Gracee's Big Adventure

2008-06-09T14:17:00.002-05:00

For those of you who have been faithful (or patient) to visit this rarely updated blog--we have NEWS for you. Gracee will soon have a new brother--all the way from her native country. We received notice today that our Seeking Confirmation Letter for James (Wan LiHe) will be delivered tomorrow!!! He is from the Wanzhou District of Chongqing, just east of the Sichuan province (the site of so much devastation from recent earthquakes.) Please join in praising God for the opportunity to be this little guy's "forever family." We are very excited. Wow! We have a lot to do to get ready for our new son. More details soon...

Gracee visits the big man in the red suit

2007-12-25T17:48:00.000-06:00

It's Christmastime in the city and Gracee joins her siblings in their annual pilgrimage to the mall.

Meet our newest family member!

2007-07-01T21:43:00.001-05:00

Gracee and the ol' blogger pose for a reluctant photo op with our first grandson (and Gracee's first nephew.) (Actually, Gracee is the only one not desiring to be in the photo. That's why I'm holding her arm.)

I don't know which is odder to say: Grace as an "aunt" or me as a young "grandfather." We are so excited for our oldest daughter and son-in-law. God has blessed them with an 8-month-old infant. You can tell he is interested in my hairline. He and I have about the same amount of hair. Unlike him though, I do have all my teeth and declined his kind offer to loan me his teether.

They decided to adopt domestically some time ago and were so thrilled to receive the "call" several weeks ago. We are grateful that this strapping youngster has a Mom and Dad who love God and will provide him a wonderful, loving home.

As for "aunt" Gracee, she's taking it all in stride. I'm sure she's just pleased that there is someone in the family smaller and younger than she is!

Another starving artist!

2007-06-10T21:14:00.000-05:00

Gracee takes the abstract form of art to new extremes at her outside studio. While she has not yet made her first big sale, she has plenty of fans of her unique artwork. With her sandbox not far away and her wading pool only a few steps further, Gracee enjoys her special artist's retreat.

Wide-eyed wonder

2007-04-25T21:05:00.000-05:00

Gracee gets to meet one of several chicks that now make our coops their home. She is fascinated with this few-days-old chick; the little chick is terrified of her. (It's an Americana variety, known for their GREEN eggs.) This little chick (and her sisters) are still months away from laying. Gracee likes to take produce scraps from the kitchen down to the coops.

And the hunt is on...

2007-04-25T20:44:00.000-05:00

Gracee loves candy. At this year's Children's Hope Easter Egg Hunt, Gracee might not have found much candy but she was so pleased to find even one piece. It must be odd to her: Mom and Dad bundle her on this cold Saturday and tell her to run around and find plastic eggs with candy stuffed inside out in the grass and along the edge of the woods. And this is Easter? Nonetheless, she had fun and she did get to hear all about the real meaning of Easter.

A free spirit!

2007-04-25T20:00:00.000-05:00

Little G in her own little Easter parade, showing off for the camera and for anyone who will watch.

Happy New Year!

2007-02-15T19:47:00.000-06:00

It's Spring Festival time (usually referred to as Chinese New Year here in the states) and Gracee introduces you to costumes worn by those in the Lion Dance that was performed by the local Chinese Arts Alliance. It was an amazing performance that Gracee really enjoyed, even though it was loud with big drums and a big "lions." She is holding the mouth of one of the lions shut. The second lion costume (worn by two dancers) is to the left. The lion heads are resting on the drums used in the presentation. The Lion Dance is part of the annual Spring Festival in China (and other areas of Asia). Spring Festival begins Feb. 18 of this year and will usher in the Year of the Boar (Pig). Gracee and her family have been invited to a traditional 'New Year' dinner--complete with a golden pig. We will continue to pray in the "new year" for Gracee's little brother or sister-to-be--for his or her well-being and for a speed-up in processing that will bring this little one--who like Gracee two years ago--needs a loving, forever family. Please join us in praying for the children in countries around the world who need to know the loving arms of a Mommy and Daddy. Might it all be to HIS glory.

Guess who had a birthday?

2007-02-11T20:09:00.000-06:00

Gracee was all smiles as she celebrated her third birthday with her family Sunday. How fast this past year has passed. Gracee has changed in many ways and remained the same in so many others. She is still a sweet, innocent little girl who loves her family, especially her Mommy. Words cannot describe how special it is to be her Mommy and Daddy. But, as the photo indicates, she is a growing up to be a bigger girl. When I refer to her as my "baby girl," she quickly tells me, "I'm not a baby!"

Happy Christmas Day!

2006-12-25T20:26:00.000-06:00

What a wonderful day as we celebrated Jesus' birthday. Gracee marked her second Christmas at home! And this year she was much more engaged in the affairs of the day than her Christmas 2005. She might not want to get any where near Santa-in-person at the mall, but she was very pleased with her gifts--particularly her Elmo shirt, Elmo outfit, and ride-on Zebra toy. We are so grateful to be a family. God has truly blessed us. We stayed up way too late Christmas Eve watching old videos when the kids were little (or not even born.) So late that Santa was very delayed in completing his rounds at our house. Yet he persevered and everything was thrilled to be up the next morning to hear the Gospel story of Jesus' birth and then await Dad's "Ho, Ho, Ho. Merry Christmas" as the signal to head down the hall to the tree. [Grace was not at all pleased to hear Dad's traditional "Ho, Ho." holler and went back down the hall to Mom's arms.] Convinced that 'Santa' really wasn't in the den waiting for her, Gracee joined her brothers and sister to see what Santa had brought. She was very pleased to discover candy in her stocking. By the end of the day, most of her candy was gone and Gracee had resorted to checking out the contents of everyone else's stockings. Watching the videos reminded us both how quickly time moves on and how special it is to be a Mom and Dad. As we look forward to bringing our newest son or daughter home in the future, we are already praying for that child who may well already be in an orphanage in China. While we are praying for the day to be sooner than later and for the finances to be in place, we are confident that God is well aware of this situation. We take comfort in the fact that He is in control. He who gave the gift of His own Son to atone for our failures and to rebuild our broken relationship, is more than able to meet our every need. To God be the glory!

Gracee meets Santa...

