Journey to Levi

I know it's been quite a while since I dusted off the blog and wrote something.  So today I might as well make it a big announcement post right?! See that little guy over in the corner that we have been sponsoring at New Day Foster Home? He is going to join our family this year as a beloved son and brother!

We are so excited to be in process to adopt this very special little man.  Levi will be his name. We've been working to bring him home for quite a while now, but only now do we finally have permission to post on blogs. China has said "yes!" and we are officially matched with Levi to adopt him.

Yes, Levi and Stella both resided at New Day - although we are sure they were far too young to remember one another.  But we see how God has had His mighty hand in this all along! When we found out that the agency up the road from us had Levi's file, we wondered if this was God's nudge to start the adoption process once again.  We so wanted to say "yes" to him.  Through lots of prayer, conversations and more prayer, we did say "yes!" and we now can't wait to meet our new son.  Everyone is so excited to be getting a new brother! A little boy was just what this family needed.

We should be traveling to bring him home in less than two months if all goes well.  Please be in prayer for a smooth finish to the paperwork process, prayer for Levi's heart as he gets ready to experience great change and accept us into his life, pray for safe travels and for a beautiful transition for all.

Wo ai ni Levi! We love you already!

One year!

I'll warn you right from the start that this post may (read: will) be heavy with photos and most of the photos will be doing the talking.  Today, marks one year with our precious Stella Claire! What an amazing milestone to finally be reaching.  I woke up though, wondering why I wasn't filled with joy.  Believe me, I'm so happy, very happy, that Stella has been with us a year.  As I got to thinking about these mixed emotions this morning over my tea, it really hit me how bittersweet this anniversary is for all of us.  Gotcha Day or Family Day, is a wonderful day, but it is also filled with heartache, confusion and just plain grief over leaving all that you have known.  As parents, we go into the day with anticipation of finally holding the child we have longed for in our arms.  That moment comes and then we are switched from the joyous moment, to the comforters of the child who has come to us with nothing - except the memories of everything that just was.  We are strangers.  Can you imagine being comforted by a stranger? The time that trauma takes to heal, through lots of prayer, lots of creative parenting, and lots of love is for us close to a year.  A year.  I can now say that our little girl loves us.  We've always loved her (from that first photo of a 6 month old baby with the biggest brown eyes), but there have been times this year when it's been hard to pour out that love.  Loving someone, opening your heart to them - just takes lots of time.  We have arrived.  Praise!

Last year - this was shortly after we met Stella and her nanny in the hotel lobby.

 Oh my - just look at that sweetness! Mama had a new cup to give her and food was the way to her heart (kind of still is!).  Our meeting came with smiles, no forceful placements into my arms.  We took our time and got to know each other until it was time to take her up to our room.  Then the tears came... Thankfully she was easily comforted and went into full on play mode.

This window - I'll always remember as a place of comfort for the both of us.

Wiped out finally from all the day brought to her.  She was so heavy, but it was the best feeling holding her sleeping in my arms.

And NOW! Just look at this thriving little girl! We missed her second birthday by just a week so this year we celebrated big (like the 1st, 2nd and 3rd birthdays combined big!!!).  Stella Claire is so loved and a cherished daughter.  I took these pictures of her today - 3 years old now - she's grown so much this past year.  We are so very thankful to New Day for her care before God brought us together.  Because she knew love, she has opened her heart to love again.

Presenting - the many faces of our beautiful girl:

Happy one year together!

Yummy Chinese Beef Noodle Soup

Yummy - yes! Now that the weather is finally turning slightly cooler here in South Texas, it's time to break out the simple soup recipes that warm our bellies so.  And with Melissa finally home from China, she's been hungry for the foods she found comfort in while working there.  Stella LOVES this soup and I've finally gotten the seasoning just right to make it feel like Chinese comfort food.  We had a version of this soup in Guangzhou while adopting Stella Claire, and it really is just so, so good. You've got to try it, especially if you have China babies at home! We have tried to incorporate more traditional foods into our meals as they really do bring our little girl comfort.

This feeds our family of 9, so adjust accordingly for your family size - or freeze extra! This is a two part recipe and part one needs to be done at least one day ahead (putting this in here for planning purposes!). 

Ingredients for Chinese Beef Noodle Soup: 

4 beef shanks with bone, 1/2 cup soy sauce (or liquid aminos - my preference), 1/2 cup rice wine, 2 cups water, four whole green onions (ends removed), 4 slices fresh ginger (about 1/2 inch each piece), 2 Tablespoons chinese szechuan pepper seasoning (I found mine at Whole Foods - but you could use 8-10 whole sichuan peppercorns too -  I just can't find those in my area).

Part 1 - Braise the beef shank.  Place beef shanks in a large pot with remaining ingredients listed above. Bring to a boil, cover tightly, turn heat to low and simmer for approx. 2 hours.  

Remove beef from broth to a plate and let cool.  Reserve broth/sauce and beef in the refrigerator for noodle soup. Refrigerating the beef overnight will make it easier for cutting later.

Part 2:  Noodle soup ingredients: 

Chinese noodles (do not use egg noodles, specifically look for traditional wheat noodles), chicken broth (about 8 oz for every two servings, in which I use 1 box), 6 cups water, salt and pepper, soy sauce, reserved beef and broth (which should look like a gelatin - just remove the bones, onions and ginger pieces), two bunches of greens (we like baby bok choy, but spinach and napa cabbage work too), and slivered scallions for garnishing. 

In a large pot, combine the chicken broth, water, and all the reserved broth/sauce from cooking the beef shank. Bring to a boil and add in your greens to blanch them. Adjust seasoning if needed (add salt, pepper, or a touch of soy sauce).  Set aside once your broth is steaming hot and greens are wilted.

At the same time, bring a separate pot of water to boil to cook your noodles.  Cook noodles according to the package directions.  Be careful not to overcook. Drain noodles.

Thinly slice the reserved beef shank meat.

Now it's finally time to assemble the soup! Place noodles into large soup bowls (the Chinese like generous portions!).  Add some beef slices, some greens, and ladle in hot soup broth.  Garnish with slivered green onions and serve steaming hot!

My sweet husband makes these yummy chinese crackers to go with our soup sometimes.
They are so, so good!  Tastes just like the pita bread we had in Guangzhou.

 Yep - you can tip your bowl and drink the soup broth little Stella! 

More please?!  Of course! She can eat 4 bowls of this! :-)

Enjoy y'all!

~Lisa