Guangzhou

These are homes that families live in. Our guide told us that there are no kitchens or restrooms in these homes. they will have a main kitchen and restroom located somewhere on the property that over 100 families will share... one bathroom!!! I just have a facination of all the bicylcles. they're everywhere

Laundry hangs from every window and balcony

I know this photo is blurry, but it captures the sights all over the island. all of the elderly exercise and dance. there are beautiful gardens and areas for the people to get their exercise.

just a sight from the van. this is a shopping area in the city

These houses can be seen as far as the eye can see in every dicrection

the island we are on is just amazing. we spent the morning walking around and exploring. at 2:00PM our guide, becky met us to take us to the Chen Academy. The drive there was just incredible. we have never seen so many people. It made NYC look like Mayberry. Lambert said there is no way to even describe all the sights. I've really tried to capture the city and not just the tourist attractions. The living conditions are so different from the US. I want Libbie to know where she came from and what daily living looked like. We didn't get out of the van in the city so most of the photos were taking from the van. I did get some shots of housing while we toured the academy. I hope to capture more of the city later on this week. These photos will be all that Libbie has to recall where she is from. We've bought a couple souvenirs to bring home and a few keepsakes for Libbie's future birthdays. As we prepare to meet Libbie my prayer is that her little heart will receive us. I've been overwhelmed with emotion today. i can't believe were actually here. I can't believe that we will meet our daughter tomorrow and our lives will be forever changed. She has no idea what is about to happen to her little life. she has been through more in her short three years than I have experienced in all my life. Now she will have a family that will forever be there for her through all her pains and joys.

"The Lord God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing!" Zephaniah 3:17

Goodnight from Guangzhou,

Love The Lamberts

TEST WE ARE HERE

We are here and all is well. We love Guangzhou. We explored the island this morning and Hoot is officially The Karate Kid. The people here are lovely. everyone has been so helpful and kind. we feel very safe and are amazed at the beauty. there are tons of adopted little ones with their new american families. Hoot did great on the two flights but we crashed as soon as we hit the pillow. we woke up at 3:30AM ready to go. I'm hoping this post works so please leave a commet so I know my friends back home are following. love everyone!!

Here We Go!

It's hard to believe that in a few short hours we will board a plane and travel across the globe to meet our daughter. I have been so busy this past week, that I've failed to take it all in. We're leaving in the morning!!! The wait has been an eternity, yet I feel like I haven't had time to prepare. I ran around like a chicken with my head cut off doing errands and chores I could have done weeks/months ago. We have been surrounded by friends and family that have encouraged us, prayed with us and showered us with love and affection and we will carry that love with us to China. We are hoping to post when we arrive in China. We leave Houston Friday at 10:50AM and we will arrive in Guangzhou, Saturday at 9:15PM. We're loaded with snacks, games, movies, books and distractions so hopefully that will help pass the time. It's late, I have one load of laundry left to fold and then I'm headed to bed. I think I'm numb!

I have to share this photo. Hoots class made this for him and I cried. I love it! He has the best teacher ever. We are so blessed!


The last 3 years of our life is crammed into this folder. Every document we need to produce in China is in this little packet.


Our bags are packed and waiting by the door!! Lambert's bag is not in the photo. I have to make certain no one thinks he is carrying the pink bag. I would hear about it if I didn't disclose this.


PS.. someone will be house sitting for us while were gone. My mom thinks I should let everyone know so our house doesn't get robbed...

Officially in Freakout Mode

We leave in 6 days! Between now and next Friday morning, I need to wash all the windows in my house (they haven't been washed in a year and there are 48 total) clean all the wood floors by hand, baseboards, toilets tubs sinks (we have 4 bathrooms) and if I have time, I'd love to paint the master bedroom... Okay I've lost it. I don't know why I do this, but anytime something major is happening in our life... I go into extreme home makeover the physco edition. I woke up this morning at the crack of dawn, dragged Hoot with me outdoors and we started washing windows... I know I violated some child labor law today. I looked up and it was 1:30PM... I had not fed my kid... not even a snack. He is such a trooper he just hung out with me, ran in and outdoors got water for us, rinsed the cleaning brushes... He is the most amazing little boy. He had lunch, while I continued to labor... and I do mean labor. The garage is clean, 8 windows are done, there are no leaves in our yard and I mowed. I don't know how to edge or weed eat, but if I did, that would be done too. I blew off all the porches and bagged 9 bags of leaves. I can barely stand up straight, Hoot wants to know what he gets for being such an awesome helper today and Lambert is ready to go to Target for more last minutes necessities....

By the way doesn't the headboard Lambert made me look great?!?!? It will look even better when I paint the snot green walls a creamy white later this week... (JK that will have to wait) The bed skirt will come... a friend of mine is making it for me.








This is the sweetest little book ever, especially if you have a son and your adopting from China. We checked it out from the library yesterday. We will definitly purchase this book. It's a keeper.

