Chinese Culture Day

Part of our life will always involve keeping up PandaGirl's Chinese heritage. One way to do that is to attend festivals and culture days, etc. We had a great time meeting up with our old playgroup buddies for some serious Chinese fun! The girls got to try Tai Chi, make lots of different crafts, taste Chinese moon cakes, play with traditional toys and even see real silk worms. We had such a great time watching PG with her friends and in her element. Makes our heart smile real big.

Three amigos...wait they aren't Spanish!....Three peas in a pod?....Sisters forever.
Desheng Darling, Spicy Girl, PandaGirl

One of the things in life which brings me the biggest smile is being with our playgroup sisters.

Can you say mother hens? ; )


Aren't they just the cutest in these traditional Chinese hats?!!

The stage area had signs posted for all the Chinese provinces represented there today. PG and Desheng Darling are both from the Guangxi province.

Of course, our friend Spicy Girl is from Hunan.

We just had to take a pic of PG with her province name along with her mei mei's (little sister) home. They just happened to be sitting next to each other which I thought was kind of fun. (We hopefully are going to adopt from Taiwan for #2).

Silkworms which make the silk for the beautiful dresses the girls wear.

Spicy Girl LOVED the "tickly" little silkworm which she kept trying to "share" with PG and she, of course backed up and wouldn't even THINK of holding that thing! LOL! ; )

Some kind of balancing game that takes lots of skill to master. We have a long way to go on this one!

A wonderfully nice Chinese lady helping teach traditional writing with Chinese paintbrushes.

PG being a little cutie by posing for me after we left all the activities...

...and about three minutes down the road!

Awesome New Leopard Print!!!

I found this great new leopard print and wanted to share it with you! Might be cute for trimming a purse or for curtains...wait...


Ohhhhh! That's not leopard print....that's BURNT BLACK BEANS stuck to the bottom of my saucepan! Guess when you put something on the burner...almost HIGH, with the lid on...you don't really need to go to the other room and get started filling out a survey for something. Tends to make dinner lean and the house smell funky.

Busy Weekend!

Friday was "Razzle-Dazzle Red Day" in my four year olds' class to celebrate the first day of fall! My FABULOUS co-teacher and I had all the kids wear red and she and I along with our daughters wore "dog-ears" just because WE CAN! Had a blast! (The pic is so small because I edited out our shirts. They have the name of our church right at the top and...well...I don't really want y'all knowing exactly WHERE we go to church. That would kinda ruin my false sense of security now, wouldn't it? LOL!)

PG doing a little "scootering" outside and enjoying the wee-bit cooler weather...well, at least it's not in the upper 90's anymore. LOL!

Saturday was the big "Bling It On!" women's event at our church which I have been working on. Did you know that Zech. 9:16 in the NIV Bible says this..."they will sparkle in His land like jewels in a crown."??? That was our theme verse for the day. It was absolutely adorable, fun and I had a BLAST leading an hour breakout session called, "Romancing Your Husband".

Yes, I did that and had the time of my LIFE! Little known fact that I have not shared on my blog until now is that I have a public speaking background and hope to see God use me in the future in that way. I just know it hasn't been the right timing yet for me to pursue anything in that kind of arena. He will let me know what's next. But for now, though, I was RIGHT in my element and LOVED it!!! I was blessed as well to be on a team of great people who helped me pull together the decor for the stage and the tables. I just eat that kinda stuff up. Again, right up my alley!

We gave away a "Bling" bracelet on everyone's napkin....they LOVED it!

Darling Cupcake/Pastry Tree!!!

About six kinds of yummy salads...mmm!

My BFF was able to come (drove FOUR hours!) to the women's event and was the BEST gift ever for me during my breakout session. I LOVED having her there!!!

Celebrated the Chinese Moon Festival by PG dressing in traditional Chinese clothes and eating at an amazing new Chinese restaurant (not a dorky old buffet where most things taste alike!). I had intentions of making real moon cakes, but was waaaay too busy. Wanted to find "Moon Pies" just for fun and couldn't find those either. Oh well. We still had fun together!

Alternate Name Meme

The Alternate Name Meme

1. MY ROCK STAR NAME: (pet's name & current car),
Miao Xterra

2.MY GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
Cookie Dough Chocolate Chip

3. MY “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name),
I'm sorry, that's a bit too REVEALING! LOL

4.MY DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal),
Red Giraffe

5. MY SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born),
Dawn Waco

6. MY STAR WARS NAME: (the last 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your blog's name),
Ton-Pa

7. MY SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink),
The Pink Dr. P

8. MY NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers),
Troy Dutch

9. MY WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ),
Jane Joe

10. MY TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter),
Sanders Seattle

11. MY SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower).
Autumn Crimson Rose

12. MY CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)
Banana Braie

13. MY HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree),
Waffle Pine

14. MY ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + A fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”),
The Scrappin' Cool Breeze Tour

Wordless Wednesday #19-Guess Who Got in the Fireplace?

