Speechless!!!

Wheelchairs to China!

I'm part of a ministry at our church known as Forever Families Adoption Ministry/Orphan Care Outreach. We have had a project that I am just celebrating. Here is the story:
Tom and I had the opportunity to take Grace(Director of a private orphanage in China) to Forest Rose School here in Lancaster to tour the facility. You could see the wheels turning in Grace’s head as she looked in awe at all of the equipment. Grace communicated that she would love to have chairs for the five children at the orphanage that have cerebral palsy. These chairs are impossible to find in China. I googled Columbus Medical Supplies and found the website for Columbus Medical Company. I called in hopes of finding some used equipment to purchase for Grace and these five children. Grace and I drove to Columbus to meet with Carl Mulberry at Columbus Medical Company about the needs of these five children. Carl’s generosity resulted in five wheelchairs specially fitted for these five children at no expense to Grace or to Forever Families Adoption Ministry/Orphan Care of Fairfield Christian Church! I was then faced with the challenge of getting the chairs to China. I hit a few walls as I was told that customs would not accept used equipment and would likely throw out the chairs upon their arrival. I then had a generous family out of Indiana offer to help with the finances in getting the chairs to China. With the Olympics around the corner, I didn’t think we could make it happen any time soon. I then contacted an American working in Henan for advice. She gave me the contact information for a man at large Foster Home in the Beijing area. I was told by this gentleman that the best way to get them to Home of Joy was through individuals who would travel to China and take them as their personal items. He then offered to meet the individuals at the airport and see that they were shipped to the city where this orphanage is. A good friend asked me if I had asked Bring Me Hope to help get the chairs to Beijing. I emailed David Bolt at Bring Me Hope and he gave me a list of names of people who were traveling to China to serve at the BMH camps this summer. David then made a connection for me with a man in Minneapolis that was willing to take them along with his crew to China. We then had a family within the life of Fairfield Christian Church offer to crate and ship the chairs to Minneapolis! This other family from Indiana paid the expense from the airline. The chairs arrived in Beijing last week! It turns out that this man near Beijing that picked the chairs up at the airport had his staff make the drive and deliver the chairs personally….at no expense!!!! I just received word in the last hour that the chairs have successfully been delivered!

I shouldn't be amazed at what God can do...He has shown Himself in mighty ways many times in my life! It is just an awesome thing that what started with a google search resulted in this! God is good!

Boys Only!

No, it isn't Tom and the beanstalk! Tom found this weed growing up through one of the bushes in our front yard! I'm sure there is a sermon illustration in this photo!

Well, here it is.........TJ and his first car!

This was the last day of Tyler in braces!!! I meant to get an "after" photo...maybe next time!

Dane is part of a local violin group that plays at different places in the community. We love Mrs. Thellar, his teacher! She scheduled them to play at one of the local shelters in town. They played all of their fiddle music...what a hoot!

Dane playing the violin at the local shelter in town!






Sorry, I still don't have the backcountry hiking photos! We are spoiled with digital cameras! I still have to have someone scan and email the photos to me to post. I added a few videos from a recent 7 on 7 football tournament that TJ was in at Akron University. He did a great job and is looking forward to football season starting. Enjoy a boy posting!

Tom.....after hiking in the backcountry of Tennessee!

Something happened to Tom after he read John Eldridges "Wild at Heart" book! That's another post, another story! Anyway, he loves to be in the outdoors and hike. This is Tom after doing some backcountry hiking! 'Tis a bit on the frightening side! When the rest of the pictures come in, I'll share more.

Lily Travel Group Reunion

Guangdong Twelve, Red Couch Photo (attempted) at the White Swan in 2004

Eleven of the twelve Guangdong girls at the 2008 Reunion.

Guangdong Travel Group, White Swant, November 2004

2008 Guangdong Family Reunion, Louisville, Kentucky

Crib pals in 2008.....Chloe, Hannah and Lily.

Lily, Hannah and Chloe had their cribs tied together while sharing a room at the Yangjiang Social Welfare Institute. This photo was taken in China back in 2004.

