In loving memory

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our faithful feline friend and family member

H.I. "Hi" Osborn

July 29, 1990 - February 27, 2007

We will miss you terribly. Thank you for all the special memories.

Love,

Your family

Don, Lisa, & Lindy

Plaid is my favorite color

Some of you may remember when I (Lisa) used to have A LOT of plaid in my wardrobe and jokingly say that plaid was my favorite color. These days, I don't have many plaid things hanging out in my closet or drawers. However, it seems someone else in the house does and she's been sporting a tartan schoolgirl look quite frequently this winter.

Sick Day

Late yesterday and today we encountered a first with Lindy--a sick day. Our sweet girl has had a few colds but overall has remained relatively healthy.

Unfortunately, there has been a nasty stomach bug going around and she got a touch of it. Luckily, it was not nearly as severe as the version I had earlier in the week!!!

Today she fell asleep on me three times and just sat propped on the couch with her robe and blanket. It was so sweet to have her just wanting to be held because anyone who has seen Lindy knows she is on the move constantly.

Hopefully, she'll be back to her spunky self in no time!

Gung Hay Fat Choy

Sunday February 18th kicked off the beginning of the Chinese New Year. This year is the Year of the Pig. In China, they celebrate the lunar new year for 15 days and it is a time of family, friends, and lots of food.

As a wonderful new year's treat, we were blessed to finally meet Diana & Jeff Rouse in person in town from Minnesota. Diana and I have been friends for over a year through my wonderful Monday night prayer group. She is a great listener and has been a constant source of encouragement and insight. She has provided me confidence when I felt like I wasn't doing so great of a job in my new role as a mother. I knew from the moment I "met" her via our call, she was going to be a special friend.

Diana and Jeff have now been logged into China waiting of news of their daughter for 16 months. The wait has been long and agonizing but they have remained faithful and positive the entire time. Our prayer is that it is just a matter of days until they receive the referral of this precious child. We ask you to pray for them, too.

We went and had Chinese food, they looked at about 400 pictures of our trip to China, and we just had fun visiting like good friends do. They had so much fun watching

Lindy (who refused to wear her native Chinese dress) and seeing her made it seem very real to them. Unfortunately, our time together was short but we were thankful for this great opportunity to be together.

Our funny valentine

Happy Valentine's Day from the Osborns!

In honor of Valentine's Day, here are some pictures of Lindy wearing her finest pink and red duds to celebrate the season.

Also, since today is a day about love, here are 14 things I love about Lindy (in no particular order):

1. Her big, dark beautiful eyes
2. The freckle on the bottom of her right foot
3. Her great big belly laugh
4. She usually wakes up happy and likes to hang out in her crib for a while after she wakes up
5. The way she dances
6. Watching her prance around on her tippy toes
7. Hearing her pray
8. Her big toothy smile (which I can NEVER seem to catch on camera)
9. The way she loves to have the wind blow through her hair
10. Her expressions
11. Her delight for animals
12. Her attention to detail
13. Her chubby little thighs
14. Hearing her say, "Mommy." ---okay, that may be my favorite

Have a day filled with love!

A visit with Grandma & Grandpa

Grandma and Grandpa ("Mama and Papa" as Lindy says) came to visit recently and we had a fun time! Here are some pictures of our weekend together.

They were amazed at how Lindy had changed in the 2.5 months since they'd last seen her. Although her looks were pretty much the same, they definitely noticed she is talking more, her comprehension has gone way up, and she is in constant motion.

We went to the San Antonio Stockshow and did a little shopping around town. It went by too fast but Grandma and Grandpa had to get home to go back to work. :o(

Come back again soon!!!

Daddy's little girl

Once upon a time, there was a young man so in love with a young lady that he decided to ask for her hand in marriage. Tragically, shortly after their engagement, they were separated and could only communicate via mail or telephone. During one phone call, the young lady was talking about their future children and dreaming about their life together as young ladies often do. The young man told the young lady he wasn't sure if he wanted children for he couldn't imagine sharing his love with anyone else but the young lady and he certainly couldn't imagine having to share the young lady's love with anyone else. The young lady explained how the heart is an amazing muscle which can expand and allow room to love new people as they come into our lives.

