Times Are Tough

 Sums up some of our "problems" doesn't it?!?!

Yummy!

Callie Found Her Family

One of our AO families is currently in China getting their new addition.  Take a minute to congratulate Angela and Jamie on their new treasure.  They stepped out of their comfort zone and took a big leap of faith to this little one.  Isn't she beautiful?!!?

Slide Master

Elise thought she was hot stuff climbing up the big playgroud and going down the slide over and over again. Of course big brother Travis is an added bonus at the bottom :)

First Camping Trip

We are having fun on our first camping trip of the season. Pretty neat as the last time we were in the camper, was the first time I saw Elise's picture on the computer. Now look who is here with us!!

Camping Time

Here are the girls having a good time just simply digging in the rocks.  No batteries required ;)

Rain Rain Go Away

Unfortunately were greeting with a nice thunderstorm when we arrived at the lake Friday night.  As you can see though, the girls made the best of it!

Sweet Dreams

Two Months Home

Two months ago we stepped off a plane, and Elise started her new life at home as a Straight. From day one, she had her reservations about us. She had no idea how her life was about to be transformed. She proceeded with caution from the very beginning...

But now, really have we only been home 2 months?!?! Elise fits in perfectly with our family, just like she has always been here.

Here are just a few things that I love about my beautiful baby girl right now

• The way she "eats" her whole hand when she is giggling
• The high pitched ooooooooooo when she feels something cold
• Her beautiful smile every time she wakes up and see us in the morning
• The way she just cracks up and runs from the boys as they pretend to "get her"
• The fact that she will eat just about anything we offer her
• And most of all, her sweet precious baby lips she puckers up for a kiss

What a blessing this little one is to our family!! And to think that we almost missed it-WOW. Good thing we didn't listen to the world, just to the One and Only who matters :)

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth.  Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies at the gate."-- Psalm 127:3-5

Beach Bum

Elise's first visit to the lake and the beach was definitely a success!

Beachin It

One Less

Yes, I even "work" on holidays.  This little jewel was matched over Memorial Day weekend.  Hop on over here to wish Amy a happy finding day.  Oh how I love LOVE seeing families find their new additions! 

It is H.O.T.

Fun in the Park

Miracle Match

I just have to share this amazing story with you all. In case anyone ever wonders if God favors adoption and if he is still in the miracle business, well here you go...

Yesterday morning, I was checking out some of the waiting kiddos because you just never know I mean because I have my other "job" that requires me too ;)  Anyhow, I saw this incredibly cute little boy staring back at me on one of the lists.  He caught my eye for some reason, so I simply cut and pasted his picture and his very brief description and sent it out to a couple of prospective adoptive parents. 

Now one of the ladies I sent it to, I knew had already signed on with a different agency, but still I thought she should just see that this guy is just adorable.  Immediately she responded and said "WHERE is this kid?"  Unfortunately, I had no idea where he was since no information was given for him on the agency site.  My friend said, "This is him, I think it is him, it's got to be him!"

You see she had been looking for this little boy who is currently in her first daughter's orphanage.  She still keeps in contact with some English students who work inside the orphanage and she has been following this little boy for the past year.  She has over 100 pictures of this little guy that the English students have sent her for over a year.  I however, had never seen a picture of him ever before.

Needless to say, it was a couple of crazy hours until we finally confirmed that indeed it was HIM!  Talk about finding a needle in a haystack.  What are the odds of finding one little boy, out of the millions of orphans in China, in one little email, randomly chosen from the 100s of kids I see on the lists, to land in the hands of his new mommy-ONLY GOD :)

Congratulations to the new mommy and her new son!!  Isn't he adorable?!

Summer Time

Ahhhh, the signs of summer!

Elise's Baby Dedication

We enjoyed a great day at church yesterday dedicating Miss Elise to the Lord.  We promised to "train her up in the way she should go" so to speak :)  Not an easy task and not one we take lightly.  Fortunately we had lots of friends and family there who witnessed her big day. (So maybe they will help hold us to our commitment-LOL)  It was a fun day and we all went to Chinese of course for lunch.  Really enjoyed "showing off" my baby girl to all the folks who helped pray her home!

Ready for Church

Heard These Before

This is for all my fellow APs out there, enjoy!

Scuba Queen