Hope Blossoms

We are so super excited to announce our new daughter. 

              Iris MeiXiao Hua Atwood

We will call her Iris Mei. It will be a double barrel name like Mary Jane or Mary Kate. 

As I'm sure you ALL know naming this sweet girl has been a big deal. 

We wanted her name to be perfect and there were so many things to debate. 

To put an English flower name or to not. To keep her original Chinese name or to not. 

I have prayed and cried over her name. I hope she will know it's because I love her dearly and wanted her name to make her life easy and beautiful.  

Parts of her name she's had from the start. Her Chinese name is Xiao Xiao. 

Pronounced show show. (Rhymes with cow) It means teeny tiny. I'm sure she was named this because she was a 2 pound premie.  This part of her name was special to our family because months before we found Iris Mei our Lydia kept telling us that her "teeny tiny" friend was in China and we needed to go get her. 

Mei (may) was a name I loved right from the start because it crossed both English and Chinese worlds. But mostly,  my great aunt Mae was very loved in our family. Mae in English means Pearl. Do you remember the story of when we were trying to decide weather to adopt her? My friend said, "she is your Pearl in your crown." 

Mei Xiao or Xiao Mei in certain characters means little plum blossom.  Plum blossoms are a big deal in China. They are often painted. I think they are often mistaken for cherry blossoms but cherry blossoms are a Japanese symbol. The Chinese love plum blossoms because they bloom when there's still snow on the trees. They survive through hardships. They are a symbol of hope.  

 

Mei Xiao Hua (Hua is pronounced wu-ah) means "beautiful little blossom" 

Hope blossoms. 

We almost left it just that Mei Xiao Hua but it just seems like it was missing something. 

For months we've debated English names both flower and not. In fact, Iris had been chosen then x-nayed off the list. 

Last night and really early this morning at 4 when we were all awake we went through every name we could think of. 

It was easy to see that certain names just we'rent HER! They didn't seem "bright" enough! I kept coming back to Iris and how colorful and beautiful. 

That's how this girl is! Bright, colorful, and beautiful. Cheesy cheesy cheesy..I know... But it just fit the spirit we can see in her eyes. 

Ironically, just about the time we named her one of my friends said, "what about Brighton"  My friend could see it too, baby girl. Your bright spirit. Plus, I love growing Iris and they remind me of my grandmas. 

Edited to add:  A few days after coming home I looked up what Iris symbolize and  Guess what? They are also a symbol of hope! Along with faith and wisdom. 

So there you have it. 

You were named baby girl at 4 in the morning by your new mama and baba who love you dearly. 

We were asked today by the Chinese  government if we "accepted" you and if we were "satisfied" by you. 

Are you kidding me? Yes! We accept her! We will never abandon her! 

She is lovely, our Iris Mei. 

We are coming!

As we drive away from our little home, It's such a bittersweet feeling. 

We're super excited to get our sweet girl home and super bummed to be leaving our loved ones. Leaving the flock to get the one isn't easy.  😢 

I snapped this picture this morning as I was getting Q off to school. 

Lydia has a bug and I hate leaving her sick. 

Chu had nightmares in the night and he ended up in our bed. His happy face hides so much.

Praying for their little hearts and that they'll forgive us for leaving and accept there new Mei Mei (sister) easily. I pray they'll quickly become the trio troublemakers. 😜

It's just as hard to leave this guy! It doesn't get easier just cause they are older. 

We've had quite a few obsticales this week. Satan DOES NOT want this baby girl to come home! He has thrown quite a few things our way.  We had a water leak in our crawl space and Shane's been sick just to name a few... 

We had a very similar week right before we committed to adopting her. Cows dying, cars breaking down, chickens being killed by the neighbor dogs. 

I think she must be pretty special for him to be trying so hard to stop us.

He will not prevail!

We have God on our side. She will come come! 

And we are on our way! 

Hang on precious! Mommy and Daddy are coming! 

The Least of These.

I should be cleaning. I should be tackling the Mount Everest that is my laundry pile right now, but I'm not. 

I have a feeling so strong that it cannot be denied. Tears are streaming down my face and I need to write it out. 

I pray, "Dear Father, please help me to write this in a way that is pleasing to thee and not from the sadness that I feel in my heart." 

Here goes. I'm an orphan advocate. I'm a crappy one, but still, I'm an advocate. At times I've been an okay advocate, posting kids and following until, at last, they come home. Some days, it's sending a pm to someone and saying, "Did you see this amazing child?" or maybe they are already looking at a child and I have more info on that child then what's in the child's short file.  Sometimes, I simply post a child's picture and that's that. On really bad days, maybe  all I accomplish is a prayer for a child or children.  The bad days happen way to often.

