Our Journey Along the Path of Life . . .

Amazing!

2012-01-30T00:03:00.000-05:00

In Changsha

2012-01-29T18:33:00.000-05:00

Our day in Beijing. . .

Freezing in Tienneman Square!

Gate to the Forbidden City - time did not allow us to visit inside.

On our way to the Great Wall

Although it was my second time at the Wall, it was still breathtakingly beautiful and amazing to see .

Freezing on the Great Wall! We don't know the exact temperature, but our hands felt like ice after wearing gloves and being out of the car for 30 minutes. (still need help with how to rotate pics. rotated before uploading to blog but then it reverts back. tips?)

I can't put into words what my heart felt when I saw this - written on the Great Wall in communist China.

Aunt Lulu enjoyed her visit although it was freezing and crowded. According to our guide,if you climb to the top, you are considered a hero. Let's just say, Aunt Lulu and I did not become "heros".

Vegetable soup - Chinese style. Aunt Lulu ordered vegetable soup...not quite what she was hoping for.

It is now 7:15 AM. Our flight from Beijing to Changsha was a bit bumpy due to turbulents, but we weren't delayed and arrived right on time in Changsha. We met Amyand her family, using BAAS and adopting a 2 year old from Chenzhou - where Lilly is from). I am so thankful that Amy is here. She and I have already found that we have quite a bit in common - homeschooling and a passion for adoption of the orphan that is completely of the Lord... a passion that is not understood by some of our family and friends... a desire to obey God even though we really thought we were "done!" I am looking forward to seeing Lu Lu (interesting that my Aunt Lulu is here as they are naming their new daughter Lu Lu) united with such a beautiful family today!

Sleep last night was much better for both of us. It is 7:30 AM here and today is the day that we have been working towards since June. We will leave our hotel at 9:30 and meet Leiney Grace at the Civil Affairs office at 10 AM. This is the same place where we first met Lilly and we are in the same hotel where we stayed on our 1st trip in 2007 - flooded with memories!

I am excited of course, but I readily admit to also being rather frightened. I feel as though I am not prepared and that I really don't know what to do - what do I say to her, what do I do to comfort her without scaring her? You don't just pick up an 8 year old as I did with my under 2 year old babies on Gotcha Day, do you? I know I should be a pro at this, but I am not. I have found comfort in scriptures . . ." 'You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off;' fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41: 9, 10

I don't feel equipped for this yet I know who is. . ."He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. " Isaiah 40:10

I feel weak yet I know who is not. . ."Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than we ask or think, according to His power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen

Thank you for praying!
Next post should have some pictures of our new daughter
Leiney Grace Qingquan -
an orphan no more!

Arrived in Beijing

2012-01-28T08:43:00.000-05:00

We Made It!

Thank you for the prayers for safe and smooth travel. We had a great day of flying. We are now in Beijing and dying to go to sleep. We are forcing ourselves to stay up until 7 or 8 PM here in order to hopefully sleep all night and wake up rested tomorrow. We head to Tienneman (sp?) Square and the Great Wall at 7 30 AM. Our flight to Changsha leaves at 4 PM and we should arrive at 7 PM Sunday evening CHina time. We are 13 hours ahead of you back home.

Enjoy the pictures. There are many decorations up for CNY, and they are beautiful. The cherry tree is in the lobby of our hotel and has the red "Good Luck" envelopes decorating it. Chinese lanterns are hung throughout the city. It's very pretty, but the weather is very cold!

This and That

2012-01-25T23:12:00.000-05:00

New Territory. . .Having a Teenage Driver! YIKES!

We had a great time celebrating Shelby's 15th birthday with her good friends, Hailey and Kelly. We enjoyed seeing the movie War Horse and having dinner together. We ended the night by surprising Shelby with a serenade of Happy Birthday by the staff at the restaurant and a delicious cookie with ice cream.

Around here, birthdays typically are celebrated more than once. This was on Shelby's actual birthday - Christmas Eve!

Miss Katie arrived exactly 2 years and 2 weeks after Shelby. Katie loves peanut butter and wanted to try this chocolae peanut butter brownie pie. It was good but only with a cold glass of milk to help dilute all that chocolate!

Katie has had an amazingly wonderful 1st year at school. I am so grateful that she has made some wonderful friends like these two.

We had a great time designing and painting at a nearby studio. After all that hard work, we headed to 5 Guys and enjoyed some yummy burgers. These 3 giggled the entire evening and had me laughing hysterically as well. Oh, to have such carefree spirits!

no words needed : )

My idea of packing prior to Sunday afternoon.

My initial attempts at packing on Sunday. Thankfully I have managed to do a lot more since then and other than weighing my suitcase to make sure I am under the weight limit, I am almost ready to go.

Of course I had to take time off from packing to celebrate Chinese New Year. Our super-sized family joined 3 other large families to celebrate our children's Chinese heritage. We had a great time and enjoyed a wonderful assortment of Chinese food. The youngest of the bunch came home right before Christmas, and of course Sharon and I are adding 2 more next week. Only God knows how many more little ones may be home by next CNY! Amazing and miraculous! What a blessing to be a part of such an incredible group of families who love the Lord and are passionate about heeding the call to care for the orphan.

Oh my, I just realized that Leiney Grace has only 3 more sleeps at Leiyang Social Welfare Institute! She will know the love of a mother in 3 days (it's already Friday in China). She may not like the love of this mother initially, but hopefully she will soon receive my love and give me love in return.

9 Days - Oh My!

2012-01-18T11:41:00.000-05:00

This post is long overdue but since my head feels like it is spinning in a billion different directions, this is the 1st chance I have had to sit down and share anything. We did get updated pictures of Leiney Grace. She doesn't look quite as happy as her last pictures. One thought struck me as I looked at these pictures - she has on 2 sweaters and a big coat, and she is inside. Makes me wonder if it is that cold in the orphanage. I hope not. The update states she is currently "healthy" - sure hope that lasts at least until we can get her home. Based on measurements, she wears a size 12 shoe and is 5 inches taller than Ellie. We will soon find out how accurate they really are.

I can't believe we leave in 9 days. Although my head does feel like it is in constant motion due to the random thoughts that continuously bombard my brain, much has and is being accomplished. . .

5 homemade meals in the freezer

3 loaves of Amish bread in the freezer for breakfast

travel necessities purchased

airline tickets booked

hotels reserved

visas in progress

to-do lists made for those who will be being me while I'm gone

2 fundraisers near completion

long underwear bought for the 30 degree Beijing weather

Leiney Grace's closet and room ready

appointment with cardiologist made for 2/13

a whole more that my tired brain can't recall

last but not least. . .

a 8 hour trip to purchase a new ride which will seat our

Super Sized Family!

(picture on next post)

Travel Approval!

2012-01-06T17:36:00.000-05:00

TA Today! Waiting on CA to be finalized on Monday. Hoping to depart January 27 to bring Leiney Grace home.

Almost Time

2011-12-30T11:08:00.001-05:00

We've sent this . . .

And this. . .

And now finally it is almost time to meet the reason for it all. . . for all of the hours spent doing paperwork since July, for all of the emails and phone calls made to follow up on all of the hours of paperwork, for the trips to the Secretary of State's office, for the packages sent, for the prayers offered, for the anxious moments when worry and fear crept in, for the love in our hearts for one we have never met, for the moments of wondering is she happy, well, and full or sad, hungry, and sick. By God's grace alone, we have made it this far in our journey to Leiney Grace. Today we give thanks that we are now officially waiting only on Travel Approval and should travel at the end of January. Praise God!

The precious reason for it all ~ Leiney Grace Qingquan

"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Catch-Up Post #4/ Ethan's Birthday

2011-12-27T22:24:00.000-05:00

New bikes were the birthday gift of 2011 - Lilly and Ethan both received new bikes!

Just love this picture of my boys! Not staged - I grabbed my camera and thankfully, got it. The 4th boy is Ethan's best friend, David, who spent the night to help us celebrate Ethan's 8th birthday back in October.

Bike races down the driveway - what could be more fun?

Our sweet dog Wuzzy!

My aunt gave me a bag of candles a while back. I very innocently put these candles on Ethan's cake. We had the best laugh watching Ethan attempt to blow out his candles again, and again, and again! Obviously there were a few trick candles in that bag of candles! May have to buy some more of these in the near future as we had such a great time watching the birthday boy!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T11:48:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Catching-Up Post 3/Lilly's birthday

2011-12-23T14:37:00.000-05:00

In October we made a trip to see the Barbees, the Horners, and the Sylvias. I evidently did not take any pictures at the park with the Horners and Sylvias - uhg! On Sunday, we worshipped with the Barbees and then went to Mamaw's (Mrs. Barbee) house for lunch with the extended Barbee family. This is their Sunday tradition - lunch after church at Mamaw's house. Even Mamaw's sister comes for lunch, and she made Lilly this delicious birthday cake. It was so thoughtful of them to remember Lilly's birthday and to celebrate it with us. Thank you, Barbee Family!

This is Toby. I decided I wanted a kitten after my birthday. Lilly also kept saying she wanted a kitten. It worked out that we found an adorable kitten right around Lilly's birthday. little Toby is adorable but he is into everything! Lilly and Ellie adore the little guy!

Lilly had a great 6th birthday. Oh, I just can't believe she is 6 now. Seems just like yesterday we were holding her for the first time in Changsha, Hunan. She loves her new big girl bike. Ellie's birthday comes first but our old computer is on its last leg which is where Ellie's birthday pictures are. Hope to get that worked out soon!

Catch-Up Post #2/ Leiney Grace's Story

2011-12-21T14:36:00.002-05:00

When introducing Leiney Grace, I did not share much about her story or how the Lord led us to her. After coming home with Hudson, I just knew our family was complete. David certainly "knew" it too! I was NOT looking at waiting child lists. I wasNOT receiving emails from agencies. I was NOT planning to adopt another child. David was definitely NOT planning on adopting again. Then back in March, I very innocently went to my dear friend, Jen Barbee's blog, (www.thebarbeebunch.blogspot.com) to check on HER family. Well, that changed everything! She had a post on her blog which she had copied from another blog. "Uncomfortable". (I tried to post the link - didn't work. go to 3/24/2011 on Jenn's blog) I read it and cried. That was what the Lord used to show me the way back to China; the way to our new daughter. David wasn't convinced quite as quickly as I was. I was thinking with my heart while he was thinking dollars and cents! I agreed with him that it did not make sense, by the world's standards for us to adopt. However, I knew it made perfect sense to God. We had seen him provide again and again for us, and I knew He would again. God is faithful!

Time went on. We prayed. I prayed for God to change David's heart or take the desire from my heart. David prayed for God to take the desire away from my heart : ) Then I got a job! Yes, I did. I have kept my nursing license active through continuing education courses. I spoke with a friend who shared with me that her facility was looking for more prn nurses. I applied, interviewed, took the job. I think David was a bit shocked! I, of course, talked with him about it each step of the way,and he gave his approval. Why did I get a job? To help pay for our next adoption!

I then began to look at many waiting child lists and signed up for agency emails. I knew we had another child in China, but I didn't know who or where she or he was. David tolerated my "looking", and he looked and prayed with me when I would show him a file of a waiting child. We both are "toddlered" out and have been amazed at the older children we have watch come home to friends. We thought an older child may be who we were being led to. I felt led to a child with CP, he ultimately said "No." I thought maybe an older boy, but again David said "No." We thought Hudson would have been a heart baby, but he wasn't so I thought maybe our next child would have a heart defect. (We have such a strong affection for heart babies after witnessing the miracle of Lilly after her heart surgery.) I looked and prayed. David did not say "No." Then I saw Lei Qing Quan or "Leah" as BAAS called her on their agency specific list. She was an older girl, already 8 years, with a heart defect. Maybe? David and I looked at her report and prayed. Her file was a year old, and David said he had to see updated information before he could say "Yes". We requested an update on June 28, and then we waited and prayed. I was ready to move forward after waiting a week, but David and Xiaoqing, BAAS's SN coordinator, said we needed to see an update to ensure her health and development was ok. On July 11, we received a wonderful update, and we accepted her referral the next day.

Lei Qing Quan was a toddler when she first entered the orphanage in Leiyang, Hunan. The staff knew quickly that she had a heart defect as she would turn blue with any physical activity. Through testing, she was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot. This is a congenital heart condition characterized by 4 defects. In the US, this condition is repaired within the first few months of life. Sadly, Qingquan has suffered and endured 8 and 1/2 years without any surgical treatment. She still becomes cyanotic with even a brisk walk. She needs surgery. It is her only hope for a healthy life.

We are now being expedited and hope to travel in late January or early February. Chinese New Year is January 23 and the entire country of China shuts down for a week. That holiday will certainly delay us. My aunt has decided to travel with me, and I am so happy and thankful for this. She is also a nurse so between the 2 of us, Leiney Grace should be in good hands until we can get her home and in with our cardiologist.

