Gung Hay Fat Choy! 5/52 - Project 52

Wishing you health, prosperity, and happiness 

in this Year of the Horse!

We're very lucky in that we get to spend the upcoming weekend

with our beloved China travel group at a hotel,

swimming, eating and celebrating.

Grace was born in the Year of the Horse as were all the other children adopted

in her travel group.

We have known these wonderful families now

for over 10 years.

Hope you are doing something fun to bring in the new year!

A Million Little Things

 

 

"Friendship isn't a big thing - it's a million little things."

Unknown

 

 

 

Take 4 ten year olds girls and one 8 year old girl(little sister to Julia N.).

Add to that a weekend slumber party with their moms,

you end up with the "First Annual Slumberfest 2013."

Maybe it should have been called a gigglefest.

Grace and her Chinese sisters (all born in the Fuzhou, Jiangxi Province area)

and fellow travel group members, love getting together.

We make a priority in our lives to make this happen as often as we can

and hope to do it more frequently this year.

Next to these girls' relationship with each of their parents,

this important relationship is the longest they've had in their 10 years.

One we will continue to cherish and nurture.

 

I was the 'official' photographer of the weekend and here are some
of my favorite images.

The girls loved dancing Gangnam style, playing Minecraft on their ipods,

watching movies and of course eating.

Thank you Michelle for your hospitality and TLC!

 

Sunday Snapshot - a fun tradition

They were a bit tentative at first about getting into the water.
They hadn't been in a pool since last Summer.

But once they got in, my littlest fish took to the water.

As did his sister.

For 4 years we've made it our little tradition
to have a get away from the dreary days and cold of Feb. or March
 We meet halfway between Madison and Chicago with
members of our China travel group. Some years it's a bigger group.
This year was a small group but no one complained.
In fact there were only smiles and laughter.
And lots and lots of talking and catching up with the momma's!
Friends who truly are family.

(Taken last weekend).
Thank you for the prayers for our family, they'reso appreciated and felt.

32/52 - birthday girls

They were nursery mates in their orphanage in China and share the same birthday.

We first met Julia's parents in our pre- travel to China group meetings almost exactly 8 years ago.

During the Summer they see each other frequently and Julia's mom and I make sure it's a priority to 

get these best friends together.

These were taken on their birthday at Julia's house. 

Their personalities compliment each other perfectly...we're so happy that the girls have each other!

29/52 - Lincoln Park Zoo

When I was a single mom with my oldest son Nick, I used to take him

to the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, so have many fond memories of that lovely place.

(And it's free by the way).

So when our travel group wanted to meet there on Saturday I was thrilled.

It was hot and muggy but the kids sure didn't seem to notice.

They raced around, played and we did get have some great animal sightings along the way.

The moms chatted and chatted some more.
 Something we do very well! ;)

It was great to be with these people who have become family, and we can't wait till the next time.