Wordless Wednesday

MY Daughter-Karleigh Mei Qian Qian!

One of the things that I love about this girl, is that she, almost daily, tells me that I am her mama. She also likes to tell other people that I am her mama. Like the lady checking us out at Target, or the friend that we bump into when we are out, or the girl who is checking her in at church. She tells everyone! And when she does, she always hugs me and says, "This is MY mama!".

Yes Baby, I am YOUR mama and you are MY daughter! I love you so!!

{Darling pic by Jie Jie}

Wordless Wednesday (pictures by jie jie)

Please Watch and Pray!!!!

I haven't forgotten them....have you!!??


Special Field Report: Haiti's Orphans Held Hostage from Douglas Phillips on Vimeo.

{Flashback Friday}

I love looking back at old photos. I especially enjoy looking back at photos that were taken at the same time just a year ago. A year ago we only had Karleigh Mei for two months. We were still falling in love with her and getting to know her incredible little personality that we love so much!

I love these sweet photos of Lexie and Garrison loving on their newest mei mei. :)

Lexie and Karleigh Mei singing some precious song I'm sure. 

Garrison (with long hair! wow!) and Kareigh Mei.  Is her bow big enough do you think??

We all agreed (and still agree!) that she has the cutest little lips we have EVER seen!

Feeling Pretty {in a TuTu}

Even before we got Karleigh Mei, we knew she loved beautiful things. This was one of the things that her nannies told us about her in her paperwork. And they were so right! Karleigh Mei loves wearing beautiful clothes and beautiful shoes!

A couple of weeks ago I entered a giveaway on Kim's blog. And to my happy amazement, I won!! What did I win? I won a fabulous gift certificate to a yummy site at Kate Landers Events. And what did I choose? A perfectly adorable tutu for my girl!

Karleigh Mei's new tutu came in the mail yesterday, just in time for her ballet/tap class today! I snapped a couple of pictures {none of them as good as I'd hoped they be} before she headed off to bed. The pictures do not do justice to the sweetness of this tutu. I'm in love with the darling pom-poms that go around the edge on the bottom! I'm tellin' ya, they make my heart happy!

This tutu makes a girl want to twirl and dance!!

Can you see her delightful personality shining through this picture? Oh how I love her!

{Can you tell she's loving her Dora Band-Aids?}

My beautiful little Princess Ballerina!

Thank you to Kim for the giveaway and to Kate for delighting my girl so much!! We love the tutu!!

Adoption. Setting the Lonely in Families.

Psalm 68:6


"God sets the lonely in families."


This post has been swirling around in my head for quite some time. When we adopted Karleigh Mei, we already had four biological children. Meaning, I had no trouble having children. Now, before I offend anyone, I did experience a miscarriage, and I DO understand the pain of this process. I cannot imagine what it would be like if I couldn't have had children "of my own" (cringing as I say this).  I say this and also do understand the deep longing of birthing and having children. I believe as a woman, we were made by God to have this deep longing.


But this is NOT what this post is about. This is about adoption. About setting the lonely in families (and a family is a husband and a wife or sometimes just a single parent). Adoption is a beautiful thing. As a child of God, I was adopted by the Most High Himself! Thank you Jesus!


One of the things that I have become more aware of, during and after our adoption, is that most people look at adoption not completely through God's eyes. Most people see those who have the desire to adopt, are those who are unable to have children. This must change. Look again. Look through God's eyes. You will see children being placed "in families". These are families who not only were unable to have "children of their own", but families who heard the cry of the orphan and brought them into their family! 


We are only one of the very many families, who have heard the cry of the orphan. 


We are only one of the very many families, who have been blessed beyond measure by adoption. Some families, one---two----three and more fold!


Here are some blog sites of families who have heard the cry:


Room For At Least One More
My Crazy Adoption
Ni Hao Y'all
Love Keeps Growing More Love
Martine Madness
Twice in 2010
The Vinyards
Our Matti Girl
Football and Fried Rice
Acorn and Cherry Blossoms
A Place Called Simplicity


And the list goes on...


I have seen the tragedy in Haiti open the eyes of SO MANY people, to the plight of the orphans world wide. Now, do I believe that EVERYONE is supposed to adopt? Of course not! We are all a part of the Body of Christ....and different parts of the body are called to do different works. 


But, if the Lord is tugging on your heart to adopt, then I suggest you quiet yourself, and listen to what He's asking of you. :) He may just be calling you to adopt, EVEN if you already have a house full of little feet (or big ones!) pitter pattering across your floors.


John 14:18
"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."

Birthday and Ears!

What a wonderful weekend I had! My family celebrated me all weekend. I am so loved! My parents and Karl's parents were able to make it, as was my beautiful Katie girl. And my family surprised me by having my sweet sister, Sarah, come too! What a surprise!!! Thank you, also, for all the sweet birthday wishes on my blog! 

Karleigh Mei helping me blow out my candles. :)

Katie made me some cupcakes. Karleigh Mei was pretty excited about eating a "black" one. :)

We also decided it was time for Karleigh Mei to get her ears pierced! She was SOOOO excited! And a little nervous. :)

Picking out the earrings.

Getting in the chair. A little nervous.

Do I want this? YES!

Marking the ears.

In goes the first one.

And the second one.

That's it!?!?

That wasn't so bad! No tears!

Sarah, on a whim, decided to get HER ear pierced too!

She has the best support! Karleigh Mei giving her some advice. 

Holding Aunt Sarah's hand.

Ouch!

So pretty Aunt Sarah!

Two of my favorite girls! So pretty!!