2006-12-23T22:08:00.000-06:00

...and it brings her to tears. We've been talking about it for weeks, but when the time came to get her picture taken with 'Claus, the tears began flowing. She had even stood a few feet away and calmly talked to him. Within a few moments, with Santa out of view (behind her), she turned off the tears and stayed strong for the photo session. Merry Christmas!!!

WE HAVE OUR LID!

2006-11-27T19:57:00.000-06:00

The CHI office (our adoption agency) in Beijing passed along word (through our local office) today that our dossier (official packet of adoption papers) was officially received (logged in) by the Chinese government agency responsible for international and domestic adoptions on November 17, 2006. [Our log-in date for Gracee's adoption was November 5, 2004.]

Our paperwork left our agency's office here in the states on October 13. In the meantime it was translated into Chinese and waited to be formally registered with the government there. There is no denying that this process of bringing a little boy or girl home has been in God's hands since His Spirit first put the thought to adopt again into our heart last fall. Yet with that thick stack of special papers on the other side of the world in a foreign government's hands, there is ABSOLUTELY no question that it is completely in His hands--for that we are thankful and confident.

While the wait promises to be long, we are grateful that we have a home full of wonderful children that will keep us busy enough to not be overly consumed with the thought of that child who needs a family and who is waiting in an orphanage. We are thankful that the government of the People's Republic of China has a method by which many children are allowed the opportunity to have a "forever family." And we appreciate deeply our friends and family who are dedicated to praying and supporting us in this Big Adventure II.

The Princess on a Hunt for Candy

2006-10-31T21:17:00.000-06:00

While somewhat overwhelmed by the number of people and the odd dress of many attending the fall festival at her church, Gracee was not distracted from the all-too-plentiful candy. I'm sure she wondered why she had to complete a task (a game) before she was allowed to dig through the candy bowl, but she complied nonetheless. In the picture below Gracee waits--impatiently--as our dear family friend Melinda explains the need to drop a wooden clothes pin into the jar below. Gracee finally agreed to drop the pins into the container and was rewarded with -- more candy! The church did a wonderful job, keeping the games and events for the preschool set separate from the rest of the activities. In the picture on the right, Gracee--who looks more like a pink statue of liberty than the princess she really was (and is)--poses with her very special friend, Jenna.

WE ARE DTC!

2006-10-13T18:59:00.000-05:00

Our adoption agency has told us our dossier for Gracee's little brother or sister is on its way to Beijing! That's what it means to be DTC--Dossier to China. We are excited, but we know we have a long wait ahead. Our prayers are focused on the little one that needs a family and that God intends to join our family.

What happens after our dossier arrives in China?
1. Our agency's office in China translates our dossier from English to Chinese.
2. The translated dossier is taken to the Chinese government's adoption offices (CCAA).
3. The dossier waits to be officially "logged-in" to the system.
4. The dossier waits to begin the review process.
5. The CCAA takes our dossier to another group in Beijing to verify the accuracy of the translation.
6. The dossier goes back to the CCAA and is passed to Department I for review.
7. Moving from there, the paperwork goes to Department II for matching. This is where a child that is waiting for a "forever family" is matched with us.
8. The much-anticipated referral is approved by CCAA executives and sent to the U.S. through our agency.

Currently that process is taking 14 months. We are praying that God will supernaturally accelerate that process.

We definitely value your prayers in this most special adventure--for God's will to be done, for the protection of the child, that God would place hope in his or her heart, and that the financial obligations of adoption would be addressed.

We are trusting God in all things.
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. (Psalm 20:7)

The NEW Big Adventure Starts Up Again!

2006-10-02T19:00:00.000-05:00

All of our important adoption documents--notarized and authenticated at the county and state level--are on their way tonight to Washington, D.C. to be--you guessed it--authenticated at the U.S. Department of State and the Chinese Embassy. These special papers--mom and dad's birth certificates, employment statements, police reports, financial statement, and much more--are in the trustworthy hands of FedEx and form the core of the complete packet of papers (the dossier) that will eventually and literally make its way to the Chinese government (in China.) Once the papers are authenticated in D.C. this week, our courier will FedEx them back to us. We will pull everything together and take them to our adoption agency office locally. They will overnight them to St. Louis (CHI headquarters) and then on they go to China. Wow! God is good!

OUR I-171H HAS ARRIVED!!!

2006-10-01T21:53:00.000-05:00

After weeks of waiting--sometimes not so patiently--God was faithful. The postman delivered our long-awaited form I-171H Saturday, Sept. 30. We were fingerprinted on July 6 and were hopeful we would see the form within 2-3 weeks, but that was not to be. After inquiries by our adoption agency (www.childrenshope.com) and U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander's office on our behalf, the Memphis office of the Citizenship and Immigration Service said two weeks ago that we should receive our 171H within 2-3 weeks. And we did!

What does this mean? It means our efforts to give a little boy or girl in China who needs a future and a forever family can resume. I will have the form certified at the county and state level tomorrow morning. I intend to send all of our paperwork to Washington, D.C., later in the day to be certified by the U.S. State Department and the Chinese embassy. We use a courier for that.Once that paperwork is returned to us (probably by next week), we will then gather everything together into an official packet (our dossier) and sent it to our adoption agency's home office in St. Louis, from which it will be sent to Beijing for translation and to be logged in by the China government agency responsible for referral of children who need a a family (CCAA).

The wait time until referral is running much longer than when Gracee came home last year. Yet we are confident the whole process is in God's hands. We ask you to continue to pray for us--in the paperwork and financial needs--and for that little boy or girl who may even now be waiting for us in an orphanage somewhere in China. We are grateful to the Chinese government who allows these little ones to be adopted. We are most grateful to God for His watchcare over the those waiting for their family. We can surely testify to God's care and protection for these children. God preserved Gracee as she waited for us to come for her. She is such a wonderful and special blessing. Her big adventure continues...

Fall in Tennessee...

2006-09-30T20:33:00.000-05:00

In the pumpkin patch, Gracee claps to the live bluegrass music being played at the local farmers' market this weekend. Gracee was rather tenative about foraging around in the patch for a "pun-tin." The pumpkin patch was actually a garden--complete with flowers and vegetables--in which little pumpkins were placed and that was adjacent to the farmers' market. The family tries to visit the market every Saturday morning for farm-fresh produce and home-grown music. Led by her Mom and big brother Niles, Gracee 'discovered' her "pun-tin." Mom has suggested that later this fall Gracee's pumpkin will be cooked and made into a pie and bread. Gracee wasn't so sure about that. After locating her pumpkin, Gracee took a few moments to enjoy the zinnas in the garden.