Please continue to pray for our fundraising, our adoption process to move quickly, and most importantly for Leiney Grace's health and emotional readiness to join her family.

Locks of Love!

2011-12-19T20:35:00.000-05:00

We interrupt the "2011 Blog Catch-Up" to post about Shelby and her donation to Locks of Love!

The pictures tell the story quite well!

Can someone tell me how to turn the picture. I did it easily on our old computer. I am right clicking and rotating it in my pictures folder, but then when I add it to the blog, it reverts back to the original view. HELP!

She was pleased and says she loves it!

Catching Up: Post 1/ Horse Show

2011-12-17T20:36:00.000-05:00

I am so far behind in posting so my goal is to do a post -a-day (or maybe one every other day is more realistic) between now and New Year's Eve. I keep this blog as a family journal so it is important to me to put our important family happenings on the blog! Sadly, I have missed quite a few. Thus begins my blog-catch-up before the end of 2011!

Shelby and Katie love horses, and therefore; they love to compete in horse shows. I am not all that keen on the idea due to the expense - both our time and money. Also I don't really think it is necessary to wear a hair net and gloves in order to be a good rider. Yes, those are just 2 of the many requirements of the riders. But my girls LOVE it so we allow them to do 1 show in the fall and 1 in the spring! Here are some pictures of their fall show. . .

Like I said, horse shows cost a lot of money and TIME. As you can probably sense by these photos, some of the spectators were a bit tired of looking at horses and having to be on their best behavior so as not to spook the horses!

Overall it was a great day - Shelby and Katie did really well and despite the sour faces above, we all had fun being together and supporting Shelby and Katie in doing something they truly love.

A Leap Pad Give-a-way!

2011-12-09T09:48:00.000-05:00

This little cutie pie is coming home to our dear friends, Marty and Sharon. Please consider supporting their effort to raise funds by buying a raffle ticket for a Leap Pad Bundle Give-a-way.
Go to www.journeytojohnwesley.blogspot.com

An Early Christmas Present!

2011-12-05T22:05:00.002-05:00

Day 52!

Next Best Thing to LOA. . .

2011-11-28T21:38:00.000-05:00

An Update - Yeah!

We were thrilled to receive an email today from Angela at "Ladybugs N Love". We recently sent a care package to Leiney Grace through Angela and also paid for Angela to contact the orphanage on our behalf to ask 10 questions. We were able to choose the questions and the answers revealed to us just a little glimps of who this little girl we call Leiney Grace really is.

1.Is child taking medication for her heart condition?

She’s received expectant treatment.

2.Specifically how is her health - is she having colds, pneumonia often?

She’s been healthy. She sometimes catches a cold, but no pneumonia.

3.Does she know she has a family and has she been shown our pictures from the care package?

She knows she has a new family. She has received the care package and been shown the pictures.

4.How does she feel about being adopted and coming to another country?

She is very happy about it and looks forward to be with her new parents.

5.What are her favorite foods, drinks?

She is not picky eater.

6.What are her favorite things to do?

Play games with her little friends.

7.What are her fears?

Strangers.

8.Who is she closest to in the SWI?

Director Wang, her caregivers and teachers, and her best frined Min Yan Xia.

9.What are her favorite toys?

Doll.

10.What comforts her when she is upset, sick?

Family and friends’ love and care.

There you have it! Today was day 45 of our LOA wait and although I was hopeful it would come today, it did not. But the next best thing to LOA is an update, and we are so thankful to our God for providing it. We are also praising God that Leiney Grace knows she has a family and that she has seen our pictures. She knows! That is so powerful to me. We aren't together yet in the physical sense, but on another level, we have been united. She knows! Now please Lord send our LOA so we can bring our girl home!

Sweet Gestures

2011-11-15T22:45:00.001-05:00

Lilly's friend Abby, who she met at kindergarten this year, gave the above purse to us for Leiney Grace.

This is what was inside - $9.04! Oh, how my heart melted by such a sweet gesture from a child of 5 years. Abby is also adopted from China. How can one not be touched by such a sacrificial gift from one child for another child who waits in an orphanage for her turn to be the chosen one.

Another sweet gesture from Shelby and Katie's dear friend, Emily. Emily donated to Hudson's adoption as well. This time, out of the blue, she sent this note with $20 for Leiney Grace. Once again my heart was truly touched by such sweet kindness from a ~~child~~ teen! (sorry Emily : )
To Emily and Abby:
Thank you so much for your love of our family and for your love for our Leiney Grace. We are most grateful for your kindness!

A Big Praise!

2011-11-12T15:12:00.000-05:00

Just had to share that we made $900 this morning at our yard sale fundraiser for Leiney Grace. Many friends donated lots of great items and without their support, we would not have made nearly as much. It was literally freezing this AM and the traffic was quite slow early on. Instead of doubting, I kept telling myself and my family, "I gave this to God. It is his to do with it what He will." He blessed us in a mighty way, and for that, we are so very grateful!
Also we found out this week that our dossier is "in review" so hopefully we will have our LOA in a few weeks! Today is day 29 of our LOA wait! We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgivin,g and I would just love to add one LOA to that long list!

2011-11-07T10:35:00.002-05:00

Isn't he adorable? He is an original handmade Pogo, and he can be yours in time for Christmas. Auction for Adoption is underway on the link below. Help spread the word! Send an email or post on your blog!

www.countrygirlathome.blogspot.com

Leiney Grace

2011-11-04T09:42:00.000-04:00

On October 22, we received a much anticipated update on Leiney Grace and 4 new pictures. It appears that she has grown up and lost some of her little girl look. Or is it just the photos? Is the orphange staff allowing her hair to grow out as it appears a bit unruly in these new photos or is it just a "bad hair day"? Not sure. Does she look a bit more frail in these photos? I can't quite tell. Does her left hand in this bottom photo appear to have definite clubbing in the fingers due to lack of oxygen? I'm not sure. What I am sure of is that Leiney Grace is a child of God, created in His perfect image, in need of love and care, and Lord willing, will be our daughter in a few more months.

Do all the unknowns scare me? You bet. Do I think about our hospital stays with Lilly while in China and wonder if it will be the same with Leiney Grace? Yes! Do I wonder how will I ever do "this" without my husband (who is not making the trip to China with me), the one who helps me whole it all together when everything seems to be crumbling? Absolutely!

How do I do "this"?

By believing in God's promises and trusting in His Word and His character. By believing He is who He says He is.

"And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Phillipians 4:19
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12: 9
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" Ephesians 3: 20

And by remembering quotes from a great theologian:

"Faith never knows where it is being led, but it knows and loves the One who is leading." Oswald Chambers

"All of God's people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose He has given them."
Oswald Chambers

And a quote from a women's conference:
"Never uproot in doubt what was planted in faith!"

Beautiful Postcards

2011-10-20T21:47:00.011-04:00

Our second adoption fundraiser is underway! We are selling 4 x 5 postcards in packs of 10 for $8. You have several designs to choose from. First, a striking design which I simply love, and I hope you will too!

Our oldest daughter Shelby took both of these photos of flowers which she had planted! They sure turned into beautiful postcards. We added a verse on each card.

Yellow: "Rejoice in the Lord always." Php 4:4
Pink: "He hath made everything beautiful in His time." Ecc 3:11

You may choose to purchase only pink, only yellow, or a combo pack which includes 5 pink and 5 yellow.    Any pack of 10 for only $8!

Our goat milk soap fundraiser is also continuing so please scroll down a few posts and read about the wonderful fragrances available.

With the price of stamps ever-increasing, postcards offer a unique greeting, and you save money on stamps - a win-win opportunity. Not to mention that each purchase helps our family raise funds to bring Leiney Grace home. Since a portion of our adoption expenses in China includes a $5200 orphanage donation, your support will even reach the many orphans who will remain at Leiyang Social Welfare Institute long after Leiney Grace has joined her family. So when you are ready to order your soap or your postscards, just leave a comment or email us at dfbjhb@windstream.net Thanks for supporting our adoption fundraisers!

2011-10-07T18:13:00.002-04:00

Fabulous Goat Milk Soap

2011-10-02T17:10:00.001-04:00

Oatmeal, Milk, and Honey

Black Rasberry

Our first fundraiser for our adoption is underway! We are excited to be able to sell such a wonderful product as handmade goat milk soap made by a homeschooling family of 8. The Jonas Family of Indiana are the owners of Goat Milk Stuff and their website can be found at http://www.goatmilkstuff.com/
I first began using this soap to support another friend's adoption. We are now hooked on this fabulous soap! The store brands of soap dissolve way too fast and are so drying on the skin. The goat milk soap bars are large, long-lasting, smell wonderful, and are so moisturizing. Please consider supporting our adoption fundraiser by purchasing a few bars of soap. They make wonderful gifts including teacher gifts and think ahead for Christmas as it is right around the corner. Below is a list of the 10 scents of soap which are included in our fundraiser. Each bar is $6. Leave a comment to order or email us dfbjhb@windstream.net

Black Rasberry - a favorite of many

Clean Cotton - simple and fresh

Honeysuckle - will remind you of spring

Lavender - a best seller

Luv Spell - pink and pretty

Nautical - for the men but women like it too

Oatmeal,Milk,and Honey - what's not to love?

Ocean - a beautiful bar with a clean scent

Pink Sugary - heavenly and my favorite!

Purity - unscented,great for babies, eczema

In order to support our fundraiser, the soap must be ordered by our family. Just leave a comment with your email or email us, and we will order your soap and make arrangements to receive payment and will then ship or deliver if you are close by! Thanks.

A Big Day!

2011-09-20T23:13:00.000-04:00

One Step Closer. . .

We were in the midst of homeschooling this morning when we heard the Fed Ex truck pull in our driveway. What a great excuse to ditch homeschooling and run to the front door (Ethan is being homeschooled again - long story). The boys were so excited even after they heard is was just a package with lots of papers. Yes, our dossier arrived today, fully authenticated - Yippee! Well, our dossier minus the USCIS approval letter. As we wait for that last document, we will send our dossier on to our agency, BAAS, so it will be ready to go!

Ellie is super excited about Leiney Grace becoming a member of our family. She prays for her daily. It's so cute - she always asks the Lord to help Leiney Grace feel better. We haven't heard Leiney Grace is sick so maybe Ellie just thinks she feels bad being in China without her family!

This was the one gift that Ellie specifically asked for - "A boy Barbie". I am sure her smile reveals just how excited she was with this gift. She and Lilly have enjoyed playing with Shelby and Katie's old Barbies so now I guess it is time to add some new ones to the collection!

Happy 5th Birthday, Ellie!

One Less

2011-09-08T10:37:00.000-04:00

Waiting in an orphange in Hunan

Leiney Grace Qingquan

Soon to be an orphan no longer

One less.

2011-09-02T14:03:00.001-04:00

Quite an assortment of pictures which sum up the month of August for our family. The highlight of the month was celebrating Granny's 91st birthday. This birthday, celebrated in a nursing home, was vastly different from last year when we grilled steaks at our house. Yet we did have a wonderful time, and I think Granny really enjoyed seeing so many of her friends and family all at the same time. She surprised us all when she started attempting to blow out her candles. She gave it her all and with a little help, blew them all out. Granny told us her cake was delicious, and she also loved receiving such a big bouquet of red roses from my father.

August always means the start of a new school year. This year we have changed things up a bit! Shelby, now a high school freshmen, is being homeschooled except for 3 classes which she takes at a homeschool resource center. Fulton is reluctanatly at home for all of his classes, but after a fairly rough start, he has accepted his fate -at least for his 5th grade year - and is making the most of it! Ethan and Lilly are venturing away from home at a Chinese immersion school. It too has been a little bumpy! Who knew 2nd graders were suppossed to know SO much? Not this homeschool mom! Hopefully the sailing will be much smoother for the rest of the year. That leaves Ellie and Hudson who are also being homeschooled. Ellie and I are using My Father's World kindergarten curriculum although she is technically K4 age. She loves it and is so eager to learn! Hudson, well, he gets a little preschool time in when one of us finds a few free moments. He also likes sitting in during my lessons with Ellie so I know he will get more than I may think. Hudson is very proud of homeschooling as he says quite often "I homeschool." Last but not least, Katie! No pictures of Katie, our 7th grader, because she hasn't started yet. She will be attending a brand new Christian school which has been under construction and will open on Tuesday. She is excited to say the least as she has wanted to go to school for a long time! I sure will miss her though because she has had lots of free time which I have helped her utilize with all kinds of tasks - babysitting, watering plants, preschool time, babysitting while I pick up the other kids, etc. She may miss us when she is gone all day but not all of the extra things I have asked of her. Yet, she has been a good sport and had a super attitude. However, she did mention that she hopes next year her school starts when everyone else's does : )

Although way over due, Hudson was finally baptized at the end of August. He wore one of Fulton and Ethan's old outfits. I am so thankful that I saved a few special clothing items from the older girls and the boys. After Ethan, I sure thought our family was complete. Well, God obviously had a very different plan. More about that in the very near future!