I know I said I'd post on the hiking trip, but the boys took a disposable camera and we are waiting for the photos to be developed. Until then, enjoy the photos from our recent trip to Louisville, Kentucky to meet with our Lily adoption travel group. It's always great to meet with these families....we'll always have a special connection!

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

This was taken on Preschool Graduation Day way back in May!





Lily in the sprinkler!

This is Sarah "post-sprinkler."

I love the photo above of Sarah.











Yes, the cake looks a bit like last years cake......with an extra candle! Can I just say that I'm glad I can crop pictures! The original had this fat lady in a bathing suit holding the cake......had to get that off!

Sarah gives the "thumbs up" for turning four!

Birthday Girl in the pool!

Dane and Lily in the pool!

Our computer has been down for well over a week so I am way behind. Let me first apologize once again that I take way too many pictures of my girls and not enough of my boys! It just seems that I don't have the camera around when they are around! My next post is going to include only pictures of the guys in my life!

Sarah turned 4 on July 7th. We had a small swim party at the home of a good friend. Sarah had a blast.....as did the other kids.

Update on TJ's car. We had great reports from car guys from church that it is a great car. Well, two days ago something happened and we are hoping some guy named "Bob" on the west side of town can doctor it up so TJ can drive it again. I will post a picture of TJ with his wheels in the next post.

Tom, Ty and Dane survived their vacation! The spent a few nights backcountry hiking in the Smoky Mountains. It was Dane's first backcountry hike. THey didn't see any bears, but the weather was great! As soon as they got out of the woods, they claimed the van (which was being repaired by a local garage), showered and went to Golden Coral. They then spent four more days doing some day hikes through the mountains.....even a few shorter, more strenuous hikes. I think they did about 45 miles in hiking while they were gone. Tom can't say enough about spending all of that quality time with Ty and Dane.

The girls were thrilled to have their prince (Dad) home!

As for me...I survived my time at home with the girls and TJ. Tom and I both had some challenges in the last week. I continue to rely on God's soveriegnty in my life! I could not imagine living any other way!

Enjoy the photos! Check back in a few days with pics from the Hike and the car!

So much to write about...where do I begin?

Well, first let me say that I'm sorry I don't have any photos to share. I have some great shots, but our computer is down so I'm stuck with the unfamiliarity of Tom's laptop and I'm just not up to going through the extra work to get photos. Check back in a few days for some pics! Our computer is with someone that goes to our church. We are hoping he has some healing hands and can figure out what is wrong so it is resurrected and returned to us!

The big news is that Sarah turned four years old today! It was a fun day! She woke up grumpy so I got in bed with her. It was fun to see her roll over realizing that today was her birthday. We made such a big deal that yesterday was the last day she'd be three! After breakfast we made our way over to Lisa's house where we hosted a small swimming party for Sarah. She had a blast. She swam for a little while and then just camped out near the presents hoping she would get to open them! We saved a few presents for later in the day to open with just our family. She was thrilled that she got her only requested toys...Polly Pocket Swim Party. Tom had no idea what we got her so It was fun to see him look at me and say, "Pieces? I thought we were staying away from pieces!"

The other big news is that TJ bought a car. Yep, add another anxiety to my life! Here is how this went down: We have a friend that highly recommends an auto auction. Every Thursday a new list comes out. People can view the cars on Friday and then come to the auction on Saturday. We got the first list on Thursday. The were closed on Friday since it was a holidy. Tom decided to take the boys to just "watch" the auction and become better inrormed for future auctions. I was nervous, but I figured my husband who has frequented auctions (I know...they auctioned cows!) would not buy something already. I guess Tom felt he should register and allow TJ to hold the number. For two days I looked at this list with TJ. My uneducated opinion was this, "Stay away from anything that says 'nonactual miles.' Go for four doors, not two. Stay away from V8 engines. Stay away from the color red because I heard that insurance is higher if the car is red." Well, here comes my boy with his first care! It's a MAROON, two-door, Ford Thunderbird with a v8 engine! Oh, yeah...it has a really cool CD player! When TJ pulled in, I immediately went over and layed both hands on the hood of that car and I prayed "in the name of Jesus" for anyone that ever rides in the car or comes within five feet of the car. TJ was laughing. Yeah, it was humorous, but I ment every word I sent up in prayer that afternoon. We did have it checked by someone that knows cars, and they were pretty impressed with the car especially since TJ paid $850.00 for it! I'm getting grief because I don't understand why a "woofer" system is so important. My kids think I'm a nerd because it is a sub-woofer. Whatever! I don't want loud music coming from my boys car.

