My sweet Maggie is definitely under attack ... Her screaming tantrums are up to about 6 hours a day and 3 hours at night (and getting worse each day), she isn't sleeping, and she has decided that she doesn't like anyone in the house, but me (and that is iffy at times).

Scott and I have completely removed our needs from this equation. This isn't about us or how she feels about us, but this is about healing one of God's children and restoring her. My heart breaks about a million times a day for her. She doesn't know how to let me comfort her, she doesn't trust really anyone, and her spirit is scared to death. The other 3 kids are holding on well and loving each other. They are confused a little, but understand her heart is hurt.

So just continue to send your wonderful prayers to Maggie. I am amazed everyday at the comments. Please know I read them all and they wash over my spirit and give me strength (along with Mtn. Dew and Chocolate). Pray for healing, pray for trust, pray the power of the Lord to place a shield around her heart for protection. This child could not be more of my soul if she tried and I ache to have her whole and restore the twinkle that is in her eyes when she laughs ...

Maggie, Mama Loves You!!!!!!

Doctor Update ... We visit the specialist on Monday !!!!!

Well, no one said it would ever be easy and during this season of Thanksgiving, I am giving God all the glory ... We have been to the doctor again today then to the hospital where they confirmed that Maggie has pnemonia and then back tot he doctor for shots and breathing treatment ... I am past exhausted ... BUT HERE COMES THE THANKS !!

1. My friend Yolanda is bringing dinner tonight.
2. Fabulous Family sent $1000 to us for the $1000 we lost in China.
3. My sweet Maggie has me to hold her while she is sick.
4. My blog family is growing by leaps and bounds and I can't say enough about how you encourage me and always make me feels God's presence in your words !!! I can't wait to have a moment to check out your blogs (not sure when that will be) ..
5. My older 3 kids are doing great with Maggie.
6. A friend is sending someone to clean my house on Wednesday (can you hear me cheering).
7. I have a Lord and Savior, who is not surprised by my life ... I put Him in control and take comfort in His presence on this journey of life !!!!

Keep praying for Maggie ...We see specialist in two weeks !!!! I have to admit how amazing my little one is ... She has touched the lives of many men and seeing these Godly men cry over my child has moved my heart ... We are walking testimonies of faith, so I will praise the Lord in the good and the bad !!!!

I have to start this post by saying thank you to all who have prayed for my family during this time ... You have no idea how much it was needed and I am about to explain why ...

The reason I have not posted this yet was I needed to get home before I could share it all and even process how Big and Strong God has been for me and my family during the trip to China ..

I will start with Gotcha Day ... As I have mentioned Maggie was much worse than we expected ... The reason I didn't go into detail was because I was fearful that it could get back to Bethany and they may say we are not approved for her because her case is more serious ... The burn on her head I believe was infected and ate away at the bone ... Her medical file said that part of her skull had a defect that made her skull slightly thinner when in reality she is completely missing a 2x3 part of her skull ... You can see her pulse through the skin. I spent most of Gotcha Day crying because of her condition ... I am so thankful that God has us safely home and friends have contacted specialists for us and I know God has a mighty plan for her because of her strength and survivor spirit.

Next day I get the email from my friend that she has gotten the call to go and get her child in Utah (domestic adoption). Now I get a little emotional about that because she was caring for my children while I in China plus I wanted badly to be there for her during this time ... So another emotional day ...

Next day we go back for the trip to the Civil Affairs to finalize paperwork and as you know from my previous post Maggie was in a terrible tizzy due to orphanage workers popping their heads in everywhere ... Well during all the commotion and the fact that fees have changed from clean US money to Chinese Yuan for some fees (which I was completely unaware of) I am scrabbling to pay fees while consoling Maggie ... I get back to the hotel and I have lost $1000 ... Yes, I said $1000 ... We all know it is not easy to come by money, so I was upset with myself about that, but I just said I would have paid an extra $1000 to get my daughter anyway ...

Next day my husband calls me at 2 AM US time and he can't sleep due to the fact he is worried about Maggie. This should have been a red flag for me, but I was so exhausted that I didn't catch it ...

Next day Scott calls me and tells me he has something to share with me ... My heart skips a beat ... He tells me he has resigned as the basketball coach at his school ... He said God spoke to him and that he needed to be at home to help with Maggie and whatever needs she may have ... Needless to say I am shocked, scared, and panicked ... My husband has coached for 15 years ... That is why he was hired at his school ... He is 100% certain this is the right thing to do for our family ... I respect him so much for always putting our family 1st ... He is fabulous husband and father...

