I will be away for the next few days on a much, much, much, much needed vacay :) Lots of pics to post when the P.C. returns!! And...to answer some questions...Julie and Jon have entered into what we call an intentional 'courtship' period. We as a family embrace the Word of God as our standard and have been led to dismiss the world's views of 'dating' in exchange for a Biblical standard known as Biblical Courtship. What does this look like? Well, there's no clear definition, and it is drastically different for each and every family. Our son's courtship with his wife Mel looked very different from the one his sister is experiencing now. This courtship now has been in the works for quite a while now, and they (we) have felt led to move into a more 'formal' phase of relationship. Each courtship has it's own personality and flavor which is a great and good thing,:) however, the underlying premise is to honor and serve the almighty God in our relationships...and ultimately marriage. The best concise definition of what defines Biblical Courtship I have found, is explained by a staff member of Mark Dever's church in Washington D.C. It can be found here.We're excited and full of anticipation of what God will do in the coming days and months as we walk these two through these 'uncharted' waters---and looking forward to lots of fun in the process! Please pray for us!!:)

Merry Christmas!

Angeli Hope,7, Kristin Elisabeth,5, and Katherine Mei,3. Just adorable aren't they??

Cade William, 2 1/2 and Katie Mei

Julie and friend Jon..(Yep...it has happened.:)To those of you with questions...please ask away:0))

Last but not least...the most recent pic of Jason and Mel. Sorry. This is the most recent and well...the most accurate.:)


This is our virtual Christmas card! We wish a very blessed Christmas to all!

This week....

Our very special friend Medana and her 4 awesome kiddos came over this week and spent time with the P.C. We let them climb, pick their own oranges and eat them on the spot:) Here's a few of my fav pics from our afternoon!! (Just FYI...Katie decided she was the Pumpkin Fairy for the day and her boo-boo is fake. She just wanted a band-aid)

Happy Birthday Jason!

Happy Birthday to our first born!! Jason is the one who made us parents for the first time...has had to live through all our mistakes that first time parents make :) and has lived to tell about it! Heh..heh. We are so grateful to God for the man, husband and father he has become! We did our best to raise, nurture, pray for and commit this child to God...and it's only by HIS faithfulness that we have the amazing, remarkable, son that we have today. Thank you Jay for honoring your parents all these years .. by taking the wisdom we gave (whatever little nuggets you found:) and now pursuing what God has given you in both heart and mind. We love you, Mel and buddy Cade very much!! (he also has a wicked sense of humor if you can't tell:))

A Neat Story for You....

We happened to be at our local mall the other night getting "Hotfuddays" at McDonalds right around closing time. We walked by the Chinese eatery when the people cleaning the counters and food noticed Katie. This woman came running out ..talking a mile a minute to Katie and us...while a 20 something Chinese man talked to me. I introduced us all around and asked them if they were indeed Chinese (they were) and if they were from China....(they were). The young man was so kind and polite...saying they were from outside Shanghai...and asking about Nanchang, where we met Katie for the first time. I then noticed his shirt. It said "Jesus Wept" complete with a picture of the cross and scripture reference below it. I asked if he were a Christian (affirmative) and if he had been a believer in China. He went on to explain to me that in China he was a member of the state run church and really didn't know what being a Christian was, until he came to the U.S. He then told me that many of his friends back in China were members of the ....and he pointed to the ground.....(pause). I jumped in and finished his sentence for him....and replied "the underground church". He seemed dumbfounded that this white lady in the mall would know anything about the Chinese underground...but we had quite a conversation about it:) He was genuinely amazed that someone NOT Chinese would have an interest in his country, and know details seemingly only Chinese christians were aware of about the status of their believers and ability to worship. He did say that many, many of his friends were still being persecuted and arrested on a regular basis, and would we continue to pray for China? Aaron (his American name) then turned his attention to Katie....and said how God had blessed her for bringing her out of China and into a Christian home in the USA. We couldn't agree more. After big tears in my eyes and thanking Aaron for his testimony to me that night...I was able to tell him some of our testimony with our girls and hopefully encourage him in his faith as well. His mom was the lady STILL holding Katie and speaking to her in Mandarin. I hated to break the news that Katie really, really doesn't like strangers (but Katie laughed and giggled at her..suprise, suprise...) and doesn't know a lick of Mandarin. All this at the food court of the mall. God works in mysterious ways...does he not??

