Ready for Light the Night at Church

The big boys came home from school and quickly changed into their costumes...  3 hours early!

Sam was delighted to put his on... 

 and Myah was not so sure.  Daddy convinced her to put it on... and once it was on... she liked it!

Each year our church has Light the Night.  It is an opportunity to Trunk or Treat in a safe environment.  Our kids were very excited!  The bucket Sam holds is empty in the picture but VERY VERY FULL when we were finished... a long with 3 other buckets!

Meeting another sweet China Princess!

Princess M and the other Princess M!

Going to school.....

....or floating in a boat.....

.... or riding a bull....

Spending time with Sweet friends.....

A little sliding is good!

Maybe a driving lesson or two....

While the adoption community is so big... it is also so small.  At the start of last year a friend contacted me and asked if she could share my contact info with another friend.  They were starting the adoption process and knew NO ONE else that had adopted from China.

That led to lots of messages back and forth between Jessica and myself.... emails... calls... sharing of pictures......

AND WE GOT TO MEET!

They leave a little over 3 hours from here... so while we were visiting Branson with Jeff's parents, we were able to meet Jessica... and their Princess M.

I so treasure the friendships that have come through our journey's to the other side of the world to get our daughters!

Dixie Stampede with Poppy and Mimi Stone and Uncle Brian

Poppy and Mimi Stone along with Uncle Brian Stone came to MO for a conference.  We were able to go to The Dixie Stampede.

 On the way in....

 we saw lots of horses!

 Myah was very excited about every horse.

This was at the pre-show.  I am not sure where Poppy was... and I was taking the picture!

The kids LOVED IT!

"Spread the JOY" for Ivy

When I first got a glimpse of this face.....

one year ago.....

I had no idea that she would be so special to my family!

I had spent time talking to her precious momma Mary, before we traveled to China.....

Was able to meet her family before they were even able to travel to get her......

While God drew my heart towards this special family.....

I didn't know that God knit a friendship between Ivy and Myah.....

in China.

We were able to get our girls together in July.....

We went to a Gymboree play class....

Ate lunch....

Played.....

and ate Hershey Kisses together.



Now 8 months after coming home.....

she and her family will travel across the country.....

and she faces another very big surgery!

We place Ivy Joy into God's hand and know that He has watched
and protected her for every day of her life!

 

First, I ask that you pray for her, the doctors that will be doing her surgery, and her family!

Next, will you consider helping with the huge financial needs for her medical care?

Please visit this blog here

and purchase....

a Spreading the Joy t-shirt?

Thank you for making a difference by taking Ivy Joy before the Lord Jesus!

Happy One Year Gotcha Day to Myah

Wow, what a great year we have had.  It is so hard to believe that one year ago we met our precious daughter for the very first time.

Here is our first glimpse of her!

She was so nervous.....

and very cuddly.....

 and instantly loved by her oldest brother.

 What a very special day it was.....

oh, what a beginning!

ONE YEAR LATER....

We celebrated last night (since it was gotcha day in CHINA) with dinner at our favorite Chinese Restaurant.  Myah dressed in Chinese Clothes and she ate ate ate her noodles!

We thank God for first adopting us into His family.  We thank him next for calling us to be Myah's parents.  I am so thankful for Him equipping us to provide for her and know that we are forever grateful that she is our daughter!