WALK THRU BETHLEHEM,
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Music City Christmas

It's been a very busy and wonderful few days. It didn't seem like that much... when we planned it. We began our Christmas road trip by attending our 3 hour China travel mtg. in Birmingham. It was very informative and very helpful, especially to meet a few other families in the same process/timeline as us for adoption. We were especially encouraged to meet a family that we will most likely travel with to China, the Brown's from B'ham. They have one child the same age as Whit and are adopting from China, their LID is the same as ours. We also met some other families with wonderful stories of God's greatness through their adoptions as well!  Thankfully Great Ma and PopPop played with the guys while we were at the mtg. and we were able to continue on to Nashville, arriving at our bedtime.

 We enjoyed fantastic family time, visited some great places and venues that we used to love while we lived in the Music City, and got to meet up with some sweet friends.

 ROAD TRIP... 

Franklin Mercantile (YUM)

Journeyed back in time at Dickens Christmas in downtown Franklin; pony rides, petting zoo, were greeted by the characters from Dickens novel, took a carriage ride, ate sugar plums & funnel cakes, and applauded street musicians, carolers, dancers, and a beautiful GoldenDoodle.

Admired our friends (V & A) recently renovated home

Saw the Rockettes kick it up at the Opry

Slide our way through Charlie Brown's ICE and Charlie Brown hugs

Water's Edge

Journeyed through, Walk Thru Bethlehem, a "real" live nativity at Woodmont (fish market, camels and baby Jesus!)

The boys received wooden ornaments made from wood, from Bethlehem and made muslim rag dolls like the ones that children had long ago in Bethlehem

CPK and perused Provence, hmmm :-)

Whew!

 If you ever have an opportunity to visit Nashville in December, we highly recommend visiting Opryland (It's Country Christmas celebration cannot be beat), Dickens of a Christmas in historic Franklin, and Woodmont Christian Church, Walk Thru Bethlehem.

 Our trip was wonderfully packed and memorable for the boys, Rob, and me. We hope that we're helping to build lasting memories for our family and reinforcing the joyous and giving spirit of the Christmas season and Christ's hope into our hearts and lives. 

 We're thankful for the gatherings of family and friends that we're blessed to be a part of and praying for our family, friends, and people that are far from home and enduring difficult times this season.

 A Very Merry Christmas to you and safe journey's throughout this Christmas season.

Love ~
Ginny

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Ford's Fa la la la la La laaa La laaa

Today was a wonderful day with all of my guys. This morning was Ford's Kindergarten Christmas Concert and parent party. He did such a fabulous job, singing some and hanging strong. In the past he's been a little audience shy, but this year he stood strong throughout the program and even sang the Chubby Little Snowman in a 6 member group. So proud of our boy. Afterward, we had a fun parent party in his class and enjoyed the kids serving us all refreshments and receiving handmade ornaments.

Then, Rob took the boys and me to scout out Christmas ideas for Mommy. We haven't done it before because I usually don't ask for anything specific, but this year I thought I'd help them out with some good ideas. ;-)

Tonight, we had so much fun with some wonderful friends, the Pope's. Of course, we love to eat Chinese food, so we skipped over the Asian Bistro, YUM! You cannot believe the food that the boys eat including Whit, like Calamari, Stuffed Wontons, Lo Mein, Egg Rolls, etc. - It's Awesome. The people there are always so friendly, it truly is refreshing and welcoming and we even learned a few new Chinese words. Zai Jian - Goodbye.

Love ~ 

Ginny

Concert Cookie

Today, Rob, Graham and I had a special date lunch in celebration of his PreSchool Christmas Choir Concert. He sang so powerfully with all his heart. It's always fun to watch the kids sing praises to God and have so much fun, too! Well, most of the kids, there are usually a couple that seem completely overwhelmed with stage fright. We have had one of those in our family, too. :-)

Anyway, after the concert we went to one of our favorite Asian restaurants. When we were finished and all began to open our fortune cookies,.... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7! Rob and I read our fortunes, but something was amiss. Graham's was empty. It was strange and really bothered Rob, like Graham had no future.... :-0  Just kidding. We asked for another and another, etc. until Graham finally got one that had a fortune. It was very funny. : - }

