A Picture Says a Thousand Words ... Or In This Case, Three Thousand

You know the drill, right? Every August, we dress our little ones in their favorite new clothes and send them off for another year of reading, writing, and arithmetic. Full of dreams and hopes for the coming year. Anxious to begin learning and making new friends. What we fail to realize each and every year during this time of great anticipation is how quickly the year will be done, leaving us to proclaim "I can't believe how quick this year has gone by!"

Austin received an award for perfect attendance this year, something he's been striving for every year, but hasn't been able to achieve - mostly because he had business in China or became ill from something the carriers brought to him. This year, he finally made it. Not a minute missed. No absences, no checkouts, no nothing. And we couldn't be prouder of him for his responsibility, perseverence, and dedication. Yes, he's a little unusual, wanting to not miss a day, but that's just him. Austin also had a great year in the classroom, though he and I had our battles with Advanced Trigonometry! Austin reminds me alot of myself when I was in school, not wanting to miss anything and wanting to excel in everything. We're very proud of his achievements in the classroom this year. We're also proud of his achievements in his two favorite extracurricular activities - band and golf. His drumline didn't quit practicing with the end of marching season, working for two hours every Tuesday and Thursday right thru spring. If you want to experience an awesome drumline next season, come out to East and hear them perform. They're gonna rock; now, if only I can convince Mrs. Sam to let 'em do some Toby Mac! Austin also completed his 4th year on the golf team and played as the '1' most of the time. He's really improved his game to the point where shooting for par is starting to become a reasonably achievable goal. With a couple more years on the Golf team, he might even parlay this talent into a break for his mommy and daddy when it comes time to pay for college! Go East Golf!

Lily and Lia, on the other hand? Ugh! We missed so many days, we were asked to re-register them several times as new students! They shared everything, from dolls to clothes to germs to mischief, earning the nicknames 'carriers, twin twisters, and thing 1 and thing 2.' But, what a year each had at school. We are so blessed to have them as daughters - thank you Jesus! Knowing Lily and Lia's lifesongs and being a part of who they are and who they are becoming has been one of the greatest blessings ever for us. There's not a day that goes by without Lia Faith looking up at me with those deep, brown eyes and proclaiming "Daddy, you the best daddy in the whole world!" Lily follows up with "You know how much I love you? ... Thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis Muuuuuuch!" It's simply too hard to describe in words how that impacts me each day.

As far as school for Lily and Lia, we wanted Lily Grace to gain some structure to her day and begin to learn how to learn, but we hadn't intended on putting Lia Faith in school until next year. But the staff at FCA convinced us she was ready and what a difference it has made for her. Both Lily Grace and Lia Faith have gained confidence and independence and really excelled at learning. They both seem to be able to grasp concepts very, very well. Though they are much alike, they each have their own personality. Lia will be known as the teacher's pet and Lily Grace will be the whiz kid! Their teachers at FCA were wonderful. Both Lily Grace and Lia Faith were tested as gifted by the International Adoption Clinic, prompting the staff at UAB to ask us "who is teaching these girls?"Great job FCA! In addition to their English language skills, both of them know several words in Chinese and just as many in Spanish.

As for Connie and I? We celebrated 25 years of blissful marriage during the school year by leaving the kids with grandparents and heading to New York. And then we helped those same grandparents celebrate '50' in March on the beach in Gulf Shores. I sure hope Connie puts up with me another 25 so we can watch together as Austin, Lily Grace, and Lia Faith grow into God's plans for their own lives. What an awesome story and lifesong that will be.

Thank you Jesus, for the blessings of special children and a wonderful mommy for them!

Love,

Jerry, Connie, Austin, Lily Grace, and Lia Faith

Green, Party of Five

From Four Months to Four Years

On August 11, 2006, she was left at the entrance to a hospital in a crowded, cold city in northern China. Not quite 4 months old, she was left to find her own way, all alone in a world too often characterized by harsh, bitter circumstances. No one knows this better than she, having lived it, and yet survived it. Unable to walk and not capable of explaining herself to anyone, she was totally dependent on God. A note said she was born on March 26th, 2006, but offered little explanation for the reasons she was here. A last communication from her parents, provided in hopes that someone, somewhere would one day celebrate March 26th with this sweet baby girl.



