F is for Fun... T is for Tough...

Yesterday, our good friends Chris and Kelly Brown, invited us over to enjoy some sledding. Chris has set up a snow machine and blown in snow on his hilly backyard. So, an instant slope was made! My boys loved sliding down that hill... especially Nolan. I had fun watching them laugh and smile. Cole and Nolan rode together in a sled and Garrett did his thing solo... It was a great afternoon.

Later on, I was cooking dinner and Nolan came in the kitchen and said he had "somethin' sticky" in his hair. When I looked all I saw was a big patch of bloody hair. I tried not to overreact and said we'd wash it really good in the bathtub... as it looked then like a scratch that had bled. Well, fast forward to the bathtub... it was a gash on my baby's head. He had hit his head once when he slid off into the grass, but he didn't complain about it and jumped up and kept playing. So, it appears now, that he played all afternoon with that big gash in his head and didn't say anything because he was having so much fun. Needless to say we made a quick trip to the ER where our sweet friend, Dr. Echeverri, met us and stitched him up. He took it like a man. I was really proud of him for being so brave.

My friend Kelly was obiously upset that Nolan had hurt himself and all I could say was "But we sure did have fun!!!" :)

Can I get a Roll Tide?

For those of my blog friends that don't know, my family and I are BIG Alabama football fans. At times throughout any given year, I get the distinct feeling that I fall somewhere around #3 and #4 on my husband's priority lists... with Alabama football and recruiting, and golf ranking #1 and #2! We go to all of the home games in Tuscaloosa. We have so much fun tailgating with family and good friends and every summer I get so excited knowing that Saturdays in Tuscaloosa are right around the corner. The roar of the Tide fans in Bryant Denny Stadium is deafening and the Million Dollar Band gives me chillbumps when I hear the fight song. Cole has developed an intense love of Alabama sports in general, so going to the Rose Bowl is a dream come true for him. Griff was able to get two tickets and they flew to California early this morning. I know that this will be a lasting memory for Cole... getting to watch Alabama play at the Rose Bowl and hopefully witnessing them win the 13th National Championship. Anyway... today's photo of my sweet Cole at an October tailgate in 2006. He is so precious. Much love and... ROLL TIDE ROLL...

P.S... I hate to admit that chanting "Yellow Hammer" at the end of a victory is my favorite part... especially when we've just beaten Tennesee or LSU... :)

More updates from China!!!

First, I apologize to all my blog friends for no recent posts. I have been in a little bit of a "funk"... This whole adoption process is a roller-coaster ride mentally. I feel really up and then I feel really down. It's just hard knowing that I have a baby girl that needs a mama and a daddy and some sweet brothers and I can't get to her. That frustrates the heck out of me. Right now, to be honest, I don't feel like we're going to ever get there, even though I know we will. Another thing I'm struggling with is knowing that she is growing every day and we are missing it. That stinks... But, then my next thought is that God is controlling this situation and He has the timing worked out perfectly. I must wait... so, I've decided I will pray every time I feel frustrated and sad, I will pray for Mia, for the USCIS who is currently processing our paperwork, and for the nannies and workers at Shantou who are taking care of Mia right now. That will be enough. I was reading in Hebrews last night and I felt like God was talking to me even as I read...

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perserverence the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:1-3

Griff and Cole are readying themselves for a trip to California on Thursday morning to watch our Crimson Tide play Texas. The weather gurus are predicting snow and I pray that they can arrive in California with no major delays... to say that they are cutting it close is an understatement as their plane lands five hours from kickoff... This makes me really nervous. Roll Tide!

So... on to why you've really visited...:) new updates from Shantou!!! Mia received our birthday box full of clothes and toys. In the pics, she is wearing an outfit my mom bought her. I sent a letter telling the nannies how much I loved hairbows and I thought it was sweet that they put one in her hair for the photos. She looks cute as ever and I miss her more and more. We got height and weight updates also... she's weighing in at a massive sixteen pounds and 27 inches long. A little ladybug she is. I hope you enjoy her new pictures as much as we have. Love to all of you and please keep praying for expediency in our paperwork process. God IS listening.

Birthday party pics!

It has been a great Christmas Day! We have visited with family, ate well, took some great naps, played with our new toys and things really couldn't have been much better... until... I opened email and found birthday party pics of Mia and her friends! We continue to be amazed at what a beautiful little baby girl she is and I cannot wait to get my arms around that sweet thing. The pictures continue to encourage me as I see people around her that appear to care for her, who are laughing and smiling with her, and other babies that also look well cared for. I am very thankful for every person in these photos because I know they are loving her until she can come home with us. Her cake was beautiful and we are still trying to identify some of these lovely fruits that we don't have access to here in the U.S. (or at least not in Gadsden, Alabama...LOL...) God continues to lift my spirits and I am so thankful. What a mighty God He is. May you all feel the love of our Saviour this Christmas Day. Love to you all.

"Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father." James 1:17

We Had a Party!

Since Wednesday, December 23 is our little sister's birthday, we decided to have a family celebration of her BIG day. Mimi and Gig cooked a delicious dinner complete with birthday cake and Molly blew out the candle for her. Next year, we look forward to HER blowing out her two candles on the cake. That's a sweet thought.:) We really hope that we get update photos soon from China of Mia's real party at her orphanage. We ought to be getting them soon. Until then... Merry Christmas to all.

Happy Birthday Mia!

Today is Mia's very first birthday! She will have a party complete with cake and candy with her friends, thanks to Ann of RedThreads. I know that we can't go get her right now, but I would give anything if I could just peek in and look at her. I would love to be able to give her a hug and kiss. I am so sad that we are missing this day with her, but I know that there will be so many more wonderful birthdays with her from now on. Her birthday package of clothes and toys should arrive in a few days and hopefully we will be given some updated pictures. I pray that this paperchase process moves quickly. I am SO ready to go to China. We are planning a birthday party at Mimi and Gig's house to celebrate Mia's big day, minus Mia. We'll take pictures to show her that we celebrated on her day all the way across the world. I already love her and have never met her. Isn't that something?

One More Photo...

I couldn't fit another picture on the last post, so I'm posting again to include the group shot of all of the children who came to our party today. Their houses looked awesome!