Tom is leaving in a few days with Ty and Dane. They are hiking four days, three nights in the backcountry of the Smoky Mountains. Yeah, pray for them! I told Dane, "Buddy, just remember. If you see a bear, just make sure you run faster than your father!" After the backcountry hiking, they will stay an additional four days to do some serious day hikes. TJ and the girls will stay here with me.

TJ is working hard at football! We went to the doctor last week and he weighed 225 pounds and is 6 feet 1 inches tall. I heard that Lancaster High School is switching to a spread offense. TJ is slot back on offense. It sounds like a fun position to play. He will also be preparing for outside linebacker.

We are excited that we will get to visit with Lily's travel group in a few weeks. We get together every year. This year we are in Louisville. I think 11 of the 12 families will be there! I'll be sure to post pics when we return.

I'm glad Lily has her "China sisters." These are the 11 other girls that were adopted that same day in 2004. We will be forever friends. Sarah doesn't have that, but that's okay. I have embraced, and celebrate, their different histories. WIth Sarah we will likely have forever contact with her foster family in Nanning. Plus, we have a few Guangxi connections that mean something special to us..and to Sarah.

On another celebration note, I just recieved word on that wheelchair project in China. Here is the scoop. We made a connection with a woman that runs a private orphanage in China. She has 18 children living in her private residence...a 3 bedroom apartment. Tom has been there before! All of the children have one or more medical special needs. Five of them have cerebral palsy. They do not have the ability to sit up or to be transported once they get too big for a stroller. The director spent some time with me a few weeks ago and we visited our local school for children with special needs. She was amazed that most of the folks in the US keep their children...even if they are born with cerebral palsy! She was then amazed at the chairs and the equipment. I like a challenge so I made some phone calls. Scripture clearly says, "We have not because we ask not." I called a medical supply company in Columbus. THe president got on the phone and asked me to bring the director up for a visit. We spent three hours with him. He then donated five chairs to this home. They are used, but in great shape. He fitted them with the sizes of the kids that the director gave him. I then started calling the project, "Wheels for Joy." The name of the home is "Home of Joy." I then had the task of trying to get them to China. I had a volunteer offer to take the chairs with him on a cargo ship of supplies for quake victims. The bummer part is that he couldn't guarantee that customs would allow them through since they are used. I had that confirmed with someone else. China does not allow used items to be shipped it. The only way the chairs would be accepted is if they were new. I contacted several other organizations that I thought would help and was told, " just have them use regular wheelchairs and use velcro." Well, maybe that would work a little, but these kids would not get the full support they needed for their little bodies! I was told by two reliable sources that the best way to get them in was with people who would be travelling into China. I then called a ministry connection I have with Bring Me Hope. He made a connection for me with a guy in MN. I just heard todaythat this man will take the chairs with his family at the end of the month. THese "wheels of joy" are getting there through the generosity of people! A medical supply company donated them. Another company is crating and shipping them to MN. A guy and his family will take them on a UA flight. Another connection will greet them at the airport and take the chairs. This person will then ship them to the Home of Joy! Wheel's for Joy!

Please pray for a friend of mine in the Philipines (TD). They had some damage to their community with the typhoon that hit a few weeks ago. She's a bit sick. Their home had a lot of water......and probably some other things. She even maintained a bit of humor in all of it! Plus, she has seen the hand of God (and His people) move in a mighty way. She's been a blessing to me and I've yet to even meet her! One day maybe!

