Another One Gone

It has been a year since Blake lost a tooth... but last week that changed!

 He was so excited when tooth #3 came out!

He put it in his new little Toothfairy Box that Nana brought him back from her vacation in Colorado.

His two front teeth are getting pretty wiggly... so I anticipate they will be next!

Big Wheels

Look at the face of this boy!

 Can you tell he is excited about his new bike?

He had completely outgrown his little tricycle... and when you are a family that rides bikes and plays out as much as we do... you need a good set of wheels!

Our big boy has loved riding his new bike!

Favorite Photo Friday

What I love about Favorite Photo(s) Friday is that I can post the random pictures I take throughout the week.  You know, the ones that don't have a post to call their own.

Well now they do! 

 They get to be the focus of my new Friday posting. 

 I hope to have my fav Friday pics posted by Friday morning one of these days...

 But for now, 10 pm on Friday night will have to do.

Happy Weekend!

Brynn's Heart

We heard the words that we have been expecting to hear since we came home with our girl... she needs surgery.  The flow of blood through the hole in her heart is causing the valve to start being pulled on.  This will cause damage to the valve if left unrepaired any longer.  Her heart is growing nicely and the new muscle that was forming has not gown anymore.  We will go in December for another check-up and then discuss the surgery date from there.  It will most likely be performed in December.  Please be lifting our little girl up in prayer.

It's That Time Again

It's time for Brynn's heart check-up.

It has been six months since our last appointment.

At our last appointment, they found a new muscle growing in her heart.

 
Today at our appointment we will find out how quickly that muscle has been growing.

As usual, we are nervous going into this appointment.  We are praying that Brynn's heart is holding steady and the muscle hasn't grown at all.

Both girls' dresses are handmade by Gram.

Another Opportunity!

If you are looking for an opportunity to help orphans, you have come to the right place!  Scentsy is doing a fundraiser with proceeds going to the orphans in Henan, China (Brynn's province).  Click HERE to stock up on Scentsy for yourself or for Christmas presents!

 No matter what your style... they will have something for you!

Running low on your Scentsy Bars?  Click HERE to order your new fall/holiday scents!

This is a great opportunity to help the orphans who are waiting in the orphanages of China!

Moon Festival

Also known as the "Full Moon Festival," the Mid-Autumn festival falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. At this time, the moon's orbit is at its lowest angle to the horizon, making the moon appear brighter and larger than any other time of the year.

To the Chinese, this festival is similar to the American Thanksgiving holiday, celebrating a bountiful harvest. Compared to many Chinese festivals that are inundated with vibrant colors and sounds, the Mid-Autumn festival remains more subdued.

 Traditionally celebrated outdoors under the moonlight, people eat moon cakes and gaze at the moon. In modern times, barbecues with families and friends are also common.

 Our local adoption group had a Moon Festival Celebration. 

 The kids played,

 We ate moon cakes,

 Had a lantern parade,

 Visited with other families who have adopted Chinese children,

 Had a wonderful evening!

 And all was done under the light of the full moon!

Happy Mid-Autumn/ Full Moon Festival!

When I got Brynn dressed and ready for the celebration, Blake said, "Mom, she really does look Chinese."  I reminded him that she is Chinese.  He said, "I know, but she usually doesn't look Chinese".  I am so glad to hear that he doesn't even notice her physical differences anymore.  He just sees his sister when he looks at her.  I will never forget this conversation and the tone of surprise in his voice as he saw his Chinese sister all dressed in her silks looking... Chinese.

Favorite Photo Friday

Today I'm joining with The Long Road to China and posting some of my favorite photos from the week.  I can't promise that I am going to make it every Friday, but I am going to give it my best try.

A behind the scenes picture Daddy took before Blake's baptism.

 Brynn's new favorite thing to do is "fix" Mommy's hair.

Happy Friday!

blake's BIG day

After months of Blake asking us many questions about sin, heaven, believing in Jesus, baptism, and becoming a Christian... he told us that he believed in Jesus and wanted to ask Him into his life.  On July 22, 2011, Robert and I knelt with our son in the living room of our house on C Street and listened as he prayed asking the Lord for forgiveness of his sins and inviting Him into his life.  The next Sunday he went before the church to profess his decision.  Sunday, September 4th, Blake was baptized as a symbol of his decision to follow Jesus.

 We were honored that our Sunday School teacher/Associate Pastor of our church was able to baptize Blake.

 Martin explained that baptism isn't what saves us, but rather our belief in Jesus Christ is what saves us.

 Baptism is a symbol of our decision to follow Christ.

 Martin asked Blake if he believed that Jesus died on the cross for his sins and rose again.  Blake replied yes.

 Just as John the Baptist baptized Jesus, Martin baptized Blake and he was raised to walk with a newness of life.

 Amen!

This is the biggest and best decision Blake will ever make.  We have prayed for all of our children since before they were born that they would choose to follow Jesus.  We are so proud of our son and the decision he has made!  We pray that he will always remember the importance of this decision and he will choose to walk all the days of his life following Jesus.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.  Romans 10:9

By grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves.  Ephesians 2:8

9 on the 29th

On August 29th we celebrated 9 months with our girl.

 We are so proud of the progress she has made!

 She is sleeping in her bed, pottied trained, learning to pedal a tricycle, starting to put words together in sentence form,  drinking milk out of a cup and straw, and telling us, "I wub you". 

 She loves to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to her baby dolls.  She loves to ask me, "Please I have some gum?".  She wants to do everything by herself.  She cracks us up when she tries to act so big and grown-up.

 She is the best snuggler, so affectionate, such a sweet hearted little girl.

Our family has been blessed!

Barrett's First Day

Barrett's first day of his special speech class was last week.

 He didn't even skip a beat...

 He waved goodbye to Daddy, went right in with his teacher, and had a fantastic first day!

 We were so proud of him!

Looking forward to another great year of CHAT!