Love ~

Ginny

Our Graham

Nara Bunny

We have all been getting more excited each day in anticipation of Nara Josette's arrival. We're already transitioning into an multicultural, American-Chinese family. It's evident in our hearts and interests, it's been an evolution since God laid adoption on our hearts just over six years ago. It's been an wonderful explosion of a journey thus far. We do not know where our path will take us, but we do know that as long as we look to Him, it will be 'our intended path'. Please keep us all in your prayers as our union with our daughter draws closer each day. Please continue to pray for our hearts to meld as one, just as they have for each of our children and each sibling for one another. We are praying for calmness and peace of heart to be a blanket over our family.

We've graciously been able to send Nara Josette a few care packages and hope to send a couple more before our journey to China. Many orphanages do not allow any contact following the referral until the day you 'meet' your child. We are thankful to be in contact with Nara Josette's orphanage and LadybugsNLove.com.

We took the boys to Build-A-Bear so they could choose a friend for their sister. They chose, Nara Bunny, and built her from scratch, including picking all of her clothes and recording a personal message. We made a new pic of our family and used it to make t-shirts for Nara Josette and one for her bunny.

The boys also chose birthday cards to send with bunny. Graham of course, chose Ariel because he loves princesses for girls. Ford chose a Barnyard singalong & recording card because he is our animal lover and we all recorded a birthday greeting, partially in Chinese. We know she received it because of our latest pictures from her orphanage (Truly another blessing God).

Wishing you all a joyous Advent season,

Love ~ 
Ginny

Brothers

Nara Bunny

Brothers with Nara Bunny

Gingerbread Men

A few days ago Rob brought home the makings for a gingerbread house and this afternoon we finally got to build it. The boys had been gleefully anticipating building the house. As soon as Whit's nap time arrived, Let's Build! I'm so proud of the boys for their creative and fun personalities, Graham even raised the roof all by himself   :-). It was a huge accomplishment to get the house built because they 'accidently' dropped many candies so they could Eat them! By the end of construction, we were all on a sugar high...

Wishing you and your families a blessed CHRISTmas season,

Love ~

Ginny

Our Gents

We've had some great times the past few months with the boys, young gentlemen. We swam, rode bikes, and horsed around lots. The boys are all so amazing and each of them are growing in all their own ways and personalities. We are definitely challenged everyday and made more evident of our brokeness and need for our Heavenly Father's guidance and grace. Thinking about our great need for salvation, reminded me of our children's needs for grace and love, too.

Today, we studied John 1 and it reminded me of God being our only light, even more so this time of year at Christmas, celebrating Jesus' birth.

Love ~

Ginny Our Gents

John 1: The Word Became Flesh

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning.

³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴In him was life, and that life was the light of men. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

⁶There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John.⁷He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. ⁸He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. ⁹The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

¹⁰He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹²Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

¹⁴The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

¹⁵John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' " ¹⁶From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. ¹⁷For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

HAPPY 2nd BIRTHDAY, DAUGHTER

HAPPY

BIRTHDAY

DAUGHTER!

Today is Nara Josette's 2nd Birthday. She was born two years ago today in Xianyang City, Shaanxi, PRC. We began our adoption process just over two years ago. We're all full of joy thinking about her, her birth, and gazing over her sweet pictures. We continue to pray for great joy in her heart and an openness in each of our hearts, that only God can provide. The boys and I talked about what kind of cake she would like and sang a song for her. We're looking forward to traveling to China soon. We are scheduled to attend a China Travel meeting with our agency and a few other families in a couple of weeks!

Love ~

Ginny

Here are some interesting details about Xianyang City...

It's 39F in Xianyang City right now, and it's supposed to snow beginning on Friday. [ Better pack our snowsuits :-) ]

Xianyang city is nestled in the central area of Kuan-chung plain, acclaimed as a fertile land in China, To the east it neighbors on Xi’an city, the capital of Shaanxi province .To the west, it adjoins the Yangling Agricultural High-Tech industries Demonstration Zone. To the north it leans on Jiuzong Mountain, and to the South it faces Qinling Mountain. Jinghe River and Weishui River flow across this area. Xianyang city has two districts, one city and ten counties under its Jurisdiction. It covers an area of 10, 196 square Kilometers with a total population of 5 million.

