First Day of School

Andy and Ric had a blast with Sing Spell Read and Write today. That Treasure Box will make sure they will keep coming back for more !

Announcements

It has been an emotional week. Our oldest son, Ryan, married Julia last weekend. It was a beautiful wedding, with wonderful worship beginning the ceremony, demonstrating Ryan and Julia's determination to put Him first in their lives. Ryan will begin seminary in January. We are so proud of them both.

Our oldest daughter,Camila, resigned from her job as an Assistant District Attorney and moved to Amsterdam today. She will begin a program in International Law. She has been living just down the street from us since she finished law school and has been a tremendous blessing to our family. We will miss her terribly - especially Ric and Ariel (although I think Ariel may have figured out a way to keep in touch texting).

That's our kids Camila, Everett, Katrina and Ariel, in the second picture.

Here are my two handsome boys - which leads me to the next annoucement. We are beginning the paperwork for another adoption ! One of the boys we originally tried to get from the orphanage near Cheryl has been on the shared list for a year. His name has gone out every month to agencies all over the world that adopt from China and no one has chosen him. That is not terribly surprising, since most people want to adopt girls and this boy is already ten years old.

It seems to us that we have a responsibility to help those God puts in our path and we think this child is in ours. I love the Starfish Story (google it) where the little boy says "I made a difference for that one !" We think God is giving us the opportunity to make a difference in one more child's life and we are very excited.

MyDad, my sister and I at Ryan's rehersal dinner.

Andy's Birthday

After living in America for nearly 11months and watching nearly all of the rest of our family have birthday parties Andy asked nearly every day when it would be HIS birthday. Finally on his 8th birthday he had his first real party. He wanted a firetruck birthday cake and we patterned his party after a book series we love called 'Henry and Mudge' which meant balloons, games and a pinata. His big present was a bicycle with trainig wheels which he was able to ride even on our gravel driveway. Pretty amazing for a kid who didn't even know how to push the pedals on a tricycle a year ago ! He is already asking for the training wheels to be taken off.

Just the Girls

Ariel, Lindsay (Travis's wife), Camila, Julia (Ryan's wife in August) Katrina, Amber, Catherine

America's Birthday

Andy celebrated July 4th as an American for the first time. All the kids came in, so we spent an exhausting day at the Factory and the Rec Park.
The Factory allowed us to practice target shooting, race motorcycles, go bowling and rafting, and play minigolf in the comfort of an airconditioned building , all within walking distance of the fireworks. No wonder everyone comes to Franklin on the 4th!

Cooking Out

Last Saturday, after working out in the yard , we let the kids cook hotdogs out in the yard. We had to dodge a few raindrops, but the kids are now addicted. Our grown sons Jay (who got engaged this week) and Everett stopped by to join us.
Take a look at that view. Isn't it gorgeous? And we live in town !! We live in the most beautiful place in the world.
I was in high school before I traveled anywhere that there was this much empty land. I was raised in the Northeast and used to believe in the myth of overpopulation. Now I have traveled across the country, done some reading and have a different opinion.

Big Thanks to Maddie and Sophie !!!

When Andy was in the hospital, Maddie and Sophie (who were also adopted from China) sent him an exciting box of things to play with. Sophie had brain surgery shortly before Andy, so they understood some of the hardships of being in the hospital.








They made some beautiful pictures, that are now hanging on Andy's bedroom wall. Most importantly however, they prayed faithfully for Andy !! Thank you, Maddie and Sophie !!

P.S. Their family will be going back to China soon to bring home a little boy - if anyone has some spare frequent flyer miles I'll let you know how to get them to them.....Catherine