2012 was a busy and special year for our family!  It was Emme Jade's first full year home!  We are so thankful to have her major back surgery behind us.  There were many special moments in 2012.  Thankfully most of them documented in pictures:  Volleyball, Swim Team, Gymnastics, new friends, new teachers, new schools, new teeth, graduations, recitals, birthday surprises, Napa, cabin time, family time, Grandma and Grandpa, Skating, a New President in the Family, Girlfriend time at the cabin, the Christmas tree saga, etc..   So many special memories from a very special year!

Here's a recap in pictures of our 2012!!

JANUARY

January 1st this was taken.. One year from the first time I asked Jeff to look at
Emme Jade's file..

One of my favorite pictures I have every taken of the "Middles'!"  It's blown up and on the wall in their room.


Dancing with her teacher the day before surgery!

Emme earns the name, "The Agitated Empress!" during her time in the PICU!


Five days after major surgery, The Empress was discharged!!

A little photo shoot with Sienna Grace!  

FEBRUARY

Emme's first time sledding with her Big Sister!

Hanging with the "Little Bean" while she was under house arrest after surgery!

Valentine's Day!  Three Weeks Post-Op!

MARCH

Ruby was re-united with her Yugan Foster Sister for the first time since they were both adopted in 2007.

APRIL


Emme's First Easter!


Welcoming Home Grandma and Grandpa!  A special re-union with my big brother and family too!

My Birthday, and I finally have a picture with my 4 daughters!

The crazy girly crew at our house!!

Winding down the Spring Volleyball Season with her first JO team.

MAY

Precious Sisters!

Pre-School Graduation!

Kindergarten Graduation!

One of my Emme Jade Favorites!

Ruby's first Team Meet..  She placed 3rd overall!

"Spring Showers!"

Kicking off Cabin Season!

JUNE

Ainsley Turns 11!

Representing "Team Ivy!"

First Dance Recital for all three!

Ainsley's Birthday Photo Shoot with her CHA friends!



First Summer of Swim Team Practices and Wednesday Meets!~

First Meet at Wayzata!

Kate - Helping me with a Photography Class Assignment!

At the cabin working on a Sister Photo to give Daddy for his birthday!

JULY

Kate and Ainsley at their first overnight camp!


First 4th of July for Emme Jade!




Sweet Moment between Emme Jade and Ruby....


The Pearl!

Cabin Life!

Loyal Friends!

Daddy and his beautiful girls!

Jane and Glenna Surprise Jeff for his 50th!


SURPRISE - Wakeup Breakfast for Jeff!


One more Surprise - Boat Cruise and Dinner with "Camp H!"

A Cabin Favorite!


Sienna's Birthday Dinner!

Sienna Is 7!!!

Emme Turns 4 and Celebrates her first Birthday with her forever family!




They were so excited to celebrate with Emme Jade!


4 Year Photo Shoot!


Ruby represents Bear Path in Breast Stroke at Champs.  We were so proud of how hard she worked and improved!!!

Ruby Turns 6!

SIX!!

AUGUST

The "Yellow Truck" at the Cabin

Sienna rides her bike for the first time at the cabin with no training wheels!!!


How did she grow up so fast?

Bangs!

A Fall Picnic with the "Little Bean!"

First Day of 6th Grade!

First Day of First Grade!

SEPTEMBER

New Friends..  Emme and Bella!

Team Ivy - Lemonade Stand #1

Sisters helping Mom with a Christmas Card!

OCTOBER

NAPA to celebrate 50 years with Mr. Handsome and Friends!

Grapes ready for Harvest in Healdsburg, CA


Aunt Tina and Little Grandma take over so we could go to Napa!

A Butterfly Duet...

Halloween!

NOVEMBER

Pretty in a Pink Petti!


Aunt Bop is named the 14th President of Illinois College!

Two of my BFF's with Mr. Handsome!!!

Another Christmas Card Attempt!

DECEMBER


A weekend to remember at the Cabin with some very special friends!

Celebrating 40 with Miss Liz!

"Leigh's Blanket's!"

Winter Break!

LOVE this pic of my crew!

Emme skates for the first time, and absolutely takes to it!!


The Foursome on Christmas Morning..

A priceless Photo of Grandpa and Ainsley on Christmas Eve!