So...during this busy Christmas season...would you please pause and pray for the persecuted around the world that won't have the opportunity to celebrate Christmas as we do? And...remember Aaron who is lifting up and encouraging his fellow Chinese christians in the Shanghai area....They need our prayers desperately! Yet another reminder this week of God's faithfulness in our lives and those around the world! You can read more about persecution in China and around the world here

And.....sorry to disappoint all of you who are still laughing at me...but I did NOT wear my pj's to the mall. It would've been nice though:)

Our Little Farmers:)

Today's pickins straight from our garden:) Both girls are great little workers and are seeing the fruits of their labor! Do you think we need to find some front teeth for Christmas?

Sad...but true....

Ok. I'm going to tell a funny story about myself so my older kids can make big fun of me for a while. Mom Jo (my mom) has been coming over to help with the laundry lately which has been a godsend. That's point one. Well...on Saturday we decided on a whim to head out to Sea World after Dad's radio show (WTLN Saturday mornings live at 8am). I scrambled to get everyone ready and headed into my closet to find something for our 'cooler' weather lately. Spotting a shirt in MY closet of Julie's ...I decided to wear it...knowing she wouldn't mind. We do this alot and she was at work. In the car almost to Sea World Julie called me and I politely told her I was wearing her shirt and I hoped she didn't mind. She didn't ...but 'would I describe to her which one?" So...I said "Oh, you know...the hot pink long sleeved one...blah, blah, blah...." Long silence. ......Pause....to which Julie said....."Mom.....(long pause again...).....you have on my pajamas." :):)

So here you will see me at the sting-ray feeding tank with my sweet Leni....in Julie's pajamas that I thought was a regular shirt....and hopefully no one noticed the idiot lady at Sea World that day... with 3 cute little girls, walking around in her 20 year old daughters p.j.'s.

Christmas according to Kristin

What Christmas is all about according to the 5 year old blonde of the VanLue house :) Oh how we love her!

Yes...We Did It!

We went....we conquered....5am...Black Friday...these two were at Wal-Mart. Never, ever had we done this before....but this year...we decided to give it a go. Did we score?? Oh, yea...then on to Target, Walgreens, Jo-Ann's, Kohl's and later in the day to the mall and Toys R Us. Are you impressed?? We even saw Harry. S. in Wal-mart at 5am!! Pretty darn funny:)

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words....

We had a great and grateful Thanksgiving! Leni was still pretty sick but you will see her here....giving voluntarily her Thanksgiving prayer which brought tears to our eyes. We are so very honored to be her parents!! Scroll down for more moments from our day:)



As everyone gave their prayers of thanks.....we weren't suprised to see the response we got here:)

This is a daughter. Can you guess which one????

More soon!!!!

What We've Been Up to.....and a BIG Thank You!

Last week, I was sick....then Leni got sick. Everytime the weather changes my Leni has trouble with her asthma and although it's so much better with each passing year...it's still difficult when it hits. She spikes high fevers which triggers breathing issues...etc...then it's a circle of meds, no sleep, trying to find the right combo of breathing 'stuff' that will work...and so on. In addition,I went with a friend to the hospital for some diagnostic testing that ended up being much more involved than we initially thought. The bright spot was that Mel had the opportunity to go to a friend's wedding 'way out west in Montana:)' so we had the pleasure of having Cade for a while as well. (He was awesome and keeps us in hysterics with the things that come out of this little man's mouth!!)...All this brings me to....someone I want to thank OUT LOUD. While I was at the hospital a certain someone that thought she was remaning anonomous...came over and cleaned my house for me. Yes...she did. I was floored. And embarrassed....because if I HAD KNOWN she was coming I would've been better prepared and done the "pre-cleaning" thing. Katie's Thanksgiving Feast was also the same day at her school and we had been in a mad rush to get outta here. So...THANK YOU MEDANA for the way you so unselfishly lay down your life for others (in this case us) even though you have so much on your plate these days. Medana is the mom to 4 fabulous kids including the newest...7 month old Sadie. I can't believe she even thought about us with all she's juggling in her own life.:) I do need to say that the Cox family's testimony of God's grace in their lives is evident in all they undertake and we are so grateful to have them in our lives! Medana is and will continue to be one of my earthly heroes because of how she's chosen to honor God with her daily walk. So much wisdom from this girl at such a young age (young to me:)). Last week serving our family was another example of how daily she chooses to 'take up her cross' and follow God's leading. Thank you Medana! We are very, very grateful!

