Thankful Thursday!!

We'll today the weather was fabulous once again!!God really blessed us with the best weather ever.We enjoyed each and everyday In our beautiful daughter's country!! It was a day of mixed emotions.Really really HAPPY to kiss my babies at home once again and see my other family and friends. But sad that Aubrey was leaving the only home she had ever known. And that she wouldn't be able to walk thru the park and talk with other chinese people as she had done the past two weeks!She really enjoyed this alot.I was Happy that she had a forever family and she feels very loved and cared for. Just a total mess of mixed up emotions. A little nervous about the plane ride home!!I'm the worst flyer ever!!!HATE HATE HATE IT!!! From the second I'm on the plane until the second we land again. Was also worried about Aubrey getting motion sickness. But God is always in control!!I should never worry or have fear because I have someone special who never forsakes me. He really has my back!!Guess you could say!! We got up and has breakfast as usual. Then we decided we would go hunt down the chicken crackers my 18 yr old baby requested me to bring him back!! After about a four mile walk to get these babies we decided to go spend a little more time in one of our favorite parks before meeting David our awesome guide!! He would meet us at 4:30  with our new driver who was taking us to Hong Kong  to spend the night then be at the airport at 8am to checkin for our 11am flight!! It was going to be a long 24 hours!! But God always provides me with what I need to keep going when I feel like I'm just so tired I can't! Ok WHERE do I start??? David was AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!We loved him!!He felt like family!!He was so kind and helpful everyday. he didn't seem like a guide we had met a few days ago he felt like family by the time we were leaving!! He was wonderful and kind with my kids!Always talking with Aubrey and explaining everything to her.He was so good to Madison and Noah also!!Noah has made a friend for Life!! Now to discuss the not so wonderful trip to Hong Kong!! I had to get paper out and write this why I feared terribly for our lifes!!NO JOKE!!Thursday at 4:30 pm and were leaving Guangzhou China!!I ask for everyones prayers as if you guy's could hear me writing this down on paper!!Duh Lisa! But I knew God would give the message for prayers to some of my faithful prayer warriors.I pray Aubrey can rest and not be sick the whole flight. We are all exhausted and will be so glad to get home and show Aubrey her new home and the rest of her family!Will try and write more when we get to the hotel in Hong Kong! I'm back already!!! Had to write this................ I think our new driver is CRAZY!!!! He drives WAY TO FAST!!!!!!Pray we get to Hong Kong alive!!!!! My silent prayers now!!I think i might have needed Dramamine !!Aubrey is medicated THANK GOD or this ride would be a diseaster!!Noah has already said why is this man driving so fast?? Yes he's three!! Noah then said Aubrey doesn't like riding in cars  mom. I hope Noah doesn't get sick!Where is our other driver???????????I request him back immediately!!! It's going to be a long three hours.Just to try and be positive a bit..2 hours into our 3 hour trip to BEEP BEEP BEEP!AUBREY IS NOT THROWING UP BUT EVERYONE ELSE IN THE VAN IS EXTREMELY CAR SICK!! First time I've ever been carsick in my life.I feel as if I could lose it all at anytime!!Not a good feeling!Madison and Noah are complaining also!Gene is also saying his belly hurts. I guess you get the picture.  This guy was texting watching a movie and taking phone calls while driving three times the speed limit!!! NO JOKING!! I was terrified!!Oh I almost forgot the worst part!!He was also FALLING asleep!!REALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I never really wanted to grab someone and shake them as bad as I wanted to grab him. I starting hitting Gene's arm . I said watch him he's falling to sleep. So you know he only spoke a few words of english but we kept trying to keep him  talking SO HE WOULD STAY AWAKE!! I would amost say I would have rather flown there. I thought I should definitely complain on him but Gene didn't want me to!He said God had blessed us with an amzing trip let's just forget it!! FORGET IT!!NEVER I'M PROBALY SCARRED FOR LIFE!!NAH JUST KIDDING ABOUT THAT PART!! But the rest I'm so NOT kidding!!And this guy said he was picking up another family and making this trip again after dropping us off. We were all so sick feeling by the time we arrived i couldn't wait to throw myself out of that van..But THANK GOD WE WERE HERE IN ONE PIECE!!Now my prayers were for the next family who had to endure this trip with him!!!GOD BE WITH THEM!! I'm sick feeling just thinking about this.Blessings everyone

Wonderful Wenesday!!

