Blue Skies 2 Lee

OUR BOYS+WATER = JOY!

BROTHER AND BLUE-- It is wonderful to see both of our boys so happy. :-) [These pictures are AFTER Blue has GAINED 10lbs. since being in the U.S.]

BEING GOOFY

FIRST CAMPING TRIP

FISHING

HI DAD!

INTRODUCTION TO ROASTING AND TOASTING FOR S'MORES -- BROTHERS SHARING

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES... I didn't even think of the symbolism when snapping this shot... when I was sifting through the pictures of the day later that evening... my heart melted when I came to this one.

PARK DAY

HE IS NOT USUALLY VERY FAR FROM A BASKETBALL OR HIS BIKE

Add caption

MAKING HIS OWN SANDWICH- YIKES! I thought about saying no. Ok, I did say no at first; but he assured me he liked it because he had already eaten one before starting the second one- which he planned on taking to the park with him. After I thought about it... it made sense. In China I once combined a sauce and a food for which I was quickly laughed at and corrected for it; 'No!, You use that for this food, not that one!'. The thing was, I liked the sauce eaten with the food I had chosen, not so much with the food that it was 'supposed' to be, or was 'traditionally' paired with. In addition to the memory of the experience in China, if I was quite honest with myself, I had to admit that most of the food we had given to, Blue, in America thus far was no less strange to him than the food combination pictured above would be to us. Hey, if he was willing to try new things and found something he liked in this foreign world he found himself living in... why not let him? We have had to purposely consider daily life decisions with an open mind. We have tried, for the most part, to have the mindset that we are not sweating the small stuff... because this little guy has enough going on. He eventually moved away from this pictured 'creation' and now enjoys more traditional types of sandwiches.

BLUE AND DAD - We arrived home less than 24 hours before Blue's 14th birthday. China law prohibits adoption after a child turns 14. We are so BLESSED to have our son home with us!

BIG SISTER AND BLUE- He met his sister at 3:45 this morning!

NEW BIKE

LOOK AT ME, MOM AND DAD!

DAD AND BLUE- Guy stuff. 'Nough said. ;-)

BLUE'S FIRST HAIRCUT IN AMERICA- Blue picked out the cut and style he wanted from a salon catalog. He was a bit overwhelmed with the fact that he could choose anything he wanted and there were so many choices. He was happy and a bit proud when he walked out of the salon! He thought it was so funny when mom saved a small lock of hair, taping it to a scrap paper labeled 'First Haircut'.

CHINA JANUARY 2013

BLUE

DAD AND BLUE

BLUE AND MOM FIRST COTTON CANDY EVER! At first, Blue was not very sure about this stuff mom was offering him to eat...it didn't look edible, much less appetizing. In the end, he tried it and loved it. :-0)

BROTHER'S BOATING

Our Adoption Journey In Pictures

Beijing
Our arrival city before taking the train to Jinan

L.J.'s friend Mick traveled to meet with us and treated us to a trip to the Great Wall! Mick and L.J. met at the Bring Me Hope Summer camp for orphans in 2011. The view was absolutely breathtaking... and the company was a delightful treat.

TRADITIONALLY A BRIDE AND GROOM TOGETHER PLACE A LOCK ON THE WALL.

                                   Jinan
    Our peanut, calm and confident in manning the camera, while Mom and Dad are rushing around preparing for Blue to arrive in our room.

    We are so excited that we can barely withstand the suspense of waiting one more moment... after a year and a half of waiting for our Blue! I am sure we were a pitifully funny sight to see... ;-)

He is here! ... no wait, false alarm.... it was only housekeeping at the door. At least we found out how fast we all can jump over, around, and move beyond things to find our places before opening the door to greet our new son.

He is here!... It is the real deal this time!

Nanny at orphanage, Blue, Dad, Brother, Mom, Asst. Director of orphanage

                                                   Blue, orphanage Nanny, Brother

We are asked to sign the papers while informed that we will have twenty-four hours to change our minds about adopting him if we decide we don't want him... I will not subject you to reading through the fit of grief, sorrow, and injustice for Blue, that I had inside of my heart over that statement! I felt just awful for, Blue. We quickly moved on and focused on the joy of our new son being with us.

Dad and Mom Signing the paperwork