But for now, she waited. Waited for someone to answer God's call to lift her from the pit and put a crown on her head. Someone to do something for her, anything, to comfort her in her time of need. Does anybody hear her, can anybody see? Whether or not she cried, or for how long if she did, is not known by anyone who knows her anymore. Tears that perhaps soaked the clothes she wore are long since forgotten by anyone who was there, who might have given second thought to her plight. Four months old and making her own way, pleading, perhaps, for someone to help. That she was born with or developed a frightening condition left her even more alone, becoming an intimidation to anyone who might otherwise step in and lift her up, dust her off, and take her home. Alas, however, "a report of the common people" notified the authorities of a female baby who had been found alone, with no one else around.



She was taken in to the hospital, where doctors determined that she had a condition known as meningocele, perhaps the reason for her having been left there in the first place. Since the malady didn't seem to be a threat to her physical condition, and since she was otherwise healthy, she was placed under the care of the authorities and began her journey through life anew, the lump on the back of her head a constant reminder of her past. The records are sketchy, at best, but seem to indicate alternate periods of living with foster families and orphanage friends over the next twenty-nine months. Never really becoming a part of a family, and probably not celebrating March 26th, perhaps not even aware of the significance of the day.



But then one amazing day here in Alabama, a family who had just submitted paperwork to bring home a little sister for Austin and Lily Grace got the surprise of their lives. When Lily Grace asked for a picture of her sister to be, Lia Faith, her family processed the request and responded with all they knew - no response. It would be at least a year before that would happen. Not so, says an all knowing God - I'll send you a picture tomorrow sweetheart, He must have been thinking. And He did. And just like that, this sweet baby girl found by herself on the streets of a cold, dirty city became a part of a family. And that family began doing everything it could to get to China to bring her home before another March 26th came to pass.



By Christmas of that year, God had worked out all the details and introduced Lia Faith to her new family, fully three months before the next March 26th would come. A four month old baby, all alone in the world had suddenly come full circle back in the loving arms of her 'new' family, ready to celebrate a lifetime of March 26th's. Her first March 26th home in 2009, she didn't even realize the significance of the special day, she just knew that the cake tasted good and lots of people seemed excited about something. She was three then and had become such an important member of her forever family that a birthday was the last thing on her mind.



And now, yet another March 26th has come and she's four. Now she knows! Seeing the smile on her face and the brightness of her gaze lets us know that to her, this day, March 26th, is now a special day - it's her birthday! And more important than any presents, or even her daddy's homemade birthday cake, she has someone to celebrate it with! A family!

Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Girl. Mommy, Daddy, Austin, and Lily Grace love you very, very much. And from now on, March 26th will be a special day for all of us. Thank you for making it so!

Love,
Jerry, Connie, Austin, Lily Grace, and Lia Faith
Green, Party of Five

Christmas Christening

The weekend of December 11th was supposed to have been a big weekend for Lia Faith, but God had a different idea. Lia Faith had been selected for her school's homecoming court and was set to walk out first on Friday night, December 11th. We practiced on Wednesday, December 9th and decided that we were ready. We already had the dress picked out (I'm told it's all about the dress) and had everyone lined up to see Lia go from lost on the streets of Datong to leading the homecoming court at Faith Christian. How cool is that!

It was also to be a big weekend at Isom's Chapel for Lia Faith, as we had planned her Christening ceremony closest to her 'gotcha' day as possible. Everything was set. Plans made. The Huntsville Times was even set to attend so they could writeup a story for Christmas Day.



But on Thursday, Lia woke up with fever a terrible cough and runny nose, so we took her to see her doctor. Strep was the immediate diagnosis. Keep her isolated from everyone for 48 hours said the doctor. What! We have all this stuff planned. A party at our house for her gotcha day and Christening. The homecoming. The cake. The ceremony. Why?