My emotions are all over the place ... Satan was having a field day with all of this ... But the bottom line is MY KING IS ON THE THRONE !!! He didn't lead us to China to abandon us ... Please pray as we enter a new season and journey of our life ... Pray for Scott's future as the provider for our home ...

We are going to enjoy the next few months as a family and love on our kids and help Maggie adjust to her new life .... We go to the doctor tomorrow to form a game plan ...

Can't tell you how much you all have meant to me during this time ... Keep the prayers coming ..

Someone enjoys being a big girl !!!!

We have reached our final day ... Can't wait to board that plane in the morning ... Please pray for Maggie and Ethan (Shockley's little boy) for our flight home ... Huge praise as you all know the Mom, whose husband passed away, is coming home with her baby girl. I sat by her during the Oath yesterday and it was very emotional ... I ask everyone to pray for her and Hannah as the road will be long and hard for them.

I am off to complete a few more shopping wishes and then off to MacDonald's for lunch ... LOL ... Shiyan (our guide) took us to a fabulous Chinese restaurant last night and we had a blast.... It has been so much fun being in Guangzhou with the Shockley's and my childhood friend Angela Damron was also her getting her second daughter. Kristie, Angela and I have know each other since we were 6 years old ... We have laughed like teenagers ... Maggie is doing great. It is hilarious how the Chinese stare at her and make mean faces, but the Americans are drawn to her and call her beautiful !!!! I can't wait to get my sweet spicy girl home !!!! She will melt your heart !!!!

Love You All and thanks for all the prayers ....

hey all ..... blog not working ... can't even get online ....

we are doing fabulously .... we took a long bubble bath yesterday, went to walmart (she knows how to point and say what she wants and right now i am giving her everything she points to .... hee hee ) .... we really stayed in the room all day yesterday ...

this just isn't the same place as last time ... perhaps because there were so many of us in the group, but the stares this time and the rudeness have hit a whole new level .... two elderly ladies cussed me out i think .... they don't like seeing maggie's head here .... they are disgusted .... my friend krisite (who is about 6 ft) wants to stomp on all of them .....

we are loving macdonald's and pizza hut right now ....

maggie went to a corner last night and completely dressed herself and then turned around ... it was adorable .... i am getting some hugs now and she rest on my chest when we are in the taxi cab rides ... doesn't like the stroller, so my arms are getting super toned on this trip ..... she is potting about 1/2 the time and always poopoos in potty .... i am very impressed .....

i miss you all and can't wait to get to Guangzhou ... No new pictures, but will post an old one because i know how we all like pictures ....Will take some on our tour today of the university and park .....

love, Gwen

Breakfast, Embroidery Factory, MacDonald's for our 1st fry and ice cream cone, shopping for oil for Maggie's skin and back to room for her 1st meltdown ... She cried uncontrollably for about 45 minutes ( I remember when Emily had hers in Changsha also) ... It is amazing how God wires children... She was testing me to see if I really do love her before she gives her heart away ... I just rocked her and told her I loved her and she calmed down ...

We are also working on hair dos ... Feel free to vote (Gretchen .. thanks for noticing the comb over in the last picture ...lol) ... I think I like the side pony ....

We are playing soccer in the room right now ... Hoping good sleep for all tonight .. I am not sleeping well !!!!

love you all !!!

To start with GOD ROCKS !!!! He is amazingly provided for all my needs as I journey this path ... He has blessed me so richly and I am proud to be the mother to my 4 kids and wife to one amazing guy !!!!

This is a picture of Miss Maggie after her daily massage of oil/lotion ... She is quite the hoot .. Don't even think of taking her clothes off till you show her the lotion... She takes naps with her shoes on and won't take them off unless I show her the lotion (Spoiled already and loving it ).. I would love for everyone to start praying for our travel ... She will be in a fabulous mood, laughing and playing, but when we change scenery of any sort she gets very agitated and cries for about 5 minutes ... She cries when we leave the room, she cries when we come back to the room, she cries when we go to the restaurant to eat, but never cries when we go outside .... She loves outside !!! THATS MY GIRL !!! ... So pray the plane ride next week will go well and our flight home ..

Last night she was constantly calling me Mama ... I am just so amazed and excited ..She now doesn't want me to leave her site ... Should have seen us both in a tiny bathroom at the restaurant ... Very comical (did I mention she screamed the whole time) HILARIOUS .. I am sure the other patrons where thinking, "Poor 1st time Mom and in China so clueless" .... Then putting her in the sling also an adventure (my arms and back are toast) ... She is always fine once settled, but the actions and change really freak her out for the moment ...

