Walking In The Truth: 2012

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

"Love my fam!"

We started this kind of corny tradition when our older kids were in grade school. It began on a ski trip to Breckenridge. As we rode the chairlifts, Todd would shout, "Love my family!" to the two or three surrounding chairs containing all of us Lindquist skiers. It then became a contest to see who could repeat the phrase the fastest. So, from other chairs on the lift people could hear the "Love my family" echo in response. Now, whenever there is competition involved, Lindquists will find a way to be first. So over the years the game has been reduced. Now someone will shout "Fam!" and everyone who hears it will echo it loudly. It's a little harder to understand for anyone who may overhear this chatter, but we know what we mean. The other day I just couldn't help but smile right down to my toes when I heard Elsa yell "Fam!" in the car on the way to church. Of course, we all responded loudly and in unison, "FAM!" For that is what we are!

One year ago today, the seven of us became a family. It was a shaky start, as most international, toddler adoptions can be. There were tears, sleepless nights, sad looks, and lots of silent gesturing in order to make ourselves known over the language barrier. By God's grace, the sad little girl in the picture above has blossomed into this:

We are so grateful that we serve a God who is sovereign over all things and working in our lives that which brings us closer to Him and brings Him glory. "For I am God and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.'"(Isaiah 46:9b-10)

He has done great things! We are amazed at how far Elsa has come in one year. She is a joyful, fun-loving, chattering 3 year old who captures everyone's hearts. Her English is coming along well and despite a few puzzled looks from those she is trying to communicate with, she presses on. She has ventured off on her own to Sunday School, Wednesday morning Bible study, and Wednesday night connection classes. Many days she asks if today is the day for "Elsa's class." While learning the memory verse can be difficult since she doesn't speak in complete sentences yet, I am amazed at all that she is learning. She informed me the other day that Jesus cares for her and her bedtime routine now includes singing "Holy, Holy, Holy" and "This Little Light of Mine."

As a family, we cannot imagine life without Elsa Mei Yue! We praise God for this gift to us. He has shown us more of Himself and His heart through this process. We continue to learn from Him more about the amazing grace He bestows on His children when He calls them to Himself and adopts them for His own. We have His name. "But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13) Hallelujah!

Last Christmas we celebrated the birth of our Savior in China with a new little girl in tow. This year Elsa will celebrate her first Christmas at home and we will bring to a close her year of firsts. That's not to say there won't be more new discoveries and adventures for our spunky little peanut! Of course there will! I'll end with a few pictures from our fall. Thanks for reading and praising God with us.

Visiting Wheaton College for Dad & Mom's 25th reunion.

The sisters at Fall Break.

Picking just the right "gum-kin" (aka pumpkin)

Celebrating Daddy's birthday.

Dressing up for Halloween.

Loved getting all that candy!!

Loved time with family from far away for Thanksgiving! Aunt Ingrid is pretty fun!

Supported Annika at her school Christmas program. Elsa can't wait to do this for herself next year!

Enjoyed the first big snowfall....

......a lot!!!!!

With hot chocolate and whipped cream to warm up. Yum!!!

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Seven Months and Counting.......

"Come and see what God has done: He is awesome in His deeds toward the children of man." Psalm 66:5

Awesome. That word is so overused in today's verbage, but it should really pack a punch. God's works are awesome and do inspire awe in us as defined by Webster as wondering reverence tinged with fear. He has done great things for us these last seven months.

I am really awed when I think about it. The God of the universe, the One who holds it all together, Who fixes the galaxies into place, this God, by His Spirit, worked in all seven of our hearts to make us a family! He HAS done awesome deeds. His love and concern for us, for me, is overwhelming and humbling.

The Elsa update: She continues to make us all laugh with her antics. We loved celebrating her 3rd birthday (and first one at home!) in July. Her English is coming along well. Friends and family who don't see her on a regular basis are amazed at how well she speaks. I am grateful for those words of encouragement. She still has her hold over words that come out more naturally for her like: "bow"me instead of hold me, "joe-joe" for sit down, and "gua-gua" for any type of fruit. She strings words together for simple sentences as well. Elsa loves playing with Annika and will follow her around all day! She wants to wear what Annika wears, eat what Annika eats and play what Annika is playing. All a part of learning......Annika is very gracious about it all! We had our second post placement home study in June. The information our social worker takes from us is sent to China and to Elsa's orphanage. We pray that her foster family knows just how much she is loved through the pages of the report! She has definitely bonded with us and is working on attachment. Some days she seems to have it and not others.

