Homecoming '09

Homecoming was last night... Josh's last high school home coming... sigh. He had a great time and I got to try out some new photo techniques.

The night started out with a pre-dance party at a friend's home.... we learned of the address and the simple fact that he needed to bring a "dish" to share mere hours before the event. Is it a guy thing? I think so. I had a photo shoot that morning so Ed and Josh made a quick dash to the grocery store, recipe card in hand, and we were set.

Tried to teach Josh how to make a very easy yet fun and tasty pudding dessert that an old friend of mine had taught me many years ago. After about 10 minutes he confessed that he wasn't paying attention and was simply "in it" for the Marciano cherries.


After all that, Josh informed me today that they never took it out of the fridge and we'll never really know if anyone liked it.


Ahhhh...another guy moment! ;)


The main thing is that Josh and Joanna hdad fab-o time and they looked great too!

Way overdue Gracie pix to come!

She's Finally There!

One of my favorite Bloggy friends, that I actually had the opportunity to meet up with last year (posing here with Gwen), is finally in China and will meet her sweet little Hannah on Monday! Please keep Catherine in your prayers as she meets her baby girl for the first time and for a safe return home.

You can follow Catherine here: Catherine's Chatter - Waiting for Hannah

Holy Cow! Long Time No Post!!

Happy Fall Ya'll!

This is the busiest time of year in our home. Josh is up to his eyeballs in Marching Band season, and he'd have it no other way!! Football games every Friday night and competitions just about every weekend... phew.

(Senior Night... guess who had us laughing hysterically seconds before this pic was snapped? Love all the screwed up smiles???)

Gracie started pre-k with a bang and has loved every minute of it. Ed's super busy with work, it's his busy season too and I have been busy with work and my photography business.

So much to type and soooo little time.

In a nutshell:

- Josh is now a senior, he's having a blast and I am sure we'll be in the poor house before it's all over!

- Gracie is talking more and more about being "doppted". She knows we prayed to God for a little girl and God told us to go to China.... "and then you came and doppted me!!!" Melts my heart. She adds bits and pieces to her story as she understands it... recently she added that we came to China and saw lots of cool places and then we "doppted" her. :)

(Watching and waiting for Josh and the rest of the band)

- Josh's band is doing very well this year and it's all a big deal because? He's a SENIOR!

(Josh watching his team from the "band" stands)

- We just got over two weeks of sickness in our house. It wasn't the flu but man oh man were we down for the count!

- Josh and Joanna celebrate 1yr as a couple this weekend!!

(My "three" kids... Josh, Joanna and Gracie snuggling up after church, on a lazy rainy Sunday watching a movie)

- Gracie will be a princess... again... this Halloween and will be attending our church's Fall Festival which is always loads of fun!

- Josh and Joanna will be an "actors" in the mystery fun house at the Fall Festival. The theme of his room? Prom date gone bad. It's not gory just crazy!


Coming Soon... Homecoming!

3 Years Ago Today..... Gracie Day

What a special day for us. This bright-eyed little beauty met her forever family three years ago today at the Chongqing SWI... a rare opportunity indeed, visiting our daughter while she is at the orphanage and getting to see her interact there. Gracie wasn't really thrilled with me at first... she went to Ed and while she cried, he walked up and down the hall saying "bay-coo" which meant "don't cry" and also singing Jesus Loves Me to her. She calmed down and let me hold her on the bus ride back to the hotel.

The bus..... on the way to the SWI... so loud and exciting... on the way back to our hotel? Quiet. You could hear a pin drop. I will never forget that. We were all spent from our tears and just about all of the babies fell asleep. That was our first cuddle. The bus ride to our hotel, Gracie fell asleep on my chest.... ahhhh. Later that day, at the Civil Affairs Office, she was ours in the eyes of China! The daughter and sister we had hoped and prayed for. :) It was an amazing day!

Gracie is growing in to a sweet and yes, sassy at times, caring and loving little girl. You can't help but get caught up in her imagination... oh the dreams she has! Make believe and dress up.... her favorites! She adores her big brother and loves playing rough with daddy... but I love our special cuddle times. Snuggling up with my baby girl and watching a movie or just talking... just doesn't bet better than that!

It's been an amazing journey that started on a plane to China... we were privileged to meet amazing people who are forever a part of our Red Thread family. Happy three-year anniversary to all of Gracie's Chongqing Sisters!

The Boo Box Has Arrived!

It's that time of year again and a little tradition this Red Thread Family has is passing along a "Boo Box". Annalee's mom came up with the idea last year and this year, Gracie was the first recipient!


We barely got the box in the door..... she about died when I asked her to wait for me to get my camera!

This year, the box came from Annalee! Do you love the pink hat???


So did Gracie!!!





She was equally excited over the ring pops.



Gracie found all kinds of goodies inside her box... a cute light up lantern, glow in the dark necklaces, jumbo activity/color book, fun straws, a fun pumpkin cup and a few other items that are escaping me right now. THANK YOU ANNALEE!!!!



We'll be getting the box together and sending it off this weekend... where will it go? Wisconsin? Michigan? Virginia? Michigan? or Georgia?

Last Scheduled Night Launch

I was just about to hop in to bed when I realized that the shuttle was going to attempt another launch at 11:59PM. That was in 10 minutes! I did some fast thinking/calculating and grabbed my camera, tripod and memory card and set up shop on my back patio... nightgown and all! I could have stepped outside of our pool screen but I needed to keep the lights off so that I could get a good shot and you just don't walk around barefoot, in the dark, in FL.... you just don't! :) I wish I would have gone outside the screen but I think this turned out pretty good. So from my back patio... I present you with this:

This is SOOC (straight out of camera)! No post production! We don't get many night time launches... the whole backyard lights up... and we are 53 miles away! Kinda makes the whole midnight in the nightgown in the backyard worth it!

A First and A Last

Mixed feelings this school year.... Josh started his senior year of high school on Monday. I can't believe I have been taking this very picture for 13 years! My baby is a senior. The time really does go fast. This is going to be such a fun year for him. Band is in full swing and I am once again one of two official photographers... so I get to spend some additional time with Josh while he's doing something he loves! Looking forward to it!! Homecoming is around the corner and before you know it, showcase and Christmas. Once January arrives, the year will just slip through our fingers. Wasn't he just 3?


Gracie started Pre-School on Monday as well. She was super excited and we had a really hard time getting her down for the night. She is so bright. I can't explain it but when I am explaining things to her, I see the wheels spinning. This is a good thing although I am finding that it's getting harder and harder to slip things by her! :) Was I this logical at four?

More pictures to follow....