Jemma's 1st Day of School Photos

1st Day of 6th Grade for Jemma!

Jemma, Josh, Jaida & Jax--Love you Kiddos!

Jemma's 1st Day of School

Well, as I sit at my computer this morning by myself, I have so many emotions coursing through my mind and body! Just three weeks ago on this day we walked into an orphanage office in China, half-a-world-away and met our new 12-year-old daughter for the very first time. A smile and confidence radiating from her personality from that very first day and she has been smiling ever since. As we wait for the happy honeymoon to be over and for this child to finally meltdown from all the changes that have taken place in her life over the past 3 weeks, the meltdown doesn't come. Can this be real? Is Jemma just going to glide through this transition in her life like a piece of cake? Will she grieve the loss she has experienced or is she counting this change all as gain? Was she prepared so well in China for this moment that she knew what to expect? Did they tell her "don't rock the boat" or "make your new parents happy" so they will keep you? 

So many questions run through my brain this morning and will remain unanswered for now and that is okay. Only 3 weeks have I had this child in my arms, my home, and my life and today....I hugged her goodbye, told her I loved her, and took her to her first day of 6th Grade at the Middle School. I think I am quite possibly more distressed than she is, but that is okay. God is answering so many prayers and He has been so faithful to guide us through each step of this adoption process and I know He will be there next to us up to the very end. After I dropped her off, on my drive home, God gave me what I needed to hear in a Matthew West song called "Strong Enough" that was on the radio. Here are a few of the lyrics:

You must, you must think I'm strong

To give me what I'm going through

Well forgive me, forgive me if I 'm wrong

But this looks like more than I can do on my own

I know I'm not strong enough to be

everything that I'm supposed to be

I give up; I'm not strong enough

Hands of mercy won't you cover me

Lord, right now I'm asking you to be

strong enough, for the both of us.

I know I don't have to be strong enough for this task, but rather....I can do all things, through Christ who gives me strength. 

I look at this "little" girl who is half grown up, who only has 7 years of school before she graduates from high school and I am sad to have not had more time with her, but overjoyed that God has given us the privilege to be her Mom and Dad for as long as we have life! As I have learned over the past 18 years of raising my own children from birth...that it is so important to treasure each and every moment for we never know when that last moment will be! We have promised Jemma that we will be there for her forever; there will be good and bad, ups and downs, triumphs and challenges....but we are a family and we will make it through together! 

"Family" has become such a very important word in Jemma's daily vocabulary and she is absolutely thrilled that our family is all hers; she now has a forever family! This tiny word and what it represents for Jemma, reminds me of how much I value family and how so many times we all take our families for granted and don't reach out nearly as much as we should....life gets in the way.

Yesterday, as we took Jemma to church for the very first time...I was just asking God to be with her, to comfort her when it was time for the singing and the sermon when she would have no understanding of what was being said. A foreign language...church and God....totally foreign concepts to this orphan child. Yet, she is a child of God...made in His image...loved immeasurably by Him! Even though she didn't know the words to the songs...she sang along. Even though she didn't know what Cody was preaching...she had her Mandarin/English New Testament open and was reading it. Even though she didn't know why Shon and I took her with us up to the front of the church during the Invitation at the end...she walked willingly down the aisle with us. Even though she didn't know why Shon and I were crying as we introduced her to our church family, thanked them for blessing us with food and prayer while we were gone on our trip, and spoke of our God-led adoption journey....Jemma cried tears with us. 

And it is my heartfelt prayer today, that one day she will know who Jesus Christ is, what He did for her, and that she will accept Him as her personal Savior over her life one day soon! Just as God adopts us into His family, we have followed the calling to adopt God's orphans, and humbly walk this life according to His plan. Thank you Jesus!

