Quick Trip to Tulsa

A few months ago, Xiaoyun told me she needed to take the TOEFL (Test of English as Foreign Language). There are only a couple of places in the US that offers it for Chinese students. Since none of them were close by, we decided to pick the Jan. 4th test so that she wouldn't miss any school.  It turned into a fun, quick trip to finish off Christmas break.

It was our first trip in Rambling Ruby! I was excited to try out all of the features we've been dreaming about in the new RV, but I didn't think about how much I would miss Dora! After traveling with Dora for 5 years, we will definitely have to get use to the changes.

We left Thursday afternoon and stopped in St. Louis for Disney on Ice! We haven't been to one in a few years, so it was a first for Bria & BellaMei. They loved it!

Friday was Gramma's Birthday. We FaceTimed with her in the morning. Then we spent most of the day on the road. We did stop in for a good lunch at Lambert's Cafe though.

One of the new features we love, a built in work station. 

Saturday morning started early. We took Xiaoyun to her testing center and then found some super yummy donuts downtown! Then we spent a couple of hours at The Gathering Place, a large park on the river.

Beilyn's was cotton candy flavored. It was one of my favorites!

Churro flavored

The little girls think the big front window and dash are perfect for a stage. 😄

Almost home! It was a quick but fun trip.

2019 {Difference of a Decade}

2019 was good to us!

2009 ~ 2019

Things have changed just a bit. 😉 I would be lying if I said I didn't think sometimes about how much easier (and quieter!) my life would be if we still just had 2 kids! This time 10 years ago, we were building our home, praying for baby #3, and living the "American Dream." 

-- But God. --  

He showed us that the American Dream makes much of us when our purpose on this earth is to make much of Him! He saw our sin & weaknesses-- our impatience, selfishness, greediness, and desire to be comfortable and flipped our dreams upside down! He pushed us out of our comfort zone. Even though He had placed adoption on our hearts many years before, it was in 2010 that we stepped out in faith to adopt. We officially started the process just days after Brielle was born 7,000 miles away (though we had no idea!). 🥰 Adoption is definitely what defined the decade for us! God used it to grow our family, give us friends all over the US, immerse our hearts in new cultures, open our eyes more to those who are hurting, love more unconditionally, and most importantly, He used it to change our hearts to be more obedient to His will. This past decade has grown us in so many ways! I feel like the 20-teens are going to be hard to beat, and yet I know He still has a long way to go with us!

New Year's Eve {Welcome 2020!}

We had the best time celebrating the New Year with our besties!  We had Minute-to-Win-It games, Bingo, crafts, lots of yummy food, and a basement full of teenagers. Somehow the adults even managed to play a game at one point while the little kids were busy. We had confetti e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e, sparkling cider spraying all over the kitchen, and lots of reminiscing about the amazing year! Thankful to do life with these forever friends!

Braylee decorated the basement for her friends.

And we hung a "Countdown to Midnight" for the other girls upstairs.

Krista and I are in denial that our little babies are now Freshmen and having parties with their boyfriends!  We took a few pictures to compare New Year's Eve 2004 to New Year's Eve 2019.

7:00 balloon - Let's Eat!! Each balloon was filled with a note stating the activity for that hour.

8:00 balloon - Minute-to-Win-it Games

9:00 balloon - Craft time!

10:00 balloon- New Year’s Bingo

11:00 balloon - Dance Party

Ready with her confetti popper

First Family Photo of 2020!