tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33490394808876284202024-02-19T04:14:46.776-08:00Abounding in Love and FaithfulnessPsalm 86:15Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-79543148640250700222012-04-18T23:26:00.000-07:002012-04-18T23:26:36.203-07:00Too Cute!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2CBfiQB3zpFkxPZRK6CDWm4xmV_FExbsieMAcb5uOh1YV70xN-hHG3oAEaGbJNvIT_-s8as6sK05IMzIgDzMzwIBEmYEG1Z2jKJjCs4tfBFojaipCUPqEEOFeSl4nVN2rDB16PI1eNuo9/s1600/Too+Cute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2CBfiQB3zpFkxPZRK6CDWm4xmV_FExbsieMAcb5uOh1YV70xN-hHG3oAEaGbJNvIT_-s8as6sK05IMzIgDzMzwIBEmYEG1Z2jKJjCs4tfBFojaipCUPqEEOFeSl4nVN2rDB16PI1eNuo9/s320/Too+Cute.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-56055035832566612112012-04-05T09:28:00.000-07:002012-04-05T09:28:23.162-07:00Way To Go Camden!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In February, the Demo Team at the Taekwondo studio (West Coast Taekwondo)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">where our boys learn martial arts, </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">had a fundraiser competition for the students.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Camden was the only one of our guys that wanted to participate.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">His goal was to place in the Top 3.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He said that he would be totally happy to place 3rd,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">amazed to be able to place 2nd,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and totally thrilled to place 1st.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He absolutely loves Taekwondo and gives it his all</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">each and every time he is at class or testing.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, not only did he place in the Top 3,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">he was award <b>1st Place for the Forms Competition for Purple - Brown belts</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and <b>3rd Place for the Sparring Competition for Orange Sr. - Black belts!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Needless to say, he was beyond thrilled!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1uVm7FgAaLjNrTv6SMPiJGnl2dStB-5huSibNlxwczZK0W19s7_GPvOhRom80YWYo3P9s3KE2yeHHVQcPHBLkuMOBsdG96x7c_sKLi0vZflVooENtRMbKY1JqiJLehPN9fyPtUxedKmd/s1600/Forms+1st+place.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1uVm7FgAaLjNrTv6SMPiJGnl2dStB-5huSibNlxwczZK0W19s7_GPvOhRom80YWYo3P9s3KE2yeHHVQcPHBLkuMOBsdG96x7c_sKLi0vZflVooENtRMbKY1JqiJLehPN9fyPtUxedKmd/s320/Forms+1st+place.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6bul-yayMiJZOwCGNC5sc1Cqrg3VgMZ41QGo-h9opTPD1KyftModYp_qNA9-1IhE-lcYgA7UeEZtK0nnN360AfrWEWrEtgZCA8OuXePtUTJ8esMMVRXFgDVpsT7rnBDNEY2GnnMmyMvB/s1600/Sparring+3rd.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6bul-yayMiJZOwCGNC5sc1Cqrg3VgMZ41QGo-h9opTPD1KyftModYp_qNA9-1IhE-lcYgA7UeEZtK0nnN360AfrWEWrEtgZCA8OuXePtUTJ8esMMVRXFgDVpsT7rnBDNEY2GnnMmyMvB/s320/Sparring+3rd.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3wAqwXzjlnjFLecCN4ikXx1tvSSkiupFoFvW2cWrq_sCx-ipDnvx4HA-M_gPTVyPIJEaJsWkxz4kv_EqzAAPZXOOtAy4HnGAah38cZV_xb6eohEbYT0taPyRM80c_0DRBzKpD8H3RHZb/s1600/Camden+TKD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3wAqwXzjlnjFLecCN4ikXx1tvSSkiupFoFvW2cWrq_sCx-ipDnvx4HA-M_gPTVyPIJEaJsWkxz4kv_EqzAAPZXOOtAy4HnGAah38cZV_xb6eohEbYT0taPyRM80c_0DRBzKpD8H3RHZb/s320/Camden+TKD.JPG" width="188" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Way to go Camden!</span></b></div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-62431716492817606882012-04-02T23:48:00.072-07:002012-04-03T00:20:40.220-07:00Birthday Photos<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kaden had a wonderful birthday being completely spoiled by everyone!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lots of play time with Dad, Mom, brothers & Grandpa Cox,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">dinner at Panda Express, more play time,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and a delicious Mickey Mouse cake & ice cream to top it all off!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our sweet boy had been counting down the days for months,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">waiting for his special day to arrive.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We made a paper chain back in January, right after Jordan's birthday,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">so that he could tear off a link each day,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">to help him understand just how many days it would be until his birthday.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That really helped him to grasp a little understanding of time</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and made it easier for him to wait for his big day!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The excitement in his face, when he awoke on his birthday,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">was enough to just melt your heart!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here are a few photos from <b>Kaden's 6th birthday celebration</b> for you to enjoy!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhqKtzJn5ForAzIIUV6_bIBa5-q34E7Ps99oW6PI2XmXESFPU1t2UKFwrX67rSBd9aQ9F1Hb3WOdOnw8fs-8o_vI8djfmdLmuqibp9K5yKItsZ9rZp06smkzd-owOm5q3kkZDJkznH0qc/s1600/family.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhqKtzJn5ForAzIIUV6_bIBa5-q34E7Ps99oW6PI2XmXESFPU1t2UKFwrX67rSBd9aQ9F1Hb3WOdOnw8fs-8o_vI8djfmdLmuqibp9K5yKItsZ9rZp06smkzd-owOm5q3kkZDJkznH0qc/s320/family.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Our beautiful family!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KZzwBuaGfDyExGkNvU7VF_8R0mx8sEamhnlH3WCUARxDOIvJ3TYxFZS8MAOhzcYcjiPkwgu-YqkSQYxn-MmKO4czgqDDkcP3iPolWvs_MGi7i63VkDJPm1Yu6_LmiJL-AkHzMu70zQNJ/s1600/opening+present.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4KZzwBuaGfDyExGkNvU7VF_8R0mx8sEamhnlH3WCUARxDOIvJ3TYxFZS8MAOhzcYcjiPkwgu-YqkSQYxn-MmKO4czgqDDkcP3iPolWvs_MGi7i63VkDJPm1Yu6_LmiJL-AkHzMu70zQNJ/s320/opening+present.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Let the opening of presents begin.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9irrCiTL1A_WNaxBEDD2OIFcsd_TvDYZfp0AOzeIsWbqit-G02lZLGnL2GeO7p8mhLxl7Vbs4LuKM59Tba_KfJZxmtCZyt2AJbQ700jgyDtZT2Tit9JgRnQsgztMWwccuzQo-RphsK1wM/s1600/spinner+toy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9irrCiTL1A_WNaxBEDD2OIFcsd_TvDYZfp0AOzeIsWbqit-G02lZLGnL2GeO7p8mhLxl7Vbs4LuKM59Tba_KfJZxmtCZyt2AJbQ700jgyDtZT2Tit9JgRnQsgztMWwccuzQo-RphsK1wM/s320/spinner+toy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> He loves anything that has lights & make sounds!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghI-lgWfMn3KlF9xnyfxz8PG_Nb2s5Iz_05hXSE7qCz-PE7Y6SKUoTJQUShEnz3XmQT9HcNO_J9UufK3fTm_n3v51HdZ34L4jFtxvZr2IGumhvfwoGdRamRALL6V7Z6A03rZCkDvS2Y7bQ/s1600/remote+control+car.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghI-lgWfMn3KlF9xnyfxz8PG_Nb2s5Iz_05hXSE7qCz-PE7Y6SKUoTJQUShEnz3XmQT9HcNO_J9UufK3fTm_n3v51HdZ34L4jFtxvZr2IGumhvfwoGdRamRALL6V7Z6A03rZCkDvS2Y7bQ/s320/remote+control+car.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Remote control car from Grandpa Cox</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaW_31otk6f14QZDHrhEGD1LgWTf4ky3KcVrfDOOaztI9EJ6u9_HKNE0sOcchWbKunMFsTDNZ3jJBPZpfNZ8qr8BY1NwwNtDUGZ1BzsyxMzsefW4PvG_-LPFNfzT2Aj0_CcSTXfZGHNtFm/s1600/money.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaW_31otk6f14QZDHrhEGD1LgWTf4ky3KcVrfDOOaztI9EJ6u9_HKNE0sOcchWbKunMFsTDNZ3jJBPZpfNZ8qr8BY1NwwNtDUGZ1BzsyxMzsefW4PvG_-LPFNfzT2Aj0_CcSTXfZGHNtFm/s320/money.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> So excited to have money of his own</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">for the first time in his life!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks Grandpa & Grandma Edge</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPv7ydcAJ1Hq46MzAVywDY64AbAB8RcCOHotbZ-6ZyyAt0UhD-JQM7ld1b-_uYiw42LiS1GFl6sw50TiIrgL3Zyyo2ty0LzECfwmo_bd-b93Q6JtZveo1U4Gdl0qdLU3-iqeAW-lanE-js/s1600/Kaden+&+Daddy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPv7ydcAJ1Hq46MzAVywDY64AbAB8RcCOHotbZ-6ZyyAt0UhD-JQM7ld1b-_uYiw42LiS1GFl6sw50TiIrgL3Zyyo2ty0LzECfwmo_bd-b93Q6JtZveo1U4Gdl0qdLU3-iqeAW-lanE-js/s320/Kaden+&+Daddy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Building with Daddy</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNDdRDe2TeEpdChEyQJ-Ph7BRvKjTZSDnOaAlksee-SB9QDkJcZi2TIKQO_sHP56nkxYUAIXvaSX30GQCkwBN1uggIA-sHjHtl3qRFVKjMlDz4DVClINXvLj_e8XaQ-s3BP0QoiJEOglk/s1600/blowing+out+candles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNDdRDe2TeEpdChEyQJ-Ph7BRvKjTZSDnOaAlksee-SB9QDkJcZi2TIKQO_sHP56nkxYUAIXvaSX30GQCkwBN1uggIA-sHjHtl3qRFVKjMlDz4DVClINXvLj_e8XaQ-s3BP0QoiJEOglk/s320/blowing+out+candles.