*WHAT* Is She Drinking??

Those of you who grew up in Charles' and Audrey's household know what Luci is drinking...and you know why it is a family tradition of sorts. The rest of you need to hear the story....

Mom and Dad took us on family trips to Tennessee to visit the cousins. Seven people in one station wagon (five of them kids who could eat you out of house and home) was a guarantee of interesting meals. Usually we were subjected to canned Vienna sausages and Shasta soda pop (warm, of course--there was no room in the wagon for an ice chest). But on this trip, Mom and Dad got giddy and went through a KFC drive-thru and got a bucket of chicken with all the trimmings. We got to the next rest stop and, oh, we were so excited to not be eating Vienna sausages. But Dad forgot the drinks. We didn't even have warm Shasta. So, we passed around the gravy container and sipped.

There were two other things memorable about that rest stop--Mom gagging at the sight of us as we drank gravy, and Charlie in the middle of the creek, patting a boulder and telling us he was on "a nice rock." Let him tell you about that.

Audrey's Family

We got to have Audrey's family over twice after Thanksgiving. It was a lot of fun seeing everyone all together. Here are a few shots...but Audrey, you must be a shy girl! Between your Dad and me, we only got one photo of you in the background and one of the back of your head changing Haley's diaper (and that one didn't get turned correctly, so it looks kind of funny down below).

Proud daddy Thom with baby Haley.
Papa John with Haley.
Bryan surprised Maggie and Luci with the camera. Maggie is a real ham!
The kids' table. Bryan, Maggie, JT and Luci. This one is called, "What is Haley doing?" It should also be called, "Why can't Susan get the photo rotated?"

Our Christmas Wish

These words were written by Brad Avery; it is a song sung by the group Third Day. When the CD was published, Brad and his family were still waiting for their China girl to come home. My friend Maryellen in New York listened to this with her kids and they named it "Luci's Song." It really seems to describe the feelings we went through before Luci came home. Here are JT, Luci and Bryan in front of our tree this year. This is Luci's second Christmas with us. She spent one Christmas in China without us. There's a little girl trembling on a cold December morn
Crying for mama's arms
At an orphanage just outside a little China town
Where the forgotten are

But half a world away I hang the stockings by the fire
And dream about the day when I can finally call you mine

It's Christmas time again but you're not home
Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone
So tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in His arms
And tell you from my heart
I wish you Merry Christmas

As I hang the tinsel on the tree and watch the twinkling lights
I'm warmed by the fire's glow
Outside the children tumble in a wonderland of white
And make angels in the snow

But half a world away you try your best to fight the tears
And hope that Heaven's Angels come to carry you here

Christmas is the time we celebrate the Holy Child
And we celebrate His perfect gift of love
He came to Earth to give His life and prepare a place for us
So we could have a home with Him above

It's Christmas time again and now you're home
Your family is here so you will never be alone
So tonight before you go to sleep, I'll hold you in my arms
And tell you from my heart
I tell you from my heart
I wish you Merry Christmas

Kids and Yu

Yu, our friend from Shenyang, China, studying at UNA, is moving to Houston to finish her studies. We are going to miss her so much. She is a beautiful young lady, very sweet and kind.

Yu with Haley, Audrey's new baby.

Yu with Luci and Bryan wearing their mei mei (little sister) and geh geh (big brother) shirts. We gave Yu a jie jie (big sister) t-shirt. She asked the kids to call her "jie jie" because she always wanted little brothers and sisters. Our friends Kathy and Greg, who just got back from China with their own little China doll, got the jie jie shirt for us to give to Yu.
Can you read her forehead? Luci has a sticker that says, "may cause drowsiness." She certainly caused plenty of drowsiness for me! In a 30 day period in October and November, I had 5 contacts with the pedatrician because of her--allergies, sinus infection, flu shot, pink eye and a dislocated elbow! The "nursemaid's elbow" happened at our new house--a total accident that had me thinking her arm was broken. This is the same house where Bryan broke his arm in July. We told JT that he has to wear full body armor, since he's the only one who is still whole. Luci and Maggie have a tea party.

Heath's Family

We met up with Heath and Shanna and Sophia at Cracker Barrel. Shanna is 6 months pregnant, could you tell? She is so tiny! Sara is due on March 1st.
John holding Luci and Sophia.
Aunt Luci and Niece Sophia yakking it up on the front porch.

Moving Day!

JT had his karate test on moving day. JT, Luci and I missed the big move. (I didn't realize that this photo was sideways until I posted it here!)

Garage is filled up. Heath surprised us by being in town and he came to help. So did Julie and Jud and Barry from church, and Bryan.
Luci helped pack up boxes in the apartment.
Bryan put together Luci's bed. He was a really big help.