I haven't been able to follow any of my blogs! :( So, if you are one of my blogging buddies, I'd like to hear from you and save your blog to my favorites on my husbands computer....just in case we have another mishap with my computer!
Well, I wrote plenty. Off to recover from a big birthday celebration!

Kathy

New Territory!

Yesterday was a big day for the Alexander family. TJ got his license! To be honest, I have mixed emotions about it. I'm excited for him and yet........one more thing for me to worry about! I know many parents have "been there, done that" and I'm sure I'll get over this initial anxiety as time goes on.

We have two really old mini-vans so he isn't too thrilled about driving too much! He spends a good tiem on Craig's List looking for the ideal "first car." He's saving for it and I'm gearing myself up for that!

Pray for TJ! You might as well pray for the people of Lancaster, Ohio that will now have another young, male driver out on the roads, too!

Father/Daughter Dessert Night!

Life has been so crazy lately that blogging has had to take the back burner! Here is a quick update on everyone:
Tom and TJ spent a week working in West Virginia as part of a mission trip. TJ worked with kids with basketball. They also did yard work and home repairs for a couple that hope to make their home acceptable to raise their grandchildren. Oh, and TJ ate a snake while he was there. I'm trying to get the video and will post it! I guess I let the boys watch too much "Mand versus Wild!"

Ty and Dane are busy with basketball and golf. The girls have had a bout of sickness this past week. Sarah had Scarlet Fever. Once she had it, I enjoyed watching the faces of people when I told them she had Scarlet Fever. We all remember how it was a death threat back in the Ingals' time! SF is strep with a full-body rash. Lily followed with a few days of unexplained high fever. TJ was all ready to go to the OSU football camp when the day before rolled his ankle. It was a heartbreaker that he couldn't go. He was hoping to make contact with some coaches with the hopes of catching their eye for potential scholarship. The good news is that it has healed enough that he can go to Penn State tomorrow for their camp.

I was excited to go to hear one of my favorite author's speak....Jane Kirkpatrick. A friend of mine made a four hour drive to hear her. We had some time alone with Jane after the presentation so that was pretty cool. We then made the four-hour drive home. I also was able to get the third book in Jane's most recent series "Change and Cherish Historical Series." Jane is a Christian author that writes historical fiction. I like her even more now that I've heard her speak! She's insightful, very smart and funny!

The big blessing for us these past few weeks is that I am working on a special project with some friends to try to get five wheelchairs (Cerebral Palsy Chairs) to China for children in a specific orphanage in Shenyang! Scripture says, "We have not because we ask not." Well, I asked and the president of a local medical supply company donated five chairs that are in great shape. I've been working on getting them to China and am finding the best way is through travelling families. We are hoping a group travelling in July can take all five OR I will be ASKING families who travel to Chine to adopt (post-Olympics) to take them along with their things. I've called this project "Wheels for Joy." The home they will go to is called, "Home of Joy." I'll write more about that another day. China is near and dear to our hearts! I can't wait to share with you more of what God is doing in this one home in Shenyang and tell you about how FAITHFUL God has been in providing through a variety of people!

Tom took the girls to the annual "Father/Daughter Dessert Night" at church last week. They had a great time! Enjoy the photo.j

Kathy

Sarah went to Children's Hospital Today

We took Sarah to Children's Hospital in Columbus for her annual heart tests/exams. The coronary artery fistula is still a minor concern. Dr. Ro was tempted to totally release her, but she felt we should come back in three years! It's wild to think that she'll be seven when we go back!

All else is moving right along in the Alexander home. We are busy getting our summer started.

Please pray!

Many of you that read our blog know that we were blessed tremendously with grant money to finance the adoption of Sarah Jo. Do you remember the flyer that was passed out at malls all over the US this past Christmas that included the picture of Sarah? It was from Shaohannah's Hope, a ministry to encourage people and churches to do more in the way of adopting both across the street and around the world. Stephen Curtis Chapman and his wife Mary Beth started Shaohannah's Hope and are known for doing so much work within the Christian community in the areas of adoption and orphan care.

