Can you believe it is December tomorrow?

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Feast with "Camp H" last night!  Thank you Jon & Liz for making it all so perfect..  

Thank you for blessing all of us!  We love you guys!

P.S:  Yes that is our decorated Christmas tree in the background...  Let's just say Jeff and Ainsley were in the spirit early!!!

It is back to reality for The Pearl and I this week!  Thank you for following our trip to Los Angeles.  It was great to get home on Saturday!  We were greeted at the airport by Jeff & Ruby Mei.  What a site for tired eyes!!!!

Ruby did great last week.  She napped in her crib every day that I was gone!  Funny, she didn't do that for me yesterday!  Her bonding to Jeff went to a new level.  When she woke up on Sunday she called for him, not me!  I was quite happy about that at 6am!!!!  I guess it is a reminder that it is good to get away now and then if you have the opportunity!

As for Ainsley's "job"!  Some of you have asked, how she got into modeling and commercial work...  In our case, it is truly the story of, by accident!  A photographer that we have used since we moved here in 2001 has taken pictures of Ainsley as she has grown up.  Erika has always loved working with Ainsley.  She also happens to work closely with one of the top agencies here.  When Ainsley was in Kindergarten, Erika took some pics of her for Christmas.  The photos turned out so well, that we discussed submitting them.  That turned into a few auditions for print work, and 2 Target Toy catalogs.  In August we got a random call for Ainsley to audition for a Kemp's TV commercial.  I laughed about it, because her only acting experience is here at home....  But, I just had a feeling after her first audition that she might actually get the job.  Well, as you know she did...  And, then it turned into this latest opportunity.  I don't pursue jobs, or make a big deal out of them when she gets them.  When she does work we expect her to do her best representing her agency and our family.  So far, she has delivered!  We are thankful for the opportunities she has had.  So, if The Pearl never does another thing in this area, she will never forget her time acting with Amy, Joe and a cow!!!!!  The three spots they filmed will air regionally in January, April, and June.

Today is the 2nd grade Thanksgiving play at Ainsley's school.  Jeff and I were up at 5:00am getting the turkey ready!  What was I thinking when I volunteered to bring that?  Next year Jeff has suggested I bring pie!!!!!

So we are back to ballet, tennis, piano, homework, etc...  We are looking forward to Thanksgiving with our dear friends over at Camp H!  We have so much to be thankful for!

Blessings,

The birthday party yesterday, and the kitchen scene today were done at a private home in Altadena, CA.  The owners have a beautiful carriage house that the Art & Prop departments turned into a fabulous kitchen for one day!

Ainsley's TV Family!!

The birthday girl!

I have so many cute photos to post from today's set, but the internet connection is painful!  So this one is for her Daddy, so he can see what his Kemps girl looks like!

She is doing such a great job, and I am so proud of her.  Today is her biggest day.  She has been going non-stop since we got here at 7am this morning.  I will post more pictures of her fun California birthday party when I get back to the hotel tonight.  Georgia the cow looks so adorable in her party hat!  She has made quite an impression on the guests at the party!!!

Blessings,

As I post she is standing with her hands on her hips looking at her "TV Dad" play basketball with a cow on her "TV driveway!"  This first ad really features the Dad and the cow.  Like the first commercial, it is very funny so far!  Georgia is a Holstein, and my understanding is she has quite the resume!  She has been featured as California's Dairy Cow, and she also stars in a few "Chick Filet" commercials!  She seems quite un-impressed with today's activities!

Tomorrow is going to be a fun day!  Georgia is making an appearance at Ainsley's birthday party.  There will also be 8 other little girls coming to the party!  Hopefully, the director will have a lot of patience!!!

As for me, I am rotating between a chair in the shade, and the trailer they have for the production crew and the actors.  The weather is gorgeous in southern, CA today.

Time for lunch!  More later!

Blessings!

 

If you think of us, please say a prayer for safe travels, quality time together, and for precious Ruby who has only been away from me one night since May 8, 2007! (It will probably be harder on me!) Ruby will be in good hands with Little Grandma and her Daddy!