No New News?

2006-09-19T22:09:00.000-05:00

After our big announcement that we were in the process of adopting again from China, you may wonder why you've heard no new news. The reason is that we in a holding pattern, waiting for the Memphis office of the Citizenship and Immigration Service to release our I-171H. That is a form that is necessary for the paperwork that will be sent to China. Every other piece of paper is in hand and ready to be sent to Washington, D.C., to be authenticated for transmittal to Beijing. The first step in securing that piece of paper from CIS is fingerprinting of every person over 18-years-old in the household. We completed that step on July 6. It typically takes 3-5 weeks for the I-171H to be received. We have sent the same piece of paperwork the Memphis office requested on three different occasions. While we know this is all in God's hand, we appreciate your prayers for this piece of paper to soon be in our hands. Thank you for praying for us in this journey of love--we have many prayer needs, not the least of which is the matter of the expenses for this Big Adventure II. We trust God! We only have to consider the wonder of Gracee and all our children to be reminded of His love for us.

Return to China

2006-08-20T21:58:00.000-05:00

It's been twelve months since we arrived home with Gracee in our arms and what a wonderful year it has been. Not that it hasn't had its moments after several years of not having a toddler around the house, but we are thankful for our new daughter and the joy she has brought into our home.

After much time spent in prayer and listening, we feel God calling us to return to China and adopt another youngster who needs a "forever family"! All of our paperwork is done--except our I-171H (necessary paperwork from the Immigration and Customs Service). It has been over six weeks since we began the process to secure the I-171H (fingerprinting). All the other documents have been authenticated at the state level and will be couriered to Washington, D.C., once that final piece of paper arrives.

We started our paperchase in June of this year. We'll post more soon to give you a little more background on our exciting decision to adopt again. We anticipate that we will not travel for at least a year to bring Gracee's little 'brother' or 'sister' home. Thank you for prayers! We stand in awe of what God has done and what we believe He will do as Gracee's Big Adventure takes a new and very big turn.

By the way, you might be wondering what Gracee thinks of all of this. We don't think she has a clue, although we pray with her about her new brother or sister who is China and ask God to protect him or her. Actually, as smart as she appears to be, she may well understand that Mom and Dad are working with God on something very special!

In His own image...

2006-08-20T21:54:00.000-05:00

Gracee loves to go to church. As we come to the intersection nearest the church campus, Anna says, "Yeah! Church!". We are grateful for loving teachers and caregivers at our church who invest their time with Gracee and her little friends.

But most of all we are grateful for a loving God who cared for us so very much that He made a Way that our relationship with Him--broken by sin--can be restored. That Way is Jesus! Every night, Gracee asks, "Pray Jesus?" [Translated, "Let's pray."] I often ask her, "Gracee. Who made you special?" And she responds convincingly, "God make me special." I really think she knows what she is saying. With all kindness, Gracee and I ask you: Do you know this Jesus?

School Time

2006-08-20T21:48:00.000-05:00

Gracee is all-smiles as Anna and Niles head off for their first day of high school.

Stay tuned for a big announcement...

2006-07-12T21:56:00.000-05:00

Gracee thanks everyone who prays for her and her family and all the little girls and boys who are still in China and need a "forever family." She encourages you to check back often to her blog for an exciting announcement.

Gracee's Big Adventure is about to get even bigger!!!

(Gracee and biggest brother, Drew, in awe in the Primate House at the zoo.)

Ladies...Start Your Strollers!

2006-07-12T21:52:00.000-05:00

Gracee and her friends from Anhui take a break from racing around the St. Louis zoo July 8. The six families, who were all together in China last summer adopting, all met in St. Louis for a reunion of sorts. While two families lived in St. Louis, others came from Arizona, North Dakota, and Tennessee. Gracee is in the third stoller from the left--waving as Daddy takes her picture. What a girl!!!

The Red Couch Revisited

2006-07-10T19:07:00.000-05:00

It's been nearly a year since Gracee came into our lives and we came into her life. If you've been following Gracee's Big Adventure for the past year, you may recall that six families from Children's Hope International traveled to Hefei, Anhui to meet our new daughters. What a glorious year it has been. Mom and I have realized how much we forgot about being the parents of a toddler but we have been pleasantly surprised that most of what we knew before has come back to us. This past weekend all six families met in St. Louis (where two families reside) for an annual reunion. It was a very special time as we all were able to see how all the 'China sisters' have changed and to hear about some of the wonderful things that happened during the intervening months. In our final days last August in Guangzhou, China (where the American consultate is located), our group took the traditional China adoption photo on the red couch in the White Swan hotel there. To mark this memorable occasion again, the girls gathered again--on a red couch in the home of one St. Louis family who adopted from Anhui with us--for a photograph. this will give you the opportunity to see for yourself how these special little girls have changed. By the way, they are in the same order on the couch. (Gracee is on the far right.) While the girls weren't all that cooperative in their original sitting in China, they are far wiser and much more independent now. Those that weren't scrambling off the couch were crying. It took some ice cream (push-ups) to keep them in place for a few minutes. (That is what you see them all focusing on.)

Photo taken in St. Louis on July 8, 2006:

Photo taken in Guangzhou, China in August 2005:

American Beauty

2006-07-05T21:02:00.000-05:00

Gracee celebrated her first Fourth of July as an American citizen. While she did not care much for the fireworks (she called them "pops-pops"), she did enjoy the fresh corn on the cob and grilled ribeye steak. While she cannot appreciate the preciousness of the freedom she enjoys in the U.S., we are so pleased that she will have unlimited opportunities to excel in our great nation. Gracee continues to grow in every way. Her language skills are rapidly advancing. She usually uses a minimum of three words to convey a thought. She is a sweet little girl but is understanding she has 'rights,' too. In fact, she is often convinced her rights and her will trumps Mom's and Dad's. Thank you God for the blessings we have in this great country and for the grand joy to be Mom and Dad to little Gracee.

Our little bathing beauty...

