Good...no matter how you go at it!

This was Daniel's first pumpkin pie and he loved it.  When I told him that it was ok to eat the crust... that it was my favorite part... he gave me a look and said " Mommy, I can eat this however I like!" He never did eat the crust... silly boy! 

Happy Birthday GiGi!!!!

I started out trying to get Daniel to hold a "Happy Birthday GiGi" sign, of course Naomi wanted a sign too! I gave her a cornucopia (Daniel had made it :)  in preschool). Do you think I could get ONE stinking picture of the kids with the sign... up? Nope! This is what it is like, to try to get a picture of my kids these days!  And, yes... ( Jenn and Melissa... ) I am totally on "auto" with a flash! :) It was way to dark inside today and these kids move way to fast for me to figure out what setting to use! I guess I am ready for another class!

Most importantly...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIGI!!!!!!! WE LOVE YOU AND WE MISS YOU!!!!

Glad you enjoyed the flowers today... wish I were enjoying dinner with you tonight...

We love you.

A "sneak peak" from some family photos...

My sweet family...

We spent the last weekend in Fresno with my family... we had a photographer come to capture some moments together! She did great! Her name is Lori Kearney. You can read more about her HERE.

My sister Lea, brother Aaron & myself.

My mom & Dad.

My nieces Emilie & Makenna

Favorite Foto Friday...

I could not just pick ONE! I did not realize until I posted these that Daniel was pulling Quincy's tail.... no wonder Quincy cat was getting annoyed with him!  I Love these little sweeties!

Family fun....

Naomi pouring Aunty Lea tea... with sound effects and all! :)

Cousins Naomi (a little bored with pictures), Emilie, Makenna & Daniel.

Daniel blurry because he never stands still!

Emilie and Naomi stuck together this way, the entire weekend! :)

We spent the weekend in Fresno with my family! It was a great and relaxing weekend.... did I just say relaxing... well it was! The kids totally entertained themselves the entire time! Not one bit of tears or whining... Oh, well...except for when it came time to take pictures, of course! We all stayed at my sister's house... sleeping wherever we could find a free spot! Emilie and Makenna gave up there rooms for us and for GiGi and TaTa. Uncle Aaron was there too! It is always too short of a visit! Of course, I can say that because it is not my house everyone is thrashing! :) Thank you Lea & Jeff for your hospitality! Oh, one more thing, we will totally be dropping our kids off for a long weekend sometime soon! :) 

In the spirit of "Adoption Awareness" month...

God's Mission : Adoption

by Max Lucado


When we come to Christ, God not only forgives us, he also adopts us. Through a dramatic series of events, we go from condemned orphans with no hope to adopted children with no fear. Here is how it happens. You come before the judgment seat of God full of rebellion and mistakes. Because of his justice he cannot dismiss your sin, but because of his love he cannot dismiss you.

So, in an act which stunned the heavens, he punished himself on the cross for your sins. God's justice and love are equally honored. And you, God's creation, are forgiven. But the story doesn't end with God's forgiveness.

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God (Rom. 8:15-16 NASB).

But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons (Gal. 4:4-5 NASB).

It would be enough if God just cleansed your name, but he does more. He gives you his name. It would be enough if God just set you free, but he does more. He takes you home. He takes you home to the Great House of God.

Adoptive parents understand this more than anyone. I certainly don't mean to offend any biological parents-I'm one myself. We biological parents know well the earnest longing to have a child. But in many cases our cribs were filled easily. We decided to have a child and a child came. In fact, sometimes the child came with no decision. I've heard of unplanned pregnancies, but I've never heard of an unplanned adoption.

That's why adoptive parents understand God's passion to adopt us. They know what it means to feel an empty space inside. They know what it means to hunt, to set out on a mission, and take responsibility for a child with a spotted past and a dubious future. If anybody understands God's ardor for his children, it's someone who has rescued an orphan from despair, for that is what God has done for us.

God has adopted you. God sought you, found you, signed the papers and took you home.

One year ago today...

Naomi was placed in our arms. She was small and scared, yet a strong survivor. We were on the other side of the world... We celebrate this day! This is the day God gave Naomi to be our daughter!!!  

This is Naomi today... in a traditional Chinese dress made for her while we were in China. She is 2 years old now and was 16 months old in the slide show. So much has changed over the last year. We are so blessed. Daniel and Naomi love each other so much! We can not imagine our family any different that it is right now.

And this is our Slideshow from our travels... be sure to mute my music on on side bar first. Note how much our princess has grown! She is so amazing!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

And last... for anyone who wants to see our travel journal... it is linked in my side bar and call "Forever Ours."

We are thinking of a few other special families that we traveled with, who will never be forgotten... you and your precious children are etched in our memories of China. Thinking of you during this special time!

November is...

National Adoption Awareness Month...

This month is especially significant to our family, as this is the month we brought Naomi home from China. It was one year ago, that we were on our amazing journey around the world. We celebrate the day we held her in our arms for the first time on the 11th of this month.... actually, we have been remembering and celebrating all month! Naomi has changed our family so much and we feel blessed beyond measure. 

If anyone has ever considered adoption, we would love to talk with you! Please feel free to email me. I would love to answer any questions. It is an amazing journey!

Can you see the dinosaur?

I have looked and looked... while we were driving to church today, Daniel said "Mommy! Take a picture of that dinosaur cloud right there!" I grabbed my camera and took it right through the window! :) I showed him the picture and he was very pleased!

No matter how hard I look,  I still can't see the "dinosaur!"

Pee-pee on the Potty!!!!!

Doing the "Pee-pee Dance" in our house today!!!! Naomi is so proud of herself! We are not even "officially" training her... she just told Daddy she needed to go "potty" and she DID!!! If you only saw me! I looked like a crazy woman dancing around and cheering!! Naomi was beaming! Daniel seemed to be wondering why I don't get so excited when he goes potty.... I had to remind him that he has been doing this awhile! :)

***OOH...OOH... Update! Naomi stayed dry for our entire outing (Disney On Ice!!!) and when we got home went pee-pee in the potty again!!!! 

Christmas song....

In Vicky's honor! :)