Because I'm not ready said the Lord. We'll do it next weekend. And besides, the church sanctuary is not set up properly for a Christening, what with the Christmas play and all. You do want good pictures and memories don't you? OK, ok, but this is frustrating, having everything all planned out and then having to wait!



But the wait was definitely worth it. Check out some of the pictures from the Christening. If we'd had it the weekend we planned, instead of the weekend God planned, there would have been no ornamentally beautiful pulpit furnishings and all for backdrop in the pictures. And the pastor might have been dressed as Elvis (you'd have to have seen our church play to understand that one).



Anyway, God Bless You Lia Faith. You are an awesome little angel. You and Lily Grace have certainly turned our lives upside down and inside out, but we wouldn't have it any other way.

Love,
Jerry, Connie, Austin, Lily Grace, and Lia Faith
Green, Party of Five

You Don't Mean It! Gotcha a Year Ago Today!

Dear Lia Faith,

As you grow up, you will learn that life has its interesting twists and turns and that there's simply no way you can figure it out or understand it completely. That's God's job. Ours is to praise Him for His plan for our lives and to bask in the love He has for us each and every day. "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you." It's been a while since I've had time to write for you, please forgive me. It seems the past few months have raced by like a runaway freight train, intent on arriving at its destination on time or ahead of time, no matter the consequences for its precious cargo. Some time to take a few deep breaths would probably be a good idea, especially this time of the year.



Tonight we celebrated a year with you, our little class clown who has added so much to our lives. You have caused us to laugh and cry, to shout and whisper, to run fast and walk slowly, all in the course of a single day that has lasted an entire year. It has been difficult at times, probably a little more than we anticipated, but there is nothing in this world that we treasure more than your beautiful smile and your silly ways and the way you lay in our arms each night gently massaging my arm as you fall into a sleep that seems ever more peaceful with each passing day. Some days you are happy and some days you are sad, but the happy days outnumber the sad days by many. And for that we are thankful.







You have become a soul mate for your Jie' jie', Lily Grace and she for you. Inseparable almost all of the time. You even sleep together, often cuddling in your sleep next to one another as if trying to ensure that nothing comes between you. Oh, don't get me wrong, you do have your disagreements and boy oh boy, sometimes they are a doozy! But as quickly as the difference of opinion arises, it settles and you're back to Cinderella and Belle.



When you first came home with us in December of 2008, we were all sick with the flu and we spent a month or longer just trying to subsist, much less trying to bond. It did set us back a little, looking back on it, but I think we all recovered nicely. When it finally got warm and we all got well, we discovered that you loved to play outside and to work in Memaw's garden, sometimes eating more than you gathered! You made your first two trips to the beach (your mommy really likes the beach, so get used to it!) were exciting and different for all of us. We worried constantly for you and you just ran carefree as if every worry you ever had had suddenly been released.





In the spring, you found favor in God's eyes and He healed you only minutes before the doctors at Children's Hospital in Birmingham were set to try to accomplish that feat themselves. The brain surgeon was left to ask me "I showed you the MRI, didn't I. You saw it, right?"



Both he and I knew what had happened, but sometimes when God steps in, it's difficult for us to understand His power, His will, and His plan. But having seen so many miracles from here to China through you and your sister Lily Grace, we were not stunned at all. We just smiled at the doctor and said "You're the brain surgeon here!" I remember seeing you come through the door at church on Easter morning after that unanticipated brief stay in the hospital, still wrapped in the head dress from your experience, smiling as if everyone in church that day was there just for you. And so they were, at least that's the way I saw it too.

Now that you've experienced you first Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, and Thanksgiving, we wait with excitement your first Christmas experience at 'home.' You've already experienced some of the festivities and seem a little confused by it, so we'll just be sure to explain everything to you as we go. In fact, we'll start this weekend, by giving praise to our Father, as you are Christened nearly a year to the day from when we first met you in Taiyuan. God Bless You Sweet Baby Girl.



