To God Be The Glory!!

What a beautiful family... on vacation in NC at an old homestead.


Their cousin got a BB gun for Christmas... notice the concentrating tongue action!



Making the annual Christmas cookies!




Birthday Party for Jesus! The Nabors Family didn't get to join us this year... don't worry guys we ate enough cake for us all!





Isaac's new favorite sandwich... peanut butter and mustard... yum, yum!






This was the Spiderman Christmas for Isaac... I saw him walk up to his Nana unprovoked not long ago and thank her sincerely for his Spiderman underwear!!!







Joshua loves trains and this was a favorite gift!

Sweet Grace at her piano recital... cool cake huh? No I didn't make it!

What a cute picture of two sweeties... they both love to be touched and hugged!!

Here is a recap for you in words of our lives over the past few months:

Over the past few months God has been doing a wonderful work in our lives. I wanted to share some photos of my wonderful husband and I. God has shown me what an amazingly humble, loving, sensitive, and adoring father and husband he is. We have experienced revival in our marriage and family and I am so grateful that I wanted to share some of that with those of you that check our blog every now and then.

It started about 4 years ago with gradual steps away from our Lord. Allowing hurt feelings to fester, not communicating, not being sensitive to one another. This continued and escalated for 4 years, then God broke through. On Thursday, November 14 we were confronted with sin head on. God made us both broken hearted and humble, needy before Him. And just as His Word promises in Psalm 34:18 "The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, close to those that are crushed in spirit." We were crushed that we were nowhere near where we wanted to be in our marriage or our relationships with Him.

Our relationships with Him had a "white washed tomb" look to our Holy God. Good on the outside, but spiritually dead on the inside. But God forgives and renews, He broke up the hard ground of our hearts through confession to Him and one another. Now after two months we are doing wonderfully. I am so grateful for such a adoring husband. God has truely given me everything my heart had been looking for. To Him be the glory.

Prayer Requests from us to you:

Joshua will have surgery on February 12th. The hard part will be recovering from mouth surgery and staying one or two days in the hospital. The amazing part will be this surgery will give him the proper anatomy to be able to talk. The doctors say that within a few months he'll be talking much clearer... pray for sooner rather than later. Thanks a ton for your prayers, encouragement, and support!

Family Pictures

As you can tell we had a lot of pictures taken. A friend came over and took over 200 photos and we are so grateful. It's finally time to change out all our pictures in the house and they get to include Joshua. Well, we are approaching 6 months home and I think we are truely adjusted. Everyone said 6 months was a turning point and "they" were right. Two months ago I was feeling really bad because I felt like Joshua was adjusted but I just couldn't get accustomed to four kids. Now it seems I've had a miracle. Things are still incredibly busy with soccer, gymnastics, doctor visits, speech therapy, school, etc. but we've settled into some sense of what normal is now and it feels good. It also helps that we bought a car we all fit in and are looking for another camper with four kid's beds after having sold our triple bunk camper. Oh, and sometime in September Joshua and Isaac made peace with one another. Now they are what we expected them to become "partners in crime". The sky seems to be the limit as to what entertains them and what they do. I thought watching sisters play was fun but brothers is definitely exciting. So all in all we are as happy as we look in the photos. Praise be to God!! Blessings!

July 4th

Some friends came for the weekend and the kids enjoyed being together watching fireworks. Joshua tried out jumping on the trampoline with someone his size for once.

Joshua at the Water Park

We spent a lot of time at the Water Park this summer. It was amazing to see the change in Joshua from the beginning of the summer to the end. He got so comfortable with the water. Give him a bucket and shovel and he's happy for hours in sand or water.

Isaac teaching Joshua how to ride a scooter

Isaac and Joshua have definitely started becoming partners in crime instead of enemies and it is so funny to watch!!

Camping This Summer

Well, since it's been a few months I figured I'd just include all the fun we've had this summer in one sitting. We went camping at Lake Lanier Islands 4 times... it was meant to only be 3 but we had our first set of stitches on time 3 with Isaac and had to take a raincheck for the last two nights. The kids have obviously enjoyed their summer. Joshua has learned how to swim with his lifevest and has acquired a taste for marshmellows... he still prefers straight chocolate when given an option. Can't blame him there!!

Dinn Cuties

Favorite game... sandwich!! Really I don't let my kids run around in their pj's and underwear all day!Ha! Ha!

Grace's 8th Birthday

Wow! It's hard to believe I have an 8 year old. Only 2 more years to double digits. Time does fly for sure. Joshua had a hard time understanding why all these gifts weren't for him to open. Fortunately he has a very understanding sister. After having 3 parties himself I guess it's to be expected that he'd try to open anyones. The kids around the sand box was our archeological dig... Grace is into dinosaurs... actually anything having to do with science. The reason you don't see Joshua is that he's still pretty unsure when we have company or is in any new situation around a lot of people. One would have to wonder what goes through their little minds?!

