when east meets south
We spent this weekend reminiscing. A lot. It was 10 years ago that we were in China for the first time. Holding a feisty, determined, pint-sized survivor, with a half-dollar sized hole in her heart. I still remember how it felt as those last moments inched by before I would finally become her mama: standing in a smoke-filled room, my… Read More
We wanted to celebrate Chinese New Year on Thursday – the official first day of the Lunar New Year. Didn’t happen. Then we hoped to celebrate on Saturday. Nope. On Sunday Chris took the boys to church and I kept the girls home since we had three still recovering from fever/nausea/rash. And we were finally able to get the party… Read More
It’s become a bit of a thing around here, I suppose: going through my pictures at the end of the year and plucking out a few favorites. It’s laborious. It’s time consuming. But I love it because it’s a chance to look back at the year, as a mama, and see how my babies have grown. Cherish important milestones. Remember… Read More
It was noisy. It was chaotic. It was wonderful. And the best part? Having this little one home. Be still my heart. To have her here, with us this year, was the greatest gift we could have ever imagined. But the kids wanted toys, too For some crazy reason. Tallula got a Frozen snuggle-thing. Whose one-size-fits-all sizing is evidently for… Read More
So what does a mama do, when she should be packing for China? She ventures into the fall-colored woods with her kiddos and takes pictures of their sweet faces. Because she’s gonna miss ’em. Crazy to me that I’ll be leaving in a little over 24 hours. And I’ll be away for 2 whole weeks. Away from all these shiny… Read More
Today is Orphan Sunday. We watched a video in church that was created to celebrate all the children who have come home to families in our church through adoption. Some from Ethiopia. South Korea. Alabama. And a few especially adorable ones from China that, when their faces flashed across the screen, might have made me tear up a little. Especially… Read More
In July, on a challenge from my friend Lisa, I dusted off my Instagram account. And it’s been true love ever since. I was a bit wobbly starting out, not quite sure how to pick and choose what to post. But I’ve since decided to pursue pictures that very much represent *real-life* to me… the things that intrigue me, inspire… Read More
Wow. Just wow. It’s been four days since our fundraiser ended and I’m still basically speechless. Over 700 people gave. Over $36,000 was raised. And over 1500 Found shirts will be printed and worn – God’s people carrying His Word on their back on behalf of one little girl, halfway around the world. Speechless. So I thought pictures might better… Read More
I shared a post similar to this a little over a year ago, with all our curriculum choices for the year. And I posted a follow-up at the end of the year, with our thoughts on all of Dalton and Asher’s curriculum. (Thoughts on Isabelle’s 3rd grade curriculum choices is here.) Let’s just say, we didn’t end the year the… Read More
Asher’s birthday in June kicks off almost a month of birthdays. Asher. Isabelle. Chris. And mine. Packed into 23 short days. And, despite the fact that I continue to run behind in getting these celebratory pictures posted, I’m determined. Because really, if you can’t publish a bunch of posts featuring relatively mundane birthday pictures on your own blog, what’s it… Read More