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Blowing out the candles on his Mickey Mouse cake</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPdx0t0L1a3dewVes9KWKNIEQy3tqNQjEJPSteEA-4lFsDiefLDbh2nPP4l9kT8dXEujAkW9pkmGtj7Ql9kuXd7sHqRdwozUVaPY9Z9y0fM54x36fEsd5MP-E-LfKn3kXVTCmko7K0X_r/s1600/eating+cake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRPdx0t0L1a3dewVes9KWKNIEQy3tqNQjEJPSteEA-4lFsDiefLDbh2nPP4l9kT8dXEujAkW9pkmGtj7Ql9kuXd7sHqRdwozUVaPY9Z9y0fM54x36fEsd5MP-E-LfKn3kXVTCmko7K0X_r/s320/eating+cake.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yum! I love my birthday cake & ice cream! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhEDu3fX0n9vOpRflFVdP9deD4BzdPu2lNYUsFG73r1TvMhOziCD-uXWbt-Qydipg3BWmx6BrBtxObg3l8hXQzoiV5k_GxuLuf8DmBlf6bH_13z65DzEPl4J6xkdtJxUx24y0DHO_YlZz/s1600/happy+boy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhEDu3fX0n9vOpRflFVdP9deD4BzdPu2lNYUsFG73r1TvMhOziCD-uXWbt-Qydipg3BWmx6BrBtxObg3l8hXQzoiV5k_GxuLuf8DmBlf6bH_13z65DzEPl4J6xkdtJxUx24y0DHO_YlZz/s320/happy+boy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Having fun playing!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoqsjLOwONTComwjcaxw6Se46wGgrTQ7VMNV1zd_Q_ZHq0A7YKZOCJMoHF9F6bDC8xDZQFlIjuVlECppvE5tN0RLoYIwfVnb732lt-16_d-WsSrWRDX_pIqCy1zyZ5JedWUa5M8aEpO0i/s1600/Cox+men.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoqsjLOwONTComwjcaxw6Se46wGgrTQ7VMNV1zd_Q_ZHq0A7YKZOCJMoHF9F6bDC8xDZQFlIjuVlECppvE5tN0RLoYIwfVnb732lt-16_d-WsSrWRDX_pIqCy1zyZ5JedWUa5M8aEpO0i/s320/Cox+men.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All the Cox men!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Happy Birthday, Kaden!!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>We are blessed beyond measure </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>having the gift of you in our lives!</b></span></div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-90414722118550502222012-03-20T03:22:00.000-07:002012-03-20T03:22:33.821-07:00Happy Birthday Kaden!Just a quick post to note that today is Kaden's birthday!<br />
He's 6 years old today, and as far as we can tell, he has never had much - if any - celebration for his past birthdays.<br />
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It's kind of surreal to be standing in line at Party City and realize that this will be the first birthday card he's ever gotten (most likely). Wow. The things we take for granted sometimes.<br />
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The cake is made, the presents wrapped (by the time you read this), and the Happy Birthday banner is up.<br />
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Soon after the festivities, we will post some pictures so you can see Kaden in his wonderful, six-year-old SPICA casted self!<br />
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We are so proud of our littlest dude, and so thankful for the blessing of his life shared with ours. Thank you all again for your support throughout this whole thing.<br />
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We are so blessed!Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-27563295414686922292012-01-30T23:17:00.000-08:002012-01-31T07:16:27.013-08:00Kaden is Home! And we're finally telling you about it!!Well, it's Monday night, and we've had Kaden back home from the hospital since Friday afternoon.<br />
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Whoo Hoo!<br />
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Sorry for the delay in getting this news up here on the blog - by the time things slow down to blogging speed, it's often sleepy time for mom and dad.<br />
<br />
Anyhow, here are some basics on the situation as it stands:<br />
1) Kaden is doing great. He is off all prescription pain meds, and only takes Tylenol or Advil as needed, which usually is only at bedtime. Amazing to think about - major hip reconstruction surgery, and less than a week later, no real pain. Wow.<br />
2) The only thing that was not going smoothly was - shall we say - the end of the line for food. A bit of constipation is common, and it took until Sunday night for that system to get back on track. The praise is that there was no need for laxatives or any more extreme measures. Yay.<br />
3) One unexpected praise: in the hospital, the nurses told us that a bean bag chair can be a great thing for kids in a Spica cast, since it allows for very even support over the whole body, and you can even turn the kiddo onto their stomach for a while. Well, looking at the prices for bean bag chairs the size we need was a bit eye-opening. Those things ain't cheap! A request was sent out to our homeschool group asking if anyone had one that we could use, and we got one that is perfect! Thank you to our generous support system!<br />
4) One more praise: these same wonderful people are bringing us meals for the next couple of weeks! What a blessing! What a way to gain back those pounds I was trying to get rid of! So far we're 2-for-2 on absolutely delicious meals. Have you ever noticed that people never bring over a meal of raw veggies, protein powder and distilled water? It's always deep fried cream cheese wrapped in bacon and hot fudge fondue. Thank you all for letting us feast - we can eat the rabbit food on our own later.*<br />
5) I (Steve) started back teaching for the Spring semester at OCC. So far, it's great (one day into it)! I really like my job - teaching scruffy college kids is an opportunity to be salt and light in a dark place (with a few lights here and there). However, the start of a new semester always is a time of re-adjusting to Daddy not being home as much, and Mom re-bearing the full burden of household things when I'm away.<br />
<br />
I think that's all for now. Kaden is alseep (along with the rest of the boys), and it's time to get ready for work tomorrow. Thank you all for the ongoing prayers and concerns for us - we are upheld by you all much more than we could ever deserve. We are unworthy of your care.<br />
<br />
Blessings to you all,<br />
Steve<br />
<br />
*If anyone feels led to continue to send us the Trader Joe's Gourmet Peanut Butter Cups that Kathy included in her meal for us, we will not keep you from receiving the blessing of giving to others.Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-38679546002667260832012-01-27T08:32:00.000-08:002012-01-27T08:32:24.076-08:00Coming Home Today<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our little Kaden is one tough dude!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We just got word that they are releasing him from the hospital this morning!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">YAHOO!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I came home last night to spend some time cuddling with our older four boys.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Went to bed with a major headache and accidentally hit off instead of snooze</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">on the alarm this morning. I am scrambling to get ready to head back to the hospital</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">so we can get our little man home.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sorry for not updating last night, but we'll try to send out an update later today.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thanks to ALL you awesome prayer warriors out there</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">for lifting our family up in prayer!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You guys ROCK!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-30505167789684050962012-01-25T22:55:00.000-08:002012-01-25T22:55:51.456-08:00Kaden Update: 1-25-12For more updates as we can, be sure to check either Annette or Steve's Facebook postings.<br />
<br />
Kaden update: evening edition from Steve<br />
<br />
It's my turn to stay home and actually get some sleep while Annette tosses and turns on the lovely bedchair next to Kaden. <br />
<br />
By this evening, Kaden was still uncomfortable, a bit irritated and generally not wanting to be where he is. The pain meds weren't working as well as we hoped, but when I last spoke to Annette (8 pm) they were going to give him some morphine. This should help and help him to sleep for a while.<br />
<br />
Hopefully, he and Annette will be able to get some good rest tonight. He was up most of the day, so he should be good and tired. <br />
<br />
Prayer requests: Significant amounts of sleep for both Annette and Kaden. Also, that Kaden's pains from the surgery and the cast would lessen quickly, making life in the hospital easier, and would also lead to a faster return home. Finally, for the other boys as they have been real troopers dealing with mom and dad not around much - at least not at the same time. Life has definitely been disrupted for them.<br />
<br />
That's about it. Thank you all for the continued kind words and deeds!!Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-87541347029686126572012-01-24T16:25:00.000-08:002012-01-24T16:25:10.930-08:00Surgery UpdateJust a quick update on Kaden's surgery - for more immediate and up to date info, continue to follow Annette on Facebook.<br />
<br />
Kaden is out of surgery and in his room! Everything went really well, and the doctor was very positive and optimistic about things. Annette is with him now while I spend some time with the other boys. I will be spending tonight at the hospital.<br />
