Well I am already thankful that it is early and I am up after sleeping from 10:30 - 5:00am!!!! I love being up early before the rest of the house is up. There is nothing like starting my day with two cups of coffee and quiet time! Since my homework this week at BSF is to read the entire book of Matthew I have a lot to do! But, before I dig, in I just want to give thanks today for:

• That I did not have to do the "Ruby Dance" last night!!!!!! I think lots of fresh air and exhaustion from her first steps wore her out! The dark circle look is not good on me! Thank you for praying for us!
• That I have the opportunity to work with 5th and 6th grade girls this year at our church on Wednesday nights starting next week. I am really excited about this!
• For my very special girlfriends (you know who you are) that encourage me daily in my walk. And, for the incredibly thoughtful friends that they are!
• For the first steps that "Her Rubiness" took yesterday. The look of joy (that was not captured on film) was priceless.
• For Ainsley's third great week of school. I am so proud of her!
• That Jeff is back to work, and that he looks healthy!!
• For Autumn in Minnesota, one of my very favorite times of the year!
• For hearing the voices of my Monday Night Prayer Group friends again after our summer hiatus!
• For parents that are 75 and 80 and healthy and that they are able to travel and be here for Grandparents Day with Ainsley in early October!
• That today is Thankful Thursday and that I have so much to be thankful for!

I hope you have a great day! ~Diana

Okay, I know it is not Thursday yet, but I need to state that today I am thankful for coffee, cover up, and the fact that big sunglasses are in style again!!!! I have some serious circles under my eyes from doing what we lovingly call "The Ruby dance" for the last three nights. I can set my clock by Ruby at night lately. At 11:30 her alarm goes off and she is in-consolable. I am not sure if it is night terrors because I don't know anything about them. At 2:08 last night she finally gave into going back to sleep. I know I am not the only adoptive or bio Mom experiencing this right now. I am open for suggestions. Ruby was doing absolutely great until Jeff got sick. In the last two weeks she has slept through the night two times, but most nights I am up doing the "Ruby dance." Unfortunately, I can not leave her to cry it out, because when it escalates to a certain level she gets sick. We have been to the dry cleaners three times in the last month. Poor baby. It just breaks my heart when she is so upset. During the day she is happy, easy, content. She naps like a dream baby too. She goes to bed pretty easily at 8:00 until the "dance" begins at 11:30. Thankfully, the big sister sleeps through it all. In fact, since we came home from China, Ainsley has not woken up once. Oh, to be 6 again. Poor Jeff, he is so exhausted! I was handling my lack of sleep pretty well until last night. Last night I was praying so hard that she would just run out of gas. Any suggestions? We see her doctor tomorrow, so I am anxious to talk to her about it.

On a different note, Her Rubiness took 9 steps today!!!! I don't know who was more excited, Ruby, Mom, or the Kindermusik teacher where this all took place! I have a feeling I am just days away from having a true toddler!!! She is now napping after all of the excitement this morning!

I hope those of you reading this are getting your beauty rest. I am off to research night terrors!

Blessings, Diana

FYI: That gorgeous sweater on Ruby was handmade by my old college roommate, Maureen! And, those cute loafers are made by Trumpet who also makes the adorable socks Ruby wore in China... Those sassy patent leather shoes are her first gift from her "fancy" Aunt Lisa!

What a blessing this little girl has been to our family. Just four short months ago, we held our second precious daughter for the first time in the Jiangxi Province of China! God taught us a lot of invaluable lessons while we waited for Ruby Mei. Most of all He taught us about faith and unconditional love. We are beyond grateful that we were called to the journey of international adoption.

Enjoy!

(Music: "A Beautiful Sound" album, by Geoff Moore, Song "Swept Away")

During my wait, I had the blessing of falling upon one of my very favorite adoption journies,
http://myadoptionwebsite.com/MiaMeiLi/index.html. Jenny Hampton and her husband are Americans living in Italy with their three precious daughters. Jenny inspired me for many of the pictures I took of Ruby while in China, and for Ruby's adoption video that plays in my head, that I have yet to create.

Jenny along with the help of her older daughters Hanna and Maggie, have written, illustrated and now had published, "Mia's Strawberry Patch!" "This book celebrates difference while portraying a tender message of acceptance, self-esteem and love." Jenny is donating 100% of the proceeds from this project to "Half the Sky!" You can read more about Jenny's project at her blog Hamptons Abroad, http://www.hamptonsabroad.com/miasstrawberrypatch.html

"Mia's Strawberry Patch" is available at amazon.com. I hope you will order a copy for your collection, and for Christmas or adoption gifts for everyone you know!

Thanks Jenny for making this project come to life! I am so excited for you!

Blessings,
Diana