Hi all,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Well, miss Abby had a wonderful first Christmas at home.  We are so blessed to have her and she really gave us the most unbelievable Christmas.  As for the tree and the toys, she was not impressed, I think every day is like Christmas to her.  We can not even remember how things were without her.  We leave next Friday to drive to Cincinnati for her surgery.  Please keep her in your prayers as well as mom and dad.  Here are some recent pictures for those that have not seen her in a while.  We will be updating the Blog while in Cincinnati.  God Bless!!!!

Abby's Baptism

Well, Abby is now walking everywhere and exploring everything. I am learning how my house has not been child-proofed. She is just wonderful. At least when she finds things that she doesn't think she is supposed to have, she brings the item to us. We don't know what she has done yet with the others. She is beginning to open cabinets and explore places I really wish she wouldn't, but that's all part of it.

Her baptism was on Sunday, November 25th. Her big brother, Jonathan, took pictures and did a very good job. Her Aunt Helen hosted her celebration at her home and it was just wonderful. Godparents, Holly Casadaban and Tait Faulk, were very proud of their new little angel and Mark and I thank them for accepting to be Abby's godparents.

Abby even played her first concert on the piano for everyone and we think she was singing, too. Fr. Donald was very proud to present his cousin to the congregation.

Mark and I were so excited. She was so good in church. Jonathan helped entertain her. Unfortunately, she had an accident on Aunt Holly and baptized her too.

We can't wait to see how she reacts to Christmas. She notices Santa everytime we go into a store and she sees a figurine, but she hasn't seen the real thing yet.

She is able to say Tigers! We have watched so much football and that now when she sees a football game, she throws her hands in the air and yells go! She has also said Jonathan, Momma, Daddy, Night Night, Bye Bye, Hello, Dog, Shoes and we are still working on others.

Her surgery is scheduled for January 10th in Cincinnati. Please keep us in your prayers. She is really doing well and is eating regular food. She doesn't want anything that resembles baby food.

We were asked by our Social Worker to appear on the Catholic TV Channel and we did to help promote Adoption Month. Abby did well. She blew kisses and waved to the camera lady.

I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving. I know that we had a lot to be thankful for.

I am so thankful for everyone's support through these first 2 months of having her home. It has been an adjustment, but one that I wouldn't have missed for the world.

Debbie

November Update

Abby's first Halloween was really neat! She was a ladybug. Ladybugs are a sign of Chinese adoption. She didn't know what to think about all the costumes, but loved the candy. She is truly becoming an American. She is like her Daddy and loves ice cream.

She is trying to walk but when she realizes what she is doing - she goes to a crawl. She is truly a happy child and we have been very blessed. She is also trying very hard to talk. She says MaMa, Daddy, Nite Nite, Baby, and is trying very hard to say Jonathan and Max.

I apologize that we haven't posted, but things have been a little hectic. We are finally getting a schedule.

Her surgery is scheduled for January so we didn't mess up her Thanksgiving (Christening) or her first Christmas.

Mark and I have been truly blessed. We thank all of you for your prayers and continued support. Mark's brother, Clement, took some awesome pictures of Abby so this post will have a lot of pictures.

Mark's Dad just turned 95 and that is her and her "Pappa Cat".

I will try and do better on the updates.

Debbie, Mark & Abby

First week at home and all is well.

We have been home now for almost a week, and we are doing great. Abby has met most of the family and many of our friends. She is such a little ham. She went to visit Grandpa Sunday and just put on a show for him. She smiled for him, blew him a kiss and even walked to him with mom holding her hands and sat on his lap. I think Grandpa loves her just as much as she loves him. I am so glad she is getting to see him and spend time with him. She is such a joy and she brings joy to whomever she meets. What a little blessing. She went to church Sunday and was very quiet and well behaved. I have been showing her my cross around my neck and telling her about Jesus. When she saw the cross in church, she pointed at it. She is walking more each day while holding our hands. She just conitinues to grow stornger and amaze us. She has adjusted fine to the time change (better than mom and dad). She naps in the afternoon and sleeps from about 8:00 pm to 7:00 am every night. We are so blessed.

Home Sweet Home.......

We are home and could not be happier. We were greeted at the airport with baloons and flowers fit for the arrival of a princess. Debbies Mom and Dad, her brother Mike, Aunt Barbera, Cousin Loretta, Aunt Helen, God Mother Holly and many other wonderful friends. We are so thankful for being so blessed with our friends and family. Abby was a little shy but she did great. She also did great on the 24 hours of plane rides and layovers. She is such a wonderful little girl.

We went from the airport to Debbie's moms to spend a little time with everyone, Abby wasn't crazy about the car seat but she made it. Her amazing brothers Brandon and Jonathan suprized us and showed up. She already loves her big brothers.

From there we drove home and Abby got to see her new home and her new bed. I think she likes them. We had signs in the yard, signs in the house, food in the refrigerator then Lauren brought some more food. Later our Friends Jimmy and Carolyn and Steve and Ellyse came by with more food. Also while we were gone Mr. Steve came over and cut the yard. The neighbors came by with gifts and smiles. We are just overwelmed by the love and support everyone has shown Abby. We will never forget this and we will make sure that she knows how much she is loved, not only by us but by all of you. She is so strong and resillient it just continues to amaze me. We finally got her to bed about 9:00pm last night after 30 hours with one good nap in mom and dads lap on the plane from China and few cat naps.

She slept all night until 5:00 am this morning in her new bed in her room. She woke with a smile on her face. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to know this is not a dream. God is so good and we know He is watching over her and us. Through all of you, He is showing us His love. Believe me, we could never have done this without Him and you all. So all I have to say is, To Him all of Glory, and I promise we will always strive to be His example of love to Abby.