I think this young man's heart muscle expanded pretty easily, don't you???

And, oh yes, they lived happily ever after...

I love my Auntie Pauline

My sweet Auntie Pauline made this pretty sweater for me long before I was ever home. I am finally big enough to wear it.

Thanks Auntie Pauline!!!

I love you,
Lindy

One year ago today...

... at 11:06 a.m., I (Lisa) received the most exciting phone call of my life. It was "THE" call Don and I had longed to receive for months--the call letting us know we finally had a daughter. The anticipation was so absolutely excruciating that I still get weak in the knees and stomach when I think about it. I also get super teary-eyed.

Don and I fell in love that day with three little photos sent to us via email. We memorized the little tidbits of information about this little baby named "Fan Xiao Jia" and analyzed every detail of the pictures. Don said from the very beginning, "Look at that face! She's got an attitude." He wasn't too far off about that! We carried pictures of her around in a manila folder and showed her off with the pride of any new parent. We celebrated our special news by eating Chinese food at a restaurant appropriately named "Full House." Don't ask me what I had--I don't remember a bite.

Tonight we celebrated the year anniversary of our referral day by returning to Full House and having Chinese food. This time we didn't have to linger over tiny photos in a manila folder because we had the real deal live and in person cheerfully greeting the customers and walking around in her squeaky shoes.

Receiving our referral a year ago was just the beginning of some very exciting and special times. God blessed us so richly and answered so many prayers when He chose Lindy for us.

One...two...three...fries???

Hi there,

Lindy seems to have an obsession. In her world, one particular word takes on several meanings.
For example, when we are counting together it goes something like this:

Mommy: One
Lindy: Two
Mommy: What comes after two?
Lindy: Three
Mommy: What comes after thr (cut off by Lindy)
Lindy: Fries
Mommy: No, sweetie, four comes after three.
Mommy: What comes after four?
Lindy: Fries
Mommy: Fries??? No, sweetie, FIVE (extra emphasis) comes after four.
Mommy: What comes after FIVE (extra emphasis)?

Another example:
Mommy, Daddy, and Lindy at a favorite Chinese or Mexican restaurant. Dinner is served...All of a sudden Lindy emphatically exclaims, "Fries. Need fries. Fries. Need fries." Mommy and Daddy look at each other puzzled and think, "sorry, sister--no fries here." Then we tempt her with some chicken, broccoli (usually shot down), beans, and some rice--which we have learned ALSO translates to fries.

Well, despite the fact that fries=five and fries=rice, she does enjoy some good old yummy French Fries like most American girls...just hold the ketchup, please!

Happy New Year!

Happy 2007!!!

I hope you are off to an outstanding new year!

I am a bit behind on blogging but am happy to say, ALL the Christmas decorations are down and put away. I think putting away the decorations is one of the most mundane tasks--ever. Lindy was a bit bewildered as we took apart the tree and packed away the snowmen adorning the mantle. She would sweetly say, "bye bye" over and over. It all must seem a bit crazy and confusing!

I am not one to make New Year's Resolutions because, admittedly, I am not super disciplined at keeping them. However, I have thought of some goals I want to try to meet as I parent Lindy in 2007 (in no particular order).

Here's the top 10:
1. Start and end each day with a big kiss, hug, and "I love you."
2. Maintain patience.
3. Keep working on her potty training.
4. Help her learn important concepts such as sharing, apologizing, obedience, and respect.
5. Have her eat more veggies.
6. Get her more involved with putting away her belongings.
7. Diligently work on colors, letters, and numbers. She "kind of" counts to five right now.
8. Make and take the time to keep singing, dancing, reading, and playing with her on her level.
9. Be consistent in my discipline and expectations.
10. Pray about her and for her EVERYDAY.

I am sure there are hundreds of others I need to consider, as well, so hopefully I'll be able to hit a bunch more, too.

If you're a resolution maker or goal setter, I hope you'll achieve whatever you set out to do in 2007.

Cheers,

Lisa

Christmas pictures

We spent our first Christmas with Lindy in Arizona with Don's family. We weren't sure if everyone was going to make it because of all the snow Denver got!!! However, by late Christmas eve everyone made it in safely.