<br />
Kaden will be in the hospital for another 3-4 days, and it turns out we don't have WiFi in the room, so posting both here and on FB will be on an as-we-can basis.<br />
<br />
Thank you for your continued prayers!! I credit the peace and calmness throughout this whole day to God's favor shining through your efforts. Thank you so much!<br />
<br />
-SteveAnnettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-68894672576426241272012-01-23T12:41:00.000-08:002012-01-23T12:41:04.757-08:00Surgery<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tomorrow begins a new adventure for our family. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At 7:30am, Kaden is scheduled for surgery to begin the process</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">of repairing his left hip, leg & knee.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When he was born, his hip was not in it's socket </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and he also had some problems with his knee.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He is a very determined & tough young man</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and was able to learn to walk in spite of his difficulties!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCuKussBjdiyJOweP8Oal1vVuWRoD6mPpa6Hf9EdKhuV0t3T6s2JELOD3UMSFqrUAJOTTSF1tsT8csBi3MW-KsZCXFV8kd5P4XxWE5CjrxwTUp8EWCL1hL9NGbYJsXkLouvke5_EvIlSQ/s1600/Kaden+-+ginko.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCuKussBjdiyJOweP8Oal1vVuWRoD6mPpa6Hf9EdKhuV0t3T6s2JELOD3UMSFqrUAJOTTSF1tsT8csBi3MW-KsZCXFV8kd5P4XxWE5CjrxwTUp8EWCL1hL9NGbYJsXkLouvke5_EvIlSQ/s320/Kaden+-+ginko.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As Steve mentioned in a previous post, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">we have an amazing orthopedic surgeon, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">that the Lord led us to </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">just over 6 years ago, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">who will be able to </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">improve Kaden's condition </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">by leaps and bounds!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The surgery with Dr. L and his team will take around 4 1/2 hours.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They will be rebuilding his hip socket, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">tightening up all the muscles and ligaments around his hip </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">to stabilize the joint,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">resetting his femur so that his foot points forward,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and doing a little work on the knee to help it bend properly.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There will most likely be more knee surgery in the future,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">but this surgery should correct his hip problems.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He will be in the hospital for 3-5 days,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and will be in a partial body cast (spica cast) for 3 to 4-1/2 months.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>We would greatly appreciate your prayers for our little guy</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>and the surgery team!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We will try to update as we can.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-46792545245762766712012-01-02T20:37:00.000-08:002012-01-02T20:37:08.050-08:00Kaden is Officially Americanized . . .5 minutes ago:<br />
<br />
Daddy: I'm going to the store later to get some food for the family - is there anything you'd like me to get for you?<br />
<br />
Kaden: Ummmmmmm . . . (wrinkles brow and thinks and thinks and thinks)<br />
<br />
Mommy: Anything you want Daddy to get for you to eat?<br />
<br />
Kaden: Ummmmmm . . . Pizza!<br />
<br />
Less than 5 months in the U.S., and he has already assimilated the official kid menu.Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-38554968413499783212011-12-29T09:02:00.000-08:002011-12-29T09:02:23.277-08:00One of those God things. . .<div class="p1">Steve here:</div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1">I just wanted to pass along something that happened yesterday- an interesting bit of God's work in our lives.</div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1">Yesterday (Wednesday) we had a visit with the orthopedic surgeon who will be working on Kaden's hip & knee. His hip is out of joint, his leg is slightly twisted and his knee doesn't bend correctly. This is why he was given up for adoption at birth and sent to a "special needs" orphanage.</div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1">The reason we went to this particular doctor was simple: when our son Hayden fell and broke his arm about six years ago, this was the doctor we went to. He was recommended by the ER people who initially set Hayden's arm. He was wonderful to our son, and his staff were great. Very competent, professional and nice folks. So, when it came to who we wanted to look at Kaden to see what could be done, Dr. L was an easy choice.</div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1">Our initial visit for Kaden went very well, and now after a CT scan on his hip and an MRI on his knee, we were back in Dr. L's office to make final plans on how to proceed.</div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1">The hip surgery will be significant, with a relocation of the leg bone down into the socket, a moderate re-building of the socket and a bit of rotating of the femur (by rotate I mean cut the bone, rotate and pin back together). A little work on the knee to straighten things out side-to-side, but any more on the knee will be at a later date, after the hip is sorted out. Like I said, significant surgery. </div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1">While we were in the office, a staff member (Jim) was calling up some new X-rays onto the computer monitor. As he was doing this, he matter-of-factly mentioned that Dr. L is a specialist on hips, and other orthopedic surgeons refer their tough cases to him. </div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1">Hmmmmm . . .</div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1">So, six years ago, we happened to be referred to a doctor for our son with a very average arm break - any good orthopedic doctor could have handled it fine - who happened to be a specialist on hips which happened to be immeasurably valuable because we happened to adopt a boy from across the globe who happened to be available for adoption because he had a hip issue.</div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1">Hmmmmm . . .</div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1">That's a lot of "happen"-ing going on.</div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1">It almost seems as if a mighty God was orchestrating some seemingly inconsequential circumstances (while Kaden was still being knit in his birth-mother's womb*) that would uniquely benefit him here and now. </div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1">Yet another example of the deep truth of this verse:</div><div class="p2"><br />
</div><div class="p1"><i>"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.</i></div><div class="p3"><i></i></div><div class="p1"><i><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span><span class="Apple-tab-span"> </span>-Romans 8:28. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version</i></div><div class="p1"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="p1"><i>*To paraphrase Psalm 139:13</i></div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-79949822198807671092011-12-25T01:12:00.000-08:002011-12-29T23:15:41.490-08:00Merry CHRISTmas everyone!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJiJKJ7Iq8jIfLgcmUXC0ioUC3NdGsm0AajNFo5wiZNG9TxZ4Pql5sXg8Xpa0p-Kw-8cRhVc8hL89dXI3dn9MZQEvlPdZghVcT_T_W9g3dhU8xM3agHFCSQRaXX4_7yKj_Ok213GQLO52/s1600/TheCoxes2011a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJiJKJ7Iq8jIfLgcmUXC0ioUC3NdGsm0AajNFo5wiZNG9TxZ4Pql5sXg8Xpa0p-Kw-8cRhVc8hL89dXI3dn9MZQEvlPdZghVcT_T_W9g3dhU8xM3agHFCSQRaXX4_7yKj_Ok213GQLO52/s400/TheCoxes2011a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UyCuWZXWYLI2JbKAduTlCQScysxV-0VsA2DZHYZrOjR0hO_H21QaRaXQx_GgXurUaq1CFwCk8UP9RpEsMiuo1b48-PYKJL6ti6fKtxMMY8iG9Yi_siP7Uh5e7CenCo4DfjF_YO9P1w9S/s1600/TheCoxes2011a4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UyCuWZXWYLI2JbKAduTlCQScysxV-0VsA2DZHYZrOjR0hO_H21QaRaXQx_GgXurUaq1CFwCk8UP9RpEsMiuo1b48-PYKJL6ti6fKtxMMY8iG9Yi_siP7Uh5e7CenCo4DfjF_YO9P1w9S/s400/TheCoxes2011a4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-36280158212576323162011-12-12T20:05:00.000-08:002012-08-29T12:04:28.466-07:00Last Minute Gifts<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If so, may I interest you in <a href="https://fivetreasures.