We finally got Kate's adoption announcements ordered and sent! Actually, we did over a month ago, but I'm just now remembering to post a picture of it. I just love it... simple and sweet :) It's very similar to AnnaClaire's (I posted a picture of hers below- look how little she is!) but with a purple ribbon.
Four months is really no time at all, yet Kate has come so amazingly (if that's even a word) far in these four months that she has been a part of our family. What a joy she has been and continues to be day in and day out. It's hard to imagine life before this princess joined our family. And how thankful I am that our Father picked her, our sweet little Kate Xuliu to be my little sister. She is truly one in a billion!
When we first brought AnnaClaire home from China, our Church sent her a little pink New Testament Bible. We had it in a little drawer and she came across it the other day. Lets just say that it is her new obsession. She loves her Bible and has been carrying it around and reading it constantly for the past few days. Over the weekend, she wanted to bring it in her bed for her nap. When Mom went in to get her up, she was sitting in her bed with her Bunny next to her reading her Bible to her Bunny! It was just the cutest thing ever! She was so excited to bring her Bible to Church on Sunday like a big girl. She even said, "I can't wait to show all my friends my Bible! They are going to love it!"
Mia is AnnaClaire and Kate's little friend. We met Mia and her mom last year at storytime and were shocked to discover that the girls were both from Chenzhou! It never ceases to amaze me that AnnaClaire and Mia lived in the same orphanage for 7 months and now live not even 5 minutes away from each other. They share such an awesome bond and I think it's so cool that AC has a friend her age who not only shares her Chinese heritage, but is also from the same CITY/orphanage as her (which is pretty amazing in a country of over a billion!) Now that Kate is home, she enjoys seeing Mia, too, and the three girls have become such sweet friends! Mom and Mrs. L have become great friends, too! The girls and the mommies get together pretty much every Friday, which is always a time that Mom and the little girls look forward to. This week, we went to Ik*ea. (Yes, I joined this time since we had no school!) An Ik*ea just opened about 30 minutes from us on Wednesday, so Mia's mom suggested that we go there! We had such a great time and even found a few small things. I cannot tell you how PACKED it was there! We have only been to Ik*ea one other time when we were in Newark last summer. We were once again amazed at how huge it was and the prices of everything! They had face painting, balloons, and sparkling juice to celebrate the store opening. Booie got a beautiful pink and blue sparkly butterfly on her face! We enjoyed walking around and ended our little adventure at the cafeteria. We had such a fun morning and I know Mom and the little girls are looking forward to next weeks outing north for AC, Mia, and Kate's birth certificates!
I have a maker He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call
I have a Father
He calls me his own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go
He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call
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It amazes me that these two girls, once known as "Chen Xun Hui" and "Ling Xu Liu" were once orphans living in orphanages in China. Born in different provinces, at different times... and yet God brought them together into one family, OUR FAMILY, as SISTERS to love each other and have each other forever. I'm thankful that they will not only have each other to talk to as they grow up, but that they have a God that listens and loves them! Their lives were and will forever be in HIS hand... no matter what. I love that!
AnnaClaire and Kate have been coming up with all of these great ideas of things to do lately. They have really started to play well together. It's so sweet to see and they are always running around after each other and playing together. What an adorable sight! They aren't perfect together, but it is so nice to finally see them playing together. AC is starting to take after Kate, who is a great player! (AC has never been a great player...) and Kate is definitely interacting more with AnnaClaire. They truly LOVE eachother and over all, get along VERY well together. I just love watching/hearing them play. They are always giggling and AnnaClaire is SO good with her little sister (not perfect, but very good!)
My biggest princess and I made some cut-out heart cookies this afternoon! We had so much fun. According to AnnaClaire, "baking the cookies is just as fun as it is to EAT them!" She is such a good little baker and had so much fun rolling the dough with her little rolling pin, using the cookie cutters, putting the sprinkles on, and finally... eating the cookies!
I feel a little funny posting snow day pictures (from Wednesday), as it is a beautiful 70 degrees outside today. We didn't have very much snow, but the streets were really icy, so it was enough to cancel school. AnnaClaire, my friend, and I did have fun making a snowman (and used most of the snow in our yard on that tiny thing!) I didn't take too many pictures as I have so many from the last snow day, and I wanted to just enjoy it this time. But here's a few of the pictures I did get. It was all melted by the afternoon... gotta love southern snow days!
We had such a fun morning with Jaya and her mom and aunt! Jaya and AnnaClaire played so well together and just had a blast. So much that when Jaya had to leave, AnnaClaire was in tears! We just stayed in the house and had lunch and let the girls play- it's easier to talk that way. The moms took AC, Kate, and Jaya to the park, too. It was a whirlwind visit, but a fun one all the same!
