Last Post From My Travel Blog

My travel blog went a little strange and I was on the phone

with Apple for around 4 hrs. trying to save and fix what ever

happened. I did manage to get back all that was lost except for

the very last post. It still won't publish and I don't feel like dealing

with it today so maybe next week we can get it to publish. I do like

being able to put all the pics. in an album and on the blog much easier

then blogger. (Sorry, these pics. are probably backwards and I don't

feel like redoing them, it takes to long.)

After 30 plus hrs. of travel we made it home late Friday the 18th.

When Sarah saw the Christmas Lights on our house She said,

"Buuutiful."

Sarah seeing her room for the first time!

Our son Chris in the background drove us home from Phoenix.

The last two hrs. of our journey.
We arrived in Phoenix around 5:30 pm and were greeted by friends

and family. We were all given flowers and the girls also received

cute little teddy bears holding a flower. A precious friend of mine &

her DH came up from Tucson and brought an awesome Chinese

Calligraphy that reads

"Welcome to America. Your dreams will come true."

Sarah took it and started to cry. Charlotte, thank-you for your

thoughtfulness and sharing how God's hand was in the making

of the awesome gift you brought our daughter. We went straight

from the airport to my SIL's work Christmas Party Fund Raiser.

(5 min. away) Sarah met 3 of her cousins, one of her Uncles,

a couple of her Aunts and even sat on Santa's lap with Jaden.

We stayed and watched the Flame Throwers and headed home

shortly after.

I think she likes it!
(Backing up a little)
Freshened up and waiting in LA for flight to PHX.Poor Jaden was exhausted.

She did have a very exciting and busy two wks.
Waiting in Hong Kong Airport. (Sorry if this is a little jumbled. I am

trying to remember everything I wrote on my lost post)
When we were walking over to our gate to wait for our flight.

I saw Stan turn and start walking towards some people and I

thought I heard someone say" Is that Jaden ?" As we were getting

closer to the couple I thought the man looked familiar and the

two little boys. As we started talking I realized I was talking

to Nicole the mommy of all my E's! (mom's always seem to be

behind the cameras) Who happens to know some very dear

friends of ours who adopted their first daughter when we

adopted Jaden. The adoption world is so amazing to me.

I am truly humbled and honored that the Lord put it on my heart

to adopt. Trusting in His leading and stepping out in faith

and obedience He has blessed us beyond measure. We have

met so many wonderful Godly people in this journey. Some

who have become very special and dear friends to us. Not to

mention the two beautiful daughters we have the honor of

raising for Him and to know Him.

We enjoyed visiting with Nicole and her DH until their

flight came.

Then shortly after we were on our way to San

Francisco we didn't have a very long lay over and we had to

get through customs and give them our sealed envelope. The

customs officer didn't seem to understand that Sarah is our

adopted daughter and kept telling us she would need a green

card! I explained to him she is our adopted daughter and

is automatically an American Citizen. I am not sure if he

handled our paperwork correctly. I really don't think He

understood what I was telling him He had her sign the

paperwork and not us he kept saying she is old enough.

I hope this doesn't cause us any problems. I am really

concerned about.

The girls waiting for our flight in HK

I wonder what was going through Sarah's mind

as she leaves the land where she was born and

lived for the past thirteen years of her life with

complete strangers that don't even share her

language. Not to mention the food differences.

She is such a brave young lady.

Nicole and her two new E's!

It was wonderful meeting and talking with you!

The beautiful Chinese Calligraphy. :)

One Week Home And First Christmas Together

Sarah rolled and cut and decorated Christmas cookies.

Jaden was a great helper also!

Wearing most of the icing.

I woke up Christmas morning to this little and very excited voice

saying "Santa brought my tooter scooter and doll house I wanted!!!

"Sarah's bike too!

Oh, and just ignore the sheets on the sofa there IS a body under

them. When you are in your twenties you can sleep through anything!
The twins, our sweet daughter-in-law and Justin a friend of theirs

(adopted into the family minus all the paperwork & expense) ;)

spent the night at our house. The rest of the family and guests

arrived in the afternoon for Christmas dinner.

