Several months ago I did a post on the Cambodian family our church sponsored back in the 1980s . They had family members here in town already, being sponsored by my in-laws' church, and we were asked to bring the brother and his family. We agreed and our much smaller (at that time) church took on this challenge and privilege. I was the coordinator of the "project."
When we agreed to bring the Yim family, there were 3 daughters. By the time everything was arranged and they got out of the refugee camp in Thailand, they had added twin boys to the family. I could tell you many stories. I'll never forget the trip to the airport to get them, seeing them arrive with one huge box on Chhien's shoulder, serving them a dinner of food they'd never seen before and probably didn't like.
We moved them into a 4-bedroom apartment which we got through city housing. They were overwhelmed with the size and often we'd find that they'd moved their mattresses all into one bedroom - they were used to being together 24/7.
That was in April, and for 5 months we had a wonderful time getting acquainted and doing what needed to be done for them - and with them. But as fall came and winter loomed, they became very fearful of winter in Colorado. Noral, the mom, had a brother in California and Chhien's sisters had left Colorado and also gone to California, so they began to ask if they could leave, too. We took them to the bus station, sadly, but with 30+ boxes of belongings.
We heard from them a couple of times after they left. But it had been a long time since we'd heard anything. I tried everything to find them over the years. I had this dream that one day they'd drive into my driveway to visit.
Imagine my amazement when, 27 years later, I got a phone call from the secretary at church that there was a young woman from California with the last name of Yim who was trying to reach me. I knew immediately that this was the call I'd been wanting for years. I could not believe that they had found us instead of us finding them. Shannon told me that they had found a picture with our last name on the back. They remembered all of our first names, since we'd spent quite a bit of time with them, even remembering our dog's name. But they couldn't remember the last name until they found this picture hiding in a dictionary. She and her co-worker found us and the church on the internet. What a wonderful surprise!
I have talked to Shannon (who was Chauna when she was here) several times now and we're keeping in touch by Facebook. I've also connected with Sarah, who was the two year old when they came. The whole family went together and sent our family a wonderful, generous Christmas gift. And the best surprise ever - as many of them as possible are coming to visit us in March! I can hardly wait.
The children have all done very well in school and have careers and families, as I knew they would. Here is a picture of the two I've been in contact with. They are so beautiful.
It has been quite a week. The girlies were with us from Wednesday night until I got them to school yesterday morning. The big girls were very glad to go home after school. We decided to keep the littles one more night, since I have them on Tuesdays normally. They were very good, but I am tired.
Sometimes the words just jump off my keyboard onto the page. Such is not the case today. I know what I want to talk about, but I'm having a hard time getting it said. I'll keep trying!
Friday was a sad day in our church - but also a joyous one. How is that possible? When you are in the same church for almost 40 years, and it is not a large church, you become very close to the people in that church family. When you lose someone to death, it is hard.
This is Phyllis - she came to our church just two months after my dad became the pastor of this church. When my mom and dad left our town several years later, they kept in touch with Phyllis' family. Phyllis became a widow in the 1980s. Five years ago my folks moved back here in their retirement and Mom and Phyllis were best of friends.
Phyllis had a hard life - farming with her husband, losing two infants, being a widow for a long time. But she was a very positive, joyful person. She was a prayer warrior and we will miss that part the most. I missed her white haired self sitting in the row right in front of my parents last Sunday.
I think it would be very neat if saints of God would be able to see their funeral and hear the wonderful things people say about them - wouldn't it be better if we said them while they're alive? One thing several people said - I am sure it will be said at my funeral - "she loved to talk!" And she did - she could out-talk me, believe it or not.
I was privileged to play the organ for her service. She had everything planned and her children honored all of her requests. I played joyful songs that I knew she would have loved to sing. We will definitely miss Phyllis, but I am picturing her enjoyment of her new home!
Several months ago I did a post on the Cambodian family our church sponsored back in the 1980s (click here if you'd like to read it). They had family members here in town already, being sponsored by my in-laws' church, and we were asked to bring the brother and his family. We agreed and our much smaller (at that time) church took on this challenge and privilege. I was the coordinator of the "project."
When we agreed to bring the Yim family, there were 3 daughters. By the time everything was arranged and they got out of the refugee camp in Thailand, they had added twin boys to the family. I could tell you many stories. I'll never forget the trip to the airport to get them, seeing them arrive with one huge box on Chhien's shoulder, serving them a dinner of food they'd never seen before and probably didn't like.