Today started out to be a great Day!We all went down to breakfast. The kids were really tired because we had to wake them up two hours earlier than usual but we had our consolate appt. so we had to be on time! So all legal things are done and were ready to come home!!!! We have Aubrey's visa and passport. Everything went well at the consolate!Very quick! Our guide is great!We were there a bit early and we were first! WOOOHOOO all done with legal things. So afterwards we decided to go to a great shopping area we had briefly visited before. I wanted to get Aubrey a pair of tennis shoes that fit her feet. One of her little feet is hard to get certain shoes to fit on until it's corrected so I wanted to make sure we got a pair that fit right. She can wear her boots but there very hard to get on.She can't do it without baba's help. After we did some shopping there we decided to head to Shamian Island and do some walking and looking around there. There was also a nice playground for the kids. This is so terrible but we have tryed to avoid this playground because I didn't know how Aubrey would do climbing and was afraid she would fall!NEVER DOUBT THIS GIRL!! SHE IS AMAZING! She has learned to do everything the other children do and no she didnt fall.She did great!!I felt bad we hadn't taken here there since she did so well. She is still doing great!But she doesn't like NO to much! That has nothing to do with adoption.That's just a nine year old little girl! We had bought her several things today when she ask for something else I can't even remember now what it was but when I didn't buy it she got upset and acted mad at me. I stoped her got down to her level and I told her mama loves you but I can't buy everything you see. I gave her a kiss.She wiped it off Gene said when I turned my head but she was ok and didnt act mad at me anymore. She will learn it will just take some time. I guess when you don't have anything of your own and then you start getting you just get overwhelmed by it all. The only other issue we have had at all which hasn't really been a problem but I'm stopping it now is her telling me NO!! I just explained to her that it wasn't nice to tell me no when I ask her to do something and it did not make me feel happy. She really acted like she understood so i ask her to brush her teeth again and she said ok mama!She is doing great and I feel as long as we start from the beginning she'll  continue to learn and flourish. She is very thoughful and kind.She's not a bit selfish. I had the guide expalin to her we would be going to Hong Kong tomorrow and home Friday!She seemed excited and was just amazed we all had our own bedrooms. She will love her room and her new bed.The super small bed she had at the foster home felt like you was laying on a concrete floor.NO JOKE!! We stopped by Subway to grab a quick lunch.Then took a taxi to the hotel!!BIG MISTAKE!!Putting Aubrey in a taxi after she has ate!It was like a volcano erupting!!!!HORRIBLE!! And it was so not funny but the look on Noah's face when Aubrey puked all over him was absolutely PRICELESS!! I had to laugh.If you know Noah he gags over anything!She soaked him and his new bubble gun.He was absolutely mortified!! But after we got them both out of the taxi he actually was laughing also. He said mama why did Aubrey throw up all over me.I was trying to go get towels to clean them  both and while I was some wonderfully nice lady at the hotel came over and was cleaning Noah and Aubrey off with kleenex.She was so kind!I do terrible with puke so it's all I could do not to throw up myself. THANK GOD FOR THE HELP!!He so knew I really needed it.So we went to the room and both showered and changed.Now all is well again and there playing with there new bubble guns.BOY DO THEY SMELL BETTER!!Everyone PLEASE PRAY  for Aubrey's travel home! That she will rest and not be sick the whole 16 hour flight.I'm a bit nervous.But God will take care of us.He always does!! But PRAY ,PRAY PRAY THE MORE PRAYERS THE BETTER!! Not sure what we will get into the rest of the evening.I think were having dinner with another great family we met at the Chicago Airport!There new parents!!So excited for them and there little Olivia! Blessings Everyone

Terrific Tuesday!!

