Thursday, February 28, 2008

Thankful Thursday!

Once again, God causes me to take pause and be thankful for many things this week.  Here are some of the things that come to mind as I ponder....
  • For a husband that loves his girls so much he left us post-it notes around the house reminding us, while he traveled this week.
  • For Ainsley's willingness to practice her piano, do her school work, and do a few extra things this week without being asked.  
  • For the laughter I hear in this house from two very special girls!
  • For my special friend Lisa who is the most supportive friend you could ever ask for at any distance. 
  • For a great reason to re-connect with my friend Jill in CA this week.  Thanks Jill for your great advice!
  • For BSF and the way it challenges me to think outside my comfort zone!
  • For Baby Madison's amazing progress and Julie's patience and endurance!
  • For Ruby's new playmates, and potential babysitting jobs for Ainsley someday!  :)
  • For the Girl Scout Cookies I am picking up to distribute on Friday!!
  • For my brother Mark who celebrated a birthday yesterday!
  • For another healthy year for my Dad who turns 81 next week!!!!
  • For a very special anniversary coming up for our family on March 5th!
I hope you have had a week filled with laughter & blessings too!
-Diana
Monday, February 25, 2008

Play Dates & New Friends!

Clara & Ruby Mei

Genevieve

Nico 

Charlotte


Ruby was very jealous of little Miss Genevieve and Ainsley hanging out on Saturday!!  She made sure she did not leave Sissy's side when this adorable 2 year old was close by...

Hands down one of the biggest blessings that no one ever told me about when we were preparing to adopt is the friendships we would make along our way.  Before, during, and after our trip to China to bring Ruby home I have met some incredible women, amazing families, and absolutely special (not to mention adorable) children!  Some live far away, and some live in our backyard.  Some I may never meet in person, and some I will travel far distances to meet someday.  Some I will talk into coming to Minnesota in the summertime too!!! :) 

These pics are from our play date on Saturday and another play date Ruby had this morning!   There is a very good chance that Ruby and Clara will be in the same Kindergarten class in 2011!  Clara came home from Hunan in November, 2006!  

Blessings,
Diana
Friday, February 22, 2008

100% for the Pearl today!!!!

Well Deserved!
Ruby enjoyed celebrating too!
It's really not a party until someone is on the table!

Another victorious spelling test for Ainsley!!!!!  10/10 plus 5/5 bonus words!!!!  Way to go Ainsley!  We celebrated with a double decker angel food cake creation!!!!  (No she didn't finish it!  But, it was a fun mess anyway!)

Blessings,
Diana

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday Everyone! Ainsley and I are taking Ruby to get together with a group of Mom's and little girls from China for a play date tomorrow. We are looking to making new friends!!! Jeff and I have a date, and the rest of the weekend will hopefully be getting outside with the girls and the dogs because it is supposed to thaw out around here!

I am off to help Miss Ainsley prepare for her spelling test!!!!

Enjoy the Red Carpet on Sunday
Diana
Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Sisters....


While we were waiting for Ruby Mei we documented what we did each month here. If you are waiting now for your referral, even if it is a longs way off, I encourage you to do the same. Thanks to a Beth Moore book I was reading at the time, and the study of Genesis I was in at BSF, I tried to be more aware of the "God Moments" and the blessings in my/our life while we waited. Recording these caused me to pause each month and reflect on our life as a family of three.

As we approach the one year anniversary of our referral on March 5th I find my mind going back to the way God orchestrated our adoption so perfectly. I love to look back on our monthly journals to see what we were doing. I think about the way I prayed for Ruby Mei, and for Ainsley's relationship with her. God was so faithful in the way he answered.

This past weekend I watched as Ruby followed Ainsley around. How she backed into her to sit on her lap, danced with her, laughed with her and overall just how much they have come to love each other. It really is amazing to sit back and watch.

While we were putting together, "Journey to Ruby Mei," I found this quote:

"A Sister is God's way of
proving He doesn't want us to walk alone!"
~anonymous
So true!
Blessings,
Diana
Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Sugar & Spice!!



I have said it before that 'Her Rubiness' is lovingly referred to as the "Tiny Tornado" around our house.  Unfortunately, it sometimes comes at the cost of a bump or bruise for Ruby's head and face...  This weekend she had some rough moments inside at the cabin.  We got to the point on Sunday where we were thinking of a helmet for her inside!  OK maybe that is a bit dramatic, but honestly she can not be out of our site for long, or she is on top of something she shouldn't be!!  At home here it is our kitchen table or the family desk.  At the lake it is the stools that sit at our kitchen island.  On Saturday after her nap she got one serious bruise on the bridge of her nose when she landed face first on Jeff's bedside table.  She was climbing on the pillows why he was changing.  So, if you look closely you will see the lovely light green shiner on her nose....  She is tough though, or just slow to learn.  She just keeps on going back for more!  

If anyone has any great ideas on getting an 18 month old to understand "NO", I am all ears!

Not sure the "time out" chair will work, unless it is a Jungle Gym!


Thanks to 'Her Rubiness' there are no dull waking moments around here!  God definitely knew what he was doing when he made her so cute and irresistable!

Blessings,
Diana
Saturday, February 16, 2008

A beautiful day up north!!!









As promised, 'The Pearl' and 'The Diamond' (me) went snow shoeing this morning. It was absolutely gorgeous out. Sun shining, fresh snow, and a walk with my daughter. Perfect!

We were talking about God's creation and marveling at the sparkles on the snow! She is wise beyond her years some days!!

When we got back to the house, we got 'Her Rubiness' into her snow gear and set out to play! Ruby just had a ball! We did some more sledding today too. Ainsley decided to get started on a snow tunnel project, so Ruby and I went for a walk.. That little peanut did not want to come in. Every time I turned to go up our driveway, she went the opposite direction. I may have myself another mountain girl in the family. YIPPEE!!

Jeff and Ainsley took off to go snowmobiling, and Miss Ruby is sleeping peacefully. So, I will sign off and read the book I never have time to pick up!

Blessings,
Diana
No Hands But Ours

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