Grandma's Flowers

Grandma's yard is a beautiful place almost all the time but in the springtime it is especially pretty. Hope loves to smell the flowers. She loves the smell of clean clothes...her sense of smell is keen and I smile when I hold her and see her close her eyes and inhale. She wants me to wear a cotton T shirt style nightgown because it smells good to her and is soft. I really really love all the little things that make up her precious personality.

These pictures were taken earlier in the spring but I'm just now getting around to posting them.

She is very fond of her little frog and of the color green.

Becky

I CAME from China

We were sitting together watching the China Central TV network which was showing some beautiful scenery. I said to Hope,"China is really pretty, have you ever been there?"

Her response; "I CAME from China. I was in a lady's tummy and she couldn't take care of me and you came to adopt me! Don't you remember?"

It is a challenge to help her process who she is and where she came from. Right now she seems to be at peace with what has been told.

Easter 2010

Our Easter celebration this year was difficult. Good Friday is the day that Wade passed away and our family was dealing with shock and terrible grief. When a child is dealing with a stressful situation I think they need a bit of escape back to normal as often as can be arranged. Easter morning Hope found her basket full of goodies out in the yard...just like normal. That has been a tradition in our family from the time our girls were little. They would find a jelly bean trail that led them to their baskets or sometimes they would just stumble upon them gently guided by us.

Someone (I am not sure who it was...our friends and family were so precious during our grief) told me Becky...you need to take Hope to church if you can. She needs to get to wear her new dress and that cute little hat. (Hope really really wanted a hat...of course I knew this was probably the last year she would even consider wearing one...needless to say...we got one) I know the Lord just carried me through that morning because I hardly remember anything except the dear friends at church who hugged me and whispered kind words to me, but Hope really needed to go.

Later in the day we went over to Grandma's for our annual family Easter Egg Hunt. It was a success for the children and gave us all even Misty a reason to smile a little. I remember how much Wade loved to hide the eggs. When a family loses someone the memories just seem to come flooding back...little things...that mean so very much.

Tough Times For Hope & Family

Hope and Wade last year on our family vacation to Roaring River State Park in Missouri. Below is a picture taken the same day of our immediate family having supper at the lodge.

Many of you know our family. We are very close and our immediate family is by some standards large. Our three older daughters have families and so Hope has five nephews and two nieces who are actually more like siblings or cousins. Recently our oldest daughter Misty's husband Wade passed away unexpectedly. It has been a very tough time for our whole family especially Misty Caleb and Tyler and also for Hope. Dealing with grief is difficult even for adults. Our family's strength through this past month has come from Jesus...the Comforter. I just wanted to make any of you aware who did not know and to ask you to pray for us. Since this blog is mostly to document Hope's life I felt it appropriate to post some pictures of her and Wade. She loved him very much. He would often come over to pick her up when she was planning to go to Misty's house, those were fun times. He would always say "Whatcha doin Hopie". She loved her brother-in-law and now is learning to live with only his memories and the blessed hope we have in Jesus Christ that we will see Wade again.

I would appreciate any comments and suggestions from any of you especially those of you who have an adopted child or have a child who has suffered a similar loss in their young life.

Becky

Wolfhill Daycare...

The past few weeks have been very interesting around here.  Hope and I with the help of Grandma have been taking care of Audrey and Heath while their Moms are at work.  Wow... have we ever been busy!!  Hope really loves her niece and nephew.  I consider it a privilage to be able to care for them and it has been such a good thing for Hope to share me with them.  She is really really attached to me and I think that the introduction of a couple of sweeties to our daily routine has been good for her.  Sometimes at the end of the day when babies and moms head out the door for home I take a few deep breaths and give thanks...not that they are gone...but that I am blessed to be able to care for them