Dinn Grandkids

The first photo is the "boys table" at Nene and Papaw's house... obviously Joshua is liking being there. Too bad he wouldn't just sit and eat. These are all the cousins on Clayton's side of the family. I had to include the first photo of Joshua and Isaac fighting because for about 2 or 3 weeks that was what our lives were like. It has tapered down to probably a little above normal as far as sibling rivalry goes. It goes without saying that it was pretty frustrating around our house for a few weeks. The little girl in front of Grace is 6 months younger than Joshua so I'm sure they'll be best buds in time.

New photos... finally!

We are finally starting to feel a little settled. Joshua has enjoyed 3 birthday parties and lots of playtime with his brother and sisters. This last photo is Isaac and Joshua on the "supper swing" at our house. He loves it! Also, for those of you that traveled to China with us I also have to mention that he LOVES his mommy now!! He is still quite the little snuggle bug... a little jealous when others receive attention. I'm sure that he'll start to feel more settled and less insecure as time progresses. We are all doing very well and it looks like all the surgery he'll need this year is tubes put in his ears. In years to come the cleft team will do some orthodonic and palate work and also some plastic surgery on his nose and lip. Thanks for checking in with us.... I hope to update once a month or so.

Home at last!!

We finally arrived home after over 24 hours in planes and airports. We are doing very well... catching up on some sleep. Yesterday, Saturday, I felt like I had been hit by a truck... I hear that's what jetlag feels like. Joshua is enjoying his sisters and brother... he holds his arms out to be picked up by them. He and Isaac haven't really played together yet... but Isaac is enjoying talking about being the big brother... I hope that will continue. Thank you all so much for your prayers and support! Our trip was awesome, our kids back home did very well, and Joshua is adjusting amazingly well! Here are some pictures of Joshua's first day at home and the kids got him gifts and he enjoyed opening them... after he figured out how to! We love you and thank you for you prayers! God has been so good to us!!

Last days in China

We are finally in Guangzhou... thank God for the White Swan hotel, a little closer to home!! Here is Joshua in his traditional Chinese outfit, so cute! We got a picture of all the kids in our group on the tradional red couch. We also had a hamburger two days in a row... we have enjoyed Chinese food, but man that hamburger and fries tasted good. Joshua is doing so well... he likes his mama now and is trying to say lots of words. He communicates what he wants somehow for sure! Only two more days and we get to see you all! Please pray for a safe journey home and for those seated around us... Joshua doesn't like to be restrained in a stroller, plane seat, etc. A car seat should be interesting for sure!! We have lots of cool souvenirs for all of you... traditional outfits for Grace, Faith, and Isaac and us!! Fun pictures for sure!! We bought Grace, Faith, and Isaac shirts that say sister and brother in Chinese. Cool, huh?! This is going to be our last post until we get home! We love you guys! Hugs and kisses and drool from Joshua to Grace, Faith, and Isaac!!

Thanks for all the encouraging posts!!!

We were just able to read all of your comments... you are all so encouraging. No we were not able to visit Hope Haven... just take a picture outside of it! They have changed the rules this year because of the Olympics and all the bad publicity in Tibet... but Julie I do have some pictures of Zoie for you from Joshua's album that have her in them... I'll scan them and send them to you when I get home. Thank you everyone for keeping up with us and commenting... hopefully we can view our blog now everyday we have left! You are all such a blessing to us!!

Joshua's Birthday!!

Well Joshua's birthday started with a walk halfway around the city wall... about 3 miles... we walked from the south gate to the north gate. Oh... and he didn't walk he slept the whole way in his stroller. The picture of all three of us is in front of an emperor's chariot. Then we ate one of his favorite foods... McDonald's french fries... I'm not kidding... he won't touch a cheeseburger or nuggets but when we walk into McDonald's he points to the picture of fries and then to himself and gets really excited!!! We went to a dumpling restuarant tonight and we all really enjoyed the food. We also got a cake at a local bakery for Joshua.... as you can see the American tradition of singing happy birthday "kind of" scared him a bit. Mommy got a little choked up for the first time just realizing that we finally were here and had our little Joshua.... what can I say... I always get choked up at birthdays. Well, off to Guangzhou tomorrow.... one more step closer to home. We love you all... please continue your prayers.... especially that Joshua would get well (he has a bad cold and cough) and for safety as we begin our journey back home! Blessings! Hi Grace, Faith, and Isaac :) !!!! We love you very much!!!

Last days in Xian

Yesterday we had a free day and went to a great little Children's Park. Joshua enjoyed going down the slides and playing the drums with his friends Maylee and Quin. He followed Maylee around and wanted to do the things she was doing... I think he'll learn a lot from his older sisters and brother. He slept much better last night.... thanks for praying! He woke up but was easily consoled so that was nice. Today we went to walk on top of the city wall. It it 600 years old and has drawbridges, a moat, and four openings into the city of Xian... North, South, East, and West Gates. In the picture you can see the moat and to the left is the wall itself. Joshua also had his first taste of pizza today.... he really liked it. We ordered the cheese stuffed crust and he ate on the crust all the way back to the hotel. Grace you would like the pizza here... not much sauce. The Pizza Hut was two stories high.... about 4 times the size of our Pizza Hut at home. Well... only 1 more day in Xian.... our plane for Guangzhou leaves at 9:30am on Monday. Soon we will be home. Thanks for praying.... please continue and we'll see you soon!