First a Pearl, then Three Rubies!!

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Let There Be Music & An Important Life Lesson Today!

1:32 PM |

Her Rubiness checking out the new piano!

Yeah! - One more thing to climb around here!

Thanks for the fabulous new "TOY" Mama & Daddy!

Jeff and I have wanted a piano for a long time. As you have heard me say before, Ainsley has a love for music. She desperately wants to take guitar lessons, but we think she should start with piano first. That is the advice we have gotten from a lot of people that play both instruments. I did play the piano as a child, and some of my favorite memories are having my family around the piano on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately, that piano book is long gone, but I am sure I can find something to play this year! Sunday we found this beautiful Kiawa piano in the classifieds. It had become a piece of furniture for the sellers, so we were excited to take it off their hands!

At this time in our life the oak finish will work great. Down the road when we no longer have to worry about sticky fingers we will go for the black ebony Baby Grand! Ainsley will be very excited when she gets home from school today! Now, I need to get those piano lessons started!

On a seperate note, I want to share something that happened to a friend of mine that reminds me that God calls us sometimes to dig down deep to be grateful (and graceful) in all circumstances. It is part of what we as Christians call choosing the narrow vs. the wide path. Not always easy..... My friend, Kim received some nasty, undeserved comments from another blogger yesterday. As easy as it would have been for Kim to attack, she did what I hope I would do. She handled it professionally, and gracefully. God asks us to love everyone, even the un-lovable and this is what Kim has been able to do with this act of un-kindness directed at her! I am so grateful for friends like Kim and others that I have met in my Christian walk. You all teach me so much!

I will leave today with two of God's Affirmations that came across my desk this morning:

We say "I can't forgive myself" God says: "I forgive you." (1John 1:9, Romans 8:1)

We say "It's not worth it" God says: "It will be worth it" (Romans 8:28)

Kim, thank you for encouraging me and so many others through your voice with the 3Peanuts!

And, let's all remember if you don't have anything nice to day, don't say it at all! Jesus says in Matthew 7:3, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"

Blessings, Diana

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Sunday, November 25, 2007

Thanksgiving in KY!

9:18 PM |

Ruby Mei's First Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Jia Jia & The Mei Mei

Chef Ainsley practicing what she learned from Martha!

Daddy & Daughter having a great time cooking together!

A "photo-worthy" bird! (And Delicious too!)

Her Rubiness brings her "Kissy Lips" to Grandma's House

The Cousins: Evan, Ruby, Ainsley & Jake

We had a great Thanksgiving visiting Jeff's family in KY for the weekend. We were blessed with on-time flights, and a smooth trip! The girls did great! Ainsley was such a huge help with Ruby. Some of you know that Ruby had been sick prior to our trip. We got the all clear that she could travel about three hours before departure. She was incredible the whole weekend!

We love spending time with Jeff's family. Our two nephews are great boys (OK - young men now!) and we love catching up with them. We also love seeing them with our girls. They are so good to them. Ainsley was old enough this visit to drive with Jake to pick up Evan at work, and to hang out with Aunt Tina to help her cook for Thanksgiving. Honestly, I can't believe how much they have all grown up in just one year. When I met Evan, he was Ainsley's age!

Prior to Thanksgiving Ainsley and I were watching Martha Stewart's show on the Food Network when she was preparing her turkey. We got all sorts of tips, and we were excited to make the turkey this year. Arlene was kind enough to let us take over her kitchen. I am happy to report that I have a budding chef in my house, and our turkey was delicious!!!! I think Martha's secret is the cheese cloth she covers the bird with! I think it was one of the prettiest turkey's I have ever cooked and served!

While in KY we had the opportunity to introduce Ruby and Ainsley to Jeff's Great Aunt Joyce and his second cousin Debbie. So amazing to see three generations together! We also got to introduce Ruby to Jeff's Aunt Mary and Uncle Mike, and his three cousins and their families. All of these special people supported us throughout our journey to Ruby Mei so it was extra special to see them this year!

