China Mission Trip 2015

Many moons ago, while visiting Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC, I happened to spy a mother and her Chinese daughter as they admired the animals.  Her daughter reminded me very much of our little Maddox.  I went over and politely introduced myself and asked where her daughter was born.  To my surprise the mother answered, "Guizhou."  Guizhou is where our Maddox was born and it is where our Maddox was still waiting on this particular day.  We exchanged contact info and became Facebook friends and kept acquainted through these two methods of communication.  

Last year,  this mother, Brandi, traveled to China on a mission trip and I followed along.  Shortly after she returned, she announced she would be leading a mission trip to China in 2015.  I immediately told her I wanted more information and I felt called to join her.  Pryce and I soon signed up and the rest is history!

So, we have arrived in Beijing on our first mission trip ever!  We landed, and Pryce immediately dove into the Chinese culture and devoured duck during our first meal here.  We are traveling with 12 other adults and as I type, it is SNOWING.  YIKES!  Our real mission begins on Sunday when we travel to be in an orphanage for the rest of our stay. We are thankful for this opportunity and look forward to seeing our purpose revealed during our time here!  

Today will be spent on the Great Wall of China.....in SNOW - Brrr!  

                                                                       

Happy Halloween 2015

Our fabulous five!  I am savoring these moments when they are all together and smiling!

 Our beautiful Maddox....she was beaming with joy on this day.

 These two besties took on the patch together to find just the right pumpkin....

 there were struggles involved but nothing kept them from giggling....

 what a treasure it is to have them together!

 This little cherub was shouting, "Hey, mommy, wook!  I got one!"  She was so excited to find just the right pumpkin for her to hold all by herself.

 Other pumpkins, in her opinion, we just made for sitting:)

 The whole gang....

And another Maddox photo....she was on a photogenic role this particular day!

 Our fall festival at church was a huge hit this year as well!  Lots of sliding, and train riding, and jumping involved....and candy.

 Pumpkin carving gone new age.....we typically do the old style carve, two ears, a triangle nose and a crooked mouth.  

 This year, the Mohrs encouraged us to get a bit fancy....lots of fun and they really turned out well!

 While carving was taking place, some kiddos chose to get ready for the trick or treating event....Maddox is our resident make-up artist.

 My three baby girls....so fun to see them grow together!

 A clown, so fitting for her personality.

An Egyptian princess, fitting too as she will be something extravagant as she grows.

And a cat, fitting as well....she is so sweet and sly and happy most all of the time!

 The dynamic duo....Chloe was so sweet to trick-or-treat with MK.  She wasn't convinced this was going to be how she spent her Halloween but she trudged forward and supported MK on her mission for chocolate!

 Never a dull moment....

 Maryn was all about trick or treating for the first 20 or so houses.....

 I am pretty sure she never said, "Trick or Treat" but she swindled quite a variety of candy from everyone she approached.

 The big girls ran ahead and paved the way....

 while we lagged behind and took pics and chatted!

 This pic pretty much sums up our Halloween evening....a bit of crazy, a bit cross-eyed, and a little sweetness.  It was the first Halloween where all of my babies were not all together.  So goes the life of growing up.....friends reign on the social front so off C and P went to do their thing!

 The candy sorting....they all came together for a bit of sorting....some for them and lots for our Operation Christmas Child kiddos.  

 And a bit of Halloween card reading!  MK is such a huge help with Maryn....she adores her and thinks she is the best thing ever!  Thank you G-Mom and G-Dad for the goodies!

This Fall has brought on so many good changes in our lives!  One huge change and asset is the Mohr family.  We first met the Mohrs in China.  They were traveling to bring home their daughter Chloe and we were traveling to bring home MK.

Our first glimpse of their family was in Tokyo and we have been like family ever since.  This past summer, they had a job opportunity here.  One thing led to another and now they are our neighbors!  We are thrilled to have them with us doing life! 

 MK and Chloe love having each other....they go to school together and come home together, they play together and have sleep overs, they giggle the best giggles and they....well, they get that brothers sometimes have their own ideas on how things should look!  

Fall also brought us the opportunity to see my Christina.  Christina is so dear to me.....she was 8 when we first met and I can still recall that first day together, her on the playground so excited to meet me - me in college and her in second grade.  We were fast friends and I haven't gone a day without thinking of her since.  So thankful for her!  

And the gift of neighbors.  Nancy and Marion were our neighbors in Boston.  Marion has family in SC so each year we have the pleasure of seeing them when they come to visit his family.  We love this time together!

One more zoo pic....Maddox climbed up and wanted a pic with Mr. Fox.

EEKKK!!!  My favorite boys all in one pic....all four of these men are the best!  My dad graciously did a BBQ fundraiser to help Pryce and me come up with the remaining funds for our trip to China.  We raised every penny needed for our trip and now the countdown has begun.  T minus 12 days and we are off!  

This girl.  Sending her to school this year was by far the best decision we have made.  She is THRIVING and we love seeing her love for school and her friends and her fabulous teachers.  They have all played a part in making 3rd grade a success, and for this, we are so thankful!  

Colin is thriving as well.  His start was a bit bumpier.  He didn't love it.  In fact, he hated it.  He didn't know anyone in the school of 1500 kids....he was swimming upstream for the first month.  BUT, time has been on his side and, though he doesn't love being there, he is tolerating it as most teenagers do.  And he is doing well academically and socially!

He obtained an academic letter this past week for making all As last year!  While he enjoyed cake and soda, Ryan and I enjoyed seeing him honored among the top 15% of the school population in academic excellence!

So we go from high school excellence to preschool Fall happenings....

our two littlest pumpkins visited the pumpkin patch at their school this week....pumpkins, treats and a hayride were on the agenda!

Maddox is so excited to go to school each day.  She loves her teacher and her friends....two girls and a whole lot of boys in her class!  They are all so sweet and the stories we hear each day are fabulous!  

Random Maryn....each night she is granted a few moments of Ipad time in our bed before she goes to sleep for the night.  On this night, we came in to find her watching Barney....and she had curled her hair!  

Family getaways are our favorite times!  On this day, we escaped the madness of everyday life and schedules, and we took on the Great Wolf Lodge!

The girls and the boys were thrilled....time away, time with family, time to ourselves....

this is what happens when you are the 5th....mom forgets your PJs so you sleep in your big brother's tshirt and you get to drink the last drop of Coke because it's just what the littlest is allowed to do!  

We swam and swam and played all day and night!  

The added bonus was meeting Emma, Jay, Uncle Bert and Aunt Nellie there too!  Super fun times and great memories made!  

Family Selfie....all families do this, right?  

 Maddox is quite the nail painter...little to no mess and she does a fantastic job!

 Our family made a day of roller skating and this little one was right in the middle of it!

 And Maddox went from holding on to my hand to speeding around the rink by herself!

 Speaking of Miss Maddox....

 seriously, there is never.a.dull.moment with Maddox.  She is full of antics and fun!

 These two cuties.  So hard to believe she is home....so hard to believe both are here really!  Maryn, our "surprise" baby....and Kendyl, to think just over a year ago both of their lives changed forever!  

 This month is full of annual doctor appointments.  And sometimes that means more than just the patient has to go for the visit.  Fun times.  He was thrilled with all of the above!

 MK is loving school.  We could not have asked for a better year for her!  And she is loving her time with friends....and playdates are always fun too, especially when Oreo balls are involved.  

 Oh this girl....

 she has roped us all in!

 Even on her worst days, she is a shining light in all of our lives!

 Love her and so thankful for her life.