First a Pearl, then Three Rubies!!

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Happy Birthday Ruby Mei!!

6:15 AM |

Today our sweet Ruby Mei is seven years old!!!! Last night I sat in her room and watched her sleep.. I sat on my knees giving thanks for this precious child. Seven years ago a mother I will most likely never know made the difficult decision to let her go... Today more than any other year this brings the emotions to the surface for me... One incredible loss led to something so special. "Beauty from the ashes.." I am beyond grateful that God has trusted us with her. Ruby is the child that makes all the hard Mom days worth it... Her sweet and sensitive heart along with the amazing gifts God has given her are a special combination.

I don't think we could have chosen a more perfect name for her... She is precious and beautiful!

Happy 7th Birthday Ruby Mei... You are a JOY! And you are so very LOVED!!!!

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has given me what I asked of him."

1Samuel 1:27

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Wednesday, July 24, 2013

"The Little Bean" is FIVE Today!

12:00 AM |

There is one question that people usually ask The Little Bean when they meet her... How old are you? She usually answers with a very excited, "Four and a-half..!" Lately this has changed to "almost five!" In most cases her answer is a surprise... I think they would guess 3 or 4 if they didn't know her. Emme Jade might be tiny, but her personality is bigger than life. She is one of the most joyful and outgoing little girls I know. She loves big.. She loves her family, her best friends, her dogs, and her "my blankie!" We have been blessed with a bright light in this little girl. This begs the question... How does a little girl who lived in an institution for three years of her life wake up so happy every day? How does she sprinkle her pixie dust of happiness wherever she goes? Clearly, we had nothing to do with this. This is how God created The Little Bean... He protected her, put people in her path to love her, and gave her an inner joy that can only come from Him. I am so very thankful for that!

Emme's birthday falls on the first day of swim team champs for "The Middles." So, we are doing a little cake celebration tonight with her neighborhood pals and Miss Bella... Next week, I have a special lunch planned for the little BFF's... I think Five is a very special birthday to celebrate! Some of you have asked if Emme Jade is starting Kindergarten... The answer is no.. She is going to a new pre-school three full days a week. She LOVES school, and I know this will be a great growth year for her in so many ways.

The Little Bean blessed me today by letting me steal her for a mini-photoshoot.. We snuck out so nobody would see her birthday dress. She was so excited! Here's a glimpse at our new five year old!

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy!"

Psalm 126:3

Happy Birthday Emme Jade!

We Love you!!!!

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Tuesday, July 23, 2013

She Is Eight!!!!

8:13 AM |

As we go into the home stretch of swim team this week, I need to stop to catch up on a little girl who celebrated her eighth birthday on Saturday! In some ways her first birthday at home feels like yesterday. She had only been home three months. We have traveled a lot of miles together since that first party together. She gets more confident and more beautiful every day.

2010 (4 months home)

Sienna Grace had the perfect place to celebrate her birthday this year. We were in Stockholm, WI at an amazing retreat center located on a picturesque farm that our church owns. We went with our family group and it was such a fun weekend!

The July birthday girls indulged me for a short time on Saturday evening with a photo shoot. Here are a few photos of the birthday girl from the farm...

God has created something very beautiful in this little girl. My prayer will always be for her to truly understand how much she is loved! Happy 8th Birthday Sienna Grace!!

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Sunday, June 30, 2013

Summer!!!

10:10 PM |

Okay, I will admit it... Summer is kicking my you know what... Don't get me wrong.. I am not complaining.. I am thankful that I get to drive these girls from activity to activity.. But, it is busy....! Tomorrow is July 1st, and I feel like summer just arrived in Minnesota. Reality is, it kind of did. Our cold (Wintery) spring, and chilly/rainy start to the kids summer break took a chunk out of the June calendar. Thankfully, July is arriving with a gorgeous forecast for the week. We are at the cabin... My intention was to just come up for the weekend... But, it is so nice up here in the northland that we are settling in for the holiday week!

Ainsley had a great week at Junior High camp with our church last week. I loved hearing the recap of her days (and nights) at JAM camp!!! So happy to have her home safely!

"The Middles" have been busy with Swim Team. I am so proud of both of them... They are swimming great! Emme is learning to swim, and she is so excited about it.... My guess is "The Little Bean" will be wearing the green swim team suit next year!

We had a very sad goodbye last week... Emme's best friend, Reid is moving to Alabama. When the reality of that sunk in on Friday, she was so sad.. It broke my heart to see her say goodbye. If you read our blog while we were waiting for Emme Jade, her best pal in the orphanage was a little boy. They told us they were inseparable.. Seeing her grieve over Reid leaving, broke my heart knowing she has been through this before.. Thankfully, we know Reid's family and we will do our best to keep in touch!

Shafer (our new addition) is fitting in.. Poor Piper is doing her best to tolerate the little guy... She (Piper) had surgery last week.. So, having her little brother chasing her tail is not going well... Thankfully, Piper is great at finding "higher ground" to get her space!

Lastly, I had my annual picture with all four of my girls taken!! My sweet friend Jody took this for me before Father's Day. It was our gift for Mr. Handsome!

That is the cliff note version of June! Happy 4th of July week!!

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Wednesday, June 12, 2013

A Golden Birthday Girl, and A Wedding Anniversary!

2:18 AM |

Twelve years ago at 7:51pm, Ainsley Kathryn was born. She weighed 6lbs - 12.5oz, and she was 18.5" long... It was our second wedding anniversary! We had no clue what we were doing that first night... But, overtime Ainsley helped us learn how to love, guide, and protect her.. She taught us how to love unconditionally... In her I see so much of us.. But, Ainsley is her own person... Unique, beautiful persuasive, smart, funny, and talented. We pray that we can always encourage her to be just who God has created to be.. "Fearfully and wonderfully made..."