Lindy survived the near 2000 mile roundtrip road trip, and so did we. She has proven herself to be a pretty good little traveler, for which we are thankful. She did hit the wall a few times in the car, but who wouldn't when you're strapped in from head to toe and looking out at miles and miles of nothing???!!! She pointed out just about every truck on I-10 and learned about trains, as she added two more states to her repertoire.

Lindy got to meet the rest of her boy first cousins, except for Shon. She also met her Uncle Pat, Uncle Robbie, Grandma & Grandpa Osborn, her Great Uncle Denny & Aunt Sally from the Seattle area, and two second cousins and second cousins once removed. She also saw Aunt Michelle, Aunt Anne, and cousins Brooke & Livi again. There were so many people to play with and an amazing toy room.

We drove around and looked at lights and she squealed with delight! We've also discovered she's a normal toddler when it comes to Christmas--more interested in the boxes and paper than the gift itself. Towards the end of opening her gifts, she did start to say, "Ohhh and ooohhh." Sounds like she may be ready for a fireworks display!

It was so special for Don and I to have our little girl this Christmas. She by far is the best gift we received all year.

Enjoy the photos!
The Osborns

Merry Christmas

Before we head out for the holidays, we want to wish everyone a lovely Christmas. Whether you are spending your time with family and/or friends, we hope it will be special and that you will take time to reflect on the meaning of Christmas.

We look forward to experiencing Christmas through the eyes of our sweet Lindy. It has already been a blessing to see her marvel at the tree or say "lights" over and over as she sees each new display of Christmas lights.

I leave you with a quote from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol: ". . . for it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself."

Merry Christmas with love,
The Osborns

What a difference a year makes

Last Christmas was kind of tough. Don & I had hoped to be in China, recently home, or just about to travel…and then the BACKLOG began. It became pretty obvious in October and November that we weren’t going to be traveling before the end of the year because we hadn’t received our referral. Yet, we still hoped for a referral before Christmas, but that wasn’t meant to be, either. We didn’t travel to be with family, we didn’t decorate, and we didn’t exchange gifts with one another to conserve cash for our adoption. When Christmas rolled around and we didn’t even know who our daughter was, it really felt like it was never going to happen. Baby showers had been thrown, a room was in place, but it felt like it was all for nothing.

It wasn’t. A year later, we have our sweet Lindy and what a joy she is to us! However, we are aware there are many other families going through the same feelings and emotions we felt. I dedicate this post to all my friends who are disappointed and hurting because their children aren’t home with them this Christmas. Keep the faith. There is a process and God has a plan. I know you identify with the words of this song by Third Day, but pay attention to the last verse. It WILL happen and, God willing, next year you all WILL hold your sweet babies at Christmas.

"Merry Christmas"

There's a little girl trembling on a cold December morn
Crying for mama's arms
At an orphanage just outside a little China town
Where the forgotten are

But half a world away I hang the stockings by the fire
And dream about the day when I can finally call you mine

It's Christmas time again but you're not home
Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone
So tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in His arms
And tell you from my heart
I wish you Merry Christmas

As I hang the tinsel on the tree and watch the twinkling lights
I'm warmed by the fire's glow
Outside the children tumble in a wonderland of white
And make angels in the snow

But half a world away you try your best to fight the tears
And hope that Heaven's Angels come to carry you here

Christmas is the time we celebrate the Holy Child
And we celebrate His perfect gift of love
He came to Earth to give His life and prepare a place for us
So we could have a home with Him above

It's Christmas time again and now you're home
Your family is here so you will never be alone
So tonight before you go to sleep,
I'll hold you in my arms
And tell you from my heart
I wish you Merry Christmas

Meet Mrs. Claus

Yesterday it was a ridiculous 76 degrees in San Antonio. However, instead of wearing a summer outfit, Miss Lindy did all her errands in a fur-trimmed Christmas dress she received as a gift. If only we had a dime for every time someone stopped us and asked if she had just had her pictures taken. I guess a girl just can't dress up to run around town anymore...

Lindy didn't wear the hat out and about, but did cooperate to some extent for her at-home photo shoot.

Sending Christmas greetings!
The Osborns