Yes! My girly girl is very into cars also!
We did get a couple of pics of Sarah in her pajamas. She was quite

shy and didn't really want them taken so I won't post them this year.

She never celebrated Christmas before and she doesn't know the

reason why we celebrate. I did tell her we were celebrating Jesus

birth. I know she didn't really understand. That is ok. I just pray

that she will see Jesus in me as we interact together.

She was trying to avoid the camera so most of the pics are of her

looking down. She seemed to like her gifts. She wouldn't get on her

bike at all. A little later we set it outside and when she thought no

one was paying any attention she got on and tried to ride. Chris her

big brother went out to help her. Then she realized others were

watching and wouldn't get back on. She is very shy.

She unwrapped her gifts one piece of tape at a time. :)
She liked her tea set!

Checking out her new cookbook.

New Travel Blog

We are leaving Dec. 2 and spending the night in LA.

Our Flight to China leaves 7:00 am Dec. 3.

I have most of the Christmas shopping done and

bought some winter clothes. Living in AZ. we didn't

have much for real cold weather. I am sure I will still

freeze! (I know such a wimp) The house is decorated

tree is up.

I have been working on a new blog for China travel

it is at.........(just click on it)

web.me.com/shinehislight/file/Blog/Blog.html

Thanks everyone for all your help!

TA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As cold water to a weary soul,

So is good news from a far country.

Proverbs 25:25

Woo-hoooooo!!!!!!!!!!!

We got the loooooooong awaited phone call this morning!!!

We leave on December 3rd for China!!!!

Praising and thanking our Father in heaven!

We are coming Piper!!!

There are 21 families going in our group.

I think 10 special needs and 11 healthy (might be reversed

I was to excited)

I think all the healthy families are going to Nanchang and

3 Special Needs families. I am not sure who yet.

Thank you everyone for your prayers!

Yesterday's devotional reminded me of a few the Lord blessed me

with in the past, especially one when I thought maybe we weren't

in His will.

Streams In The Desert

November 5

Is anything too hard for the Lord? (Genesis 18:14)

Here is God's loving challenge to you and to me today.

He wants us to think of the deepest, highest, worthiest

desire and longing of our hearts, something which perhaps

was our desire for ourselves or for someone dear to us, yet

which has been so long unfulfilled that we have looked upon

it as only a lost desire, that which might have been but now

cannot be, and so have given up hope of seeing it fulfilled in

this life.

That thing, if it is in line with what we know to be His expressed

will (as a son to Abraham and Sarah was), God intends to do for

us, even if we know that it is of such utter impossibility that we

only laugh at the absurdity of anyone's supposing it could ever

now come to pass. That thing God intends to do for us, if we will

let Him.

"Is anything too hard for the Lord?" Not when we believe in

Him enough to go forward and do His will, and let Him do the

impossible for us. Even Abraham and Sarah could have blocked

God's plan if they had continued to disbelieve.

The only thing too hard for Jehovah is deliberate, continued

disbelief in His love and power, and our final rejection of His

plans for us. Nothing is too hard for Jehovah to do for them

that trust Him.

(From Messages For the Morning Watch)

I typed this in early this morning and before I posted it I was

blessed to find out our TA add finally come in!

Almost a year ago the Lord gave me took me right to this

verse in Genesis 18:14

Is anything to hard for the Lord? I will return to you at

the appointed time next year an Sarah will have a son.

He put on my heart that our daughter would be home

a year from that day. Whenever I would start to doubt

I always had this peace and remembered she would

be here by Christmas. We were told we would be leaving

in October yet the dates came and passed us by. I started

to get discouraged. Why? I started listening to people

instead of the promise my Father in heaven gave me.