Tuesday was the most beautiful Day!!!Free Day!!So we all went down for breakfast then had to run to the store . We had decide to go back to the Hilly Park today!!It is absolutely beautiful with all the chinese New Year Decorations!! We had a great time!Got ice cream and spend along time here.Afterwards come back  and Madison and the rest of the kids had some swimming fun!The pool is HUGE COMPLETELY AWESOME!!!! They had a blast!We'll I wouldn't say Aubrey had a blast but she liked it she was just extremely scared because she couldn't stand even in the shallow end.She finally let Baba and Madison pack her around some so she was happy with this but still very scared.Madison will have her loving it in know time!!Noah he's a little fish just like Madison and Mia!He could swim for hours. Baba got cold so when he got out Noah and Aubrey had to.Then They were freezing so baba took them to the room to change while I stayed down with Madison and her friend!!I have met some amazing christian couples who I wish lived closer!But we plan on keeping in touch thru facebook.It's nice to talk with people who really understaand how you feel about adoption! And dont ask DONT YOU HAVE ENOUGH CHILDREN? Funny because there is only a handful of couples here adopting for the first time.All the rest of us have two, three and some have more. I just love how our awesome God has placed such a love for these precious children in so many hearts.I have to fight back my tears daily because I'm overwhelmed with the joy it puts in my heart!!!! So before you ask and I know you want to???Are you done?Don't you have enough children? You know Gene and I ask ourselves this after picking up Aubrey and I said I don't know!We'll as the weeks have went on I really don't think I am done!How can you be done when there are sooooo many precious children that just need that one person to give them a chance at life? I have seen so many beautiful children here!!Wish I could take them all!!! You know you would just have to be in my shoes to understand!!! Material things just don't mean the same to me as they did years ago.It's just not about that.I don't care that I'm not driving a new sporty car anymore or that I dont live in the fanciest neighborhood.Doesn't bother me at all what people say or think!! I have far more blessings than I ever had or got from that STUFF!!That's all it is STUFF!!! But I have beautiful children who are healthy and HAPPY!!And feel they have meaning and belong!! The smiles and laughter over the smallest things we take advantage of.thats what it's all about!!If you've ever thought  about adoption? But your scared or think you just can't afford it!!The REWARD is FAR FAR GREATER than the paperwork! And if it's God's will HE WILL make a way!!Everyone can fundraise .No it's not fun and some people definitely don't love seeing you come around but!!Just think about what your reward is in the end! So PRIDE!IT HAS TO GO! You have to worry about what God thinks about you and know one else.Don't get me wrong I love all my friends and family. But I used to care if I wasn't in a super nice car or if I didn't shop at the mall for $$$$$$  dollars worth of clothing. So glad God opened my eyes and showed me what was really important!! Because folks in the end what he thinks is all that will matter anyways. So try and be happy and think of others sometimes.How you can make someone else smile!Love and Blessings Lisa

Marvelous Monday!!!

We got up and went for breakfast as usual. Then we were meeting David at 10am to go to Safari Park!!The kids were so excited! We loved loved it but it was a bit different than we thought. It is like a huge huge beautiful Zoo!!Like Disney World style!! With several rides but all geared towards little people.Madison was a bit disapointed because we thought there would be some big rides also she'd like.But she still had a great time feeding animals and running around with her siblings! This place is huge takes all day to go thru.We were wore out and starving!!We did see the other two couples there we have friended and really enjoy talking with them.So we all made dinner arrangements which went great!Had and awesome time with great company!And Aubrey and there older daughter had a great time talking in chinese. But my little firecracker was a bit lively for the 13 yr old.She is so hiliarious!!I dont know if you've ever heard the song GANGNAM style but it is very popular with young kids in the states and also very popular in China also. Well Noah is the man when it comes to singing this song and dancing!Makes everyone laugh.We'll my little shy girl was shy no more when it comes to this song.She began to run around all day singing HEY SEXY LADY!!Noah even runs around laughing!!I hope she picks up english as fast as she picked up this song. She is so funny she will even do the hand motions and has got Noah's little shuffle down pat. The other girl is 13 and was raised by a seventy yr old couple so she's much more reserved than my firecracker. I think she was a bit embarrassed in the restaurant. After we ate we invited them back to out room to talk. they was telling us there daughter really wanted her nails done pink.We'll if you know my Madison, you know she brought nail polish.So we went back to the room and she was very happy to get her nails done.I painted Aubrey's and Madison's a couple days ago!Aubrey was thrilled with her's also.After they left the kids played a bit more then we were all wornout so we headed to bed.Free day today so we will rest alot .Madison is dieing to swim sometime today with a few other girls here. We have had a wonderful trip and the weather has been perfect!!Hate to go back to freezing temps. wish we could take 70 and sunny home with us..3 more days until were home!!Blessings Lisa

