Missing My Girl!

Well, gosh.........these children of ours just keep growing up and then they seem to go places!  This week Miss Rachel is in California visiting some very dear friends. She's having a great time and getting a much-needed break from regular life............but boy, do I miss her cheerful smile throughout the day!

Have a great time, Rachel, and we look forward to having you back!

ISAAC: "laughter - son of promise"

Three years ago today Courtney, Rachel, and I walked into the very dingy Civil Affairs Office in Xi'an, China, to await the arrival of Isaac, who we had been waiting for for 18 long months.  Surprising to us.........he was already there.  My first impressions were, "He is SOOO tiny!" and "He is SOOO cute!"  I went right up to him and as he looked soulfully into my eyes I started to cry. 

Once we got back to the hotel room, my first order was to begin attachment.  The girls left to go post pictures and I just rocked, sang, and talked to this quiet little boy.  I had a box of animal crackers that he was entranced with - a smile started not too long afterwards!

Isaac had a hard adjustment.  He had giardia and scabies which didn't help matters any.  He woke up whimpering many times at night and I spent hours rocking and snuggling this scared little boy.  He was terrified of potatoes and the only thing we were told by others was that they resembled rats.  We have no idea what experiences, good or bad, he had in the 32 months before he came to us.  But God is faithful and slowly, oh so slowly, this little boy started to blossom before our very eyes!  We were encouraged by the following verse:

Joel 2:25  "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten....."

No matter what Isaac had gone through previously, we were here for him from now on - HIS FOREVER FAMILY!  It's amazing what love, attention, and physical touch will do for a child!

Isaac is so funny and keeps us laughing most of the day.  He gets so excited over the simplest things and his joy is contagious!  He loves preschool, being a big brother, helping around the house, playing Duplos, reading books, and helping the ladies.  He pulls out my chair at every meal - what a gentleman!

It's hard to believe it has been three years, little man.....we love you beyond belief and can't wait to see what the future holds for you!

January Ramblings

Well, Courtney is back in the throws of a new semester and we miss her so much after having her here for an entire month! She celebrated her 22nd birthday on the 15th - the first one not here with the family. I'm back from my week of rest and relaxation with my parents in Florida and back into daily life......that can be so daily!

Isaac and Joshua continue to provide laughter and hilarity on a daily basis!  They play so well together and can play for hours with all of their cars, trucks, and machines.  Isaac is currently into cement trucks, which he calls "ment trucks", and is always on the look for them when we are out and about.......I never knew how many sightings of cement trucks I had been missing!

Now, speaking of Joshua, this is what that young man did the other day when left unsupervised for a very short time - he used his toddler scissors on his hair.  It looked much worse before I gave him a haircut.

Joe and David headed out to the farm yesterday to get some chores done.  They spent the day there working on a pipe that had burst by the well and doing some tractor repairs.

Rachel got motivated to clean out the truck.  She decided not to wash it since there was rain on the way!

Yes, those are clouds!  We so rarely have a cloudy day since about 355 days a year look like this........

Yes!  We woke up to rain this morning and we had several heavy downpours.  This is exciting news to document when you live in Arizona!

Willie and Buffy weren't too happy this morning when they went outside, but managed to stay dry under the porch.

The backyard had standing water - the ground is so hard there is no place for it to go!  That's why we were in all sorts of "flash flood warnings"!  Even though we have been in Arizona for eight years, we mid-westerners still find some of the dramatics in weather here quite funny!  But the sun is back out now and the clouds are moving to the east.  It was enjoyable while it lasted........................!

Stay tuned.........we have several "gotcha-days" coming up, as well as several birthdays, and a special trip for Miss Rachel!

Lovely Last Day.......

Today we took it easy, enjoyed the beautiful warm weather, and took some interesting photos.  One of my favorite sights is this VERY LARGE statue of the kissing sailor.  It's actually titled "Unconditional Surrender".

 

Back in April, a driver (who apparently was texting) hit this statue and did some pretty severe damage.  It had to be sent away to be repaired, and was just returned in December! You can see how big this is compared to the car.

I love how this beautiful pink tree reflects in the water!

  

Beautiful clouds were reflected in the lake.  Now the next pictures are for Isaac and Joshua!  These boys love turtles so I was able to get these pictures just for them!

 

Overall, a wonderful visit! My family is more than ready to have me home and I am ready to get back in the swing of regular life.

A Little Bit of Heaven!

Yes, those are my feet standing on the beautiful white sand of Longboat Key!  I spent so many years of my youth on this glorious island and it was so nice to step in the surf once again.  It's not the same sleepy island of the 70's and 80's, but the beach and the Gulf are much the same.

 

There was lots of red seawood washed up today, but it was still beautiful!  My parents and I used to walk miles up and down this beach.

 

 

 

My mom and me, posing by the beautiful flowers in the brand-new Publix store on the island.

 

This is the original little library that my mom volunteered in for so long.  They didn't have a huge selection of books, but we always found plenty to read! 

 

My wonderful parents!  Thanks for such a great time!

Florida, Here I Come!

Leaving tomorrow for a much-needed break to see my parents in Florida!
 Can't wait!

Beautiful Daughters!

What a wonderful way to start the new year............beautiful new photos of Courtney and Rachel!  They went to the park this morning for a sister photo shoot.  Enjoy the results of their efforts!  Besides being beautiful girls, they are wonderful at photography!