Happy Father's Day

Don't know what I did to deserve this guy, but he is the happiest man on the planet.  Don't know how he does it - things get crazy around here, but he never loses his cool.  Never.  Can't imagine doing this crazy life of mine with anyone else.....  We love you!

Awards Day

Wednesday was Awards Day at our school.  

Yep, I'm just a wee bit proud!

Sunday Snapshot

I'm not an official participant in the blog world Sunday Snapshot, but wanted to share this one....

Last fall we had a great picture made on this tree of all the Barbee grandchildren.  This super cool tree is in my sister-in-law's yard.  That was pre-Mia and baby Ty - so yesterday we did a new photo with them included.  Not too shabby for us nonprofessional photographers.

They are a great bunch of kids from the oldest to the youngest and I'm so glad my kids get to grow up making memories with all of them.  The oldest ones are especially good sports at participating in these crazy photo shoots that we dream up.

Not the best photo of Mia - she was terrified of falling of the tree.

And for those of you wondering, there was an adult within inches of baby Ty.  In fact, I had to crop out his hand....

Chapel Hill Visit

Yesterday was Mia's first consultation with the craniofacial team in Chapel Hill regarding her cleft lip and palate.  It was a long day, but she did great.  It was nice to have a team approach and hear from each different specialty area.  They will all meet and then determine the plan for the future.  Her repair in China was done very well, so we were thankful to know we are off to a good start.  Mia was a real trooper. I was so proud of her for sticking it out through the long, long day.

They Know....

Our dear friends, The Bryants, will be leaving on June 4th to adopt their precious son, Hudson, from China.  He is their 7th child and their 3rd adoption.  You see, the Bryants know and they are acting on what they know.....

"Once our eyes are opened we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know and holds us responsible to act."  Proverbs 24:12

Hudson Bryant

Follow their trip   ......   http://www.lillymakesfive.blogspot.com/

I'm Drowning.....

Lest anyone dare think I have it all together, today is one of those days.  I tried to sit here for a few minutes and think of a cute, sweet post with some darling pictures, but the truth is I'm not feeling it today.  I look around and slowly begin to feel like I can't breathe.  So much to do - and just not enough hands or energy to do it all...... 

Three Years Home

Three years ago today....

Lainie May 2007

I met the child that changed my life forever.


When we finally decided to pursue adoption after many months of trying to avoid, deny, and refuse it, we thought it would just be a little detour from our original plan for our family.  We thought, "Okay Lord, we will do this thing  and then we will get on with life as usual."  WE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG.  We had no idea that we would never be able to live as we had previously.  We had been changed in the deepest depths of our soul.  Our eyes had been opened and our hearts had been broken by the plight of the orphan.   We could not go on with life as usual.  We had been changed.  We could not forget all that we had seen, heard and learned.  We could not stop wondering what else we could do.  How else can we help these precious children who just need families?   So, as we looked into this precious face of our child on May 14, 2007, we knew that there would be no going back.  We weren't just on a little detour.  We are now going down a totally different road than we ever expected to be traveling.   You see, now we know.

It is like the Bible tells us in Proverbs 24:12......

"Once our eyes are opened we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know and holds us responsible to act."

What I knew after May 14, 2007 was that orphans need families.  That is God's plan for the orphan. His word says he holds us responsible.

There are many wonderful organizations that we can give our money to that will help provide them with food, clothing and an education and those are all good things, but what they need most is the love of a family.

Now you know.  What will you do?

Just think.  If you find room in your heart for an orphan, you may just have room in your family for a blessing that looks something like this:

Lainie May 2010

Thank you Lord for opening our eyes and our hearts to the plight of your children.  Thank you for blessing us with this little girl who has brought us joy that is unspeakable.  Open the eyes of your people Lord.  Draw them to these children who so desperately need the family that only they can provide.