Blessings,

The other impressive thing to note here is that she is GOOD at getting out.  Her dismount out of the crib is worthy of a "10" from the judges.  No hard landings!  Just simple grace with a small "tah-dah" probably thrown in.  You see, I asked her to show me what she did...  She happily performed the in and out version for me!  "Out Mama......, No Bed, Sorry Mama!!"  :)

This photo was taken during what would have been my coveted nap time....  In this cupboard in our kitchen is where I keep the band-aids and vitamins.  Ruby is obsessed with both!  Please note, no stool or chair needed for Ruby here...   Need your diaper changed Ruby?  No problem Mom, let me climb up on the changing table for you so you don't have to strain your back lifting me!!!  The Grandma's will be happy about this!

Kidding aside, she absolutely makes our life here so entertaining.  We are blessed she CAN get out of her crib, and that she does have a sense of humor about it...  Yes - we have boundaries here, but I just refuse to punish a girl for being who God made her to be.  A joyful spirit, who loves the feel of the wind in her hair, the snow on her feet, and who does not want to miss out on a darn thing at 1:00 Central Time!  

Happy Friday!

This thankful Thursday I am thankful for my friend and "Sister" Kim!!!!

Happy Birthday Friend! I am celebrating with you from here!

Beautiful Julia - Fall, 2008

I love seeing this photo of Ruby and Julia at their first play date.  It is amazing to see how much they have both blossomed! 

Thank you Suzan for sharing precious Julia with us again!  We miss you!

Blessings,

OK - I am guilty of bad blog etiquette.  In fact, I have been guilty for some time.  You see when you are graciously given a blog award you are supposed to not only thank the giver, but you are to reciprocate to other bloggers, and you are to tell the community something about you if you are asked to.  Well, I have done none of the above.  I have not received many, but in the last year I can think of two I specifically never did anything with.  No excuse other than lack of time and a little bit of feeling funny about it talking about me here.

So, in the past two weeks I have received the above awards from women I respect in this community.  The first one, "Brillante Weblog" came from Kim at 3Peanuts.  Well you all know Kim.  I am blessed to really know her.  She is a dear friend, and I probably would not even have a blog if it wasn't for Kim.  In fact, I know I would never have started it off....  So, thanks Kim for the sweetest of compliments!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK!!!!

The second award came yesterday, from Jennifer at "Baseball To Bows."  Jenn is waiting for her referral from China for her first daughter.  She has three adorable sons and I personally can't wait to see a little precious daughter in the mix.  She is southern and lovely, and I know we would be friends if we met in person!  She makes me miss Nashville and my wonderful girlfriends there!  So, Jennifer, thank you for your sweet words about my blog!  

Every blog I read deserves one or both of these awards..  But, to keep it simple I will only pick blog pals I have never met in person....   *And I add the disclaimer, that if you don't have time to play and pass these on it is OK!  Drum role please.......

Jenny at Three in Pink!  I met Jenny via AWAA when I was waiting for Ruby Mei.  I followed her journey on My Adoption Websites to her precious Mia.  She encouraged me and prayed for my journey to Ruby.  She recently moved back to the states from Italy.  Her pictures and gift of scrapbooking inspire me to capture every moment I can with my girls!  Jenny also authored a wonderful book called, "Mia's Strawberry Patch.  This book was written to help charities supporting orphans in China.   Three in Pink is a new blog for Jenny.  She had a private website that I was blessed to follow prior to her new blog!  I can't wait to check in on Jenny and her adorable girls a lot more now!

Stefanie at Ni Hao Y'all!  If you have read Stefanie's blog, there is no way you would not nominate her for every blog award.  She inspires me daily!!  I love her heart for God, her heart for orphans,  and her sense of humor.   Did I mention she is the mom of 8 kids?  Oh, and she is beautiful and amazing too?!!!!  Stefanie is another Mom that I "met" via My Adoption Websites when she was adopting Sophie.  I remember admiring her at that time for traveling alone to bring her home.  Since then she has brought home two more amazing little boys and she has educated and inspired many families on Special Needs adoptions.  Another southern belle that I wish lived close to me!

Heather at My Little Ladybugs!  I met Heather because we were in the same Yahoo group waiting for Hannah and Ruby.  She is also the Mom to two little girls.  Heather's heart is as big as my house, and I love her grace, wisdom, and Godly heart!  Most of the time her amazing blog posts cause me to pause, because they are written so beautifully.  Heather is the friend that if she says she is praying for you, she is!  This special Mom is leaving quite the legacy for her little ladybugs!

