Dear Teresa- St Thérèse of Lisieux

Dear Teresa-St. Therese of Lisieux
On Tuesday October 1 ,  is the feast day of St Therese.  It is also the  day three months ago that you went to be with Jesus.
St. Therese was known as the  "little flower".  Mother Teresa took her name from St. Therese and we named you after Mother Teresa.  Little Flower was the Foster Home  where you lived in China.
Teresa you shared your love with others the  "little way", like St. Therese and Mother Teresa,  you  hugged others and told everyone that you loved them more...
In remembrance of you on this day we have asked everyone whose life was touched by you to hug someone and share your love.
One more "Huggy Huggle" and "I Love You More" for everyone!

The past three months have been the hardest months of our lives Teresa.  We still miss you so much.  But they have also been three of the most meaningful months of our lives.   God continues to lead us on an amazing journey.  He continues to allow us to experience things that break our hearts, fill us with hope and lead us closer and closer to HIM.

The plans for the new heart home ,"Love You More Heart Home",  are amazing.  We will start the home with 25 beds and the potential to expand in the future.  We also will have 3-4 rooms for poor families to stay and receive pre and post op care.  They also will receive training on how to care for their child before returning to their  Provinces.     . Ed and I are partnering with Little Hearts Medical  to make this vision come true.  Little Hearts Medical was founded by two amazing parents who also have the same love for orphans  as Ed and I.   Together we hope to change the lives of many orphans for the better Teresa.  Just like you changed our lives for the better by having you as our daughter and teaching us how to love more.

Thank you to everyone for supporting us on this mission.  We are eternally grateful to you all for helping us to help orphans.     We know Teresa you are smiling and picking flowers and sending hugs to everyone.

  Dr. Seuss: 'Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.',

Her are a few photos of our journey to China ...

We "unofficially" became The Godparents to George. How I wish we could adopt this sweet boy.

              This little one was infatuated with Ed.  She stole his heart.  She "Chose" him and would not leave him.  How I wish we could adopt her also.  Praying for God to provide a way ...

This is one room with 200 babies.  There are 4 rooms like this.

  

We love you more sweet girl!!!!!!!!

October 1

On Tuesday October 1, it will be three  months since Teresa's passing.  I am asking a favor ... Teresa loved to hug everyone and tell them she "loved them more".  On Tuesday to remember Teresa's joy , hope and love I am asking everyone to hug someone and hopefully they will hug someone and so on and so on  and in one day Teresa's love could circle the world.  Pleas share and leave a comment on how far Teresa's love has spread...

"We love you more Teresa"

God is Good

God is good all of the time.
Some people say that when God answers their prayers that God is good , or if things are going great in their lives  , that God is good.    If their child came through surgery and their child is doing great, then God is good.   But what about all the children that did not do well in surgery  or the people who are struggling with challenges in their lives.   Is God being bad to them?  No , I believe God is good all of the time.  Not only when things are going our way but also when things do not go the way we have  planned. Our prayers are always heard and answered.  But some prayers will only be answered in Heaven.  And this does not make God bad.
In our limited ability as humans , we can only see life from this side of the grave.   God see's life from Heaven  and eternity.   And because of this I always trust Gods Will. It doesn't mean that I understand it but by faith I believe.

With all five of our adoptions ,  God has slowly  pried one finger at a time on my grasp of control of my life away.  With Teresa, I still had one finger holding on for my own control of my life.  Now my hand is completely open reaching for Jesus's hand.  For Him to have complete control of my life and lead me to do HIS Will.

Giving up control was hard for someone that is a control freak.  But once I let go,  life is so much easier.

Our trip to China was amazing!  Even though we have traveled to China 5 times before for adoptions, it was totally different experiencing things that happen before adoption. 
Our days were long and full.   We accomplished so much and laid the groundwork for what we need to accomplish for the "Love You More Heart Home".
As we continue to work out the details I will share them with you as we proceed ,  but for now I can say it will be wonderful.   Every person involved had a hand in taking care of Teresa or knowing Teresa while she was in China.  How God's Will led us to all of these people is a miracle in its self.  Totally orchestrated by God just like everything in Teresa's life.  All having so many happy memories of Teresa to share with us. 

                                                Lily helped to take care of Teresa 3 years ago.  She is so caring and goes above and beyond to help the children.

                                  Some of the Heart Team.

