tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589663837074423672024-02-19T05:06:58.545-08:00Vandewater FamilyVandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-22596731937345662782016-04-19T11:17:00.002-07:002016-04-19T11:29:14.430-07:00Reflections on Year One<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It was no secret that I was very
excited for some alone time as I anticipated all my babies being in
school for the first time. 13 years of being a stay-at-home mom
blessed my socks off but this introvert was starting to daydream
about quiet days and actually being able to finish something I
started.</div>
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I even had a running list of all the things I wanted to do
when I had some free time. Things like volunteering at school
regularly, spending uninterrupted time with Jesus, keeping my house
in decent shape, making a weekly meal plan. </div>
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I can honestly say I met
my goals and even added some things like exercising regularly again
and remembering to get my gray hair colored more often. I checked off
my list almost every day – including keeping up with the laundry
mountain! I know I have been more patient and felt less
fried as a result of some quiet time.</div>
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Pretty great, right? Well yes! BUT (there's always a but).
I started realizing that a common theme in all of this was one word
most women struggle with...control. I had taken note of all the
pieces of my life that were scattered around and messy, I made a list
and I took care of business this year. <i>And I REALLY liked it.</i> I
love staying on top of things, keeping our family's schedule and
crossing stuff of my list. </div>
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My prayer time became richer too so I am
in no way saying this is all bad. But as I reflect on this year, I
asked God to reveal the areas I need to surrender to Him and the
places He wants to refine me and the word “control” flashed in my
mind. </div>
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<i>Is it possible that having more margins in my life lead to
having less margins? </i></div>
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I have noticed that I guard my time pretty
fiercely. Even right now, I feel like I should stop writing and get
the laundry folded before school gets out. So in my desire for quiet
and rest and ultimately a regained control over my life, I see that I
have done a lot less writing...less playing piano...less
dancing...less laughing. (My five primary sources of laughter are at
school all day after all!). </div>
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I am not sharing this to criticize
myself. I know I have an enemy who wants me to believe that all I do
is fail. <i>I will not give in to that lie!</i> </div>
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But as I prepare to
welcome all the cherubs home again for the summer and then a few
months later send them all back to school, I'm pretty sure I will be
longing for quiet rest again as I begin Year Two. I want to do it
well and to me that means remembering to surrender my day to Jesus.
<i>He will give me rest, He will lead me into times of worship and
prayer, He will let me know when I need to drop what I'm doing to
love on someone, and He will give me the energy to get my daily tasks
done.</i> </div>
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No matter how hard we try, we never arrive at perfection in
this life. Striving for it can feel really great for awhile until we
realize it never fills us up. This verse has been my prayer this year...<i><b>”I pray that from his
glorious unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength
through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and
more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go
down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.”</b></i> Ephesians
3:16-17</div>
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Here's to deep roots. No matter how
tangled and messy they are, they draw nourishment from the only
Source that helps us release our tight grip on what we think life should be and leads us into true life and freedom. </div>
Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-18088334045890052632014-05-23T17:00:00.001-07:002014-05-23T17:12:42.749-07:00Book Summary: "Cleaning House, A Mom's 12-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GKtK14suNeBQcgWArijWL2LlTdE0E24nzEWy8ieC8ew8y3_TAe5jBb_CZ1_CVmC4tVflGwKtUy5slUN737LVL7V4s3IhmEp3JJhdez-OVXt2DTr3UmreCqzryWuZ5m2DB0EiRrmz4Mg/s1600/cleaning+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3GKtK14suNeBQcgWArijWL2LlTdE0E24nzEWy8ieC8ew8y3_TAe5jBb_CZ1_CVmC4tVflGwKtUy5slUN737LVL7V4s3IhmEp3JJhdez-OVXt2DTr3UmreCqzryWuZ5m2DB0EiRrmz4Mg/s1600/cleaning+house.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
I came across this book after a frustrating weekend with my kids. The title drew me in immediately so I decided to order it for my summer reading. This past week Justin and I got away to the beach (thank you to our moms and many others who made that possible) and I read the entire book in a couple of days. This is NOT typical for me but I'm thankful for the timing because there are a lot of things from the book that I want to implement this summer. As with any book, I didn't agree with absolutely everything but overall it was definitely worth reading and I recommend it - especially for moms like me with kids in the adolescent age group.<br />