The snake. . .well, let's just say we are very thankful that we have outdoor dogs who alerted us to the rather large canebrake rattlesnake in our backyard.

It's Official. . .

2011-08-12T19:09:00.000-04:00

Summer is over, but here is just a glimpse of all the fun we had!

We have made many trips this summer to visit with Granny. She had 2 additional strokes in early May. She is now under Hospice care. It has been so difficult to watch her decline day after day, but we all cherish our time with her.

Our annual trip to a nearby beach affords us such wonderful memories year after year. This year we quickly learned there was something new. . .an ice cream truck. No doubt it was a hit with the kids.

Lilly and Ellie love ballet. They took 4 classes during the month of June and enjoyed every minute!

Horses are still a tremendous part of Shelby and Katie's lives. They enjoyed riding and practicing their jumping together throughout the summer months. The girls also took their horses to horse camp for a week with their trainer. I wasn't sure if they were coming back home after that. They are counting down until next year's camp. In this photo Fulton was being a most helpful little brother by setting the jumps back up after the horses knocked them down.

Summer at our house always involves countless hours spent outside - early morning and late afternoon only due to extreme temperatures. The younger children have such fun using their imaginations, climbing trees, building forts, etc.

Katie has come to love the stage. She has been in 3 plays so far. This summer she had a blast playing Esmerelda in our local theater's production of Snow White. As her parents, David and I were so very proud. She did a fabulous job and even sang a solo!

Yes, we actually humbled ourselves, dressed up like cows, went out in public, and endured the stares, smiles, and laughter of many. But it was worth it since we all enjoyed free meals at Chick-fil-a - not once but twice in the same day!

No summer is complete without a few trips to a nearby pool to cool off from the sometimes unbearable heat! Shelby and Katie also enjoyed having their best friend, Emily, who lives several hours away from us, down for a few days. Here Shelby, Emily, and Katie relax in the shallow end. Shelby enjoyed a visit to Emily's house as well this summer, but Katie was busy with rehearsal for Snow White so she missed out on that trip. On another note, little Ellie learned to swim this summer. She has a ways to go before I would trust her swimming, but she swam quite a few lengths between David and me. She was so proud of herself.

What a blur! Where did summer go?

Homeschool has already begun for Shelby and Fulton. Ethan and Lilly start next week at their Chinese immersion school, and Katie begins after Labor Day at a new Christian school.

Recent Happenings

2011-06-01T22:33:00.000-04:00

This is Shelby's first blog post.

Hudson's 3rd Birthday was on February 20. (Sorry we have not posted sooner. Life has been crazy.) He had a wonderful birthday party with extended family members and some close family friends. He had so much fun opening his many gifts, and he LOVED his Percy train cake. For those of you who do not know about Percy, he is the green train from Thomas and Friends. Hudson has two new Percy trains and now his favorite color is, of course, green!!!

Easter~ we had a wonderful Easter Sunday. We went to church, then ate at Gabby's house ( mom's mom), visited Granny and also visited Mimi ( Dad's mom). It was a wonderful ( and busy!) Easter Sunday!!!

Fulton's 10th birthday was on April 18. For his birthday party, he played football with his friends, then we ate cake and ice cream, he opened his presents, and then they all went fishing with Dad and Uncle Tripp . After fishing they were so hot that they decided to jump in the pond. Let's just say, when they came back for hotdogs and chips, they were quite a mess!!

Dad celebrated his *** birthday on May 14. That same day was Lilly's 4th Gotcha Day. We had a great time eating cake, ice cream, and opening presents. Lilly received a Chinese toy drum. Dad got some nice clothes, and the kids gave him some beach flip flops he wanted. I don't have any pictures from May 14, but as soon as they are downloaded, I will post them on the blog.

This past weekend we had Mom's cousin, Sheri and her little boy, John Parker down for a visit. We had a great time "checking up", and the little ones had fun with their cousin. Then on Monday after they left to go back home, we went to the pool with some friends. We had a great holiday weekend.

Enjoy all the pictures I have posted!!!

On the Road to Recovery

2011-05-01T18:30:00.000-04:00

Granny is certainly on the road to recovery, yet I know that this road is, without a doubt, bound to be a very long road indeed! These pictures were taken on Easter Sunday. We enjoyed our visit , but it was quite a change not having Granny and my father with us for Easter lunch. We did take her some of Fulton's birthday cake and Easter dessert though! (Note: you can easily see in these pictures the way Granny has been affected by the stroke - she leans to the left and has severe left sided neglect. This means she is unable to look left of midline unless she turns her head far to the left - she won't do this without constant encouragement. The splint on her left hand is to help with the tone in her left hand. It helps to prevent her hand from curling.)

Although this journey is destined to be one of ups and downs, this past week has unfortunately been filled with more downs than ups. Granny has had bouts of confusion as well as extreme lethargy. A new medicine has been stopped in hopes that the lethargy was simply a side effect of a medication prescribed for the extreme neuropathic pain in her left limbs. We are also suspecting an infection and should have test results tomorrow. Today has been brighter so we are hopeful that the week ahead will entail more ups rather than downs.

I spent this Sabbath morning with Granny. To my delight, there was a church service being held at the nursing home. She and I both enjoyed the singing tremendously. We sang hymns dear to her heart - Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art! I was so touched by the prayers offered for the residents and their families. It is such a struggle to leave someone you love, now completely helpless, in the hands of complete strangers. The church service was just what we both needed for a bit of encouragement and strength. I pray many of the other residents were touched and blessed by attending church this morning, and I am so thankful to the men and women who took the time after attending their own church service, to lead the worship time for the residents at the home!

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;. . ." Isaiah 43: 1 - 3

Where Have I Been?

2011-04-16T11:51:00.001-04:00

Granny celebrating her 90th birthday August 29, 2010

Life has been hard this year due to illnesses in our family and right when the sun began to shine and healthier days had come, our lives changed forever in an instant. It started with strep throat that went though 5 of our 9 family members. Then the flu struck Ethan and me. I was literally in bed for 3 days and not 100% for over a week. Then Lilly and Ellie each had a virus with fever and headaches that lasted almost a full week each. By God's mercy and grace, we survived all of those illnesses and by early March, we were all looking forward to restored health and new life symbolic of spring and Easter.

On St. Patrick's Day around 7:10 pm, the phone rang. David was at a meeting at church, and I was busy cleaning up dinner dishes so I let the answering machine get it. My dad's voice came screaming through the line. He had found my grandmother on the floor of her kitchen. She was taken by ambulance to our local hospital. Her speech was slurred, but other than that she passed all of the typical "stroke tests" - could stick out her tongue and move it both directions, could smile, had bilateral strong grasps of both hands. She was getting ready to be dismissed when I was told to make sure she could walk. I noticed when helping her get dressed that she was leaning very much to her left. Then when she stood up, she could not walk and it took all of my strength to keep her balanced and upright.   The original thought was that perhaps it was a reaction to cough syrup that caused her dizziness and fall. However, at this point we knew we were dealing with something much more signficant.

After transferring to a larger and better equipped hospital, it was determined that my dear grandmother of 90 years young had sufferred a severe stroke deep within her brain stem and thalmus.  Her stroke was termed a "stroke in evolution" which meant her symptoms evolved over several days. 36 hours after being found on the floor by my father, she could barely open her eyes, had left sided parlysis, very slurred speech, difficulty in swallowing, attention deficits, left visual field cut, disassociation of her left arm, and left side neglect. A woman who had been completely independent and lived alone was now completely helpless. I was scared and extremely sad as my grandmother was no longer the woman I had known for my whole life. I was also overwhelmed - she is a widow and has only my father and me to care for her. I knew I was in one of the most difficult times of my life; deep within a valley; in the middle of a storm. Yet, just like the lyrics to a popular Christian song, I managed to still somehow "Praise Him in this Storm"!

The sun is shining again and the storm has moved on. It has been 4 weeks and 2 days since Granny's stroke. She has spent 1 week in the hospital, 3 weeks in a rehab hospital, and was just moved on Thursday to a rehab unit at a nursing facility. We pray her next stop is back home.  And we have hope that that may very well happen. She may never be able to live alone, but there is great hope that she will be able to return home with help. Her physical therapist, Kenneth, told my father just yesterday that he would have her up and walking next to the rail before she left. That was wonderful news. Her spirits are good most of the time although she does become weary and gets discouraged from time to time. She has always been a fighter and if anyone can overcome these obstacles, I know my Granny can do it!

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consummed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3: 22-23

Attitude

2011-01-29T21:19:00.000-05:00

Last fall was a pretty rough time for me, and I have since come to realize that part of the difficulty was directly related to my attitude. Right before the New Year, I ran across the quote below in a parenting magazine that had been buried on my bedside table along with many other items I am trying to read through. Anyway, the timing was perfect. May you be touched as I was and inspired to focus on having a positive, cheerful, God-pleasing attitude despite the circumstances that you may find yourself in. Our circumstances constantly change, but our Father in heaven does not!

(Since Hudson is much cuter than I am, I thought I would use his adorable pictures to illustrate the point!)

Hudson with a very poor attitude due to the circumstances he found himself in . . .cold, wet snow!

Hudson, much more cheerful, because he now finds himself in much more pleasurable circumstances - he is at the table ready to eat. The table - likely Hudson's favorite spot - thus a very cheerful disposition indeed!

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent of how I react to it. And so it is with you. . .we are in charge of our attitudes." Charles Swindoll

May our Father in Heaven be the source of your joy throughout 2011. Happy New Year! (a bit late I know)

Signs of Christmas . . .

2010-12-22T20:42:00.000-05:00

Katie enjoyed dressing our little Wuzzy in his reindeer ears. One day soon I hope to update about Wuzzy and how he came to be ours.

A Christmas or two ago, the oldest 4 children received "Make a Plates" for Christmas. Last Friday during our last homeschool day, we finally took the time to decorate the paper circles which we will mail in and then in a few weeks, the children will receive a Christmas plate of their very own design. They all had fun and their art work was well- done and creative!

Fulton at his Christmas recital last Saturday. He and Shelby both played very well although at least one of them was extremely nervous!

Ethan taking his turn to make shaped sugar cookies.

This was not staged!! I thought it was precious of our 3 littles watching their cookies bake so I quickly grabbed the camera. Thankfully, I made it just in time to capture their cuteness before one of them looked my way.

My favorite sign of Christmas - my Savior as a babe in a manager. I purchased this nativity set with my grandmother during the first Christmas season that I was married. I have always loved it!

Many years ago when I had only one child, I began to collect children's Christmas books. We have quite the collection now. These books stay in the attic during the year and only come out during December. They are certainly treasured by all of us. Fulton has been carrying stacks to his bedroom every night to read them.

Wordless Wednesday/Thankful Thursday

2010-12-15T21:36:00.000-05:00

A New Way to do School

2010-11-24T20:04:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday/Thankful Thursday

2010-11-11T15:43:00.000-05:00

Spotlight: The Little Girls

2010-10-09T19:58:00.001-04:00

Lilly and Ellie started "real" preschool for the first time this year. Although they certainly learned a great deal last year at homeschool preschool, they are enjoying meeting new friends, doing many more crafts than this weary mother of 7 ever thought of doing, going to music class, and plenty of other new and exciting experiences.

Our family took advantage of "free night" af Edventure, a children's museum, a few weeks ago. This was another "first" for Lilly and Ellie. Because it was "free night", it was extremely crowded, but we had a great evening together as a family. Lilly and Ellie most enjoyed the kid-sized grocery store. They were able to go through the store twice making their "purchases" and had the BEST time!

We just returned from our annual week of sand and sun at a nearby beach. Lilly and Ellie loved every minute of it although Lilly did ask several times when she could go back to school. Our "lively Lilly" made quite a splash in the ocean and tried to keep up with the big kids as they rode the waves on their boogey boards. Our Ellie, who is much more reserved, carried her boogey board around, put her ankles in the water, but she never quite made it in far enough to actually "catch a wave."

These two are so different in may ways - Lilly is outgoing, a social butterfly, high energy, never staying still for long, and more demanding and bossy yet a bundle of joy all wrapped in one. Ellie, on the other hand, is very content to sit and look at books for long stretches of time, is often in her own little world and enjoys talking to herself. Ellie is just. a. lot. calmer. Ellie is more of a peacemaker yet can whine and pout better than most.

