Family Vacation

To celebrate Becky's one year anniversary of her Forever Family day, we decided to take a short vacation. We loaded everyone (and all their stuff) up in the van & headed over to the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort in Phoenix.

At the beginning of the drive - everyone all smiles & excited to be on the way!

After the drive - once we were out of the car & having a nice dinner (we are not posting about the drive except to say that a six hour drive with a toddler screaming for a full 50% feels like a 2 day drive!)

One of the true benefits to being in Phoenix for Forever Family day was that we got to see some of Becky's extended family. Doug's Aunt Carol & his Aunt Doris, along with several of his cousins live in the area - along with my mom.
Cousins Jeannie & Jodi trying to get Becky to cooperate for pictures - it was a riot to watch them try to make her laugh (not sure if it worked getting her to laugh, but we sure did!)

Doug & Becky with his cousins Jeannie, Ron & Jodi

More family - my step sister & her family live in Tucson and she is expecting her third child, so while we were close, mom & I hosted a baby shower for her.
Becky's closest cousin in age is Sarah's daughter Karen - they looked so cute together!

Grandma & the girls

What a great reminder that when these kids get their "Forever Family", it is so much more than a mom & dad & brothers and sisters; it is an extended family to love & cherish them and one that they can create memories with for their lifetimes.

Forever Family Day

One year ago today, I stepped off of a plane & I never thought I could be so happy to see the smog of LAX. Becky, mom & I had endured a twelve hour flight with no sleep the night before and almost none on the plane - but the excitement over finally being home overshadowed the exhaustion.

Since our family was fully united on June 5th of 2008, we celebrate Becky's "Forever Family" day - the day that God brought her together with her pre-ordained family. As I reflect on the past year, it is one filled with change (for all of us), transition (for Becky), learning (for me) but above all, it is a year that shouts to the heavens "hallelujah"! It is a testimony in living color of the grace, power, goodness and faithfulness of a Father in heaven who loves us. Our family verse is "We love because He first loved us" - and nothing is more reflective of this verse for me than how God has knitted together an abandoned baby girl from China with a wacky California family that loves her to pieces! We have encountered so much this year - and we - all of us - would not be where we are today with His grace, wisdom, strength and love.

Becky, we are so thank God every day for you. We pray for the parents that will never know you somewhere in China - that somehow they would know that you are safe & loved and thriving. We praise God that in His wisdom He has entrusted you to us for a time. We look at you and are amazed every day at the little girl you are becoming, the precious amazing child of God that we see. There are so many things that are so very special about you - and so many things about this past year we want to remember. This first year with you has changed us all so much and we have grown closer to God and seen the face of Jesus every time we look at you. We love every minute with you - and love you more than mere words could ever express.

Model in the Making?

I caught Becky the other day looking just as cute as could be - what I didn't expect was that she would actually model for me!

Hanging out & around

These are for Grandpa Yingling and Pop-pop who will call me if there aren't new photos of their grand-daughter every few days; there really hasn't been too much noteworthy & newsworthy happening here over the past few days - just working on paperwork for our darling daughter still in China & getting ready for John, Destiney, Paloma & Vincent to come home from Germany!

She loves wearing our shoes around the house....

She had to pull her chair over, put the stool on top of it and then climb up - all to bother the poor cat who was just trying to take his afternoon nap

What a difference a year makes

May 26, 2008

May 26, 2009

One year ago today, a very tiny, scared little baby girl was place into the arms of someone she never met, who didn't look like anyone she had ever seen, spoke a language unfamiliar to her, smelled different than anything she ever smelled and was as foreign as she could imagine.

(This video was filmed by Destiney - who was on the phone to Doug at the time - scroll down & turn off the music player to hear her telling him what was happening)

Through the grace of God, that little baby has transformed into the most wonderful, happy self confident toddler whom we love to pieces and who is finally home where she belongs!

Praise be to God - whose Hands held her before we could, who guided us through the wait and who lovingly placed this child in my arms one year ago today. It is only through Him that we are where we are today. It is His love that has transformed this child and her family.

Fabulous Friends

We have some very dear friends who went through a birthing process similar to our adoption process - long & arduous..but they were birthing a new home! This weekend, we were finally able to coordinate our schedules and get over to La Quinta (near Palm Springs...) to see their "baby". I can truly say it is possibly the most wonderful home we have ever visited. The attention to every detail and the beautiful layout & design are amazing - and yet it is comfortable and warm & welcoming. It was so wonderful to get to see David & Susan in this home that they dreamed about, planned, suffered through contractors & architects with and finally are enjoying!

It was very hot there this weekend, so we spent a lot of time in the pool - which was alright with Becky!

It was an extra special time as our friend Grace was also there - what a neat treat that was! Becky & Grace just chillin'!

I am a big fan of tubs; Susan has this really cool one in her bathroom and hasn't even used it yet - Becky broke it in for her!

After we got the princess to bed - we sat around & played cards. David, Susan, Doug & I used to play cards about once a month when we lived in San Diego - and we really miss that time with them, so this was extra special for us!

The house is Spanish colonial - the inner courtyard is just lovely - so peaceful & serene!

The outdoor dining area - we spent most of our time here and enjoyed some home baked scones courtesy of Susan here this morning...Susan's cooking is just another bonus of visiting them!

The pool...

The shallow end of the pool is really cool - with an umbrella in the middle and a big shelf; Becky decided she wanted Susan's chair, and went up to her, took her hand and pulled her up...

..then....

...made her self comfortable!

Even though it took us a ridiculous amount of time to get home in really awful traffic, we had an awesome time and can't wait to do it again! We are so happy for Davis & Susan and it was such a blessing to share their home with them.

An LA Day

While Aunt Karen & Uncle Terry were here, we took the train into LA for some sightseeing & lunch with Doug. We were hoping to tour the Disney train "A Christmas Carol" - but when we got there, it as over an hour & 1/2 wait - in the blaring sun. I don't wait an hour & 1/2 for a ride at Disneyland - so we certainly weren't going to wait. Instead , we headed over to Olveria Street for lunch. It's the oldest street in LA and the original settlement of the Mexicans in LA. It is a ton of fun & a neat place to visit (and eat!)