What's Happening in Sonya's World

You may recall me mentioning something about Sonya visiting her dentist on Tuesday to get some work done on her teeth.  Remember the dentist had specifically asked us to bring Sonya's art work with us when we came back to see him.  So I did.  Something worth mentioning is that Sonya is the first patient from our family to visit this particular dentist.  In other words, until two weeks ago, we did not know this man.  This latter point may prove of interest later on in my narrative.

Initially, this dentist selected the Flowers in a Basket print to have framed as a gift to his mother who just so happens herself to be an artist.  Mr. Dentist handed me a twenty dollar bill for it, and asked me to keep the change.  Then two hygienists selected one print each of the smaller prints which, all total, brought Sonya $24.00 closer to her $500.00 goal.   I couldn't help but inform Sonya as she was being prepped for a filling that she was now only $95.00 shy of her goal amount, and that I thought she could easily make that at her lemonade stand up-coming.  

Briefly following this little exchange between mother and daughter, Mr Dentist told Sonya as he was working on her teeth that he would like to speak with her afterwards.  He told Sonya he would send the hygienist out first and that he would then like to talk with her. Sonya nodded. 

So, once everything was wrapped up and the hygienist was dismissed, Mr. Dentist exited the room briefly and when he returned he closed the door behind him so as to have a private word with Sonya and me.  What he shared with Sonya was this. Sonya, my heart is touched by your story.  So...I still want you to do your lemonade stand, but I want you to give the money to your church because I am going to give you the rest of the money that you need because I really want you to be able to go to China and get your sister.  And with that, he handed Sonya a one hundred dollar bill!  He then added, And Sonya, when you pray, will you pray for me because I really need it?  To which Sonya thanked him and agreed.  And what did I do?  I cried, hugged her dentist and thanked him profusely.  

Allow me to digress.  A point worth conveying to you right now, dear reader, is this:  Early Tuesday morning, as I was saying my morning prayers, I found myself face down on the carpet imploring the Lord to do something out of the ordinary that day for me, something completely unexpected yet related entirely to the adoption, to show this mother's heart that not only does He have His hand on the adoption but that He has His hand on the timeline...   

Now fast forward to Sonya and me walking out of the dentist's office that Tuesday afternoon following her appointment, immediately calling Randy on his cell to share the good news.  As we climbed into the car to head home, it suddenly dawned on me that what had just taken place inside that office building was out of the ordinary and something completely unexpected yet related entirely to the adoption!  It dawned on me that God showed this mom that His hand is all the way in it, and further more, He and He alone is directing the timeline of our journey to our Mei Mei.  Thank you, Father, for hearing and answering my desperate cry! 

As Sonya and I ran errands later that day, she reflected on what had happened in order that she was enabled to reach her goal, and commented about her dentist, I am proud of him. 

Now that Sonya has the money she needs to pay her own way to China, she has now decided  to raise money for her sister's airline ticket.  Once we set up the date for the lemonade stand, the first $100.00 raised from selling lemonade will be given by Sonya to our church, most likely for missions (because that's Sonya's heart).  

Sonya will also be selling more of her prized art work as well as running a simple silent auction, the items selected for this most likely geared more towards children and a little more affordable.  In any event, as soon as we iron out all the details, we'll be sure to let you know and as always request that you spread the word on our Mei Mei's behalf and on our Sonya Yi's behalf.

One more thing, not long ago, Sonya was entertaining the idea of meeting her sister for the very first time and how it would be.  With her face all aglow, I asked Sonya what will be the first thing she will want to do when she meets her little sister.  Without hesitation, exclaiming with a sheer, unbridled joy, I am going to hug her!  

Friends, for those of you who haven't gotten a chance to know Sonya, she is very particular about who she will hug.  Except for her father and me, if she is very fond of you, you will most likely get a "side" hug but not a hug from the front.  For Sonya to say the very first thing she wants to do when she meets her baby sister is to hug her baby sister, well... let's just say her words are profoundly significant to this mother, and music to my ears.  And if Mei Mei should receive a hug from any one other than her big sister that day (meaning of course, Randy or me), I believe more than likely the hug from her big sister will be the most readily absorbed. 

