Xin Nian Kuai Le

We just had to make one more trip to the beach this year.

Knowing that we'll probably be moving we don't take living 30 minutes from the beach for granted.

I'm still praying for someplace that is 70 and sunny. I know that's a little selfish. Sorry : (  I can't help it. God put the love for the beach in me.... : )



Love these sweet girls....



Love that they love their Momma....





Can't leave the beach without the thanking Him for His creation.



No way in the world could these two sneak up on anyone or anything.....the giggling gives them up every time.



She's never happy when we leave the beach : (  She's a girl after my own heart.

Xin Nian Kuai Le

So long 2011...

2011 has been an amazing year and a very difficult year. Never before have I felt more blessed and more heartbroken in my life. I'm always looking back for the lesson. Gosh, I don't want to wander around the mountain for forty years or if I have to wander for forty years by goodness I want to be learning something the whole time. What I've learned through 2011 is that God is Sovereign. Period. The things that have been difficult well, there's been a reason for it.  I don't always like it, but I've learned to trust that His reasons for it far outweigh my heartbreak. I've learned to seek God in all of these difficult things just as much as I seek Him in the beautiful things. I've learned to Praise Him in all things. All things! And that's not always easy. I've been on top of the mountain and down in the pit, but this year has taught me that He works all things for good for them that love Him. That is clear to me these days even when it doesn't make sense. I know now that when my kids are struggling that God is there for them. He always has been and always will be. I've learned that He loves them more than I could ever imagine loving them. As tough as life gets sometimes, that brings me great comfort. My prayer is that they will know how great His love is for them.

2012.....well, this year I'm looking forward to this little sweetie : )

I'm looking forward to some new pictures (God willing) soon...update is supposed to be coming. Yeah!

Just realized that every other year since 2008 we've grown our family through adoption. 2008 - Izzy, 2010 - Mari and 2012 - Josiah. Oh my goodness. I am turning 42 this year Lord....just sayin : )

Merry CHRISTmas....CAW! CAW! CAW!

You know how there's always that one gift that your kids just LOVE and they can't get enough of it....and it's usually what you least expect. Well this year it's these parrot puppets that their Aunt Neanie got them for Christmas. They are as cute as can be, BUT....they go CAW! CAW! CAW! oh, my goodness. I was so desperate by Christmas night that I made a pretend nest and convinced the girls that they were tired. It took A LOT of convincing, but they finally caved in and put the birds to bed. Ahhh!!! Peace again. Then first thing this morning CAW! CAW! CAW! : ) 

I hope you guys had a very blessed Christmas. Ours was sweet. I love hearing little giggles throughout the house. Music to my ears. Can't wait for Josiah's little giggles too.

Sheng Dan Kuai Le

Have a very blessed Christmas from our family to yours

Introducing "Handy".......

We have a new member of our family......meet "Handy". I know, how original! As original as "Leggie", right?  : )

She is lovin her new hand and is already amazing us with how well she can use it. She literally got it at 11:00 a.m. today and she's picking up things and holding things with it. She can open and close it easily. I'm just shocked at how proficient she is already. The myo-electric hand is SO cool. It's funny that Rob and I just stare at it because it's way crazy how it works and the girls are acting like this is just a regular thing. Like it's just a normal part of life. I guess it is normal for us. She had me paint "handy's" nails as soon as we got it. I was in the middle of painting and I started cracking up laughing because aside from trying to make the girls stay still so their nails would dry (which is an impossible task) I'm also balancing a prosthetic leg on my lap and I have a prosthetic hand in my left hand because I'm trying to paint them as well. It was just so funny to me. This IS our normal and it just makes me laugh.

Two and half years ago I was petrified at the thought of parenting a child with such special needs. Only God could've known that I would actually delight in parenting her.

Welcome to our family "Handy"....we are so happy to have you join us.

Here we go.....

Nice to meet you "Handy"

It's the little things in life like holding an umbrella....Thank You Lord.

waiting patiently

Habakkuk 2:3 

But these things I plan won't happen quickly. Slowly , steadily, surely the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.

I saw this scripture today on a friends blog and it really spoke to me. We are in such a season of waiting right now. It seems like we are waiting on everything these days.....not the least of which we are waiting on is Josiah. It's the area of my life that I have the hardest time waiting. It's just hard to imagine him alone in an orphanage without his family. It's harder this time because he's in a regular orphanage unlike the girls that were at Hidden Treasures Home. BIG DIFFERENCE. So, I cling to God's word in such a fierce way lately. I have to trust that God's got it all under control. Trust that Josiah is ok. That someone is loving him for me. It breaks my heart that I'm praying that someone is showing love to my child today. It's so hard to believe that this is the reality for so many children. There is so much that I don't understand. There is so much more I want to do. There is just SO much in my head lately that it feels like it's going explode. And right now, I wait ! Which feels a lot like I'm doing nothing. I can't stand doing nothing.

It doesn't help that I have two sick kiddos and haven't slept much....yeah, that doesn't help :(

I see the vision though and I anticipate it being fulfilled in God's absolute perfect timing.

Be The Difference

Be The Difference from Videos for AGCI on Vimeo.

Wonderfully Made.....

Five years ago.... my baby girl was born. She was wonderfully made and I am blessed to be her Momma. Happy Birthday my sweet Mari. At your very young five years you inspire me to do more than I think is possible for me. You remind me often that with God all things are possible! Thank you for gracing my world with your amazing zest for life. You lion-hearted little thing...you are truly a gift.

"Santa....I'm five years old now!"

That's all she had to say. She didn't want anything for Christmas. She just wanted to tell him that she was five because when she saw him last week she was just four : )

Two Birthdays in Two Days....

Did someone say cupcakes? These two are always up for baking...especially when it comes to baking for their Daddy.

All we need is Daddy to come home from work...... Happy Birthday Daddy!



Good Morning Birthday Girl......