While the house is quiet tonight I have been going through the Baby Book I did for Ainsley. In it was a journal I wrote to her during my entire pregnancy.. So many things that I had forgotten.. I am so thankful to have them in writing... As one of Ainsley's gifts I am going to give her a copy of that journal. I want her to understand just how loved she was before we ever saw her sweet little face!!! She is one of God's most special gifts to Mr. Handsome and me. (And a lot of other people that love her too!)

Happy Golden Birthday Ainsley Kathryn! We think you are amazing!!

And, I can't close this post without a note to Mr. Handsome.... Happy 14th Anniversary! I am so blessed to share this journey with you!!! Four Girls later I love you more than the day I said "I do!" I can't believe it's been 14 years.. Yikes it has gone fast... Attaching one of my favorite pictures from our wedding day. I look forward to seeing what God has in-store for us for the next 14 years!

Whatever it is, I am just thankful we are in this together!!!! I can't imagine doing this without you!!!

Love Love!!

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Sunday, June 9, 2013

The Big and The Little....

2:35 PM |

Ainsley and Emme have had a special bond since they said Ni' Hao in August of 2011. They have sweet nick names for each other too... "A-Gee and Joey..." Ainsley is known around here for coming up with names that stick around here. AKA: Aunt Bop and Little Grandma.. She has called Emme "Joey" since she arrived home.. I guess it's short for Yangzhou (sounds like Young-Joe) where Emme is from... I think it's pretty darn cute!

Our Big Girl is going to be 12 on Wednesday... Emme will be 5 in July... Seven sweet years between them.. When Ainsley graduates from highschool Emme will be completeing 4th grade... Exactly the age gap I have with my big brother. It never mattered when we were growing up. I adored him, and still do!

Our new puppy has definitely had an affect on Emme Jade.. Not one I even thought about on my list of objections.. Emme is a little jealous.. Not of the dog.. Of the laptime Shafer is getting with her "A-Gee!" Ainsley is doing her best to love on The Little Bean too... Now she knows how it feels to be a Mama! :)

Thankful for the sweet bond between these two!

Adding a few photos I took of Emme with Ainsley's help!... I think curls work on her!!!

Looking forward to a week where rumor has it the sun may appear and it may feel like summer!

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Friday, June 7, 2013

Our Newest Addition!!

8:03 AM |

Ainsley has been working on us since Easter to bring another dog into the family. She put together a fantastic sales pitch complete with a list of objections that she knew she would get from her parents. I have to give her credit she was very persuasive.. She mastered pulling at her Mom's heart strings with a thoughtout strategic plan. Impressive!!!! A future in sales may be inevitable for The Pearl!

Her Daddy however was not quite as convinced a small dog was what this crew needed. Jeff likes medium to large dogs.. Active, intelligent dogs, that you can walk and toss a frisbee too or that can retrieve a ball out of the lake... Not a puppy/dog that he has to worry about the Bald Eagle at the cabin picking up for dinner....

Well let's just say we have had a lousy start to summer here... It has rained and been cold our entire first week... The word boredom has already crept in... Yesterday they caught me at a weak moment... Ainsley asked if we could take a ride out to the country to the "Puppy Store..." I am not a dumb blonde... (A little frazled some days, but not stupid...) I knew this would either end terribly, or I would be the one selling Mr. Handsome on a new addition...

Well the inevitable happened... SHE fell in love...Sienna did too. Ruby did too... unfortunately with another puppy... I loved them all... And, Emme was more excited about the toys in the gift shop than the actual moment... Did I mention it's Ainsley's Golden Birthday Wednesday?. And, that this is all she has been asking for for months... Did I mention she made an oathe to be responsible, to help me, etc.. Perhaps it was the dream of LEVERAGE that pushed me over the puppy edge... So, in a moment of weakness I called Mr. Handsome... Not quite the same as when I called him and cornered him while he was in a cab line in Vegas to lock Emme's file.. But, my response from him brought back memories from that day.. Silence! Like any respectful wife, I let the pregnant pause last a moment, and then I forged ahead with confidence. In the end, after some texts with our favorite out-of-state vet, and the trusty internet, Mr. Handsome reluctantly agreed to the tiny addition. Did I mention, He is a BOY!!!! As my friend Erin commented on Facebook.. We have figured out a way to add a boy to this family!!!!

I am happy to report that the meet and greet with Piper went well.. Meaning Piper did not growl and was completely un-impressed with the bouncing furry ball we brought home.. Hopefully the extra treats and the walk this morning have started the forgiveness process... She's happily asleep at my heels as I type. And, the puppy did fantastic... Slept happily in his crate (in Ainsley's room.) We got him up in the middle of the night to go out, and then he went back to sleep... Did I mention he is CUTE!!!

We have a little theme with our dogs at this house... They are all named after vineyards in Napa Valley.. It started with our beloved Caymus... So, since we definitely "lovingly" forced this litte guy on Daddy, we have given him naming privileges... So, the newest addition in our family's working name is SHAFER!!! (Sounds like Shaefer.) I think it's going to stick!

Shafer is a "Cava Malt".. Equates to King Charles Cavalier/Maltese blend.. Or, as Mr. Handome lovingly refers to him... A "Designer Dog!"

Good thing that pupply store is far away... It's another rainy/cold day!!