Finally, I wanted to tell you about a day that meant so much to me then and now means even more. You don't remember it, I'm sure, but this past summer, on one of those beach trips, we had the opportunity to visit your great grandmother, Lulu Bell, who was 95 years old at the time. You brought smiles and tears to this precious woman who cared for your dad's grandfather for so many years and then spent her remaining years waiting patiently to wait on her Herman once again. From the other side of the world, you waltzed into her room as if you'd known her forever (and maybe you had), gently hugging her and loving her until tears welled up in the corners of her eyes and spilled onto your dress. I didn't see it at the time, but looking back now, it seemed that you knew something the rest of us didn't and that now was the time to make sure Lulu Bell knew she was loved by her tiny angel from Datong. You made her laugh and in the process made us cry, that you were able to bond with her so instantly, perhaps knowing it was your only chance this side of Heaven. Tonight, your great grandmother, Lulu Bell, met Jesus and I am sure that she's telling Him and Herman about a little angel from Datong named Lia Faith Xurong Green. And I am sure that Jesus is telling both you and her again "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you."

Happy Gotcha Day Sweet Baby Girl!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy, Austin, and Lily Grace

Wicked ...

Great, from Endless Love to "Wicked" you say! What have these Greens done, have they turned to the dark side? I heard they were goin' to New York. And now, this! Next thing you know, they'll be goin' to a Yankees game, for Heaven's sake. What's this wicked about anyway? "And there, the wicked old witch stayed for a good long time. And did she ever come out? Not yet." Ah, the truth finally comes out about the wicked witch and the good witch.



Now, before you get all worked up and start wonderin', Wicked is a Broadway play presented each night at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway and 51st in New York City. Connie asked to come to New York to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary and I picked the play Wicked to fill our Saturday evening dance card. It helped that I had seen the play before, in New York, and knew how good it was. Austin and I saw the play two years ago with his Beta Club and so we knew that Connie would like it.



The play explains how the wicked witch became the wicked witch and how the good witch became the good witch in the Wizard of Oz. Of course, it's all imagination, everybody knows that the wicked witch was always the wicked witch - and those monkeys in Oz, didn't they scare you too. The live ones in Wicked tonight still gave me the heebies! Funny thing was, there was only passing mention of Dorothy and her dog dodo (er, Toto). Something about the wicked witch having a desire for those little red shoes. Oh, the play also explains how the lion lost his courage, the tin man lost his heart, and the scarecrow lost his mind! You gotta see this sometime.

Wicked good, these performers are (I'm beginning to sound a little like Yoda?) The show was every bit as good this time as last, even though the main characters had changed. Austin still remembers Kristin Chenowith and Idina Menzel from his trip. Kristin Chenowith had this amazing voice. This time, the main characters were played by Dee Risciole and Erin Mackey. God has given these performers so much talent it's unbelievable and yet we found out tonight after the show how 'down to earth' and humble they are.

"Erin Mackey - Glinda (pronounced guh linda) the Good Witch"

We happened to come out of the theatre pretty much last (I had gone down to see the orchestra pit and to thank the musicians) and walked right past the stage exit for the performers. Kristin and Erin soon emerged and signed autographs. There weren't many people hanging around, so we decided to get an autograph ourselves and see what these talented ladies were really like. It turns out they were very nice, especially to the little girl next to us. They distracted the little girl, while Connie made off with her little American Girl dolls - I'm still waiting on a knock at the door from NYPD. I'm just kidding, Connie didn't steal any dolls - I think. Interestingly, after signing autographs, Kristin and Erin just walked off into the night - no fanfare, no handlers, no entourage, or anything, just walked down Broadway and disappeared into the crowd.

"Elphaba - the Wicked Witch - Connie took the photo, so I'm not in trouble, am I sweetheart?, Saks Fifth Ave, OK. Macy's, OK."