Dear Lord, I lift Jemma Yanping Gerber up to you today and ask that you surround her with love and comfort on her first day of school, in a foreign country with a foreign language, American food and a new family. Though there will be frustrations, help her to embrace a new language and this new life. May new friendships abound and may her smile shine even more brightly today than yesterday. Help us to be the very best parents for her as we strive to lead her, teach her, encourage her, love her, help her, and be a shining light when it seems dark and when challenges arise, lift her to rise to the challenge and may she become everything that she is meant to be! In Jesus name, Amen.

We love you all so much! Thank you for always supporting our "crazy" plans, for praying for us, for lending a hand and for loving us!

Blessed Mama of 6

We are BLESSED!

B is for beautiful young lady with a loving spirit. This describes our sweet Jemma! For all she has been through in her short 12 years of life (things no child should have to endure ever in life) she is full of life, laughter, love, goofiness, smiles, happiness and is perfectly fit by God into our family!

L is for language. Although there is a language barrier that keeps us from understanding each other at times and we all get frustrated; we lean on her limited English, our even more limited Chinese, sign language, facial expressions, and love. We were pleasantly surprised by how much English she can say and even read! Hoping she will use it more when we get to the States. She is quite the bright young lady!

E stands for expressions. Jemma has quite the goofy personality, much like our Joosh! She will fit right into our silly family! She has so many faces and loves how goofy her Dad is. They are a good pair. She has found her Daddy's tickle spots and loves to make us laugh! Even a pouty face for when she doesn't get her way. She is learning quickly that we have rules and limits with love and it doesn't always work in her favor. However, we are also being understanding of the language barrier that keeps her from always understanding our intentions. Like last night when she turned to a movie on TV that we didn't approve of for a 12 year old and we asked her to change the channel. She didn't understand our reasoning and got upset-so things like this will take time with learning English.

S stands for stranger. Jemma doesn't know a stranger-she speaks to everyone. She makes a friend wherever she goes-especially the adults. She loves children and tries to make the babies smile when they are being poked and prodded during medical exams. This also helps her comfort level as well--it gives her an outlet to have someone understand her when Mama & Baba don't!

S is for Skyping. Jemma has enjoyed our Skype sessions back home to the kids. Her face lights up when she sees them! The other night she was singing to them in Chinese her national anthem and then she gave the kids the dreaded Chinese lesson and they all had a good laugh with that! We get a lesson everyday and she quizzes us to see how much we remember and gets frustrated when we don't say the tone right. We either get the thumbs up or the eye roll to know how we did and she doesn't give up until we get it right. Usually she says "Mama good, Baba bad" even though I didn't say it any different than him! She is funny!

E is for eager. Jemma is eager to learn new things and is desperately trying to learn how to swim. She is determined and is wearing Daddy out as he stays by her in the deep end should she tire out and need help. Guess we know what is going in our backyard next summer!

D is for dependent; something we hope Jemma becomes a little more of as we get back to the States and things are unfamiliar. Jemma is a very independent child because of her orphanage life and having to care for herself in so many different ways as a young child. She takes very good care of us here; from ordering meals for us, to filling our plates, to even feeding us at times with her chopsticks! She is a very strong child-not a tear shed yet-hoping that might change later. We are looking forward to this new adventure in our life; expecting many challenges... And triumphs along the way!

Our Adoption Timeline

July 28, 2011--Requested Yan Ping's file from GWCA
August 7, 2011--Decided to move forward with the adoption of Yan Ping
August 16, 2011--LOI (Letter of Intent) sent to China
August 18, 2011--Began Homestudy Process
August 24, 2011--Received PA (Pre-Approval) from China
November 21, 2011--Homestudy Completed
December 2, 2011--I800A Application sent
December 20, 2011--Fingerprints done at USCIS
December 30, 2011--Mikayla's fingerprints redone at USCIS
January 30, 2012--I800A Approval
February 24, 2012--DTC Baby! (Dossier To China)
May 21, 2012--Day 83! Letter of Approval Received!

May 22, 2012--I800 Mailed

June 5, 2012--I800 Approval Received!

July 10, 2012--Article 5 Issued

Travel Approval-- ?????????????

