Going back to China.....

I know I have mentioned many times how much my heart is in China. Last year, if you followed my blog, you saw that I had the opportunity to go to China on a missions trip through Visiting Orphans. You might have even followed our trip on our trip blog.

This year I have an amazing opportunity to co-lead a team back to the same orphanage in Heng Feng! I am so excited to go back. I know we were able to make a difference for the orphanage, and especially for the nannies there, with the financial contribution that we made. We were able to provide for (among other things), solar panels to put on the roofs so that the nannies could take warm showers. Can you imagine? The littlest things that we take for granted......

We still have room on our team, though time is running short. If you would be interested in going with us this year, please leave me a comment with your e-mail address so I can get more info to you. You can also read a little more about last years trip, and this years plans if you go to www.visitingorphans.org click on the China trips and then the Heng Feng 2009 trip.

I'll be sure to keep you posted on our trip and blog this year. We leave June 5th and return home the 16th. Above all else, I would appreciate your prayers!

Xin Nian Kaui Le!

Happy Chinese New Year!!

Addie is not feeling so well today, so we spent Chinese New Year at home tonight, and ordered take out. Luckily, I had her wear her Chinese outfit to church yesterday and got a quick picture!

Happy Year of the Ox!

My Riley.....

Want to know why Riley can't stand it when it's too cold to be outside?

This is what he spends all of his free time doing when there is snow on the ground......

This is in our backyard. He builds his own ramps, and ices everything down before he comes in for the night. He told me today he wants to be a "Christian snowboarder" when he grows up! How cool is that?

Yep, that's his grinding rail for his skateboard!

Um, yeah......this one didn't end so good!

I love my guy!

Meeting Leah!!

Tonight, Addie and I got to run to the airport and meet our friends on their way home from China, with their new baby - Leah. They were on a quick layover heading home to Cincinnati, but it was worth it to have a few minutes to meet Leah, and see my friend Dawn and her family!

Addie, waiting and watching for her friend Bekah!

Here they come!! Dawn sprained her ankle a few months ago, so she got a free ride through the airports...

Here's Leah!!!! She is ADORABLE!

Addie loved "baby Leah"....

and I'm sure you can tell it was not a good ending to this picture....

But Leah was a good sport, she hopped right back up and kept on smiling. What a sweet girl!

And now it's January.....

Can't believe we are already well into January. Where does the time go?

Here is a little of what we've been up to since the holidays....

Getting together with one of my very best friends....we've been friends since 4th grade.... and now our daughters are best friends! (if only we didn't live so far from each other)

We spent New Years Eve with my sister and her husband, had a great time!

Russ's mom and dad came out for New Years. This has become our tradition with them, and we love having them.

Guess who's (thinking about) sleeping in a big girl bed? We talk about it LOTS, and I think she's had 2 naps in there......the rest of the time, if I ask if she wants to sleep in her big girl bed, the answer I get is "tomorrow" or "later"!

I know she won't be in her crib when she's in high school, so I'm not pushing it!

We have had TONS of snow this year....

And it has been REALLY cold......cold enough to cancel school even. This is Riley's biggest nightmare, he can't stand to be stuck in the house!

Christmas Fun!

We spent Christmas this year at my dad's cabin in the North! We had so much fun playing outside, and just being together. It felt like a winter wonderland. I don't know about any of you, but it seems like the older I get, the more precious my time with my family becomes.

This is where we spent our week......

Story time with Grandpa....

A present from my sister and her family. I think the look says it all!

Snowmobiling! We snowmobiled on Christmas Day. The trails were great, and we had them all to ourselves...

I LOVE this picture. I especially love the little footprints....

Riley will fish anytime, anywhere.....

We went skiing the day after Christmas, and again had great snow, and the place seemed empty.

Playing with our new Christmas present, the Wii!