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

Family time

A few random photos (Family Time) from the first day of school this year to cheering on the Tigers at a game! War Eagle

Love ~

Ginny

Family Pic by Big Bro. Graham

Well.... I don't really know where to begin. Life has been flying by the past few months since my last post. Sorry for the hiatus. We've living life, I'll try to give you a few highlights and post some pics as time allows. Thank you all for your continued friendship and prayers, it is such a blessing to us. We can feel your prayers through God's faithfulness in our lives and those we witness all around.

The Boys began school in August and it's been a whirlwind this year with daily homework: Kindergarten for Ford and Pre-School for Graham. Whit and I are along for the ride. So far this year, Ford has learned many letters, sight recognition and writing, as well as Math. he's very excited about math, I hope it lasts and he excels in it - since we use it everyday! Graham is just exploding with his language skills and expressing himself, coloring dramatic, bright pictures, writing his name, tying his shoes, etc. Whit, is such a sweet, gregarious son. He is so laid back, fun and already trying to keep up the "The Guys". He loves his brothers and often tries to stowaway in Ford's bed at night, to sleep with Big Brother.

We have been traveling quite a bit to Auburn games (War Eagle), Disney World -Wilderness, and fun gatherings with friends. We pray and hope that Nara Josette can join us soon. I hope she gets here soon because she is "kind of mystery" to the boys. They love her so much, which is a blessing, but also since they don't know her personally they equate her to "Girls". ALL Girls love Pink, Purple, Dolls, Clothes, Bows, Shoes, etc. Everytime we see anything girly they want to buy it for her. It's truly sweet, but I feel so awful continually telling them no, explaining why, trying to convince them to wait until she close to here..... Thank you God for such tender hearted sons and the love they have for their sister. We pray she has the same love for them and our entire family.

Graham actually colored a family Picture of us all, to send Nara Josette in her last package and I just love it! So Sweet. You may notice we're all very colorful, just as Graham drew us and God made each of us divinely unique. Ford also drew a gracious picture to Nara Josette's caregivers, to Thank them for caring for the children at the Xianyang orphange.

Love ~

Ginny