8 Months Today

Can it be that we have been home 8 months today? Time is dragging by so slowly for those waiting for referrals yet it seems to be speeding along now since we have been home. I just can not believe we have had Katie in our lives for 8 months. It seems as if she has always been here with us. This time last year we had a horrible aching in our hearts for her. It was another holiday passing without having her and it was so frustrating. This year we are so thankful that she is finally home!

These are pictures of the day we met at the Chongqing Civil Affairs Office. She has changed so much since then as you can see from other pics on the blog. She was shy, alittle withdrawn but "smiley", more so that most of the other babies that day. She was content with anything we did and she didn't fuss except for a bottle. We thought she was going to be softspoken. She attached very quickly as did most of the babies from Dianjiang in our group. She was the sweetest thing!

Once we got home and the jet lag wore off, she turned into a very vocal young lady! BOY oh boy can her voice carry. She is loud and funny and giggly all the time. The only time she fusses is when her tummy is rumbling or sister is trying to take away a toy from her. She is running and talking up a storm and other than a few sniffles now and then is very healthy.

Our hearts are with our friends in the IA community this holiday season who are still waiting. No words can make the wait and easier but you are all in our prayers for speedy referrals and wonderful homecomings.

A New Tradition

Last year we bought our first gingerbread house kit and it turned out great! We decided to do that again this year and T was in charge of the design and decor. I think she did a great job!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Officially beginning the countdown to 40 tomorrow! Ugh.

Cody - MIA

For those concerned "citizens" who have commented about a missing child in our photos - here is his status. He is in KY visiting his Dad. He had left when the impromptu pics were taken. He wasn't left out on purpose! Sheesh!

Christmas Shots

Nativity

Music Music Music

I'm still trying to find music for the blog. Christmas is my favorite time of year and there are some BEAUTIFUL Christmas songs out there especially Welcome To Our World by Chris Rice.

Please click on the play button on the right if it doesn't start automatically and listen to 4 of my alltime favorite songs I have on the playlist while you are browsing the blog and enjoy!

Christmas Tree O Christmas Tree

I think we are the first family in the world to have our tree up so early! Taylor begged to put it up as soon as the Halloween decor was filed away and Dad gave in. Katie was enthralled with the sight. She didn't quite know what to make of it!

halloween

Itty Bitty Plane Ride

Jim went to NC last week for a "supposed" business trip. Actually it was a business trip but one of his team members (John Walker) happens to be a pilot - of a very, very small plane. Jim called one evening to tell me he, John and another team member, Ken decided to go for a flight in John's plane. Of course he calls after it is all over with so me screaming at him about it did no good! Then when I saw the pictures of how small the plane is and you can see how smooshed they are in the cockpit that made it worse. There is no way in Hades that I would get into a plane that was smaller than me horizontally or vertically! Jim looks like he is taller than the plane in the picture they took.

They had a good time and from what Jim said, John was an excellent pilot. Thanks for getting him back safe, John!

The Christian's Pumpkin

We will be carving our pumpkins like this on Halloween. There are two versions and they go like this...

I am a Jack O' Lantern
My light will shine so bright

For I am a Christian pumpkin
My symbols tell what's right.

My nose is like the cross
on which our Savior died

To set us free from sin
We need no longer hide.

My mouth is like a fish
The whole wide world to show

That Christians live in this house
And love their Savior so!

The story starts at Christmas
My eyes are like the star

That shone on Baby Jesus
And wise men saw from far.

My color it is orange
Just like the big bright sun

That rose on Easter morning
Along with God's own Son.

And so on Halloween
Let's set our pumpkins out

And tell the trick or treaters
What God's love is all about!

author unknown

The Pumpkin Prayer

Dear God,

As I carve my pumpkin help
me say this prayer:

Open my mind so I can learn about You;
(Cut the top of the pumpkin) - Colossians 3:2

Take away all my sin and forgive me
for the wrong things I do.
(Clean out the inside) - 1 John 1:9

Open my eyes so Your love I will see;
(Cut eyes shaped like hearts) - Psalms 34:8

I'm sorry for turning up my
nose to all You've given me.
(Cut a nose in the shape of the cross) - Psalms 92:1

Open my ears so Your word I will hear;
(Cut ears shaped like the Bible) - Isaiah 55:3

Open my mouth so I can
tell others You're near.
(Cut mounth in the shape of a fish) - Psalms 118:17

Let Your light shine in all
I say and do! Amen.
(Place a candle inside and light) - Matthew 5:16
"Let your light so shine before men, that they
may see your good works and glorify your
Father in heaven."

