The Home Stretch

Poor Lambert. He is going to need a massage when we get home. he made me delete the photo because his shirt was off.... modesty you know?

Lets go daddy!

Sweetest boy ever!!

The Trooper

Those eyes! were in big trouble. she can be a stinker!

Our sweet blessings.

She loves the computer. TROUBLE and pushing buttons.

Daddy Love

Lambert just left me alone with her while she is napping, I am praying she doesn't wake up while they're out... Did I mention we are ready to be home??? Well we are. It has been a wonderful experience here in Guangzhou, but we are done... we want bbq and fajitas. We had a romantic idea of taking her for Chinese when we arrived in Texas... NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. We won't be eating Chinese for a while. Libbie is doing great. Day by day she reveals another layer of herself to us. We say everyday how we are amazed at her will and determination. She wants to do everything herself and then she looks to daddy to make sure he marvels at her success. She always hangs on to food no matter what. As long as she has food in both fists she is ready for anything. Hoot continues to amaze us too. He is such a great kiddo. I know this trip has been hard on him and at times he's had some meltdowns. We wouldn't have it any other way than having him with us. He's experienced so much and really feels a part of it all. He got to take his first taxi ride today which he thought was totally awesome. He can't wait to share all his experiences with his friends back at school.

We have done all that we know to do here on the island and we are going stir crazy. I confirmed our flights today so we are ready to go. I have all the goodies purchased and just a few more things to do on my checklist. I am so intrigued by the culture and the people in Guangzhou. We have seen sights that we could never have dreamed and it has been good for all of us. When we first talked about travel Lambert really didn't want to come. I am so glad that he did and that we experienced this together. There is no way I could have communicated everything to him. It's been good for our marriage. I feel closer to my family than ever. We are a little four unit family drawing close to each other and closer to the Lord. Hoot has sung so many hymns while were out and about today he sang "Oh no you never let go through the calm and through the storm Lord you never let go of us" How fitting and appropriate for this little journey we've been on. I think I have hummed Great is thy faithfulness everyday... I can't sing to save my life but i can make a joyful noise for certain!

I' ve taken more photos than I can share. I made the mistake of buying a new camera the day before we left... i don't recommend doing that. A lot of my shots have been blurry or the ISO was off... what was I thinking... well i know what i was thinking... I can figure this out on the plane ride over. I'll have nothing better to do... well most of the learning comes by trial and error. I don't think the other passengers would have approved the flashes while I tried out my new toy!

We are so grateful for the prayers and support. We truly have felt them and the peace that has come from them is amazing... Amazing his how I would describe our entire experience. I have been amazed every second of every day. Amazed by my husband, my son, my family and friends, the people here, the culture, MY BIG BIG God!! We have discovered through this adventure just how small we are and how very big He is. I have witnessed just how much better his ways our than my ways. He has a plan for each of us and he will provide if we will but just follow and submit.

shes awayke!!!! PRAY.....

I am still clinging to psalm 34. He will take away my fear and with him anything is possible. How great is that?

The Girl Can Eat!

Traditional Chinese Lunch Yes your seeing correctly... don't look dad!!!

I'm dead!!!

She copies everything he does. they're doing homework.

Daddy's girl

She loved the water fountains in the park

Getting ready for dinner. Hoot is such a proud big brother.

She LOVES her lipstick. but only daddy can apply it... :(

Libbie's primary concern is food... She will eat everything in sight which makes me think she was deprived. We've been told it happens, but to see it in person is indescribable. She eats more than we could ever imagine. She will lick her fingers to dab up the cracker crumbs in her stroller. if she drops something she searches until she finds it. There doesn't seem to be any satisfying her appetite. It makes me hurt. We give her whatever she wants and allow her to hang on to whatever she can in her little hands. As long as she has something in her grasp, she is content. Today she was much more relaxed. She slept good and even spit out a few things she didn't care for. The girl can also make a HUGE mess. She is a tornado in our room. I pick it all up and she tears through and drags is ALL out again. It's like a game. She wins.

