GUESS WHAT!!!!!!!!!!

OH YEAH!
YOU READ IT!

WE HAVE A LID (Log In Date)!!!!!!!!!!

AUGUST 24th!!!!

WOOOOHOOOO!

One Happy Girl

SH at her First Dance Class

She was soooooo happy!

I know that I am the weirdest parent.

When she did a shovel step, I started crying.

I am sure the other parents thought I was crazy!

One Happy Girl and One Proud Mommy! :)

*HG is loving gymnastics, so...

That makes...

Two Happy Girls and One Proud Mommy!

(and I did cry when HG started back to gymnastics!)

Our family has been blessed!

I cannot wait to see what activity Charlie will like!!!!!!!

Swimming

Today, after school, we went swimming!

The girls were thrilled!
Playing

Taking a break

Ladybugs

We have been seeing a lot of ladybugs, lately.

Hope good news is coming!!!

Charlie

We have been told that we can post Charlie's picture on the blog.

So, I thought I would share our cutie with everyone!

Charlie, we love you!

Ready for you to be home!!!

First Day of School

Ready for School

(My camera lens was foggy- going from cold to HOT!)
ALL ABOARD!

SH

HG

The Girls and the most WONDERFUL Kindergarten Teacher, Mrs. Thames!

What a Difference a Year Makes!

A year ago, TODAY...

HG was in UAB Hospital having a heart procedure.

We were praying...crying...praying...praying...and praying.

God has been so FAITHFUL.

TODAY...

HG was turning flips and walking on the balance beam.

Our God is so GOOD!

Grace is defined as "unmerited favor."

I am so grateful for HIS Grace!

Our family has had a difficult few weeks.

My grandfather passed away last week.

I "thought" that I was prepared for him to be with God,

but

HONESTLY,

you cannot truly imagine how hard it will be.

The Lord continues to open my eyes and heart to Him.

Though I have been exposed to death, I have never realized the true miracle of death.

I am also more aware of the importance of PRAISING Him in the midst of the storm.

Our God is PERFECT in ALL He does!

My Heavenly Father has sent many precious jewels during this difficult time.

ONE of these jewels is...

WOOOOHOOOO!

We are DTC!!!

That means our dossier is on the way to China!!!

Another step closer to Charlie coming home!

Isaiah 61:3
"and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow
on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor."

Birthday Care Package for Charlie

This is Charlie's Birthday Care Package!
He will be receiving a cake, too!!!

I am sooooo grateful for "Gifts to China with Love." Their site is: http://giftstochinawithlove.com/

Two INCREDIBLE women work to contact orphanages and foster care for waiting families!

They have been extremely helpful to our family!

Sheri and Katherine, WE LOVE Y'ALL!

Doctors in Flip Flops

Paperwork

HG walked down stairs and said,"Hey! Here is my paperwork for Charlie..."

"...Wait! I need to check this again. Let me just go through it."
I am sure she has heard these statements repeatedly.
Too bad we cannot use the "Highlights" book for our dossier!

Camping in the Living Room?

Greg put up a tent in the living room for the Girls.

They are so excited to be camping!

Thanks to the Brown Family for the sleeping bags!

They are thrilled to have them for this adventurous evening!

Fun at the Beach

Missing our boy!

We passed an airport and HG said,"Let's just get on a plane and get Charlie right now!

We love you, Charlie!!

Ready to see him play in the sand with his sisters! :)

SH

HG

Sisters

Reece, HG, Mash, and SH

Posing for the camera

Sand Angel

The Girls LOVE Mash!

Have to be silly!

Graduation

The Girls graduated from K-4.

They are growing up too fast!

The Girls and THEIR BOYFRIEND

Fun on a BEAUTIFUL Day!

Camping

We had such a great time camping this week!

It is always so refreshing to spend quality time together.

Charlie's Room

We have been working on Charlie's Room.

It is still a work in progress.

Of course, the theme is ALABAMA.

I am trying to incorporate all sports (not just football).

HG's 5th Birthday

HG initally wanted an Alabama Football themed Birthday.

However, when it came closer to the day, she changed her mind (Sorry, Greg).

She decided on a Chinese Tea Party with Dragons.

This was surprising because up to this point, HG has been scared of dragons.

She LOVED her cake! Edgars did a wonderful job!

The girls enjoyed Milo's Tea while making bracelets.

Thank you, Aunt Kathy for the Princess accessories!

HG has hidden them from the other Princess in the house.

SH, HG, & AC

Three Beautiful Chinese Princesses!

Alabama Snow

Greg and HG made a snowWOMAN.

SH was sick and did not get to participate in the snow fun.

This morning she asked, "What you do with all the snow? Where you put it?"

HG posing next to her masterpeice!
Silly girl!
I promise she had gloves on...at some point.
HG has a gift.
I did not realize how well she could make snowballs.
She has a good arm, too.
I bundled SH up in blankets and opened the front door so she could see the snow.
HG threw hard snowballs (notice this is plural) at her!
HG said, "Her wanted to play in the snow!"
WOW! What a great sister! LOL!