Stinky Feet

Katie is fascinated with shoes. She cries in the morning if you don't put shoes on her feet as soon as she gets up. I am serious. She will walk around moaning and groaning and fussing and screaming "shoes, shoes, shoes" until you put them on and then she is happy as she can be. The problem is this...I bought her the cutest pair of shoes at Target and those are her favorites. She wears them constantly until she goes to bed at night. The other day she had just taken off her shoes and was sitting with her daddy for the night. He said, "I think you need to change her diaper." I did, and it was dry. I took her back and he said, "did you not change her diaper?" Then he quickly figured out the smell was HER FEET. OMGosh her feet did stink and so do her shoes. I have scrubbed and scrubbed and that stinky feet smell persists. The solution???? Wash her feet, of course, but almost as good as that... BUY MORE SHOES!!! (My favorite past time), so that's exactly what we did.

The other thing she has figured out is that if shoes don't fit, then put them on the wrong feet and they will. My mom bought her a pair of crocs and they are a tad too big. She loves those shoes and she figured out pretty quick that she can keep'em on if they are on the wrong feet. If I put them on correctly she will take a few steps, sit down and promptly change them around and smile about it! My goofy girl...

Pumpkin Patch Fun!

In Memory and With Love

32 Years ago this month a beautiful girl was born on the 20th of October. Her name was Heather Montgomery. She was funny and smart and sweet. She caught the eye of my brother, Jeff and they were married. They had two children together, Lauren and Jake, which I baby sat for them when we lived in Kentucky.

4 Years ago on Halloween eve as Heather was driving to our house to pick up the kids, she was hit by another vehicle and was killed less than a 1/2 mile from us. She left behind a family who loved her dearly, two small children ages 3 years old and 7 month old baby. She was a wonderful mom, loving wife, faithful friend, caring coworker and best of all, a child of God. We miss you Heather. Until we meet again, Happy Birthday and we love you...

6 Months

Can it really be that 6 months ago today we met our Katiebug for the very first time? She was so tiny and scared, but she sure did smile alot which was a blessing! Most days it feels like she has been in our family forever. Surely we have had her with us longer than just 6 months. I guess since we have carried her around with us in our hearts for years it makes time stretch out longer. We can't imagine a day without her or how we even lived without her for so long. My heart aches for everyone who is still waiting because I know how frustrating the wait is when you just want your child to love on.

We miss China and all of the people we met there. Our group is scattered all over the country and it's difficult to stay in touch but if any of our travel mates are reading this, we miss you guys and think about you often!

We are so blessed. We LOVE you Katiebug!

A Bad Habit

What's wrong with these pics? I'll tell you what's wrong. I have a ba-jillion digital photos of Katie. I made the terrible mistake of showing her the video screen of my camera one day after taking her picture. Now, whenever she sees me grab the camera to take her picture, she immediately stops doing whatever cute thing I was going to take a picture of and points and grabs for the camera. I guess I will have to put the darn thing away for a while and hope she forgets about it! - Yeah, right...

A FIRST...

Ever since we got Katie, I couldn't wait until her hair was long enough for a pony tail. Well, as you can see, she doesn't have alot of hair and what she does have is very, VERY fine.

I just love my cyber friend Kim's little girl, Miss Kate (see 3 Peanuts link). Her hair is so thick and she always is very fashionable with a bow to match her outfits. Katie will not keep a bow in her hair and even if should would, it would slide right out. I have been green with envy of all these China cuties with heads full of hair! Today I tried the pony tail. She didn't bother it for about 3 hours then she yanked it out. She reminds me of Pebbles from the Flintstones! We shall press on and continue trying to make this hair thing work.