Attachment is a tricky thing. She remembers a time when she didn't have a family, a time before she had a dad and a mom. I was just talking about this with a friend at church today who is also an adoptive mom. She related to me that her husband, one of our pastors, drew a wonderful spiritual parallel to this process recently. As believers, we also have a memory of a time we did not have a spiritual Father. Just as Elsa needs to be reminded that we are her FOREVER family, that she is ours and we are hers, so it is with us. Many days I need the Spirit to remind me who I am in Christ; that I am loved (John 3:16), chosen (Ephesians 1:4-6), bought (1 Corinthians 6:20) and royal ( 1 Peter 2:9-10). Elsa will have days where she doubts her place as a Lindquist. We will patiently reassure of who she is and point her to the One who cares for her so deeply and completely that He died for her. What a privilege we as parents have. Parenting really does drive us to our knees!

On a lighter note, God has blessed us with some wonderful family time this summer. With Mari home, we have spent time on the water, at the cabin, with friends and with family. I will add a few photos here to let you in on the fun.

Watch out!

Tubing with Mom and Mari

Enjoying freeze pops with cousin Stephen

Learning to fish with Andrew

Celebrating turning 3!

She loved opening the cards as much as the gifts!

Brother love!

More brother "love"

Oh, that look! She's up to something!

She loves sparklers.

An example of wanting to be just like Annika!

Sweet sisters

She loved the motorcycle rides....

and the SeaDoo rides.

Slurping noodles with Gus!

Playing mini golf

Making treats with Jake

Watching all the surfing action behind the boat

Loving her big girl scooter

With big sister, Mari

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Three months and counting!

It is truly hard to believe that Elsa has been home for three months. It honestly seems like she's always been here! This simple grace from God is too wonderful to comprehend. As I hear the two girls giggling in bed with the lights out, see two black haired beauties swinging on the playset, or witness the shrieks of joy as big brothers "chase" down the little sisters, I am once again overwhelmed by His goodness to our family!

"But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.'" Isaiah 43:1

We read this portion of scripture this morning at church and I couldn't help but think of the similarities between God calling His children to Himself and us bringing Elsa home. We called her by name, she is ours. By His grace. Hallelujah!

Seeing this side of adoption has had a profound impact on Annika. She has always been a thoughtful, deep thinking little girl so I guess we shouldn't be surprised. The other day as we talked about her Chinese heritage, she asked, as she has in the past, why we think her birth mother gave her to the nannies. "Didn't she want me?" The question wasn't asked in a pitiable sort of way, just inquisitive. Still, it made my heart ache. Those questions will always be there. Thankfully, God's Spirit was at work in the conversation and I heard myself telling her that we just simply don't know what circumstances her birth mother found herself in at the time. BUT GOD DOES! More than that, I went on, He had planned all along that you and Elsa were to be Lindquists. That's a fact we find right in His Word. This thought is not new for her. I could see the wheels turning. Then she turned and said to me, "God must have really wanted me in His family! He knew the best way for me to learn about Jesus and belong to Him is if you and Daddy adopted me." Wow!! The gospel, plain and simple. Twice chosen. Annika gets it. I smiled through my tears as I gave her the biggest hug ever. So blessed am I.

Elsa, aka Mommy's shadow, has settled into a great routine. She loves the days we drive Annika and Ava to school. She requires kisses from both of them before they can go to class. She has begun a preschool gymnastics class that she loves. Her English is growing by leaps and bounds. I think I will really miss all the "Chinglish" when it finally leaves her vocabulary completely. Some of her favorite words and phrases include:
"me too", "popcorn", "pray", "more", "I -v- oo" (that's I love you in case you're wondering!), "all gone", "drink", "play", "nigh-night", "one, two, three" (this usually precedes a jump from various heights), "Jesus"
I go on, but you get the idea. Her prayers are simply the most precious things! She asks to pray and then after addressing the Father lists off as many names of family as she can, over and over! When she feels she has sufficiently covered us all, she says an emphatic "Amen!" in conclusion.

This is a long post, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention that we took a little 1,700 mile roadtrip to Florida this month. Don't ask if we'll do that again. Not sure we will! :) It was wonderful to connect with big sister, Mari, and some of her friends as well as have some family time on the beach and at Magic Kingdom. I will end with a few pictures. Just a few. We have 700. It was a wonderful, relaxing week away. Until Todd's back began acting up. But that is another blog.