2006-06-08T22:29:00.000-05:00

It's pooltime in Tennessee. Gracee has her kick board and is ready to jump in and begin her swimming lessons. She loves the pool. (She knows mom goes to the pool to work.) She is learning to blow out of her nose (basic breathing exercise). She likes to kick and splash in the water, but does not like to lie on her back in the water. Coach Mom expects her to be a little fish in the water by the end of the summer. As you can see from her natural pose, Gracee has a wonderful personality--especially for a 2-year-old.

Showing her teeth

2006-05-31T21:23:00.000-05:00

Gracee and her family went to a local rendition of a Chinese Dragon Boat Festival that also featured traditional Chinese dancing. As Gracee views a paper mache model of a Dragon boat, Gracee shows her teeth as well.for more information on this Chinese holiday, click here.

Another graduation...

2006-05-28T18:08:00.000-05:00

Just two weeks after one big brother graduated from college, another of Gracee's big brothers officially completed his high school education. We celebrated Samuel's graduation today. We are proud of him! His next step ... some classes at the local community college as he determines his future interests.

2006-05-28T17:19:00.000-05:00

Peeking through the sea of mortar boards, Samuel is clearly enjoying his graduation ceremonies. Actually the graduating "class" was posing for a group picture and we zoomed in on our favorite honoree.

2006-05-28T17:14:00.000-05:00

Two peas in a pod and two new graduates! Big brother Drew made a special visit home to see Samuel graduate.

Graduation Time

2006-05-10T20:53:00.000-05:00

Gracee's big brother, Drew, graduated May 6 from the University of Indianapolis with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology (chemistry minor). He lettered in swimming in each of his four years in college and was co-captain of the team in his junior and senior year. He was on the conference's All-Academic team. In his freshman year, he was named the conference's male freshman swimmer of the year. In his senior year, he was selected by collegeswimming.com as the NCAA Division II swimmer of the week twice. As I understand it, he was also a fierce competitor on the intramural fields as well.

His athletic accomplishments were equaled by his successes in the classroom. Oft-named to the Dean's list, Drew is a natural in his academic pursuits in the sciences.

Drew will reside in Indianapolis, living with several of his buddies who are going on to medical school and dental school. He intends to work for a year in lab research and then will pursue his Ph.D. in molecular biology. Here is the house they are renting. The house, which is reportedly on the national registry of historic homes, is in downtown Indianapolis.

Words cannot describe how proud we are of Drew. During his four years at the university, he brought only honor to his family and to his Lord. During our visit to campus for graduation last weekend, we met several of his professors. All of them spoke glowingly of Drew--not only for his academic work but for his personality and kindness.

Drew's gentle spirit is evidence of His willingness to allow God to work through and in him. We have valued your prayers and expressions of support for him as he pursued his degree. It seemed like only weeks earlier that we were unpacking our cars and setting up his dorm room for his freshman year. We are grateful to God for Drew and each of our wonderful children--from the oldest to the youngest to those we may not even know about yet. To God be the glory!

On this very special day, the family gathers for a photo in the commons area of the UIndy campus.

2006-05-01T17:39:00.000-05:00

One of Gracee's brothers, Samuel, performed in his annual school play recently. Samuel, second actor from the left, played a British chap seeking after a treasure in the drama, set in a former British colony in Africa. The play, which ran April 27-28, was staged in the Leiper's Fork community center. As might be expected, Samuel did a great job with his character. We are very proud of him!

A new sport for the family...

2006-04-28T12:51:00.000-05:00

One of Gracee's sisters, Anna, takes a break on the sidelines during a her school team's lacrosse game recently. New to the sport this year, she is doing a tremendous job with the game. By the way, the thing on her forehead is her protective eye gear.

A Very Special Weekend

2006-04-16T22:07:00.000-05:00

As for many families, Easter weekend is very special to our family. We are eternally grateful for what a loving God did through His Son--secure the future of those who by faith trust in Jesus as the one and only way to the Father. Because of God's grace and Christ's atoning work on the cross and His victory over death (the empty tomb), any man, woman, boy, or girl can secure their future in Jesus' presence for all of eternity. He loves us that much. Wow!

While Gracee doesn't understand the spiritual significance of this weekend, she did enjoy the special trappings of the day. The local Children's Hope International (www.childrenshope.org) office held an Easter egg hunt for children adopted through their office. While it's been a while since we've participated in an 'colored' egg hunt (the rest of our children are of course older and we have a hard time reconciling such an event with the resurrection of Jesus Christ), we thought Gracee would enjoy the experience and we enjoy the activities CHI sponsors. Gracee got into the hang of it right away, rushing across the field in search of the eggs. It had to be somewhat confusing for her though, given the fact that we have chickens and she sees us collect the real 'colored' eggs every day!

Gracee marked her first Easter at church wearing her Easter bonnet (bought after Easter last year before she even came home) and a new dress (with jacket) with a new pink purse to match (all at clearance at Marshalls this week!). Sure wish Mom-Mom could have been here in town to go to church with her. We know they both would have been sporting their beautiful Easter finery. Gracee found the hat to be an annoyance fairly soon after this picture was taken. And she found her new purse to be the perfect size to swing around and throw. She is so beautiful. God has blessed us in so many ways--all of our children make us the most blessed Mom and Dad in town.

2006-04-16T21:55:00.000-05:00

Part of the family gathers for an Easter photo--after church because there was no way we would have made it to church on time if we had tried to get this picture before we left. As you can see, Gracee is working at sliding off Mom's lap. What you can't see it that the family slaps Gracee's hat on her head just before Dad snaps the picture (because within seconds Little G pulls the hat off her head). That's why Mom is holding both of Gracee's arms. Awww...the fun of family photos!

2006-04-16T21:51:00.000-05:00

Gracee really likes that shiny egg. She seemed to enjoy herself. She was very pleased to discover that most of the eggs had candy (melted that it was) inside.

2006-04-16T21:50:00.000-05:00

More from the 'egg' hunt this Easter weekend. Gracee learns to blow bubbles.

2006-03-26T20:10:00.000-06:00

No, we're not caging our children. Guess who climbs into the dog kennel and pulls the door shut all by herself? Fortunately the dog is not in the cage right now, but one of our cats, Star, happens to be. When Gracee climbs back out, the cat is still there--none the worse for the wear. This cat is used to Gracee layiing on her and sitting on her like one would a horse--even outside the kennel. Ahhh...the life (and limberness) of toddler.

