A short visit from the Cattell's

Together again!!

They have grown soooo much in one year

Watching NiHao Kilan Goes to China

Sisterly Hugs!!

Opening up a birthday present from the Cattell's

Playing in the COLD (and I do mean Cold)

waters of Lake Michigan

Playing in the sand

Ryan burying Amber in the sand

Carissa running towards mommy screaming.

We were trying to get a picture with all three girls

but she would have nothing to do with it.

Snack time!!

On Friday night, the Cattell's (Eric, Joanne, Amber and Jade) came to visit just for the night and part of Saturday. We originally met over the internet. Both of our families has received referrals the very same day back in April of 2008. We started talking via e-mail in May and finally met last September in Beijing, China. Both of our daughters are from the Hunan province so we traveled with them the entire trip.

We enjoyed dinner out on Friday night at a local mexican restaurant, Prueblo's, then headed home for some play time. The girls were having so much fun and got pretty roudy for a little bit. On Saturday, we headed to Lake Michigan to our favorite beach. While there, we met a couple that had also adopted their daughter at the EXACT same time but through a different agency. They live around the Detroit area and were just visiting the West side of Michigan for the day. It is amazing how the Lord brings people together!! After talking a bit, we remembered meeting each other in the elevator of the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou. Their daughter Lila will be turning two a couple weeks after Carissa.

It is fun to see the girls get together and will continue to be fun watching them grow up.