Sharon at In the Light of Eternity!  Sharon is another AWAA Mom I met while waiting for Ruby.  I think she reached out to me because we have a Minnesota connection.   She has been home about 7 months now with PRECIOUS Hudson.  I love reading about her amazing family. Sharon's posts are from the heart!  She is blessed to be raising incredible kids, and I love reading about them.  She inspires me to press on as a Mom!

Jenn at Love Like Crazy!  This incredible Mom just received her RA for Karleigh Mei, who is waiting for her in Hubei!!!!!  Karleigh turned three last week, and she is precious.  If you want to be blessed, go to Jenn's blog and see Karleigh celebrating her birthday with her friends at the SWI.  She has no idea how special the family is, that awaits her!  Read her daughter, Lexi's blog sometime, and you will be emailing Jenn for parenting advice.  She is raising a very special bunch, and I can't wait to see Karleigh Mei blossom with their love!  Jenn is also an AWAA Mom, and I am so excited for her to experience China soon!

Denise at Journey to Maggie Mae!  Ok, it is a recurring theme here, but Denise is also an AWAA Mom blessed with ADORABLE Maggie Mae!!!!  I met Denise via Kim (3Peanuts) while she was in the eternal wait for her RA for Maggie Mae.  Denise brought precious Maggie home to a family with 4 boys!!!  Watching her fit right in is one of my biggest blogger joys!  Just going to her site, and seeing Maggie loved up by her big brothers makes me smile!  Denise is beautiful on the inside and out, and I am blessed to know her!  I also give her credit for my "Wordless Wednesday" posts.  I plagiarized the idea from her!  God has also used Denise in my life in a very special way, and I am so thankful that He did!

Leslie at Myah's Days!  Lastly, my friend Leslie who I wandered upon from Kim's blog back when I was a newbie in blog land.  She is a gifted photographer, and I love reading about the antics of Miss Myah and her darling older brother, Dayton.  Leslie is such a special blog bud, that she risked her life for me at an art fair where Matilda Jane was showing her wares!  She purchased the adorable skirt and peasant top that made Ruby famous over at MJ's blog!  Since then, she has made me laugh and cry by her beautiful words!  (I just went to check on Leslie, and she has made the decision to close her blog!  Thanks for everything Leslie!  You will be greatly missed!)

OK - that was fun, because I did not have to talk about me with these awards!  But, in all seriousness, I think it is evident that I have met some amazing women along the journey of adoption.  I never knew how blessed I would be when God asked us to go to China!  I love how this community comes together to support each other wherever we are at in our journey!

Thanks to Kim I have a blog that has become so much more than a keepsake for our family near and far!

Thanks for checking in on "The Pearl & The Ruby" today!

Blessings...

Ainsley & Passion

This afternoon I was playing this YouTube Video that I had just received the link to in my office.  Ruby came running in and said, "Wierd Dad."  Then she asked me to re-play it "more please" in Ruby speak about six times...  You see, the little girl in the kitchen saying "Wierd Dad" is her "Sissia!"  I guess Ruby has seen this commercial several times with us, but I never realized how much it sank in...  When we picked up The Pearl at school today she proudly said, "Wierd Dad!"  Ainsley burst out laughing and said, "Ruby, maybe someday we can be in a commercial together!"  So cute!

So, if you would like to see Ainsley and Passion, you can click here!

The Pearl has been asked to do three more of these!  More on that fun opportunity in two weeks where I will be playing the role of "stage Mom!"  Which means assuming I have internet access, I will be sitting around a lot with time to blog!!! :)

Enjoy!

The China flag represents so much for our family including our faith, the hope God promises & answered prayers!

Blessings! 

Ruby started out full of enthusiasm.  She even had her little pumpkin friend Molly join her for the fun.  She ran with a big smile on her face to about 5 houses...  But, then that was it...  She wanted to "Go Home!"  So she left Molly with the big kids, and helped Daddy give out candy.  We knew this Halloween was going to be "tricky" for Ruby.  We had gotten a few clues in the last two weeks that this was not going to be her favorite holiday!  But, boy was she adorable while she was in to it!  So Daddy had a helper, and I had a great time watching Ainsley enjoy herself!  We stayed out until the pumpkin was full!

I hope you all had a fun night too!

Happy November!!!!!