We moved them into a 4-bedroom apartment which we got through city housing. They were overwhelmed with the size and often we'd find that they'd moved their mattresses all into one bedroom - they were used to being together 24/7.
That was in April, and for 5 months we had a wonderful time getting acquainted and doing what needed to be done for them - and with them. But as fall came and winter loomed, they became very fearful of winter in Colorado. Noral, the mom, had a brother in California and Chhien's sisters had left Colorado and also gone to California, so they began to ask if they could leave, too. We took them to the bus station, sadly, but with 30+ boxes of belongings.
We heard from them a couple of times after they left. But it had been a long time since we'd heard anything. I tried everything to find them over the years. I had this dream that one day they'd drive into my driveway to visit.
Imagine my amazement when, 27 years later, I got a phone call from the secretary at church that there was a young woman from California with the last name of Yim who was trying to reach me. I knew immediately that this was the call I'd been wanting for years. I could not believe that they had found us instead of us finding them. Shannon told me that they had found a picture with our last name on the back. They remembered all of our first names, since we'd spent quite a bit of time with them, even remembering our dog's name. But they couldn't remember the last name until they found this picture hiding in a dictionary. She and her co-worker found us and the church on the internet. What a wonderful surprise!
I have talked to Shannon (who was Chauna when she was here) several times now and we're keeping in touch by Facebook. I've also connected with Sarah, who was the two year old when they came. The whole family went together and sent our family a wonderful, generous Christmas gift. And the best surprise ever - as many of them as possible are coming to visit us in March! I can hardly wait.
The children have all done very well in school and have careers and families, as I knew they would. Here is a picture of the two I've been in contact with. They are so beautiful.
Last, but not least - the weight loss journey. I weighed last Saturday morning and the result is below. But in Saturday's lesson, we learned that we are not to weigh for 4 more weeks. That will be hard, but also exciting. So - I'll let you know in a month how it went! Here's my favorite verse from the last week of this journey: Romans 5:3-5 - Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseveance; perseverance character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us (NIV).
By the way, if you missed the last very short post, please go below and read the news.
This is Kristen. Thank you all soo much for your beautiful words on my twins' 2nd birthday party. I have been away from blogland for awhile and have been spending most of my time on Facebook. But I miss writing. I'm going to attempt to start writing on my blog again, simply because it was such a great outlet for me. I don't promise posts every day; I have a lot going on. But I will try. I am going to put it public again because i don't feel like I should be scared of my ex-husband and what he will read. His loss. I will inform my mom of the url and have her pass it on to you all if you are interested in reading what i have to say again. It's been a very eventful year and verbalizing it could be helpful for me!
Thanks for your support of me, my girls and my mom! Time for me to get back in the game, though!!
Love much, Kristen
This is Grandma Dawn - excited to see this post when I opened up this morning! Kristen has given me permission to go back to public, so I am excited about that, too! So stay tuned for updates!
It's really much closer to Tuesday than Monday, but this is the first moment I've had to finally get to this spot. It's been a productive day and it feels good. Besides the usual, ever-present laundry, I accomplished two things that have been sitting there undone for far too long.
If you haul around 4 little girls in a minivan for very many days, much stuff accumulates - I finally got the car washed of all the mud created from all this snow that is melting (and you can bet that now it'll snow again!) I also finally got it vacuumed - such a yucky job, but the end result is so pleasant. Yay for me! I ever took the car seats out and scrubbed them down. Emma is even messier than Katie in her seat.
Remember when I first retired that one of the first things on my "list of things to do" was to get my thousands of pictures in albums. Today, a year and a half later, I finally got a start to this monumental task. I was looking for a particular picture from this drawer full of hundreds. While I was at it, I sorted them into 10 piles, went to the Dollar Tree and purchased small plastic tubs, and put each pile in one. Another day I will begin to tackle the overflowing boxes in the closet - someday they'll actually get transferred into albums - I promise.
Thanks for all the wonderful birthday greetings, and for your reaction to Kristen's guest post. I wish she would blog again - I loved reading her thoughts. The littles continued to get cards after their birthday. They love cards --
Sometimes I have a bit of a pity party when I wish my "retirement" was more traditional, or at least what I thought was supposed to be traditional - such as being able to take off for a week or so without having to go through so many hoops to have everything covered at home. But then I look at those adorable little faces and feel those wonderful hugs and kisses and I realize how important this time is right now. They will be in school before we know it.
