Of Shoes and Ships and Sealing-Wax...

This is going to be a truly random post.  So much is happening right now and I've been doing a poor job of chronicling it all.

A beautiful church we visited on Sunday morning.

On Sunday we went to Gladney's Larchmont picnic.  It was such a lovely day!  I had the amazing experience of meeting one of the little ones I met in China last year who is now home with her family.  She is so beautiful and happy!  It was a highlight of the day for sure!

A first introduction to cotton candy!

I also got to speak to parents who are waiting to bring home children whom I hope to meet when I go to China in two weeks.  (Did you hear that?! Two weeks?!)

Pat, Chelsea, and I

As we were driving home Keith and I decided that it would be a good idea to upgrade my camera before my trip. So... we did a little research, honestly we didn't need to do much since I already pretty much knew which one I wanted (just in case, you know!), and we ordered it.  My Canon 6D arrived on Wednesday.  It is so nice because it really helps me to minimize the impact that my shaky hands (thank you, lupus) has on my photos.

One of the first pictures I took with my Canon 6D

Also on Wednesday, a donation of 150 finger puppets arrived on my doorstep.  A huge thank you to the Sykes family for sending these!  I'm sure the little ones in China are going to have fun with them!  Then there were the 100 inflatable balls.  And the memory cards for the video camera.  And the photo paper and ink for the photo printer.

And, just in case you are wondering, my suitcases are filling up fast!  But it is so amazing and wonderful to fill them up knowing that they will be almost empty when I come home!

On a totally different note, I have had a lady coming in to help me get my house cleaned.  It is such a blessing to see the dirt disappearing as she scrubs the walls, windows, baseboards, and floors!  

Kazakh Picnic

This morning we got up bright and early and headed off to New York City.  Our destination was Central Park, where the Kazakh Consulate was hosting a picnic.  They did a wonderful job of making it very fun for everyone!  And our little Kazakh girlie especially loved being there.

They had games...

food...

and lots of fun!

We are now relaxing in a hotel getting ready for another fun day tomorrow, when we are planning to attend a Gladney picnic.  It was so wonderfully convenient that these two events came together like this!

Three Weeks!

Three weeks from now, if all goes according to plan, my little sister and I will be sitting on an airplane heading for China.  Right now our now our communication goes something like this:

Me: Three weeks!
Her: Yay!
Her: Which reminds me... you should be getting about 100 (inflatable) balls in the mail next week.
Me: WOO!
Her: I didn't get air pumps...
Etc., Etc.

Because there are a lot of little details that go into this big, important trip.  And even though balls sound like a little thing, they are a big ice breaker for some of the kiddos, so they are an important little detail.  As are the hairbows, the mirrors, the caps we are taking for the little boys this year.

 

Last year we watched eyes sparkle as we showed girls how beautiful they were with bows in their hair.  We printed pictures for them and tried to communicate to each and every child that they are beautiful and precious.  We had the older ones draw self portraits looking off of the pictures we printed.  This year we are adding a project.  We are taking a polaroid camera.  We are planning to take photos of each child as Superkids volunteers interact with them.  We will then punch a hole in the corners of the photos and put a ring through them to make a little flip book.  Our hope is that, not only can help help each child to feel loved, beautiful, and precious, but that we can preserve those memories for them.

We are getting more and more excited as the time to leave gets closer.  I think of the children I met last year who won't be there because they are home with their families, I think of the children who now have families working hard to get them home, and I think of the ones who are now a year older and still waiting to be chosen.  I can't wait to see each child.  To spend the little bit of time I have with each one.  To hug, to play with, to pray over these perfect children.  I just can't wait.

If you are wondering what you can do, there are plenty of ways to help financially or by sending things to the children.  And you can pray.  Pray for the volunteers who are traveling.  Pray for the children.  Pray for the orphanage directors and nannies. And pray that God is already preparing families for the children we will meet.

There Is Just Something About Daddies and Little Girls...

That totally melts me every time...

I've been wanting to take pictures of Keith and the girls for a little while.  On Saturday evening they sweetly obliged me.  They helped me haul my gear, set up my tripod for me, did what I said when I said, and generally were so very sweet.

Color?

Or Black&White?

My only problem is choosing my favorite photos to show you.  And I really want to narrow it down to one or two to print.  I don't know how I'm going to do that.  Help me out here friends.  Which ones would you print?

My sweet, handsome husband.

Homeschool Convention 2014, Cousins, and a Heat Wave

On Friday we attended the annual Harrisburg Homeschool Convention.  As always, everyone had a very fun day.  Between listening to a wonderful storyteller tell stories from American history, picking out next year's science curriculum, and seeing all of the various vendor's stands, there was something for everyone to enjoy.  Douglas found a violin stand and tried out a few of the violins. He and another young man played various hymns for quite awhile.

Mother's Day found us headed to New Jersey to visit one of Keith's brothers.  His mother was also there, and two of his other brothers with their families, so it was a very pleasant afternoon.  I didn't take many pictures, but always love photos of these two little girls together.

We have been experiencing a nice little heat wave the last couple of days.  We know what to do about that!  :)

Music Party

Last Sunday our three children who take piano lessons took part in a music party.  They each played their three favorite songs.  It was so fun to have a beginner...

I sat beside Annika so she would feel less nervous.

An intermediate beginner...

The nerves beginning to attack!

And a more advanced student...

They all played very well.  Songs played by our children ranged from Three Black Bears (Annika) to O What A Beautiful Morning (Casper) to Moonlight Sonata (Douglas).  We are so blessed to be surrounded by so much beautiful music!

Watching Her Wake Up

There is nothing quite so sweet as a sleeping child.  Unless, of course, you happen to catch the first few moments that a child is waking up.  Generally speaking the girls are up and going as early as anyone around here, but one morning recently Annika slept later than usual.  I quietly went in with my camera and was able to watch as she slowly woke up.

As she stretched...

And opened her eyes...

 And sat up...

And started getting chatty...

And finally started getting giggly.

I am thanking God for every precious minute with this darling little daughter of mine.  She truly makes the ordinary moments miraculous!