Sunday, January 30, 2011

The eyes of the Lord

“The eyes of the Lord
are in every place…”
Proverbs 15:3

“You are the God-Who-Sees.”
Genesis 16:13

While we may never know this side of heaven
details of the first 17 months of Gracie's life,
God has graciously allowed our family to embrace
one very special part of those early months.

We have kept in contact with a family from Alabama
who brought their sweet daughter home from
China in December of 2009.


Lia Kate and Gracie were not only in the same
orphanage in Lianjiang China, but they
also were in the same room
(with many other cribs)for six months.


Last evening, were able to have Lia Kate
and her wonderful family in our home for dinner.
It was so special to see those beautiful, well-adjusted,
and well-loved girls together, and it
was amazing to share stories and similarities
that we've seen in our girls...Many things
make more sense now as far as sleep habits,
certain "quirks", fears, etc.
Danny was able to visit the girls' orphanage,
so every bit of knowledge he was able
to share is precious. Many details were
difficult to hear, but we are so grateful for
these descriptions and shared memories!


God is so in the details,
and we are thankful for another priceless
little piece of our sweet girl's puzzle!
HE saw and knew those sweet little Asian girls
in those little cribs in that small orphanage
in a Chinese city of 1.6 million people...


"O LORD, You have searched me and know me.
You know my sitting down and my
rising up; You understand my thoughts
from afar off. You comprehend my path
and my lying down, and are acquainted
with all my ways."
Psalm 139:1-3


cuteness times 2!


beautiful Lia Kate

miss sassafrass




do we HAVE to pose?!

Lia Kate's handsome brother!

Emily - a beautiful mama inside & out!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

She's two...continued

note to self...
when you hear two year old giggling
while your'e in the shower,
it's probably not a good thing.

yes, it was a brand new roll,
and yes, she did have to clean it up...

Sunday, January 16, 2011

coffee shop romance

a Sunday afternoon coffee date
with my honey to
talk, laugh, and dream together...
lovely!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

super-sized family time

snow day #3 here.
I have honestly loved having everyone home!

sledding, hot chocolate, board games,
pajama dress code, long walks,
coffee, movies, Wii marathons,
sore parents(see above "sledding"),
no school - no homework,
using the field guide to identify all
the fabulous birds at our feeders,
ibuprofin (see above "sore parents"),
lots of popcorn, no alarm clocks,
snow angels, finishing books that were
simply waiting for some free time,
laundry, laundry, laundry...
good times



the aging couple before the aches settled in

Gracie LOVES sledding...
the faster the better


should've added "chiropractor" to that
pre-storm-bread-and-milk-store list
(my scissor-kick technique was a nice touch)

those darn long legs slowing down the air time

Quinn at least remained upright

Erin still manages to smile for the camera

at least Ali's fanny was padded w/
a few layers of clothing...

light-saber icicles


even the squirrel's gotta eat

warmin' my buns!

happy trails!


Thursday, January 6, 2011

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Christmas -La-Palooza

would someone please tell me where
the month of December went?
baking, wrapping, movies & games,
celebrating the birth of Emmanuel,
packing for Grammie's, Christmas Eve with
Brian's family, the stomach bug on Christmas Eve,
(yes, what a memory to cherish)
our first (excluding Brian) white Christmas,
(8-12" in NC !!!)
New Year's Eve with my family back home...
I'm tired!
tired and ready to clean,
organize, and renew my mind for
2011!!!


our day downtown



the Tolkein/C.S. Lewis exhibit at the library

New Year's Eve @ my sister's




my new Wonder Pets!!

cousin time @ Grammie's

Uncle Stephen's house
(notice Quinn sacked out in the midst of the party...
our first clue that the illness that takes no holiday
would soon arrive)

Erin's new "baby"

Can you say SNOW?!!!



Christmas morning @ Grammie's

Christmas Eve!

movie/slumber party night

Christmas cookies

Roper Mountain Christmas lights with Grandma & Grandpa

a girl's gotta keep warm somehow

the Greenville Chinese Cultural Association Christmas party


the angel Gabriel practicing his lines