The girls are all here every Saturday night (and Wednesday night as well) because of Kristen's work schedule. So Sunday morning is always a bit hectic, getting all 4 of them ready for Sunday school by 8:30. But again, it's worth it. If you still wear hose, at least once a week, you'll appreciate this story. Katie has discovered that it is fun to watch Grandma put her hose on - she giggles as I wiggle my way in to them, and then she wiggles too. It is priceless!
We had such a great surprise this week-end. We have a nephew who is a senior at West Point - a wonderful young man full of enthusiasm and excitement for his career choice. He e-mailed me with the surprise message that he was going to be here in Colorado for the week-end, visiting a special young lady who lives in the town north of us, but goes to school in the state north of us. I was unbelievably surprised to learn this news, because he's kept this a really good secret. We were really excited when we realized we would be celebrating his birthday with them when they came down here for lunch. Those of us who live here in town (11 all together) gathered at my folks' for a late lunch and birthday cake. (Poor kid was suffering from dry contact lens eyes - Colorado doesn't have much moisture in the air!)
The big girls were extremely excited to see their big strong cousin. I had no idea Feisty was so emotionally attached to this young man she rarely sees, but she could hardly wait, and attached herself to him the minute he came in the door.
They love to give his biceps a really good work-out when he's here. He really IS strong!
She's really strong too!
The special young lady joined right in the fun, and the girls soon added her to their list of favorite people in the world. She wound them up on the swings and let them go -- nothing like playing in the back yard on a sunny winter day, in your Sunday best - with tennies, of course, to salvage the special red satiny dressy shoes!
Judging by Katie'e knees, it was quite muddy out there.
I'm not going to say "here we go again." I'm going to say that I have embarked on a life changing, health enhancing, weight loss plan called PRISM. It's a Biblically based program, and my sister and I are hosting it at our church. I'm excited about the fact that I am totally changing the way I eat and think. I have done this so many times, not with many different plans as many do, but with the same plan over and over. I have said for years that I wouldn't go back to group meetings, or would never eliminate whole groups of anything from my diet. But this time I'm enjoying the Saturday morning meetings with my sister, my SIL, and several friends as we do this journey together.
I had arrived at a weight once before that I never thought I'd see. That was when I lost 16 pounds, trying to win a cruise at my gym. I have known for many years that losing weight for an "event" is not a successful way to operate. I was unable to maintain that loss and this last week finally discovered that I had once again crept up to that awful number, minus one pound.
I have always subscribed to the theory that you need to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day (a gallon that is!). That isn't to say I've always succeeded in doing it - in fact, I've not been successful at all. But this time we have signed an"Agreement of Resolution" to follow the plan faithfully. Thus, 8 glasses of water and/or herbal tea each day - have you ever been up 8 times during the night? Once for each glass the first night. It's getting much better, but that was really something - I was mostly getting up in my sleep! I love the scriptures that we are given each day for our lesson. They don't specifically speak about eating, but there are so many verses in the Bible that are so apropos to our situation as many of us struggle with this addiction called food. Here are some of my favorites so far:
Isaiah 43:18-19 - "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."
I Corinthians 10:31 - "Therefore, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
Proverbs 4:7 - "Determination to be wise is the first step toward becoming wise! And with your wisdom, develop common sense and good judgment."
Psalm 119:30 - "Lord, don't let me make a mess of things. If you will only help me to want your will, then I will follow your laws even more closely. Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord. As long as I live I'll wholeheartedly obey. As long as I live I'll wholeheartedly obey. Make me walk along the right paths for I know how delightful they really are."
So - I will be sharing this journey with you, and this time I will be successful. I will be much more healthy.
Please enjoy the guest post written by my daughter, Kristen, in honor of the twins' second birthday. I know many of you lived this story with us. Just push the "play" button and enjoy the song as you read her memories.
My dear, sweet, precocious, mischievous, ornery, precious, beautiful gifts from God, Katie and Emma:
This is my letter to you on your 2nd birthday. A birthday that many cynics never thought you would see!!