Different they may be, they are the best of friends - most of the time. Sure, they are sisters, and they do have their share of squabbles. Overall though, they truly are the best of friends. And I am so thankful for that!

I recently had the girls together at their cardiologist check-up. Lilly was her active, "lively" self while Ellie preferred being in my lap and was very quiet and reserved. The doctor commented that Lilly must "drive her sister crazy". That simply is not the case. They compliment one another very well. By the way, both girls received an excellent check-up including EKGs and ECHO (for Lilly who has minor valve leakage secondary to her surgery). For the first time since 2007, we will not have to see a cardiologist for 2 years! WOO HOO!

What Love Can Do

2010-09-16T19:02:00.000-04:00

September 16, 2008

September 16, 2010

Spotlight: The Big Girls

2010-09-09T17:49:00.000-04:00

Shelby

Pictures from this summer's horse camp. This was Shelby's first time to attend a week-long horse camp as the cost had always deterred us. It proved to be money well spent as Shelby absolutely enjoyed every minute of the camp. This girl lives, breathes, and dreams about horses All.The.Time. Jumping was a new experience which she embraced and now wants to do more of (this mom is not too fond of that). Her trainer came to the house this week to give her a lesson on Oreo, and Shelby was able to jump on her own horse for the very first time. She was all smiles when she walked in the house.

Katie

Katie and 2 of her friends, Christi and Grace, started a club this summer - the "KCG Christian Charity Club". These girls have been working so hard. Early this summer they had a lemonade stand with the profits benefiting a local ministry called Compassion in Action. They had a very successful sale and raised over $70 for CIA. Then the girls began to collect shoes for an organization called "Shoes 2 Share". A family started this organization after taking shoes to children in Haiti when they went to adopt their 2 children. They were overwhelmed by the joy and gratefulness on behalf of the children and adults who received shoes. Thus they had the idea to try to send shoes to impoverished people around the world. Katie, Christi, and Grace printed fliers which they distributed to family, friends, and their church families. In a little over 3 weeks, they collected hundreds of pairs of shoes. As you can see from the pictures, God truly blessed their efforts. The girls and their moms spent over 3 hours packing the shoes and preparing them to be shipped by UPS. The shipping was a bit more expensive that we thought, but God provided there also as he raised up several donors who helped share the cost. I am so proud of Katie, Christi, and Grace and their desire to share the love of God with those in need.

I ran out of time so I will spotlight the "Little Girls" the next time I have a free hour. Why does blogging take me so long?

The Boys

2010-08-26T16:34:00.000-04:00

Hudson's way of entertaining himself on laundry day. He loves his (sister's) ride-on toy car. On this day, he kept zooming up and down our long hallway. He would manuever around the laundry baskets and head back out again. Fulton had a great time chasing Hudson and trying to catch a picture of him as he sped by. Hudson did take a rest on the watermelon which I thought was just so cute. I don't normally laugh much as I do load after load of laundry for our mega family, but on this day, I laughed a lot!

Towards the end of the summer, meaning when we had carefree days before our rigorous homeschool schedule started, I was reading a Clifford book to Lilly, Ellie, and Ethan. Ethan saw a boat similar to this one in the book and immediately began to talk Fulton into making one with him. Thankfully we had an empty OJ container on hand. These 2 boys had a blast working on their boats. Fulton especially took his task very seriously and spent a lot of time on his. Then the best part was sailing the boats in our kitchen sink.

Now that we are homeschooling, I feel as though I barely have time to breathe. Updating the blog just isn't as high on the priority list as say math, fixing lunch, or doing laundry. I will spotlight the girls the next chance I get though.

I Survived. . .

2010-08-08T18:30:00.000-04:00

my first week of homeschooling 4 students while having not 2 but 3 toddlers running around!

Fulton started the school year off quite early. This was at 6:40 AM!

Shelby is in 8th grade this year and is taking 2 courses for high school credit - a little scary for me! Katie is in 6th grade and really wants to go to "real school". Fulton is in 4th grade while Ethan is starting 1st grade this year.

These 2 little ones did great. Since they are going to preschool at a local church in a few weeks, they simply enjoyed themselves without any real "school work". They entertained themselves while the "big kids" and I were busy doing school. Here they are in our "play closet" playing Leapsters.

This little guy caused a bit more stress for this homeschooling mom and her students. Here he is in "time in" for . . .well, I really can't remember.

Only by God's grace have I made it this far in my homeschooling journey. I remember when I first started prayerfully considering homeschooling back when Shelby was in kindergarten, I thought I would homeschool only one child at the time - when Katie graduated 5K at the church kindergarten, then she would come home for school. Shelby would then leave homeschooling and go to a local private school and that would continue until the last one came home for school. Obviously God had a much different plan. It certainly is a challenge now that we have 7 children, but God strengthens me and equips me to get the job done.

Overall, it was a good first week, and we hope and pray it only gets better!

It's Been 16 Years!

2010-07-30T15:51:00.000-04:00

Yes, my high school sweetheart and I were married 16 years ago today. I can remember that day so vividly in my mind. The wedding ceremony and reception were all I had ever dreamed they would be, but more importantly than the festivities of that day, these last 16 years have been so much more than I could have ever envisioned. I never would have imagined the spiritual growth that we have both experienced or the abundant blessings that God has lavished on us - not finanacial ones (we could use some of those blessings after 3 adoptions : ) - but the love we share between the 2 of us, the supersized family He has created for us, the trials we have been through where we have seen the hand of God so clearly. This journey that He has led us on together these last 16 years has been far richer than I ever thought possible. Today I thank God for a wonderful, loving husband who seeks to know the Lord more and more each day and who leads our family to know and love Him more deeply too. Prince Charming will be arriving soon to steal me away from the 7 who consume most of my time so that I can spend a few hours focused only on him! Can't wait!

The Rest of the 4th

2010-07-18T14:55:00.026-04:00

There was so much fun to be had that even Lilly who is usually in constant motion had to take a break. Here she is warming up in the sun after coming out of the pool with chattering teeth!

We spent the Fourth of July at my sister Michelle's house which just happens to be on a lake and have a pool - not fair I know! As I said in the last post, the other children did venture out a bit more than Hudson who was most content either eating his chips or sitting on the edge of the pool playing with cups. Shelby, Katie, and Fulton enjoyed kayaking - a first for all 3 of them. They even got me to give it a try, and I actually loved it also! Ethan, Lilly, and Ellie had the most fun in the pool which is where they spent the majority of their time. They did take a few spins on our jet ski, and Ethan also rode in Uncle Trip's boat. In between eating, swimming, kayaking, jet skiing, and boating, Katie and Shelby did find a few spare minutes to hold their newest little cousin, baby Dargan. Needless to say, we all had a blast at Aunt Michelle and Uncle Nick's house. And we tried to be on our very best behavior in hopes of being invited back : )

Hudson's Way of Eating Chips

2010-07-12T20:48:00.001-04:00

Reach in slowly and grab at least one

Study it carefully

Show it off

Put it in your mouth before they decide to take it for themselves

Push it in to make sure it doesn't fall out

Study the next one in detail

Chew slowly to enjoy each and every morsel

Think it over and then savor the last bite

Then repeat the above as you surely can't eat just one or two or three!

Hudson really enjoyed his chips on July 4th. Check back later to see what his siblings enjoyed - needless to say they ventured out a bit more than Hudson and were a tad more adventurous!

Happy 4th of July. . .

2010-07-04T22:05:00.001-04:00

from our newest little American citizen!

(Look who snuck in on our photo shoot! These 2 had the best time after the photo shoot running around with their American flags. It was the most that they have played together so far and it was precious!)

A Bit about Our Little Guy

2010-06-30T15:29:00.000-04:00

Piano -playing

Coloring

Daddy - loving Junior Gamecock

(National Champs as of last night - GO COCKS!)

Water and Jie Jie loving

Blueberry -picking and eating

Temper -tantrum throwing

(Mama wouldn't let him have any more berries. Needless to say, he LOVES blueberries, and he ate a TON)

Car - pulling

(day after arriving home - note suitcase is still on bathroom floor!)

Dirt- digging

Cozy Coupe driving

Gu-Gu loving. . . . special little guy!

I don't have enough time to share just how wonderful these first 2 weeks home have been but let me try. . .

Hudson is truly a different child than the one we met and spent 14 days with in China. He has literally blossomed before our very eyes. In looking back, it appears that Hudson put up walls and was almost refusing to let us in for a while. Then he went threw an anger stageI suppose as part of his grieving. Now he has become a happy-go-lucky-little fellow! We have had one rough night, a few very early mornings, and temper tantrums here and there, but overall, Hudson has been a delight. He still likes to be held while you are walking, but he is getting better at tolerating us sitting down. He still speaks Chinese mostly, but he has added a few English words like Daddy, car, ball, cat, and Bubba (for Fulton). He hasn't learned "Go Gamecocks" yet or "We are the National Champs in baseball" but we are working on that! He calls me "Mama" now but only recently was calling me "Ayi" - nannie in Chinese. And he blew me a kiss today after I put him down for a nap. I smacked my lips as if kissing him, and he did it back - so sweet!

Our other children are doing amazingly well with Hudson. There has been really no sibling jealousy to speak of - yet. Lilly tells me all the time how much she likes Hudson. He has even made her "best friend" list. So all is well here for which we are so very grateful. God has blessed us with a remarkable little boy who fits in beautifully with our family. Once again I have been amazed by the miracle of adoption. Once again I am thanking the Father for calling us to adopt - again - even though many thought we were definitely insane (with Ellie they thought we were just bordering insanity but now we are really there). Once again I am thanking the Father for giving us the courage, faith, and strength to obey His call. Is He calling you to care for one of the 147 million orphans who wait for a family ???

We Are Home!

2010-06-20T10:43:00.002-04:00

In our hotel in Hong Kong waiting for the shuttle. Caught a great pouty look from Hudson. He can get the lip out pretty far just like his 2 older brothers.

Once again Ethan amazed us with how well he did on the 14 1/2 hour plane ride. That doesn't even count the extra 1/2 hour we had due to having to wait for clearance to take off. Ethan enjoyed playing with play dough, his toy plane, and matchbox cars. He also took walks on the plane to talk with Wei's family who were seated a few rows up from us. Thankfully he did sleep 2 different times and woke up happy and cheerful.

This little fellow did pretty good as well considering his age and all the changes he endured prior to the flight. He had 2 good temper tantrums in the beginning which got us a few concerning looks from those around us. I am sure they were hoping that his screaming would not last the entire trip. Thankfully, it did not. Hudson also played well with his stacking cups and toy cars. He had a short nap and then later slept about 5 1/2 hours. Unfortunately, he did not wake up happy and cheerful! However, once we got off the plane, and he got back into his Baba's arms, the crying subsided. He took another short nap in David's arms and then he did wake up happy and cheerful - full of smiles - as we all enjoyed dinner at Chili's in the Chicago airport.

This was right before his nap as we stood in line to eat at Chili's. David and I wanted to sit at a table rather than on the floor, and I was craving a salad which of course was off limits in China. Ethan and Hudson enjoyed chicken and fries.We left there thinking we only had an hour til our already delayed flight would take off. No such luck. The terrible thunderstorms had flights backed up considerably and some even cancelled like Wei's family who had to overnight in Chicago. Thankfully our multiple delayed flight did finally depart around 8:45 PM CST. Although I smocked Hudson's "coming home outfit" and had it packed in my backpack, David and I decided it was not worth putting Hudson through changing his clothes as he was so tired, and we knew that would not go over well!

We were so happy to see our family waiting for us. Lilly and Ellie were so excited that they ran pass the secured point and all the bells started sounding. Thankfully the airport was deserted and the security guard just smiled and reset the alarms. It was late - 11:45 PM - but Lilly and Ellie weren't the least bit tired as they were SO excited to have us home. We got lots of hugs and kisses. Hudson was not too thrilled with the hugs and kisses though.

Ethan was so happy to see Lilly and Ellie - his 2 favorite playmates. As we were walking out of the airport, the 3 of them were in front of me hand in hand. I was too tired to pull out the camera, but it was a sweet moment.

Hudson screamed the entire way home. He wanted David who was driving and thus he screamed. I am really glad we don't live too far from the airport. We all had heard enough screaming. Once home, we quickly got everyone ready for bed and SLEPT!

Some thank yous to some very special people:
Thank you to my dear cousin Sheri who stayed with my children for the first 10 days of our trip. She only has one son so that was a huge change for her to care for 6 children in all. Thank you also to her mom, my dear Aunt Lulu (I couldn't say Louise when I was little so "Lulu" stuck) who came to give Sheri a helping hand for several days. Thank you both so very much!

