Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Where is Mei Mei?



Mei Mei is waiting for us in Maoming, Guangdong, China. Coincidentally (if you believe in coincidence), it is right "next door" to Huazhou where her big sister spent the 1st year of her life. The two locations can easily be seen on the lower map (click to enlarge). It is about a "4-6 hour train ride" to Guangzhou, where we will likely be based. (Guangzhou is where the US Consulate is located.)

Monday, December 29, 2008

Introducing Mei Mei ...


















Oh, so worth the wait ...

A stork sighting ... ?

AF Stork Pictures, Images and Photos

Rumor has it that referrals are on their way for those with LIDs (log-in-dates) through 2/28/06. Our LID is 2/27/06. I probably shouldn't get my hopes up, but I just can't help it!

Fly stork fly!

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Christmas Dresses

My mother-in-law made these charming dresses for her granddaughter and great-granddaughter to wear on Christmas Eve. She's actually quite an accomplished seamstress. Unfortunately, the picture doesn't do them justice. Elizabeth's dress was a dazzling red trimmed with green beads and Brianna's dress was a gorgeous green trimmed with red beads. The girls looked absolutely beautiful and were able to twirl to their hearts' content. It was a wonderful gift.

Thursday, December 25, 2008

A Christmas Lesson

Christmas Pictures, Images and Photos

"Is there a purpose? Why are we here?"
A little boy asked as the yuletide drew near.
"I really do hope that someday I will know
the reason we stand out here in the snow,
ringing this bell as people walk by,
while thousands of snowflakes
descend from the sky."

The mother just smiled at her shivering son
who would rather be playing and having some fun
but soon would discover before evening was done
the meaning of Christmas
the very first one.

The young boy exclaimed, "Mother where does it go?"
"All the pennies we collect - every year in the snow."
"Why do we do it? Why do we care?"
"We worked for these pennies,
so why should we share?"

"Because once a baby - so meek and so mild
was born in a manger - so humble the child
the son of a King - was born in this way
to give us the message
He carried that day.

"The present God gave the world on that night,
was the gift of his son to make everything right.
Why did he do it? Why did he care?
To teach about loving
and how we should share."

"The meaning of Christmas, you see my dear son,
is not about presents or just having fun
but the gift of a father - his own precious Son
so the world would be saved
when his work was all done"

Now the little boy smiled - with a tear in his eye
as snowflakes kept falling from out of the sky -
rang louder the bell as the people walked by
while down deep in his heart
at last he knew why.

Tom Krause

Thursday, December 4, 2008

December referrals ...














The rumors for this month have begun! So far, it sounds as if Santa will be bringing referrals for those with LIDs through 2/23/2006. We, of course, are 2/27/2006. But we can't be too upset about it because that means ... WE ARE NEXT!