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Gotcha Day November 23, 2008 - so sad and withdrawn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.

Aspen - The BEST Dog Ever

August 1996- November 11, 2009

I LOVE YOU!!!

My Sweet Girl . . .

Is having a very hard time.

She is so clingy to both Pete and I. The last couple of days she needs to be held or starts crying. She cried today when her grandpa left her. If she is going about her business (playing happily) it takes nothing to set her back again. She just does not want her pack split up. Her naps are only about an hour long and she wakes up screaming. Sleep was horrible last night. She woke up 7 times. I feel like we are back to when we first got home, maybe even worse. I'm not sure what she is going through. Maybe she is getting sick, but I don't think that is what it is. She is sad... just pitiful.

Tonight we decided to put her crib back in our room and I sat with her until she fell asleep. Back to square one.

I find myself getting frustrated with her. We love her, kiss her, feed her, keep her safe and warm and have fun with her. She has been with us for almost a year. What could possibly be the problem? Could the anniversary of the final abandonment be peeking its ugly head up? Poor baby, she has been abandoned by her birth mom, and 2 foster moms. Although we tell her often she is ours forever, how is she to know that it is never going to happen again. Kids can't go through this and have no effects.

Parenting an adopted child is different, it has to be. I find myself doubting our parenting with her. When I tell her no snack just before dinner and she completely freaks out my instinct is "too bad, you wait" (that is what I did for my boys) but she has food issues. One does not go from 3% to 68% on the growth/weight chart in a matter of months and not have food issues. She just did not get enough in China.

This is hard. Not a surprise, but hard.

How I love this little girl.

Me and My Girl at the Zoo

Walking to the Zoo

We made it!!!

Big Ol' gorilla. These fellows were a bit scary at first.

but then we saw the momma and the baby

My girl, Grandpa bought her this little ladybug sweater in Guangzhou, our very last night in China. It was nice and big then. Now look almost too small. She is a growin girl. Oh how I need to go back to China.

Chasing the jaguar and squealing with delight.

Ostrich protecting her eggs

On our way home . . . what a lovely fall day.

What a joy to spend the morning with my little one.

Halloween Night

We had a great night . . .

Harry Potter (Thanie) and the Fruit Bat (Ben)

Frankenstein (Evan),The Bloody Ghost (Zach)

The two Beautiful Lady Bugs (our sweet neighbor and Naomi)

Every year we get together with The Johnson's. We have a yummy fall dinner then head out for trick-or-treating. This year Naomi and I only made it a couple of houses, she was TERRIFIED of the costumes. Her daddy had on a race suit and helmet with a black wig, she screamed, it was like he was betraying her. Not all bad we got to answer the door and read Halloween books.