Leni is still pretty sick and we are up almost all night. Please pray for her quick recovery from this episode. I lay with her last night and around 4 am as she was struggling to breathe....and I was feeling a little sorry for myself...I felt God tell me that he had plucked this little one 'from the fields of the fatherless' knowing there would be hands to hold her in the night.. as asthma continues to be a struggle. My self pity turned to gratefulness that God has chosen me to be Leni's arms in her time of need. What a privledge to do God's work as he calls!

Now...back to prep for all that are coming over tomorrow:) Happy Thanksgiving!

Guess Who This Is????

Isn't he cute?? This is baby Cade at his first 4th of July. We had been home with Katie about a month and a half and actually celebrated her 1st birthday this day as well. Why this pic today? Because I was tagged by Debi...and now I get to tag 5 people. I choose Mel Vanlue, Kathy Peschau, Vickie Eastham, Gisele Brown, and Medana Cox. Have fun!

Here are the rules: Go to your pictures file...choose the 5th pic in the 5th folder... post it...then tag 5 more people. :) Have fun!! This was my pic and it's a great one!!

Be sure to check out Debi's new blog here. It's to serve married couples by giving date night ideas ....and offering spritual encouragement. Thanks Debi and Tom:) for doing this!!

The Girls New Business Venture...

Move over Mz. Rose (our hairstylist:))~ These two are after her job! Dressed in outfits only a mother could love....these two monkeys decided Daddy needed a new "do" and gave him ponytails, hairbows, and an assortment of other accessories:) while he read the Wall Street Journal yesterday.He was very patient and let them have fun as only a seasoned Dad can/would. I did notice however, the Dad didn't leave his hair "done" for work today:) Can't imagine why not!!?? (Me thinks Katie needs to be on TLC's What Not To Wear...she has on 2 more layers under the tiger suit just fyi....and changes clothes no kidding...like 5 times a day. :))

Mama's Little Turkeys...

Every Wednesday we go to a class at our library which has proven to be a highlight of the week. Today the girls made these adorable Thanksgiving turkeys! Can you tell which little Turkey we have here?

Entertainment by Eloise....again....

While I'm running around like crazy because tomorrow's super busy... all 3 girls have to be in different places by 8am...I am packing lunches, getting clothes ready...you know the routine. SUDDENLY LOUD SHRIEKING OCCURS WITHOUT CEASING...from upstairs. What you ask? Whatever could it be?? Oh, you know. It's only Kristin with a toddler toilet seat stuck around her head. Really, really stuck. She's wet. Embarrassed. Loud. With a toilet seat now adorning herself like a necklace. Why? Because she can. All work came to a standstill while toilet seat was removed from 5 year old's head (with LOUD sound effects of course). Once again...drama to it's fullest brought to you by a cute little blonde who must do the impossible to make life ....interesting.:) And...after the drama calms down....we laugh. You gotta.

If you have one in your neighborhood:)....

Run...don't walk to your nearest Sea World and see all they've done for the holidays! They've definitely 'raised the bar' this year with their entertainment! The P.C. were mezmerized with the Polar Express ride....the Shamu Christmas show and as you leave the park 'real falling snow' which they tried to eat ....then found out it was soap bubbles.:) The Shamu show was especially awesome...as they have a live Sax player who did carols and concluded with 'O Holy Night' :) and the end of the show is live music with a rendition of 'Joy to the World' which brings the house to its feet. The vocals were absolutely incredible!! I was very happy and excited to see that Jesus is very much a part of this show (and you can ignore the other fill in stuff as you see fit:)). More pics to follow from Dad's camera. These are a few from my phone:) And...yes...I've been a bad blogger lately. Just not enough hours in the day:)



The Joy to the World Finale

Santa with a very, very loose tooth that she won't let anyone near:)


Eating 'Falling Florida Snow':)

Katie was especially animated today:) Here she is sitting on the Polar Bear at the Polar Express:)

And....there's a guest 'Chef' in the Kitchen tonight!!

