IT"S RAINING DUCKS HERE TODAY!!

Perfect day today for little duckies to paddle in puddles! Say 'paddle in puddles' 3 times really, really fast. :) Heh. Too much indoor time today with the rain. We're all getting a little loopy....hence the duck-boot-wearing-time-to-send-you-outside-cuz-you're-too-LOUD-and-need-to-desist-with-the-fighting-girls!! Aren't they perfect little duckies??!!

Here's your mind bender. 1 and 2 have conflict 'occasionally'. 2 and 3 have regular conflict. In fact...lately it's minute by minute.:) 1 and 3 rarely, if ever have conflict. When 1 and 3 conflict...Mommy listens because something has really, really happened involving needed intervention and pointing little sweeties in the "way they should go". All other conflict is usually the result of 2 and 3 losing any and all manner of self-control, and needing parental controls put in place to prevent harm to other numbered children.But...in this scenario...1, 2, and 3 are actually 3, 4, and 5...so it brings back memories of 1 and 2 doing the same thing. Got it??

Wordless Wednesday :)

....although it must be known....this group is never, ever wordless:)

Yet Another Excellent Message From John Piper

This is from a sermon given in Alabama....yet is relevant to ALL of us today. I love how John Piper uses the English language both in verbal and written forms. One if not several of his books are mainstays by my bed....begging me to continue in my study of the supremacy of Christ, and the precious Gospel we've been given. I have been riveted by this video these last few days. My prayer is that you are touched and your heart changed as well!

Happy Birthday Mommy!

Thursday was Mom's ??th birthday so us girls went out for a night on the town :) Gathering Mel, Mom Jo and friends Medana and Megan we headed out to see a chick flick and to have dessert. We had such a great time! Mom, I hope you know how much your family and friends love you and consider you a dear treasure. Thank you for all you do! We love you so much! Here are some pictures from our fun night!

My Kitchen May Never Be The Same...

Miss THANG directs the show. All of them really.

Leni made her mommy a 'horse' themed cupcake. Should I take that as a hint??!

And this one...wants to be the leader but Eloise gets in the way. She delights in crafty things and showed her green/pink tongue all day. Very proud of that!!






But I don't care!! These little ladies of creativity decided to make cupcakes for Mommy's 'real' birthday yesterday so I let them have at it!! This was after the gifts of handmade bead necklaces and bracelets that this mommy wore all day .... even out to dinner....and.... don't those cupcakes look yummy? They were made with lots of attitude(!) mostly towards each other....and lots of love. The best I've ever seen!! MMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Thanks girlies for a great day!!

Cousins...cousins...and more cousins!!

In addition to China reunions...we've had the Charleston VanLue group here this week. That means only one thing....fun!! AND more cousins to play with. The P.C. had loads of entertainment input with Grayson,8, Jackson,6, and newbie Weston ,20 months, as they ran, climbed trees,picked oranges, fed ducks, ate the ducks food, chased ducks, ate more duck food, did science experiments, tried not to fall in the yucky duck water....you know the routine. (Yep, that's me in the middle of this elite group of elementary grey matter:))Kristin actually looks like she belongs to them...they are so very much alike in every way possible :) This day at our big family gathering thingy....Weston became my buddy. Now he weighs as much if not more than Katie...but while we were duck scaringImeanfeeding...Katie Mei sang him Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and would you believe the little bugger went to sleep on me?? Now we're bonded forever. Katie kept saying..."He seeping Mom FOR WEEL (real)!! Not te-tend!!(pretend)" She's so LOUD that it's a wonder the kids could sleep at all (not to mention a certain other VanLue that has only one VOLUME AND IT IS THIS ONE!!!) They were/are so very cute. This pic reminds of great times!! We can't wait until our next visit. It was waaaaayyyyy too short!! I love all the gatherings of family we've had lately and seeing the heritage these girls now have. What a privilege to belong to such a superb family!!

3 Little China Sprouts~

One of our FAVORITE events of the year is getting Katie Mei with her orphanage mates from the Taihe SWI, Jiangxi PRC! We do this a couple of times a year and it's always, always a greatly anticipated event! To see these little girls placed into their parents arms at the Civil Affairs office in Nanchang....to where they are today is indeed a miracle. We love seeing how they're growing, TALKING (that's an understatement!) and how their personalities have developed. This past Saturday we were able to be with the Crokers from Maryland, and the Seltzers from Tampa. Here you will see Alexis (by far the tallest), Malia (the sweet one with the dumpling cheeks you want to squeeze:)) and our Katie Mei (the eater in the pic...and the smallest). Pretty neat huh? All from the same orphanage....all adopted on the same day....all within just a couple weeks of each other in age....and these pics to us are priceless. :) Makes me want to go back for more!!!!:) BTW- We missed you this time Kayla!!!!