Taking The Jeep For A Spin

Look who's been over a lot...and Marissa is even calling herself an aunt, now. Finally.
Brayden and Marissa have so much fun together!
It was fun watching them in the Barbie Jeep together. Glad it's a while before these two have a license to drive.

Family Day Dinner

Each year on Family Day (our anniversary day to celebrate Marissa joining our family), we go out for a special dinner. This year we chose Fogo De Chao on the Plaza. What fun! We all ate way too much (they were able to prepare food mama could eat) and loved the atmosphere. You have chips (they look like cardboard coasters) that are red on one side and green on the other side. For the second course of the meal, you are supposed to turn the chips to the green side to show that you are ready for the servers to bring the meat. They made meats Mama could eat, by the way, and they keep bringing various meats (filet mignon, roast, pork tenderloin, rack of lamb, etc.) until you turn your card to red. If you decide you want more later, you just flip over to green again and they keep coming back with more meats.
Marissa entertained everyone, talked to other guests, and took many pictures. We had so many people stopping to tell us how beautiful she is...and of course, we agreed!
After dinner, we walked around the Plaza. Daddy was going to take us on a Cinderella Carriage Ride around the Plaza, but we didn't have enough cash on us. Oh well, we'll go back for that another day.
We are so thankful for Marissa. Each Family Day that passes brings joyful memories and the reminder to continue to deepen and build our love and relationships with each other daily. What a blessing our family is.
By the way, Happy Family Day to the other 12 families who traveled with us and also celebrated yesterday!! We always think of you on this day, too! Your girls and families are special to us. We hope to see you soon.

Happy Family Day!

Four years ago today we received a precious gift...Marissa!
The baby picture shown was among the first pictures we ever received or saw of her (it was one of Marissa's referral photos). How she has changed!

Memories

Four years ago today we left for China to bring home our youngest child.
These are pictures of Leizhou, China (Marissa's birth city), and the orphanage she lived in.

Little Chatter Box

Last night after Marissa's bath was finished, she was asked if she would rather stay in the tub and play, or get out.
Little Miss Social responded with "How about I just stay in and talk?"
That about sums up her personality.
And it's exactly what she did.

Six Months

Jaime, girl...it's been six months. Six months of surviving, No...living, even though you are no longer in this world.
My heart will always miss you. I have not gotten over losing you, but I am getting through it.
But I am a different person...I always will be.
But change isn't necessarily bad or wrong. It just is.
I pray I'm the woman God wants me to be after losing a piece of my body, my soul, my heart. For He is still God. I am still His.
But I miss you. I always will.
You'd love to see your sister, Jaime. She has grown and changed so much in the past six months. She would make you laugh and make you love her even more. You would be so proud of her...as she would be proud of you. For you always showed her such tenderness and love and respect. She is showing you that now with the memory box she is creating of you. For I won't let her forget the love she had for you and the fun memories you created together because I treasure the relationship you had, and that you will have again one day.
You would be proud of your brother and his family. Brandon's son, Brayden would make you laugh and show you how much your brother has matured since you played and schemed together as children. His wife, Dawn would be a treasure in your life, too. She wanted so much to get to know you well and for the two of you to be true sisters. What blessings you could have been to each other. You will be one day.
Your father and I were such inspirations in your life. You respected our relationship with each other. We are still strong and somehow the loss of you, our treasured daughter has only helped us mature in our love with each other and our Creator. You would be joyful in that. We are joyful in the supernatural comfort our Father gives, in the memories we have of you, and in your laughter and love that still reside with us...and always will.

We're Still Around

We are still around! People have been worried about us not blogging, but we're fine and still around...just WAY too busy this summer. Hang in there with us, we'll be back to blogging soon! We promise.

Lunch With Daddy

It's so nice to eat with Daddy when he comes home for lunch!