HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

re-adoption

A year later our girl is legally ours in the eyes of the U.S. Her name is legally Naomi and we ordered a US birth certificate.

I thought it was just a "business" thing. It was way more emotional than that. I think part of the emotion was that it reminded me of all the procedural stuff in China just a year ago. We have been a family of five for just over a year.

All five of us had to raise our right hands and swear to tell the truth . . . What an experience for my boys.

Family of Five with the judge behind his bench.

Zach helping stamp all the legal documents.

My beautiful girl. Wild and Free

A daddy's girl.

Going to the store

I am on my way to the store to pick up some more big girl panties. 3 pairs is just not enough. Yesterday we made it all day but today well . . . that is a different story.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! Have a blessed Day! From our family to yours.

Happy Birthday Nathaniel

My little boy is 6 years old today. How time flies . . . we must be having fun!!!

I LOVE YOU THANIE!!!

Thanks for singing to me at night when I make dinner, your music is fabulous just like you.

Do we stay? Do we go?

This is tough.

We moved into our little house in Seattle when Zach was 1. We promptly re-did the entire 1st floor, new pluming, electrical, ceilings, walls, paint, bathroom, new hardwood floors. Fast forward 3 years we added the second floor then a new kitchen. When I say we, that means Pete and I with lots of help from family, we hired a couple things out but this is true sweat equity. We are attached. Although it is just a house.

It is just a house but. . . We live within minutes of both of our parents, and our core group of friends. We have a huge support system within 15 minutes of us. Not to mention doctors and neighbors my great new church and on and on. The areas that we have looked would move us about 20 minutes north (that is 20 minutes with NO traffic)

If you remember I lost my job about 6 months ago and the economy has drastically effected Pete's pay. I have had a taste of being a stay-at-home mom and honestly it is a dream come true. It is HARD much harder than going to work but it is where I want/need to be.

Are we headed to the suburbs??? Maybe so. Time and lots of prayer will tell.

We have looked in Richmond Beach and Mill Creek, if any of you out there live in those areas I would love to hear your thoughts.

Guess what I get to do . . .

With the help of a very generous second cousin (he helped me set it up) I get to manage this great new blog.

It is a place for our agency Faith International to quickly post China's waiting children. So far all the sweet faces are from their individual list. But in the next couple weeks I plan on adding kids from the shared list.

I am new to this but very excited at the prospect of helping unite Children and Families. Please Come check it out. We Still Wait

You will need a password to view the kids. Email me , I promise I will check it often.

Santa

Every year we go downtown and sit with Santa, ride the carousel, and have a nice dinner with my brother and his wife and all the cousins. It is a tradition that happened by mistake and I am so glad it did.

Never seen my boys in ties . . . Oh my! they looked so HANDSOME, maybe a little too grown up.

Still looking very handsome. But look at my poor girl. She was screaming for daddy. She was probably on his lap for about 10 seconds but we had to get the picture, part of the tradition.

Next stop the Carousel

Pretty girl in one of many pretty Christmas dresses (I LOVE hand-me-downs)

Cousins at the end of a lovely evening

Pardon the not so great picture quality. Old camera and out of practice

A Year Ago . . .

today Naomi and I landed in Seattle via China (after an ungodly amount of travel). We were finally a family of five.

Picture 12/3/08

I thank God daily for the gift of my family. I also pray daily that it will be easier soon. This sweet little Naomi is giving me a run for my money. It feels like we are back to the first months home. . . she is back in our bed at night and needs to be with me almost %100 of the time. I am sooo TIRED. This to shall pass. Please tell me it will.

P.S. Yes, I was crying in this picture, children do CRAZY things to a momma's emotions.