Sunny Sunday in Guangzhou!!!

Forcast said today it would rain.But God had other plans it was a BEAUTIFUL day!!Thank God I thank we had a little to much hotel time yesterday.Thank God for all the beautiful weather we've had while weve been here!!70's and sunny!!!! We'll we started out at the wonderful breakfast bar again this morning!Things went great!Aubrey and Noah are not much on a big breakfast so about an hour after we leave these two are starving again.While we are stuffed. After breakfast we went to Shamian Island for church! I didnt really know how it would be since half the service is english and half chinese.But I was overwhelmed with emotion!!Such a sweet spirit!Especially when they sung a few songs in english it was beautiful!! I just really felt so thankful for all God has done and Blessed me with.As I looked at my children sitting in church!Aubrey for the first time ever.I know they must have thought I was crazy but all I could do is cry.These precious people praising God.I just thought about the condition in which alot of these people have to live in.And just some of the laws here.Like the one child law.Where probaly some of these women have been forced to give up there precious children.God Bless these sweet people.After church we did a bit more shopping and then came back to the hotel and decided to go to HONEY GO for lunch! We were a bit afraid we wouldnt like it but David said other western families said it was m ost like there food so we thought we should give it a try.Since Subway and Mc Donalds is getting old for mom anyways. The kids throw a fit to go there every meal. We'll turns out we LOVED it !!A bit more than I wanted to pay but at least we all ate it!!After we ate we went to the park!There is lot's of entertainment here!People doing exercise and dance always. Usually alot of performers thru out the park also.People playing hacky sack. We love the parks!!! After that all the kids seem very tired and ready to come to the hotel and rest!So now were just chilling out in the hotel.Aubrey is coloring Noah is fighting going to sleep.Madison is eatting candy. Tomorrow we meet David at 10am for the Safari Park!! This is suppose to be lot's of fun for the kids!!  I have seen so many beautiful little black headed babies with beautiful little eyes and wondered what kind of live they would end up having!!! Wish I could take a load home with me.They are so sweet!!We have also met so many wonderful families!!It's so great to see how God has placed adoption on so many peoples heartsand to see so many precious children getting a family!!! Warms my heart!!Nothing like the wonderful miracles God performs!!! This kids are amazing!So happy to see them all get there new families but breaks my heart to see the fear in some of there sweet little faces.They are being handed to complete strangers.Can't even imagine what is going thru there little brains. But God works all things out.For the most part they all do very well and adjust to there new families beautifully.God never fails to amaze me with his good and faithfulness!! Blessings to all

Rainy Afternoon in China!!

