May 1

May 1 will always be a very special day in our family.

Let's go back in the past....

May 1, 2007 after 3 long years of waiting we received the referral of a beautiful 7 month old little girl in Xiushan, China.

She was a dream.come.true. and we were all helplessly head over heels in love.

little did we know that this was just the beginning.

Fast forward 2 years.

The day arrives again.

May 1, 2009.
2 year referral day for AnnaGrace but that was not all...

A new HOPE list comes out with our agency and my Mom looks at it just because. NOT looking for a child. NOT looking at all. Just looking for pleasure.

Pull up the list and she scrolls down to the last number. #46. She pulls the file up. His name is Chang Jian Hui he had Cleft Lip/Palate and was 3.

Exactly what my Mom and Dad had talked about saying IF they ever went back.
So on May 1 a lot happened and LIVES were changed for forever and for the better.
But May 1 was just the beginning.

Pray for Huan

This little girl has stolen my heart. I am asking all of you to PLEASE pray for her. My heart aches that this precious 8 year old litle girl does not have a family. Here is the description of her. Please pray. Because I am only 14, I am unable to adopt her (Oh I wish I could!) So I will advocate for her and pray for God's will in this precious girls life. She has a purpose in this life. She is not meant to grow up in an orphanage. So please pray.

Huan means "happy" in Chinese. But in Huan's photos, she is not smiling. Well, she might be smiling inside, but the repair work on her cleft palate (at least the gum area) is such that she doesn't seem interested in smiling for the camera. It's a shame...she is a beautiful little girl, with big, inquisitive eyes and a precious face. But I'm sure she has heard all the comments from strangers and mean-spirited children. She is now 8 years old, and more than ready for someone to help her. She needs a mom and dad to scoop her up, bring her home, love her, love her, love her...and arrange the repair work for her mouth so she can smile. Then she will be happy!

*If this might be your daughter please email me, comment, facebook me (if we are friends). SHARE THIS! Tell everyone you know! I want to find this sweet girl a HOME.

Thanks. lovelovelove, Ash

Three years ago. We had no idea who these precious children were. They didn't know us. They didn't know each other. Only God could do this. Take two children across the ocean and place them in what was a family of 5. Only HE could make the perfect match and put us all together as a family. Not only that but make two less Orphans in the world siblings! He is good.


For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a future.
-Jeremiah 29:11

Happiness.

“Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.”

*click to enlarge*

3 months ago today. lives were changed. prayers were answered. family was completed. 147 million minus 1.

What's Going On Here?

So we are all doing well. I feel like I have not updated in a long time. I am kind of clueless as to what to update. So I will just tell you about the twinados (:

Andrew continues to amaze us with his English. It is coming along incredibly fast! He loves his Mei Mei! Watching him transform is absolutely amazing. So precious. He wants to please us so badly. My Mom, Dad, and Andrew leave May 4 for Ohio to Shriners for evaluations for his cleft. Amazing prayer answered. Please pray for their safety. I never imagined I could love someone like I do Anna Grace but I love Andrew just the same! He is precious!

Anna Grace is doing great as well. She has accepted this new little one with amazing GRACE and loves him dearly. She is still her princess-y self and loves Ni Hao Kai-Lan and Barney. She sings along and does the motions. It is hilarious. She is still beautiful and quite the model. I am just in love with that face. (:

Here are some pictures from my photoshoot with the two today.

Favorite*

i luhhh youu mace-ayyy!
ashh-tonn

Someone Got a Haircut!

Andrew got a hair cut ! Does he not look adorable? I love the way it turned out! Is he not adorable?!

Sunday Snapshot (Ashton-Me)

So who am I?
this is a FAQ here.
So here we go
Well I am a big sister.

I love my friends.

My heart for Orphans is huge
God-Willing I want to be a missionary when I grow up.

I love to take pictures (of myself included) (:

So yeah I am a little self-conceited (:

I love photography and hope to pursue it as a career. (if not a missionary)
v
Adoption changed.my.life.
if can change yours too ;)
c
I am a Christian
I love Jesus!

Anna Grace and Andrew are the most important thing in the world to me


I am
Me.
Have a great Sunday!!!!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

I would like to wish my wonderful Daddy a very Happy (insert age)th Birthday!

Would you all mind wishing my WONDERFUL father a happy birthday with me?!

Black and White Wednesday

Andrew's referral picture...This is the face I fell in love with.

I love two people in this world more than anything. (I love a lot of people but these two have a certain place in my heart) Anna Grace and Andrew have me completely wrapped around their pinky fingers. I will do anything for them. lovelovelove. For that smile from Anna Grace or when JianHui {Jen-Wee} (Andrew likes to be called his Chinese name, sometimes we agree) gives me that 5 minutes where he lets me just sit and hold him sends me over the edge. Deep. True. Love. So this Wednesday I want to show you some pictures so you can see what made me fall in love at first sight.

my favorite picture I have ever taken not of a face
.

I love this one too

How could you not fall in love with that face?


Happy Wednesday!

PS : Does anyone know how to make the pictures larger without ruining quality? Thanks!