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Thanksgiving

I have so much to be THANKFUL for. God is Good

Wordless Wednesday

Gotcha Day - One Year Ago

It was 4pm and every time the elevator dug I went to the hotel room door. They were late and I was crazed. Finally I peeked in the hall and there she was. I told myself I was going to talk to her for a bit before taking her. I wanted her to warm up to me. IMPOSSIBLE!!! I had already waited months to hold this sweet little thing. She was mine. Both of us in tears but for completely different reasons. I was in LOVE and she was terrified. I was o.k. with that. I new it would come.



The moment 1 year ago. Pure JOY!!!

The outfit one year later- still fits but not the shoes






Gotcha Day November 23, 2008 - so sad and withdrawn

Today - She is so stinkin cute!! Can you see the attitude? I sure can.





All the waiting and heartache along the way was washed away the moment she was placed in my arms. (more like the moment I grabbed her out of the directors arms). This little girl has been through so much in her short life. She has learned and grown so much in one year, it truly amazes me.




My Beautiful Daughter Naomi

What a blessing you are my sweet girl. You bring so much spunk, excitement, compassion, Joy, and and a little chaos to our home. Oh and don't forget about the pink and bows, I still love all that.

I love your spirit . . . I dreamed for years of having a Chinese daughter and now I do, I am in awe over your beauty. It has been a pleasure and privilege to watch you grow this past year. Just look at you. I thank God daily for his handy work in bringing our family together and allowing us to call you ours.

I love you Naomi ChuYu . . . forever and ever,
Your momma



P.S. If you haven't noticed your daddy is completely smitten with you as you are with him. I love it!!

A Year Ago - Beijing

Last year at this time my sister, dad and I were touring Beijing. I had anticipated this trip for years. It was all I imagined and lots more.

The silk factory, I can't wait to go back and buy a duvet cover. Beautiful!!

Jade factory . . . these ladies know how to sell. We ended up with a lovely bracelet. We have not taken them off since.

And the top of the Wall. What a beautiful sight.

Tea party. . . we met the pee pee boy What a laugh he was

We did so much in such a short time.

I remember often the wonderful oh so wonderful 90 minute foot massages, it was called a foot massage but it included back, hands, arms, legs and head. So good!!! and it was only $8

The yummy Peking Duck, what a great meal. The acrobat show, amazing. The shopping and bartering .

Walking just one more block (about 15 times) to get to the best mall that ended up one block the other direction. We saw so much in those 15 blocks, so much of China and the people the poverty .


The wonder of being in my daughters country . . . and the excitement and anticipation of knowing in just a few short days she would be in my arms.

Please Vote - Help Orphans

Joint Council Update Program Be The Answer Date October 27, 2009 Regarding Chase Community Giving Dear Friends, Thank youto everyone who has supported Joint Council and Be The Answer since it's launch in September. After our success in America's Giving Challenge through Facebook we've entered another contest. This one doesn't require anyone to donate to Joint Council, all you have to do is cast a vote! Chase Community Giving is giving $5 million dollars to the various charities, the winning charities will be the ones who receive the most votes. Help us ensure that Joint Council is one of the charities that receives one of the much needed grants! Receiving one of the top grants will allow Joint Council to expand our programs & services and, most importantly, exponentially increase our advocacy efforts! How tovote: 1) Sign into Facebook or create a Facebook page - you must be a Facebook user to vote! 2)While signed into Facebook go to, http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/ 3) Search "Joint Councilon International Childrens Services" 4) Click"Allow" 5) Click"Become a Fan" 6) Click "Vote for Charity" 7) Use your Facebook page to spread the word! You can only vote for Joint Council once. Please feel free to email me with any questions, comments or problems. Thank you so much for your support of Joint Council!

| REBECCA HARRIS | Joint Council |Director of Programs and Services| | +1.703.535.8045

Happy Birthday - Pete

Happy Birthday to the Best Dad and Husband. I am so happy and proud to call this man my husband. Hope this year is an amazing one.

P.S. A year ago today my dad, sister and I boarded a jet plane . . . China bound. I get teary eyed and lumpy throated just thinking of it.