Thank you also to Drew and Linda, friends of ours from church, who kept the children after Sheri returned home. Drew and Linda went from NO children to 5 children in an instant. The children had a wonderful time staying at their home with their many pets - cats, chinchillas, visiting raccoon and babies, bunny who is litter boxed train, etc. Thank you also for staying up late and driving the children to the airport so they could welcome us home. We are so thankful for your sacrifice.

Last but not least, thank you to my dear friend Jen who kept the blog running for us. Jen has 5 children of her on and is a teacher who didn't finish school for the summer until June 10. I know you are extremely busy, Jen, so thank you for sacrificing your time to update the blog for us.

It's great to be home and a family of 9! We are still trying to recover from jet lag and are waking up way too early. Hudson is doing better now that we are no longer living like nomads and seems to be enjoying getting to know his new siblings and his new home!

One Step Closer To Home

2010-06-17T14:08:00.000-04:00

Hong Kong:
We are so thankful to be able to report that we are one step closer to home - we made it to Hong Kong by train after our consulate appointment. Hudson has a US visa and upon landing in the US - in Chicago - he will officially become a US citizen. Hudson has made tremendous progress today - at the consulate he let David sit in a chair without shedding any tears. He then chose to get down and stand on his own 2 little feet - a rare occurrence other than in our hotel room. Before leaving the consult, he amazed us even more by letting David put him down in the toy section in the back of the room where Ethan and many other children were playing. That was indeed a FIRST! He did great and played with Ethan as well as his 2 buddies from Baotou, Wei and AJ. After leaving the consulate, we headed straight to the train station - a new experience for us. Thankfully Wei's family as well as 2 other Holt families were there with us. We all stuck together. The train ride was uneventful - no motion sickness - thank goodness!

We arrived in Hong Kong around 8:15 and then had our only real scary experience for this trip. . .

Our friend Elaine had told us to take a taxi to our hotel from the train station. We had no guide, but we thought it would be easy enough. Well as soon as we neared the exit doors, a "taxi driver" came up, spoke to David, and took over our luggage cart. We followed him as he spoke English and we assumed all was well. I became a bit suspicious as I noticed all the other taxis were lined up in front of the train station. We went left - away from the other taxis. He lead us to a parking lot and kept talking about his new, nice car. He then loaded our bags into a very nice mini van - no markings of a taxi though. Once we were all seated, I noticed there was no meter. Then I asked him how much money it would be. He said "500". Well, we didn't know if that was Hong Kong currency or RMB from China. When we tried to press him, he seemed to get anxious and was rapidly firing off words in broken English. I guessed Ethan sensed my stress as he began to cry next to me because he was so scared. David was counting money because we knew we didn't have but about 150RMB plus US dollars. I finally said to David that we should leave. M granddaddy was a policeman, and I grew up hearing lots of stories so I am always a bit more suspicious of others whom I know nothing about. I just knew this was not right and had a bad feeling. Then we couldn't get the door opened. Ethan was sobbing at this point. The man was getting angry as he continued to try and work out a price with us. We wanted out and became concerned when we couldn't get out. Finally, he yelled "OK, OK, OK". Thankfully, he finally let us out of the car, and we gathered our luggage cart and our bags and set off back to the official taxis! By the way, our official taxi cost us 202RMB or for us 150 RMB and $10 US - much cheaper that 500RMB. We almost got ripped off but thankfully God sent the clear message that we needed to get out of that situation!

Now we are ready for bed here at the Mariott which is only a 5 minute shuttle ride to the airport. We plan to be on the 10 AM shuttle as our flight leaves around 12:30PM. Internet is not free here and I am too tired to upload pictures - so NO pictures - sorry!

Please pray for Ellie who has been sick with vomiting and tummy aches. She had one episode last week and has started back as of Wed. I pray she is better and that we don't walk into a stomach bug sweeping through our other children when we get home Friday night - and then possibly us!

Thanks for following our journey!!! And praise God that it is almost over!

Red Couch Photo and More Shopping

2010-06-16T18:32:00.000-04:00

Red Couch Photo:

I'll just let the pictures tell the story - all we could do was laugh! This is a tradition among adoptive families to pose on the Red Couch in the White Swan Hotel. We were with the other 2 familes whom we met in Hohthot. All 3 of the boys, Hudson, Wei, and AJ, were from Baotou SWI, and Hudson and Wei (the boy in the blue Chinese outfit) were in the same room at the SWI and said to be good friends. We hope to stay in touch although neither family lives close to us back home. At least we did get one good family photo in front of the waterfall at the White Swan - note: David is standing and Hudson is happy!

Shopping on Shaiman Island:

Since we have our US Consulate appointment tomorrow and then take the train to Hong Kong, today was our last day to do any shopping. And shopping we did. We purchased several gifts for Hudson to give him each year on the anniversary of the day we met, known as Forever Family Day or Gotcha Day. Of course we bought several gifts for Shelby, Katie, Fulton, Lilly, and Ellie back home. Ethan has been wanting a stuffed panda as every other child in our family received one when they visited China so today he finally found a quality stuffed panda that was just the right price.

Hudson decided today was "Daddy Day" so Mom has not been able to hold him. As you can see from the photo, David had about had it at this point - combine the heat and humidity, toting Hudson for about 2 hours straight(remember no sitting allowed), and shopping for several consecutive hours - yeah, that just about did David in!

We enjoyed lunch with Wei's family at the Cow and Bridge Thai restaurant - delicious! Hudson loved the chips - I took one bite and had trouble swallowing as they tasted just like fish. The waitress brought a basket by our table shortly after we were seated. We assummed they were free like chips are at a Mexican restaurant - nope. We were both charged for the baskets of fish chips - at least all 3 of our boys devoured them including Ethan. I was shocked that he liked them.

Lastly, here's a glimpse of Emma's store on the island and my attempt to buy shoes for Hudson who cries every time you take his shoes off, and for Lily and Ellie - I measured their shoes before I left home. Emma's store had the best selection of children's shoes. I purchased Hudson, Lilly, and Ellie several pair for the fall - 6 pairs for less than $45. Plus the storekeeper gave Ethan a whistle and Hudson a toy drum - yeah, just what we needed!

We haven't heard from Nikki yet although we will try to call her soon. We plan to stay around our hotel tonight and then pack up tomorrow as we leave for the consulate at 2:30 and from there we'll go straight to the train station and catch our train for Hong Kong. We'll overnight there and then our flight leaves around 12 noon on Friday for HOME!!!! I'll try to post some pictures one last time tomorrow. We have so enjoyed our time here and getting to know our new son, fiesty one that he is, but of course we long to get home and reunite our family. Thanks for following our journey to Hudson and for all of your prayers, support, and love.

Pearl River Cruise and Other Happenings

2010-06-15T09:06:00.001-04:00

Last night we went on the Pearl River Cruise. I had always wanted to do this, but it just never worked out for us until this trip. The food was all Chinese and not real appealing, but we all enjoyed fried rice and chocolate ice cream. David and I both tried a variety of dishes, but we weren't thrilled with the selection. However, the overall experience was fantastic. We enjoyed the sights of the river and the lights were gorgeous. Ethan loved the boat ride and looking at all of the other boats going by.

After the cruise, we stopped by the hotel lounge as we heard live piano music and singing. Do you see more evidence of PROGRESS? Yes, that is indeed David sitting in a chair w/ Hudson on his lap - and no tears or screaming or kicking or thrashing of arms! I couldn't believe it. This comes after Hudson had his biggest fit to date - over David sitting down on the playroom sofa whild holding him. This picture was taken about 4 hours after that temper tantrum. We enjoyed the music for a while, and I think the young lady singing really enjoyed singing for Ethan and Hudson - she kept smiling at them. She and the piano player waved goodbye as we left.

This morning we headed to the Pearl Market. I had purchased Lilly a necklace and bracelet back in 2007. On our last trip to adopt Ellie, the guide in Guangzhou was not local and she did not know where the Pearl Market was. I was determined to purchase some pearls for Ellie on this trip. Mission accomplished! While I made my decisons and bargained a little, Ethan and Hudson enjoyed riding on this toy - I don't know the correct name but I do know David Myers has one because Ethan pointed that out. I could not believe my eyes when I saw Hudson out of David's arms standing on the floor walking toward his "gu gu" on the toy. The boys both had fun!

We went swimming after our short shopping trip. I had to swim this time as I made a deal with Ethan - he has been dog paddling rather than swimming and so I said "If you swim to the ladder, really swim not dog paddle, I'll get in and swim to the ladder and back." Well, he did it, and then I had to keep my word of course, so I braved the very cold water and swam!

Tonight we are heading to Shaiman Island as I have lots of gifts to buy for my sweet children at home! Counting down the days til we head home but absolutely dreading the thought of that flight again!

Church and Yuntai Gardens

2010-06-14T09:01:00.001-04:00

Last night went well other than the temper tantrum in the taxi on the way to Shaiman Island. I simply tried to turn Hudson's book right-side-up. Well, just look at the picture, and you can guess how that went over. . .Not.Very.Well. Next time, Hudson can just admire his book upside down!

We enjoyed dinner with Nikki. We all agreed on Chinese since we had Nikki to help us order. She also admitted that she prefers Chinese food over Western but that she would eat anywhere. We were glad we opted for Chinese as it was delicious. We had fried bean kurd with spicy sweet and sour sauce - pretty good. Fried rice and sweet and sour chicken as well as broccoli with garlic - scrumptious!

Church was wonderful. Although the service was in Mandarin, we recognized many hymns - the choir entered the sanctuary to Amazing Grace and Blessed Savior was another. We said the Apostle's Creed and spent time in silent prayer in a sanctuary full of Chinese people - truly beautiful. Nikki said the sermon was about choices in our lives. The scripture was Peter 1:3-4. Nikki didn't say much after the service, but when I questioned whether she felt the service was helpful for her, she replied that she didn't understand and still felt very confused. We hope to spend a little more time w/ Nikki on Wednesday as it is a holiday - the Dragon Boat Festival- and she has the day off from work. Please continue to pray for God to work in her heart.

Today we visited the Yuntai Gardens and although it was beautiful, it was also miserably hot and humid - again. As you can see Christopher and Ethan are none too thrilled with this sightseeing. Oh, and this photo was taken near the beginning of the tour. Hudson only wants to be carried - ok, maybe that's not asking too much, but he also wants to be held standing up that is unless you are in a car. Don't dare sit down on a shady bench to take a break from the sweltering heat or sit on the sofa in your hotel room. No sir - he will have none of that! We tried Debbie and Darren's stroller - yesterday at the park, Hudson tolerated it for a half hour, but today, he pitched an absolute screaming fit. We finally took him out as he would not calm down. We have a carrier which we use daily, but it is just so HOT. I am open for suggestions or advice. Anybody????

We are really enjoying our stay here at the Garden. It is a lovely hotel - the rooms are quite spacious, the breakfast buffet which is included with your room is excellent, and McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut, Hagen Daaz, and Subway are all within walking distance. We are really glad we decided to stay here.

Ethan loves to ride up and down these escalators - by himself. He pretends he is travelling alone. It's so cute and every time we return to our room, he opens the door and then we have to knock or ring the bell and then he lets us, his visitors in. Ethan has had a wonderful time and he and Hudson have been playing together much more these last 2 days. Hudson calls out "gu gu" for big brother. Still is not saying many English words - only Chinese. Today for lunch we walked to KFC and brought it back to our hotel. Hudson enjoyed chicken nuggets, corn on the cob, french fries, and tangerine - a little nutrion in there I hope!

Some special messages…..

For Fulton (and Bandit)

Hey, buddy! We miss and love you so much. Thanks for being the "man of the house" while cousin Sheri was there and have fun with Mr. Drew as you two keep all the girls straight :) See you Friday!

For Katie, Lilly, and Ellie. . .

Mom and Dad miss you SO much. We love you and can't wait to see you on Friday!

For Shelby (and Callie too)
We miss you and love you very much and look forward to our reunion on Friday. Thanks for helping out with things at home!

A Busy Sunday!

2010-06-13T17:41:00.000-04:00

Liuhuahu Park:

This morning we headed to Liuhuahu park with the only other BAAS family here. We met them yesterday as we did the medical visit with them. They are not staying at the Garden as we are so we only see them on our excursions. Today was great fun for Ethan because the other family brought their 8 year old son, Christopher. Ethan and Christopher rode a roller coaster, bumper cars, and one other ride together at the park. Ethan, David, Christopher, and his dad, Darren, also rented a boat and rode it on the lake. While they were enjoying their boat ride, Hudson cried the entire time - 30 minutes - because David was the one holding him when he had to leave to go on the boat ride. I know Hudson needs transition time - that became crystal clear very early on - but since we don't speak the same language, it is very difficult to transition him at times. Several Chinese ladies offered their advice to us - one rubbed her tummy, one told our guide (we had our friend Nikki today as our other guide had meetings to attend. Nikki was our "personal hospital tour guide" with Lilly in 2007) that we should give him water. Of course I knew better, Hudson was just angry - period! Once David came back from the boat ride, Hudson was fine. It was a wonderful morning and the park was beautiful; however, it was excruciatingly HOT and MUGGY. David and Darren were literally soaked and I actually felt a little sick. But we made it back to the hotel where we cooled off, ate some Ritz crackers with peanut butter, ramen noodles, and fruit.

