Our Pregnant Daughter In-Law and a Visit with Luke and His Family

Jesus said unto him, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth". Mark 9: 23

John send us pictures of Melissa, his lovely pregnant wife, so I am including one on this post. The beautiful dog in the picture is Smokey. He has been with John since he lived at home with us. He is actually a very gentle dog so don't let his looks fool you! Our granddaughter is due around mid-July. How exciting! It has been almost a year since I last saw my oldest child and even longer since we saw Melissa. We are truly hoping to see them in the coming months. John will be celebrating his 27th birthday on Sunday. Where does the time go??????

Speaking of time, it is flying by. We have been home from China 4 weeks today. This means that I am half way through my 12 week FMLA leave. We have had a busy few weeks which included a visit with Luke and his family. I am including a picture of the 3 "New Day Kids". They were playing at Luke's house in their backyard. The minute that Luke saw Abigail, he smiled really big and said "Abigail!". He was excited to see her. Abigail is an unusual child and did not respond with the same enthusiasm which was disappointing. Bonnie and I were hoping that they would chatter together in Chinese but neither made any attempt during the visit to talk in their native tongue. Luke and Shane actually played together quite well. They are typical boys! We enjoyed the visit very much and Noelle, Luke's adorable older sister, gave Abigail a beautiful dress that she had outgrown. Abigail received her very own Little Girl's Bible and a tut-tut from a dear friend last week. She had been looking at Shane's Bible he received our Pastor and his family so now she has her very own! She was running around the house in nothing but the tut-tutand her diaper one day! Shane also received a gift of matchbox cars from the same friend. Folks have been wonderful about thinking of him when giving her gifts. Several church family members have also included gifts for him when giving her gifts.

Shane has his pre-school doctor's appointment on Friday and Abigail has a visit with the surgeon at UVA on Monday. Cody has surgery next Thursday to remove his appendix that ruptured before we left for China. Shiloh has a surgery on her ears on May 26th and we have a short two night trip planned at Virginia Beach on May 20th. Did I mention that Mandy has her capping ceremony on the May 20th also and the big graduation ceremony on May 30th? It is hard to believe that Sharon will have a child that has graduated from high school soon......and one that is starting kindergarten in August. Sharon and Andy are celebrating their 22nd anniversary on Saturday and get the privilege of babysitting my two little angels since we have a wedding to attend. Aren't they lucky! Jeremy finishes up with his Junior year at Liberty next week and will be returning home for the Summer. We will be planning a college graduation party next Spring!

As you can see from the picture of the boys, they also enjoy playing with Abigail's dolls and accessories! They will really enjoy this picture during their teenage years. Life is busy and I so enjoy dressing my "little princess" for Sunday School each week. She has the cutest dresses that her aunts have given her and her hair curls very nicely when it is in a ponytail. She is really adjusting well and generally only becomes moody when she is away from home and in a different environment. She is very accustomed to Sunday School so she is happy at church. Who knows what goes through her little mind when we are out and about? I am am not sure who I admire the most, the moms that stay at home full-time with multiple children at home or the moms that work outside the home and come home each day to multiple children. My hat is off to all mothers! It is the hardest and most important job in the world whether you are home full-time or not.

Abigail's First Real Boo-Boo

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:" I Peter 1:8

Yesterday was rainy so we spent the day indoors. Today, started out sunny so as soon as I could, I took the kids outside. I was busy attempting to pull weeds out of the flower bed next to our house and the children were playing or so I thought.......our double stroller is in the pool room and the boys had been in there pulling out the battery operated jeep. Somehow the two boys ended up in the stroller with Abigail attempting to push them. She actually was pulling them backwards and as she went down the hill, the stroller turned over and she ended up under the stroller with the two boys literally flipping out of it backwards. She ended up worst for the wear with a swollen and bruised cheek and a chin that is skinned up. The boys rubbed their heads but there is no obvious bruising. She cried for a few minutes and then went on about her way. She tends to be clumsy so I am surprised that has taken this long for her to get her first real bruise. Her legs are bruised and scratched up as she hangs right in there with the boys and follows them everyone. Daddy took she and Shane to visit grandma and poppy last night and to the park on Sunday after church. I really appreciate the down time!