2006-03-26T20:01:00.000-06:00

Sporting her new hair-do (and Dad's dime store reading glasses), Gracee checks out the morning papers. From the look of it, she's checking the paper's gossip column (or maybe she is checking the status of her portfolio in the stock market listings.) Bt the way, you may have noticed her mouth is full. She just finished off her big brother Niles' cereal.

2006-03-26T19:11:00.000-06:00

Our littlest sweetheart tries to suppress a giggle as everyone laughs at her early morning antics. She is a charmer!

Careful with those scissors...

2006-03-22T19:04:00.000-06:00

After several weeks of having her hair in her eyes, Mom decided enough was enough. So Gracee joined Mom and Anna at the beauty parlor for a cut and trim. This is her first hair cut since coming home. As expected, Gracee looks so cute with her new cut.

Cereal time

2006-03-13T22:02:00.000-06:00

This morning Gracee decided she wanted to join Dad at the breakfast table ... with him in his chair eating his cereal (making sure she didn't get any banana slices on her spoon.) As you can see Dad has stuffed his mouth because Gracee is eating as fast as he is and he wants to make sure he gets his breakfast. As you can see, "we" emptied Dad's glass bowl and now we're starting on Gracee's pink bowl (that Mom fixed so Gracee would leave Dad's bowl alone.) (It didn't work. She helped finish off both bowls!)
Words can't describe how special these moments are. I thank God continually for my wonderful children and my loving wife. I am blessed.

2006-03-13T21:49:00.000-06:00

Gracee surveys her surroundings from high atop her play fort. What a big girl!

2006-03-13T21:43:00.000-06:00

Niles with several of his teammates on picture day at practice recently. He is the second player from the right. The boy likes his baseball. He is playing on a varsity school team and a recreational team. Go Knights!

2006-03-13T20:55:00.000-06:00

Gracee is glad that basketball season is over--Anna and Niles will be spending more time at home. Or will they? One season runs into another--Anna is learning a new sport,lacrossse, and Niles is playing baseball (on two teams.) Here is Anna out on the lacrosse field (the action is clearly at the other end of the field) in a recent game. She waits patiently for the ball to come her way.

The ball finally comes to the zone where Anna is stationed (in a "low attack" position.) She is moving to the goal. (You can see the little yellow ball right above of Anna's stick.)

2006-02-27T21:02:00.000-06:00

With all this wrapping, their must be a prize in here somewhere. Wait 'til Mom sees me. She'll be so proud that I am keeping busy and out of trouble!

2006-02-27T20:55:00.000-06:00

That little girl on the box has nothing on me! Take my picture and send it to Publix!

2006-02-25T21:39:00.000-06:00

Gracee admires big brother Samuel's new bass guitar.

Smile!

2006-02-21T18:20:00.000-06:00

Gracee and (most of) her family pose for a "make-up" picture for the church directory.

2006-02-11T20:26:00.000-06:00

Another birthday card ... I wonder if this one has any cash in it?

2006-02-11T20:21:00.000-06:00

More presents? Wow! I can't wait to see what's in this box. Happy Birthday Gracee!

2006-02-11T20:19:00.000-06:00

The moment she has been waiting for for...time to open presents. And what is this? A bathing suit and goggles? Mom's coaching friends want me to start training now! Thanks! I'm ready to get wet.

2006-02-11T20:12:00.001-06:00

Mom and Gracee enjoy a laugh as they await all of Little G's friends to arrive for her big party.

2006-02-11T20:12:00.000-06:00

Gracee's is dressed and ready for her 2nd birthday party--with plenty of Chinese lanterns and banners. Her guests will arrive soon. Happy Birthday!

Edwards Family Update

2006-02-06T14:20:00.000-06:00

Edwards Family Update Visit Gracee's big sister and brother-in-law's new blog!

2006-02-03T20:01:00.000-06:00

Surrounded by all her new 'friends' and fun stuff from the hospital by her side, Gracee says it's nice to be home. Thanks to all who prayed, visited, called, made food, and thought of Gracee while she was 'out of commission.' SHE'S BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER!!!

Home Sweet Home

2006-02-03T19:29:00.000-06:00

Gracee and her new big white bear are home. Discharged from the hospital today, she and her parents are grateful that this little 'side road' in Gracee's Big Adventure is behind them. While she went home with prescriptions for some powerful--and terrible-tasting--antibiotics, there is no doubt that Gracee is glad to be home with her toys, dogs, cats, and her own bed. She is doing great. She had a good nap and is eating well. We're still working through getting one of the medicines down though. As you can see on her mouth in the photograph as she sits in her car seat, Gracee enjoyed the chocolate milk that was readily available in the "nourishment" room right outside her room in the hospital.

2006-02-01T21:48:00.000-06:00

One thing about being in the hospital, people send you the neatest things. Here Gracee enjoys the balloons and stuffed dog (that looks like our dog Winston) that family members in Georgia sent her today. She is quite pleased with all the attention. Thanks!

On the road to recovery...

2006-02-01T21:15:00.000-06:00

Gracee came through her surgery today with flying colors. The doctor was pleased with the operation and with the way she bounced back this afternoon after the surgery. The nurses and physicians at VU Children's Hospital have been wonderful with her (and us) as we dealt with this unexpected twist in Gracee's Big Adventure. She ate very well this afternoon ... and finally ... went to sleep earlier this evening. She has been a real trooper. Once the anesthesia began to wear off, she began to be her old self. As you can see Gracee was out walking the halls and pushing a wagon in a desperate attempt to convince the medical staff she was ready to be discharged. (We're sure the hospital staff expected her to ride IN the wagon, which she actually did a little later.) It was all for naught though as everyone knew doctor's orders had to be followed and she has a few days of hospitalization still to go before she is released. We are grateful for the prayers that are being lifted up for her. God is faithful. We are thankful for those who have visited us and called us. It is so wonderful to have such caring friends and family.

Thank you for praying...

2006-01-31T11:08:00.000-06:00

Gracee was diagnosed with an infected lymph gland last week. Unfortunately the 'swelling' of the gland has not diminished a week later and the pediatrician has ordered CAT scan to determine what is going on. We are glad that she is feeling well and eating good. We appreciate your prayers for her (and us) as she undergoes this procedure and whatever treatment is prescribed to relieve this problem. It could mean an overnight stay in the hospital. We don't know, but we are confident that God does and that He is in control. Thank you for remembering little Gracee in this difficult part of her Big Adventure.