Please stay-tuned for further fund raising details on behalf of Mei Mei's plane ticket, sponsored by her big sister, Sonya!

1906 Oscar Schmidt Harp

This vintage autoharp(?) was donated by a friend to help us raise money for our adoption.  Any takers?  I have no idea what kind of price to put on it, but if you collect vintage guitars/autoharps or know of someone who does, i am sure you or your friend will be able to name a fair price.  Email me tonight if you would like to take a look at it. c.hoium@yahoo.com   Of course, it almost goes without saying one hundred percent of the proceeds will go toward the ransom of Mei Mei.
Thanks for your interest!

I apologize.  I originally called it a mandolin, not knowing anything about musical instruments really, so just going by what I was told.  Once I started researching the value of this musical instrument, however, I recognized that what we have here cannot be a mandolin guitar.  So sorry about that!

Updates About Sonya Yi and Cassie Mei

Hello everyone!  I wanted to take a moment to update you on Sonya's travel earnings to date.  You may recall we had a goal of $500.00 to meet in order that Sonya would be in a position to pay her own way to China.  So far, Sonya has earned $381.00 in selling her art work alone, leaving her only $119.00 shy of her goal.  Sonya has a dental appointment tomorrow, and her dentist has asked to see her work, so I know Sonya's hoping he will be interested in purchasing something.  We'll just have to see how much closer she will be to her goal after she pays him a visit!  I will let you know. 

Tonight, Sonya said, "Mom, how else do you think I can make money for my trip?  I know!  I can have a lemonade stand!"  To which I replied, "No problem, Sonya.  I think we can manage that." 

We'll keep you updated about that lemonade stand.  Maybe you can drop by for a lemonade or two...or three...and make Sonya's day!  I remember the first time Sonya sold her art work at our May parking lot sale fund raiser.  Early that Saturday morning Sonya was outright giddy with anticipation, excitedly imagining who might be her first buyer.  That would be Gary White from our church at Waynedale Baptist.  Thank you, Gary, btw, for caring.

So...which one of you will be Sonya's very first customer at her next fund raiser?  This time, i will be waiting with a camera!

On another happy note, I had emailed Selina yesterday in China to see if Johanna would be able to indicate whether or not the children in the orphanage might be able to figure out that "something's up" when they are singled out for pictures like our little Mei Mei was the other day.

Kindly, Selina responded.  Here is what she shared: 
Cheryl, I'm pretty sure your sweet girl knows she has a family. I think I overheard them telling her to smile for her new mama and baba. Can't say 100% though. I didn't ask them to tell her, so you're safe as far as your agency goes :) But for your Momma's heart, I think she knows :)

Okay, for those of you who know me, after reading what Selina wrote to me can you guess what happened next?  Someone?  Anyone?  Yes, that is correct.  I cried.  I bawled actually.  And then i called Randy to share the good, good news.  And in this news my heart has been relieved.  Thank you, Father, for the seemingly little things that really aren't all that little but profoundly significant for those they happen to."

Please Pray

For Selina! And check out her latest blog entry. Pay particular attention to beautiful Johanna holding a song book up to her face singing along
at church! THE BERGEY BUNCH

THE BERGEY BUNCH: Zhongshan Children's Welfare Center

Okay, friends, maybe I can't post Mei Mei's picture yet because of agency regulations, but I can tell you my daughter is in one of the photos with Selina. Can you guess who she is? Selina, a woman who I've come to believe loves Jesus more than anything, sent me an email about my girl this morning. Here is what she had to say about sweet Cassandra Mei:


Cheryl--met, hugged AND got some pictures of your girl. She's tiny and precious. Her favorite color is red and she loves Superman. (I got a kick out of that fact)


"Thank you, Father, for this report and for the updated pics! I needed this so incredibly badly, but You already knew that, didn't you?"


