Cutie Pies

As I type these next words, "You're a season behind, Emily!" is ringing in my ears! Yes, I am a season behind as I sit here in 99 degree weather and type about crisp spring afternoons. Ahhh.... would be nice to be in the 60s again! Here a few more pics from March to share. We had a wonderful spring!

Happy Birthday Buddies

Ben and my Aunt Jill are our March birthdays, and we always have a great time celebrating together. This year, we went out to a new seafood restaurant called Marlin Rays. We made it through an entire dinner with Ava and Maia and managed to eat cake!

Happy birthday to my sweet husband and dear aunt!

Playdate with the Halsey Girls!

Making new friends! Ava, Sophie and Mia



Serendipity is a great word to describe this new friendship for me and for Ava and Maia. We had heard about the Halsey girls and their remarkable stories of adoption long before we met them. Well, finally, Laurie and I managed to get four little girls together ( no small feat) to play! Laurie and I joked that we started no less than 35 conversations that morning and probably didn't finish a single one! We had a ball and hope to get together again at our "applesauce fingerprints on the window house."

Sophie and Mia are Ava and Maia's new friends, and they are just precious and full of energy just like Miss Ava and Maia. Their stories are so similar to ours! I just love it when another sweet friend comes into my life.

We love you, Halseys! Here's to more fun times!

We're Back!

Hi, everyone!

We are back and uploading pictures daily! After immeasurably more than I could have asked for or imagined at the Pray for Japan, gathering, we are back to daily life. I could go on and on sharing about what God did to prepare for the Japan service, and when I have time, I may write a post about it. In my life, I have never witnessed his hand quite like I did as we made preparations to pray for Japan with the Body of Christ and the Japanese community.. I told everyone I knew that He really orchestrated all that happened. I just moved my hands and feet and mouth, and He did the rest. It was an absolute joy to be a co-laborer with Him for the precious Japanese people who came and attended the service. I'm going to be processing for a long time!

Ava's first taco experience. :) She loved it!







Fort time!

Where in the World are We?

In short, Japan!

If you're still following our family blog, you probably wonder where in the world we are!

If you've followed my blog for awhile, you maybe have picked up on the fact that the Lord has broken my heart for Japan. He started preparing me to have a special heart for the Japanese when I was very young, and the passion I have for them has only intensified as I've got older... much older! :)

Shortly after the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami, I felt a familiar stirring in my Spirit that the Lord had something in mind for this daughter, His daughter whose heart He's allowed to be broken for Japan.

Since the last time I posted the zoo pictures from March, I have been spending just about every waking moment preparing for a community-wide Pray for Japan gathering. It has been my joy to do it, and it has taken so much of my time, what little time remains with two little ones! :)

I'm not finished blogging and I'll be back at it very soon. For now, I've been instructed to focus solely on this event, in the hopes that seeds will be planted within the hearts of the Japanese that the Lord will water and cause to grow.

Pray for Japan
July 17, 2011
6:00 p.m.
Fairview United Methodist Church

140 churches and the Japanese community will unite to Pray for Japan. I am expecting great things from the Lord this night! May His will be done in this time for Japan!

See everyone soon. We've got lots and lots of fun pictures to share of Miss Ava and Maia. Neve a dull moment in this house!

We're Going to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo...

We heard about a Cat in the Hat day at the zoo March 12th, so we loaded up our girls and gear and headed to the zoo! Ava has loved reading the Cat in the Hat dictionary. It's one of her favorites. We had beautiful weather, and seeing as how one little girl was very mobile, you'll see quite a few pictures of her experiencing fun. Maia was not quite walking yet, so she was happy to ride in the stroller and have up close views of the meir cats. I love those!





Ava's reaction to seeing the camels.

March Mayhem :)

As March rolled around on the calendar, we were all officially well and somewhat rested from a busy January and February. I plan to post as many photos as I can from March in three or four blog posts so I can really catch up!

The highlight of the beginning of March was Maia turning 11 months old on the 5th. How she's grown since China! Here's our little peanut.





Ava celebrates Dr. Seuss Day! She loves hats of all shapes and sizes.



Giving Maia love...



One beautiful sunny afternoon, we met Mimi and Papa for a walk on the Greenbelt. Ava had a ball, like I once did, looking for ducks, playing on the exercise equipment and following the stream.





Our monkey!



Our fun playdate with Caden Jones! Their family is about to bring home long-awaited Kinsey from China. So excited for them!



Happy Retirement Papa! We love you so much and are so proud of you! We took Dad to the Chop House to celebrate.