Sunday Snapshot: {six years – a look back and a giveaway}

I know. It’s not quite Sunday.

But this isn’t your average Sunday Snapshot, either.

Today, January 28th, marks six years since I began blogging.

And a few things have happened since then.

Sophie came home.

We moved from the midwest to the southeast.

Jude came home.

The blog went from “Sophie Makes Six” to “Ni Hao Y’all”.

Shepherd came home.

We moved back to the midwest.

No Hands But Ours went from a dream to reality.

My crazy friends and I started up our own t-shirt business – Wild Olive.

Vivienne came home.

I became the US Director at An Orphan’s Wish.

We moved to the northeast.

Poppy came home.

We moved back to the southeast.

And here we are.

Whew.

I think I need a nap.

Better yet, since it’s my party and – for today at least – I can do what I want to… let’s make this really fun.

My sweet friend (and Wild Olive partner in crime) Amie is fundraising to bring home two precious kiddos, Sophie Lu and Kai.

Just look how adorable they are.

And their family is crazy close to being ready to travel. For TWO.



So, to celebrate all God has done in our crazy family in the last six years, I want to join another God-following, crazy family in their efforts to bring their babies home.

I’ll be giving away six shirts to six winners. Six “God Is Love” shirt winners will be selected at random from all comments left on this post. One comment per person, pretty please. I’ll donate to Amie’s fundraiser, and six of y’all will get a rockin’ new tee.

How’s that for a party?

Since this giveaway is in celebration of six years of my blogging journey, it is open only to followers of Ni Hao Y’all. So if you don’t already follow along here, it’s a great time to start. Winners will be selected on Monday the 30th, so entries will close at midnight on Sunday the 29th. Each winner will be able to choose the size they want of this shirt that has been created for Amie’s fundraiser.



Isn’t it gorgeous?

My girls and I have one. And we love ‘em.

We love Amie and her family even more and we sure would be blessed if you’d consider making a donation to their fundraiser as well. I think, if you take the time to read their story, you’ll be so very blessed, too.

You can still link up this week on Sunday Snapshot, but you do not have to link to be entered for the giveaway.

To enter to win a God Is Love tee, just leave a comment with the answer to this question:

When did you start following along here at Ni Hao Y’all?

And for an additional entry, click the FB “Like” button below, and let me know when you comment.

Happy Six Years to Ni Hao Y’all. It is my prayer that it has been a blessing to a few of y’all on your own crazy, God-following adoption journeys.


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When you hit ‘publish’ it should show up just fine. Then add your link below.

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Chinese New Year: the wrap up

Whew.

All done.



They might celebrate for two weeks in China, but I guess I just don’t have that kind of stamina.

We are wrapping up our festivities with just one.



But, even on this last shoot with my two littlest buggers, we had a blast doing it.



They had seen their bigger brothers and sisters getting dressed in their silks earlier in the week.



And getting their pictures taken.



And getting to play with their things from China.



So when I came downstairs carrying their silks and their things from China, they knew.



It was time.



They couldn’t get out of their jammies fast enough.



And, I’m happy to say, despite some sniffles and some initially cold feet about having their pictures taken, they both came around just fine.



In fact, I’d say they came around beautifully.

For more cuties, visit my friend Lisa’s blog: The Long Road to China.


Happy Chinese New Year, y’all.


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Gus

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Look at this little guy. His name is Gus. And he is just one year old. And his special need is dwarfism. Ooooh, I can’t stand it. Don’t his little chubby, dimply arms look just like Vivi’s? As y’all probably know, our Vivienne has dwarfism. We still aren’t quite sure what form of dwarfism she [...]

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a development

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We interrupt our previously scheduled program of Chinese New Year pictures for an announcement. We have a tooth that seems to be missing. Wait. Scratch that. We have located the tooth. It’s just not where it used to be. Someone seems to be pretty happy about that, though. I suppose an impending visit from the [...]

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the boys’ turn

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Today our Chinese New Year festivities continued. It was the boys’ turn. And, thankfully, the sun decided to show itself today. Not only that, but the temperatures were in the 60′s. I’ll take a day like that any day I can get it. Decked out in their new silks, the boys were ready to go. [...]

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Gong Xi Fa Cai

CNYSophieIsabelle-12

Today is the start of Chinese New Year. And, around these parts, that means bringing out the Chinese silks. And celebrating our kids’ Chinese heritage. I had every intention of trying to get everyone in their silks today. And pictures taken. But the sun just did not want to cooperate. Eventually, I just quit waiting [...]

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Sunday Snapshot: {Sophie turns 8}

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Her birthday list was made weeks ago. And posted on the refrigerator. Her pick of restaurants for her birthday meal was set, too. Birthday cake? Strawberry, please. All decided well before her big day. It’s easy to make a type-A kid like this happy. And we did our very best to do just that. On [...]

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the buzz cut

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He’d been contemplating it for months. And he finally took the plunge. And hasn’t looked back since. Not sure if it’s the homeschooling. Or the fasting. Or just that he wants to look more like his dad. But, whatever the reason, I’m proud of him for resisting his fear to try something new. Something new [...]

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dear xiaoyun,

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We hope you feel better soon. Our mom told us that you are in the hospital for a long time. And that you will have many surgeries to fix your back. So we made these cards for you. We hope they make you smile. oxoxox, Sophie, Isabelle, Jude, Shepherd, Vivienne and Poppy I learned about [...]

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for today

PoppyHat-2

Because it’s cold out today. I’m snuggled up. And lazy. And hungry. So I ate half a tray of sweet potato fries. While I was otherwise occupied, Vivienne and Poppy – who were not interested in sharing my sweet potato fries – got into some things. One of which was the basket of hats and [...]

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