I have big plans of someday becoming an awesome advocate

But.. advocating is NOT about me.  It's about THEM. The children that are waiting. The ones who don't have a voice. The ones that long for a kiss and a snuggle. Precious children with innocent smiles who need a mom and dad so badly. One person who doesn't leave...

I speak for those children. 

Today, I'm writing from a broken heart because I've seen several children declined by families for reasons that don't make sense to me. But my heart is truly broken for a precious baby girl who left this world today before having a chance to have a family. 

Dear friends whether your searching for your child, or advocating

please let me offer one MAJORLY HUGE yet very simple tip. (I suspect most advocates already do this. )

*Before you open any child's file, Say a prayer. But instead of asking, "Is this child mine." Ask instead, "Father, how can I help this child? and Dear Lord, help me to see this precious child with YOUR loving eyes not mine." 

(You can do this with pray over a picture that comes across your news feed too. )

Then dear friends, Open the file and LOOK at the picture. Look into this childs eyes. Really see that this little one is not just a file but a real live precious human. A child that our father in heaven loves very much. 

I understand that you don't want to be attached.  I do.There was a time when I did the same thing. But friends if we really care about the Orphan cause, it's not about us. It's about them. 

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matt. 25:40

"Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God." Mark 10:14

This side of the world.

That tiny itty bitty face... I saw this picture for the first time today. It came in an important email. This email had a very important document attached. It happened to be our Travel Approval from China!!!  (I knew about it yesterday) 

We have done all we needed to in the adoption process that CAN be done on this side of the world!!! Next step IS CHINA!  

Though the adoption process is done til China we have a few things we have to take care of before we go. 

We have had issues with a passport but heard good news last night that it was done and on its way.  Finally! Thank heavens! 

 

As most of you know I have been stressing on finding a perfect name for this darling girl. We had found a name and were super excited about it but can no longer use it.  So We're back to the drawing board.  Ack!  

 

That beautiful baby face deserves a gorgeous name! 

I looked at this picture today and it's a reminder of how far our tiny girl has come. That God was and IS very aware of this precious angel! He's aware of every child the world over and he loves them!  

We are so thrilled that he chose US to love her! I pray we are worthy,  her whole life and the next, of this privilege.  

Making Room

This time of year, four years ago, Shane and I were putting up beadboard and antiquing it. 

We were getting ready for our sweet baby girl. We'd been waiting a long time! 

The room turned out beautiful and so did she! 

Sweet love... 

February 2014,  We added a bit of blue and brown into the room. We were getting ready for our sweet boy. 

We'd been waiting a long time. He'd been waiting longer. 

The room turned out darling and so did he!

Sweet love...  

The room is currently cluttered with toys from two little mastermind mess makers. 

There's pirate and princess clothes in a pile in the corner. 

There's crayon on one of the beadboard  

walls and fingerprints on all the mirrors. 

It's a sweet little room where these two have made room for each other. 

I'm feeling a little sentimental today as I move some of the blue out of the room. 

We've decided to move Chu's bed and clothes in with his brother. Don't worry, most of his toys will stay in this sweet little room. He won't sleep in there anymore but play, he will! 

It's not always easy to make space.

Sometimes, it's bittersweet. Sometimes, we have to let go of something to make room.  It takes a lot of hard work! 

Sometimes, we can't see the beauty through the work. Especially, when the space being made is in our own hearts. 

We're getting ready for our youngest sweet girl. 

We've been waiting a long time. She has been waiting longer! 

The room isn't done yet but it's already  precious 

and so is she... 

 

Can't wait to have her sweet presence fill the room and our hearts. 

 

And the winner is.... Knife Fundraiser!!

Here we go! So exciting! We've assigned eveyone a number according to when and how much they paid.
We will use a number generator to determine the winner.


