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Chillin before the big night!
Our sweet Mimi in her first violin recital!
Mimi and I have had many talks since we came back from China about how unfair it was that Grace got to go with me for 11 days, just the two of us...well my come back has been that when she and I were in China together (when I came to get her, "finally", that's Mimi's version) we got to stay 14 days together. Well our next trip, looks like spring, will involve all of us or at least a combination of the four of us...
We have had the most fun with Mimi learning the violin, she is so confident and serious when she plays, sure makes for a great student! The two numbers they played were (Mississippi hot dog (like twinkle, twinkle) and then the real version of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star".
Mimi looking so sweet in her fifties clothes! We love this day at school (even though the girls have no idea what the fifties is)...It's fun to wear real clothes instead of uniforms and just play all day! Of course, Mimi is already juggling boyfriends, homework and all the important things a kindergarten student has to deal with! They just grow-up so fast!! haha
Mommy's been a little busy, so we scoured Target to find this combo...we called it the late 50's early 60's look!
Have you ever had one of those days where everything just falls into place? Well this week, I must say I have had, for the first time, in a long time, a week where things are "clicking" (I always say this to my girls) My gardening is finished for the fall, my laundry is caught up, my house is deep cleaned (thank you Rosa!) I've actually grocery shopped, I've had several awesome work-outs .... I think you get the picture....
My world, as I used to know it, has been put on hold for the last couple of years! God has called our family to some amazing "projects" over the last couple of years! To name a few "the First Fridays" community, the Chinese school "China Tree", Dan playing in the band at North Metro,
Dan being on the board at North Metro, paperchasing to adopt our third daughter, and of course raising two spirit-filled girls! True to form, as God always seems to do with Dan and I, has "charged us" with a new plan! Why would God want to shift our focus to the orphans who are still in China? I have learned over the years to listen for God, this is challenging for me, but, I think He knows we are doers! Well, over the past 6 months God has done a number on us as a family! We have had opportunity after opportunity to "look within ourselves" to see where God wants us to "be". The "needle" keeps pointing to the children who are still "over there" ( as my friend Rebecca D) always says. As our focus has changed, we find ourselves asking these questions...why is this process so slow (does God have a bigger plan for these kids) of course, what can we do? Well, we went to Washington D.C. a few weeks ago and had an opportunity to talk to several Congressmen (women) who want to help...I have been communicating with them and they are interested in what we have to say! We have made some awesome contacts in China over the past 6 months (Grace and I are leaving in two weeks for China) and can't wait to follow up on several projects which are already underway! I know God only knows "what the heck is going on" with these children who are left as orphans, but one thing I know for sure is that He loves these orphans and wants our help to love them too! The challenges are big, but that is o.k. and Dan and I (and of course Grace and Mimi) are thrilled to answer God's call to "get busy" changing some things to make it easier for families who want to "love these children" and not let government get in the way! Surprisingly, the delays are something we can change, but someone needs to speakup for these kids....we are working on this! One thing I know for sure is there is not a shortage of kids who need homes! We talked with Amanda at Starfish the other night, she was at an orphanage in Shizhong (where we are building the bathrooms) and a newborn little boy was dropped off at the orphanage while she was there...this is not unusual! I guess my point is, even one child left without a family needs us to "speak up" and make this process easier "for them" to be matched with a loving family!
We will continue to "speak-up" for these kids who are desperate to "have someone speak-out on their behalf".
So, with God's prompting Dan and I have shifted our focus to the orphans who are still in China. In the meantime, if you are waiting to adopt, have adopted, or just want to check out this whole adoption thing, check out the new First Friday group called Adopt Option http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AdoptOption and join in a community of so many who love these children!
One of the things Dan and I have always talked about was that we wanted both of the girls to learn an instrument. We both think this is so important, "a life essential" so to speak. Of course Dan plays guitar so a natural for Grace was learning the guitar and she did get a guitar last year. Daddy has been teaching her and they are awesome together! They even sing songs and play together. Mimi's has had an interest in the guitar but her hands are sooo small! So, we've been talking about other options and she chose the violin. I had no idea they made such small violins! We started looking and they really do come in all sizes (the first one we found Grace told Mimi it looked like an American Girl Doll size!) We ended up finding one on "Craig's List" and it's a perfect fit...the lady we bought it from was even nice enough to send us a chart for fitting Mimi perfectly so we didn't make a mistake starting her out. We all drove out to Douglasville (almost to Carrolton...it was "out there") yesterday to pick up the violin. Through a friend we found out that Due West Methodist church is offering a program (music and arts) for the community. Mimi will be taking individual violin lessons from a very nice girl who has a master's degree in violin and we were able to set it up right after school. The contact is Glen Conger @ 770 427-3835 if you are interested in this great new program for the community. Let the concert begin!!
Chillin before the big night!
Our sweet Mimi in her first violin recital! 