Our guide took us for our traditional chinese meal today... I knew I was in trouble when I saw rabbit and turtle on the sign outdoors... I REALLY knew I was in trouble when I saw the bunny cages and the SNAKE cages when entered the door. Hoot saw the bunnies and said NO!! don't kill the bunnies, we love bunnies. Then our guide said her favorite dish was the steamed pigeon... i'm gonna die, I thought to myself. She asked that we not ask what we were eating but just try... I made it through lunch. I didn't eat any meat. We played it safe and stuck to the noodles and fried rice. None of us are adventurous diners so this was a huge stretch. Libbie on the other hand ate everything in sight.

We are all tired and ready to come home. We're getting on each others nerves and this hotel room seems to be closing in on us. We've explored as much as we can explore and now we miss home... family friends, normalcy.

Good doctors can be wrong

She took two steps without assistance... he said, "she'll never walk"

Hoot's BEST buddie left this morning. He prayed for new friends to come today. We are so blessed a new group came and they brought BIG brothers (geges)

Yes they went swimming. It was freezing, but they begged. what could we say. it's been all about the babies so we gave in. They are the Polar Bear club of Guangzhou.

Yes... those are chopsticks and she IS feeding herself. I can't even use chopsticks and my hands work great. she is one determined little ball of fire.

I know some of these photos are so blurry,but they're just so great, I can't help but share.

brother and sister The "best" orthopedic surgeon in China told us Libbie would never walk or feed herself. She is a very determined little STRONG willed child. She is completely opposite of her brother... not afraid of anything and very independant. She shows us another layer of herself each day, but she is very cautious. She shuts down in public and won't make a sound. She studies everything and watches others carefully. I think she forgot that she doesn't smile at me, becuase this morning she flashed a big smile and then gave me the worst frown...like oh I forgot I don't care for you!!! I have made an effort today to stay back and give her space today. She is more relaxed, but still has meltdowns. When she goes into a fit, nothig will console her. We just sit back and (cover our ears) pray for this hurting child. There is such depth in her eyes.

We had dinner with a couple that is here adopting their 11th child!! They are from Michigan. I would guess they are in their late 50's and they have 5 grandchildren... you know me, I asked "how do you do it?" The daddy answered, "One word...PRAYER" He is s truck driver... He told us to read Psalm 34 when we got home. I brought my bible with me and read it as soon as we got back to our room. I had read it a couple days before we left for China, but it spoke to me in a new way last night. (i didn't remember what it said to be honest) BUT ITS GOOD STUFF... I'm reading everyday for strength. All things are possible through Christ and with him we are mighty in power and limitless in what we can accomplish. Read it today.

Much love from Guangzhou,

The Lamberts PS sorry about the spelling...

Day Four... No Love

the physical therapist gave us great news! The therapist said she has arthrogryposis.. you can read about it here (no hands but ours) google it. The photos look just like our girl.... very encouraging

Owen made a friend from Boston here adopting a younger brother. This boys name is Bowen. they are buddies! they want to swim today. Its too cold, but they are insistant.

We are having a dress made for her at Susans. We had tea... it was NASTEA!! we prefer sweet texas tea!

She and Hoot must be siblings. They LOVE the popcorn. It was Hoots, but she took over and would not share with him. She would turn in a circle to avoid him. She's got her eye on him here.

Daddy is applying lip gloss. If the parts business fails he can work for MAC as a makeup artist.

I offered her chocolate.... so daddy had to comfort her. He is worn out. She won't let him relax. I told him he better get ready for the plane ride home :)

I'm pulling every trick out of my bag and nothing works. I've wooed her with chocolate which I was told she loves... i've given her lip gloss, coloring books, bubbles, food, stickers, playdough, cell phone, movies, games.... my bag is almost empty and she's not budging. I've almost given into the fact that it may not happen here, and that's okay. I don't want to force it and I don't want to try too hard. She will talk if I'm not in the room. Last night she was sitting in Lambert's lap looking in the mirror. I was in the bathroom and he said, Libbie, you are amazing" and she said, "amazing" just as clear as a bell. She has said Baba (daddy) and Gugu (brother)... no mama (me)...

We have met some amazing families here at our hotel and in the park. Last night we met a physical therapist in the playroom and she said Libbie has a tendon issue (I can't think of the name) but that she should have no problems once she has therapy. Is that God or what???

We also met a couple that is good friends with the Chapmans... yes Stephen and Mary Beth!!! The Chapmans are actully their daughters God parents... Amazing family. We met a couple from Sikeston Missouri. We stop in Sikeston every time we go to Indiana. They have a heard of kiddos (i think 6) and we can't wait to meet them at Lamberts next time we go to the farm. Everyone has been so supportive and encouraging. We are loving our stay in Guangzhou and have met some life long friends.