Born in My Heart...

I didn't really think it would come at this age. She'll be five in a few weeks. I guess I should have realized that most 4 & 5 year olds have questions about babies being in mommies' tummies. I knew it was coming...one day. But today? I think I have avoided her enough times. PandaGirl saw a woman going through labor in a movie last week. How appropriate that it was "Love Comes Softly" by Janette Oke. She quickly made her mind that she didn't want to have a baby in her tummy (because the woman was clearly in PAIN!). She wants one, but, I quote, "I'm not gonna have a baby in my tummy. Maybe I can just put him in a stroller." Well, that's how I did it, baby girl.

Three different times last week she prodded me with the question, "Mommy, what did you do when I was in YOUR tummy?" She knows full well that she is "from" China and all about the adoption process. However, I believed it was time to let her know why I was avoiding her question. I didn't really ignore her. The phone would ring or the stove would buzz...whatever, God gave me some time to think, at least. I asked PandaPop if he was ready. He said we should not avoid her question any longer. So on Saturday we did it.

I went and got her Chinese scrapbook and the book I Love You Like Crazy Cakes (tells the whole process from beginning to end for most Chinese adoptions). PP got PG and they waited for me on the couch. Of course, I am already choked up taking the ever-so-long walk down the hall to the couch. PP started by reading the Crazy Cakes book with PG's name in place of the "baby's" name and Mommy and Daddy interjected in appropriate places, as well. While he read I would follow along with the corresponding scrapbook pages I had done that told the same story about herself. I could see her cogwheels turning. She would nod her head and get a bit teary-eyed, but I think it was because I was trying to blink back the tears myself.

Unless you are an adoptive mom reading this, I'm sure it is hard to understand the exact reason for the tears. Part is sadness, part is joy, part is jealousy for not being able to have her in my tummy, part is heartbreaking for the biological mother, but mostly it is for the pain that might be going through my precious daughter now and later in life. No matter how much love we give and prayers we know God hears there will HAVE TO come a time when she feels pain and loss over unanswered questions concerning the first 15 months of her life. The tears fall for her. I already want so much to take away that sorrow for her that will inevitably come. I guess that's what parents do. Feel for their child.

I have full confidence in my God that He ordained from the beginning of time for PG to be our daughter. We live in such a fallen world, though, that the realities with which we must deal as an adoptive family make our circumstances...unique. The solace I get from NOT being able to carry a child in my tummy is that I will always be able to relate to my daughter(s) in the area of just not knowing something I want the answer to. I can teach her through my own experiences that God allows certain things to happen in our life for a bigger purpose than we can possibly understand. We will have that bond. That makes me smile.

I'm relieved. I'm glad that the first "biggie" is out of the way. Truth is good. God is good. He will let us know when we need to further the conversation with PG. For now though, she took in the information as best as an almost-5-year-old can. She is the child of my heart for whom I have prayed to be a part of my life. Thank you, Lord, that she was born in my heart.

Thursday Thirteen #24-Things That Make Me Smile

Wordless Wednesday #18-My Sweet Baby...Almost 5!

IT HAPPENED THIS MORNING!!!

This little children's book page is from a Suzy's Zoo Fall is For Friends book. The page says,

"Suzy Ducken loved everything about fall. She loved wrapping herself in big cozy sweaters. She loved crisp apples and big orange pumpkins."

Yep. That pretty much sums me up! It should read: "PandaMom loves..."

When I taught Kindergarten and First Grade at private schools my room was completely decorated in Suzy's Zoo stuff. I think Suzy Spafford's art is totally ADORABLE and it makes me want to live in her little world...well after I have lived a long full life in The Hundred Acre Wood, of course. No, I don't need therapy. I just love cute things and these drawings are cute.

IT HAPPENED!!!!! I woke up this morning and what a lovely treat to open the front door to a WONDERFULLY cool fall breeze blowing against my skin!!! In Texas it is really only a teaser, because it can still be hot clear into October, BUT---it gave me HOPE! Fall is truly on the way to my house! Pumpkins, caramel apples, football, spicy candles, new recipes, sweatshirts...ooooooh, I'm getting excited just typing about it!! Yes, I am passionate about fall weather. It is just the beginning of the amazing next few months which culminates with my Saviour's birthday party! (That's C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S in case anyone forgot WHY we celebrate Christmas in the first place).

Well, I am off to go help Miao who got himself stuck in a sticky-pad mouse trap a few minutes ago (and completely FREAKING himself out!!!) being in a place he SHOULDN'T have been! Now he is limping and has sticky paws. Ding Dong Kitty.





I just "googled" the last three pics. They make me happy. ; )