Debbie has been such a great Mom. She was up at 3:00 am this morning because she was scared she may not hear her if she cried. She did finally cry, but it wasn't until 5:00 am. Of course dad never heard a thing, I was dead to the world. I did wake up about 6:30 to Abby in her high chair smilling away watching cartoons on the TV, Debbie washing clothes and writing thank you notes. How blessed am I? While I am doing this Blog mom is out riding her around in her brand new stroller.

Today we are going try to get our lives just a little back to normal. For Breakfast I had some wonderful baked french toast (by Joe) with an ice cold glass of milk, can't get either of those in China. We get some clothes washed and our house in order, and I am sure have some more visitors to meet our Princess.

Thanks again for all of your prayers, help, and support. We will never forget this. I will continue to post here to keep the folks out of town posted on Abby's progress, just maybe not as often.

Bye for now and God Bless.

WE ARE PACKED AND READY TO GO!!!!!!!!

We are ready for the next phase of our journey to bring Abby home. Our intenerary is, they pick up our luggage at 2 pm, we check out at 2:30 pm. Then we go to the US Consulate to pick up Abby's Visa at 3 pm. After we get the Visa, we go to the Airport to catch our 9 pm China Southern flight to Los Angeles. We get to LA around 6pm the same day, we travel back in time, how about that. We have a 6 hour layover in LA, and leave there at 12:50 am on Contenintal for Houston. We arrive in Houston around 6 am, and fly from Houston to BR at 7:40 am. Debbie's Mom was nice enough to bring our car to the airport and will be there to meet us. From there we will go to their house for a while to visit with Granny, Papa and other Family.


We love you guys and thank you all for your prayers. Please pray just a little more that today will go well. We know this will be hard on us, especially Abby, but God brought us this far and we know He can get us home safe.




Can't do a blog without at least one picture. Our little China Doll.....

Good morning folks. It is Tuesday afternoon and we are getting very excited about coming home. To night we are taking a Diner cruise with our group on the river. Dennis, our guide here says it is very beautiful at night. We will see many ancient buildings and lanterns along the river for the Autumn Moon Festival. We took a walk this morning around the hotel and we did not realize how beautiful it was. Took some pictures of our girl in her new little outfit that mom bought yesterday for 40 yuan or 6 US dollars. It is hand embroidered. She also had some fun this afternoon. Dad had a massage today and it was great. Ready for the trip home.

2 of our suitcases are packed. We just have to get the rest of our stuff in one other suitcase. We had to buy an extra one - $10 so we are just hoping that it stays together for the plane ride home. We have run out of American formula and she is not taking any Chinese formula so pray for us while we experiment. I think we will be OK if we can get to LAX. She loves french fries and mashed potatoes.

Tomorrow we will finish packing, then we have to go to and get Abby's Visa - Then, we are off to the airport. See you guys SOON!

Love, Mark, Debbie, and Abby!!!!!

Must see Video!!!!!

Had to post this now. She was having a ball with Mommy. Make sure you have the sound turned up.

More Paper Work but another step closer to home.

It is Monday afternoon for us and things continue to go well. Abby continues to get stronger every day and we see new things almost each hour from her. We spent yesterday taking her Visa picture and we also did some great shopping. Today we went and completed Abby's medical exam and then did some more shopping

We also visited the White Swan hotel for the traditional Red Couch picture. It is a group picture of all of the families in the group. It was a wild. All of the children were tired and hungry by then so we had a bunch of screaming babies. But we were able to get them calmed down and did the picture.

We then had a traditional Cantonese lunch. Abby enjoyed 3 bowls of congee and a some steamed egg. Most she has eaten at one meal since we got her.Tomorrow we are going on a Dinner cruise on the Pearl River. Should be fun and very beautiful, I will take some pics.

Guess that is it for now, enjoy the pictures of our little princess.

Bye for now.

First Time on a Plane was Great!!!! Another Daddy Blog.

Today we made the trek from Nanchang to Guangzhou. It was Abby's first plane ride. In the picture she is checking out the safety features of the 737. Can't ever be to careful. She did great. It was a short flight but it was great to see her fly and not get scared.

Our hotel here is much nicer and the area around the hotel is very nice. Of course Abby found her hat and made herself at home as soon as we got to the room.

We went and had lunch after we got here at a place across the street that has American food. It was so nice to have a good steak. I think Abby is going to be a real American Girl. She loved the juice from the steak, ate some baked potato and some broccoli. We can not tell you guys how much fun we have had with her. She has lit up our lives. For those of you that may not know this, Debbie and I both felt we were called by God to do this. Like any calling, some times you have doubts about wether you can do it. Now that we have her, we can see a little part of Gods plan and it is so amazing. Abby was given to us and people tell us how lucky she is, but I must say, after spending this past week with her, we are the lucky ones.

I think we will enjoy China more here in Guangzhou. The chinese people in Nanchang were wonderful and it has been great to see where Abby came from. Echo our guide was very sweet and beatiful, we can only hope that Abby will grow to be such a beautiful girl. Echo started to cry as we told her bye in the airport. I am sure they were tears of joy. Her last words to us were "Love her please". She has nothing to worry about, not only will we love her, we have our family and great friends ready to shower her. It will be great to bring her home and make a little Tiger fan of her. She is growing more every day. It is almost like watching a new born develope in fast forward. We have watched her go from not being able to sit up on her own to sitting up by herself. Yesterday she was laying on her stomach and just rolled over, came up on her knees and then sat up. Today she looks like she is ready to crawl. I think it will not take long once she's home, to start walking.

Tomorrow we are going to make Abby's Visa photo. Then they are taking us to Liwan Plaza. This is a wholesale market with items like pearls, jade, clothes, shoes, etc.... Oh boy, more shopping. I am just enjoying spending time with my little girl and her awesome mom.

See you all soon.