Happy Anniversary Baby....March 18th

We have been on an amazing adventure the past week and didn't have good internet connection so couldn't update blog. Even though we hoped to update, it has been a blessing to pull away from technology and enjoy special time with friends and "family" here.

Last week ~

On March 18th, Charles and I celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary! When we talked about a special weekend trip last fall to celebrate our anniversary, we had no idea we would be making a trip to China. How wonderful to be here in the country where we became parents twelve years ago to celebrate our silver anniversary!

Charles surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers! Tuesday evening celebration dinner was more special than we could have planned! Duck Restaurant in Luoyang was the location and we were joined by the Martins, Renichs, Rita and JonaLyn who are special friends who work at Maria's Big House of Hope. Dinner was served at a huge round table in a private room with so many dishes of delicious Chinese food! What a special celebration of our love for each other and where God has led us through these years.

Out and About In Beijing

Last Friday, we went on an outing to Beijing with Mikey who works at Hope and has lived in China for several years! We had lunch then Baskin-Robbins ice cream for dessert! Then, we went to IKEA in Beijing. That place was huge! We had never been to IKEA! It was three stories and everywhere we turned, there was another display. I saw a lot of things I liked that I couldn’t bring home with me. Mom is getting the two-bedroom apartment at Hope ready for a family to live in for the next year as they move there to help with the babies.

Saturday, we went to airport to get Dad as he came back after having to leave to work at home for a while. He came in at Capital Airport Terminal 2 which is where he and mom flew in each time they adopted one of us. Now there is a newer terminal for most international flights that is huge and where we came in a few weeks ago.

On Sunday we go to the international church that is approved for foreign passport holders to attend. What a blessing to worship each week with people from around the world! On the way to church, we go to Starbucks and McDonalds which is the Hope staff and volunteers routine! Hope is about 35 minutes from this area so this is a special treat each week!

~Zara

Birthdays, Preschool and Friends

Last week was a wonderful week! There was a party to celebrate the March birthdays of babies. Nobody really knows for sure when all the babies birthdays are.

When I hold the babies, I feel like I’m a mom. The babies hold their arms up to me when I walk in a room and want to be in my arms!

Three 11th graders from Singapore came to volunteer for a few days. They were very nice and were from three other countries so they had great accents! They helped in preschool each day. At night we played cards – King’s Corner, Uno and Old Maid! It was really fun!

~Zola

Wonderfully Busy Week

Our days here are wonderfully busy and filled with a lot of neat experiences. The girls had hoped to blog more this week but have been busier than expected with babies and new friends.

To our BHCC 5th and 6th grade girls, sorry Skype wasn't a good connection today. We were so excited to share with you but glad we could hear your sweet voices.

We appreciate your continued prayers for us and pray for forever families for these little boys and girls. They are precious and need and deserve the love of family.

Here's a glimpse into the week with some of our little friends!



This sweet little guy loves all of us girls and his nanny wanted Zena to wake him up this morning as it was past his getting up time! There was a lot going on around him and he was just sleeping through it!

To Market, To Market....

Today, Zena, Zola, mom, Jenni, and I walked to the market that is held in the township every five days. We walk a lot here and it is about two miles to the market day area. It was so fun! There is nothing you can compare to this market! When we got to the market it was crazy! There were hundreds of booths. We all stayed close together because in China there is a lot of pushing and shoving. They don’t think of it being rude or ugly, it is just their culture.

We also saw several things there that you would not have seen in the USA. Everywhere you turned there was a stand or cloth on the ground with the things that person sold. There was everything…live fish to jewelry to clothing to pet dogs to vegetables to handmade stools…I mean there was everything you needed, and even more! There is another one in five days, so we plan to go to that one too!

It is so fun to see Chinese culture and how everything is so different here than in the U.S. We miss you all!

~Zara

Off to School We Go!

The past five days we have been helping the preschool teacher teach the babies and toddlers. The two oldest children are young three year olds. Jenni has five classes each day, three in the morning and two in the afternoon. The first class starts at 7:45 in the morning! It is great to see the children learn new things and have so much fun!

Tuesday, I helped teach all the classes, it was fun but tiring! Usually one or two of us helps with each class throughout the day. It takes a lot of energy to teach the children! I have even greater respect now for my teachers and how much energy it uses to teach several classes a day!

The preschool teacher is a volunteer at Hope Foster Home for one year. She has been here for six months and lives on-site. Jenni was adopted at several years old and grew up in the U.S. She is so patient with the children and such a gifted teacher. For instance, she gives them special snacks as visuals and plans neat crafts. This week the class is learning the letter L and she made lemonade for them to drink, showed them a lemon and planned a lion craft.

The children enjoy play-doh and use beautiful aprons the McKeeby family donated recently. Mrs. McKeeby handmade the aprons.

Each day in preschool is a fun time of learning with water activity, bubbles, reading, art and music.

~Zara

This and That!

When we visited the village market (probably 16 x 20 feet), Zena found the largest carrot we have ever seen! Yesterday we at it and it was so delicious and a bit sweet!


Zo lost a tooth earlier in the week. We had no idea if the Tooth Fairy would find her in China! Then we wondered if the Tooth Fairy would bring US currency or RMB. Took two days for the TF to find her but TF came through!