Julie suprised her mom tonight with the announcement that she and Leni would make dinner:) Can't turn down that offer!! What was the menu?? Pork chops with sauteed apples/onions and rosemary (straight from our garden) in an amazing creamy cider sauce....Greenbean (fresh from the garden)and red potatoes in a dill/dijon vinagrette dressing...corn muffins...and CHOCOLATE cake!! We just might let Julie go to the highest bidder....but then ...nah...no way.:) I think we'll keep her:)

Peek-a-Boo Pocahontas and Her Mostly Companion....

The oranges are almost ready Auntie Michelle:)....Kristi-Loo is quite the gardener as we pick 1 1/2 to 2 lbs. of green beans every other day....we have 48 tomatos growing at the moment and 14 cucumbers....and one very cute watermelon. The squash and zuchinni have been a pain in the **** but overall....we've had great success!
Then, while Leni was home assisting the "Chef"... Pocahontas and her mostly companion make a teepee village on the 'property'. This is what they were doing when Katie hurt her head last week. They decided to try again:)

The Destiny Foundation's Annual Founder's Breakfast:)

"When You Walk With Jesus You End Up With the Poor"

Last Wednesday we had the opportunity to participate in The Destiny Foundation's Annual Founder's Breakfast in downtown Orlando, run by Scott and Tammi George.(FYI, Tammi is my childhood BF:)) Yes...I don't get up this early for too many people:) but it was so worth it!! As I've said before, Scott is the Medical Director of Destiny and also serves on the board. The Destiny motto is "giving not just a hand out...but a hand up." Their goal is to service the working poor in Orlando in medical, food, and job assistance not just once...but ongoing as people get on their feet. A large majority of those they serve are working, single moms. We heard testimony after testimony that brought tears to our eyes of those that have been helped this last year. One mom had 3 small children and had been physically abused by ?? and had no one else in this world to help her. She spoke of coming in to Destiny....getting food, medical care, and help in finding a day care for her children so she could return to work. As I cried from my seat....I realized how trivial my trials are compared to hers. My own husband was hit by a car on April 29 of this year....and as I listened this past Wednesday to testimonies from these single moms...I again became acutely aware of how if it were not for God's mercy and intervention on that day in April...I could be one of these single moms struggling to meet the needs of 3 little girls and also be the breadwinner. I identify with these women in ways now I never could before. Scott serves in a free clinic run once a month on the Destiny property and comes home with story after story not unlike the previous one. He told me that to volunteer his time for a few hours once a month is really no sacrifice, but to those who come into the clinic for help....that visit with a doctor is everything to them. How we take for granted the opportunities we have in this affluent society...yet if we only look around we will encounter many, many out there who are in desperate need of both a savior...and tangible help. If you want to read more about The Destiny Foundation...and I highly, highly recommend that you do:) you can go here . Take a moment and read about the incredible work they're doing on our own city streets and pray for it to continue, and for new opportunities to develop!! Much is happening!:)

Add One More and You Get...

this! We have Cade here tonight and adding just one more makes this place very Jon and Kate Plus Eightish....as if it wasn't already. Katie was VERY quiet for a while and we found her sitting at their Princess Vanity coloring her face with blue marker.:) She told us she was making herself very, very "BEEUTIFULL!!" Yep. She's feeling much better, thank you! (see below post..)
We've got to wash all this off for school tomorrow so we don't have to explain blue marker and turnip greens!

Trauma Mama Drama and Turnip Greens:)

We've had a few days of trauma and recovery. Again. On Monday, Katie and Kristin collided over a 'race to the teepee' they were building. Katie went face first onto the cement and couldn't brace herself. Yeah. Ugly. Picture Katie SCREAMING and Kristin SCREAMING and the mom/Julie/and Mom Jo watching giant blood-clot thing form on Katie's head. It was a scary moment. I started yelling for ice over the ruckus....and Mom Jo ran inside only to bring forth ....a bag of frozen turnip greens. Now, those of you from the south will understand the need for turnip greens in freezer...(I personally think they're disgusting) but they fit the bill in this case. Our poor little Katie with bag of turnip greens on her head soon was evaluated and over the next few hours found to be ok. Her head is gross looking and will be all week. Kristin felt so bad about the whole thing she cried for hours telling us how sorry she was that she had hurt Katie. (this in itself is a big deal for those that know Eloise:)!!) and now....today....things are somewhat back to normal. And yet again... On we go! Sorry. No pics. Too yucky.