2006-01-23T22:06:00.000-06:00

She is the star of our family! What a sweetheart. We are so blessed!

School Time Vocabulary

2006-01-23T21:02:00.000-06:00

Already working hard during school time, Gracee is shocked to hear the class will be having a vocabulary pop quiz. And to think she hadn't ever heard English before last August. You might be interested to hear some of Gracee's special vocabulary: "gog" (dog); "goo" (her brother, Drew); "be" (as in belly, also says "abs"); "peas" (please); "dead dog" (Thank you. You have to say it very quickly). Many of her words are very clear: "cup," "neck," "pops" (as in the cereal),"ball," "bird," "cat," "yellow," "snack," "Niles," and "Anna." She doesn't say her own name, but now, when asked, "Where is Gracee?" She will point to herself.

2006-01-16T22:11:00.000-06:00

As the NFL playoffs wind down for this season, it seems Gracee can't believe that the odds-on favorite to capture the Super Bowl, the Indianapolis Colts, fell yesterday to the Steelers. "Wow," she said. "Who saw that coming? Surely not Peyton Manning!" Gracee's team, the Tennessee Titans, bowed out early--much to her chagrin. But...wait 'til next year, she says hopefully.

2005-12-28T20:40:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday Drew! Gracee is pleased to be in a big family--more birthdays mean lots of cake and ice cream throughout the year.

Who wants to snuggle?

2005-12-26T20:16:00.000-06:00

Stars, the cat, may have been in Daddy's chair first, but that gives Gracee all the more reason to lie down on her. While Stars (and her cat sister, Stripes) wiggle out of the pin as quick as they can--neither of them have reacted in anger. Good kitties!

A REAL Chatty Cathy!

2005-12-25T23:15:00.000-06:00

You'll never guess what Santa's little elves boxed up for us. Well, not really. She's such a little trickster! (Finding your 'forever family' is not that easy!)

A Christmas blessing...

2005-12-25T23:00:00.000-06:00

The celebration of Chrismas Day was even more special in 2005 as Gracee was introduced to the joy and wonder of the day in her home. While she didn't understand the life-changing spiritual meaning of the day, she discovered it was a fun day nonetheless.

Thoughout the holiday season, she didn't even touch the Christmas tree and started to unwrap only one present (it wasn't her's) before the big day. She seemed more surprised yesterday morning when she awoke to find that her crazy family had dragged the tree--that was in the family room--back outside where she knew it belonged.

Her big gift from Santa was her very own car! A friend of her's has a bigger model and she enjoyed it every time we visited their house. Now Gracee has her own set of wheels! Between the box her car came in and the car itself, she was a very happy girl. It didn't take long for her to catch on the unwrapping and was at the ready to help her brothers and sisters. Gracee seems to be changing by the day. Growing taller (more things are in her reach). Her vocabulary expanding (although it still takes decipering). Her personality growing richer (she can be a very demonstrative little girl). She is such a very special little girl and we are the better for her being a part of the family.

We recall waiting with anticipation last Christmas (2004) as our paperwork had been logged in by the Chinese government just over a month earlier. We knew we had several more months to ponder how our lives would change. But we never could have imagined how much it would change. It is a challenge at times having a toddler in the house again, but it is a challenge that we are glad to bear.

Everyone in the family has taken on part of the responsibility of having a little one in the house. Now we can't imagine it being any other way. We are so grateful to those who supported us in so many ways in Gracee's Big Adventure. We are anxious to see how God will bless in the New Year as Gracee looks toward her second birthday, Drew looks forward to graduation from college, Samuel works toward his high school graduation, and Anna and Niles move into high school. Wow! We're hanging on tight for the ride ahead!

2005-12-11T17:27:00.000-06:00

Decorating Christmas cookies, Gracee seems to have more icing on her face than on her cookies.

2005-12-11T17:23:00.000-06:00

Gracee tries her hand at culinary design. Joining two other families in our old neighborhood at an annual tradition of decorating cookies, Gracee didn't come home with any of her cookies--she at them! Happy Birthday Jesus!

Harvesting a tree--at Lowes!

2005-11-27T19:33:00.000-06:00

In an extraordinary short time, the family decides on the perfect Christmas tree. Perhaps it was because Dad promised to be totally agreeable in the process this year or because the temperature was in the 20s, we quickly settled on the family's 2005 tree. We can only imagine what Gracee thought (or didn't think) about the episode. With the tree now in place in the house--lights on and most of the ornaments unpacked--Gracee is quite impressed. Soon we will see if she decides to de-decorate everything within her reach. Merry Christmas!

2005-11-27T19:32:00.000-06:00

Gracee strikes a thoughtful pose. Perhaps she was pondering what Christmas tree would fit in our house or perhaps she was trying to figure out what we were doing walking in a forest at dusk in freezing temperatures.

Guess who's coming to Gracee's house?

2005-11-24T21:19:00.000-06:00

With all the immediate family in town, we decided it was time to make the annual (26th year in a row) pilgrimage to meet with old St. Nick. We had made a recon visit to the mall earlier in the month for Gracee to get a look at Santa Claus. (She calls him "claws.") The earlier visit went better than the official visit--although on the prior visit we merely waved to him. Fortunately big brother Niles was a buffer between the not-so-jolly Santa and Gracee. After several takes, Santa's adolescent elves at the mall snapped a decent picture and we were on our way. None too soon for Gracee. (BTW, this is my photo not the one we purchased.) Merry Christmas!!!

The calm before the storm--Right down Santa Claus Lane.

2005-11-24T21:18:00.000-06:00

The day before Thanksgiving and all through the mall.... Gracee visits Santa. She has NO idea of the excitement wrapped up in white fur and red velour that sits just around the corner.

MOMMA!!!!!!

2005-11-24T21:17:00.000-06:00

Get me away from this crazy man! I'll buy my own presents!!!