Last night their youngest daughter Maria (age five, adopted from China) was accidentally killed in an auto accident in their own drive. Please remember the entire family as they grieve. I remember the words from one of SCC's songs called, "Hope." It was written for close friends of thiers that lost a daughter at a young age. Here are the words:

With Hope
I Thess. 4:13-14; Heb. 6:9, 10:23

That is not at all how
we thought it was supposed to be
We had so many plans for you
we had so many dreams
And now you’ve gone away
and left us with the memories of your smile
And nothing we can say
and nothing we can do
Can take away the pain
the pain of losing you

We can cry with hope
we can say goodbye with hope
'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end
We can grieve with hope
because we believe with hope
There’s a place where we’ll see your face again
We’ll see your face again

Never have I known
anything so hard to understand
Never have I questioned more
the wisdom of God’s plan
But through the cloud of tears
I see the Father smile and say well done
And I imagine you
where you wanted most to be
Seeing all your dreams come true
'Cause now you’re home and now you’re free

We can cry with hope, we can say goodbye with hope
'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end
We can grieve with hope, because we believe with hope
There’s a place where we’ll see your face again
We’ll see your face again

We have this hope like as an anchor
'Cause we believe that everything God promised us is true

So we can cry with hope, we can say goodbye with hope
'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end
We can grieve with hope, because we believe with hope
There’s a place
By God’s grace
There’s a place where we’ll see your face again


The Seven Alexanders are one of many families that have generously blessed by the Chapman family and their ministry. Thank you for praying for them.

Kathy

Gotcha Day Fashion Show!

Gotcha Day Fashion Show!

This is Lily when we were leaving the Civil Affairs Office in Guangzhou on the day we got her! Yeah, I know, I was a lot smaller back then, too!!!!!

This picture above is Lily wearing the clothes that she had on when we had her Gotcha Day in 2004! Oh my...she has grown!

Gotcha Day 2006!

The picture above was taken yesterday....two years from Gotcha Day!

Okay, so it's time for a pedicure! I just couldn't skip showing how much her feet have grown!

Two years ago.......................

This is Sarah on Gotcha Day, May 15, 2006

This is Sarah a few weeks ago!
It was two years ago today that Tom and I were sitting waiting in a room in the Lottery Hotel. Any minute they would bring Sarah into the room to be placed in our arms for the very first time. Adopting a 22-month old brought some anxiety. We didn't know what her personality would be. We wouldn't know her likes or dislikes. We weren't sure if she'd love us, her three brothers and her sister. Whew, I was anxious!

Here we are two years later! She is funny, sometimes stubborn, smart, creative, loving and did I say smart? She likes most all foods, her blanket, her bed, her stuffed animals and her bath! Most importantly, she is madly in love with all of us as we are with her!

Tyler playing "Furelise" by Ludwig Von Beethoven....oh, and a few pictures!

This picture clearly communicates the creativity that the girls have! First, the blankets on their heads are wigs! Yes, they wanted longer hair that day. They are constantly putting on shoes and dresses! I'm a little concerned that Lily is giving Sarah a pedicure with a hairbrush....oh well........I still have a way to go as a mom to girls!

Lily enjoys chilling out inside the bin that I keep a bunch of blankets. Don't worry....I always take the lid off. This is a picture of her one night when I thought she was awful quiet in there......she fell asleep!

Sarah

Lily

Today is Mother's Day. I find myself saying the same things my mother said when I was growing up..."All I want for Mother's Day is a day of peace and no fighting!" Well, that's me! Yeah, well, throw in a cup of hot coffee, too!

Two years ago we celebrated Mother's Day in China as it was the day we got Sarah. Time has certainly flown by.

I did enjoy a nice Sunday dinner out to one of my favorite Chinese places. The kids got me a new coffee pot and a picture frame that shows digital pics. At this moment, the girls are in bed sleeping and the boys went to visit friends...I'm enjoying my moment of peace!