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Home"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Scentsy</span></a> or <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.cookielee.com/shop.aspx?p=catalog"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Cookie Lee</span></a> </span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">?</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://fivetreasures.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Home"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9b3X1HHDq6wKTCU3uXiDQUPycaZjJY8rUOD2VWf-BWcxDta4uUwqtiZIwqJKxJTfG17XvCfd6WNpMVvziwQe2yFFcJqqV0PSOyuT-FKFSfXRzXgHRWKgDwlzf3BtG2UJ-Kf5v-zGfWV7v/s320/FW+2011+Catalog+Cover.jpg" width="205" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Click on the <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Scentsy</span></b> catalog photo above</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">to view all available products & to place your order.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Order now through December 16th and receive a 10% refund</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">from me on your <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Scentsy</span> order.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">(I will need to mail you a check for the 10% refund, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">because I am unable to give the discount from my online Scentsy account.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">10% refund is for product cost & does not include a discount on sales tax or shipping cost.)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
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</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.cookielee.com/shop.aspx?p=catalog"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62CSf1ciESsMeu0_NlqfxjVlQtzHhK3n3vajKz3jgXGYWtkeRcOilT1xKIPEQGu232spd-lXUV0duaJBUFoZPA5ehwgjnuv8_wgXU1Ottg1JRcGNc7ACQ_so47ib0Hi3x1_Xkg8KjSIqI/s320/CookieLee+FW2011+Catalog.jpg" width="176" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><a href="http://www.cookielee.com/shop.aspx?p=catalog"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><b>Cookie Lee</b></span></a> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">- Quality fashion jewelry for any occasion.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, watches, etc.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Click on the <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Cookie Lee</span></b> catalog above</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">to view featured catalog items.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To order, please email me at ourfivetreasures@yahoo.com</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">(To view the entire catalog & to place an order,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">please email me at ourfivetreasures@yahoo.com</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">and I will email you a link where you can view the entire catalog.)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Order now through December 16th and receive 20% off </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">on all <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Cookie Lee</span> purchases.</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">(20% off is for product cost & does not include a discount on sales tax or shipping cost.)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Please contact me at <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">ourfivetreasures@yahoo.com</span></b> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">with any questions regarding <b><a href="https://annettecox.scentsy.us/Home"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Scentsy</span></a></b> or <b><a href="http://www.cookielee.com/shop.aspx?p=catalog"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Cookie Lee</span></a></b>.</span></div>
Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-61898922041677380232011-11-24T22:41:00.000-08:002011-11-24T22:41:37.904-08:00Thankful. . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgIqq2Bynnqbn0Wlv2tS7QMagf7uOFRzt1jB9nKiXBdQ36I-ttYX_8AdsH5TkbrvwcyYx3Ittxou1hpLq8vS0RQObxyAhqGcmLr9wBOgdmF1a8ctAddEzItCY4zmmvvjNlZPhs6PhKUdp/s1600/5Coxboys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgIqq2Bynnqbn0Wlv2tS7QMagf7uOFRzt1jB9nKiXBdQ36I-ttYX_8AdsH5TkbrvwcyYx3Ittxou1hpLq8vS0RQObxyAhqGcmLr9wBOgdmF1a8ctAddEzItCY4zmmvvjNlZPhs6PhKUdp/s320/5Coxboys.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Thankful for our 5 handsome blessings!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-81095113768790811902011-10-31T22:26:00.000-07:002011-10-31T22:26:53.731-07:00Holiday Boutique & Bake Sale<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>For all you Southern California residents,</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>you're invited to join us for a </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>fun-filled Holiday Boutique and Bake Sale</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>for <a href="http://melodyfromchina.blogspot.com/">The Alvarez Family</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>A great opportunity to get ALL of your </b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>early Christmas shopping done in one place!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Mark your calendars for</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Saturday, November 12th - 10am - 2pm</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP880qTdEHVMJ-_RRcMOdGGXfbkBVWywhhezfzRWdkdIKSkTVm0d4TAs_E6mtD5VG4xW90AC8vlMpaINkHaizEgy72ww2MaTUCehldtlTks-F1sWOdBHO6ja8ss_qTRDjaJQaku4HAbCn6/s1600/Flyer+%25232+for+FB+or+blogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP880qTdEHVMJ-_RRcMOdGGXfbkBVWywhhezfzRWdkdIKSkTVm0d4TAs_E6mtD5VG4xW90AC8vlMpaINkHaizEgy72ww2MaTUCehldtlTks-F1sWOdBHO6ja8ss_qTRDjaJQaku4HAbCn6/s400/Flyer+%25232+for+FB+or+blogs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Vendors that will be joining us:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Feliz Flans * Scentsy * Mary Kay * Solomon Beads</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Cookie Lee * More Than Words Photography</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Homemade Wooden Candleholders & Birdhouses</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Hairbows by MrsBusyLizzy * Holiday Ornaments by Julia</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Gloria DeLaCruz Creations * Baby Cocoons, Hats & Gloves</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The Still Picture Company * Thirty-one</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Thanksgiving & Christmas Perler Bead Ornaments</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>SCD Posters & Prints * Baked Goods and More!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A portion of ALL sales will go towards Melody's adoption fund.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you are interested in helping bake some yummies for our bake sale,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">please email me at ourfivetreasures@yahoo.com</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>For directions & other information, please email</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Annette - ourfivetreasures@yahoo.com</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>OR</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Alexis - alexis.alvarez@verizon.net</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-3204376522113238142011-10-31T13:25:00.000-07:002011-10-31T16:10:25.388-07:00Feliz Flans<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I don't know about you, but I absolutely love FLAN!!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My friend Alexis makes the best flan on the planet - I promise!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://melodyfromchina.blogspot.com/">Alexis & her beautiful family</a> are in the process of adopting</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">an adorable 7 year old girl from China named Melody.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://melodyfromchina.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnV84XFT-oHn6pONAWv7q42ZSB67eVt-_W7NIFctrQyM1OFd2x94P3bUiVmueXR4LrqU60XfpVrrBm6rNvN8j3Nwkrg7djB9FynsIiimV0wPoRYE3xncufokArSTKGvRLRcvAUu-ajRrT/s320/Melody.jpeg" width="179" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Alvarez family is in the process of fundraising to help bring their daughter home.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the things that they are doing is making homemade FLAN.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, if you live in the Southern California area and love flan,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">would you please help them bring their little girl home by contacting Alexis</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and ordering your flan(s) today?!?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">alexis.alvarez@verizon.net</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://melodyfromchina.