Jeff and I feel blessed to have such supportive and wonderful people in our family. Being apart is hard. Especially, while the kids are so young. But, we are grateful for the opportunities to get together. We cherish the memories that we make during each visit! I am sure one of them that will be taken away from this trip, will be Uncle Jeff being the first one to go out in Monopoly! He recovered well and spent the rest of the game time building roller coasters and playing Princess with Ainsley on the Wii!

I hope you all had a memorable Thanksgiving too!

Blessings, Diana

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Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving!

6:10 AM |

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." ~Phillippians 4:6

"Give thanks in all circumstances...." ~1 Thessalonians 5:18

____________________________________________________

So much to be thankful for as we celebrate our first Thanksgiving Holiday with both of our daughters!!!! If I have learned anything in my 43 years it is that God's timing is always perfect! I remember last year at this time praying that we would have our referral from China by Christmas. Of course if that had happened, Ruby never would have been ours. She would have been too young to be referred. Again, I am reminded by this not to question why or when. As hard as it is to grasp sometimes, God does have a plan for each one of us. I am so thankful that He is in control!! So, for my friends that are waiting for news from afar I hope you find peace in that today!

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

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Monday, November 19, 2007

Ruby Mei's Dedication Day!

11:04 AM |

Ellie, Ruby Mei, & Emme

Best Friends, Katie & Ainsley

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord."

(1Samuel 1:27-28)

Yesterday was a very special day for our family, as we stood before our congregation and family group and dedicated precious Ruby to the Lord. I was so overwhelmed with emotion as we achieved one more milestone in our journey with our gift from God. On March 13, 2005 we started our journey to Ruby in this very church. What a gift to hold her up, and promise to teach her about the God who chose her for us in the first place. It was an incredibe day for us, and we are so thankful to everyone who was able to join us in celebration in person, or in prayer!

Blessings, Diana & Jeff

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Friday, November 16, 2007

Our little Pilgrim had a big day!!!!

9:11 PM |

Mrs. Gullman and Ainsley

Ainsley's hard work paid off for her first 100% on both her spelling and bonus words!!!

Ainsley and her class did a fantastic job today! It was so fun to see them put on their first Thanksgiving Play together. They were so excited and they did a great job! Ainsley shared the stage with her friend Jeremiah and closed the show with this:

"We thank God for this land and for the friends he brought us. We praise God for the harvest and all that He has taught us."

The reason I am sharing Ainsley's spelling test here is because this one has a story behind it.

Every week she has done well on the ten spelling words that she is expected to know. But, she has not been very motivated to go the extra mile to also learn the bonus words. After much discussion with us after last weeks test, she really worked hard studying all 15 words. We talked about the importance in life of doing your best, which in some cases includes going above and beyond what you are asked to do! So, needless to say she was pretty excited to show us this test today! Grandpa - are you reading this?

Happy weekend! We have a busy one! I will post pictures of the dedication on Monday!

Blessings, Diana

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A day in the life with Her Rubiness!

6:20 AM |

Thinking about the Water Cooler!

Swifting the Floors is Ruby's favorite thing to do these days!

Favorite cabinet to open and close, open and close, open and close...

And Dump!!!!

How did I know that the Christmas tree was going to be "fun" this year?

Keep in mind, this tree is not at our house! Her lips were red after this picture!

Her Rubiness reacts after she dumps 500 straws on the floor!

5 Minutes Later trying to figure out how to get OUT!

Mom, now you know why I sounded so distracted when you called last night!!!!! Ruby is in constant motion. It really is comical to watch her in action around here. She just makes me laugh!!! Jeff and I keep saying we don't remember Ainsley being this way. I am sure she was, we are just too old and too tired to remember!!!! Basically, Ruby is my cardio class every day!

What a constant joy and breath of fresh air she is!!!!

Today is Ainsley's Thanksgiving Play! She is so excited to say her 2 lines! I remember my first memorized Christmas play line... "Santa, the sky looks as thick as pea soup!" Absolutely no clue why I can still remember that!!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Blessings, Diana

P.S: My brother Mark is going into round 8 (there are 10 total) of the Nationals today with both of his dogs!!!! Go Mark, Diva & Cutter!!

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