Valentiney Girl

Here's my girl just after church on Sunday. I loved this dress so much and was happy to see it still fit with a turtleneck under it. Kinda Valentiney, ya know!

Steven Curtis Chapman Concert!

Yes, That's me and Troy with STEVEN CURTIS (FREAKIN') CHAPMAN!! What a blessing to meet him last night after the concert! We were able to thank him for the grant that we received during Sarah's adoption. We showed him an adorable photo of our Sarah and he signed a book that we'd purchased at the concert. He was so nice and friendly...really humble, too. We were so excited to meet him that I even forgot to tell him everything that I wanted to!

Since America World, (AWAA), our adoption agency, was sponsoring the concert, we were asked to coordinate volunteers to work at the Shaohannah's Hope booths and carry buckets to collect change and money to help orphans come home to their forever families. It was an honor to help and we assisted in raising $4000 that was given to a Utah family, as a grant to help them with their adoption. They were invited by Shaohannah's Hope to the concert as guests and were brought up on stage at the end. They had no idea that they were receiving a grant and especially how much! It was awesome to see how blessed they were by the grant!

Anyway, here are some photos that I took throughout the night.

Angie and Miranda were talking to Troy...

Miranda Joy playing and giving me her beautiful smile...Troy got a turn to hold our little buddy!


...and so did I...I was squeezing her with hugs and she would just giggle...SO cute!

Then she held my face in her hands, and laughed. I just love that little girl!


Here are almost all of our friends and volunteers that helped out that night. There are 4 missing, I think!
There is SCC on stage at the end, about to announce the grant!


Here is the family...about to be told they received a grant of $4000 from the collections that night!

It was so cool to see their reaction! They were in tears, just as I would have been! At the time of the announcement, we'd collected over $3200...as you can see on the screen. Well, so many people were moved that when we closed down the booths, we had the rest of the $800 in the buckets at the booths!

Here are Angie and Kyle with Miranda Joy meeting SCC and thanking him for their grant, too! Miranda Joy loved the bracelets he was wearing!
All Smiles!

Visiting our friends...

Last Thursday we went over to say Goodbye to Sarah's surrogate Grandparents... Angie's In-Laws babysat for me a couple of times when Angie was in China and they were leaving the next day. So, we wanted to say good bye and give them a disk of photos that we took while they were here. Since Chelsea called them Grandma and Grandpa, Sarah did too. It was cute. Here's Grandma Nancy, Sarah, Angie and Miranda Joy looking at the photos on the computer that I had brought over for them.

Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman

I managed to at least find a link to the song I mentioned and posted the lyrics in the previous post. Take a listen, and bring the kleenex, for those of you that have kids, you'll know what I mean! Enjoy...

http://podcache.cctv.com/published1/2007/10/30/pub1193752429897.mp3

And I will Dance...

Yesterday morning after church, Sarah grabbed her Baba's hands and danced all over the place with him. It was the cutest thing I've ever seen. It brought to mind this song, by Steven Curtis Chapman...which by the way, makes me cry EVERY time I hear it. Since I don't know how to load a video, here are the words...

She spins and she sways to whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting wearing the weight of the world on my shoulders
It's been a long day and there's still work to do
She's pulling at me saying "Dad I need you!
There's a ball at the castle and I've been invited and I need to practice my dancin'
"Oh please, Daddy, please!"

So I dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says, "Dad the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancin'
"Oh please, Daddy, please!"

So I dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

But she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowin' and tellin' us all they had planned
She says, "Dad the wedding's still six months away but I need to practice my dancin'
"Oh please, Daddy, please!"

So I dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll, she'll be gone

All lyrics are property and copyright of their owners and provided for educational purposes only.

February's China Play Date

Sarah had a BLAST yesterday at our little play date with China girls and their mommies. We went to the Discovery Museum...OH MY GOODNESS!!! It couldn't have been more fun for Sarah. We'd love to get a membership there, if possible! There was so much to do and it was all so stimulating! She took a REALLY good nap yesterday afternoon! We met a new friend yesterday and her Mom, too!

