Why can.......

So..these random thoughts have been going around in my head since we came home from China.

Why can people save up for or make sacrifices for:

Granite countertops. Or whatever remodel project they are wanting to do in their home! I really like granite.Beach Vacation. Who doesn't love chillin' on the beach with your loved ones?!

Down Payment for a new home. Cute house!

Sweet ride just like the Real Housewives are drivin' or the teenagers here in my city. The car looks pretty spiffy!

But they can not make sacrifices for this:

I have been around tons of people that say to me--We would love to adopt but: it is just not in our financial plans right now or we would need to this first or that first.

Seriously--there are close to 150 million orphans in this world! Adopt first & then save up for your spiffy new ride!!

So glad that we answered God's calling & made sacrifices to bring Sydney home to her family! Sydney has blessed this family beyond words.

And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. Matthew 18:5

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure & faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27

Philip Turns 11!

Hard to believe that Philip is 11! We have been celebrating his birthday for almost a week now. Love summer birthdays! God has blessed us with an amazing young man. Love you Philip!

Philip & Ashlyn's 2nd Tri

The big kids competed in their 2nd tri this weekend. They love doing them! It was super hot waiting for the tri to start. Sydney was starting have a 3 year old melt-down before it started :)! Good thing we had the stroller. Kids did great during the tri. I'm thinking they might want to start doing the "real" ones soon. Since the kids start at different times, it was a little difficult to get pictures of them doing all 3 events!

Kids hanging out before the start.
Philip during the run. A little tired!!

Ashlyn was hurting at the end.

Philip @ the end!

Ashers @ the end!

Surprise!

On Tuesday, we received 52 "new" pictures of our Sydney from her life in China. I had made contact with an individual & they thought they might have 12 pictures for us. We would of been excited to see just one new picture of Sydney but 52!! We also learned that Sydney was with 2 foster families not one. And we have contact information for them! And we have several pictures of them with Sydney. We feel so blessed to have these pictures for Sydney.
It was a little different/difficult to see Sydney with "another family". Sounds strange but true. Sydney was very happy in the pictures. And looked like she was close with both foster mom and dad. Now we just need to make contact with the foster families. What to say? What to ask? What not to say?? A bunch of questions we would loved answered. But really I just want them to know that Sydney is really happy, healthy & loved like crazy!
I posted a few pictures of our girl for you guys to see.

Olsen Park 4th of July Parade

Our neighborhood had their annual parade today. We always enjoy it--bouncers, face-painting, walking around the neighborhood with decorated bikes/strollers/scooters, friends & food. This was Sydney's first parade & 4th of July. She was not sure what to think!

Before the parade. Thanks Shannon & Ashlyn for decorating the stroller. It looked awesome!

Philip & friends. This is probably the only time we saw Philip til the end.

I do not know this family but thought their "ride" was pretty cool!

This is what Sydney did the majority of the parade. I'm sure she was thinking--"why are we walking around the block with all of these people?!"

1st experience w/arm painting. She peeled it off during nap-time!!

Shannon (our awesome sitter) & Ashlyn

6 Month Post Placement

Hard to believe that Sydney has been home for 6 months! I was looking back at our Gotcha Day pictures and could hardly believe that was Sydney. She is nothing like that quiet little girl that would just sit on our bed for hours. Thank Goodness because that would of been too easy!!
A few ways Sydney has changed: Sydney has started to get out of bed sometimes in the morning & after nap time instead of yelling "Mommy I don't see you" until PJ or I come get her. She speaks (or yells) in complete sentences. Sydney does not feel like she has to eat everytime she sees food. Knows her name is Sydney and that she is 3. Loves the book Goodnight Moon--which was Philip's favorite too. Sydney has become the new "sassy pants" in our family!

Playing outside with Daddy!