literally moved heaven and earth to adopt him. In just a few more hours, he will have a family to love him forever, and provide the care that he so desperately needs. Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers, and feel free to check out their miraculous journey and excitement as they meet their beautiful son today:
http://tillgodbringsthemhome.blogspot.com/2010/06/less-tan-2-ours.html
It gives me such great joy to see this happen, as Tami supported me during my Journey to Jiliang, and I prayed for her to make it to Jeremiah!

Also, if you followed my posts about Chrissie, the beautiful little girl who had a risky heart surgery while Jiliang was in the hospital, you know that she received her Angel wings not long afterwards, and made her journey home to Heaven. Please read her family's blog. What seemed to most as such a heartbreaking, unfathomable moment, became a great source of inspiration to many people following Chrissie's surgery and Journey to Heaven. Chrissie's family has found a way to turn their sorrows into joy, proclaim their faith, and inspire so many once again, in what seemed to be their darkest hour. They are reaching out to others once again and asking others to support other orphans in Chrissie's memory. Please check their blog, and maybe you will find it in your heart to support them in prayer or even
support their cause. Either way, their blog is profoundly inspiring and proves that you can turn your darkness moments into opportunities for praise. Lest it all be a reminder for us to count our blessings and cherish those we love. Check it their blog at:
http://allarepreciousinhissight.blogspot.com/2010/06/i-will-not-leave-you-as-orphans.html

Thanks for reading! God Bless You All on this day!
Jill :)

T.J.'s Birthday!

Today, my little boy had his 6th birthday party. He was so eager to share all of his birthday happenings with sister, Jiliang. He wanted to have her help him blow out the candles and open gifts. We just invited the immediate family, because Jiliang is supposed to refrain from large events for several weeks, because her immunity needs to rebuild itself after her open heart surgery.
Usually I plan something exciting each year for T.J.'s birthday, but this year I was just exhausted. We are still recuperating from all of the excitement and chaos from the last 3-6 months with the adoption chaos and paper madness, the exciting trip to China, Jiliang's risky surgery, 3+ weeks in the hospital for recovery, and then going back to work just a few days after her discharge. Things have been very tight financially with me being off for those additional weeks. Thus, I opted for a no-frills, laid-back party for my son, and he loved it, nonetheless. Thus, no fancy paper-plates, and matching party favors and decor. :)
Truly, family is the most important thing. It doesn't really matter what you do, where you go, or how fancy your event. What really matters is that you are together. I couldn't even find the last present that I bought him, and he didn't even care! "Oh well, Mom, you can give it to me later", he said.
After several weeks of leisurely summer play with my kids, I am sure that I will be ready to plan Jiliang's first birthday ever. She turns 4 years old on 8-26-06. Although, it may be a little larger to include my other favorite people (my aunts, uncles, cousins), I guarantee it will contain all of the leisurely comforts of home and family; and hopefully sunshine for the sprinklers, kiddie pools, sidewalk chalk, 4-wheeler rides, and bubble fun. There is nothing like family, barbecues, and simple pleasures in life to make you appreciate life.

Jiliang Loves Gardening & Birds

Jiliang and I bought some vegetable plants today, since her and T.J. BOTH love to garden. She loves to help me weed and plant. :) We also bought T.J. some tadpoles as an early 6th Birthday gift (June 7th). She enjoyed setting up the mini-pond in our yard with T.J.
She also loves birds. She starting talking a LOT last night. Recently, my cat got a baby bird and we did our best to rescue it while Momma bird (a Tufted Titmouse) squawked from a tree. She saw a picture of a baby bird in my Birds and Blooms magazine last night and reenacted the whole baby and momma bird incident. Then, she started to talk like crazy in Chinese and in English for the remainder of the night. Scott took T.J. fishing last night, so Jiliang and I got some quality Mother-Daughter time in the yard.
I will write more later. I need to catch some zzzs.