For those of you who have been faithful (or patient) to visit this rarely updated blog--we have NEWS for you. Gracee will soon have a new brother--all the way from her native country. We received notice today that our Seeking Confirmation Letter for James (Wan LiHe) will be delivered tomorrow!!! He is from the Wanzhou District of Chongqing, just east of the Sichuan province (the site of so much devastation from recent earthquakes.) Please join in praising God for the opportunity to be this little guy's "forever family." We are very excited. Wow! We have a lot to do to get ready for our new son. More details soon...

Gracee visits the big man in the red suit

It's Christmastime in the city and Gracee joins her siblings in their annual pilgrimage to the mall.

Meet our newest family member!

Gracee and the ol' blogger pose for a reluctant photo op with our first grandson (and Gracee's first nephew.) (Actually, Gracee is the only one not desiring to be in the photo. That's why I'm holding her arm.)

I don't know which is odder to say: Grace as an "aunt" or me as a young "grandfather." We are so excited for our oldest daughter and son-in-law. God has blessed them with an 8-month-old infant. You can tell he is interested in my hairline. He and I have about the same amount of hair. Unlike him though, I do have all my teeth and declined his kind offer to loan me his teether.

They decided to adopt domestically some time ago and were so thrilled to receive the "call" several weeks ago. We are grateful that this strapping youngster has a Mom and Dad who love God and will provide him a wonderful, loving home.

As for "aunt" Gracee, she's taking it all in stride. I'm sure she's just pleased that there is someone in the family smaller and younger than she is!

Another starving artist!

Gracee takes the abstract form of art to new extremes at her outside studio. While she has not yet made her first big sale, she has plenty of fans of her unique artwork. With her sandbox not far away and her wading pool only a few steps further, Gracee enjoys her special artist's retreat.

Wide-eyed wonder

Gracee gets to meet one of several chicks that now make our coops their home. She is fascinated with this few-days-old chick; the little chick is terrified of her. (It's an Americana variety, known for their GREEN eggs.) This little chick (and her sisters) are still months away from laying. Gracee likes to take produce scraps from the kitchen down to the coops.

And the hunt is on...

Gracee loves candy. At this year's Children's Hope Easter Egg Hunt, Gracee might not have found much candy but she was so pleased to find even one piece. It must be odd to her: Mom and Dad bundle her on this cold Saturday and tell her to run around and find plastic eggs with candy stuffed inside out in the grass and along the edge of the woods. And this is Easter? Nonetheless, she had fun and she did get to hear all about the real meaning of Easter.

A free spirit!

Little G in her own little Easter parade, showing off for the camera and for anyone who will watch.

Happy New Year!

It's Spring Festival time (usually referred to as Chinese New Year here in the states) and Gracee introduces you to costumes worn by those in the Lion Dance that was performed by the local Chinese Arts Alliance. It was an amazing performance that Gracee really enjoyed, even though it was loud with big drums and a big "lions." She is holding the mouth of one of the lions shut. The second lion costume (worn by two dancers) is to the left. The lion heads are resting on the drums used in the presentation. The Lion Dance is part of the annual Spring Festival in China (and other areas of Asia). Spring Festival begins Feb. 18 of this year and will usher in the Year of the Boar (Pig). Gracee and her family have been invited to a traditional 'New Year' dinner--complete with a golden pig. We will continue to pray in the "new year" for Gracee's little brother or sister-to-be--for his or her well-being and for a speed-up in processing that will bring this little one--who like Gracee two years ago--needs a loving, forever family. Please join us in praying for the children in countries around the world who need to know the loving arms of a Mommy and Daddy. Might it all be to HIS glory.

Guess who had a birthday?

Gracee was all smiles as she celebrated her third birthday with her family Sunday. How fast this past year has passed. Gracee has changed in many ways and remained the same in so many others. She is still a sweet, innocent little girl who loves her family, especially her Mommy. Words cannot describe how special it is to be her Mommy and Daddy. But, as the photo indicates, she is a growing up to be a bigger girl. When I refer to her as my "baby girl," she quickly tells me, "I'm not a baby!"