One More Year . . .

Time keeps going doesn't it?  Marching on whether we need it to or want it to.  Some days I wanted it to speed by and others just to stop.  and.  breathe.

Technically we only have about a year and half with our oldest one under our roof, our rules, our mostly watchful eye.  He's had his first job, first car.  He's such a good boy.  I love watching him develop his own ideas and ways.  Trying to mold them and shape them into who He wants them to be gets harder - start early.

This precious, oldest daughter has grown and learned so much this past year, we both have.  It hasn't always been easy.  We are learning together and celebrating little successes because those add up to bigger successes.  God is so patient with me as a mom and leads me to where I need to be in parenting this one.  She's beautiful, brilliant, and absolutely precious.  I would not ask her to be any other way.  

Our third born.  Diggy.  Ebear.  The baseball playa.  The kid who'd rather be home, but once he's out and about he's good.  He keeps us on our toes.  He keeps us laughing.

Each of our children has a voice in the family.  This one is Pepper.  Best big sister ever.  Best baby sister ever.  She's going to be a leader and organize groups of people.  

 And, sweet, loud, rule follower, the baby.  She runs everywhere she goes.  She's happy.  Her world has opened ours to SO much more than we had ever imagined.  She's a big piece of the puzzle God has put our family in.  Who wants to go to Ch*na with me?

And, the fearless leaders, us, married eighteen years in 2013.  How did we get to where we are today?  Prayer, communication, teamwork, tag teaming, God, and mostly God.  

This Precious One

 Tomorrow this chick is going to look a little different . . . 

All that metal that has been in her mouth for three years comes off tomorrow.

If our orthodontist could give an award for the most broken brackets I'm just sure we would win.

Thank goodness he doesn't charge extra for that.

This precious baby girl has my heart.  Things don't come too easy for her.  But she is one of the smartest kids I know!  Her brain goes places mine doesn't and it is amazing to watch.  God has GREAT plans for this one, and I get front row seats to watch it all unfold . . . 

So Much to Be ThankFUL For . . .

So, my bloggy friend, Linny, had this great idea for us all to spend Thanksgiving together by linking our blogs up to hers.  This way we all get to lurk in each other's houses at what goes on in the preparing, thanking, togetherness of it all!  So, go visit aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/ to see how that boatload spends their Thanksgiving.  Boy does she have some AWESOME GOD stories to tell!  But don't go visit her house until you are done visiting mine!

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Let the festivities begin!  I think Thanksgiving is one of my most favorite holidays.  All this just being together and delicious food without the focus of material gifts just makes me happy!  

 I'm not doing the GIANT meal at my house this year.  We are heading to Grandma's a couple hours away.  And,  Thanksgiving AT Grandma's?  Well . . . just call me done.  It doesn't get much better than this as far as holidays go!

So, my part of the meal was baking a cake, well, Nicole and Carlie did the cake baking.  And, sweet potatoes.  Not too many people like the sweet potatoes but I LOVE them.  This recipe has a nut topping on it, no marshmallows tomorrow - those come on Friday for our OTHER Thanksgiving.  Lots of people to be thankful WITH, too!

The hubbie even got involved a little and came to my rescue to stir some things.  I love having him in the kitchen.  It doesn't happen near enough!

This kid was an official taste tester of the cake batter.  Yeah, raw eggs blah blah.  Rocky drank them, right?  Later I found the cake batter bowl with the leftover cake batter hidden in a closet upstairs so she could have a lick later.  Busted.

GaGa came over to help with dishes!  I love that she's my dish girl!  She loves that she's a dish girl, too!  Seriously, she'll admit it right along with me - she's not much of a cook, and that's ok!

Then there's this handsome boy.  He spent the evening staring at shiny things on the ceiling and being cute.  He does a great job of it!

The "Twins"

Just look at these girlies!  "Twins" born eleven months apart and half a world away.  

This one just turned five.  FIVE.  It's almost our fourth "Gotcha Day" anniversary.  Which is about as long as we waited for the "Gotcha Day."  But, that's another story . . . not for this post.

She LOVES her China and LOVES to tell people where she was born.  She's got SO much ENERGY.  She loves her teachers and school and friends.

Then this one . . . another gift!  She's so sassy and sweet.

She will defend her baby sister till the end of time if the need arises.  She's pretty happy go lucky.

 She's all girlie girl, and right now would prefer we all call her Brittany, but the name Pepper fits her so much better.

 We got one that's a rule follower and the other likes to bend them.  They play and fight well together.  Just like if they were sisters born to each other.

The years ahead are going to be so much fun.  I can't wait!