If you ever get a chance to see a Broadway show, take it - I assure you that it'll be something you'll remember forever if you have an appreciation for the amazing vocal and acting talents God has given some. Thank you God for giving these talents to some to entertain us and may you continue to bless them each and every day as they do so.

Tomorrow, Statue of Liberty and Fifth Avenue (Dave Ramsay, I'll need a refresher course after that!)

Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart. Hope you liked the show!

God Bless You,
Jerry, Connie, Austin, Lily Grace, and Lia Faith
Green, Party of Five ... Wicked!

My Endless Love ...

Tonight, I Celebrate My Love for You ... There is Love ... Endless Love ...



Dear Austin, Lily Grace, and Lia Faith, twenty-five years ago today, God gave me a most wonderful gift ... a beautiful wife named Connie Jo Broadway, with whom He would have me spend my life. On that day, August 25th, 1984, Connie and I exchanged wedding vows, promising ourselves to each other and to Him, for His glory. For better or worse, for richer or poorer, we agreed to never let anything separate us.



And we exchanged wedding rings after saying our vows to remind us of that commitment. All of our friends and family came to pay witness to our commitment and to wish us well as we left our childhood homes and began a life together. It seemed like a thousand people were there to see us off. At that time, we had no idea what God had planned for us, other than a trip to the beach to celebrate our love for each other. And yet, there we were plowing ahead full steam, without knowing or perhaps even caring what was around the next corner.



It would be a memorable day for many reasons, but from my perspective, two things stood out on the way to getting married that day. First, we needed something for the reception - I don't even remember what it was - and I was assigned to take care of it. Unfortunately, after I had completed the treasure hunt and was leaving the parking lot, I had an accident. It wasn't my fault and it wasn't even a significant fender bender, but the person who hit me insisted we call the police and fill out a report. My old car had a few dings in it anyway and one more bump on the front bumper wouldn't hurt anything. After waiting for what seemed like eternity, the officer from Athens' finest showed up and began completing the report. When I asked him if he could hurry because I was on my way to my wedding, he laughed and told me that he was out buying his wife an anniversary present because it was their anniversary that very day! We shared a laugh and he got us on our way quickly. But my problems weren't over yet ...



Mom had come from North Carolina for the wedding and was staying in my apartment. So I had given her my key to the apartment to come and go as she needed. While I was detained with the accident report, she and everyone else decided to leave for the church ... because it really was getting late. And they didn't know where I was (no cell phones in those days, only morse code). So they assumed I had gone on to the church. They grabbed my tuxedo and locked up and headed to church. Now, in a major hurry, I rushed home, intent on grabbing my tux and getting to church. But I couldn't get in! Locked out! So, I climbed through a bathroom window that I managed to pry open, fully expecting the police to show up any minute because the neighbors observed someone breaking and entering. Alas, once inside I could not find my tux, so I assumed someone had taken it to church for me. Fortunately, that was the case and I finally made it to the church - without much time to spare!



Ah, but we were yet young - just check out the photographs (forgive the scratchiness of the photos, these were made with one of those cameras that the cameraman had to get under a hooded blanket and look through an ancient viewfinder and ...). I can remember this day like it was yesterday. Every detail comes to mind as I think about the events of the day.



I remember my cousin asking if I was ready just before we walked into the church. I remember watching Stephanie drop flowers as she came down the aisle and seeing Connie in the distance. I could see her beautiful brown eyes even from the other end of the church and her smile that seemed to be saying "Here we go!" I remember taking her hand and turning toward Brother Karl Johnson to say our vows and thinking "Here we go!" I remember thinking how everything was so fancy and realizing now that it was really simple. I remember saying "I do" and hearing Connie say the same. I remember standing in front of the unity candle as Bob and Brenda sang Endless Love thinking ... Endless Song! Never had three minutes seemed so long. Connie and I talked while we waited patiently for our singers to complete the last verse, sure everyone would wonder what in the world we were saying.





