I have a really good explanation!!!

I know...I know... has been since the beginning of the year since I posted...worse yet, it was the previous spring since I posted before that!!!! I really do have a good reason. Okay...here goes.

My computer was full...literally FULL. I couldn't upload any photos...none...nada...zip!! Okay...so now I have a new laptop with LOTS more space. I got it this summer, but then we lost the cable to connect to the camera so that we could upload the photos from the camera to the laptop. In the meantime...we just kept buying more memory cards!!! LOL I think we have 4 that are about full?? I just uploaded one of them to my laptop last night and it had over 900 photos!!!!

David finally found the cable yesterday!!! WHOO HOOO Of course it will take me the better part of 2012 to get caught up. But...I am so thankful to have finally found the cable!!!!

Please be patient with me as I am WELL out of the habit of blogging. Hopefully it will be easier with the laptop...portability ya know!!!

We have started back to school this year. Aly is in 3rd grade and Lili is my big 1st grader!!! Can you believe it???

Lili working on that 100's chart

Aly soaking up everything...

Studying hard...

Lili started reading last year , but Aly really worked with her over the summer and made lots of progress. Now they have a shared passion!

They have another shared love...

Chinese Checkers!!

I have lots and lots and lots more pictures to share. I'll get them posted soon...I promise!!!!

Oh...I have to share one more picture from this summer...

This is Aly with her pet, Thor!!!! No, seriously...it is not her pet and I have no idea what his name is. Although I am sure he would tell me his name... with his deep cigar tainted voice!! The girls were out at the pool swiming with David and they found this mutant. Personally I would have run screaming into the house...but Aly looks pretty calm. Go figure.

Okay...more coming very soon!!!!

In HIS Mighty Grip~

hello? Hello??? Anyone there????

Okay...so I know that it has been MONTHS since I posted last...all I can say is...SORRY!!!!


I promise to get a big post together with a LOT of photos. It has been kind of crazy around here and there were other priorities and well, I just never got around to posting!!!


So...here are a couple of pictures to tide you over...


I told you it has been a little crazy around here!!!

My georgous China Babe...okay, so this was taken back in February during our Chinese New Year celebration...but I just had to share. Isn't she beautiful?? She is just as beautiful inside!!

I'm not sure who this is...some random kid playing in my front yard...oh...oops...it is Aly!!! How on earth did this gal get so grown up??? *SIGH* When I see how much she has grown from that little 20lb butterball we brought home from China I am just so humbled. She is truly an amazing child and I catch my breath each day with her!

I stand amazed that God blessed and entrusted us with these two amazing creatures!! So beautiful, so smart, so very different from each other, and so totally sisters!!

"...and all of your children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be

the peace of your children." Habakkuk 2:2

In HIS MIGHTY Grip~

Happy 6th Birthday my baby girl!!!!

Our precious Little Miss Alyson is 6 years old today!!! WHOOOO HOOOO!!! Time has flown so quickly and she has grown up so very much. She is an amazing child and since I just posted all the pics from her 5 years with us, I thought today I would post pictures from all the birthdays so far.

Alyson...you are beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I am so very thankful to God above for giving you life and for placing us in your life!! I am so very thankful to your birth mother for giving birth to you and for seeking out a plan for your life...a plan that included us!

I remember her on this day...surely she is remembering you too on this special day!! I cannot imagine that she is not!!

My prayer for you is that you would continue to grow in God's love for you. That you will always show mercy and have a compassionate heart. I pray that you will develop a self-esteem that is rooted only in the realization that you are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus and that you will allow God to direct your life accordingly. I pray that your heart will always be courageous in character and actions! Finally, I pray that you would always turn to God for refuge, strength and restoration throughout your life.

We love you baby girl!!!!! Happy Birthday!!!!!

Mommy & Daddy

Last year...5th Birthday

Aly...looking very 5 yrs old!! We had so much fun at your party. It was very warm outside and we gathered with friends at the park to celebrate with you.

