A beautiful mother's day........

Precious handmade gifts from the middles delivered to me in bed (with coffee!)

The most special card from beautiful Ainsley

Church

Brunch

An afternoon at the Arboretum with my family

Gorgeous weather with a Carolina blue sky

Maybe I took a short nap....

Dinner with my Mom & Dad

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a real blessing." ~Psalm 127:3

Thankful for my gifts!!

And, so thankful for Mr. Handsome...  He orchestrated this special day!!!!

Six amazing years ago at this time China time we had already spent an entire day with our new precious daughter, Ruby Mei.  I will never forget taking the elevator up to that crowded and hot room at the Civil Affairs Office in Nanchang..  So many expecting parents scanning the room to figure out which one of those precious children was the one God had chosen for them...  We did not see Meng Ru at first..  She was sitting on a bench with her orphanage escort that morning..  But, we should have seen her..   She was the only one in the group with two barrets in her hair..  

Let me back up..  When Jeff and I were dating we attended an Easter service at a local church.  That morning the woman who greeted us, and everyone else who walked in the door, with two words, "love love!"  We never forgot it..  For almost 14 years we have signed off that way to each other..  On phone calls, emails, texts, cards, in person..  "Love Love" is just our signature thing...  

So as we anxiously looked for Ruby, a sweet nanny got our attention and points to this little girl in a yellow sweatshirt, and purple pants..  But, it was the accessories that told the story..  In her hair, a sweet little message to her new parents as if to say..  "Just in case you were wondering, this is definitely the one I chose for you to love forever..."   Each barrett in her hair had one word on it, "love!"

Side by side...  "Love Love!" 

Two simple words, that remind us that God is involved in the details of our lives..  Sometimes behind the scenes..  And, sometimes in the hair of a tiny nine month old baby girl that you will travel 7000+ miles for.

We "LOVE LOVE" you Her Rubiness.  You are CHOSEN, SPECIAL, and BEAUTIFUL!!

Happy Six Years of Ruby Tuesdays!!!!!

It is an amazing gift to be your parents sweet Ruby!!  Today we give thanks for YOU and for the One who created you!!

"Love Love!"

The China Sea ~ Zhanjiang, Guangdong

I am happy to report that I have survived re-entry!  I arrived home safely Monday evening to my sweet family, flowers, and a welcome sign at the airport...  I came through the exact same doors I came through almost six years ago with Ruby Mei..  A lot has changed since that amazing journey..  God began a work in me back in 2005 when He called me to adopt..  Eight years later I continue to wonder what more I can do in caring about "the least of these."  I left China with my heart full and my heart broken.  I shared some tough things with my sweet friends..  It was a privlege to be with them..  We shed lots of happy tears and lots of sad tears together..  We traveled a lot of miles physically and emotionally on this trip. Leaving one child behind in a crib at an orphanage is not easy for anyone..Leaving 30 who need a Mama is incredibly difficult.  It changes you... I am so very thankful to be a part of Pearl River Outreach.  I truly believe we are making a difference in the lives of our babies and in the lives of those who love them.   Experiencing it first had was truly amazing...   We have a lot of work to do now..  We have taken on six new children..  I will spend the next week catching up on that..  I will be honest, we need sponsors..  More on that soon....

Thank you for following our journey, and for praying for us..  Mr. Handsome did an amazing job on the home front..  He had one very sick little girl that he nursed back to health..  With the help of Little Grandma no one skipped a beat here..  Again, I am thankful...

Tonight we celebrate Ainsley and her team's amazing season!!!!  We are hosting their end of the year celebration!