I remember smiling and even laughing a little at the awkwardness of the situation. But most of all, I remember kissing my new bride and thinking "I am the luckiest man alive!" Of course, looking back at the photographs, I realize I wasn't a man at all. Just a young kid, not even finished with college yet, smiling because he'd just married the most beautiful girl in all of Limestone County, if not the world.



Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart. I love you and I hope I am blessed enough to see another 25 years with you. Looking back at that day, now I realize that God's plan for our lives was opening its first chapter and that He'd have many, many more chapters to write. And I am so thankful that in His plan for you, He made a starring role for me.

Love,
Jerry, Connie, Austin, Lily Grace, and Lia Faith
Green, Party of Five,
Est. August 25, 1984

A Day of Firsts ...

It started before we even left the house. Three kids. Three first days of school. Quick, honey, get the camera. Let's take a few pictures (there's a surprise event) before we drive them to school. With all the flashes, they probably missed the first hour of school trying to get that little flashspot to quit annoying their vision. But they were good sports about it. "Hurry up, Daddy, we need to go." "I don't want to take a picture" (that was the big kid). "Cheeeeeeseeeee." "Flash!" Got it - the very best first day picture I've ever seen. "I'm gonna be late, if we don't hurry up!" (nevermind that it's still 45 minutes before 8:00 and it takes all of 3 minutes to drive to school).

I forgot, did we feed them breakfast? What about their teeth? Did they brush? Potty? We gotta start a list of morning things to do. I know we dressed them - and even put in hair bows (Austin chose not to include that accessory with his new outfit). Tennis shoes all around, even for Lilo and Stitch (that's their new nicknames). Lily Grace and Lia Faith never wear anything but sandals and heels, so these tennis shoes are a bit awkward. Socks! Ugh! (Again, Austin chose not to include the socks in his ensemble).

School days, school days, good old golden rule days. There's reading and writing and rithmetic. And so much homework it makes you sick! Well, at least it does normal kids. Ours have been so excited about school they'd probably do extra homework if allowed. Even the big kid made up his notebooks and prepared meticulously for his classes.



Austin will be a sophomore at East Limestone this year and is beginning to see a bit of freedom in his scheduling of classes. No PE for the first time in his school career. It's been replaced by Latin - uh oh, I don't think he knows what he's in for. He also has an art/music appreciation class. You know, Johaan Sebastian Bach, etc... Of course, he will again march with the East Limestone Marching Indians and participate in every other band that Ms. Sam can dream up, But he stuck with the advanced curriculum for all his core stuff - good for him. He has his sights set on attending Florida State in a few years, so he knows he has to challenge himself.




Lily Grace will be in the K-4 class at Faith Christian Academy's East Limestone campus (they call it their Madison campus, but it's clearly not in Madison). Her teach is Mrs. Faulkner and Lily says there are no boys in her class because they are too loud and rowdy! She will only attend half days, but her day will be packed with lots of learning - even math. Lily Grace is very smart and constantly amazes us with things that we've never taught her, she's just somehow discovered. So, she will do fine. She might even get a little bored every now and then, so we hope she is challenged by her teacher. I don't think she even realized we had left this morning. The biggest concern we have is Lily's love of talking and asking questions. The talking part will ultimately be her achilles heel we're afraid - can you say timeout (or do they do that anymore?) Oh, poor, poor Mrs. Faulkner. She doesn't have a hint of what's she's gotten herself into!



Of course, Lia Faith couldn't be left out of the school days, so we decided to go ahead and try her in K-3 at Faith Christian Academy. Her teacher is Mrs. Brock. And she says there are three boys in her class - even one from her China! She will also attend a half day and will learn all that she can in that time. Hopefully, she will be able to attend two years of pre-K before starting Kindergarten. We feel like that will give her a good, solid head start on learning. She was a little more timid this morning, but never cried according to her teacher. She only asked about mommy a few times.



More to come as the school year progresses ...



Love,
Jerry, Connie, Austin, Lily Grace, and Lia Faith
Green, Party of Five