Sunday, January 29, 2012

Jasmine



Jasmine is the only one of my adopted children that I've had almost since birth. I started visits with Jasmine in the hospital nursery when she was about two weeks old. She'd been transferred to a college hospital for a ten day evaluation and then brought back. I started visiting her after that and took her home as a foster child about a week later.



I will warn you that her post is longer than the twins' were, but that is only because it's only about a month short of her being with us for eleven years. Hard to pick out the highlights because there are so many. This was going home day.







Always my angel.
First Christmas.



First birthday.


Second birthday



Third birthday



Jasmine helping me get my race trophy from former President Carter. She actually "ran" the race too.


The first five
July 14, 2004 Adoption day. Jessica was a TMI preteen camp and was at a project in New Mexico so Tyler is holding up her mission card. It took 3 1/2 years to be able to adopt Jasmine. She's being held by her case manager.

Jasmine's first year at Teen Missions. She was four and we were at Mustard Seed camp together.

First dance recital

Fourth birthday

Pilot for a day


Kindergarten graduation







Jasmine's favorite author--not to read, but to talk to each year. Gearing up for the Karen Kingsbury cruise right now.


I could post pictures of her all day. I have so many very special memories of together times. We have a great bond because we were totally inseparable her first three years of life. And I've walked beside her through so many surgeries and tough times as well as sharing many wonderful times. We have traveled together throughout IN, MI, GA, FL and to Colorado Springs, St Louis and other places. She went with me to Haiti four out of five trips to visit the twins.

Jasmine is a good reader and musician. She's just started drums and bells (looks like a xylophone to me) this year. She has some challenges from EEC Syndrome and from some genetic junk, but don't we all? We'll deal with it as it comes. She really does the best she can with what she been given.


I'm going to post a couple of my favorite older videos of Jasmine before her new one.







This is Jasmine Christmas 2006 at the Christian school where all the kids attended at the time.




This is Jasmine singing to Nicole C Mullen in 2008



You may have to turn your volume up for this next one, and it doesn't seem to have picked up the background music on the first snare piece. There is no background music for the second one. Jasmine didn't sing on this video, but is working on two songs for the next time.








Since this post is so long, I'm not going add newer pictures of her at this time. You've seen most of them in past posts.




But please take a minute to leave a comment or Scripture for Jasmine.

15 comments:

junglemama said...

What a beautiful girl! Love all the baby pics! Too adorable!

One Crowded House said...

She has had so many wonderful opportunities. You are blessed to have her in your family.

Tara said...

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. - Proverbs 3:6


Jasmine--Love looking at all these pictures of you as you are growing up. I love your beautiful, confident smile :-)

Terry said...

what an awesome beautiful Girl you are Jasmine. God has a big plan for your life, He will and is using your life in a big way. Keep up the good work! And may the confidence you have begin in Christ! <3 Terry

BIG DOG said...

Jasmine,

You are my loving and wonderful daughter! I thank God for you everyday!

JC said...

Hey Jasmine!
Loved seeing all of your pictures and hearing more about you!! I can't believe that it has been well over two years since I've seen you!!!

You are a very special young lady and I know the Lord will use you in a mighty way!!

Much love to you!
~ Jen Confer

clella said...

Have had your picture on my bulletin board often during your surgery times ... I prayed for you specifically during those times. "My God will supply all your needs." Philippians 4:19 God bless. Clella

Marti Pieper said...

Jasmine, I am so honored to meet you through your mom's blog. I have one adopted daughter and am so thankful God brought her to our family. I can tell God has already done amazing things in and through your life. And I know He will continue to use you in ways that make a difference.

I'll share with you my life verse, 2 Corinthians 12:9: "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,so that Christ's power may rest on me."

[Thanks, Kathy, for sharing Jasmine's story with us today.]

Kathy Cassel said...

From Jasmine:

Thank you for all the nice comments. I hope to meet some of you in person sometime. I will actually be at the writer's conference Saturday Mar 3 if any of you will be there.

Love,
Jasmine

Anonymous said...

Hi Jasmine. seems a short almost 11 years since you came to the family. Amazing how much you have accomplished and can tell you are not related to the Sims family since you actually have musical, dance and athletic talent-- all of which are lacking in most of us!!!! Make the most of your talents.
Sorry I won't be at the writer's conference or cruise. Hope to see you this summer.

Love,

Aunt Lou

Kathy Cassel said...

We will come see you Aunt Lou, just don't know when yet. Will have to be the end of July probably.

Felicia said...

Jasmine, I love seeing all of your pictures and how much you have grown. You are a beautiful duaghter who akways looks so joyful and accomplishes much. I look forward to watching you become a teenager because it won't be long!

Kathy Cassel said...

Not long enough Felicia.

Lisa said...

Jasmine - you are beautiful and amazing. It's awesome to see how talented you are and doing such a great job at overcoming challenges in your life. Your mom is always talking about how proud she is of you, for working so hard, and being such a sweet girl - and I can see why! :)

Anonymous said...

Jasmine,
I have enjoyed having you over when you come to Indiana to visit your Gramdma. It is nice for Ariana to have someone to hang with. You have overcome a lot. God is good ALL the time. He will help you through all the struggles. Hope to see you this summer! Ariana and Juanita barben