Travel Dates--Hoping Mid-August thru Mid-September

Bedroom Impossible.....Mission Complete!

Quirky title...I know, but if you had just totally repainted, moved furniture, hung new wall décor, cleaned out dressers, closets and old toys, and moved 5 children into 4 new bedrooms for the arrival of our 6th child...you might think too that it was an impossible task (especially considering it was done in a short time span of merely 4 days). We are overjoyed to announce that it is a mission complete! This is what we accomplished over the past 4 days that Shon was off from work. Oh my poor honey...how he loathes the next honey-do project, but he works with me so patiently to make sure everything is just right and I love him so much for that! Amazing how we have learned to work together over the past 20 years of marriage! Early on in our marriage even just the thought of hanging border in a bedroom could have been circumstances enough for a separation--just kidding really, well not really for way back then, but we have come a long way in our relational skills during house projects!

With the anticipation of our 6th and final child coming home from China in hopefully the next 6 weeks or so, our 5 other children have been happily transplanted (or begrudgingly dragged) to their new bedroom. It was easier for some than others--understandably so!

Jaida will be sharing the large upstairs bedroom with her new big sister Jemma and can’t wait for her to come home so she can talk her ear off…even though initially, Jemma won’t understand a word she is saying! Their room is a combination of pink, peace, and zebra…very girly and cute!

Josh was happy to move back upstairs into his old bedroom before Jaida came to our family 4 years ago. He is overjoyed to have Ty’s barely used new furniture and a queen sized bed that he can spread out in. His room is decked out in Texas Longhorn style!

Mikayla moved to the “much smaller” bedroom downstairs that was next to her current “largest” bedroom. She didn’t have to give up a whole lot or share with anyone, so she wasn’t really affected by the move. Mik is just happy wherever she is!

Jax moved, without much reservation, to the downstairs “largest” bedroom and is sporting an “Oklahoma City Thunder” theme with a very bold blue hue on the walls. Jax is our “sports kids” so as you can imagine, it was very difficult for him to nail it down to one team. The Thunder won out in the end, which is “cool” now that two of his favorite players from this team are on the 2012 U.S. Olympic Basketball Team!

Last, but not least, Ty…yep you guessed it…begrudgingly moved to share the Thunder bedroom in the basement with Jax. I surely can understand this was difficult for him…change isn’t easy for any of us. I think the realization that college is quickly approaching, basic training for the military is on the horizon, and the idea of being an “adult” with “adult” responsibilities isn’t as much fun as he once thought, had a lot to do with him dragging his feet. After being the “big dog” of the house in the biggest upstairs bedroom for the past 7 years with a queen bed and new furniture…and now sharing a room with a “little” brother nonetheless, in a Blue Thunder room, with an XL Twin Bed…one might think they were being dethroned as the King. I believe Ty now has peace about it and realizes this is just a necessary transition in life and he hasn’t been “dethroned…” he simply drew the shortest straw! All joking aside, this was a logistical nightmare and this arrangement will work the best for everyone, with Mik and Ty headed off to college/dorm life in the next 6 weeks.

Shon and I feel a little lighter with this burden lifted from our list of “to-do’s” before Jemma arrives! Now we just need to…learn Mandarin Chinese in 6 weeks; get our passport visas; wait for Travel Approval and Travel Dates; Trish starts back to work, go shopping for college dorm stuff; move Mik and Ty to Ark City for college on Aug 14^th; enroll Jax, Jaida and Josh in their schools; buy school supplies for Triple J’s; Jax’s 2^nd ear tube surgery; VBS at our church; celebrate our 20^th Wedding Anniversary; pack for China; speaker at church Ladies Event on our adoption testimony…

Hmmm…maybe “lighter” wasn’t quite the right word to choose based on the list above. I could definitely choose to see this list above as a “burden,” but with grateful eyes, I will see it as “blessing!” Thank you Heavenly Father for the joy I can find in my “to-do” list of life!