Thank you for faithfully following along with our family in 2012!  I wish you joy and great blessings in the New Year!!!  What's in-store for me?  Hopefully a little more organization, planning ahead, time with Mr. Handsome, work-outs, family time, and quiet time in 2013.  And a much anticipated trip this spring to China to love on some very special Pearl River babies!!  I look forward to what God has planned for our family!  Like all of you, I pray for another year of good health, protection, and the opportunity to be a light in this dark world..!  I am so thankful for all of God's  blessings!

Happy New Year!

"I have come so that they may have LIFE and in it ABUNDANCE."  ~John 10:10b

Jeff and I were in to our second cups of coffee before we heard little feet stirring!  The bigs had to wake up Emme Jade to let her know Santa had actually come.  They were quite relieved that Joe gave them a break for some of their antics worthy of the "Naughty List" leading up to Jesus's birthday!

As you can tell, Emme Jade was not too excited to be plucked out of her bed!

It didn't take her too long to rally.  Emme only had one thing on her list.  A pink teddy! And, Santa delivered!

We open our gifts one at a time here...  The girls were very sweet at being excited for their sisters.  Ruby just had two things on her list..  A "Madeline" book and a snow globe..  Again Santa delivered.  Joe clearly was paying attention!

Emme received a Leap Pad 2 this year.  Her sisters were quite impressed..  And a bit taken aback when they realized she has the new version..  They have been "borrowing" Emme's since Christmas!  In their words, they are teaching her how to use it!!

A little sweet sister hug of thanks after a gift exchange!

Ainsley had a big morning...  Let's just say she is all set to move in to the "tween" years a little early.  She picked out this adorable coat from CrewCuts..  Love it on her!

I am embarrassed to say that it has taken me almost three years to get Sienna's China Journey into a book.  Life just always seemed to crazy to stop and do this.  Thanks to my dear friend Jennifer, I was introduced to Blurb!  With Blurb you can pull your photos directly from Flickr.  It was so easy, and the finished product is beautiful!  She was SOOOOO excited!!  (Next her video..) The other gift Sienna received that she had asked for from Santa was a "Cutie-Pop."  I am glad Santa figured it out.  Because I had no idea what it was!

We had a big surprise for all of the girls that they opened last.  It was a box with an ornament on the top that said, "Spring Break 2013."  The ornament was Cinderella's Castle!  Yes - we are taking the girls to Disney World for Spring Break.  They were so excited!!!!  I have some planning to do!  The box also had nightgowns for all the girls, and Princess Dresses for the littles.
Ainsley is the perfect age to be the tour guide for the little princesses at our house.  We are looking forward to it!

Let's just say we set Ainsley up for the last gift..  She really only had one thing on her list this year too.  A phone...  A gift I am pretty sure she never thought she would get.  Honestly, I have had mixed feelings on this..  She's young, only 11.  But, she is babysitting for other people now, doing travel volleyball, etc..  We took it all into consideration and decided to get her one.  We hid it in the front hall closet.  When we were done opening gifts, I told Ainsley we needed to call her Uncle..  I dialed her new phone, and you could hear music coming from the closet..  Finally she realized where it was coming from, opened the closet and it was in a bag hanging on a hanger.  To say she was a little excited is an understatement!!!  Ainsley knows this is a huge privilege..  One that will be closely monitored by her parents!!



I am not sure who was more excited about the building toys the girls received this year.  Lego Friends and "Pinklets" have been a huge hit!!!  Daddy is an expert at building things, and they have been having fun sharing "their" toy with him!

Lastly, some of you may have read on Facebook, that my sister Barbara (Aunt Bop) has been named the 14th President of Illinois College!  She starts her new position in June!  She gave all of us IL gear for Christmas!  We are so excited for her.  And, very excited to be present at her induction in September!

It's hard to believe that another Christmas has come and gone.  Ainsley's 12th, Ruby's 6th, Sienna's 3rd, and Emme Jade's 2nd.  This year we celebrated with my parents and sister.  It was a special time celebrating the birth of our Savior!

I have so many pictures and a lot of catching up to do with our December activities.  But for now, I will just post a snap shot of our family together on Christmas Eve...

Ready for church...

Ainsley took over a tradition started in my family long ago...  She played the Christmas Carols while her sweet little choir sang along.  She did a GREAT job!!!