                 Florence is one of kindest people I have ever met.  She is on a mission to help the orphans all over the world.  She also helped to take care of Teresa 3 years ago,

Someone asked me if we had known  the plans God had for us to do His Will would we still have been so willing to say yes.   God reveals  His Will to us  a little at a time.  And gives us the Grace to do it as we need it.   If you had  asked me if I thought I  could go through 2 weeks  with Teresa's new heart not working , 3 open heart surgeries in 2 weeks, emergencies, infections, Caths., suffering and then holding her as she died I would of said there is no way I could do that. But God gives us the strength at the moment we need it to go on and be strong.  And now traveling to China 2 months after Teresa went to heaven, to help open a heart home for orphans with heart disease like her ,  I would of said the same thing.  But God has once again led us and orchestrated it all and is in control.


Teresa' whole life was an amazing journey.  One filled with so much love and hope.   Now as the journey continues for us with her in heaven, we know God will lead us and give us the strength.  With Teresa sending her love and hugs to the world.

                           God is good !

China - Our Last Day

Tomorrow we leave for home. This journey has been truly amazing. The people that God put in our path is nothing short of a miracle. Everyone we met was somehow connected in some way to Teresa. They were care givers, volunteers, nurses, nannies and other adoptive parents. We had a mission after Teresa passed away to help other orphans and God has orchestrated it all. HE has allowed us to see things that have once again forever changed who we are. Some things we saw were unbearable and I was at first very angry with God for showing us this. But then I realized God was not doing this, HE was allowing us to see it so we could do something to help. We all must do something to help.

Our hearts were also filled with much Joy. After Teresa passed we were filled with so much sadness I did not think we would ever be able to feel joy again. This trip has given us Joy once again. We are very excited about the plans for the new heart home (Love You More Heart Home). The ground work has been laid out and we know exactly what we need to accomplish. We will have the potential to help so many heart orphans and also help very poor families to receive surgery for their children. We know God will lead us and orchestrate it all.

This trip was so emotional that I am at a loss on how to describe it all. Once we process it, I will post more details.

Thank you to everyone who has helped us on this incredible journey. A journey that we would never had known had we said no to adoption and God leading us to China.

China - Hospital #81

It is midnight in Beijing and we just arrived back to our hotel after a very long day at Hospital #81. I will post an update tomorrow when we are not as tired. Tonight I will leave you with photos of our very productive day.

China - Shanxi

Yesterday our meeting with the team for the new heart home was amazing.  We all were so full of hope on how we could help heart children.  We brainstormed on a location, budget, care . . . it is very promising.  It is so humbling to be a part of a team that has the same vision as us that wants to help orphans, the ones considered hopeless.

Today we traveled by train to Shanxi.   As we arrived to our hotel , we could not believe it.   It was the same hotel we stayed at 3 years ago to adopt Teresa.   It was very hard walking into the lobby.  All the memories, photos and hope for a future together came flooding back.  It seemed like we had just been here.  Three years gone in the blink of an eye.  Its funny how things go in a complete circle.  Here we were, standing in the same spot that three years ago held so much joy and hope, and now we were here without Teresa trying to give hope to other children like her.

After unpacking we visited a local orphanage.  We have visited many orphanages in China.  Some good, some not so good, but nothing compared to what we saw today.  We were asked not to post any photos.  I have no words to describe what we saw . . . only tears.   And I ask God WHY?  How can this be His Will for these children?

We also visited The Little Flower Home in Taiyuan.   It is an amazing place that provides so much love and care.  We provided them with some medical training on care for infants and they were very grateful.  These young women work so hard to take care of the children.

The world needs to know there is an orphan CRISIS in the world.  Not just China or Africa or India, but the world.It is  everyone's responsibility to care for the orphans.  Please open your hearts to adoption.  If you can't adopt then help someone who can.  Everyone can pray for a family that is adopting or financially help them or offer support in another way. But we can not turn our back on the most vulnerable.  The Bible tells us ALL to help the widows and ORPHANS.

China - BJU Hospital

Our day started off early this morning as we headed to the BJU Hospital in Beijing. We received a tour of the entire hospital. We then had lunch with the nursing staff. Afterwards Dianna presented a lecture to the nurses on post op cardiac care. It was very informative and they seemed to really appreciate the information.

Tomorrow we are meeting with the team to discuss the plans for the new heart home. We are very excited to be part of a group with the same desire as us to help the orphans with severe heart disease. There is such a tremendous need for care of orphans with heart disease. I know we can not save them all but we can make a difference in the lives of many.

On Sunday we will take the bullet train to Taiyuan. We will visit the Taiyuan SWI and also The Little Flower Foster home there. On Monday we will drive to the Lvliang SWI. This is Teresa's orphanage. Hopefully we will be able to help them identify children with Cardiac disease sooner so they can receive medical help before their lungs become damaged.

This is the first time in 28 years that Ed and I have been away without any of our children. It is a little odd not to be giving baths, brushing hair, feeding, medicine . . . and it is a little too quiet. We feel the most comfortable when we are in the orphanage helping care for the children.