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So here's my summary (and favorite quotes from the book) since this topic seemed to peak the interest of many of my friends, I hope you find it helpful!<br />
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Kay Wills Wyma is a mom of five who came to the realization that she was not doing her kids any favors by doing for them what they were capable of doing themselves. A generation of overserved kids is being raised and those kids are growing into adults who think the world revolves around them. She decided to do a 12 month experiment with hopes that she could "equip, teach, and then let go". It's not that any of us want to raise overindulged kids, we just find that's it easier to do things for them our way, and avoid the battle. I could relate to her quote, "I've always tried to be a mom who doesn't hover, but apparently I've done much more than I realized."<br />
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<i>"With the greatest of intentions and in the name of love, we have developed a tendency to hover, race to save, protect from failure, arrange for success, manipulate, overprotect, and enable our kids. Freeing their schedules for sports, school, and increasingly important time with friends, we strive to make our children's lives easier or to make success a sure thing by doing it all for them. We shower them with accolades, proclaiming how wonderful they are - yet we rarely give them the opportunity to confirm the substance of that praise. All of our efforts send the clear, though unspoken and unintended message "I'll do it for you because you can't" or "No sense in your trying because I can do it better and faster."</i><br />
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Month 1: Beds and Clutter<br />
Starting off simple and with the goal to fight the urge to do for them what they could do themselves, the children will make their beds and declutter their room/bathroom every day. Wyma decided to give each child a jar with 30, one dollar bills in the jar. If the job was not done she would take a dollar out of the jar and at the end of the month the money left was theirs. (We do not currently do any type of allowance so at first I thought this was way too much money each month but as I read the book I realized that as she added jobs each month she did not increase the amount of money in the jar. This could be marbles, quarters, anything. Also, when I do this with my kids I will be making my bed too. I'm pretty laid back and it's not a priority for me, but I can see the bigger picture is to help everyone become personally responsible for their things.) <br />
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<i>"The motivation associated with potentially losing a dollar is much greater than the incentive to gain a dollar."</i><br />
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<i>"Decluttering has been one of the keys to success in our equipping activities. I've noticed that with the kids the less clutter they have to deal with, the better their ability to maintain a clean space. Okay, so maybe that's true for me too."</i><br />
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Month 2 : Kitchen Patrol<br />
Each child will take a turn being in charge of the evening meal one time per week. This includes menu planning, shopping, preparing the meal and doing the dishes. Wyma's goal is to come alongside the kids and teach them how to find a recipe, shop in a grocery store and cook. It doesn't all magically appear in the fridge and on the table. (I want to try this with my older kids. I don't think the 4 and 5-year-olds are ready for this one yet, although they can be helpers!)<br />
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<i>"It's pretty easy to protect and provide for kids. You keep them physically safe, give them an abundance of fun things to do, and they grow on up easily. That's the American way. The better way is to prepare kids for independence, but that is a much harder task. As they develop, we should slowly reduce the protection and provision, while increasing the preparation."</i><br />
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Month 3: Planting, Weeding, and The Great Outdoors<br />
This included decluttering the yard (toys, shoes, wrappers that end up scattered), pulling weeds, and planting flowers (teaching them to choose according to the amount of shade and space needed, etc. Planting a garden together would be a good idea too!) She also included odd job postings where the kids could earn money for doing extra jobs like sanding and painting chairs, washing outer windows, etc. <br />
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<i>"What is the antidote to overindulgence? Give them work...meaningful work."</i><br />
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<i>"In our society, children are generally not required to do meaningful work to help their families. Going to school, pursuing their extracurricular activities, and staying out of major trouble is considered their function. In the old days, boys and girls had chores and roles that were vitally important to the survival and functioning of their family unit. They knew that they were an integral part of the survival of their family and that without their contributions, it would suffer."</i><br />
