Visitors from China

We were able to catch up this past week with our friends the Cheelys, who live in China and teach English in Nanjing at the Universitys. They have two beautiful girls, Abby and Esther. Brooke, Abby and Esther's mom grew up in our church and Pam and I became friends with her shortly after we started our paperwork and shortly after they adopted Esther. During our second visit with them we were in the waiting stage and now it was SO great to get to introduce our China babes to them. It was a very noisy house with all of them (although the noise came from two boys) but we so enjoyed their visit! Thanks for spending time with us Cheelys!!!All these kids have been in China!!!

Is Kailee dreaming about a little sister..???
Beautiful blue-eyed Abby who is the only blond haired, blue eyed girl in her Chinese school!

O
Our China beauties!

Always up for a challenge!

Hudson loves the water and will swim around the pool by himself on a noodle. Last summer he was jumping in all over the place. This year he has been a bit reluctant to jump in but Ty who is a maniac this year in the water has encouraged some healthy peer pressure. Today Hudson first jumped off the diving board (didn't get a picture of that one) and then daddy told him he would buy him a new car if he jumped off of this high ledge below. Hudson was all over that and after getting up the nerve he did it!!! "I'm gonna do it ...
... psyching myself up
here goes nothing! "

After that, it was again and again. Once we were out of the pool for the night he reminded daddy of his promise so off they went....he's got daddy wrapped around his finger.

(Pictures aren't the greatest as they were taken with my phone)

Nan Nan

I have been catching up on blogs as returning back to life in Texas has gotten me behind. I have seen this video on two different blogs, one from a family that is in China right now bringing home their daughter. I don't typically watch video's but the second time I saw this posted I thought it must be good. As it was nearing the end Hudson crawled up in my lap and hugged my neck so tight and then planted one of his lingering kisses on my cheek. At the same moment a precious little cleft palate child popped up on the screen. Oh, for ANYONE who even has had a moment of thinking about adopting from the Waiting Child program I wish you could have felt what I did at that very instant. I don't even know how I would put it into words to capture all I felt in that moment....the best I can do is say what a humbling honor it is to call Hudson my son, to love him and to be loved by him. What we would have missed out on had we not gone with the Waiting Child program brought tears and if we should be blessed enough to adopt again the Waiting Child program would be the only way to go for us.
In light of that I wanted to post the following picture of a precious little girl who will be two in Oct. Her name is Nan Nan and she has spina bifida although she can walk and is continent. She needs the second part of a crucial surgery and there is a foster family in China who contacted me asking if I could help in finding her a home. I do have an email from her foster mom, Rachel, that gives more information about her and she also has more pictures and videos she is willing to share if anyone is interested. I can't get her out of my head and SO wish we were at a place to move forward but we know right now is not our time.
Please watch the video if you have not already seen it. Many of you have adopted special needs kids and I know you will be blessed like I was. If anyone wants more info on Nan Nan let me know. Please pray that she will find her forever family soon!

The only way to spend time outside in 102plus degrees!!

We were taking pictures of the "little" ones and thought we needed all six families represented so the eldest of the group jumped in. Jake is Jordan's best friend and leaving for college in California within a year.....

Many times I refer to the "posse" which consits of a group of six of us. Some of us have known each other longer than others but we have have all shared lots of joys together and also some very hard times. We all go to church together and have served alongside each other in ministry. The Sanza's have been waiting to host a party in their new house which has a great pool and since Frank is a big golfer, a putting range is in the works. It was great to all be together again!!! Lots of pictures follow showing the events of the afternoon/evening.



.......swimming with the dads...... Hudson and Mark

Maddie and Mike


Calli and Drew

Ty and Frank

and the youngest, Noah and Jason

.....a little flipping and jumping..,,.

a little modeling

....and a little golf contest...all in all a great get together!!

Jordan's B'day Celebration

The boys plus cousin Abby.

I am just now getting around to posting pictures of Jordan's birthday dinner. Mark makes KILLER taco's (by frying corn tortilla's in oil like his mom taught him) and this night we made 80 taco's (both beef and chicken) for these boys...yes, folks, 80!! We couldn't make them fast enough but we didn't mind. Jordan had made great friends in MN and we hope they will be part of his life forever! Jordan comes home next Thursday...YEAH!!!!

I'm back!!!!

Sarah, Hudson and Jens, sweet MN friends!!

I think my life has returned to normal and it feels so good!!! Mark and I spent the week alone last week but so busy as we "moved" back in and I started catching up on work and home chores. I spent my first week away from Hudson and although I missed him like crazy it was good to have the time to focus on Mark and getting back to normal. We brought Hudson and the girls home Sunday and it has been like Christmas around here for Hudson. The 1 1/2 days we were home before taking off for the funeral/reunion were spent walking around boxes and furniture and so he didn't get to enjoy home. He completely feel apart when we arrived at Mark's mom's Saturday and didn't stop whining, crying and fussing until we walked in our house Sunday afternoon. He kept saying "we stay here?". Right before bed on Sunday night he found his train set and wanted to play. Of course it was bed time so he slept with a train and then woke up at 4:30 Monday morning. He kept saying "play toys?" I finally got up with him at 6:00 and he went straight for his train set,,,, what else was a mom to do but put together the train set and play? Of course we have had errands to do like restocking our pantry and fridge and he says "NO....stay home!!!" Now he asks on our way home from an errand "we go old house?". IN the last 7 months this kid has lived in 3 different houses and stayed in two different ones in the last two weeks. He did have a great time though with Nanny, Aunt Nicole and the cousins!!! He asks to go see Grandpa and mema and wonders where Jordan is. Jordan will be coming home next week and I have to say I am SOOO looking forward to my entire family being under one roof again!!!

My computer has also been unable to connect to the internet since I have been home so I am so looking forward to catching up on blogs...I have missed you all!!! I will be posting lots of pictures over the next few days on our last days in MN and life back here in TX!!