Sick Days

School has started which means we are around other kids who have some little germies.  On the third week of school we already had a little one stay home for three whole days.  We made it to the pediatrician just to make sure we weren't carrying around strep or anything lovely like that (we weren't).

I remember very well when I used to get sick as a kid.  All I wanted to do was spend all day long on the couch watching TV - you know, the kind back in the dark ages where we only had about 4 channels, and in the afternoon all that was on were soap operas???  We even had a BLACK and WHITE TV for many years, no remote EVER.

 Anyway, back to this little one . . . 

She wasn't content to just lay around and nurse her cold.  She wanted to be entertained with paints, crayons, and food.  (I don't think she was THAT sick.)  

But it was some good one on one Carlie time for me!

My Heart in China

This summer I was able to return to China to work with special needs orphans.  I never in a million years thought I'd go somewhere so cool and so far away, and TWICE!  It is amazing to see what He has done to get this giant puzzle put together (not that He is finished).  I am privileged to be a small part of this puzzle, but a very willing participant.  For my part of the puzzle it all started in the early 80's when I first heard of the one child policy and that baby girls were being left to be found.  I was about 12 or 13 at the time and just could not fathom ANY child without a family.  I knew then that I would one day adopt.  I just knew.  

Fast forward to the summer of '88 when I volunteered at the Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled with my friend.  I was in love with those kids.  That was another time I just knew that that was what I was supposed to be doing.  I didn't know that God would put those two pieces of my puzzle together, interweave them with so many different other people, families, and two countries.  I'm so grateful that His ways are so much higher than mine!

I'm making this way too short to do it justice . . . there will be more to this story!  God is faithful!  He always comes through!

So, for now I will share some of my favorite photos of the trip, but over the next few posts I will try my best to share more of how it all came to be.  

This is my friend Ping.  The orphanage estimates he is not quite one year old, and he has Down's Syndrome.
He would be an awesome brother to a wonderful family!  I would guess he's about 8 months old.  And, at that young
of an age he was already sitting, crawling, and very active - pretty good for a little guy with designer genes!

This is my friend Gael and her charge for the day at the amusement park.  His name is Sing.  What a great kid this is!  Such a great smile and personality!

This is Joey and McKayla.  Joey is nonverbal but SO smart!  He picked up on sign language very quickly.  And, he has the BEST laugh I have ever heard!  He finds so much joy in spite of his circumstances.  (There's a lesson in there.  You feel it?)

And this is beautiful Jin Jin.  Precious guy with autism who is so well behaved and easy going.  I love this boy.  He handled every change and activity wonderfully.  Gorgeous!

This story is far from over.  God is not done with any of this yet.

Cousin Fun Time

So, we had the sister, the brother-in-law, and the cousins over for the weekend.  You know, the one where we celebrate NOT laboring?

We had lots of fun in the pool doing some cool action shots.  I love a great action shot!

Cousin 2 was doing some creative jumping and silliness off the board.

She's a goof!

Lots of fun and relaxing was had.  Can't wait to do it again very soon!

Here We Go . . .

This is it.  The beginning of her school career.  She is sooooo very much ready to rock it!

But are we really?  She is so proud to be born in China.  Are we ready for the questions about how our family was made?  About why she looks different than we do?  Are we ready for racist comments about our baby girl?  How are you ever ready for that?  I pray and hope that the negative part of all that doesn't come around, that we are spared.  Reality and odds tell me that we aren't.  She's so precious.  So very much a part of our family.  So far, people have been very kind and well meaning in their conversations, and my answers have been informative and encouraging.  But, if the momma bear in me has to come out I will bring it!
Even in her preschool, there were three boys and three girls.  They were playing house and discussing who would marry who.  The other little girls (very sweet little girls) paired Avery with the other Asian boy in the room.  I found that interesting and funny!  And, even though the little Asian boy was adorable (I have a thing for Asians, in case you didn't know) I told Avery that she could marry whomever God told her to marry - and that that was a waaaaayyyyy long way away!  Avery seemed unaffected.  

So, here we go . . . open hearts and open minds.  Ready or not.

This One . . .

Miss Avery and I found a new place to explore!  She likes to explore, but isn't too fond of having her picture taken.  

I have to stop her, ask her to look at me, get a quick picture, and she's off again.

Isn't she beautiful?

Maybe I bribed her just a little bit to get some shots??  Maybe.

She was happy to oblige when I asked her to spin.  I love the reckless abandon and the swirl of her hair.

She's our last one at home.  The end of a long era in the McMurphy household.

Soaking up a little one on one time with her before we are surrounded.  Love our new exploring place!