Our Young Man & Our youngest son's salvation

AUGUST 17...someone tell me....HOW IS IT POSSIBLE that my first born is now 11 years old?!?!? I'm not sure where the time has gone but if it continues at this pace my baby will 18 the next time I blink my eyes.

Talk about an amazing young man! 'T' is an unbelievably gentle & sensitive guy. He is brilliant (has his daddy's brains) and thinks on such a deep level. He is an amazing leader. He loves our Lord so deeply and loves learning about what the bible says.

The other day we were sitting at the dinner table and we were praying for dinner. Typically one of the kids will pray and then daddy will pray. Well, daddy was praying and apparently 'I' (our 5 year old) was on open-eye patrol because as soon as daddy finished,

'I' yelled, "Tr. had her eyes opened!!"
'T': "How did you know 'Tr.' had her eyes open?"
'I': "I just did. She's not going to go to heaven."
Of course, that opened a great opportunity for mom and dad.
Mom: "'I', do you know how you get into heaven?
'I': "Yup"
Mom keeps on talking, "You have to ask Jesus into....."
'I' interrupts me and says, "Ya, I know you have to ask Jesus into your heart....I already did!!"
Daddy and I look at each other with a 'Hun?' look
Mom: "Honey, when did you do that?"
'I': "Oh, the other day with 'T'"
Now, daddy and I are flipping out inside....

'T': "Oh ya, I was telling 'I' about heaven and hell and he said he wanted to go to heaven not hell. So, I prayed with him and he asked Jesus into his heart."

CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?!?!? Our oldest son lead his little brother to the Lord...that just floors me!! That's the kind of big brother he is. Oh, to be so quick and ready to share...we are so proud of him!! Now I'm not saying he doesn't have his moments of cheer joy as he torments the entire house but all-in-all he has taken his roll as the oldest very seriously.

'T', we love you so much. You are on of our greatest joys and we are soooo blessed by you. We watch with great excitement as we see the Lord molding and shaping you. He has BIG plans for you!!

All dressed up for Aunt Jamie's wedding.

Could he be any prouder of his new baby sister??

How about his new baby brother?

"rock climbing" in Yosemite

Best pitcher ever!

So in-love with his youngest sissy!

She's finally home!!

CHECK THIS OUT...IT CAME!!

I've posted before about one of the most precious people I have met along our last adoption journey. She is an amazing adoptive mom and soon-to-be grandma to a princess born in Ethiopia. Her heart for helping adoptive families is unbelievable.

Tracy makes the most beautiful custom jewelry and gives a portion of her sales to help different families in their adoption journey. You have got to see what she can do.... http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5208670 She loves making custom pieces and she has wonderful ideas.

So...you guys remember my awesome necklace she made for me (pics. below)? Well, a couple of months ago I asked her if she could make me a small USA charm and China charm. They turned out sooooo cute (pics. below)!! THEN a week ago, I asked her if she could make me a bracelet with the kids names on it and LOOOKKK what just came......I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!

Quick, quick...dash over to Tracy's site...Junk Posse...and order your own custom goodies :)
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5208670

Help free Pastor Bike

From Voice of the Martys:

On August 6, just two days before the Olympics began, Pastor Zhang "Bike" Mingxuan was arrested, along with his wife and a coworker. In response to these arrests, The Voice of the Martyrs and China Aid Association have launched a petition drive to free these three Christians and to let the Chinese government know that the world is aware that these Christians are being detained.

Pastor Bike, as he is affectionately known, is considered to be one of the most outspoken evangelists in China. He is a bold believer willing to cross borders, hand out Christian literature and Bibles, share Christ with those under age 18 and lead thousands to Christ. All these actions are considered "illegal," in communist China. Earlier this year, Pastor Bike pleaded with VOM staff and China Aid Association to create the China Prayer Bands so that Christians in the free world could know more about persecution of Christians in China.

"Pastor Bike is willing to do everything that the state church won't do," says Tom White, executive director of The Voice of the Martyrs. "The love of Christ is evident in his outreach and his passion for souls. He stands for everything we believe in and has been mercilessly persecuted by the Chinese government."

Go to this link to find out more & sign the petition: http://www.freepastorbike.com/

Happy, Happy Birthday

Okay...so I'm going to try to catch up on what's been happin' over here :) August 6th...my baby girl turned 7. Is that possible...how can that be?!?!?

It seems like just yesterday we received the call that a precious birthmother wanted to meet us. Talk about an amazing meeting. There was no doubt the Lord had already welded our families together. 7 beautiful weeks later, a precious, beautiful, amazing, STRONG young lady gave birth to our first daughter and placed her in our arms forever. I will never, ever forget that day....the moments of the entire day and days to follow are still soooooo clear. I am so thankful that God perfectly placed our sweet "Tr" in our lives and ever so thankful for the amazing relationship we have with "R". She is so deeply a part of our family and we love her so much.

Our sweet little miss "Tr" is an amazing young girl. Her zeal and love of life is absoutely amazing!! If I could bottle even just an ounce of her joy.....have you ever just wanted to scream with excitement....I mean scream and dance around with all your might because you can't contain your happiness? Well, this is how she lives her life everday!! Ever since she was itty-bitty, she would squeal with great delight over the simple things in life. She is my social butterfly..."Where are we going, who are we seeing, what are we doing" roll off her tongue a zillion times a day (no joke). She loves being with her family, friends, and LOVES shopping with her mama. She doesn't help my shopping addiction one bit :) She loves fashion and has a crazy style all her own...it totally suits her. She is absolutely wonderful with her siblings and loves helping with them. One night I heard "S" fussing and then I heard "Tr" right next to her comforting her...tucking her in, giving her her binkie, and singing her back to sleep....talk about PRECIOUS!!!

"Tr" is crazy and wild! She has taught me to see life through her eyes and it's unbelievable!! Oh, to live life like my little girl....God has BIG, HUGE plans for this peanut!!! Happy Birthday lovie...we love you so much!!

The first time we held her!

Getting read to go home
Mommy having fun taking pictures of our precious gift! Our crazy girl :)

YES...she's barely 3 and she stacked 2 chairs and climbed on up.