Thankfulness - and giving back

We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. We are thankful for our salvation through Jesus Christ, our family who are all healthy, Doug's job situation and the blessings of his work, but most of all, we are thankful that this year, God delivered our baby to us.

We are thankful that this year, she no longer lays in a crib where the mattress is a wooden board, in a room totally devoid of color, sharing the attention of four over-worked nannies with 30 other babies. We are thankful that when she cries, we are there for her. We are thankful that she will never again know what it is to be hungry, to have an unmet need or to cry without comfort.

We are eternally grateful for the staff at Hauzhou Social Welfare Institute. Without what they do, there would be no place for these children to be cared for while they wait for their forever families. We are working with a church in Hong Kong to make this place a better environment for those left behind ~ because we have not forgotten. This photo of Becky was taken about 3 weeks before she came to us

The first project that our friends in Hong Kong are working on is a playground for the kids - this is what their current playground looks like -

This is the vision for the kids. There are currently 44 special needs kids living in this SWI - and at this time, they are not eligible to be adopted, so they will live here for the rest of their lives. Having a colorful place to play is no substitute for a family, but it may bring a small measure of joy into their lives.

This year as we enter into the time of giving, if you are considering blessing Becky or our family with a token of your love, we ask instead that you send a donation to the project. You may mail it to:

EFCC-Discovery Bay International Community Church

3A, #55 Crestmonth Villa

Discovery Bay, Hong Kong

Carol Hicks is overseeing this project to insure that the funds are spent wisely and are directed to where the SWI needs them the most. Thank you for remembering that we are blessed this year.

Licking the Spoon

Becky discovered a good, old fashioned tradition this morning as I was making our Thanksgiving dessert (a fabulous roasted sweet potato cheesecake.....)

Faith & Family Filled Weekend

This past weekend, Doug, Becky & I travelled to Phoenix so that my mom & I could attend the Women of Faith Conference in Glendale. This is the third year we have done it - and it is wonderful!!! It was also a weekend filled with a lot of family - Doug got to see two of his aunts on his mother's side, and my step sister joined us at the conference and then her family along with my brother, his partner and some of their friends joined us for an early Thanksgiving! 

Becky thought she would try to convince daddy to let her drive to Phoenix (sorry baby - not for about 16 more years!)

Doug's Aunt Carol and Uncle joined us for dinner on Thursday night. It was their first time meeting Becky - and Aunt Carol gave us a wonderful present. She had the baby blanket that Doug's mom brought Doug home from the hospital in 50 years ago! It has seen 8 babies home - Doug & his four brothers, Carol's two children and one of her grandchildren. She has passed it on to Becky now. We are so amazed at how both of our families have passed on precious family heritage to her. 

On Saturday, Doug took Becky to his Aunt Doris' house while I was at the conference.  Becky had a ball - and loved Aunt Doris (do you think it has to do with the fact that Aunt Doris gave her lunch??)

Saturday night after we got home from the conference, my stepdad had prepared a wonderful early Thanksgiving dinner. I have to confess, it was really nice to just come into the house, have a beer and then sit down to dinner without having to have done a lick of work! 

My step sister Sarah was at the conference with us, and her husband came up with the kids for dinner. My niece & nephew, Karen & Stephen, just adore Becky - and they are the cousins she is closest in age to so it's nice that she is getting a chance to see them & to know them. 

Uncle Ken (my brother), Uncle Mike and their friend Mike - who lives in a most beautiful and wonderful place called Flagstaff and came down to join us as well - 

Ken's friends Sean, Cody & Sean's daughter Brittany - who is just a beautiful and such a doll!! 

While it was really wonderful to see all this family, I must confess that one of the highlights of the weekend for me was at the conference. The Women of Faith conference is one of inspiration and for me, especially right now, rejuvenation. Each year, they have a musical artist who travels with them and does a concert of about 40 minutes of music. This year, it was Mandisa. I had vaguely rememberered her from her time on American Idol, but to hear her tell her story of that time, and to hear her perform and use her gift to glorify God in an amazing way - it was awesome. I am definitely not a "star gazer" or chaser - but I waited in line to get her to sign her book for Ashlee and a cd for me! 

As some may recall, the adoption journey for Doug & I led to becoming involved at our church with the launch of a new adoption ministry - Child by Child. Back in May, the week before I left for China, I wrote in our newsletter about adoption (click here to read the first article). This past week, I did a follow up in honor of National Adoption Month. You can read the conclusion here. We are so blessed that God has opened so many doors for us to share our story - and to advocate on His behalf for the millions of children that are in need of loving families. 

For those who need their "Becky fix" - she's being very patriotic at the Veteran's Day parade last week! 

What's Grandpa's are good for....

After we went to San Francisco, we stopped by my dad's for the weekend. Becky is beginning to discover all the things her pop-pop is good for.....

Going to the zoo - 

Hanging on the couch helping with my toys - 

Holding me up so I can learn to walk

Introducing me to chocolate pudding!!! 

On the Road Again

We made our second trip in as many months to San Francisco this past week. Wednesday night, we all had dinner with our very good friends from Anchor Steam - 

On Thursday, Becky & I  went to the newly renovated Academy of the Sciences in Golden Gate Park. The park is beautiful, but I wasn't sure if the Academy would be worth the ridiculous entry fee...it was! They have a planetarium, a five story rain forest and an aquarium under the same building. The aquarium was our favorite because many of the tanks actually started below the level of the floor - so Becky was eye level with the fish! 

Becky also had her first cable car ride- she wasn't crazy about the uphill parts - but thought the downhills were pretty cool! 

Two of my very favorite things in the same place! 

doesn't she look too cute in her kitten hat & mittens....

Happy Halloween

There was no choice what Becky would be for Halloween - her daddy's nickname for her is Pooh, so.....

 We went to Gymboree in the early afternoon, then spent the evening at our church's Harvest Festival, where our new ministry had a carnival game to help kick off National Adoption Month.