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFrw1snKyYJkOrdp7VRL3ypob9bKYxctVeMjQRA_2ioRyZWSaV9WbaW1OtFFw_ALNkPH-_YktLI7vApJRvwDM_va7Gyj_JeXChCYnOOQnYv8Tizj0pGh-N8o9Lq-xERJRUNfPUwY06Jyc/s400/feliz+flan+fundraiser+flyer-1.jpeg" width="308" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The small size flan will serve 2-4 people and </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">the large size will serve 4-8 people.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b>Enjoy!!</b></span></div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-66002210786213726432011-10-25T23:25:00.000-07:002011-10-26T00:30:49.551-07:00Home for 2 Months<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's hard to believe that we arrived home from China two months ago today with our sweet treasure!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5RF1I318WCQQXXez_1raHXNasqb6WGxO3IaYqyBvBStkzxiEantsZwbp92uiN1eVI7y8KItsmreRDVvXF_yz_oz2dXuA9dSLQXCgegmKD6luygIWOsoRahtuKBHtLRoAmdZqMmC8qjxo/s1600/Kaden+rain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5RF1I318WCQQXXez_1raHXNasqb6WGxO3IaYqyBvBStkzxiEantsZwbp92uiN1eVI7y8KItsmreRDVvXF_yz_oz2dXuA9dSLQXCgegmKD6luygIWOsoRahtuKBHtLRoAmdZqMmC8qjxo/s320/Kaden+rain.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Life has been quite busy since arriving back home. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our first weekend together as a family of 7 was lots of fun watching Kaden interact </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">with his brothers and getting to know them. It was like he had been with us forever!!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ycWA9QeQDyrH24yd35HeigWBvImpH2rkMphJ-OLWrC-blhvyBA_tZ9kwwERxeQraYCCfRtsW8uWPOXv3drZ39aiOjWDHEvoF45-AziXMBdZe8LdEOrwVkpZ-lENTZAsXxlxTxhS7zZ1n/s1600/Jordan+Kaden.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ycWA9QeQDyrH24yd35HeigWBvImpH2rkMphJ-OLWrC-blhvyBA_tZ9kwwERxeQraYCCfRtsW8uWPOXv3drZ39aiOjWDHEvoF45-AziXMBdZe8LdEOrwVkpZ-lENTZAsXxlxTxhS7zZ1n/s320/Jordan+Kaden.JPG" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(Jordan & Kaden)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Four days after arriving home, Camden & Jordan came down with really high fevers</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and a week later, after not getting better, were diagnosed with pneumonia!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYGlSj2yM9UnHldYy_A8hfhJX4rrhFBB4zol2wNniwyc4y_uiOsiNzQrY4mvqfg3xjsGku1iveoFhnp0uPgF939q3U5jIcWNQQGrU9geKrvruCq3Ly2MBRI6UG5wbxcqdGDNEdnigRM0v/s1600/Camden+Kaden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYGlSj2yM9UnHldYy_A8hfhJX4rrhFBB4zol2wNniwyc4y_uiOsiNzQrY4mvqfg3xjsGku1iveoFhnp0uPgF939q3U5jIcWNQQGrU9geKrvruCq3Ly2MBRI6UG5wbxcqdGDNEdnigRM0v/s320/Camden+Kaden.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"> (Camden & Kaden)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The boys got well just in time for us to head to Durango, Colorado </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">for a much needed family vacation!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We had an amazing time in Durango and were really sad to have to leave and head home.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We'll hopefully post some photos soon from our trip.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4E8wZ4fSM3jQE1cgNOLTGyOaKzUFe7KTAAAqTz3zkOVOO_wUtkPaDVwb18V6ldsqJyZ3BgbNCFOWdyUoQFpCNFII7VSGLcLwEYc6NZOgZQheamUxI2WJjU0qGFnJT0XXBnDA0e09diQ7/s1600/Hayden+Kaden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN4E8wZ4fSM3jQE1cgNOLTGyOaKzUFe7KTAAAqTz3zkOVOO_wUtkPaDVwb18V6ldsqJyZ3BgbNCFOWdyUoQFpCNFII7VSGLcLwEYc6NZOgZQheamUxI2WJjU0qGFnJT0XXBnDA0e09diQ7/s320/Hayden+Kaden.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">(Hayden & Kaden)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kaden is a very happy, loving little guy who has the cutest smile that just melts your heart!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEF1LzC6NBC6NssJw_01K2YSCVgzg8KsqLB1dzAcs7T1jaYI82NMORVbruWSF_62-k0Z5IzpS3EkmvP1rgDaVzYJzNelL2jGXgtFh0V_64zylT_sOrvUIAozaio1dPEqUTZ-SgBxIxIjws/s1600/Brendan+Kaden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEF1LzC6NBC6NssJw_01K2YSCVgzg8KsqLB1dzAcs7T1jaYI82NMORVbruWSF_62-k0Z5IzpS3EkmvP1rgDaVzYJzNelL2jGXgtFh0V_64zylT_sOrvUIAozaio1dPEqUTZ-SgBxIxIjws/s320/Brendan+Kaden.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(Brendan & Kaden)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>We are overwhelmed by God's goodness and how He has knit our family together!</b></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CGHZArOqyVHcJfvLnXC7KZykYcjrOFHne4ZVVt1byKuXjGg6z9s0Emj_nDnBenK8BE6vhBXjJHieoj_KKdZHiEw1AWbboEz6UEkWmVikGA1lJ9cf95i9pp-5Wmc0wVQL2x9mppjqBayq/s1600/Brendan+Hayden+Kaden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CGHZArOqyVHcJfvLnXC7KZykYcjrOFHne4ZVVt1byKuXjGg6z9s0Emj_nDnBenK8BE6vhBXjJHieoj_KKdZHiEw1AWbboEz6UEkWmVikGA1lJ9cf95i9pp-5Wmc0wVQL2x9mppjqBayq/s320/Brendan+Hayden+Kaden.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizt7r9WUW9RG3MOtWi4EDyCENfSt8nIRwWTk8n2IyqgEhIBAs82ZVIA6kIOWrpRgXVNeaTEVCh9_qSsXPOC6cF74UedcVq2rt7pnIdExbm_t8_iz6e0pjFDQ4kKpfSAnUaHGLee38AeQds/s1600/Boys.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizt7r9WUW9RG3MOtWi4EDyCENfSt8nIRwWTk8n2IyqgEhIBAs82ZVIA6kIOWrpRgXVNeaTEVCh9_qSsXPOC6cF74UedcVq2rt7pnIdExbm_t8_iz6e0pjFDQ4kKpfSAnUaHGLee38AeQds/s320/Boys.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-46490750061091155112011-09-18T13:18:00.000-07:002011-09-18T13:18:21.837-07:0012 months and 10,000 miles later. . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaZClL1_7wNiafKRQIyejssFat3M6B4xSptPayofIWRVOuZ9YRneRhRWukL9RykV3Fg-KmWB6y4jeceiQ060Xpn4G0T8FGKzaqTfc7ma0DtFJzco0wcian5q99fIN82bu4NlajxmYi7NS/s1600/KadenSolomon1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaZClL1_7wNiafKRQIyejssFat3M6B4xSptPayofIWRVOuZ9YRneRhRWukL9RykV3Fg-KmWB6y4jeceiQ060Xpn4G0T8FGKzaqTfc7ma0DtFJzco0wcian5q99fIN82bu4NlajxmYi7NS/s320/KadenSolomon1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Yesterday (Saturday), after saying goodbye to each other one year ago in an orphanage in China - the only home either had known - Kaden and Solomon were reunited in Orange County, California. It was a moving experience for all of us - probably the moms most of all!<br />
<br />
At first, the boys didn't quite know what to do - I'm sure it seemed strange and familiar at the same time - especially with "Parent Paparazzi" hovering around them, cameras clicking the whole time. Probably the most unexpected thing for Kaden was the fact that Solomon doesn't speak anything but English these days - he was so young when adopted that he didn't have much of a grasp of the Minnan/Mandarin mix Kaden speaks (we call it Minandarin - H/T to Brendan). When we asked Solomon what Kaden was saying, he'd say "I don't know!".<br />
<br />
But, they figured out how to have fun anyway:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfDm9glBRX5uayCakisZ7ZF7S6X4N3H784G_ZhEtEHJU8oDHlZ0qCigj-aj5GIJnyr1bhXYp9Yv_P2pohER5NTczSus8TZJcPNSFiqSsrB_Q2xMfzMQ_Y9lGatpEwYx8jnkUxpIQ6EG4F/s1600/KadenSolomon2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfDm9glBRX5uayCakisZ7ZF7S6X4N3H784G_ZhEtEHJU8oDHlZ0qCigj-aj5GIJnyr1bhXYp9Yv_P2pohER5NTczSus8TZJcPNSFiqSsrB_Q2xMfzMQ_Y9lGatpEwYx8jnkUxpIQ6EG4F/s320/KadenSolomon2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
If you stop and think about it, how amazing is it that these two boys would end up together again literally halfway around the world? Gee, I wonder if God had anything to do with that?<br />
<br />
Also, a health update on the family: we're all well! Camden and Jordan finished their final doses of antibiotics today, and except for an occasional cough and a bit of weakness from sitting or laying around for 3 weeks, they're doing great! Thank you all for your help - both physically (yummy food!) and spiritually (the prayers!).<br />
<br />
We spent about 5 hours at the park - playing, resting, eating and starting all over again - until it was getting too dark to continue.<br />
<br />
It was a great day, and by the time we were done, I think we all were satisfyingly exhausted.<br />
<br />
Later last night, looking over the photos, I saw the one below, and thought of the final Calvin and Hobbes comic strip. So, to slightly paraphrase the great Bill Watterson:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWX4CKj4P9SjDceKzob1UsRxL6QfjuWF5BjV5UDNjUMZtCSlSa8spwX4lIiyLpxCH2hVehwtpuJAk8cNugYqA6X-Ui-epKmRKGaeeezb0xdOVNGvJQer29lZU_m7bo8bbyfzDs6Gg4dBj/s1600/KadenSolomon3b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWX4CKj4P9SjDceKzob1UsRxL6QfjuWF5BjV5UDNjUMZtCSlSa8spwX4lIiyLpxCH2hVehwtpuJAk8cNugYqA6X-Ui-epKmRKGaeeezb0xdOVNGvJQer29lZU_m7bo8bbyfzDs6Gg4dBj/s320/KadenSolomon3b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's a magical world, ol' buddy . . . Let's go exploring!</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Posted by Steve, actually.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(With Annette's approval!)</div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-83072094512856154502011-09-10T15:09:00.000-07:002011-09-10T15:09:12.298-07:00Update on the boysSteve here - just a quick update on the health of our boys.<br />