There is such a tremendous need for adoptions, medical care and love here. If the world could only see the faces of the children just wanting to be loved.

China Little Flower

Today we visited the China Little Flower Foster home. This orphanage cares for some of the sickest children in China. Unfortunately George deteriorated over night and was having difficulty breathing this morning. He really needs his family now. Not much else can be done for his heart in China. Please pray his family finds him soon.

We spent the day playing with the children and helping to asses their medical needs. There is such a tremendous need for medical care for these children. All of the children in Little Flower are loved very much by their Nannies.

Please consider opening your hearts to adoption. You can help change the life of a child , one at a time.

Tomorrow we will visit BJU Hospital in Beijing. The two ICU nurses traveling with us will offer training in post op care for children with CHD.

We arrived in China safely. We had dinner with friends and got an overview of our itinerary for the week regarding the heart home.

We also became the Godparent of little George. George has been waiting for his family for a long time. He is almost 2 years old and has a very complex heart condition. He needs his family ASAP. He has the sweetest little personality! If you would like more info. on George please email me and I can tell you who his file is with.

Dear Teresa- China

Dear Teresa,

We are traveling to China to try and make a difference in the lives of orphans.  You wanted your own family and were so happy.  We will try to help other children to have a family also Teresa all in your memory.

We are leaving on Tuesday for China. Thank you everyone for all of the prayers and good wishes! Thank you also to all who helped donate medical supplies. We will try to post often. Teresa , you continue to touch so many lives. 

We love you more ...

God is good!!!!

Dear Teresa- Two Months in Paradise

Dear Teresa,
 It has been two months since you went to paradise.
So how are we doing?
It is really hard to put into words how we are doing.  There have been days that are really hard for us to understand "Why"?  For a parent to bury a child is just wrong. Having to pick out burial clothes,a cemetery plot, a grave stone and putting away all their childs belongings is wrong.  Children are not suppose to die.  They are suppose to experience all the joys in the world like riding a bike, graduating, getting married...  I often wonder why God would allow parents to feel such sorrow?  It is a sadness that can not be put into words.  It encompasses your entire being. The only way I can describe it is , a "Broken Alleluia".

Our faith tells us we will see you again Sweet Pea in Heaven.  And every day without you is one day closer to being with you again.  There are days that we have tremendous peace knowing that God has always had a plan for your life.  And we were just a very small piece of the puzzle.  God continues to lead us on this journey and  we are humbled to be so privileged to have been called your parents for three years.  What a blessing!
We continue to try and adjust to our life without you here. It is still so hard to wake up every morning with out your cheerful "good morning".    There are days where we all seem to be in disbelief that you are gone.   But we are going on.  Trying to live like you lived with tremendous joy for each day, even though your days were filled with so much suffering.   The girls talk about all that they are grateful for every day. We have so much to be thankful for.   God blessed us with you for three years.   Three of the best years of our lives. Filled with so much joy and happiness.  This is more than some people will ever have in a life time. We are eternally grateful to God for blessing us with so much.

The day before you received your "Hero's Heart".  You were having fun being a Princess mermaid.


I have to say though ,   I have never been so happy to see summer end.   Summer was always our favorite season,  filled with lazy days of fun and family, swimming at the pool ,  catching lightning bugs, snow balls and endless days of princess parties.   Unfortunately our summer ended on the day it began.

School has started and the girls were all excited to see their friends.  I am happy the girls are getting into a routine again.  On the first day of school Teresa, the girls decided to hold Baby Belle ( your favorite toy) in the photo to remember you.  They are always thinking of you and talking to you.  Gemma kneels down in front of your bed and says her prayers every night.  She was so sweet tonight as she was talking to you.  She said she can't wait to see you again in Heaven and have a happy ending.

Daddy and I have been very busy getting ready to go to China next week.  I know you are  so happy that we are  helping other children have their "Forever Families" just like you ! Thank you to everyone that has helped with supplies and donations to take to China.  We are very thankful.

You made Gemma so happy the other day when you sent her a beautiful blue butterfly.   We were talking about the little white animals we had seen and how they  reminded us of you.  Gemma said she hoped you would send her a blue butterfly.    Well when we came home the other day we walked up to the front porch to sit down and a beautiful blue butterfly flew around all of us leading us to my chair and sat down on it.  It sat there for 5 minutes just flapping its wings.  You made Gemma so happy!

Mother Teresa
A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love.

You always had such a joyful heart. Always loving others.

Remember when we carved your name into the tree?   You thought that was so silly.  You said it would always be your tree.

We love you more Teresa !