Wordless Wednesday

Always a smile on our sweet daughter’s face!

Our daughter’s 12^th birthday celebration in China

There are simply no words to express this beautiful blessing!

Blessed Mama of 6

Thankful Thursday

We have so many things to be thankful for and I have been reminded of this more recently as I have been reading an awesome book by Ann Voskamp entitled “One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are.” This book reminds me that Jesus GAVE THANKS in EVERyTHING and that I need to have a heart of Thanksgiving—thanking God for everything and viewing everything as a true gift from Him.

And this means giving thanks in everything…not just the good, prosperous, joy filled times, but in everything…triumphs, tribulations, pain, loss, sickness, busy schedules, debt, drama, daily duties, tired bodies, and even those dark times when we don’t think we can go on another day. This book is teaching me to express gratitude for the life I already have and to fully live each day alive in Christ!

It has been fun…even the kids are getting involved…you might hear Jaida say at the dinner table… “Mama, was that number sixteen?” And she is referring to the number of the next thing we are thankful for in our lives…when you truly seek and search for them…they are limitless and recognizing this can truly transform your life!

So, since today is Thankful Thursday, I thought it would be perfect to share with you the top 8 things that I am thankful for today…

#1: I am thankful for an 18-year-old Son who is MUCH MORE fun when he is at the Oral Surgeon’s office on Nitrous Oxide! (Ty)

#2: I am thankful for a young 7-year-old son who was SO BRAVE at the Ortho when he received his Quad Helix Palatal Expander appliance and who works so hard on making proper speech. (Jax)

#3: I am thankful for a husband who loves the Lord and treats me like a Queen everyday, even when I least deserve it!

#4: I am thankful for a 6-year-old daughter who simply cracks me up and brings me to laughter many times in a day. (Jaida)

#5: I am thankful for a 12-year-old son who is just plain silly, finds humor in all human bodily noises, and is secure in his skin. (Josh)

#6: I am thankful for an 18-year-old daughter who reminds me daily through a phone text of the wisdom in God’s words. (Mikayla)

#7: I am thankful for a God who loves ME with all my flaws and whose faithfulness is steadfast.

#8: Today I am most thankful for…New Photos and an Update on our 12-year-old daughter in China! We hope you enjoy the photos of our beautiful daughter and discover a few new things about her. We are so very blessed that God has called us to be her Mama and Baba! Jemma Yanping’s birthday is tomorrow and she turns the big 12. We are so hoping to wrap her in a bear hug by mid-August! We can’t wait to bring her home!

Our Beautiful Daughter…Jemma Yanping Gerber 

Ping looks healthy & happy!

Some things you might like to know about Jemma...

• Jemma just finished 4th Grade in China and did very well in her studies. She got an 84% in Chinese, an 82% in Math, a 92% in English and her favorite subject is Art.
• Jemma likes to wear dresses and sandals and her favorite color is PINK!
• Jemma's favorite things to do in her spare time are drawing, playing Badminton, and kicking Shuttlecock.
• Jemma is working on her English and can say simple sentences and words.
• Jemma can use a computer and ride a bike, but can't swim yet.
• Jemma's biggest fear of being adopted is learning the English language.
• Jemma's current feelings about being adopted include being excited and happy to have her own family. She is excited to move to the U.S. but has normal concerns as any adopted child would have.
• Jemma loves funny TV shows and movies and when she is scared, she likes to be comforted and praised.

I hope you have a "THANKFUL" filled day!

Blessed Mama of 6

This Crazy Life of Ours

I can hardly believe it has been almost 6 months since I last posted on this, our newest adoption blog. To say the least, life has been very busy for our family over the past 6 months and I apologize that this is only my 3rd post on this blog. I will attempt to do better, but I make no promises that I know myself I cannot keep. I will try to get you all caught up on our crazy lives in today's post.