We sleep from 8pm to 2 pm and my eyes became wide awake ... Mags is still sleeping, but wanted to ask everyone to also pray for my friend Suzanne. Got call yesterday about their domestic adoption and flew out this morning (your time) to get baby ... The baby is being born today ... Now the plan was for Suzanne to take care of my kids while I was a way and then I would take care of hers when her call came. SORRY GOD FOR TRYING TO PLAN FOR YOU !!! lol .... I am at peace with my kids .. I know I have friends and family who will step up to help .... I pray for God's hands on this Birth Mother during this time ....I pray Mike and Suzanne will be the hands and feet of Jesus!!!

I am off to try and sleep some more .. We are visiting the Embroidery Factory today ...P.S. Pingjiang group- No signs of Mr. Happy - Vicki says he still works here, so I will get a picture when I see him ...

Just like her mama, Miss Maggie loves the chocolate and her Barbie princess cell phone ... We have been indulging in quite a few Oreo cookies and every time I get the bag out she just lights up (funny I do the same thing) ... and besides the Dora backpack her Barbie princess cell phone that lights up when she pushes the buttons is a huge success ... I just hope the batteries don't die before we get home !!!

I just had to post (when I should be sleeping), but Kristie and I have been reading my Jesus Calling book each day and today was PERFECT !!!! "Learn to appreciate difficult days ...As your journey through rough terrain with Me, gain confidence from your knowledge that together we can handle anything." Need I say more !!!!

Keep those comments and email prayers coming ... It is like water to my soul. I may be physically and mentally drained, but spiritually I feel full, solid, and refreshed... I can't tell you what it means to me ... I have Web Cam with Scott and Kids several times and Maggie just loves seeing them ... She has said DaDa now and is also saying her name some .... Of course "Uh Oh" was learned quickly as she drops something and waits for me to get it ....

She is a dream !!! Her sweet laugh is the most precious sound !!! I love you all!!!

Before everyone asks ... yes she has a black eye, burn on face and many other bruises. I have no answers, but I am trusting the Lord will take care of who ever or whatever allowed this to happen in His timing !!!!


I have never felt so drained and so full at the same time. We had an ok start to the day and went to the Civil Affairs Blg. (yes, Pingjiang group .. it was our room ..lots of emotions there)to finalize paperwork and I ask my SW to make sure the orphanage workers weren't in her sight ...She ask them, but they keep popping their heads in and Maggie went crazy crying and screaming. We got on the bus and she fell asleep. When we got back to the room we web cam with the family. Scott was talking to her and she smiled and since that moment she has laughed, smiled and called me Mama. It has been an incredible afternoon...She has even pointed to her diaper and I took her to potty three times (amazing) ...She has not stopped playing with her Dora backpack. She keeps loading and unloading it .... She has completely changed before my eyes in a matter of hours. This is the power of prayer (from all of you) and our Mighty Father !!! Please keep the prayers coming.

This is Kristie and I before getting Maggie ...I have known Kristie since I was six years old ... She came to the hospital when Jeremiah was born and gave me a foot massage and last night she gave my aching back a massage ... She is one in a million and such a blessing my life ...

We feel asleep here at 6:30 ... We were all tired ... Maggie has cried a lot, but is sleeping so peacefully now ... She will roll over and cuddle with me. Hoping she doesn't wake up in shock at "Where AM I". ... If she does I have another sucker waiting. She is just a dream ... Super dry skin, so I gave her a lotion massage. She did not like taking off the 3 layers of clothing she had on, but we broke through it ... Keep the prayers coming. I feel them !!!! Picture is from the Gotcha Moment!!!!

I can't get the pictures to download ... I know that is what you all want, but I will tell you that she is currently sleeping after a very traumatic day.... I can't even begin to explain her physical state and won't even try till I get her safely home. Please pray for her .... She is an amazing little angel with a spirit of a spicy girl. She is no doubt a survivor ...I am in love !!!!

I will make this quick because the internet is super slow .. Someone please call Scott because the email is not working and We have not touched based yet ... Arrived last night at midnight and thanks to some amazing drugs Kristie and I sleep 11 hours of the 18 hour flight ... We feel great and are heading to the airport now to catch a plane for Changsha and to pick up my daughter ... Amazing .. I am hours away from holding my sweet angel ... God is so good !!!

Departing Nov. 4th at 8:34 AM

Gotcha Day Nov. 7th (Can You Feel My Excitement ... Lord You Are Awesome)

7 DAYS IN CHANGSHA
4 DAYS IN GUANGZHOU

Return Home Nov. 18th 4:30 (All R Welcome 2 the Airport)


Thanks for all the prayers keep them coming... I have packed and re-packed 4 times. I can also feel Satan attacking me in a very real way, so I know what God has in store must be amazing. I can only pray that my sweet Maggie will grow up to be everything God intended her to be and for her to be an amazing testament to God's glory and grace!!