When I was a child, I read a series of books called "Sweet Valley Twins". The books were about two blonde haired, blue eyed twin girls. I immersed myself in those books and the adventures of those two girls. I often wished I had a twin sister of my own, but since that hadn't happened, I longed for blue eyed, blonde haired, twin girls of my own. I never in my wildest dreams imagined it would actually come true.
I found out I was pregnant with you mid-summer 2007. I already had two daughters and was also raising my step-son. Things weren't the best around our home and I was not at all prepared to have another child. I went to my first ultra-sound . At the time I was pregnant with you, I was 32 years old. I am now 35 and I can honestly say that the biggest shock I have ever received to date is when the ultra sound tech turned to me and said, "Do twins run in your family?" All I could do was lie there and let the shock of what she had just said sink in. No one asks you that question lying on an ultra sound table unless they are about to inform you, "Well, I see two heart beats here!" Before I was able to even process or absorb that information, the doctor came in to inform me that you, Katie, had a growth on your neck that indicated you had either trisomy 13 or trisomy 18.
The situation, in their minds, was serious enough to get in touch with a world renowned perinatal specialist in Denver and get me in right away the next day.
The next 24 hours of my life were a blur. Not only did I find out I was pregnant with twins, I found out that I could have one that could potentially have severe genetic abnormalities or not live long after birth. All I can remember is feeling numb.
The prognosis from the specialist was no more promising. Not only did he determine that you, Katie, were more than 99% chance likely to have one of these conditions; he also said that you, Emma, would most likely not survive within the womb until the next appointment a week later because you were so tiny.
I was scheduled for an amniocenteses to determine your diagnosis for certain and to discuss my "options" should the worst come true. I want you to know, my sweet baby girls, that there was no "option" in my mind. I would carry you to term, if possible, and give birth to you, and love you despite any "abnormalities".
After that appointment, I immediately went home and posted your story on my blog and sent a prayer request out there for you. The response was overwhelming. People from all over the country and the world spread the news about you and you were covered in prayer throughout the globe!
The day of the amniocenteses came. I will not lie and say it is a fun procedure. And I got to do it twice! And waiting for the results was beyond any kind of torture I can even describe. The doctor looked at me in earnest after the amnio was over and said, "Now what are you going to want to do if these results don't turn out well? Because we are 99% sure of severe genetic abnormalities." With absolutely no hesitation I informed him that abortion was NOT an option for me.
I waited and waited for the call for the results and at 5:55 p.m. on a Friday night, the nurse from the specialist's office called me. She had specifically stayed an hour late that night because she knew the results were coming, and she knew it would be torture for me to have to survive the weekend waiting to hear. I will never, ever forget the next words I heard come from her mouth; the sweetest words I've ever heard (other than your adorable twin language babble!): "We don't understand this, and it makes no sense, but NEITHER of your baby GIRLS has any sign of any genetic abnormality. They are as healthy as they can be!" I felt like I was going to faint right there on the spot. Not only because of the FANTASTIC news that you were HEALTHY, but also because you were both GIRLS!! WOW!
The relief washed over me like you wouldn't believe. But it wasn't easy going from there. I was working full time, I continued to have to see the specialist in Denver just to "monitor" you and make sure you continued to thrive. Most food made me sick and it was hard to eat. I wasn't gaining enough weight. There was a lot of stress at home. Eventually it was determined that it was necessary for me to be on bed rest because my doctor didn't believe you were thriving in utero and I needed to be off my feet for the remainder of my pregnancy.....which at that point was supposed to be 3 months! Unfortunately, I wasn't getting the needed and mandatory rest I needed at home and my doctor decided, the day after Christmas, that she was putting me on hospital bed rest. "Rest" sounded great, but unfortunately your mama had severe issues trying to rest in the hospital, unable to be aware of what was going on in the outside world with your other sisters. In the end, they decided to take you via c-section 7 weeks early because you just weren't growing and they thought you would be better off out in this tough world.
The day of your birth was surreal. I had never given birth via scheduled c-section, so to know the hour and minute you were coming was a little un-nerving. People began to arrive to be among the first to see you when your tiny little beings arrived. My hospital room and the hallway were full of people anticipating your arrival.
Your grandma was in the operating room with me supporting me and holding my hand and would be the one to escort you to the NICU when I went into the recovery room after the surgery. It was really great to have her in there with me!