01.Raina Horner
02.Raina Horner
03.Raina Horner
04.Raina Horner
05.Raina Horner
06.Carrie Wallace
07.Carrie Wallace
08.Carrie Wallace
09.Carrie Wallace
10.Carrie Wallace
11.Dennis Allred
12.Dennis Allred
13.Dennis Allred
14.Dennis Allred
15.Dennis Allred
16.Tavia Wall
17.Tavia Wall
18.Tavia Wall
19.Tavia Wall
20.Tavia Wall
21.Ted Cole
22.Ted Cole
23.Blake Bess
24.Blake Bess
25.Blake Bess
26.Blake Bess
27.Blake Bess
28.Ryan Elsey
29.Christopher Anstey
30.Christopher Anstey
31.Christopher Anstey
32.Christopher Anstey
33.Christopher Anstey
34.Christopher Anstey
35.Christopher Anstey
36.Christopher Anstey
37.Christopher Anstey
38.Christopher Anstey
39.Christopher Anstey
40.Christopher Anstey
41.Christopher Anstey
42.Christopher Anstey
43.Christopher Anstey
44.Christopher Anstey
45.Christopher Anstey
46.Christopher Anstey
47.Christopher Anstey
48.Christopher Anstey
49.Christopher Anstey
50.Christopher Anstey
51.Christopher Anstey
52.Christopher Anstey
53.Christopher Anstey
54.Christopher Anstey
55.Christopher Anstey
56.Christopher Anstey
57.Christopher Anstey
58.Christopher Anstey
59.Christopher Anstey
60.Matthew Wyant
61.Brandy Berlin
62.Brandy Berlin
63.Brandy Berlin
64.Brandy Berlin
65.Brandy Berlin
66.Brandy Berlin
67.Brandy Berlin
68.Brandy Berlin
69.Auston Horst
70.Auston Horst
71.Auston Horst
72.Auston Horst
73.Auston Horst
74.Matt Menefee
75.Jimmy Harbison
76.Brad Gallaway
77.Brad Gallaway
78.Brad Gallaway
79.Brad Gallaway
80.Brad Gallaway
81.Ed Silver
82.Ed Silver
83.Ed Silver
84.Ed Silver
85.Ed Silver
86.Kristen Lamb
87.Kristen Lamb
88.Kristen Lamb
89.Kristen Lamb
90.Kristen Lamb

91.Justin Laffer
92.Justin Laffer
93.Justin Laffer
94.Justin Laffer
95.Justin Laffer
96.Kandace Monsivais
97.Melissa Duncan
98.Melissa Duncan
99. Melissa Duncan
101.Melissa Duncan
102.Melissa Duncan
103.Jeffrey Bakota
104.Jeffrey Bakota
105.Christopher Anstey
106.Christopher Anstey
107.Christopher Anstey
108.Christopher Anstey
109.Christopher Anstey
110.Christopher Anstey
111.Christopher Anstey
112.Christopher Anstey
113.Christopher Anstey
114.Christopher Anstey
115.Christopher Anstey
116.Christopher Anstey
117.Christopher Anstey
118.Chad Tueller
119.Melonie Reathaford
120.Julie Masse
121.Julie Masse
122.Ben Swain
123.Patrick Gleason
124.Patrick Gleason
125.Patrick Gleason
126.Patrick Gleason
127.Patrick Gleason
128.Patrick Gleason
129.Patrick Gleason
130.Patrick Gleason
131.Patrick Gleason
132.Patrick Gleason
133.Patrick Gleason
134.Patrick Gleason
135.Patrick Gleason
136.Patrick Gleason
137.Patrick Gleason
138.Patrick Gleason
139.Patrick Gleason
140.Chad Tueller
141. Jenifer Paris

And the winner is...

So happy for you Christoper Anstey!!

Please email me your mailing adress. 

l.v.Atwood@gmail.com

Atwood Knife Fundraiser

*** We are still taking donation but no  longer taking knife donations!  We are so humbled and thankful to have met our goal.  Drawing coming soon!  Thank you everyone!  When Shane and I were married, I never dreamed I was marrying a knife maker.  I'm sure, Shane never dreamed we'd adopt from China.  Here we are almost sixteen years later and both of these unknowns are coming together in a big way!  Shane always makes exceptional knives and this one is no different. It. Is. Georgeous! Don't you agree? And extra special because as cheesy as it sounds, it was made with love for a tiny baby girl a world away!  One of our most recent pictures. Taken in March around her 2nd birthday. She's in 6-9 month clothing.   Below are the specs from the big man himself.  "Model  Atomic Folder Knife blade is approx. 3.5" Closed length 4.5" Overall open length approx. 8" Blade steel CPM s30v stainless steel with an acid stone washed finish Blade has been heat treated to a 60 to 61  rockwell C hardness Bolster are Moku-ti polished and heat colored Handle scales are Arizona Desert ironwood Liners are .070" 6al4v titanium Pivot is a 3/16" hardened barrel pivot with        bronze washer and anodized titanium screws. Handle screws are heat colored titanium Back spacers are stainless damascus steel with  my Alcatraz pin design I pride myself in making each knife to the best of my ability, and make each knife better than the last. I try to use the very best materials possible, and like using exotic materials. I try to make knives that are extremely tough and will last many life times, but also have that hierloom quality."-Shane Here's  how the fundraiser works.  Each spot is $15 or 5 spots for $65.  ***When you donate (on the you caring site linked below)  it's really important that you leave your name and the word knife.  This way I can track the raffle money coming in.  Keep checking back to the blog and even check the bottom of this post for updates. Also, sign up for you caring updates.         Click on the link below Atwood fundraiser Link    ^^link^^ Any questions email me, Lacy, at l.v.atwood@gmail.com Thank you for helping clear the hurdles that keep us from our baby girl. <3>