We'll this morning we all went down and had breakfast!While I was talking with another adoptive parent Aubrey told the waitress she just wanted a little congee!I didnt know that so when Madison packed her plate to the table she had the most disapointed look on her face.We had to laugh!I told her she didnt have to eat it and I would get her some congee!! Poor thing !!Must be terrible for no one in your family to understand what you want!God please let her learn english fast or me chinese! She seemed to do much better this morning at breakfast and didnt seem like she got overwhelmed.YEAH!!! After breakfast we met David and went to the Guangzhou Zoo!! I've heard different people have different opinions on the zoo here.But we still have several days and needed to have some entertainment for the kids.So I thought it was pretty good.Lord help watch your children!!Bears were in a pen but no top on it and the rails were really low.Any child could easily fall in.David said there had been kids who actually had fallen in the past.We didn't need deatils.Very scary! But it was nice and Aubrey seemed to really enjoy it.Thank God the rain held off!!So after that we came back to the hotel and decided to hit Subway for lunch!It was barely raining a bit so kinda made it chilly!So we decided to hangout in the room until it stopped.I figured Aubrey and the other kids would appreciate the rest!Noah finally took a nap.Thank God!! Now there watching Smurfs.I think Gene is going to the gym then were going back out if the weather is dry. I started Aubrey on her antibiotic today because the stuff coming from her nose is really nasty.She doesnt have a fever but this has been going on several days and gotten worse.So I rather get rid of this before the trip home.She is doing great!But she hates the translater.Seems to work well for us but doesnt pick her up well.So I think that is frustraiting to her. Tomorrow were going to church on Shamian Island! Monday is Safari Park!I heard this is alot of fun!Alison said the kids will love it. Still wish a miracle would happen and my tape would be returned.But Gene and I was talking and both upset by this but were have decided were not going to let us ruin our trip!We have our girl and lots of pictures and memories.Blessings everyone!

Friday In Beautiful China!!

We started the day out really early!! Ran down for a quick early breakfast.Then we had to meet our Awesome guide David at 7am!!We were all so sleepy from the late night before but were excited about traveling to Aubrey's Orphange! It was a very long ride.3hours!! So when we finely arrived she was very very excited and went in all smiles and of course had to PEE PEE!!I thik this girl just loves seeing her mama search for Chinese bathrooms all over China!! But we went in and they were thrilled to see her especially a few teachers and her friends! It was very very nice they were putting on a show for us.All the children performed!!Including our princess!Aubrey seemed a bit overwhelmed by everything going on.Guess it's hard on a little mind! I couldn't even imagine! I had to fight back tears the whole time.My heart absolutely broke for my precious girl and what she had been thru.Then I was totally heart broken for all the precious children left behind!!They had an award ceremony also.I was a mess!I just couldn't help to think that these precious ones don't have a home or mama and baba to go show there certificate to!! Broke my heart.They were all interested in Aubrey's new clothes and shoes. She wanted specail gifts for her two best buddies.They were thrilled!Then we bought lot's of treats for all the other children.She really really enjoyed going to every class and passing out treats.Then it was time to go to the foster families. I wasn't sure how this would go so I was a bit nervous.She seemed to be excited and ran upto the building and pushed the call button then started up four flights of stairs.I really had mixed emotions about this.Her foster family seemed very nice and the kids were so excited but I'm not sure about the parents.They really didnt seem that emotional at all.But they were very nice so that was good.The room they said she slept in was the size of a closet with a bed as hard as a brick.I can't wait to see what she thinks of her bed and her new room. This girl loves toy's so she will be in heaven.I was worried how she might act when we left but she really didnt say anything!She did seem a bit sad. But the fostermom kept standing on the steps calling her name the orphange director told her to go on. I think she just wanted Aubrey to want to stay. After we got back in the van Aubrey was out!She gets car sick so she trys to sleep if were in the van anytime at all. She was fine until about 30 mins before we arrived back and stopped to let her PEE PEE!!I'm going to hear PEE PEE in my dreams!She thru up when got out of the van and seemed pretty car sick. when we arrived on Shamian Island she was still pretty car sick so we went in Lucy's to get something to eat hoping she would start feeling better.She did!!Then she was her funny little wild self. So we walked around the island and did a little shopping!! PRAYERS PLEASE because we lost our camcorder and it had a whole tape of video's from the orphange today!!! I'm truly heart broken!!I pray to God someway the driver will turn it in!!The cab driver!!Please everyone pray!!We had to leave it in the cab we took home because I went back to the island to every store and it wasn't there. PLEASE LORD PLEASE this tape can never be replaced!!I dont even care if we get the camcorder but please the tape!!We are all exhausted and ready to get some sleep!Just a bit discouraged!!Blessings Lisa