Abigail understands practically everything that you say and is starting to speak more English. Today, she said, "mama what you doing?". She asks for "drink". She is also starting to say, "mama, hold me". She sleeps from around 9:30 - 10:00 p.m. to around 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. which is great! She has only gotten up once or twice during the night since we have been home. She really is adjusting well. I just need to adjust to having two little ones in the house!

Easter Celebration and Been Home Two Weeks

"Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." I Thessalonians 5: 17 & 18

We went to Susie's house on Saturday to color Easter eggs. Shane enjoyed it very much. Abigail was hesitant and really did not want to participate. She tends to not want to participate in activities at first and then joins in. We went back in the afternoon to have a double celebration as we celebrated Isaiah's 6th birthday and Easter with the family. As usual we had a crowd of over 25 people and enjoyed our time together. As always, we missed our mother and John and Melissa not being with us. It is hard to believe that next year, they will have a little girl to celebrate Easter with and I will be a granmother! The children had several Easter egg hunts and again, Shane enjoyed it more than Abigail but she started getting into it around the 3rd hunt.

It is hard to believe that we have been home two weeks. It has been a busy and fast two weeks! Abigail and Shane are always into mischief together and quiet time is a rare thing at my house these days. Neither child takes a nap and with the rainy days we have been having, we have been house bound and these two children have way too much energy to be in the house all day! It is sunny today and they are calling for warmer temperatures and sunshine. Praise the Lord! We need the rain but these kids need to be outside to get off all that energy. Abigail has lots of energy for a little girl! She is doing great with Sunday School and nursery at the church. She understands just about everything we say and is now starting to repeat things in English to us. Shane is still adjusting to having to share time, toys and attention with a sibling but he loves her.

Abigail's Haircut and Home Almost a Week!

"He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." Matthew 28: 6

Who is the little girl in the picture?????? I can't believe how different she looks with bangs! Abigail received her first haircut on Monday night. We are blessed to have a good friend who comes to our house to cut our hair. I had her cut my first so Abigail could watch. It didn't help much. She did not want her hair cut. I had to hold during the cut and it was still a chore! She can now wear her hair down without it getting into her eyes constantly. It is hard to believe that we have been home a week. It has been a fast week! Abigail has come a long way. She sleeps all night which is great. Now, if I could just sleep through the night! I can finally see the bottom of the laundry hamper and my bedroom dressers are somewhat clear. I am exhausted but very happy.

John brought Shane a new Superman and Hulk shirt with underwear so he is busy changing from one shirt to the other today! They are really cute together except when they are fighting. She woke up yesterday morning and Shane had already gotten up and the first thing she said was "Where's Shane?" She did great in Sunday School on Sunday and spent 2 1/2 hours in the Tots class. Of course, big brother was with her. She is starting to repeat English words after us now and even talked to Jeremy on the phone yesterday.

Home Sweet Home!!!

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" Ecclesiastes 3:1

We arrived home safely! Praise the Lord! Our flight from Beijing to Dullus was canceled so in order for us not to have to spend an extra night in Beijing, we were re-routed to Chicago and then to Richmond. This meant that we had to be picked up a the Richmond airport as we were originally suppose to be picked up at the Charlottesville airport which is only 20 minutes from our house. Sharon and Bernard picked us up and it was a very foggy drive home at 10:30 p.m. We arrived home around midnight and I was cooking the children cheese eggs at 1:30 a.m. We settled down to bed at 2:00 a.m. Shane woke up at 4:00 a.m. and then again for the day at 6:00 a.m. Needless to say, we are all exhausted. The picture of him on the floor is him literally falling asleep while playing. He got quiet and when I went to check on him, I found him laying there. Don't you just love his outfit of a sleeveless shirt and boots? He likes to dress himself and this is what you get when you let a four year old dress himself! He woke up a few minutes later and stayed awake for about 5 more minutes and then I found him on the bottom step of the stairway! Our house is a wreck with suitcases everywhere and tons of laundry to be done. I'm getting to it as time allows! Jeremy came home today from college and his little sister went to him right away and they have had a great time playing together. She was very fussy and cranky last night but is doing much better today. There was too much activity yesterday with visitors and dinner at grandma's. We stayed in today and Jeremy and my father was the only "visitors". As you can see from the pictures, they are enjoying their room and are busy making it a mess!