Sarah went straight to the water activity...didn't pass go, didn't collect her $200...straight to that water!

Have you ever seen anyone this excited about a ping pong ball and some water??

Here is our friend, Lia relaxing in the chair.

Sarah and Lia going for a ride in the boat and evidently having a very intent conversation!

Sarah in the grocery store...will that be paper or plastic?
Giddy up, Horsey!

Lia driving Sarah around in the farmer's truck!

Lia going for a ride!


Emilie's turn at the cash register!

Sarah at the play house, raiding the "frigelator" (in Sarah-nese)
Complete with red couch! Who needs the White Swan?



This was so cool! That tube next to Sarah was so cool, when Sarah opened it, and put a ball into it, the air blew her hair all over the place and it sucked up the ball and sent it over her head and dropped it into a bin! SHE LOVED IT!!!

A day full of fun!!

A Note to My Daughter

Occasionally...once every couple of years or so...something moves my heart. In this case it was an embrace last night at a church meeting. Sarah was being so good...coloring with me in the corner and once in a while checking in with Troy, whispering her requests and comments in our ears. I was really proud of her...she's such a good girl. I couldn't get out of my mind, the look she had on her face while giving her Baba loves...I had to write it down and this is how it came out.


The Embrace
by Robin Archer


Timidly, you approach him
The big, burly, most gruff of men…
Eyes wide open and inquisitive
Gazing up to his adoring blue eyes

You take his large rough hands
Into yours; small, soft and sweet
And climb into his lap
Taking your place in his arms

You turn your glance toward me
Smiling: your heart full of love,
Happiness, joy and contentment.
As if he were created just for you.

So petite and sweet, you melt his heart
With your smile and adoring eyes.
You lay your head on his shoulder…
That spot you’ve claimed as your own.
In his heart and in his life.

I watch: my eyes welling up with tears.
My Love and my girl…
The love they share:
So big, no words could describe.

Just looking into your face…
Those glowing, sparkling eyes
And smile so big it melts
The hardest of hearts.

I can see the love you have
For your Baba and it blesses my heart
To see it in your eyes:
For the Man in our lives.

A love deeper than oceans and
Higher than the heavens.
How I wish this moment could last forever.
But, in a moment, you’re off
To color Pooh a pretty shade of purple.


2/6/2008

WELCOME HOME MIRANDA JOY!!

Last night, we welcomed Miranda Joy home from China with her Mama and Baba (Angie & Kyle)! It was awesome to FINALLY meet Miranda Joy and see her cute smiles and loving personality for ourselves. Jared, Corey, and Chelsea were VERY excited too see Mom and Dad for the first time in 2 weeks and meet their little sister for the first time. It was such a blessing to be a part of. There were definitely tears of joy in my eyes!! I took about 100 photos, but here are some of the highlights for me and Sarah.

My friend, Paige, painted this beautiful banner for us. Isn't she talented?

Chelsea was waiting anxiously for her family to come home!

Jared listening to some tunes while we waited for the plane to land...
There's Corey, waving his arms frantically when he saw Mom and Dad and Miranda Joy coming down the hall!

FINALLY!! They're here!

Angie and Miranda Joy immediately surrounded by Chelsea, Jared, and Corey (behind), and of course, Sarah didn't want to be left out.


Sarah's checking out Miranda Joy and Miranda Joy's checking out that balloon!

WOO HOO! Our newest US Citizen proudly waves her flag!!

We were blessed to see lots of these smiles from Miranda Joy all night long...her name is definitely appropriate, she's FULL of joy!

Chelsea was going to give Miranda Joy a hug and she decided a hug wasn't good enough...she climbed right up onto Chelsea and wrapped her legs around her...talk about cute!

Sarah and Miranda Joy making friends at the little get together that Angie's neighbor, Mindi hosted.

Checking each other out...

Sarah getting loves from her Angie!