Tyler had a piano recital recently. It was a challenge to get piano lessons in this year between golf and basketball. He did a great job!

The Music Truck

(Sorry, no pictures today) My boys are telling me to stop doing something that I have done ever since we got home from China with Lily. I haven't decided what to do. I welcome your comments.....as long as you are nice about it!

When the weather starts to get nice, there are two ice cream trucks that spend most of their day in our subdivision. I hate the high price of ice-cream off of that truck! I hate it that kids run to it as if the have never had ice-cream in their entire life! There have been four summers since we brought Lily home. Lily and Sarah are excited about this truck. Every time they see one coming, they scream, "Mommy, it's the Music Truck, it's the Music Truck!" Lily will often say after that, "Isn't it nice that they drive around a play music for us?" My girls have no clue that the guy sells ice cream!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've trained them to think it is simply "The Music Truck." Fortunately for me, there aren't any kids too close to us that they observe getting anything from the music truck driver!

I have little pangs of guilt over misleading my girls, but I aslo find a great deal of enjoyment sharing in their excitement as they see the Music Truck approaching. Plus, I don't have to dig deep into my wallet to get them money to buy something when I have freeze pops in my own freezer!!j

Any thoughts?

Catching Up!

I was enjoying a cup of coffee while the girls were playing with chalk. I love this cup! Anyone want to guess on why is is so special?

Sarah enjoys playing the letter game in the drive. I shout out the letter and she hops to the letter that I call out.

I'm not sure about the pose, but she loves to play the Letter Game in our drive!

This photo of Lily really cracks us up!

Sarah was waiting patiently while I got the camera ready!

Lily was hoping there was something in the box for her, too!



She was so thrilled with the package!

It seems like it has been a while since I last posted! Life is crazy.....as usual! Tom is keeping busy at work. If anyone wanted to listen to him preach you can go to the media page at our church website: http://www.fairfieldcc.com TJ is finishing up his final hours driving with an instructor. Next comes the liscense. I'm not sure what I'm more worried about...TJ driving or the increase in insurance! TJ is keeping busy with lifing after school, going to as many open gyms for basketball, and making pizza at my favorite pizza place....Sugar Bears! Ty is starting to golf and enjoys lifting, too. He has started back with his piano teacher...which we are thrilled about! Dane continues with the violin. He is working out some as well.

I travelled with the girls up to Girard, Ohio to visit with family. Well, actually, it was the birthday of a dear friend of ours and I decided that was motivation to get me up to see my mom and the rest of our family. I didn't get any pictures! Ugh! It was good to be with mom...even though she wasn't feeling well. I got to see most of my siblings...Bill, Bob (he is so silly), Karen, Buzz, Karla. I didn't get to see Kim or Kara...neither of them live in that particular area. The girls and I also spend some time in the Owens home for the celebration of Madeline's fourth birthday! M is from A Mother's Love...the same orphanage as Sarah. Thanks for inviting us, M! While we were gone, the bachelor's seemed to survive! TJ took the ACT while we were gone.

Lastly, a big shout out to Lynn for sending the package to Sarah! Lynn travelled to get her daughter several months ago and brought back a few gifts from Ah-moo...Sarah's foster mother. Sarah was so excited! She is sharing the two stuffed rats that were sent to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Ah-moo is smart..she sent two of everything girly! The girls got purses and a variety of hair things. All five of the kids got a jade necklace. It's a special thing to be able to stay in contact with Sarah's foster family. We don't mind that our girls had different experiences in China. Lily has a great connection with our travel mates from our trip in 2004. We are looking forward to our annual visit this summer! Sarah has her foster family and a few folks that we are connected with that have children from Qinzhou (Sarah's original orphanage) and A Mother's Love (the second orphanage). Tom and I sent the grant proposal to the Lilly Foundation in hopes of participating in their Clergy Renewal Program. I'm trying to not get too excited. If it happens, our entire family will experience China in 2009! We will know in October if we are one of the recipients.

Thanks for checking in with us!