part 7

We headed out to lunch and I was famished, hoping for some good Chinese food. Simon, our guide, decided that since Ben and Caleb are both Hubei boys, that he would take us to a restaurant that specialized in food that you would find in Wuhan. I was less than thrilled as the choices were extremely limited in what some of us would be willing to eat. Lots of fungus, kidneys, a huge variety of fish and turtles, eels, snakes and seaweed.

... more

part 6

We had friends who did the hutong tour just last week and who were told that the home they visited was worth about $500,000.00. Either inflation is way out of control, or the home they visited was considered on the wrong side of the tracks! ;)

The woman who lived there was willing to answer any questions that we had about her life there, and even though the home was very small, I liked the fact that it... more

All siblings have their good days, their bad days, the days they are healthy, and days they are sick. Today, Gracie is sick, but even a little cold cannot stop that little girl’s energy!

My mom came into my room this morning and said Gracie woke up in the middle of the night with the croup. I woke up this morning without the sound of Gracie coming into my room to wake me up. Tired little Gracie was still asleep in her bed from the night of coughing and was still in bed when my mom and I left the house to go to school.

My... more

part 5

After leaving the elementary school, we hopped back into the pedicabs. Caleb and Ben began to holler again, encouraging their drivers to go faster. When one would pass the other, the one in the lead would shriek with delight.

Our route took us past a frozen lake where people were renting what looked like gliders that they could take out across the ice. Ben was not amused that we could not just stop... more

part 1

I found myself just holding on to the papers for about a week, praying for the comfort that I received earlier in his adoption process that told us to press forward. I emailed my very dear friend, Cindy, whom I knew would understand, because one of the children she has adopted can be quite difficult. Would God send me two incredibly difficult children? After all, I already had one child who was no cake walk. Her reply was a huge answer to prayer... more

This painting by Greg Olsen is one of my favorites. It's titled "Be Not Afraid", and it gives me courage and inspiration whenever I look at it...especially when I hear comments like this:

"Eleven years old? That's the age where I start to want to get rid of my boys! I can't imagine bringing home an 11 year old boy!"

That's what a friend told me when I announced our adoption to her, and I assure you she wasn't alone in her comments. I heard quite a few along those lines... more

When I was a young child I was very thin...oh those were the days. To eat what you wanted to eat without any fear of gaining an ounce was how my life used to be many moons ago.

Now I am truly convinced that all I have to do is look at a piece of cake or pie and by some magical, scientific law that I haven't yet figured out, it gravitates right to my rear or thighs.

This past week, I told Micheline that we needed to go get in the car to take her brother to speech, and she headed... more

Just had to share our extended family's joy with all of you that our new niece, Makenna, is home! She arrived with her parents late Wednesday night a bit tired and jetlagged but every bit as beautiful as you saw in her previous pictures.

As we were anxiously waiting, a woman who had been on the same flight and saw her brothers holding a "Welcome Home Makenna! We love you!" sign, walked past and said, "I already saw... more

part 4

After we left the classroom, the kids played outside on the playground for a bit and Caleb chose to be rather obnoxious. Everything was "my school was better", "our playground was bigger", "we had flowers and they don't", "we had more exercise equipment", etc. Taylor decided to put him in his place and said via our guide, "Well, their English was sure a lot better than yours." Caleb thought that... more

I have heard some of my friends say that their older brother or sister is their best friend. The problem is when their older sibling has friends over to spend the night their older brother or sister will act like their sibling is not even there. This is very hurtful to my friends that have older siblings.

I use to think that this was so mean and that the older sibling should not be able to get away with doing that to their younger sibling. I still feel that way but now that I am the older sibling I have to admit, as... more