Back to Libbie... AMAZING

We were able to read the commets tonight. thank you for the kind words and prayers. We feel them.. Lambert has come to tears over the comments everyone has posted. I think he's gearing up for a guest post later tonight... he keeps telling me what to post so I told him I would help him later if he wanted to post his thoughts..

So funny... when we were preparing he said these words... I'm not changing her diaper, that would be too weird.. guess who changes ALL her diapers.... that's right. LAMBERT

Were headed to SUBWAY for lunch and were having dinner with a few friends tonight at The Cow and Bridge... We are SOOOO ready for El Toro and plan to have it as soon as we come home. I've never been so hungry for it. However, the KFC and Papa Johns here on the island... ROCKS!

PS please forgive the spelling errors. I am too tired (lazy)to spell check. Not used to using a small laptop.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Can't wait to see everyone

Pslm 89:1-2 I will sing of the Lord's great love forever with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever!

Praising Him in Guangzhou, Love the Lamberts

The hardest decision ever

These photos are terrible... but they're all we have

this is not a smile... it just looks like it could be... trust me it's not.

this is a smile, notice who she's sitting with...

She is very serious

This was the medical office... it's so crowded and smelly... really smelly

i have dreamed about meeting my daughter for over a decade. It has been a journey to say the least. I dealt with RHS (reluctant husband syndrome) switching country programs, changing to the Waiting Child Program delays and then meeting her... When we met Libbie we knew immediately something was terribly wrong. Libbie had multiple special needs on her referral. One was very clear and two others were vague descriptions. We requested additional information, but the answers just never came. Our fears we realized when we looked her little body. I have been crippled by fear these last few days as we have searched for answers. We did not sign the adoption papers. We requested an evaluation by an independent western physician. The following day we went into the city to meet with a reputable orthopedic surgeon. She had x-rays in the morning, then we waited six hours to meet with the doctor. After a two minute exam and review of the x-rays, he diagnosed her. He said her condition was very rare and serious and not correctable. In the next thirty seconds he told us that she will probably never walk without assistance. We have not slept in two days. We have been on the phone at all hours of the night with our agency, Texas Children's International adoption center etc. We have cried until we are numb. we have questioned God as to why we are in this situation and what good could possibly come from this. We don't know have no idea what the future holds or how we will meet her needs. We made our decision together after two excruciating days of grief.

I can talk a big talk about faith, but honestly I have never had to step out in faith. I've never really had to trust in Him. Life has always been pretty easy for me. I've never truly sacrificed. Thoughts raced through my mind about how life will change for us. All the what if's crept in and clouded my vision. Lambert and I kept asking each other, Why us? Why is this happening to us, this isn't fair... at 3:00am one morning, we both said, why not us? It came down to a true matter of faith. we both knew God called us to this child and we knew that we that we were at a cross road. Its funny that recently we have heard several messages at church regarding cross roads. They're in front of us daily... my way or God's way... it's a choice and usually I choose my way... it's the truth. I have to admit I was pretty mad at God. But, when we made the decision a complete peace came over me. A weight was lifted and I knew we could move forward no matter what. He is with us and will be with us. It's amazing the peace that can come in the storm. I have chosen my will instead of His at one other major cross road in my life and it haunts me to this day. He is Abba and delivers the peace.

Now, moving forward... she can't stand the sight of me... She is smitten with her daddy and gives me the look of death. She will go to strangers (men) but will not come to me. She screams like she is being tortured if Lambert leaves the room. She is strong willed and determined . She is brave and fearful all at the same time. I just wonder what runs through her little mind. She eats more than two grown men and will take food out of Hoots hands if she can get away with it. Her medical exam was this morning and she weighed in at a wopping 19lbs! nothing I brought fits her. 18 monts pants fall to her knees and 2t shirts hang past her wrists. She is a fast little mover with her walker, it's hilarious. She loves to do things herself, but she loves to cuddle up with her daddy too. We are in love and totally taken by this pint sized fire cracker. She has great lungs. I think the people in the room next to us moved and now it's vacant. I am certain everyone on the 9th floor has heard her sweet voice!!!