<br />
Camden and Jordan went in to the doctors yesterday (Friday) and got a shot of antibiotics<br />
(fun! - not!!).<br />
They continue to be sick, but aren't getting worse, and are actually getting a bit better. The other boys were checked by the doc, and they are all fine (yay!).<br />
<br />
The ongoing prayer request right now is for continued recovery for Camden and Jordan.<br />
A more specific request is that they both take their medicine - thick, white, yucky-tasting antibiotic - quickly and with as little drama as possible.<br />
<br />
Also, keep Annette in your prayers. It's hard enough integrating a new son into a family with 4 boys already, but then add to that starting the homeschool year, and add to that 2 sick kids, and then I'm gone all day teaching. Life is overwhelming right now.<br />
<br />
That's all for now, we'll try to update after the weekend is over.<br />
<br />
Thank you in advance for the prayers and support!<br />
<br />
-SteveAnnettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-12292254960796916362011-09-08T07:57:00.000-07:002011-09-08T07:57:48.588-07:00A Quick Update - and Prayer RequestGreetings to all - Steve here.<br />
<br />
This is just a quick post to update you all on how we are doing.<br />
<br />
First, Kaden is doing great! He's bonding and integrating into the family really well. He seems happy to be here, and he's definitely enjoying his brothers! Of course, it would be great if he could be fluent in English by tomorrow. . . (ha!)<br />
<br />
Our next two youngest, however, are not doing too well right now, and we would appreciate any prayers you could send on our behalf.<br />
<br />
Both Camden and Jordan (boys #3 & #4, respectively) got sick last week - high fever, tired, etc. - and have not gotten better. Annette took them to the doctor yesterday (Wednesday), and it turns out they have both developed pneumonia!<br />
<br />
They are tired, coughing, not eating well, and generally feeling yucky.<br />
<br />
Our prayer requests would be:<br />
<br />
1) Complete, fast recovery<br />
<div> 2) That they would be able to stomach the anti-biotics they are taking.<br />
The stuff tastes ICKY, and it's a challenge for them to get it down. Jordan got it down<br />
last night, and it came back up about 10 minutes later.<br />
3) That the other boys would not get sick, and would do well during this time.<br />
Kaden is understandably a bit of a challenge right now - curious and into everything as he<br />
explores and learns his new world.<br />
<br />
Well, gotta class to teach!<br />
<br />
Thanks in advance.<br />
-Steve</div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-54512960182763827612011-08-30T08:00:00.000-07:002011-08-30T08:00:11.293-07:00More Photos - Part 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>We're leaving, on a jet plane...</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYnD1cs_64sfj3V0AXyqLvpuO889czJb2t-obMCJ_uQdqF9xkXF37LGRwyWrD5lynA1J4bgrXgLw6iwTo9-P-u6GLRVoTouGn86J7WjZxmPDedFoSnuPnvWUknDCX7WX47e069YaI41uu/s1600/FCP9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYnD1cs_64sfj3V0AXyqLvpuO889czJb2t-obMCJ_uQdqF9xkXF37LGRwyWrD5lynA1J4bgrXgLw6iwTo9-P-u6GLRVoTouGn86J7WjZxmPDedFoSnuPnvWUknDCX7WX47e069YaI41uu/s320/FCP9.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Here's Kaden as we leave for sunny, hot (but not humid!) California.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Not much to show for the actual flight. Because it was a night flight, they turned the lights down, and everybody pretended to sleep. Actually, Kaden got in about 8 hours of sleep, which was great, because it meant only about 3 hours of keeping him occupied after he woke up. He did great.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>As we got home, this is what So.Cal. looked like:</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tftT-JQTUWhZ6Ug9l9vudUX_nHJFB7viGpv5E0-7gHp4BHMr5QF3H61l9CoD0fM9RPIbkYNwpVtzxTg_cUCX3VhAzrbOrXyz0pOYTwu8RNPkXM_hfjP6-IJG492AXlnmK1pqZkebJrj4/s1600/FCP8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tftT-JQTUWhZ6Ug9l9vudUX_nHJFB7viGpv5E0-7gHp4BHMr5QF3H61l9CoD0fM9RPIbkYNwpVtzxTg_cUCX3VhAzrbOrXyz0pOYTwu8RNPkXM_hfjP6-IJG492AXlnmK1pqZkebJrj4/s320/FCP8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>That's downtown LA, all the way to the mountains. Who stole all our smog?!?</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Whoever it was, thank you!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And what awaited us as we landed?</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNhLmxzNRbU0NAVCFmL5QnTpXHaQESfunhIiVp_-MAPV0_ydiM_KCw8trQ9RaLHzfgQVZT9jZsWP073-Yx3AVEIhxQcTaQejYbqsxOpR4WP8KDjtpadDkiehYYOpefFNyu0PkJ1zwbyCy/s1600/FCP5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNhLmxzNRbU0NAVCFmL5QnTpXHaQESfunhIiVp_-MAPV0_ydiM_KCw8trQ9RaLHzfgQVZT9jZsWP073-Yx3AVEIhxQcTaQejYbqsxOpR4WP8KDjtpadDkiehYYOpefFNyu0PkJ1zwbyCy/s320/FCP5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Boys!!!!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Lots of boys!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>They were happy to see us, and totally excited to see their new little brother.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5I7JWLle6E_DM0BghQ2aK1ZI-BQFro4aBLbxOHgtdKsilsnCH7Qppk2i3nZongOxjuABa8PiqM2lJTQS4Pn9WrDEYMJmWpdDv_qHuMf3H-46JniKSP4lX2ihOyHQaqwqZFZXx8D_KlBd/s1600/FCP6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5I7JWLle6E_DM0BghQ2aK1ZI-BQFro4aBLbxOHgtdKsilsnCH7Qppk2i3nZongOxjuABa8PiqM2lJTQS4Pn9WrDEYMJmWpdDv_qHuMf3H-46JniKSP4lX2ihOyHQaqwqZFZXx8D_KlBd/s320/FCP6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I think Kaden is going to like this...</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdU7YVRDKNhr0Em8iIamhvycKCHFhnvoNDCFRLYy5L0ZHi6C2km8kM15o8ViDnaotU0XZbRDv1VnzR0epFI-AY1xb-g1f97PyTr3DDSrmeLANQVQpuQ6bpgTz1CAGMSEYkoDPEqkAmfZ6/s1600/FCP7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdU7YVRDKNhr0Em8iIamhvycKCHFhnvoNDCFRLYy5L0ZHi6C2km8kM15o8ViDnaotU0XZbRDv1VnzR0epFI-AY1xb-g1f97PyTr3DDSrmeLANQVQpuQ6bpgTz1CAGMSEYkoDPEqkAmfZ6/s320/FCP7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Thanks to Alexis and Amador (and their kids Elijah & Angelina) for taking care of our kiddos while we were away, and bringing them to the airport, and thanks to Paul & Stacy (and new baby Jubilee) and Jay & Dee (and Elianah) for showing up as well. You are all so important to us.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Home!! For the first time.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIa-Qajyylqz5YitnWWuY5Gs3Jy2OgMQXHjqSV3gINde-c-BQuAu9GSfU0p4CUnJAdSbVgiTqikbYNvzkfZU7dexT55wiANonVnBjskG-s3RZxS7eaWJBrVSYEdiupZ7TvujTMwtzZ0FVt/s1600/FCP4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIa-Qajyylqz5YitnWWuY5Gs3Jy2OgMQXHjqSV3gINde-c-BQuAu9GSfU0p4CUnJAdSbVgiTqikbYNvzkfZU7dexT55wiANonVnBjskG-s3RZxS7eaWJBrVSYEdiupZ7TvujTMwtzZ0FVt/s320/FCP4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Kaden is now an official Californian! In-N-Out fries!!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWBKwQ8WRcF28dsYhB6-YdwQt1TJi2Tc3I4pgMqi7680Le0zjHh5ojlHqa-C3eQgVhJgZ1CZ-RRoOmMwvhx0nI0rDzVjae0cGBFjwMdG5IxoLuJZW9Ba4MZyv5UNw76V6vxHIpvPaZ_fx/s1600/FCP3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWBKwQ8WRcF28dsYhB6-YdwQt1TJi2Tc3I4pgMqi7680Le0zjHh5ojlHqa-C3eQgVhJgZ1CZ-RRoOmMwvhx0nI0rDzVjae0cGBFjwMdG5IxoLuJZW9Ba4MZyv5UNw76V6vxHIpvPaZ_fx/s320/FCP3.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I wonder if you could order a Double-double "Fuzhou style"?</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>And now, a day and half after landing in America, Kaden went to his first ever Church service!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hprb0uwe1i9U8HSTg7ZSoZih8N4jzorYRJf_wDt1m0fsylfydh3c7ZjhAzcXx8fvcTInwRCSOUp33GgQJitgM1RtSVTQUegb3tJWZ_q3Ukgo-Q1b86OMz1jDeX1fc2SEmJnkc7fKl2Iq/s1600/FCP2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hprb0uwe1i9U8HSTg7ZSoZih8N4jzorYRJf_wDt1m0fsylfydh3c7ZjhAzcXx8fvcTInwRCSOUp33GgQJitgM1RtSVTQUegb3tJWZ_q3Ukgo-Q1b86OMz1jDeX1fc2SEmJnkc7fKl2Iq/s320/FCP2.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Finally, one anecdote:</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>During the church service, after the music, Kaden got bored, and as opposed to all the adults that this happens to, he let it be known that he was no longer interested in sitting there. So, off we went to walk to halls and wander until the service was over.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I spied a drinking fountain, and figured Kaden might want a drink, so I pointed him to it, and when we got there and I turned in on for him, he did the only thing he knew to do with running water and a basin - he put his hands under it to wash them!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I realized then that by growing up in a country where you don't drink the tap water, he had probably never seen a drinking fountain before, and certainly had never used one. I had to show him how to put your mouth up to the water and suck it in. The first few times, he blew instead of sucked.