(Written April 6th 2019, finished January 12th 2020) Today is grey.  The fog is so dense I can’t even see to my neighbors house across the street.  I can’t remember the last time we had fog like this in Chicagoland.  But, I’m immediately transported in my memory to a cab ride through Xinyang China.  Lydia had been in our arms for only two days and we had to travel from the capital city of Zhengzhou back to Xinyang to collect Lydia’s passport.  We also had opportunity to visit her orphanage. Xingyang Children’s Welfare Institute.  We took care of Lydia’s passport ..read more

Four years ago today Lydia walked into our arms on a cold day, in an official government building in Zhengzhou, China.  It was truly one of the best days of my life. A day of tiny miracles all wrapped up in this little girl. And as is God’s way, He was at work back home in another mother’s heart, working a miracle that would only come to fruition three years later.  So, as I am reflecting on the miracle of Lydia today, my heart and mind are extra full because we have been witness to another adoption miracle on 4th Street and that story needs to be told. International Adoption is no s ..read more

It’s mothers Day and I’m filled with gratitude that I get to be a mother.  Not everyone does, so I see it as total gift.  It’s going to be a sweet day filled with church, sweet homemade gifts and extra hugs and kisses from my kiddos, especially Lydia.  She’s been counting down the days until Mothers Day or ‘Muvers Day’ as she calls it.  So sweet. Today I’m grateful for all the mothers who came before me and I will have the joy of spending the day with my own dear mother and grandmother.  My grandma is 91, beautiful, healthy, and living independently.  I have also ..read more

I have not updated the blog in almost a year.  I have had things to say and share and somehow they never made it onto ‘paper’.  But yesterday stopped me in my tracks.  I had a regular check-up scheduled and I needed to bring Lydia with me.  As we drove Lydia began asking questions.  Big ones about when she was in China.  She said, “Mommy, how did I grow in a tummy in China?”  I said, you grew in a womans tummy and God made you grow.  He formed you.  He made every part of you.  There was silence.  And then after a few long moments Lydia sai ..read more

I just woke up to Lydia quietly walking in our room and crawling in bed with us to snuggle.  Dressed in her pink popsicle jammies and holding her baby doll like always. And we did snuggle for a bit.  Then came requests for watching Clifford, and downstairs we went.  As we walked through he kitchen she noticed all the decor I had put up the night before.  We get to combine celebrations of Gotcha Day and Chinese New Year each year because the dates are always so close to one another.  She peered up at the Chinese Lanterns and red and yellow streamers and dragons made of ..read more

After a whirl-wind Summer of Camp, more camp, youth group trips, and family vacation, it’s Fall. And we are finally back-in-the-swing of things! The boys had the note-worthy experiences of a first full week at Summer camp for Quinn and first time ever to a sleep-away Summer camp for Albin. They did great!  Lydia enjoyed the fun of family camp, and family vacations complete with her first trip to the Pacific Ocean.  She also enjoyed the peace of Northwoods lake-culture and some wonderful boat rides.  Their was ice-cream and sunshine and aside from a few stitches after jumping on ..read more

After Lydia’s second surgery in September, we had the notion that she might come through surgery and, begin speaking.  As though her tongue had been loosed or something.  This was naive and now, having a better understanding of cleft issues we know it will take time. But we have seen progress.  First words we so longed to hear, then more words, then actual three words sentences. Three months ago, after one of Quinn’s Saturday morning basketball games Lydia said something wonderful for the first time.  She said a clear, ‘Daddy’ from her carseat.  Lars’ face was priceles ..read more

One year ago today, a little girl in China woke up in the wee hours of the morning, traveled by taxi and train to her province’s capital city, and then walked into our arms. And just like that little DanQing became Lydia DanQing Stromberg and made our dream a reality by becoming our daughter.  We believe as we did every step of the adoption journey, every moment of the waiting, that God hand-picked Lydia for our family.  And what a good match-maker He is. It is with intense joy that we remember the day Lydia became our daughter and we her parents.  The day we met we were very i ..read more

(This post about Lydia’s Second surgery has been sitting unfinished for months, finally found the time today.  Life has been moving too quickly!) What a trooper Lydia is!  September 4th was on our calendar for four months.  We were ready, we had all our childcare figured out, thank you Mormor.  We packed our bags, arrived on time, got up to the check-in area and then…we were told, “no, I don’t see Lydia’s appt here. Oh, wait here it is, in the clinic.”  Huh?  What?  My heart sank and on we walked down a corridor, to a bridge connecting the maze of buildings a ..read more

This Summer has been the Summer of firsts for little Lydia.  Between camp, a week at Mormor and Papa’s, and regular Summer days at home Lydia’s Summer has been full of firsts.  First dish of chocolate ice cream, first fireworks show, first visit to a Northwoods lake, first time feeling sand between her toes, first time on a slip n slide, first taste of fresh peaches, first encounter with farm animals, first taste of cotton candy, first visit to a county fair, first time on Papa’s swing, first time driving with the windows down, first swim in a pool, first campfire, first s’more, firs ..read more