HeartRocksHome

Still so loving this.

Playing with paper.
Gathering it up.
Binding it into fun journals.

And right now my sweet Daughter is hosting a give away...and one of these journals is a prize. 
Even better than winning of the prizes offered..is the chance to help a little guy find a forever family.

So - come - enter - donate - spread the word. Such an easy way to feel really great about helping out. And, you know honestly....I so waste $10- $20 in my life. 

AND even if you don't win...you can still feel good about doing something GOOD.

 

 

Writing a book

Yup.
As you can see - this isn't the first book to be written. Oh, I write in notebooks all the time. Year by  year. I do best January thru April...then anyone reading these books would think I drop off the face of the planet until about October when I usually begin again.  

But I have a new idea. A ten year book.

Because of my 'always on the search for old paper' I came across this wonderful old ledger.
It is quite big.
12 x 8 inches and 510 pages long.
I know because every page is pre-numbered.
So....I began by penciling in the date on each numbered page.
I will do whatever I want with that date as each day comes. I hope I can be creative.
Then I will put a simple entry.
AND this is the best part. Next year. I begin again. I will see what happened last year and then add my new year entry. Won't this be fun? I will read what I have written. Those notebooks in the first photo, I seldom go back and read. Too much work, actually.
BUT..if the previous year is right there...I will read it and enjoy. Just think how fun this book will be in about five years.

I am excited! I hope it will motivate me to keep a better record of my life.  Granted most days are pretty boring - NICE and boring I might add. But even in the mundane I enjoy so much of life, I want to write some of those thoughts down to reflect on and remember.
Also...On those dates that are important and come every year -  like BIRTHDAYS...I will write that in the margin to be added to and enjoyed each year.
Our Julia has a birthday Jan 16th and so I have begun her page.

 I did birthday interviews last year and so have a few notes already for each of our family members.

ALSO...their are extra pages at the back - for those longer entries - a place to record spiritual experiences, testimony, important events and insights along life's journey ....and an index in the front to make them easy to find.

For example: our resolutions...our family has a great resolutions tradition of "return and report" and resolute to begin  anew. We love to share and applaud progress and encourage continued growth.
 

(note: to my Mom, I know I misspelled concealed. I have since fixed that error - my Mother is the master speller.)

So there you have it. Mistakes and all, no biggie..just go forth. Write life as it comes, enjoy, and then to REMEMBER.
I am writing a book.
A ten year book....one day at a time.

 

 

 

Getting Acquainted

Is delightful.

Today at 2:00 p.m.

For most folks...the waiting waiting waiting is over. The jolly fat man has come and gone...BUT for us the anticipation is at a peak. 
In just a few more hours we will have that Sweet Avery Baby Cakes - HOME.
Really really home.

 

Note to Little Avery

Just to let you know.
One of your big brothers loves frogs.
A LOT!

In fact sometimes he even ACTS like a frog....

Just so you know.

We are so ready to meet you Miss Avery Sweet Baby Cakes. (And O hopes you will like frogs.)

I guess every family takes a picture on a "red couch" in China as they adopt a sweet China baby. This is Avery and her MOM AND DAD!
Jess shared on her blog that there are 1.4 MILLION orphan children in China.
That is staggering, isn't it? 
But we know of one less. ONE LESS.
And she will soon be home with all her family.
A real family.
YAHOO.

Merry Christmas, really MERRY CHRISTMAS.

 
 

 

41 and counting

A nice little lunch downtown
Listen to the Carolers
Wander through Pottery Barn and William Sonoma
Holding hands
In Costco parking lot
Leaning back seats
Listening to Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing to us
Take a tiny nap - right there in Costco parking lot..it was wonderful.
Pick up a few things..come home do a little Christmas cooking

Perfect in every way. 
Simple - nice - pleasant - low key
We just really like one another 

In the meantime - we wait

She said "actually". I am thinking she says "actually" - she is three...mercy.

