What a beautiful spring day!  The grass is green, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, I finished my 12th load of laundry, packed away the suitcases, Lydia is napping, Olivia is playing with a friend and I am counting my blessings.  It's amazing what a good night of rest and no laundry can do for you! 

I am so blessed to be a stay-at-home mom. I love to watch Lydia discover and grow. She is learning new words every day and is so funny.  She makes the funniest faces and is quite dramatic.  She also loves music and the outdoors.  What a treasure the Lord has given us in our precious Lydia.

First time eating spaghetti

Can a person eat too much yogurt?

Watering the flowers

Feeding her baby

Lydia does EVERYTHING like her sister, so when Olivia received a call

from her friend, Lydia had to talk on a phone too.  Too cute!

We're Home!

Daddy and his girls!


Playing patty cake with nana.


I'm a U.S. Citizen!


She loves her carseat.


Sleeping on the way home.


Home Sweet Home!


Praise the Lord we are home! Everyone is doing well. Lydia is very content and happy here at Goshen Point. Thank you all for your prayers and comments. We serve a great God and I praise Him for each answered prayer. He is a loving, faithful and good God!

Enjoy the photos!

Monday, April 19, 2010

We made it to Guangzhou and are enjoying the warmer weather and slowerpace. Sunday we attended a bilingual service here on Shamian Island andate at Lucy’s. Today we have Lydia’s medical appointment and visa photo. Tuesday we apply for her visa, Wednesday we attend the “swearing in”ceremony and Friday we begin our journey home. There is no place likehome sweet home!

The girls are doing well. They are enjoying spending time together and Olivia is such a good big sister. She has matured so much over the pasttwo weeks. She loves to hold Lydia and take care of her.

We look forward to everyone meeting Lydia. She has a loving, outgoing and very strong personality. She is still enjoying exploring everything.Right now she is sitting on the floor unrolling toilet paper, pretendingto blow her nose and stuffing the paper inside the holder. I’ve got tobaby proof the house when I get home!

I’ll try to write once more before we leave Friday morning but with Mark headed home tomorrow I'm not sure I will have time. Thank you for your continued prayers.

Enjoy the photos!

Wednesday, April 14

This week we visited the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, a cultural park, saw a hutong, rode the underground subway, walked the streets of Beijing, and ate lots of Chinese food and McDonalds.  We only have one day left in Beijing.  On Friday we are visiting the Great Wall and having dinner with two other families who are getting their children today.  We are looking forward to going to Guangzhou on Saturday.  The weather will be warmer and we’re ready for a change of scenery.

Olivia and Lydia are doing well.  They are getting along well.  Olivia is learning to “give in” and to make sacrifices for her little sister. Lydia continues to imitate everything Olivia does.  She is a little talker, still loves to walk everywhere and decided on one cold food she likes…daddy’s vanilla milkshake.

The Lord has been faithful.  I have called on Him for help with even the smallest of things while we have been here and He has heard each prayer and answered faithfully.  He is God over the whole earth.  He is faithful and true. I will praise the Lord today because He is a loving and faithful Heavenly Father.

Thank you for your emails and prayers.

Monday, April 12

Let me begin by wishing a “Happy Birthday” to Katy Brown.  Katy you are an amazing young lady and I love you.  Thank you for living a life set apart for the Lord.  Thank you for being a role model that my girls can look up to.  Enjoy celebrating your special day ~ the day God created you!

Today was filled with appointments and more appointments.  Lydia is officially ours!  She was a little trooper through it all. She is doing so well.  Transitions are still hard for her so I tell her in advance when we are getting ready to do something different…we’re going to nana’s room, going for a walk, going to eat, going to take a bath.  And speaking of taking a bath – she and Olivia took their first bath together and that worked great.  When she saw Olivia sitting in the bubbles she decided she might like it and she did.  Anything Olivia does she wants to do.  You should have seen her walking around in Olivia’s shoes, it was too funny!

She is trying new foods but still loves her warm milk, steamed dumplings, rice and she loves broccoli.  She is crazy about he dada and calls for him if she is upset or crying.  She loves everything neat and in order. She lines up our shoes, folds towels and napkins and doesn’t like any messes on her mouth or hands.

We’re all doing well…tired but well.  We praise the Lord for His grace and strength that are holding us up.  He truly is our joy and strength. I will praise the Lord at all times!

Until next time…we love you and thank you for your continued prayers.