The girls have been taking piano this year.  They are all doing so well.  Ruby did a beautiful job playing "Little Town of Bethlehem."

This is probably my favorite photo from Christmas this year...  My Dad (85) who has always loved music, sat down at the piano with Ainsley.  They played a duet together..  These two have always had a special bond..  I will cherish this photo forever!

I always tease Jeff that he is the "Best Wife" I have ever had..  He is a HUGE help around here..  Laundry, dishes, cooking, whatever the task..  He's not afraid to put on the cow rubber gloves and pitch in.  I am so thankful for my awesome husband!!









The girls were very excited for Santa to come..  They were not sure what "Joe" our elf had reported to Santa in the days leading up to Christmas Eve.  There was one little girl at our house (Sienna) that barely slept all night..  When morning finally came they were relieved to see that Santa did indeed stop by.   (Thanks Joe!)

It was a sweet Christmas Eve!

Merry Christmas From Our Family to Your's!

The girls opened a special care package last night from some special friends.  In it were soft and wonderful Christmas themed blankets from Leigh's Blankies.  This verse is monogrammed onto the label of  each one...

"...let your light shine before men."  ~Matthew 5:16

In light of the sadness that has taken over our country in the past few days please pause and remember this verse...  You and I.. everyone of us can make a difference by being a light..  Even on the darkest of days!   Yesterday when I dropped off my girls with a heavy heart at their schools, one of our pastors reminded me..  "Each day is a gift!"

Please take the time to be a light today...   

Merry Christmas!

It is so hard to hug everyone of you from my office here in MSP...  But, that is exactly what I want to do!!!!  So many of you joyfully gave to 20 special orphans in China...  You gave so much that we are hopeful that the number of children in our care will grow next year..  We are hopeful that one or two can be pulled from their orphanages and put in to the loving care of a family until it's time..  Time for their forever!!!

I can promise our precious Bamboo Babies will have birthday parties, gifts, clothes, food and lots of hugs in 2013.  Some of those may come from me personally..  I have been invited to love on our Bamboo Babies this spring..  The details are being finalized soon, but I am praying that I do indeed get to go.  
And, if I do, I am going to tell them about some very special angels that care about them from afar. What a blessing that will be!~

Together we raised $7520 for Pearl River Outreach!  That is 151% of our original goal!!  How awesome is that?  Pretty fantastic I think!!

But, it get's better!!!  Look what we raised as a group for the children affected by "Fill Their Stockings With Hope!"  
It has been a blessing to partner with my friend Stefanie representing, "An Orphan's Wish" and my friend Lisa representing, "Half The Sky."  It's so humbling to be a part of this event!  
One I hope we get to continue together annually for a long time!

Pearl River would like to personally thank, our generous group of donors, that made our amazing bundles possible:


A Mother’s Art
Savor Photography
One Willow Presets
Little Luv Letters
Mitzi Franz
Chris from Layers of Life
Lauren at Ginger Peachy Kids
Matilda Jane
anonymous in honor of An Orphan’s Wish
anonymous in honor of Pearl River Outreach 
Branda from Days Made of Now
The Kessler Family
Jesus Loves OrphansScarlet Threads
The Lokey Family
Sophia Jane Boutique
The Sammons Family
Ashley at Baby Bobo
Andrea at Blogging Mama
Valerie Almquist from Ruffled Feathers Company
Jazmyn Hammett at NotYourAverageGrandma
Sweet and Sour Clothing
My Adoption Website
Florabella
The Long Road to China in honor of Half the Sky


Next, I am very excited to share the winner of our Final Bundle, "Flights, Camera, Action."
Congratulations to SueAnn!!!!  
Enjoy all of your awesome gifts!

Lastly, I can't close this post without sharing the photos of our Bamboo Babies that need a new sponsor going into 2013.  If you would like to be part of our Pearl River Family, please contact me:
diana@pearlriveroutreach.org



First Row
Joseph (Hengshan), Cayden** (Changsha), Asher (Changsha)
Second Row
Quinn (Changsha), Rose** (Changsha), Kellan (Changsha) 

**Needs 2 Sponsors

The cost to support one of our babies from afar is:
$35 per month, or $420 annually.
Our donations link to sign up is here

MERRY Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at Pearl River Outreach!!

~Diana