We got our TA and were told we couldn't leave Nov. 19

no CA appts. were available. So we leave on December

3rd and we will be home December 18th. A year to the day

that He answered when I had prayed and cried out to Him

asking if we were in His will......... we will be getting home

with our daughter.

Thank you Father for your faithfulness

and forgive me for my unbelief.

The one who has called you is faithful and He will do it.

1 Thessalonians 5:24

Three Years Ago Today

I can't believe how fast time is flying by. I took you in my

arms three years ago. At the sweet age of 18 months. Our

lives were changed forever and for the better. You had

the most curious eyes as you looked at us. My heart

just melted with the love the Lord had already placed

in my heart for you that has grown ever more deeply

each day we spend with you.

Jaden, you have brought such joy and laughter and

yes even a few sleepless nights into our lives. I thank

my Father in heaven everyday for the

beautiful gift He has given us in you.

Monday October 30, 2006

3:00 pm

Gotcha Day

Not so sure about all of these strange people.



I know you were afraid and didn't know what to think.

After our first night the very next morning around 10:00 am

we went back to the Civil Affairs office and your nanny was there

she put her hands out for you and you went to her and then looked

at me and then her a couple of times and put your arms out to come

back to me. My heart leaped with joy and I new our Father above was

answering many prayers for you to start bonding so quickly.

Yes, from that day forward you attached to me. I couldn't even go

to the bathroom alone. You became my little cling on and I wouldn't

have changed it for the world. Poor daddy had to wait patiently as you

slowly warmed up to him. When you did I was thrilled and to this day

love watching you both enjoy each other. May you learn from your

daddy's love how much our Father in heaven truly loves you.

At the medical exam in China. A much happier little girl.

After many kisses from mommy, mommy received her

first kiss in China while I was laying on the floor playing

with you.

Tonight we went to a little Chinese restaurant to celebrate.

Jaden loved the noodles! She commented, " They were the

best she'd ever had."

Then she told us we don't know how to eat them right and

proceeded to slurp them down!

We love you Jaden

you have been such

a blessing from God.

We have been blessed

beyond measure.

Jaden's Referral (finally)

I know I am a little behind our scanner wasn't working.

Thanks Amy for the picture. For some reason when

we scan that one it turns out really tiny.

So I copied and pasted the one you emailed.

I didn't want to add this all on tomorrows post.

Our referral came August 25, 2006

Birthdate 4/2/2005

Name Jiang Suh Qin

Yongxiu County SWI

Jiangxi, China

Prayer for our group from DH

Father,

We thank-you for this honor

bestowed upon us,

to have the privilege of raising

and loving Your children.

We ask for Your protection

over the little ones

While we labor

these last weeks

to travel to them.

We covet Your blessings
as we prepare for the trip.

Thank-you for Your
mercy, grace and love.

In Jesus name

Amen

Our precious gift from the Lord

Jaden Faith

A beautiful poem I found
God's Little Girl

Oh, little girl from a far away land,

You know not yet how the Father's hand

Has fashioned your frame in ways so grand,

And loves you in ways you don't understand.

And though we've yet to hold your tiny frame,

You've captured our hearts, and we long to

call your name.

We thank God for you, a gift so sweet and pure,

And pray for you, to know His Son for sure.

And as you grow, may you always know

The Lord is there wherever you go.

We promise to love you through all

your days and hours,

But never forget, His love is far greater than ours.

Our Father's Son, He freely gave

And all who believe, He surely will save.

Oh, little girl, we're all adopted at so great a price,

But as God's little girl, you're adopted twice.

Paul W. Smith

Thus says the Lord to His anointed,

To Cyrus, whose right hand I have

held---

To subdue the nations before him

And loose the armor of kings,

To open before him the double doors,

So that the gates will not be shut:

I will go before you And make the

crooked places straight;

I will break in pieces the gates of bronze

And cut the bars of iron.

I will give you the treasures of darkness

And the hidden riches of secret places,

That you may know that I, the Lord,

Who call you by your name,

Am the God of Israel.

