August 13-15
After Cassady and Methus arrived safely home from Peru, we were finally all together as a family! We were able to spend a few days together hanging out at the pool and bonding with Charis. So much fun!

Cassady lounging at the pool.

Charis is adjusting and doing so well. At first she would not allow us to feed her with a spoon or fork but praise the Lord we are past that now. She is eating and actually enjoying it. :)

Charis relaxing in her high chair

Playing Peek-a-boo!

Pretty smile!

Sunday August 22 Charis went to church for the first time. Everyone at Lifepointe was so excited to see her. She stayed with me during the music at the beginning but then we went to nursery for the rest of the service. My thoughts of her staying quietly in my arms for the first few Sundays was only wishful thinking. She is a busy body, always moving and ready to play.

My first time to go to church!

Charis has learned how to make a high pitch noise (otherwise known as screaming). She is very excited about this new found skill. I think she just likes hearing herself.

Talking on the phone

Playing the piano.

When Chris and I were in China we bought the kids shirts. The boys are wearing shirts the say "big brother" and Cassady's says "big sister". Of course Charis's is "little sister". I just had to get a picture of them all wearing them.

Obviously Charis does not want to take pictures right now. This would be her "spicy girl" attitude.

Blowing kisses to daddy behind the camera

Charis saying, "I'm done and need a bottle".

Now she's happy!

Later that day we had visitors! Thomas takes Charis out on the front porch to visit with the girls.

The neighborhood girls are so sweet! They love visiting Charis! (And Thomas doesn't mind all that attention either!)

Well my days consist of playing, changing diapers, playing, feeding, playing, bathing, playing ... It is as wonderful as I thought it would be :) Charis is doing great and doing new things everyday. I will not be surprised if she is walking by the end of the month.

We dressed her up and took some pictures. She is a mess - I can't wait for Cassady and Methus to get home and be here with us.


Charis - having fun!



Charis done with picture taking

We made it home!

We made it safe back home Friday - We will catch the blog up soon! Thanks for all your prayers!
We are glad to be home with Charis!
Check out the Gotcha video!
Click here to watch

Back with the Group

Today we started the day with group pictures. It is still amazing to see all the children together. We loaded the bus at 2:45 to head to the Consulate office for the oath taking ceremony (which is more of an official way to make sure we are in China). It was non ceremonial but it still brought a tear to the eye! There were 30 to 35 families in the room and we all took the oath. It is now official - we get her visa to travel to the US on Wednesday and then we fly to Hong Kong on Thursday then on to Seattle on Friday. We are all ready to get home. Cassady and Methus left today for a mission trip to Peru. We have been able to Skype with the kids and grandparents while we have been gone; that has been a blessing.

Monday August 2

Today went smooth there were no problems with our Consulate appointment. Thanks for praying! We spent the afternoon shopping with other families. W had 3 hours at one location (for people like me - I said what are we going to do for 3 hours & for people like Deb - they said that is not long enough!) We spent some time at the pool and we go tomorrow (Tuesday) to take our oath and make everything official on the US side. Praise the Lord! Today Charis fed herself a Gerber snack. This is a huge accomplishment for our little girl who had never been given the opportunity at the orphanage to feed herself.

Guangzhou

Friday July 30, 2010
We left Changsha to head to Guangzhou. We are so ready to get to the next step of our trip. Debby and I are ready to get back to Snoqualmie to the kids! I had some one on one time with little Charis while Debby and another couple went to a local embroidery shop via a cab with our guide. It was a great time for Charis and me to bond! She is so cute! She is definitely coming out of her shell! Debby told me the shop was down what appeared to be an alley way. Across the alley from the shop was a police station that was more like a one room area. The owner of the shop was upset because a baby boy was left at the police station earlier this morning. The owner wanted the other couple to take him home. I wished it could work like that!

This was a sobering moment for Deb as she could only think of the fact that Charis was left at a police station as well. We wondered if here situation was like that. It broke our hearts, but it also reminds me of God’s amazing grace! The other day I had a friend send me this scripture for Charis as they watched the Gotcha video: From Isaiah 62,
"For [Charis'] sake I will not keep silent, I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. The nations will see your righteousness & all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow. You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. NO LONGER will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called HEPHZIBAH (My Delight is in Her) & your land BEULAH (Married); for the Lord will take delight in you!...As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you! "I have posted watchmen on your walls, O [Charis]; they will never be silent day or night...The Lord has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: 'Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him & his recompense accompanies him.'' They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord; and you will be called SOUGHT AFTER, the City No Longer Deserted!"

Praise God for HIS GRACE!

We ended the day with Charis’ first plane ride and we ended up in Guangzhou in the China Hotel (the most awesome beds yet). We slept like a rock
Most of the common beds in China are life a piece of plywood with a small layer of cushion! We are excited to reunite with the entire 22 families.


Saturday July 31, 2010
Debby and I have been so blessed to see what God is doing in the lives of the 22 families traveling with us! God’s Grace is sufficient! Today we are missing Methus on his 15th birthday! We are so ready to get home and have the whole family together. We met the group at 8:50 to head to the medical exam building. It was like an assembly line of adoptive parents and their children going through the 3 rooms for the medical exams for the appointments we will have this week. It was crazy! We were able to get all 22 families through in about 2 ½ hours. We went back to the hotel and had our paper party (filling out the forms for our consulate appointment on Monday). Please pray for everything to go smoothly on Monday! We finished the night with a dinner a Japanese restaurant with the group. It is amazing to see all of the families and hear their stories from the previous week. God is absolutely in control!

Sunday August 2, 2010
With all the paper work filled out we wait! This morning we went to the Guangdong Folk Arts Museum followed by a little shopping mall. The rest of the day Debby, Charis and I are going to take it easy and maybe take a dip in the pool and relax. We are ready to be home!