Xianyang is a special place boasting a rich culture of thousands of years, It is the very place where the first Chinese feudal empire, Qin Empire, set its capital (221BC), Xianyang had also served as a capital for thirteen dynasties including Zhou, Han and Tang Empire, Now in Xianyang there are 4951 culture sites, 85 of which are ranked as national and provincial key culture relics under protection, The 27 Imperial Mausoleums and Tombs (very much resembling a pyramid) in particular, are the places where 28 mighty emperors of Han and Tang Dynasty rest. A number of imperial tombs now have become well-known tourist attractions, including the Yanglin tomb for Emperor Liuqi in han Dynasty; Maolin tomb for Emperor liuche in Han Dynasty; Zhaolin tomb for Emperor Li Shimin in Tang Dynasty; and Qianlin tomb for the only Chinese Empress Wu Zetian and her husband Emperor Lizhi, Without Shaanxi, the history of China will lose its fineness; without Xianyang, Han and Tang Dynasty shall lose their charm.

Xianyang is famous for its Chinese medicine culture as well, and it is a very unique city known for its health care, It boasts the largest Chinese medicine specimen laboratory in Northwest China, the very first Medicine Science & Technology Museum in China, and a number of scholars and institutes who specialize in Chinese Medicine, Many internationally well-known doctors and physicians, such as “Magical Scalpel”, “Pulse Doctor” Feng Wuchen, “Magical Needles” Zhao Buchang, “Magical Packages” Lai Huiwu,” the expert on tumor” Li Qubing and Tian Jlngfeng, attract many travelers from Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia to come here for medicine and treatment, Chinese Medicine foot therapy industry booms and the “Xianyang Foot Therapy ”has become famous in China.

As a central city in China, Xianyang enjoys many geographical advantages with convenient transportation conditions, lt used to be the first stop along the Silk Road. Xianyang, the first Chinese imperial capital with unfailing charm, together with its people of integrity, hospitality and openness, await visitors from China and the world to come for sightseeing, business and investment, Let us join hand in hand and embrace a prosperous future !

Thanksgiving Feasts & Mascots?

Our Pilgrim and Indian on their way to the Feast

Today was truly a great day. The big boys had their Thanksgiving Feasts at school and oh, what fun! Pilgrims, Indians, Turkeys, Games, and Food, nothing more that 4 and 5 yr. olds could want... After the festivities we made our way to Dr. Love's and as we were leaving, What a Surprise!! Aubie was making a quick appearance for an employee cookout at BEMC. Rob happened to be there working and we were planning to stop by to see him. Of course, they asked Daddy to take them to meet Aubie. Ford and Graham were SO Excited to get to tickle and talk with Aubie and they even got his autograph and photo, (they were the only kids there). What a fun blessing for us all! It really made the kids day get to see Daddy and Aubie. And...

I also threw in a glimpse of bath time at our house, I don't know any kids (boys) that love to splash and swim harder, till their lil' prunes. :-))

Love ~

Ginny

Indian Dance and Chanting

Stuffing the Turkey

Very Happy Tigers

Three Little Prunes with crazy hair

Little Blessings

This week we received a wonderful blessing. A written and picture update of our daughter, Nara Josette. We are told we should plan to travel to China in Feb. or March, April at the latest. Nara Josette is progressing 'well' at her SWI in Xianyang City, Shaanxi. The boys were very excited to see the new pictures of her, especially to see that she was 'playing pirates, too'. They concluded that from her hair bow, which they think is a pirate bandanna. I tried to explain to them it was a bow, but they don't understand why it wasn't tied like a bow. The boys can hardly wait to play with her their Sister! Also, I just realized that God gave us another sweet little blessing. The ribbon in her hair, is the ribbon that we used on her last pkg. that we sent to her. It's sweet that they used it in her hair, I had hoped that they would and God allowed us to see it. :-)