Then we went swimming. . .

You may recall Hudson was petrified of his first bath so my expectations were low. I'll let the pictures tell the story. . .

Yes, much progress indeed. Ethan and Hudson enjoyed a warm bath after their swimming pool time

The Gamecock Boys - we're missing Fulton!

Although you will likely be reading this after the fact, please pray for Nikki. We have been witnessing to her since our trip to adopt Lilly in May 2007. We even gave her a Bible on our trip to adopt Ellie in September 2008. Tonight we are thrilled to have the opportunity to attend a Christian worship service in China! The service is on Shaiman Island and guess who is going with us? Yep, Nikki accepted our invitation to dinner and church. The entire service will be in Mandarin so although we will understand nothing, we pray that God will speak to Nikki during this service. I have been praying since last night, when our plans were made, that God would open Nikki's heart and should would be receptive to what she hears. Nikki said she is excited to attend the church service. I'll let you know how it goes in tomorrow's post.

What A Difference A Day Makes!

2010-06-12T09:31:00.000-04:00

Friday proved to be our most difficult day by far. Hudson woke up looking a little grumpy and although the morning went well, it went downhill from there. Hudson became irritable at lunch time and refused to eat his Rammen noodles. He fell asleep on the way to the airport. Initially at the airport, he just had a frown and refused to make eye contact. However, his mood escalated to full blown temper tantrums including one where he literally banged his face into the airport floor resulting in both a bloody nose and lip. That was the worse fit of rage, but there were many others - not what you want when you are a foreigner in the midst of a crowded airport surrounded by Chinese people who are already curious about your presence. At this point, Hudson would have nothing to do with me - only wanted David. That was hard for me as Lilly and Ellie never did that - if anything they wanted Mama. I suppose it was my turn for rejection, but it hurt nonetheless. Add to that a huge, slow-moving, intense thunderstorm that caused a 4 1/2 hour flight delay - no landings and no take-offs for hours. When I was about at my breaking point, the airport gate staff answered my question of "Where is our plane?" with points to the runway - Praise God our plane had arrived. We boarded around 8:30PM and had to wait a while on "air traffic control" (I thought of Chris Rickenbaker then!) and finally took off around 8:45. After a long and emotionally draining day, we arrived in Guangzhou around 11:45 and all went right to sleep shortly after 1 AM. Ethan did great during our difficult circumstances and that we are so very proud of him. I am so amazed with his behavior! It's been really good having this special time w/ him. He and Hudson have not interacted much, but overall I think they like each other.

Fast forward to Saturday. . .

We love our hotel and enjoyed a great breakfast buffet. Then we rushed over to Shaiman Island to have Hudson's picture taken for his Visa. Of course he cried when I had to sit him down in a chair - by himself, but the good news is he recovered much quicker than he has been doing. Progress! Then off we went to the medical clinic to have his exam and unfortunately, thanks to the Hague, a TB test and 4 immunizations. It was a rough morning as Hudson like most of the children cried - alot - but it was also good for bonding as he came right to me as soon as the many doctors were finished examining him. Thankfully he only needed 4 shots - some children have to have 7, but if you know me well, you know I am extremely cautious with immunizations. I always limit the number of shots my children get to 1 or 2 at the most per visit, and I elect not to give them some of the newer ones. This was difficult for me to watch, and I did argue with the doctors trying to get out of 1 or more shots but that was all to no avail. No shots, No Visa, No USA! He even had to have the MMR even though the orphanage gave him a measles shot and a rubella shot just not a mumps shot. We covered Hudson in prayer. David literally prayed aloud over Hudson, and I was silently praying as I held him. It was absolute torture holding him down for 4 shots and a TB test after all the trauma he has endured emotionally - all in only 6 days - that's a lot for a 2 year old.

After all of that, we picked up Subway for lunch and came back to our room. Hudson did so well - he has been pitching fits if you do something he doesn't like - for instance putting him down when you walk into the room or offering him juice when he doesn't want it - this afternoon has been so much better as you can see from the photos. He enjoyed his lunch - especially the Lays chips. He smiled and even fed me. I have been trying to get him to feed me like after I feed him a goldfish cracker - he would laugh and like the game of me trying to put the goldfish in his hand in my mouth (if you are wondering why this is so important - bonding) but would not willingly feed me. Well, today at lunch he initiated it all on his own. Progress! Then he and David put the puzzle together, and he just clapped his hands and smiled his huge smile when he finished. As the title says. . .What a difference a day makes! Praising God today in Guangzhou for Progress!

Out and About

2010-06-10T17:26:00.000-04:00

We spent the day at the Inner Mongolia Museum and a Buddist Temple. We enjoyed lunch with Aggie at Pizza Hut - very good! Aggie says "It is a lovely place." We agree - very clean and delicious! Hudson has continued to reveal his adorable yet fiesty personality to us. When he gets upset, it is difficult to calm him down. The orphanage said this as well. We are eating leftovers in our room for dinner tonight. In the morning we will be packing up and will be leaving for the airport at 2 PM. We have enjoyed Hohthot but look forward to Guangzhou knowing that we are closer to home! Enjoy the pictures from today.

Dinner at Aggie's House

2010-06-09T13:29:00.002-04:00

Our guide Aggie invited us to have dinner with her family. We were thrilled to be able to get out of the bustling city and see a different side of Hohthot. Aggie, who is 29, lives at home with her mother and father. Her younger brother is away at college. When asked how her parents were allowed to have 2 children, Aggie replied that her parents "knew people" who arranged for them to keep both children.

Aggie and Ethan walked to a nearby store and came back with ice cream, candy, and beer for David. Here David is eating a corn ice cream pop. He said it literally tasted like buttered corn on the cob.

Ethan really likes Aggie and has been asking today if we could go back to eat at Aggie's house. The draw is certainly not the food as he ate very little. I think Ethan enjoys Aggie and their trips to the candy store : )

Aggie's mother and father

Eating with Aggie's family was a wonderful experience. Her mother was so kind and hospitable. David and I both left with a range of emotions - amazed that their home was the size of one of our bedrooms and ashamed at the materialism that is so consumming in America - amazed at their simplicity of life - no running water, no bathroom in their home and ashamed at our grumbling and complaining over such little inconveniences in our lives. Please pray for Aggie and her family - Aggie has said they "have no religion". We have said our blessings before meals and tried to share a little of our faith with her. She has asked us questions like when do we pray and what do we believe. I asked her today where we all came from if there is no God, and she said "monkeys". I continued trying to dispute evolution with her. Needless to say our hearts are heavy for this dear sweet soul who we now call friend. . .one who will perish for all eternity unless she comes to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. I could go on and on about this precious, generous, lovely young woman but I must close. Just please pray for her and her family.

Grasslands:
We visited the Grasslands today, and I must say it was a bit disappointing. The trip there was long and through curving mountainous terrain. Add that to the crazy reckless driving in China and let's just say, I was praying and gasping the whole way there. On the way back, I was holding a bag for Hudson who finally succumbed to motion sickness. And we were actually only out of the car at the Grasslands for 20 minutes - tops because there is nothing to do, and it was very cold and windy.

When we finally made it safely back to the city, Hudson felt much better. We stopped at Mcdonalds and got our order to go. Hudson had his first french fries and loved them- no surprise!

Hudson enjoyed playing and attempting to put this puzzle together. He was so excited when we finished it.

After the bout of motion sickness, he opened up more than ever. He was laughing and playing - even played with Ethan a little. The boys both love cars and the wide window sill makes a great "road".

Overall another great day! Hudson's "cold" seems to be better as he has coughed less today - so thankful for this! Heading to dinner with Wei and his family.

More About Hudson

2010-06-08T09:38:00.002-04:00

As I said yesterday, Hudson, whom we are still calling Zhe Zhe, was very sad and stoic for most of the day. However, we did see glimpses of his sweet and cheerful personality shine through.

Playing with Mom before nap time on Monday.

Playing in the hallway with his close friend from the orphanage, Wei. Wei and his new family are right across the hall from us which has been great for our little guys to see one another.

A really happy boy - for the moment at least.

I noticed a callous on Hudson's thumb and found out why during his nap - he sucks his thumb. In this photo of him sleeping this morning, you can see his little thumb in his mouth. The orphanage never mentioned this. He doesn't do it when he is awake or to go to sleep, but today during his nap, I noticed he was sucking it again. So sweet!

Not happy about putting his hand in the ink. And when he cries, he has some tremendous alligator tears.

We just completed all of the paperwork for the China side of the adoption. Here we are with the Baotou SWI Director. She was very kind and willing to answer our many questions. (Sarah - I will email you soon about Bella - Mrs. Xue said she is doing fine, and I gave her your package)

While David and I worked on the paperwork, Ethan, Hudson, and the other 2 little boys from Baotou played very well together. Imagine - a room full of little boys and there was very little noise or chaos! Here Hudson was gazing out the window looking at the many cars passing by. He is now saying several Chinese words that we are learning to understand and one is the word for car. He says it everytime he sees a car. On our walk today he kept pointing at cars and saying the word and wimpering. I thought he may have been hoping for a ride back to the orphanage as that is one of the few times he had probably ridden in a car. He also told me this morning during the paperwork that he had to potty. Today he has also said in Chinese "dog" and "gugu" for Ethan. It was so sweet. The boys have not been very into one another like Shelby and Katie were w/ Lilly. They play together a little bit but not a great deal, and there's no hugging, holding, or kissing going on between them. Tonight as Ethan was about to leave the room, Hudson said "gu gu" - brother in Chinese. It was very sweet, and I made sure I pointed it out to Ethan.

Hudson had his first bath tonight - we did not even attempt that last night as it was traumatic enough taking his clothes off. Tonight he survived what may very well have been his first true bath - as in get all the way in a tub w/ water - he was not happy one bit. The next time will hopefully be better. He also hates to have his teeth brushed and gags on the teensy bit of paste on the brush. Needless to say, this must have been a first as well.

As for Hudson's health, we were told today that Hudson did have IVs several days ago for a "cold". I specifically asked whether it was for pneumonia, but again the director said "just a cold". He is eating and drinking much better as well as sleeping great. Since he has had no fever, I am hopeful that he will soon be over the "cold". That's all for today. We had an amazing experience tonight - eating at the home of our guide, Aggie. I can't wait to share pictures and tell you more, but I have to get in the bed as I was up from 2 AM to after 4 AM last night and the previous night as well.

Meeting Hudson

2010-06-07T06:03:00.000-04:00

Hudson in the arms of a nannie right after they arrived at the hotel.

Not too sure of being in my arms for the first time.

Hudson still very unsure but his Baba sure looks happy.

Ethan was great - here he was blowing bubbles to help calm Hudson down.

Hudson and his gu gu (big brother) Ethan.

Hudson did not like the Cheerios we brought, but he loved these biscuits which are like crackers. He came in with his nannie clutching a pack. He started trying to open the package with his teeth. Then he let me open them and feed him. Guess who else loved these - little Lilly!

This will be brief as Hudson has not napped and is on my lap. David and Ethan are swimming. Overall, things have gone pretty well. Out of our 3 adoptions, Hudson has had the most difficult time with the transition. He cried a lot this morning and continues to wimper off and on. He has gone to the door and pulled on the handle saying something in Chinese. He loves the Elmo phone, and I did get a glimpse of a smile when he was playing with that. He loves toys that make noise - I wish I would have brought more of them. He seems younger than 27 months to me. He hasn't said much - not that I would understand anything, but he does shake his head no if he doesn't want something.

I am most concerned because he has IV marks in both hands and in one foot - he cries if I try o take off his shoes so I only looked at 1 foot. His nose was running this morning, and he was coughing when he was upset. I asked if he had been sick and was told he had a cold. Well, for those of you who followed Lilly's journey, I noticed IV marks in her head and feet also. Lilly wouldn't eat, and Hudson has not taken anything but 2 packs of biscuits and 1 milk box (like a juice box but milk). David and I are both concerned. Our guide said she would ask more questions tomorrow about his recent illness. Please pray for Hudson to recover from this "cold". We don't have the Barbees here with us or Kathy so we simply can not do a repeat hospital tour like we did with Lilly.