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Yes, an interesting, fun and wonderful adventure awaits us.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Thank you all again for your support for our family on this journey that is only now really getting started. More posts to come, and your ongoing prayers are more important than ever!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>God's rich blessings upon you all.</i></span></div>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-34797272497951773292011-08-29T08:31:00.000-07:002011-08-28T23:33:23.635-07:00More Photos - Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Annette and Kaden looking out over the Pearl River. This is at a river-side walkway on Shamian Island. Off in the distance is one of the 400 gazillion high-rise apartments in Guangzhou. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_mw7auZuy8V8_bV9cWVHlr4MfpE5dVsKtAk01NMTtwDiGQB533zzeXHsf6dHJun_TxOKmXmvDsGKRsro7kSQFVNrHlv4nMV3tGTz80_HPEdmSMOUbk-a5Z3Cy2IHr74k5auvizTBkmPg/s1600/FCP18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_mw7auZuy8V8_bV9cWVHlr4MfpE5dVsKtAk01NMTtwDiGQB533zzeXHsf6dHJun_TxOKmXmvDsGKRsro7kSQFVNrHlv4nMV3tGTz80_HPEdmSMOUbk-a5Z3Cy2IHr74k5auvizTBkmPg/s320/FCP18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>On the Monday we were in Guangzhou, we went to a tailor's shop to have some shirts for the boys, and a dress for Annette made from real Chinese silk. Here's Kaden being measured by the tailor. It is a team of husband and wife. How did they do?</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5vjFvnfeq2XQcM_rZm2FP6-QrIzoS6pH2q0Qwd07v2f0V96Ku5K0fptUvgtPPzBGfpYbqQ47VcVFWHk1Ic6zI-t5wf66CveBR0PIQSTzkTgct0bXxrPOhHhQctHxs9pm7tQ8_liRg-4f/s1600/FCP1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB5vjFvnfeq2XQcM_rZm2FP6-QrIzoS6pH2q0Qwd07v2f0V96Ku5K0fptUvgtPPzBGfpYbqQ47VcVFWHk1Ic6zI-t5wf66CveBR0PIQSTzkTgct0bXxrPOhHhQctHxs9pm7tQ8_liRg-4f/s320/FCP1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Tah Dah!!</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1-SccFxfWrItRWh7wOt7qRGe2k6TKz0qUedeuu4BcxznKWKdjDRvNbaYa5b3U-3TWsZMU_mr0jVg7CWfSdJXHoq1bmHUiVUuJPzNKeRwA0jdarowZe3vUJxD1SBN-yXEEEzS7eXJsUE1/s1600/FCP13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1-SccFxfWrItRWh7wOt7qRGe2k6TKz0qUedeuu4BcxznKWKdjDRvNbaYa5b3U-3TWsZMU_mr0jVg7CWfSdJXHoq1bmHUiVUuJPzNKeRwA0jdarowZe3vUJxD1SBN-yXEEEzS7eXJsUE1/s320/FCP13.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The lady is the wife half of the tailor team. The clothes are incredible, and by U.S. standards, incredibly cheap! If any of you going to China to adopt and want their contact info, let us know.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Here we are at the American Consulate offices to take care of the U.S. side of the adoption process. Cameras weren't allowed any further than this, so we took the photo and put away the camera. BTW: it's about 90 degrees inside this building at 8 a.m. I definitely miss some things about China, but the weather is not one of them.</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5RFEX_Wqfis7ClEgjlz-cpzqYfKZZNrc-VMBfw3FdKVxPUHUetm3Gzc6sNtltmGPZGZrGvljVLe5CjWCs9VqdJoFoh0lcUNL0OGHjk2da2yzkWfOzyTjQf889lsKXOBp1ANadxh_-VhH/s1600/FCP15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5RFEX_Wqfis7ClEgjlz-cpzqYfKZZNrc-VMBfw3FdKVxPUHUetm3Gzc6sNtltmGPZGZrGvljVLe5CjWCs9VqdJoFoh0lcUNL0OGHjk2da2yzkWfOzyTjQf889lsKXOBp1ANadxh_-VhH/s320/FCP15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>After this, our guide, Lilly, took us to an open-market street that was devoted to traditional Chinese medicine herbal treatments and products. I never found out what ailment dried lizard on a stick was used for, but I'm sure I don't have it. Really. I'm sure. I promise.</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjBIhS78SxMHRWvI7wVYNlyfMWx51aEctdX-IjPA6wQxON3nqtNuK-DiT268UN9kZiuGzuPB3maRe890YJO7ehnfsW0eNSYCA3vFsxHaRiGJ5DgK8eADJ_K1J2kbtmYtxFyWMiGFijvaU/s1600/FCP28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjBIhS78SxMHRWvI7wVYNlyfMWx51aEctdX-IjPA6wQxON3nqtNuK-DiT268UN9kZiuGzuPB3maRe890YJO7ehnfsW0eNSYCA3vFsxHaRiGJ5DgK8eADJ_K1J2kbtmYtxFyWMiGFijvaU/s320/FCP28.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Hmmm. This man is using chopsticks to pick things up from this big bin. It must be something yummy, right?</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBpFmYaCjeWs6V3kl1tp049nwykkoZjJMe8WNfO8qnqGYXli8mNZzG8fDbNViJHwEh_i-p5dA6k9BlUlUiPDseOahFhn7w5gZbocDLYdNO_58wEfFPGhD4o0TMWY7EhPdeFU3PCcMBw76/s1600/FCP27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBpFmYaCjeWs6V3kl1tp049nwykkoZjJMe8WNfO8qnqGYXli8mNZzG8fDbNViJHwEh_i-p5dA6k9BlUlUiPDseOahFhn7w5gZbocDLYdNO_58wEfFPGhD4o0TMWY7EhPdeFU3PCcMBw76/s320/FCP27.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Oh, uh, never mind. . .</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaw1yJwJ7k4eP6p0nZiQErhD5pWvKlRNqZNJusaPaVwu9znRSEklfQJS1BD-4ht45C1eBLfLoYo82omigN17CNikJwxFhiXAj1B9ZHlxmeLztGZ6d2nndcMdSkS7EH5G_KSpWKiFEqCrP/s1600/FCP26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggaw1yJwJ7k4eP6p0nZiQErhD5pWvKlRNqZNJusaPaVwu9znRSEklfQJS1BD-4ht45C1eBLfLoYo82omigN17CNikJwxFhiXAj1B9ZHlxmeLztGZ6d2nndcMdSkS7EH5G_KSpWKiFEqCrP/s320/FCP26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Yes, they were alive. </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Later in the week, Lilly took us up five flights of stairs to the top floor of a building.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>For . . . .</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLZY5SbPZT0a6VzJre6qjHBZEovTC6DTx3OkVe0_eAYftsGcFspjOF1vLdxLAsTjZfx8GOPZeEdw_holUmVfJbNK3Y7sedDbCxXOTPK3yt3MqOhBrA7SAkjeeb7GSFNvo76iMOUz2_H3Y/s1600/FCP24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLZY5SbPZT0a6VzJre6qjHBZEovTC6DTx3OkVe0_eAYftsGcFspjOF1vLdxLAsTjZfx8GOPZeEdw_holUmVfJbNK3Y7sedDbCxXOTPK3yt3MqOhBrA7SAkjeeb7GSFNvo76iMOUz2_H3Y/s320/FCP24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>THE BEST FOOD WE HAD THE ENTIRE TRIP!!!!!</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJe-1qfYPxlqXx8Wdyi7O6D6ttcpZWt5VXw-4rMIO5NlqwM9aGN_Efep0Fmz48CUuFIGtQnOSs8GzG75SMFK1InNL3LXAf5stN-FAfj-Dg0jwCX-NecgcaiDBPs4Yi2j0m17usMHriA1sp/s1600/FCP12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJe-1qfYPxlqXx8Wdyi7O6D6ttcpZWt5VXw-4rMIO5NlqwM9aGN_Efep0Fmz48CUuFIGtQnOSs8GzG75SMFK1InNL3LXAf5stN-FAfj-Dg0jwCX-NecgcaiDBPs4Yi2j0m17usMHriA1sp/s320/FCP12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggK9xxawowf-M2gIhqoB_tTfkSjEW1Mg5ylzyPLAI4WrqvYHTszO5u-uPYu08XTr71f-G-WNhAmcGWM40jjSZ5Z9LQW67F37QhJ-zXzKHNQ0BjK45VHQC6gqi8PoIXtVQNgHeO8Cubye4D/s1600/FCP25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggK9xxawowf-M2gIhqoB_tTfkSjEW1Mg5ylzyPLAI4WrqvYHTszO5u-uPYu08XTr71f-G-WNhAmcGWM40jjSZ5Z9LQW67F37QhJ-zXzKHNQ0BjK45VHQC6gqi8PoIXtVQNgHeO8Cubye4D/s320/FCP25.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>This was seriously delicious food! The place had no sign, no one spoke English, and the menu had no pictures. If not for our guide, Lilly (in the photo below), there is no way we would have ever gotten here. And, the food was about 1/3 the cost of most places we ate. The meal pictured in the bottom of the above photos was 3 entrees (two pictured), and cost 58 RMB (less than $10).</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Thank you, Lilly!</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKSe1_W4hyI3jTGJ5oc_4l8xWEnJ7LMxEmbaN0I21fOZ-oZFNzuLd1ZMJhrKklLD_fXkTe71U_cw0C6wspJ1qM7zqWwV4dKcs5WU2DBXmvSk3jBBU4bTkAmq63eUkVc4N-L4x8TCL6BUC/s1600/FCP11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKSe1_W4hyI3jTGJ5oc_4l8xWEnJ7LMxEmbaN0I21fOZ-oZFNzuLd1ZMJhrKklLD_fXkTe71U_cw0C6wspJ1qM7zqWwV4dKcs5WU2DBXmvSk3jBBU4bTkAmq63eUkVc4N-L4x8TCL6BUC/s320/FCP11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>All good things must come to an end, and thus, here we are at the Guangzhou airport.</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkaNQoP0uoc8DNgtdWNYqaHia8-iyORwR0oB5_lXVqIxY5HABYtKvyCt9rA8oV3eWoWErL6UZOqzSsBHKsUvl5C3ySgMbAwPUl21Uw1cdB3F0XQSFN4lES1C9CGz5FN97_XyM53Ey2_-H/s1600/FCP10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkaNQoP0uoc8DNgtdWNYqaHia8-iyORwR0oB5_lXVqIxY5HABYtKvyCt9rA8oV3eWoWErL6UZOqzSsBHKsUvl5C3ySgMbAwPUl21Uw1cdB3F0XQSFN4lES1C9CGz5FN97_XyM53Ey2_-H/s320/FCP10.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The final installment to come . . .</i></span>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-84915679580197617522011-08-28T23:02:00.000-07:002011-08-29T00:13:26.004-07:00Finally More Photos - Part 1<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This will be a 3-part post, just to make sure none of them are too long, and won't load.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, with running commentary from me, Steve, here we go:</span><br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here we are in the lobby of the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou. It looks nice, but it is NOISY! That waterfall made the lobby sound like the Log Ride at Knotts Berry Farm. Since the lobby was the only place to get wireless connection, we had to to FaceTime with the boys here, with lots of "what?" "could you repeat that?" "what about the cheesemakers?"