At 1:10 p.m. I heard the doctor announce, "Baby A is out!" and less than one minute later, "Baby B is out!" I got a tiny glimpse of you as they wheeled you away to the NICU in your incubators. I remember feeling emotional and teary as I remembered the special bonding time I had with both of your older sisters after I gave birth to them and got to hold them to my chest and kiss their sweet little heads.
It was several hours before I got to be wheeled into the NICU to see you because I had some complications after delivery; my body temp went dangerously low and I had to be stablized. Eventually I got to see you and I will never forget my initial shock at seeing you and how utterly tiny you were. Katie: 3 lbs 5 oz, Emma: 2 lbs 15 oz. Emma, you had an oxygen tank hooked up to you and it was so big it almost took up your whole face; but stubborn little girl you are ripped it out within 12 hours and they never put it back in!
You were in the NICU for little over a month. I visited you 3 times a day, every day to hold you, nurse you, love on you and make sure you knew who your mama was. When I was at home I pumped breast milk for you to give you your best shot at thriving and getting out of there as soon as possible!!
Eventually, Katie came home on a Friday, Emma the following Monday. Life was difficult. I love(d) you more than anything in the world but adjusting to the new dynamic was tough and I did most of it on my own (except Grandma and Grandpa helped me a LOT!) There were many sleepless nights.
At age 4 months, mommy made a decision that changed our lives forever. We took a long trip to North Dakota for a month and when we came back we moved and started a new life for ourselves.
It's been a challenge, but there are so many people who have helped me and made sure that you have the best life possible! I don't think you're suffering any!
Despite the doctor's initial prognosis for you, I believe you are two WALKING, RUNNING, TALKING, MESS MAKING miracles who have blessed me beyond anything I could ever possibly imagine!
In fact, other than a little minor stint for Katie in the hospital with a mild case of RSV last January, I have not had to take you to the doctor at ALL for any illnesses. In 24 WHOLE months!
You are amazing, precious little fighters who refused to let that doctor and his tests win! You are true miracles. No other words for it. And you have blessed so many lives; you will never know!
I am proud, and honored, and unbelievably blessed to be the mama of such beautiful girls! YOU, and your precious sisters who adore you more than life itself!
We girls....we're gonna be fine!!
Love you more than you will EVER know....
Your mama!!
These pictures were taken by the NICU nurses (who were fabulous, by the way) the first time they took the girls out of their incubators at age 12 days.
This is Grandma Dawn bringing you pictures of the party last Saturday. Last August, my blog friend, Nancy (who has since ceased blogging), shared pictures of her twin grandnieces' second birthday party. I loved the idea so much that I asked if I could "borrow" the theme. They said go for it, so we had a similar Noah's Ark party - two by two, you know?! We had so much fun getting ready for the party, and the girls seemed to totally understand, both on their actual birthday on Thursday, and again on Saturday, that the day was all about them.
I love this one of Aunt Grace with the girlies - she adores them, and the feeling is mutual.
Wouldn't you love to know what Katie's thinking at this moment?
Emma's going to at least attempt to be tidy!
Oops - it didn't work out too well!
Better clean off the frosting before playing with the new toys!
They had lots of fun opening their gift bags (Kristen didn't have a chance to do much because Care Bear wasn't feeling well at all and totally appropriated her mom's time and lap the whole time - poor little thing didn't have much fun at her sisters' party).
Katie, always the little Mommy.
Emma, always the little helper - picking things up.
They faithfully went to say "thank you" to everyone - this is Sandy, their beloved nursery attendant at "chuch"
They both had so much fun with one of their cards - it played the theme to "Winnie the Pooh." They carried them around for the longest time, dancing to the song. (Note Feisty in the background playing with one of their toys - a little "bug" car (not VW, but a real bug).
Showing it to Great Grandma S.
Singing with Grandma Dawn
Wearing it around her neck.
So now it's onward and forward to conquer more mountains. They are more fun every day. Their personalities are developing and they are becoming their own little people - we must not call them "the babies" any more. And we need to try to call them by their separate names instead of lumping them into "the twins" or "the littles." They are such gifts from God.
Christian mother of 2, grandma of 4 girls, wife for 38 years, retired administrative assistant from a large university. I will still be with the grandkids often. It is a joy to have a part in nurturing them and showing them God's love.