Thanksgiving Day 2005

2005-11-24T20:35:00.000-06:00

Looks like someone is ready for a feast! We are blessed that Gracee is such a great eater. So Thanksgiving Day provided a wide and delicious array of food to enjoy. No surprise but there was much to be thankful this year. We are incredibly thankful that God allowed our family to grow. We are grateful for the many people who prayed for us and supported us in bringing Gracee home. We are thankful for the fact that God protected Gracee before we met her (and that He continues to protect her.) We are tremendously grateful that because of Jesus' work on the cross, we who know Him have been adopted into the family of God--now that is a real "forever family."

The perfect costume...

2005-11-04T21:07:00.000-06:00

Gracee with her sister and two of her brothers--in costume, sort of. It could be she demanded they wear the beautiful outfits they bought in China. No question--they looked grand at church October 31st for the fall festival. Gracee stayed home with a friend and handed out candy to 'trick or treaters.'

Gracee goes to college

2005-11-04T20:47:00.000-06:00

Gracee made her first visit out of town to see her big brother, Drew, at the University of Indianapolis. She was the star of the show. Drew had plenty of friends who had been anxious to see her. Gracee was a great traveler and Drew was glad to see her--particularly because we ferried his winter clothes up to him. Along with students, Gracee found a puppy dog that lived around the corner from Drew. That was entertaining!

2005-10-27T20:15:00.000-05:00

Somebody likes corn on the cob. She gnaws away to get every morsel. Gracee loves her vegetables and we are grateful for that.

2005-10-27T20:07:00.000-05:00

Gracee hard at work 'coloring' her menu as most of the family (except Drew) gathered to eat BBQ at Famous Daves this week.

Always ready for a party...

2005-10-27T20:03:00.000-05:00

Gracee is always ready for a party and this week it was time to celebrate big brother Samuel's 18th birthday. A family meal at Famous Dave's Barbeque was followed by a special 'cookie' cake at home. Gracee enjoyed the barbecue, particularly the beef brisket and chicken, and corn on the cob, but saved plenty of room for the special cake Mom made.

2005-10-27T20:00:00.000-05:00

While this IS Gracee's Big Adventure, we thought it only appropriate that the birthday-boy get some face-time. Gracee loves her big brother Samuel and is always excited to be able to come into his room--with a parental escort of course. It is a dangerous place!

"Now who gave me that cute sweater?"

2005-10-23T22:15:00.000-05:00

Partytime for a little princess! Dad's office was kind to hold a special party for the new family member. She was pleased that green beans were on the menu. Fortunately, siblings Anna and Niles were on hand to help Gracee know who gave her each of the wonderful gifts. As usual, she WAS the star of the show, particularly enjoying all the pretty wrapping paper!

2005-10-23T22:11:00.000-05:00

Someone likes cake, especially the icing left behind on the plate. Now the look on her face reflects the fact that people are laughing at her. She doesn't like that. She takes her dining (especially dessert) very seriously.

2005-10-23T22:08:00.000-05:00

Life is sweet for Gracee. She likes these flowers. She can look out her window and see them. Her word for them, "flow," rhymes with "cow." (She won't be happy when the first frost comes and takes her flowers away.) Many of her words are a variant of the word's first syllable, e.g., "app" for apple. Smart little girl, isn't she?

2005-10-23T22:02:00.000-05:00

Life is wonderful for Gracee...and especially sweet for us with her home. She's not a big fan of her swing, but allowed Dadda to take her picture. She is one special little girl. Words cannot express the joy she has brought to our hearts. God is good.

Gracee's Big Adventure at full speed now!

2005-10-23T20:44:00.000-05:00

Three months ago this evening we were on pins and needles, anticipating the arrival of Grace the following morning at the hotel in Hefei. What a grand--and busy--three months we have enjoyed with Gracee home. We apologize that we haven't posted to the site since late August. It's not for a lack of photographs; Gracee has proven herself to be quite the willing model for the camera. She is walking now (three months ago she could barely sit up by herself on the hotel bed) and now talking Gracee-speak. (She barely made a sound the first day or two she was with us.)

Her vocabulary as of today: Momma; cat; gog (dog); night-night; cup; car; yellow; neck; eye; nose; toes; belly; Anna; Niles; thank you; flower; snack; bye-bye; more; and Dadda. About half the words have to be translated by one of us. There are some sounds even we don't know. She is a pro at blowing kisses!

Gracee is so much more of a blessing than we could ever imagined. She loves her family and we love her. She is perhaps the happiest child we have had as a toddler and instantly became a full-fledged member of the family. She is great eater. Her favorite foods are raw carrots, french fries, green beans, potato chips, chicken nuggets, Cheetos, squash, lettuce, bell peppers, and fresh tomatoes--just like her Daddy Ken liked.

Gracee is all wet...

2005-08-23T20:56:00.000-05:00

With a Mommy who is a swim coach and a big brother who is a collegiate swimmer and three other siblings who are swimmers in their own right, it's only natural that within two weeks after settling down at home that Gracee is in the pool. Gracee was introduced to the 'water' in her daily bathtime--which she loves--and took right to the swimming pool. Now she didn't swim laps or do a "no breather," but Mommy, Anna, and Niles (who were there) said she enjoyed splashing down into the pool (with assistance.) Swim on little Gracee!

Seeing Big Brother Off to School...

2005-08-21T11:16:00.000-05:00

Gracee joined her family in wishing her big brother, Drew, a safe trip back to college this morning. We know she will miss her big brother while he is away. We promised Drew we would make the trip to Indy this fall--both to visit with him and take him the rest of the stuff he couldn't fit in his car. We are all so grateful that Drew could be with the family for a very, very special summer that has changed our lives forever. The places we visited, the food we ate, the little shops in which we bargained, the people we met, and the joy of bringing home a new little sister are memories we all will share. Each member of the family contributed wonderfully in their own way to the start of Gracee's Big Adventure. We are grateful to God that we could do all this together. GO HOUNDS!!!

Where's my favorite pink pair of shorts?

2005-08-21T11:00:00.000-05:00

Gracee searches for her favorite outfit in the washing machine as Mom discovers a few more of Drew's dirty clothes that need to be cleaned. Drew has his car packed full as he heads north for his senior year of college. Who knew Drew had that many clothes?

Tennessee Titans Gain a New Fan

2005-08-20T18:58:00.000-05:00

Gracee was heartbroken Friday night after the Atlanta Falcons marched down the field to easily score on their first possession and then scored again by running back a Titans kick-off. [Actually she is just mad because her Daddy took something away from her.] She was all-grins later though, as the Titans rallied, gaining a win in their second preseason game. This girl is a real fan of Titans football!