Isaiah 45:1-3

Special Drawing

Jaden's butterfly for Jesus.Before DH hung up Piper's butterflies one had disappeared.

Little later I found out where it had gone. Jaden came up and

handed me her picture of the butterfly she traced and told me

it was for Jesus, then asked if she could go give it to Him now.

Oh, and of course, she wants me to go with her. So I told her

He sees and loves your beautiful butterfly, just as He loves you.

Oh sweet girl there are days I long for Jesus

to come and take us home. Until then we need

to be lights in this dark world and share His love.

Bible story time

Jesus Calms The Storm

Mark 4:35-41

The affirmation: I will run to Jesus when I am afraid.

Jaden pondered for a few minutes and then looked at

me and said, "Well.... actually you can't run to Jesus."
I explained to her the way we run to Jesus is by praying

when we are afraid and He will give us His peace.

She memorized the Fruit Of The Spirit this week and

we have been discussing each fruit. What perfect timing.

This precious four year old always is amazing me.

Jaden's Room

Since we shared the pictures of Piper's room a certain

little girl wanted me to share pictures of her room also.

(Is this a sample of things to come?) ;)

At the time we adopted her we only had dial up in our

area and I couldn't do a blog. So here is Jaden's bedroom.

Our ferocious guard dog Ziva even joined in.

I look at her sitting at her little table and

I am amazed how quickly my baby girl is

growing up! (she sat there so everyone

would know this is her bedroom)

Summer Fun

A few months ago Jaden started swimming on her own.

Shortly after that she was jumping in from the side of the pool.

A few weeks ago she mastered jumping from the diving board.

Looks like next year we will work on diving. We may have just

a few weeks left of swimming.

Some are a little blurry. Maybe by next summer I will have a nicer camera.;)

Almost Complete

Just about all the finishing touches have been added.

We had found out a while back Piper likes butterflies!

I just love how God used butterflies to speak to my heart

in both of our adoptions. (shared in past post)

Praying He is preparing her heart and mind for all the changes

coming her way. Also for God to give us the wisdom, direction

patience and love to help her through her grieving as she leaves

everything she has known. May we be able to comfort her as God

has always been a comforter to us.

(2 Corinthians 1:3, 4)
I can't wait to see her sleeping in her bed!

Come on TA!!!
Oh........ I can just see her standing between her bed and dresser.
Still need to switch out the closet door with the new white one.

Yet her room will not be complete until she walks through the door.

Sneak Peak

Just a little sneak peak as the once office/workout room

starts to transform into a girly girl bedroom. We found

out Piper's favorite color is green.
More to come of the rest of her room as we

finish decorating.
Every girl no matter what age needs her very own dolls.

Palm Tree Full Of Surprises

We started working on our Alphabet letters a few weeks ago.

We always search for things through out the week that start

with our letter for the week. I was watering this palm tree that

is very thick and low to the ground and all of a sudden this cute

baby bunny came running out. We were practicing writing the

letter B earlier in the morning!

Desert living can be very interesting. From cute bunnies to........

Today I was watering some flowers in a large pots

near the same palm tree. I decided to set the hose

in the palm tree for a little bit. When I took the hose

out to water some more of the flowers I walked around

the palm tree and there was a baby rattlesnake coiled up
(me in flip flops) Thank you, Jesus for watching over me.

I ran to get a shovel and my camera. :) and he was already

on the move. He ended up back in the palm tree. I have been

told baby rattlesnakes are very dangerous because they tend
to unload all their venom when they bite. We have had 4 to 5

foot rattlesnakes many times in the past and they are scary.

The babies are worse because they aren't as easy to spot and

their rattles aren't as loud. This guy was coiled up you couldn't

even see his rattles. He didn't seem to upset that I was right

there. I could tell he was a diamond back by his markings and

viper shaped head. When he was on the move you could see the

black rings around his tail and three little rattles.

(click on pic to see better) We are not on the letter S yet!

We will refer back to this post for Sammy the slimy slippery

snake who slithered away.