Year of the Horse-our first Chinese New Year!

To say that this year will be full of emotion is an understatement, but that's what the year of the horse tells me this year will be!  Emotions never felt before, new  prayers prayed and a heart full when once before it was missing a bit of something!  What a year it will be!

When AJ and I were in China we made it a point to purchase items for Eli that would represent his province, his people and his culture. Several of the items were traditional like the silk outfits for him to wear on special occasions like the Lunar New Year!  

 We wanted to start celebrating both Chinese and American holidays ASAP even though Eli is still working on settling in and needs life to be a little boring at this moment.  We planned a quiet day filled with love and joy and family.  My parents and my younger brother came over to celebrate our new traditions and dine Chinese style!

 We decorated the house with various red Chinese lanterns, some we hung, some we strung and some we placed on tables.  I had centerpieces from my my shower that were red Chinese takeout boxes filled with flowers and red chopsticks. I placed these downstairs on our shelves and on our dining room table upstiars.  I used a red tablecloth to add more red to the day!

   

 My mom and I cooked some traditional Chinese dishes paleo-style  and/or gluten-free as my family eats very clean-but it all came out great!  We made pork fried brown rice, paleo General Tso chicken, spicy green beans, pork filled spring rolls, Mongolian beef and sauteed bok choy, I placed chocolate dipped "fortune" cookies at each setting on a Chinese soup spoon!  I use the term "fortune" loosely because they were filled with Bible verses! I also broke out the beautiful chopsticks that we bought in Guangzhou just for an occasion like the Lunar New Year!

 

It has been one of my most treasured days since Eli entered our family. We all played in the snow together, took many pictures, spoke about how blessed we are, prayed together and shed some tears of joy!  We look forward to the many many many more New Years to come where we can thank the Lord for His goodness, faithfulness and promises He has given us!  What a year it has already been and what a year it'll be!

The next day AJ, Eli and I headed out to our very first church service as a family of three. The last time we had been in church we were being prayed over for our trip to China!  It has been a long time coming and everyone was so excited to meet Eli and welcome into our church family.  We quietly went and quietly left as we didn't want Eli to be overwhelmed by the whole experience. So if you didn't know we were there or didn't get to see Eli last week, no worries we will be back!  He did so great the entire service and LOVED worship. He was raising his hands and clapping and praising Jesus!  What more could you ask for!  A very special Chinese New Year weekend indeed!

GOD IS GOOD AND WE ARE BLESSED!!!!!

"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,"

Deuteronomy 7:9