Monday, December 20, 2010

Walk thru Bethlehem

It's hard to believe that another year has passed by and it's time to celebrate Christmas. I know it's been a very busy year for us all, many of us have had big transitions. We're hoping and praying you are taking the time to stop and enjoy the spirit of Christmas and remember it's about celebrating the hope and life that Jesus has given to us all through His blood being shed. 
We pray that we will have truly know Jesus' peace in our hearts and live it out loud!

We were able to make our annual trip to Walk Thru Bethlehem. It is the most authentic experience around for a Christmas nativity to take you back in time and experience Bethlehem when Jesus was born so long ago. Our family loves the extensive outreach effort that this church makes every December to share the experience with thousands of people in Nashville.  As you enter into the city you are greeted by census workers and along your journey you will experience making manna, cloth dolls, wooden bracelets, polishing brass, feeding doves, watching a manager being built, shopping at market, grinding grape, making clay candles and twine; while you observe the soldiers searching the city for baby Jesus. As you leave the city you are invited to see baby Jesus and the wise men, as well as give a sacrifice such as your cloth doll for baby Jesus. Then you can visit with the animals in the stables, including a camel.Oh, and it's all for Free... what a gift in today's world.

Wishing you all a Very Merry CHRISTmas!
Love ~
Ginny & Family

Please plan a road trip next year, you won't regret it.

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Friday, December 17, 2010

PRAYER for Nara Josette

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Monday, December 6, 2010

Celebrating in our Hearts

Our sweet daughter turned two years old yesterday. It was a busy day here, but we took time to talk about Yun Lin (a.k.a. Nara Josette) and to pray for her. Yun Lin was born December 5, 2008. She arrived at her orphanage when she was one day old, in Maoming District, Guangdong, China a little more than 7,000 miles away from her home. We pray for her birth mother's heart, a peace and wholeness to know that God's hand is upon the precious baby she bore. We feel truly blessed and honored that God is allowing us to be united with Nara Josette very soon, to join the family that God has created through covenants of marriage, birth, and adoption. We're looking forward to celebrating her birthday with her once she is home. We had hoped that she'd be here with us by now, but we believe that this journey continues to be on God's timeline - not our own.

We were able to send her package and cake to celebrate her birthday with her friends and caregivers through LadybugsnLove.com. We highly recommend their services, they are wonderful women helping adoptive families connect and ministering along the way. We have had great success using them for the past two years.



The boys are getting more excited about Nara Josette each day. Graham and Whit talk about her a lot and frequently tell their friends and teachers about her, as well as see things they think she would like us to buy for her. It's really sweet and brotherly. (Graham even draws pictures for her and writes notes to her) Ford is excited too, but he's low key with anticipation. I think because he's older and he's been waiting for her to arrive practically all his short life and oh yeah, since we traveled to China in May and came home without her. He's a bit hesitant until she actually shows up at our house. I can't blame him. Rob and I have been kind of with him the past 6 months. 'We'll believe she is coming once we actually see her at our house mindset'. It's been getting a little more real the past couple of weeks, but much more distant than in the past. I feel like I've starting nesting a little the past couple of weeks. As the date gets closer, I feel like just before I've gone to the hospital - Ah! So much to do. Organize, Paint, Pack, Wrap, ...... and it happens to also be, Christmas season! :-0  

Thank you for your continued prayers for our family. We ask for our hearts to continue to daily invite Jesus into our hearts and actions, for all of our hearts to be open to one another as we prepare to bond as a family and her Nara Josette's walls to be torn down to bond with us - trust and love. We also pray that her surgery will go well (we expect to have it in the spring), the surgeons expertise, and her healing. Also, for energy from the Father, once we return home to overcome jet lag! This really hit me hard last time, so I truly covet your prayers in this area, since there will 6 of us to care for and school, too.  We are humbled by your love and friendship - we thank God for you and appreciate your prayers for our family.

Scripture that has been in my heart playing over and over in my heart lately,

Zephaniah 3:17 ESV

The LORD your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.

Love~
Ginny