Little Sum Pie Jo Jo (cute nick name,huh?): "Actually"
Grandma: "Actually?"
Sum Pie Jo Jo: "No, Grandma, you don't say actually - I say actually and you say, What." 

The miracle has begun

Again from our son in China...

Avery ate out of a spoon! Some steamed egg. You have no idea how big this is. She has recoiled from anything but a bottle, and generally acted like she has no idea why you'd want to put something in her mouth, plus just plain scared that you tried. This is a breakthrough. I took 30 photos of the moment.

This makes our heart sing.
Oh so happy for this little China Bug!

 

 

In her Mommies arms.

At last!

From her Fathers blog entry:
  "It didn't take long to see that Avery is clearly suffered neglect her  entire young life. She's underdeveloped, and has several habits, mannerisms, and an appearance that makes this very obvious. Heartbreaking, and even provokes angry thoughts. Little Averys head is completely flat in the back from being left in her crib for long periods of time, she has the tell-tale habits and mannerisms of a child who has clearly only ever had her very most basic needs met. I'd say her development is about that of a 10 month old (even though she is 2)  which in some aspects might be generous. Like Jessica said "we're starting at square one."  What's interesting is that you'd think a child who was starved for attention and affection would eat it up - but in fact, they don't - because it's not something they even know how to deal with or think about. It's just a new, and foreign stimulus."

Then this entry:
"When we returned to the hotel room I observed something I find difficult to describe. Let me just say this: I watched a (my Jess) a master at work. Observing Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel may have evoked a similar emotion. Watching her work with this little soul, it's obvious that it's something she's been prepared (and preparing) to do since before she even came to earth. This is a work which will be her finest hour. "

What more can I say?
This Jess and her dear husband, our Carson....are just something else. 
How fortunate for us to be able to share with them in this journey.

How are the siblings doing at home you ask?
Well, so excited. Impatient to join in hugging and holding and teaching and sharing.
A little family that will all participate in a Christmas miracle. 

 

An Adventure - and by Adventure - I mean ADVENTURE.

Begins.
Well, I can't say begins because it really began over a year ago.
But now it is for real.
Not just paperwork.
But.
For real.
A journey that will  last a lifetime  for all eternity.
See this couple.

See the suitcase? (and one is lost..so we can pray it is found before Tues - okay?)
See the tired faces..yes, it is 4 a.m. and they have just begun.
Twenty seven hours later they arrived in China.
They are bringing home a new little girl to join our family.
Her name is Avery.

That is her new American name.
Her parents have decided to keep her Chinese name as a middle name. Zhan.
She is two.
She doesn't even know that in just a couple days she will have a loving - never to change family.
(And we need the suitcase by Tuesday - so she can have all the warm fuzzy yummy clothes and blankets and love toys that are packed inside - okay?)
There two sisters and a brother

And another handsome - brother

 
Are waiting for this new family member.
Plus an entire gaggle of cousins, and aunts and uncles and Grandpas and Grandmas
WAITING.
Trying very hard to be patient. 
You may notice there is already a China Baby in this family.
Oh..she is total sweetness.
She has been part of our family for most of her three years being only six months old when we 'got her'. 
She has explained to me that she is going to teach her new sister to speak English - and how to play - and good food to eat and they will sleep in the same bed so Avery won't be scared and - and -and - and......

So. We are on Grandpa and Grandma duty along with the other Grandpa and Grandma...until Christmas day at 2:00 p.m.
When the most precious-never-to-be-forgotten Christmas present arrives home.

REALLY HOME.

"Our family is a circle of strength and love.
With every birth (and adoption) and every union, 
the circle grows. 
Every joy shared adds more love.
Every crisis faced together makes the circle stronger."

p.s. There are 100's of 1000's of orphans in China. 
As well, as around the world.
For more information, Jessica, has created a blog that shares many opportunities to make a difference.