Tonight....

We let the girls go trick or treating.(Pause here for air...)... We aren't halloween fans at all.... and our older kids were never allowed to go trick or treating. I'm sure we'll hear about this one for a while to come:) but we got together with the M.E.'s (what the girls call the Eastham's) and the Santa Maria's and the Romanacee's for a hot dog roast then a giant trick-or-treat parade through M.E.'s neighborhood. The P.C. had a blast and came back with enough chocolate to keep mommy and Julie and Mom Jo happy for a long, long time! Note the shameless political plug in the bottom photo! Gotta teach 'em early!! And the leopard and tiger got loose before we left ....(first photo)....they were reigned back in with bribes of 'tandy for the tiger'! The tiger had to take her kitty cat trick or treating. Her newest 'cant put it out of her sight' toy! Leni was The Rose Fairy Princess complete with her first make-up ever. She decided by the end of the night that make-up wasn't all that great but getting free candy piled in your pumpkin sure was worth all the walking!

Have You Voted?

I remember walking the streets of China and watching the PSB officers with their serious, stoic faces thinking to myself...these people aren't even allowed to vote for their gov't officials! We are!! It's a critical year for our country!! Have you voted yet?? I did today!!


My car....

My yard....:)

Go vote!! It's a privlege....not a right! Many, many in other countries would love to be in our shoes!!

Katie at School Today....

How about this cute Asian Tiger in the Halloween parade at school today?? GRRRRRRRR!!!!

New Do's!

The P.C. made a visit to our fav salon today to get new hair-do's:). My friend Rose whom I've known since high school is the owner and it's always a pleasure to take the girlies in for a visit! My mother was Rose's first client when she was straight out of 'hair school' and Rose gave Jason and Julie their first haircuts. So....rightly so that these 3 monkeys should sit in her chair as well! Katie got a new "Bob" that we LOVE!!! Her hair grows really fast and was at the middle of her back....Leni has the most gorgeous hair and wants to grow it LONG because she's tired of looking like Dora (her words) and Poor...poor...poor 'Onion'. At the ripe old age of 5 1/2 she still has some thin, straggly, but beautiful colored platnium blonde locks that just won't grow. We barely got a trim.:) You just gotta laugh. We think they look great! What do yall think??!!

We're All In This Together

Well I did it. I caved in. Last night I took our three little "wildcats" to see High School Musical 3. Now, before you ask why on earth I would do this, let me try to explain. I try to watch the girls every Friday night so mom and dad can have some time away from the circus. Most nights we just stay home, or we'll go get a treat at Starbucks, but we rarely go see a movie, and hardly ever in the real theatre due to a ticket costing as much as 2 gallons of gas these days. But yesterday as I was debating whether to take them or not I realized that 10 years from now, I won't remember what movie we saw (although images of Zac Efron breaking into song mid-conversation will be burned in my mind for quite a while...so funny), and I won't remember how much it cost to get in to see Zac Efron and friends jump around singing "wildcats in the house", and I won't remember the chaos of trying to get 3 children, a stoller, 3 slurpees, popcorn, a drink, a stuffed kitty, a stuffed dog, and myself into our seats, but I will remember the time I spent with my precious sisters. And I will remember the fact that Katie sat in my lap the entire time, clapping her hands and bouncing, and Kristin singing along with every song even though she didn't know them, and Leni in the car ride home telling me "thank you Julie for spending time with me. You're the best sister ever." The money spent to get there, the energy spent to get there, and everything else spent to get there, does not compare with the treasure that I have in my 3 little sisters. I hope 10 years from now they remember how much their big sister loves them and how she wasn't too busy or too concerned with herself to spend time with them. Here are some pictures from our evening :)