With 2 high school graduations and our 3rd adoption, I wondered how we would make it through the year sanely. I definitely had moments of shear insanity, crying fits (more like uncontrollable moments of sobbing), mental breakdowns, and wondering how I ever raised my 2 oldest children safely to 18 years of age and why God has entrusted me with 4 more children to do the exact same task....but "with God, ALL things are possible." Matthew 19:26....and with God, we made it through! God is AMAZING!


You know, God truly listens to us when we pray...a testament to this is that I had been praying all along that we would be able to focus on the twins' graduation and not have any of our adoption plans interfere. God delivered...2 days after the twins' graduation, we finally received our Letter of Approval from China that Yanping is ours! We had to wait a long 83 days to complete this part of the adoption process, but nonetheless, God allowed us to get through graduation and focus on Mikayla and Ty and for that I am truly grateful! 


However, we really were hoping to travel to China this summer to bring Ping home prior to school starting in mid-August, so we would have some adjustment time before jumping into school but I don't think that is in the cards for us. God's timing is always perfect, just not perfect with OUR human plans. So, we continue to wait to complete the next phase...so many phases, so many hurry ups and then wait a little longer, so much longing in our hearts to bring our daughter home, so difficult sometimes to rest in the knowledge that "even though we know not all His plans, we know we're totally in His hands!" 


If you are of the praying kind...please begin to pray for these things especially:

• That Ping's heart becomes softened toward our family and she will be able to bond to us and love us as her parents and forever family.
• That the orphanage is preparing Ping for the upcoming adoption.
• Safe travel to China and back and that our children at home will be happy and safe while we are gone.
• Even though there will be many trials and tribulations, that we will continue to rely on God and have faith that He will carry us every single step of the way.

Thank you so much for praying with us and for us on this...our final adoption journey!

There is a GIRL!

There is a girl.
She is 11 years old, healthy, and lives in a faraway land called China.
She became an orphan at the age of 7 years old.
She was found alone in a market area with only a denim jacket and pink backpack.
A homeless center cared for her until she was 8 years old when she entered the Chengdu orphanage.

She is an orphan.
She is beautiful.
She wants a Mom and a Dad...A forever family.

She is a child of God.

Are we called to be her Mom and Dad? Her forever family?
Or do we turn away and pretend we don't SEE??????????

These are the things Shon and I contemplate.

 We have been given much and have much to give.

Or are we just CRAZY????!!!!!!

CRAZY INDEED! Crazy in love with this girl we call "Our" Daughter.

A girl named Yan Ping.

A child we can't wait to have in our arms to love and care for...

FOREVER!

We hope to be welcoming Yan Ping into our family late Summer 2012!

Is that the phone ringing? Nope...that's God calling...AGAIN!

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.  Luke 12:48

These are the things Shon and I contemplate after bringing home two orphans, our children Jax and Jaida, whom God gave us and we are immeasurably blessed.

Why did God give Shon and I a heart for the plight of orphans? Why did we take so literally that we are to care for God's orphans?

We have been so quick to follow God's will in this area of our lives. How funny to think where our marriage began (and how we were a divorce waiting to happen)...how God had a plan for us to stay together because he knew what the future held for us and the children He would add to our family...the children he has entrusted to our care and raising. How inadequate am I indeed!

All these years of my incessant praying for patience have brought me more children to practice on--God definitely has a sense of humor!

No matter what, God has always seen us through the journey and has never left us.

So Then....

Should we care that people think we are already crazy with what we've got and who could think of adding more?

Is there a time when one should say "enough is enough" and how do we know when that time is? Hmm...we said that after our last childbirth with our son Josh...and after we adopted Jaida in 2008...and after we adopted Jax in 2010. Maybe this time, God will say "enough!"

Once we know the reality of the millions of orphans in our world, can we truly turn a blind eye and pretend we don't see? (Obviously we can't!)

When people say we should take care of the ones we've got, we've done our share...Is that a viable truth or just something people say because they themselves can't picture doing what we have chosen to do with our lives?

Is it too risky?

What if this?....or what if that?...