THE BERGEY BUNCH: Zhongshan Children's Welfare Center


So.... write to me at c.hoium@yahoo.com (do not respond on the blog due to privacy issues in this matter), and share with me who you think she is. The first one to get it right will receive a print of one of Sonya's art pieces free of charge. Now that's a deal you don't want to pass up!

The Great Adventures of Sonya Yi

I bet you're wondering where's all the pics I promised of Sonya and our visit with two Amish families we've grown to love and call family.  Well, here they are!  Except I will start off with this picture.  Do you notice anything unusual?  

Yes, that is correct.  Sonya lost her top front tooth!  In Sonya's words, "Fiiiiinally!"  And it might seem barbaric to you, but we do not do the whole "tooth under the pillow for the tooth fairy to leave a dollar thing".  I will quote a famous Seinfeld line from the Seinfeld comedy series, "Not that there's anything wrong with that."


And did you notice what Sonya's t-shirt says?  "How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news."  (Isaiah 52:7) 


Sonya got this t-shirt from her overnight at our church, Waynedale Baptist.  Have I ever mentioned to you Sonya wants to be a missionary when she grows up?  Several months ago, after leaving church and running a few errands with me, Sonya said out of the blue, "Mom, it sure would take a lot of courage to go into other countries and tell them about Jesus and then end up in jail for it."  As I replied, "Yes, Sonya, it sure would."  Which then came this response from her then seven year old lips, "Mom, I think that's what I'm supposed to do." 

And if it weren't for attending such a remarkable church that is anchored in the Word, reminding me often through scripture that it's not about this life but the next I wouldn't have known to respond back to her, "Sonya, I think you just may be right about that."

Here we are visiting the Bontrager farm.  Notice in the top picture only the arm of one of the Bontrager daughters as this family is opposed to getting their pictures taken.  In the second picture, Sonya is holding the sister of Bibi the cat, Sonya's kitty of two years.  Sonya wanted to take her home that day, until I reminded her that sissy will be picking out our next kitten as soon as she comes home.  Reluctantly she put the kitty down and managed just fine to leave without it that day. 

The rest of the pictures are from the Miller farm, and this family is okay with getting their pictures taken.  Most of the pics will be Sonya with some or all of the six Miller children.  One pic includes the children's mother Polly in it while they are shucking corn.

Introducing Loretta, Sonya, Roseanna, Joanne, Joseph and Minnie.

Now are these girls happy, or what?!

Can it get any better than this!

 Joanne, Minnie, Loretta (LOVE this picture, btw!) 

The oldest, Roseanna, was very insistent that I get a pic of her milking the goat, so I did!

i just now realized it would be a good idea to share a couple of pictures of the Miller farm!  duh!

Check out these BEAUTIFUL greenhouse tomatoes! YUM! YUM!

Meet sweet Baby James, the newest addition to the Miller fam.  Isn't he absolutely precious?!

Joanne and Loretta were determined that before i left the fields I get a pic of them standing out in their popcorn!  Who knew that you grow popcorn?! 

Here's Sonya being led around on the pony by the oldest Miller child, Roseanna, while Joanne is messing around by cramming a bunch of chickweed in her mouth!  Did you know chickweed is edible?!!!!!

Now all the girls want in on the action!  Except for Sonya, that is! 

She doesn't want any part of it!!!!

I teased the girls and told them I was going to tell the world that this is how the Amish feed their children, by sending them out into the fields to fill up on weeds!  They giggled in unison!

THE END!

P.S. Now can you see why Sonya's feet were absolutely filthy by the time I got her home at one in the morning?!  Although while the rest of the children walked around barefoot, Sonya was resolved to keep her shoes on.   I think she was afraid of stepping in horse manure to tell you the truth.  Even though she loves visiting the farm, she's still a city girl, I suppose.

THE BERGEY BUNCH: Firsts...

THE BERGEY BUNCH: Firsts...