We took Jenna to the doc today to have her heart checked out.  Her story is this … she was born with a imperfection of the heart known as VSD.  When she was around 2 years or so they opened her up and engaged in some patchwork.  Everything seemed to be successful (according to her Chinese medicals – which were actually very thorough); however, we wanted to have a pediatric cardiologist check her out … so we did!  This was to be a pain free morning … no shots, pricks, knocks or bangs. Continue Reading…

Well … we're home and Jenna is settling in very nicely (I'll have some pics up from home on FB soon).  Lucy is figuring a few things out – some through parental prompting.  But hey … what are we here for right??  Just pray that our prompting is lock step with the that of the Holy Spirit – very important, yet not so easy!

While in China, Lucy said something fairly incredible that I'll use for some directive here.  She stated (at a moment that I'll reveal later) that we should "Keep Your Courage & Forget Your Mind!"  When she muttered it initially and even though I heard it correctly, I said WHAT!!  Again she said what I just said she said. You know the mouths of babes thing? … one of those times!  So … it led me to this.  What is true faith??  It is thrilling … yet calm!  It is concrete … yet full of questions!  It is courageous and unseeing!  Now be wary that should this faith lie in the lap of anything other than Jesus Christ, please know it will for sure return void.  Christ calls us to be courageous by giving our whole to him … mind, body, soul, hands (in my case finger nails - got to let em grow!), heart, feet!

Prize for the first one to guess what we were doing when Lucy said this. 

Hey!!  A few more pics before we head home in the morning.  Getting up around 5:00 in the AM (I guess we're gettin' the worm tomorrow) and heading to the airport around 7. 

For those who'd like the info, we are flying in on Delta flight #DL2768.  Leaves Seattle around 1:25 pm and arrives at Hartsfield at 9:10 pm on Friday the 21st. C'mon down. It'll be a party.

Thanks to all for prayers and friendship!!

leo, anna, lucy & jenna

P.S.  Yes, those are chicken feet!!  Don't knock em …!! Continue Reading…

Here are a few more pics from the Far East.  I put pictures that didn't include Lucy or Jenna on my last "what we've been doing" post.  Assuming those weren't really what you wanted to see …  so, here you go! Continue Reading…

Well … it's 9:00 in the PM (at least it was when I started this post) here in Guangzhou and we just got back from Starbucks.  We got a Carmel Macchiatto … No really!!

As Anna mentioned I've either been returning some emails for biz or I've fallen asleep with the girls (mainly fallen asleep with the girls I must admit!) over the last couple of nights/naptimes and I've been overly remise in getting some pics on here.  So here are some more pics wrapped into a recap of the first week that we've spent here in China. Continue Reading…

Here are a few pics from Week 1.  Look for Week 1 in rewind sometime in the morning (tonight for you). Continue Reading…

Leo's been getting a little lazy with his posts lately.  For some reason, he's been spending his time online answering work emails.  But right now he's taking a nap with the girls.  I have no idea how to post pictures, so I can't help out there.  Hopefully he'll have time to do that tonight. 

So, a little bit more "authentic" Chinese today.  Chopsticks and Chinese food for lunch anyway.  But for the most part, we're still enjoying a lot of American comforts.  It's really neat to see how similarly Jenna and Lucy eat.  They both ate two bowls of soup for lunch and love sauteed celery and lily leaf. Continue Reading…

I'm all for authentic…I like things to be real.  But as we were making our way from the Guangzhou airport to our hotel, The White Swan, authenticity lost out.  Getting to Guangzhou is like leaving real China and arriving in the Epcot version of China.  After 6 nights of "the real deal," I was ready for fake.  The lights in Guangzhou look more like Vegas than Beijing, and they don't even bring you chopsticks with your meal here.  Breakfast this morning was completely recognizable…french toast, omelet, good coffee.  Continue Reading…

Hello once again.  Everyone's napping so I thought I'd take a moment to expound upon the Lucy comment in yesterday's entry.

Remember when you first encountered your shadow? – I don't, but maybe you do– and if not, what a dandy opportunity to stretch your imagination.  Create in your mind a brilliant day at the park.  You're running through a green grassy field and you notice out of your eye's corner a shaded figure near and below you.  As you glace down, Continue Reading…

OK…Leo will be back with his more entertaining posts later this afternoon.  We're heading to a museum this morning, but I thought I'd jot down a few things about Jenna.

1. She loves orange marmalade and cocoa puffs.

2. Totally potty-trained.  Can you believe I accomplished this in only one day?!!!! 

3. Wants to do EVERYTHING her big sister does.  EVERYTHING.

4. Total neat-freak.  LOVE IT!  She puts everything away in the right place, and if something is in the wrong place, she finds the right bag for it and brings it to me.

5. Wants her hair up.  No hair in her face.

6. Joyful, playful, and happy!

7. Plays with play-doh constantly.

8. Can say motorcycle, car, bicycle…all thanks to "Baby Einstein."

9. Loves to say "zou le" (Let's go!)

10. Singing "Wheels on the Bus" as I write this, complete with hand motions!