Thank you for your prayers thus far. We are blessed beyond measure

Day 1 in Hohthot

2010-06-06T18:10:00.000-04:00

We had trouble with our email last night meaning we were able to receive emails, but our emails were not reaching their recipients. (We realized that this morning when we woke up and had received no email responses from our kiddos back home.) That's why the previous post was so long in coming - Jen never received it on Saturday. I stayed up to email Jen the blog post (we can not blog in China nor can we see any blogs - they are blocked - so I email it to Jen who then puts it on the blog.) so everyone would know on Saturday morning that we made it safely. But, due to technical difficulties, you all still had to wait until Sunday -sorry!

Today was a nice relaxing day - much needed after the marathon travel the day before. We are heading to bed now and when we wake up, we'll have breakfast and then meet Hudson in the lobby at 10:30. Despite having done this twice before, I am nervous, a little frightened, and have butterflies. Please pray for our initial meeting with Hudson to go smoothly. Enjoy the pictures. . .

Outside of our hotel, the Shangri-La

Eating "hotpot" with Aggie. She and David ate much more than Ethan and I did. Needless to say, Ethan ate the least as he was not real thrilled with our first authentic Chinese meal. The noodles were very tasty but that is about all that I would care to eat again. Neat experience though!

Ethan enjoyed swimming at the indoor pool this afternoon. It is required that all swimmers wear a cap. Ethan looks quite cute in his, but I am not too sure how David or myself will look!

Views from the indoor pool area. As you can see it is a very busy area with lots of traffic.

Arrival!

2010-06-06T07:52:00.003-04:00

Ready to board the first flight of 3 - looking nice and fresh!

Ethan on the LONG flight to Beijing. He did superb, and we could not have asked for anything more from him.

Ethan still hanging tough after the 13 hour flight. Here we are checking our luggage to connect to China Air and fly to Hohthot, Inner Mongolia where we will meet Hudson Monday AM about 10:30.

Hudson was with us the whole way thanks to our friend Sharon. She gave us 2 luggage tags with Hudson's picture. Thanks Sharon!

Absolutely exhausted from being awake 24 1/2 hours. I could not sleep on the plane, but I did finally sleep on and off for an hour on this bench in Beijing as we waited for our connecting flight to Hohthot.

We made it to Hohthot. We are staying at the Shangri -la. Nice but rooms and beds are a little small. Our guide Aggie is great - we can already tell we will love having her with us this week.

Tomorrow is a free day to recover from today, organize our room (how many of you are laughing? Yes, I even have to organize my hotel room.) Then Aggie is taking us to eat Hotpot - a local dish and helping us get acclimated to where we will spend the next 6 days.

Thank you all for your prayers. Please keep sending them up to our gracious Father in heaven. He blessed us in so many ways today, and we are so grateful! Good night!

Testing...1...2...3....

2010-06-05T22:14:00.000-04:00

It's Jennifer here, testing my posting ability on the Bryant blog. Like all of you I am anxiously awaiting the info for their first post from CHINA. Jan nor I had any idea back in May 2007 when we met and adopted Lilly and Lainie that we were just beginning to grow our families through adoption. It has been a pleasure to share a friendship with them and we are looking forward to seeing them united with sweet Hudson. I promise to post as soon as I hear from them.....

It's Time To Go!

2010-06-03T18:46:00.000-04:00

This represents what I have been doing this last week before travel. Cleaning (no picture - enough said!), laundry (for 9!), packing, smocking, and grocery shopping at Aldi to stock the fridge and the pantry! I will admit to being exhausted! I am so ready to sit on a plane to simply rest - although I'm sure after a few hours I will be longing to be on land!

We leave early in the AM. Please pray for us and Hudson as we embark on an amazing adventure! We'll be posting (thanks Jen) as often as we can!

Family Fun!

2010-05-31T23:17:00.000-04:00

We had a great day at the beach - one last hoorah before we leave our precious kiddos and head to China. Enjoy the pictures!

Our last time at the beach without little Hudson. Lord willing, next week this time, Hudson will be with us.

We interrupt this blog to bring you an important announcement. . .

2010-05-28T14:33:00.001-04:00

This new blogger format really does not agree with me. I had a draft saved on Ethan and Hudson's room makeover. I posted it today, but it appeared below the post that was already on the blog. Go figure. SO if you want to see pictures of Ethan and Hudson's room as well as read about the "LAST CALL" for ordering our Adoption Bug fundraiser tee shirts, please scroll down past Ethan's Graduation post!
I am still waiting on some much needed advice regarding the new Blogger!

Our Kindergarten Graduate

2010-05-26T23:10:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Ethan!

Ethan graduated from homeschool kindergarten Friday. He looked so handsome and did a great job helping to lead the Pledge of Allegiance and the Lord's Prayer.

Ethan high-fiving his best friend David. Shirts untucked and one tie gone but aren't they just the cutest? The boys both attended a church kindergarten until this year when they both came home to school.

Ethan's biggest cheerleaders - Lilly and Ellie who were already anticipating their kindergarten graduation.

By the way, I am having the hardest time with this new blogger format. I will never admit how long it took me to post this. The pictures appear in the wrong order - repeatedly. Please someone help this computer dummy!!

And preparations are well underway for our trip to China. One unexpected potential problem. . .

Our agency emailed tonight and said that there is a Ping -Pong tournament in Hohthot from June7 to June 11, and hotel accomodations are limited. Trying not to panic. We have a CA and very expensive plane tickets, there must be a hotel room for us - somewhere!

Room Makeover

2010-05-26T22:17:00.029-04:00

This was how we spent last Saturday. First the bunk beds had to be disassembled at our neighbor's house (thank you dear friends for giving us the bunk beds), reassembled, painted, and repainted! Just look at how good they turned out! We had lots of great helpers and although we were all very tired at the day's end, this mama was extremely happy with the day's accomplishments! Ethan's navy bedcap for the top bunk (a comforter designed with fitted corners at the bottom to stay on the bunk bed) should be arriving today. Ethan and Hudson's room is done! Hudson's growth chart has been hung, clothes are in his closet, toys and books are on the shelves. Now, we just need Hudson!

A quick reminder about our tee shirts that we have been selling as a fundraiser through Adoption Bug. . .

This weekend will be the last time to order a tee shirt and support our adoption. We will be closig our online store so that we can use that money for our adoption expenses. Thank you to everyone who has purchased a tee or 2 (Jennifer and Sharon - thanks friends!) So far we have raised about $125 through this fundraiser. Overall, we have raised over $5500 through our various fundraising events!

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

www.adoptionbug.com/bryant

Travel Approval!!!!

2010-05-21T17:18:00.000-04:00

It may or may not be clear from this picture, but we did get our TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!

We are so excited and are frantically preparing because we are leaving to meet our son on. . .
JUNE 4

More details to come but for now we are heading to Ethan's kindergarten graduation!

2010-05-14T23:05:00.001-04:00

Happy 3rd Gotcha Day, Lilly!

Happy 40th Birthday, David

Today has been a wonderful day although a very busy one! We are having one last fundraiser tomorrow for Hudson's adoption - a yard sale and bake sale. In between baking, we celebrated Lilly's 3rd Gotcha Day and David's 40th birthday. Lilly received a panda bear this year which she loves. This girl adores stuffed animals yet it was listed as one of her fears when she lived in the orphanage. She may have once been afraid of them but not anymore. Later, Lilly enjoyed licking the beaters from one of our many baked goods - chocolate cookies by Shelby, banana bread, brownies and David's requested birthday cake - lemon pound cake. After a photo shoot where my subject was quite uncooperative because she wanted to be in control of the camera, we left for Fulton's baseball game. Not an especially exciting schedule of events, but we enjoyed our time remembering where we were 3 years ago. . .

3 years ago tonight, we were in a hotel in Changsha, Hunan getting to know the little girl who would truly change our lives in the most unbelievable and amazing ways. Little did we know that night of the difficulties we would face with Lilly's serious illness in China and open-heart surgery which would be only 6 weeks later. However, on this night 3 years ago, we were also completely unaware of the tremendous blessing that we were being given and the absolute joy that this little girl would bring into our lives. Also, on May 14, 2007, I never would have dreamed that I would be back in China to adopt again 16 months later nor did I know that 3 years later, I would be anxiously awaiting our TA for our son in Inner Monglia. I must say adoption has absolutely changed my life and our family. Although I thought back in 2006 when our adoption journey began that God was just calling us to adopt one precious baby girl, He actually placed orphans on my heart and on the hearts of each person in my family. We have witnessed first hand what love can do, what the security of a family can do, and what access to quality medical care can do. We saw the hand of God transform a malnourished, frail, sickly child into our bundle of joy! From then on, our adoption journey has not been about 1 child who is no longer an orphan but about the 147 million orphans who long this very moment for a family to call their own.

Thank you Father for calling us to adopt but more importantly calling us to care for the orphans of this world. Thank you for the gift of this precious child who has brought so much joy and love into our lives. Thank you, Oh God, for blessing us so richly when we are so undeserving. May others hear your call and have the courage to walk in faith to the orphan and care for "the least of these." Amen

Now we wait for TA!

2010-05-07T21:33:00.004-04:00

Our Article 5 was picked up on Thursday and overnighted to the CCAA. This means, after many, many steps, we are now only waiting on 1 piece of paper - our travel approval! Lord willing, our TA should arrive in the next 2 to 4 weeks, and then we can make our travel arrangements! Hudson, we are coming soon - very soon! Please be in prayer for Hudson that the Lord would be preparing his little heart to attach to us and to leave all that he has ever known. Please pray for the rest of our brood to lovingly accept their new little brother.

Today was our 180th day of school - the last day- YEAH! I am so thankful that another school year is complete. However, that does not mean rest for me. Now, I must pack away all of this year's school books - x 4 students -and finalize our curriculum for next year. Plus, do I force my students to do work this summer to prevent loss of knowledge or can we possibly just relax and do nothing except read? Any thoughts on that subject are welcome!

A Reunion At Last!

2010-05-02T17:18:00.009-04:00

It all began when this little girl, named Chen Kai Shu, lived

in this orphanage Chenzhou Social Welfare Institute in Chenzhou, China.

She shared her days with these little girls who once were much younger and who did not have a Mommy or Daddy to call their own. Together they shared their first laughs, saw each other do many other "firsts", and then, one by one, said "goodbye" as each left to live with their forever family! No one knew at the time that all 4 of them (plus a 5th little girl named Sarah Mei who could not join us for our reunion) would live within a few hours of each other on the other side of the world. Only God could orchestrate that! Thus this reunion all began because of these little girls who once were left all alone having little hope for a bright future, but God, being full of love and mercy, rescued these precious ones by placing adoption on the hearts of their parents. Normal men and women who just knew that someone out there was waiting. . . who knew that God does not call the equipped; He equips those He calls. . .who knew that faith would lead the way. They said "Yes!" when it would have been so much easier to just say "NO". Their obedience to God's call blessed them all so richly and allowed this Saturday in April to happen. A reunion of. . .

older brothers (missing 3)

moms and dads

older sisters

new siblings also adopted from China

Lilly, Anna Claire, Lainie, and Mia, the 4 little girls from Chenzhou, with all of their siblings. Just think for a moment had someone not said "Yes" when God called, these 4 children would still be in Chenzhou Social Welfare Institute - without a mom or a dad or a brother or a sister.

Finally, as a result of accepting God's call to adopt, not once but 4 times, Anna Claire's family now has moved onto the "big white van". They will soon have so many children that your "average sized" family car will not do! And I am so happy to say that our family too will soon have to purchase one of these 12 passenger vans. Why? Simply because we said "Yes!" - 3 times!

Thank you, O Father, for calling these four families to adoption, for giving us the courage to say "Yes!", and for creating beautiful friendships among strangers who love you and love the orphan just as you do, God. Thank you for adopting each of us through the blood of your son in whose name I pray. Amen

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." John 14:18

Lifebooking

2010-04-25T21:06:00.005-04:00

What a task and one I dreaded! I am not a scrapbooker, but each of my bio children have a baby book so I am determined that each of my adopted children will have a lifebook. Lilly's was completed in the summer before we travelled for Ellie. Ellie's . . .well, Ellie's was not even started until today. I had been filing papers away since our paperchase for her, but never, ever started because I knew I needed hours to make any headway. Today was the day. I warned David that I was locking our bedroom door for . . .well, hours!! And I did.

4 hours later - I kid you not, it looks like a lifebook and not a folder stuffed with papers. It is not complete yet, but it is now doable. Lots more writing to do as well as pictures to place in the photo pages - a much more manageable task. Then, I'll be done - with Ellie's. As for Hudson's. . .his is now in the manila folder that once held Ellie's. And his may get done in, say, 2012?