4th Birthday...

We spent your 4th birthday quietly at home with just family and Hello Kitty.

3rd Birthday...the 36 hour birthday!

We woke up VERY EARLY in Beijing that morning...heading for the airport!

Everyone noticed that it was her birthday from her passport and wanted to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY. She was loving every minute of it.

Yeah...she is smiling now...but we are only just beginning the longest day EVER!!!!

It's all good...I'll just sleep from Beijing to Japan...no problem!!

At the airport in Narita, Japan...this is fun, but are we home yet?????

Okay...so now we are leaving Japan...this day is going to FLY!!!

I must be tired...cause this CANNOT be comfortable!!!! Are we home yet????

We finally made it to Detroit, Mom gave Lili and me a bath in the bathroom, changed our clothes, fed us and then I fell asleep in the chair at the airport before boarding our last flight. Okay...this is starting to get ridiculous!!!

I was greeted at the airport by all my friends bearing balloons, gifts and lots of hugs for me on my birthday!!!! WHEW...36 hours is just TOO LONG to celebrate being 3 !!!!!

2nd Birthday!!

Oh yes oh yes...Dora cake with lots of orange icing and nobody telling me how to eat it!!!!

I think I am going to like this whole Birthday thing!!!!!

1st Birthday...two days after Gotcha!!

Um...what exactly is that??

Me and Mommy...doing some serious birthday bonding!!

Don't you just love my first birthday cake????

Okay...so there are the last 5 years in a nutshell!!! I hope you enjoyed Aly's birthday journey.

Happy Birthday Baby girl!!!!

"I have no greater joy than to know that my children walk in truth."

3 John 4

In HIS Mighty Grip~

GOTCHA!!!

It is hard to believe that 5 years ago this very day, David and I became parents for the first time. In a crowded conference room, in a hotel on the other side of the world, a precious bundle of joy was placed in my arms and the earth seemed to stop moving for a moment. Tears flowed, hearts swelled, knees went weak and we finally had our beautiful Aly!! That little bundle of love was clothed in four layers of clothing and one very dirty diaper!

I cannot, in my wildest dreams imagine having missed this in my life and I know David feels the same. To have been "chosen" not just once, but twice to become an adoptive parent, is the greatest blessing of all. To those of you who have experienced the miracle of adoption, you know exactly what I am talking about.

To my precious Alyson Ming-Lian ...The miracles that brought you to us are great indeed! We are so thankful for your love and for your very life. We are so blessed to watch you grow each day...growing in the love of Jesus, growing in Grace and definately growing in Beauty!! Always know baby, that you are loved more than you could ever imagine and that you were chosen twice...once by your Daddy and me and the second time by your Creator!!!

I love you!

-Mommy

Our first few moments together!
GOTCHA!!!

our first evening together!!

The end of one very long day for all of us!!

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."

These two pictures are amazing to me. Less than one week as a family.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are
wonderful, I know that full well!"

Aly getting to know her Poppi (Shelley's Dad)

Aly and Hunny (Shelley's Mom) bonding over a clementine

"My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place."

"when I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed
body."

Be ver-we ver-we quiet...we are hunting wabbits!!

"He will fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy!" Job
8:21-22

Great Allie (Shelley's G-mother) and her namesake...Alyson

God love her!!!!

Fun with washable markers!!!

"All the days ordained for me were written in your book before any of them
came to be!"
Psalm 139:13-16

"Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can
fathom."

Aly and her Igma (David's Mom)

"One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your
mighty acts."

"They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your
great deeds."

"They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your
righteousness."
Psalms 145: 3-7

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart"
Psalms 37:4

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this."

Psalm 37:5

"O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in
perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago!"
Isaiah 25:1

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ..."

"To him be glory both now and forever! Amen "

2 Peter 3:18

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we
should be called children of God!" 1 John 3:1

In HIS Mighty Grip