</span></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oLdfO8Wii592zEv46e3baHB6bMuoyBunHRijBlpiYEdmVGq4tJU0L1-HEr2hW9HN8vFwk2h3hyphenhyphenSEKhrMBpsPEvj9hwZKsya0M8Ce_zX4aPLmElce9PtxE2bO0e8vbnll77u9DsusAMd2/s1600/FCP23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oLdfO8Wii592zEv46e3baHB6bMuoyBunHRijBlpiYEdmVGq4tJU0L1-HEr2hW9HN8vFwk2h3hyphenhyphenSEKhrMBpsPEvj9hwZKsya0M8Ce_zX4aPLmElce9PtxE2bO0e8vbnll77u9DsusAMd2/s320/FCP23.jpg" width="320" /></span></i></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Here's another image from the island where our hotel was. Very green. Very Beautiful. VERY HOT & HUMID!!</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKkXVLOAG8b9kRSEvjzpvg7k5sjHS-jM0CarjE9TXWhJGBIztEYgQQpsO4BuYsVeYiLuxjC19QVgNt6MvBdXDY2SDQXg0_hsWoIXGMkyzsBY03FVcgSNzelyPO1fhRFbtjB5Xpww2vM9Z/s1600/FCP19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKkXVLOAG8b9kRSEvjzpvg7k5sjHS-jM0CarjE9TXWhJGBIztEYgQQpsO4BuYsVeYiLuxjC19QVgNt6MvBdXDY2SDQXg0_hsWoIXGMkyzsBY03FVcgSNzelyPO1fhRFbtjB5Xpww2vM9Z/s320/FCP19.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Isn't there any hope of rescue from our plight in this damp inferno?!</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Oh, wait!! What is this????</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbopCPLEfAKQLqNkW8xcwNXqoFXg4lrG_7nRWUFsH0T1I17g3-HVlWmhGkFexZZch7Ay1LaIOMkZufE4f6sukutei4DNY8G7vURLocVJKo0iC-jW2QegCPZiZxNGErTd1Yydf-rQoJPTX/s1600/FCP21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwbopCPLEfAKQLqNkW8xcwNXqoFXg4lrG_7nRWUFsH0T1I17g3-HVlWmhGkFexZZch7Ay1LaIOMkZufE4f6sukutei4DNY8G7vURLocVJKo0iC-jW2QegCPZiZxNGErTd1Yydf-rQoJPTX/s320/FCP21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...........................</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtwl_nhayKTTZeXLRJC9CdiNTWqPUh8-25oDPjrLc0n9A2WhU5DhaslO_7DS61-GD0RsyuYdz3_p9fY5304KWzb_9o0gz7U0U5s8-f3hsOiP1i7H4Nefi6sWtwiDq38oVHR-Rl21j2stF/s1600/FCP20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtwl_nhayKTTZeXLRJC9CdiNTWqPUh8-25oDPjrLc0n9A2WhU5DhaslO_7DS61-GD0RsyuYdz3_p9fY5304KWzb_9o0gz7U0U5s8-f3hsOiP1i7H4Nefi6sWtwiDq38oVHR-Rl21j2stF/s320/FCP20.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Yes, there was a Starbucks on Shamian Island, and they became very familiar with the phrase "Iced black tea, no syrup (sugar)"</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Yep, when it comes to the ladies, I still got it! Although that one on the left seems to be playing hard to get...</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVd234majJ9qWDc-1seasjvWT9LTiczyat1JS5-4w4L6DbpxviFd9qWUsrNGd8DD2udbLXnQYhp0ieGI_pRMl4x3Pe1A-UfYqDBtrAbxCZ0vci9yUgyiZvJxGfYEXtyKvhftIBhYy02gv/s1600/FCP17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVd234majJ9qWDc-1seasjvWT9LTiczyat1JS5-4w4L6DbpxviFd9qWUsrNGd8DD2udbLXnQYhp0ieGI_pRMl4x3Pe1A-UfYqDBtrAbxCZ0vci9yUgyiZvJxGfYEXtyKvhftIBhYy02gv/s320/FCP17.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Guangzhou at night. The multi-colored building in the back is an office tower for CCTV, the Chinese cable company. It has synchronized lights on the outside, so it's like a giant Pink Floyd concert prop.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmbcSfuvZdNfyekzphIb-AnZ03MC0Y-qHFgj8NHfbGCTEF4N8mWalFUg17dI068UDWz2m01tVHBzbVmLNP683PbRAjwmXbcELAMcCCsW8rvzh2_cWWLWW3eH-rIi4TUj9trEvHZmGd2xJ/s1600/FCP16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmbcSfuvZdNfyekzphIb-AnZ03MC0Y-qHFgj8NHfbGCTEF4N8mWalFUg17dI068UDWz2m01tVHBzbVmLNP683PbRAjwmXbcELAMcCCsW8rvzh2_cWWLWW3eH-rIi4TUj9trEvHZmGd2xJ/s320/FCP16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Kaden and Daddy video chatting with the big brothers back home.</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmKtulVYX_xMHodO-BJvM49tocUFBxHk4T6sgxmr5EwJ-cIK44Jiz5dmBRQ6kCBtyRwUoyXRWLVXhL3G35jSNJ1Yn5pdCZcnboVgVWoKn6Yw6Fb1x2e73HH19UcjuO4kTBHtkmyOzGl3J/s1600/FCP14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmKtulVYX_xMHodO-BJvM49tocUFBxHk4T6sgxmr5EwJ-cIK44Jiz5dmBRQ6kCBtyRwUoyXRWLVXhL3G35jSNJ1Yn5pdCZcnboVgVWoKn6Yw6Fb1x2e73HH19UcjuO4kTBHtkmyOzGl3J/s320/FCP14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I'd mentioned this on an earlier post, but here is a photo of the total earthly possessions that Kaden had when we got him. The only thing that we got back from the care package we sent to him was the shirt. That is one well-travelled shirt! Made in China, shipped to the U.S., bought and shipped back to China, then flown back to the U.S. It should have had a boomerang on it.</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiks0jfVhy9dWVFmUMiUUzL3f0419-Q-b0NoW-1ida0XG5jE1seXV1zAABeIwkj4eztEy0fHXr3aLH111Fqf2sZau2U-gFg6zAB8s3ujmgOS5bYSM43lgBumNFzH6KftGUGiHYemLb3RVxr/s1600/FCP22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiks0jfVhy9dWVFmUMiUUzL3f0419-Q-b0NoW-1ida0XG5jE1seXV1zAABeIwkj4eztEy0fHXr3aLH111Fqf2sZau2U-gFg6zAB8s3ujmgOS5bYSM43lgBumNFzH6KftGUGiHYemLb3RVxr/s320/FCP22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>More in the next post...</i></span><br />
<span id="goog_228102636"></span><span id="goog_228102637"></span>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-33058874657846162212011-08-28T12:06:00.000-07:002011-08-28T12:06:05.489-07:00We're home! . . . and REALLY late on posting more photos!!Steve here - We're home, and I have a bunch of photos to post, and will be posting them later today (maybe tonight).<br />
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Sorry for the delay!<br />
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Bad Steve.Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3349039480887628420.post-80522210864894559162011-08-21T08:12:00.001-07:002011-08-21T08:12:03.814-07:00An overdue updateGreetings from Guangzhou!<br />It's been a bit of an adjustment here - no in-room WiFi, for one thing!<br />So, we have to post and Skype from the sitting area in the lobby of our hotel.<br /><br />Kaden had his physical exam, and passed just fine. Kudos to our guide, Lilly, who got us to the clinic 3 minutes before a huge crush of adopting families showed up. We were in and out in 15 minutes, while the folks behind us were looking at a loooooooooong wait.<br /><br />The next big thing for us is a meeting at the U.S. Consulate on Wednesday, and then home on Thursday night. WooHoo!<br /><br />So, enough writing, here are a few photos!<br /><br />The view from our hotel room:<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/21/1954.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/21/s_1954.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='187' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Kaden passing the "are you cute enough to be adopted?" test:<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/21/1960.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/21/s_1960.jpg' border='0' width='187' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Shiamen Island, where our hotel is located. <br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/21/1961.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/21/s_1961.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='187' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Playground!!!<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/21/1962.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/21/s_1962.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='187' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />A shirt they are selling in lots of shops on the island. I don't know if they mean this as a compliment, or not. . .<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/21/1963.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/21/s_1963.jpg' border='0' width='187' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Daddy and son at the Temple of Six Banyan Trees.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/21/1964.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/21/s_1964.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='187' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Yummy noodles!<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/21/1965.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/21/s_1965.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='187' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Swimming at the hotel pool. This is only Kaden's fourth time in a pool - truly, just about everything is a new adventure for him.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/21/1966.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/21/s_1966.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='187' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Are words needed for this one?<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/21/1968.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/21/s_1968.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='187' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Huangsha%20Ave,Guangzhou,China%4023.108340%2C113.237196&z=10'>Huangsha Ave,Guangzhou,China</a></p>Annettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15161766716895463742noreply@blogger.com8