Time to Smock

2010-04-22T16:00:00.005-04:00

Ellie wearing her dress that I smocked for her homecoming. This was right when we walked in our home for the 1st time with Ellie - Sept. 25, 2008

After our ordeal with Lilly in China, David and I were exhausted so we have very few good homecoming pictures (although a friend took some good ones, I couldn't find them for this post!). Again, Lilly is wearing her dress that I lovingly smocked for her. This was taken May 23, 2007 at the airport - right before we departed for a nearby hospital where Lilly was admitted for pneumonia, heart failure, and possible asthma - all related to her unrepaired VSD.

March 11, 2010 Hudson in Baotou SWI waiting on his family! Come on Artcilce 5 & TA! Won't he just look precious in his blue romper below?

Being a girl who loves tradition, I knew I needed to smock a cute romper for Hudson to wear home. I just started last night and will be sure to post the finished product when I'm all done. I have never waited this late in our journey to start so there may be some late nights - nighttime being the only time I have to smock!

One quick note about our tee shirts for sale: A new design has been created and I love it! It says on the front "How Do You Reach 147 Million Orphans? One At a Time". . .Don't you just love that? All those folks who probably mean well when they tell me "You know you can't save them all." "There will always be orphans in the world." Well, I can't wait to wear this shirt just for them!! Check out the new design at www.adoptionbug.com/bryant

Celebrating Another Birthday!

2010-04-19T16:46:00.005-04:00

Happy 9th Birthday, Fulton!

Fulton loves all sports but baseball is "his love" so a baseball cake was in order!

Since we homeschool, our children don't get wrapped up in too many fads. However, the Silly Bands craze has struck my children! Fulton received a pack from his sister and was so excited!

An early morning "Happy Birthday" hug from Lilly!

ADOPTION UPDATE:
Tessa at NVC was exactly right - we did receive our NVC letter today which we promptly scanned and sent to our agency. On Thursday (only delivered on Mon. and Thurs.) our DS230 will be delivered to the consulate in Guangzhou and then we wait about 2 weeks for our Article 5. Lord willing, we should be travelling in June - hopefully early June!!! I am so thankful to our God above for allowing us to adopt another precious child of His. I am so thankful that He chose us!

One More Baby Step!

2010-04-16T22:06:00.002-04:00

Give Me a "C"

Give Me a "A"

Give Me a "B"

Give Me a "L"

Give Me a "E"

What's that spell? CABLE!

What's that mean? much longer answer required!

It means we are one more baby step closer to Hudson. I tried emailing NVC all day but only received the automated response. I finally gave in to my desire to KNOW and called at 9 tonight (they are open to midnight for those of you who may need to KNOW in the future). Tessa at NVC was so helpful and shared with me that we were cabled yesterday, April 15! More importantly, the letter - you know the one that determines when we can take the next baby step to wait in the next line - Article 5 line that is - was outprocessed yesterday as well. I am hoping and praying Tessa is right. about. that.

Pampered Chef Fundraising

2010-04-12T14:22:00.002-04:00

As you many of you know, we have been fundraising during this, our 3rd adoption, to help raise funds specifically for Hudson's orphanage, Baotou Social Welfare Institute in Inner Mongolia. Right now we have raised $4,100 of the required $5,100 orphanage donation. My cousin, Sheri, is hosting a Pampered Chef party to aid us in our fundraising for Hudson. It is easy to place an order online, and your purchase will go towards the fundraiser.

So if you find that you need a little something for your kitchen or perhaps you would like to purchase a gift for someone - like Mother's Day, weddings, birthdays, or graduations. Please take a moment to look at the online catalog. Here are the quick and easy steps to shop and order:

Go to www.pamperedchef.biz/nowyacookin
Click on "Shop Online" at the top of your screen
On the next screen, enter "Sheri" or "Adoption Fund"
Once Sheri's party appears highlighted in blue, click on "Sheri" or "Adoption Fund"
Now you are ready to shop!

Thanks so much for considering a purchase. Remember, after the party total reaches $600 (online orders included), our "Adoption Fund" receives 10% of the total!

Thanks! And don't forget that we are still selling cute tee shirts as part of our fundraising efforts. Go to www.adoptionbug.com/bryant to look at the designs. Adult and children sizes available! They will make great gifts as well!

I800 Approval

2010-04-09T12:38:00.002-04:00

Happy to report that I just spoke with our officer at USCIS -

WE HAVE OUR I800 APPROVAL!!!!

Now we wait again! So many new steps to the Hague :(

Happy Resurrection Day!

2010-04-04T20:34:00.004-04:00

We have had a wonderful Easter, and we hope you have as well. After church, no one was in favor of a picture - except for Mom of course so this was as good as it got. . .I'll take it!

It takes a great deal of effort not to mention patience to get a good shot of our 6 blessings. Since it is time for our homeschool yearbook, we gathered the kiddos for a group picture before heading to our church's Easter Egg Hunt yesterday. This one was by far the best so into the yearbook it shall go!.

Hard to believe that Tuesday will be 2 weeks since we received our LOA for Hudson. We have yet to hear from our I800 application, but we are hopeful that we may be approved by the end of the week. This week is our Spring Break from homeschool and I have some major projects to accomplish - organzing closets - bringing in the spring/summer clothes and moving out the winter clothes that won't fit next year. . .yeah, one of my least favorite jobs! Plus I need to start making Ethan's room look like Ethan and Hudson's room so I hope to move some toddler toys and books in there this week and make room for Hudson's clothes - now that I can't wait to do : ) We are really getting excited about Hudson's arrrival yet I know it is still at least 8 weeks away so I'm restraining myself from feeling too much - well I'm trying anyway.

News and More News

2010-03-23T18:50:00.005-04:00

Not only did we get an update on our sweet boy and 3 new pictures, we also received

OUR LOA!!!!

We received an e-mail this morning saying that our LOA had been mailed and should arrive at BAAS on Wednesday. We received another surprise this afternoon when we opened an e-mail from BAAS saying our LOA actually arrived TODAY!! Day 61 since LID.

We are so thankful and have been lifting up our prayers of thanksgiving all day.

The update on Hudson was wonderful and had so much information compared to the one in November. He sounds like he will fit in just perfectly with our brood! Here is a glimpse into the personality of our little boy:

"He loves to play with toys and the alphabet puzzles. Sometimes he climbs
onto a furniture without toys on it like a little monkey. He can feed
himself with a spoon. He can put toys with different shapes into two different bowls. He knows the names of all the children in his room, and
can say their names. He can put on his own shoes. He has a relatively
strong personality. "

Now, we mail off a bit more paperwork and wait for a few more steps that I really don't understand because it is new - thanks to the Hague. I do know we should meet our son in the next 8 to 12 weeks. That means I have alot to do!!!

Kids Got Talent

2010-03-21T20:57:00.005-04:00

Our local home school support group hosts a "Talent Night" each spring. This year was our family's 1st year of participating. The display of God -given talent was impressive.

Shelby and Fulton both played piano pieces. This is Fulton's 1st year of lessons,and we are so proud of his hard work. He enjoys playing the piano and did great at his 1st "Talent Night".

Shelby has taken piano for 5 years. She worked very hard to play Fur Elise by Beethoven in its entirety. She has progressed so much this year with her new teacher. Unlike her mother, Shelby actually enjoys practicing. She sits down at the piano numerous times each day to play and practice her pieces. Hopefully she will stick with it and use her talent all of her days to glorify God.

Katie sang "A City on Our Knees" by Toby Mack. She has never taken voice lessons, but she did amazingly well. In my book, she would have done an amazing job even if her singing had been atrocious. Just to stand on stage - alone - and sing. Her Mama sure doesn't have courage like that - not now or ever!

Our Littles wanted to display their talent as well - a little "BIBLE" with sign language was the act. Ethan was struggling with wanting the spotlight all to himself. This was after he had already sang 4 solos for us. We had a little word of prayer with him about pride and selfishness.

No word on LOA. Tomorrow is Day 60! Surely we must be close. We have not received any updates on Hudson either although we hope and pray for one soon.

Please pray for Isabelle: recently adopted from Kunming, where Ellie is from. ISabelle had heart surgery over 2 weeks ago and is still hospitalized. She has recovered well from the surgical procedure itself, but now she is fighting a bacterial infection and will require about a week of IV antibiotics. This family is precious and I know they are worn out from this ordeal. Please say a prayer for Elaine, Phil, Isabelle, and their other 4 girls, Torie, Michaela, Anna Grace, and Sarah Mei who are having to survive all this time without having their mom at home.

Exciting News!

2010-03-14T21:02:00.004-04:00

Did anyone think for a second that maybe we had our LOA??????

Nope, we are still waiting for that, but we do have some exciting news from the home front. . .
Lilly is reading! She has learned all of the letter sounds over the last year. Since I don't have a lot of free time on my hands (can we say "understatement"), I had not been working with her on reading. Last week I spoke with a long time homeschooling mom, and she reminded me that her 3 children all were reading at 3 1/2. She encouraged me to work with Lilly - in a very relaxed way. So one night after dinner, Lilly and I sat at the kitchen bar with magnetic letters. Talk about effortless! She started reading those 3 letter, short vowel words like "cat, sat, pot, mat, bat. . . It was so easy compared to my 4 older kids. A little positive peer pressure may be just what big brother Ethan needs to motivate him to try a little harder with his own reading!

Wait - there is more. . .

Not to be outdone by her older sister (by only 11 months), Ellie starting saying "I want to read" the night that Lilly and I worked with those magnetic letters. We practiced a little that night and then tonight she read her 1st book. Way to go Ellie!

Here No More

2010-03-07T17:44:00.003-05:00

Before Christmas I was inspired by another adoptive mom, Melanie, whose blog I follow at http://www.the30dayjourneyforhope.blogspot.com/, to spend my time more wisely - doing things that really matter. . .that will have an eternal purpose perhaps. Melanie shared about an afternoon that she and her children spent at a nursing home and how that one visit really changed their perpective. After reading that entry, I was motivated to do the same so one of - no make that my only - New Year's Resolution was to begin a nursing home ministry with my oldest children.

I believe our 1st visit was the very 1st Sunday in January. We had gathered several small bottles of lotion, some leftover candy canes, and a few "Daily Bread" devotionals, and we set off to spend an hour or so with the residents of our local nursing home. I don't like nursing homes. The smell has always bothered me and although I knew we needed to make that visit, I was a little uneasy. I prayed for our 1st visit to go well so we would all want to return in 2 weeks. God surely answered my prayer. We visited with several residents including my great-aunt Vi. I am ashamed to admit that I had never visited her before, and she lives only 10 minutes from my home. On our first trip, we also met Ms. Lillie, Ms. Alice, and Ms. Betty Jean. What a blessing it was to spend an hour or so visiting with these precious ladies. After leaving, Shelby, Katie, Fulton, and I were reflecting on our time there and that while it surely didn't cost us much of anything other than a little time, the reward was indeed great.

I am happy to say that we are still visiting the residents every other Sunday. Only 3 weeks ago, we met a lovely 91 year old member of our church who was residing at the home although we did not know this during our first few visits. Ms. Susie was a delightful and lively lady. Although she was 91, she quoted a precious poem to us about 2 little kittens who were fighting but in the end decided it was better to get along with one another. This poem was so long, and I was simply amazed at her ability to remember it after so many years - her mother used to tell it to her to encourage her and her siblings to get along. Last Sunday at church, we were told that Ms. Susie was in the hospital with kidney failure. We were so disappointed as we had planned on visiting with her that very day. This past Wednesday, Ms. Susie died. Shelby, Katie and I were saddened and shocked. As I have been reflecting on her death these last few days, God has reminded me of how quickly death can come. We took for granted that we would see Ms. Susie again, but we did not have the opportunity. However, I am so very thankful that God allowed me the blessing of meeting Ms. Susie and to think that I almost missed my only chance. She lived for 91 years yet I only met her 2 and a half weeks before her death. A gift from our Lord no doubt.

Today we made our visit to the home, and as we were heading to Aunt Vi's room, we saw where Ms. Gladys' room was empty. Ms. Gladys was another dear lady we met on the same day we met Ms. Susie. Later we found out that she too had died this week. Again, another reminder to live in the present as we do not know God's plans for our future. The present moment is all that we are guaranteed. The "present" is indeed a gift and one that we should treasure. Instead of running to the next "thing" on our list as I am so guilty of doing, we all should take time to enjoy this gift of the "present" that God has given to us.

Dear Lord,
I thank you for the gift of the present. I thank you for the gift of meeting one of your precious saints only weeks before you called her home. I pray that this week I will take the time to enjoy each and every moment you give to me and not take for granted that tomorrow will come. I pray for each person who reads this that they too will purposefully choose to live in the present.
May we each seek to bring you glory as we tend to those who are less fortunate than ourselves - the widows, the homeless, the orphan, whoever it is that you place in our paths. May we take the time to minister to them just as Jesus did 2, 000 years ago. May we not pass by the moment assuming there will be another opportunity. In the name of Jesus, Amen.