A Special Day

September 17 will always be a special day for a few reasons. First of all, it is the day Steve and I finally met our daughter, Anna Grace, for the first time. Second of all, it was my grandmother's birthday and the same grandma who Anna is named after. God's timing is perfect!! We are forever grateful to God for this precious gift He has given (entrusted) to us. She is a delight and our hearts are filled to overflowing. We are also grateful to God for the wonderful families that we met and traveled with, our forever friends and Anna's forever sisters. Our lives have truly been enriched. Happy Gotcha Day or Family Day to all our China sisters and families.

Waiting to go in Anna's orphanage. To say our hearts were racing is an understatement.

Once we were all back on the bus and it started to leave, every baby fell asleep. It was amazing and so quiet.

Playing with her baby. This is the same day.

This was a few days later in Guangzhou. We shopped til we literally dropped.

Today, our beautiful 4 year old Anna. She loves life, preschool, church, gymnastics and playing wild with daddy. All around happy little girl.

You're never too young

Most of you know I love coupons and therefore buy 3-4 Sunday papers. Well, Ms. Anna saw that daddy was going outside to read the paper while waiting for the grill to heat up and she grabbed her favorite flyer and headed outside too.


She didn't see me taking this picture through the screen.

These next two pictures are "staged" but cute nonetheless.

3 Years Ago...

Three years ago today Steve and I started our journey to China. Wow, what a long flight!! That was a whirlwind trip full of excitement, anticipation, nervousness, new friends, forever friends and sisters and finally meeting our daughter. It was a trip of a lifetime that forever changed us and our family. We are very grateful to God for how He provided, in His time, our beautiful daughter, Yu Xiao Xiao - Anna Grace. Our hearts overflow with joy because of her.

Great friends

Fun times with the Zautis family. We were thrilled when we Ava Bogen was able to come for a few hours.


Trampoline fun.

You gotta love fudgicles.

Silly girls.

Birthday Fun

Anna had a great Fancy Nancy birthday party. It was so fun to watch all her friends. They giggled and played and got along so nicely. We had a great time.

Anna and her friends playing before the "real" party started

Table is set, balloons ready, let the party get started.

They made wands.

After everyone left. She was SO happy (not that they left but that she had a great party).


This is what six 4 year olds can do in a matter of minutes!!