2005-08-17T22:01:00.000-05:00

Growing up a little reader! Mom and Gracee read a board book together as Gracee winds down for night-night. It was four weeks today that our family boarded an airliner for Beijing, kicking off Gracee's Big Adventure in ernst. We stand amazed at all that has taken place in the last four weeks and are so grateful that God invited us to be a part of His work in giving Gracee a family. Gracee has a wonderful personality. She is very happy little girl. And we are making great progress in helping her understand that nighttime is made for sleeping! We are so pleased that so many folks are interested in her and her journey to our family. We are always pleased to talk about what God has done and about the many, many other little girls (and boys) who are waiting for their "forever family."

Guess who?

2005-08-13T19:35:00.000-05:00

It's been just over a week since we returned home with Gracee from China. For someone who had a pretty basic diet for nearly 18 months of her life, she is doing very well, eating nearly everything on her plate (including green beans, Romaine lettuce, carrots, and especially pizza.)
She is curious and now quite adept at crawling whereever she wants to go. She is uttering new and different sounds every day. And she likes to practice standing up all by herself. Gracee likes to ride in the car. She usually takes that opportunity to grab a quick nap. We continue to 'fine tune' her sleep habits (and are anticipating compliance from her any day now.) It is hard to believe that just two weeks ago we were re-packing our bags after a soggy visit to Beijing and looking forward to the flight the next day to Gracee's province. Two weeks we did not even know her (in person) and today it seems like she has been a part of our family forever. We know only God in His grace can work miracles like this.

A Big Day for Gracee

2005-08-08T19:11:00.000-05:00

Gracee's first week in the U.S. started with a flurry as she and her Mommy and Daddy tried to shake off the effects of international travel. Gracee went to Sunday School with Mom and Dad (youth) and then on to worship service where she slept for most of the service (no reflection on the pastor's sermon). To celebrate Gracee's homecoming, we went to a local Chinese buffet after church. Unfortunately Chinese food in America (at the buffet) bears little resemblance to Chinese food in China (and Gracee seemed to know the difference.)

Gracee's first visit to the pediatrician was Monday morning and it was painful as the doctor needed to draw three vials of blood plus do a skin test. She was not happy. On first examination her physician pronounced her healthy but she'll go back in a few weeks for her 18-month visit and for immunizations. As a goodwill gesture, Dad took her to Burger King next to the clinic where she could have french fries--one of her favorite treats. She is becoming more vocal each day. Gracee is a very special little girl whose smile really can brighten a room. God has blessed us mightily in allowing us to be her Mommy and Daddy.

2005-08-08T19:07:00.000-05:00

Guess who's grocery shopping? Gracee made her first visit to our favorite grocery store yesterday. She wasn't all that impressed until she got to the bakery and was given a sugar cookie. Yum. Yum. Given the number of visits the family makes to the store in a year, we're sure Publix will soon be Gracee's favorite grocery store as well.

2005-08-06T12:40:00.001-05:00

She's stylin' now! Gracee sports a new hair do, compliments of her brother Niles. Instead of the gel he uses to craft his artistic hair styles, Niles used tap water on Gracee's hair. I think she likes it! [Note the shirt she's wearing--courtesy of The Swift, the band her big brother (in-law) Britt is in. That Gracee is a real rocker! Thanks Cadle and Britt.]

An American Girl...

2005-08-06T12:40:00.000-05:00

She's an American girl now! Gracee waves the red, white, and blue on her first full day at home. We're working on getting our days and nights straightened out. All of the family was up at 3:00 this morning (Saturday). We had our breakfast and then went back to bed at 5:00 a.m. for a few more hours of sleep (except Niles who couldn't go to sleep so he went outside and got the paper, emptied the dishwasher, cut some flowers for Mom, and made coffee). Everyone feels much better (except Niles who is now tired). We are even planning our first trip out of the house since we arrived home--to get food for the young chickens and groceries (for the family) at Publix. Gracee has become remarkably more vocal since we got home. It sure sounds like she is saying "da-da." We are so blessed to have friends from church and the community bringing dinner to us every night. Gracee had her first barbeque sandwich Friday night. But her favorite were the Lay's potato chips!

Eating Thai in China...

2005-08-06T12:06:00.000-05:00

On our last night in China, we joined our new friends--the Twogoods--for a meal at a Thai restaurant on Shamian Island (The Cow and Bridge restaurant in Guangzhou). It was very special to be on this exciting adventure with a wonderful family like their's. Their daughter, Ruth, also came from the Anhui province, but a different city. We are blessed to know them and look forward to meeting up with them again.

Gracee is home!!!

2005-08-05T10:00:00.000-05:00

After nearly 22 hours of travel on three airliners, Gracee is home! The little girl from Bengbu was greeted by loving friends and family at the airport who had come to celebrate her homecoming. Dear friends had supper at the house for us already (picture shown demonstrates Gracee likes Mexican food, too) and breakfast for us this morning.

Gracee did very well on the flights: taking naps, sitting on the floor and tearing up airline magazines, eating airline meals, and most importantly, gobbling up Cheerios. She is doing well at home. She's not sure about our dogs (Winston and Noah in the house). The dogs are excited to have this source of table food. She's probably perplexed at these baby-sized creatures covered with hair. She finds the chickens and the cats interesting. She is exploring the house by 'walking' with the assistance of her brothers and sister and has pulled the first book off a bookshelf, a commentary on the book of Galatians (good choice). Since she got us out of bed at 5:30 this morning, we've been busy 'baby-proofing' the house. Since it's been a while since we had a little one in the house, we are learning all over again what havoc a 30 inch little person can do. Gracee is remarkably flexible and is already 'right at home.' We are so glad to be home. Thank you for praying for us. What wonderful friends and family we have that care so much for us.

2005-08-05T09:59:00.000-05:00

Secure in her Mommy's arms. Gracee proved to be a great international traveler, sleeping for many miles on her journey to her new home.

2005-08-05T09:56:00.000-05:00

Little Gracee traveled to America on this 747 airliner. She became an American citizen after leaving the customs hall at the Minneapolis airplane where the U.S. visa in her Chinese passport was stamped.