We sent her a care package and birthday cake from http://www.ladybugsnlove.com , they are a fabulous Christian company that helps parents to contact waiting children in China. She will celebrate her 2nd Birthday next Wednesday, November 25th! (In case you haven't calculated it, Whit and Nara Josette are 9 weeks apart in age, they are what's called - Virtual Twins.) We wish she could be home with us for her celebration, but we know that she will be here soon. Please pray she has a joyful and peace next week, a love that only God can fill her from within. Thank you for your continual support, inquiries, and most of all, your prayers. Please continue to pray for our family. We are in the midst of trying to sell our home, buy a new home, and complete the adoption process, hopefully before Nara Josette's arrival. Thank you all, prayer warriors.

Some exciting new details we've learned:

Grows more beautiful every day

Is not only walking, but running too!

Loves Chinese Dumplings (most likely pork & veggie) and fruit juice

Is talking a little

Weighs about 24 1/2 lbs. (1 lb. more than Whit, he's lost a little)

82 cm. tall (Whit is 3 cm. taller)

Wears her hair in little pigtails, put up onto her head with ribbon

Sleeps well and likes to play

Love ~

Ginny

Rubber Duckie, arriving soon...

This past weekend we hosted a baby shower for Cousins Amy, Lee, and Baby Estes. Our newest family member should arrive in 2 - 3 weeks. We are so excited them, being first time parents, adds even more anticipation to the wait. Special Thanks to Aunt Deb, Aunt Jo, and the many family and friends who came with well wishes, prayers, and fun gifts for our favorite prego girl. We cannot wait to find out the gender, so we can finally buy some pink or blue! We pray that Amy, Lee and Baby E have a safe and peaceful delivery. Happy Landing Baby E :-)

Love ~

Ginny

Cousin Amy

Rubber Duckie

Great Ma, Nana Deb, Amy, and Aunt Jo

Cousins Julie and Tamara

The Wonderful World of Disney, World that is...

We were recently able to go on a wonderful adventure to Walt Disney World in FL. Rob, me, the Boys, Nana, Papa, & PopPop went to the Wilderness. It was a wonderful trip, in spite of the record breaking October 95 degree weather! If you ever have to opportunity to stay at the Wilderness cabins, it is Fantastic and we hope to stay there again one day. We loved it because we got to enjoy WDW parks during the day and go 'home' to our cabin - it is like being on a family camping vacation without all the crowds and glitter of the parks. We enjoyed smore roasting, camp fire singalongs with Cowboy and Chip & Dale, (outdoor movies & wagon rides), swimming, Golf Cart Decorating contest and parade, fireworks and water parade at the beach, and the decor of the RV area, and being in nature.

We enjoyed everything about each of the parks, parades, the restaurants, and the Epcot Annual Food & Wine Festival - YUM. Also, we celebrated Graham's 4th Birthday 3 times while we were there... The first day at Cinderella's Castle (but it wasn't his actual birthday), so he wanted to wear his button the next day, thus he received a birthday cupcake and card with Donald, Mickey and all of their friends, and then he received another surprise birthday present and card at the Rose & Crown the following day. By the end of the week, he thought his new name was, "Birthday Boy"! ;-)

We're thankful that some of the Grandparents were able to go and enjoy WDW with us and the boys, it was a memorable trip. We cannot wait until we can all go with Nara Josette. She will be in love with everything Princess - which we haven't yet experienced. The boys ( and I) had a difficult time not buying her every princess item - we can hardly wait for her to come home to us.

Till next time - M I C K E Y M O U S E.... for the kid in us all.

Love ~

Ginny & Family

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Graham's 4th Birthday Celebration, went on and on....

Chef hard at work on the Cake and Cupcakes

Graham had a wonderful couple of weeks of 4th Birthday celebrations!

Birthday Boy

Artists at work

Pumpkin Masterpieces

Graham's Pumpkin Cake

Graham's Spider Web Cupcakes for Preschool

Party Nannie

Pirate Scoundrel
Birthday Lunch with the Princesses at the Castle