Halloween Eve

Our cute little pumpkin home after church...

The Uncropped Photo

I was trying to take a photo of Elli one day, but she kept walking into my arms, and then she sat on my lap.  So, before I put my camera away, I held it out in front of her for fun and snapped a picture while she was on my lap.  The photo, as expected, was an extremely close-up shot and was off-center.  I almost immediately deleted it, but something about it was so beautiful.  The photo seemed to say something, and I couldn't help but be reminded of her past as I stared into her beautiful black eyes.  I know that Elli will have so many questions one day and will wonder why she was given up for adoption.  I pray that God will guide us when the time comes and we will speak with wisdom and love to this tender little heart.  We love you baby girl.

Mama's Little Helper...Chef

Elli likes to help make salads.  She tears the lettuce, tosses it a little with the tongs, and like any good chef, has a little taste.  ;)

Sidewalk Chalk!

Landscaping stones make a great surface for chalk art!

China trip pic...More Acrobats!!

Here are more pictures of the Chinese Acrobatics show we saw in Beijing.

Poem - "Legacy of an Adopted Child"

Once there were two women

Who never knew each other.

One you do not remember

The other you call Mother.

Two different lives

Shaped to make yours one.

One became your guiding star

The other became your sun.

The first gave you life

The second taught you to live it.

The first gave you a need for love

and the second was there to give it.

One gave you a nationality

The other gave you a name.

One gave you the seed of talent

The other gave you an aim.

One gave you emotions

The other calmed your fears.

One saw your first sweet smile

The other dried your tears.

One gave you up 

It was all she could do.

The other prayed for a child

and God led her straight to you.

And now you ask me

Through your tears, 

That age-old question

throughout the years;

Heredity or environment

Which are you a product of?

Neither my darling, neither

Just two different kinds of love.

Author Unknown

Mama's Little Helper...Dusting

Elli likes to help dust with a Swiffer duster.  Everything's fun when you're not even 2 years old!

Blowing a Kiss

Elli was blowing Brady a kiss while he was mowing the yard.  She melts our hearts.

Tennis anyone?

Brady has signed up for weekly tennis lessons with Kaitlyn's coach.  After Kaitlyn had her lesson, she practiced her serve on another court during Brady's lesson.  Elli wanted to be on the court with them.  It is so cute to see Elli's little arm jerk when we tell her to "Swing it!".

Wagons

After church today, we had a hot dog/marshmallow roast and hayride at our preacher's home.  Elli had fun riding in a little red wagon and then on a big wagon for the hayride!  Our preacher's wife gave the little girls cute pumpkin shirts to wear.

China trip pic...Tiananmen Square

Tiananmen (translated from Chinese: The Gate of Heavenly Peace) is the original gate of the Imperial Palace, commonly known as the Forbidden City.  Tiananmen Square, named after the Tiananmen Gate, is located in the center of Beijing and is the third largest city square in the world with an area of 440,000 square meters.  We walked through the Tiananmen Square on our way to the Forbidden City.  Thousands of people come to the Square every day to visit Tiananmen Tower, Mao's Mausoleum, Monument to the People's Heroes, and other halls and museums.  On a holiday, the whole square is covered with fresh flowers.

Ice Cream!

A nice warm bath...then a Blue Bell homemade vanilla ice cream cone!  Life is good.

Enjoying the Outdoors

Recipe - Pizza Salad

This is a very fast and easy, yummy salad that we enjoy as a main dish.  I usually set out the ingredients and everyone can put their salad together fresh with as much seasoning as they like.  It works great when Brady leaves early for Scouts and I'm still teaching piano.  Italian breadsticks and pizza sauce are good as a side.

Pizza Salad
Lettuce
Baby spinach (I feel healthy when I have this on hand to toss in)
Chopped tomatoes
Shredded mozzarella cheese
Pepperoni slices
McCormick Italian seasoning
Basil leaves (This is in the Italian seasoning, but we like extra)
Crushed red pepper flakes (just a little)
Large cut cheese and garlic croutons (Marzetti brand is good)
Litehouse Caesar dressing
Grated Parmesan cheese

China trip pic...Gotcha Day

Today is the three month anniversary of Elliana's "Gotcha Day".  This picture was taken by another family in our travel group.  I remember thinking I couldn't believe we were really in China and she was finally in my arms.  It was very emotional for all of us.  

"I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.  I will be filled with joy because of you.  I will sing praises to your name, O Most High."  Psalm 9:1-2

Mama's Little Helper...Laundry

Elli helps toss things out of the laundry basket for me to sort.  We talk about sorting, matching, colors, and size.  She thinks it's funny to put on socks that are too big!  Sometimes she tosses things out like a whirlwind and giggles watching me try to keep up with her!  Mama, I'll let you catch up while I dance and clap to this fun song on TV...

Decorating for Fall!

Elli helped decorate for fall and Halloween.  She has an ever-changing art piece of window clings on the sliding door.  :)

Fortune Cookie Tradition

When we were in the adoption process, we started a tradition of eating a fortune cookie on the 7th of the month.  The 7th of February, 2007 was our Log-in-Date with the China Center for Adoption Affairs.  Every month on the 7th, we would discuss how many days were matched that month and try to analyze how much longer it might take to get a referral.  We marked the 7th by eating a fortune cookie and reading the fortune for fun.  After switching to the waiting child program, we were waiting in a different line, but we still continued to celebrate the 7th.  We were finally matched with our little girl whose birthday just happens to be on January 7th.  So, the tradition continues.  ;)

Mama's Little Helper...Watering the Flowers

We are having some beautiful, warm fall weather.  We went outside barefoot today to water our mums.  Elli has fun watering the flowers.  The fun gets over too quick though, so she pretends to water them a little more. :)

China trip pic...Pearl River Cruise

When we were in Guangzhou, China, we took an evening Pearl River Cruise.  The White Swan Hotel where we stayed is located on Shamian Island overlooking the Pearl River.  The Pearl River is about 1,376 miles long and is the third largest river in China.  It is named the Pearl River because it contains a stone island resembling a huge pearl, polished by the flowing water.  The Pearl River spans eight provinces and is composed of four river systems that converge in Guangzhou and flow into the South China Sea.