Be My Valentine

Lambert and I had planned a romantic night out for valentines Day weekend. We were going to go to The Zaza for a date night massage and then head out to a new french restaurant I've wanted to try. After the Zaza and dinner we planned to hit the bookstore (we love to do this on date nights). His mom was going to keep Hoot for us. We figured this would be our last night out together for a while... (11 more days!!) Well Nanna came down with a bad cold so we canceled our reservations and decided to skip the romantic massage and nice meal and take Hoot along with us for dinner. We headed to Houston for P.F. Changs... Hoot loves their Mongolian Beef and Cucumber Noodles minus the cucumbers.. however at 5:30 the wait was 1 hour and 45 minutes. We took the buzzer, did a little shopping in the strip center and then decided to have mexican food at another restaurant in the same strip center... (not a good as Changs). After fajitas we headed to The Container Store (get ready for this) to get my valentines day present.... I know, how romantic are we? The lid on my trash can broke about a year ago and I have fiddled with it, taped it and finally kicked it so it was time for a new one. The one on my wish list was pricey so I knew it would have to come in the form of a gift.( I'm not the chocolate type or the flower type or the jewelry type give me an appliance or kitchen gadget and I'm yours!) The floor model had a dent in the side of the lid. Lambert asked if I thought they would sell us the damaged model at a reduced price. We're all about bargain treasures. I swooned over his stealth negotiating skills (the reduced price was marked on the back of the can) are you ready... we stole if for 1/2 off.. (scandalous) He pulled the dent out when we got home and it's good as new!!! Does it get any more romantic than this my friends? I think not... I think not. I may have a future in romance novels. This was pretty steamy!

Happy Valentines to all you lovelies! SAL

Feb 25th!

Well... we've booked our flight. She's packed (almost I add stuff daily). Everything has been crossed off the list of things to buy except for Cheerios (everyone says pack them)and discs for our video camera. I'm sure we'll forget something, but we are counting down the days! Her room is filled to the brim with girly things. It's overflowing with wonderful gifts friends have dropped off. We haven't figured out how were going to communicate while were in China, but were working on it.I just learned that in First Class they offer BEDS for travelers!!! Who knew. I guess that's how the other half live! We had dinner with two lovely couples that have been there done that... One of the couples shared that little First class tip with us. Her boss paid for their round trip tickets to fly first class to meet their daughter. My boss didn't offer to pay for our tickets nor did Lambert's (he is the boss) so were in Coach... Lambert may re-think that when the "leg room" reality sets in. He may ask to upgrade HIS ticket to First Class and leave the rest of us in Coach! HA! He's got some long legs!

My friend just gave Libbie the doll house and the pink GRAND piano. She's going to be spoiled!

Preacher Man or Highway Man...

We've decided Hoot is either going to pursue a career as a preacher, proclaiming the gospel with his every being or he's going to be a Highway Man... He can quote scripture and sing the hymns, but he likes a little country too. He's got a rowdy streak in him just like his momma. I've always wanted to be a rebel, and part of my soul truly is. One wouldn't know it by just looking at the cover. I drive a station wagon for goodness sake. I'm scared of most everything but, deep down way deep down, there is a honky tonk cowgirl that longs to break free. She keeps quiet most of the time, but when I get a hankering for a little Willie or some Cash she comes alive... Hoot's little ears usually only hear the sound of Christian music in the Bat Wagon, but sometimes when I'm feeling a little rebellious.. I crank up the 70's country. Hoot can call out any Willie song that comes across the radio as quickly as he can identify a Chris Tomlin or Toby Mac tune. He knows Cash and Dolly and likes a little Waylon too. Lambert and I watched Walk The Line this weekend and I must admit I was envious of June Carter. I loved Urban Cowboy too. I think it's something about the bad boys. In real life, I would never be attracted to a pill poppin musician or a mechanical bull rider, even though Bud had crazy dance skills. However, in my fantasy life, I am an urban cowgirl.

New Camera Bug!

HELLO LOVER...




I've got the new camera bug REALLY bad. I have been bitten by the photography bug and I can't shake it. I currently shoot with a Nikon D60 and have several lenses. (lambert has purchased all for me!) I'm really wanting to take a class this summer offered by Lisa at:

http://thelongroadtochina.blogspot.com/. There is so much to learn and I think I'm going to dive into Photo Shop for beginners... (if there is such a thing). I'm ready to get out of auto mode and kick it into manual... YIKES. After seeing the amazing photos Lisa and Marla captured of China, I am longing to invest in an upgrade! I tried Kim's camera (D700) from Three Peanuts this summer and loved it. I think it's the shutter speed that makes the difference... so with all that being said... has anyone ever sold a camera on e-bay? Or know of anyone looking for a D60 in excellent condition? I'll have to sell what I have before I take the big plunge.

Some Favorite Photos I took last year:





None of these photos have been edited. they are straight from the camera.

PS this is a winter project I worked on for my stepmom. she's a goat lover (owner) so I made this for her for Christmas... it was LATE because I couldn't get it right. But I love the way it turned out. I'm not an artist, but I really enjoyed breaking out the paint brushes. It was quite theraputic.
No judging. I'm not an artist.

China Here We Come

We received TA earlier this week and confirmed our airline tickets yesterday! We're leaving on the 25th and will meet Libbie on the 27th. So... were buzzing around like bees wrapping up all the loose ends and getting everything ready. We'll fly from Houston to Tokyo and then right into Guangzhou... The weather in Guangzhou is much like Houston. Were trying to pack light (I don't know how that is possible). Libbie's bag is packed, now were working on Hoot's and then we'll get ours ready.

More details to follow soon! Thanks for your support and prayers throughout this amazing journey.


Isaiah 43:5
Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.