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Month 4: Gainful Employment<br />
It is important to answer to an authority other than parents. Adolescents wouldn't get full time jobs but would look for opportunities to babysit, wash cars, lawn care, walk dogs, etc. <br />
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<i>"And while I'm not opposed to a bit of summertime relaxation, I don't want the kids to enter adulthood expecting every day to be fun, another message I suspect we've mistakenly planted in this generation by our parental tendency to entertain rather than challenge our children."</i><br />
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<i>"These days, employers see a disturbing trend of exactly that: employees who walk away from the job when the work proves more demanding or less interesting than they expect."</i><br />
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Month 5: Domestic Dirty Jobs<br />
Teach the children how to clean a bathroom. Wyma also focused a lot on doing the job well the first time. Learning to persevere and go the extra mile rather than doing just enough to get by. <br />
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<i>"It's so hard to let my kids handle their business, especially when 1) I'm fairly certain I can do it better, 2) I know other parents are stepping in for their kids, 3) I equate helping them with loving them, and 4) I'm just not sure my kid will actually get it done. To the latter I need to genuinely let my brood swim floaty-free much earlier than senior year applications so I know they can do it and so they know </i>they<i> can do it."</i><br />
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Month 6: Dirty Laundry<br />
Each child will do his/her own laundry, start to finish. As always, she will work alongside them to teach them how and then let them do it alone. (I like this one. I have a lot of laundry. Right now my kids age 5 and up put their own laundry away but I see no reason why the older ones can't wash, dry, fold and put away their own stuff. Maybe they won't be so quick to put things in the dirty basket?)<br />
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<i>"Our kids need to know how to persevere. They need to know that no job is beneath them. They need to know what it takes to operate a home. They need to know that sometimes you have to get dirty to get things clean. They need to know how to serve. They need to know that a family operates as a unit, everyone pitching in. They need to know that they belong, that they are a part of the group, that they are needed."</i><br />
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Month 7: Home Repair and Maintenance<br />
Take advantage of teaching opportunities like plunging a toilet, changing a light bulb, unclogging a drain. They may sound simple but have the children ever had to do it before?<br />
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<i>"The fact that God trusts us to help him with the tasks of the kingdom is proof positive that he loves us deeply. And I want to show that kind of love to my kids."</i><br />
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Month 8: Party Planning and Hospitality<br />
Each child will plan and host a party. It can be small and simple. <br />
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<i>"Hospitality gets your eyes off yourself and onto others."</i><br />
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Month 9: Team Players, The Benefits of Working Together<br />
The kids will work together on a project to reach a common goal. <br />
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<i>"There is no screen in </i>team<i>. Television, computer, and telephone screens weren't missed as the kids put their heads together to plan, strategize and accomplish their goals."</i><br />
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Month 10: Equipping Kids for Life's Little Errands<br />
Even though they can't drive yet, they can come along to run errands and see that the toilet paper doesn't buy itself, the car doesn't fill itself with gas, and the shampoo doesn't automatically refill.<br />
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<i>"Each time I do something they could do for themselves, I reinforce their sense that they are owed certain things. That "I deserve it" mentality irks me more that any other aspect of youth entitlement."</i><br />
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Month 11: It's About Others<br />
This month Wyma challenges her kids to serve others, even in a small way, and to be obedient to act when they feel the nudge.<br />
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<i>"If we're racing around and our calendars are full, it's hard to find the time to share God's love. It's hard to see opportunities to serve when we're blinded by our own needs."</i><br />
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Month 12: Minding Our Manners<br />
Manners can include a lot of things...ladies first, look people in the eye, but Wyma said the main goal was for the kids to get outside themselves and consider others.<br />
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<i>"Isn't that at the heart of all our entitlement issues? The obsession with being first in everything? Searching for significance through achievement and self-promotion, ending up ahead and on top?"</i><br />
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There you have it! I think it is worth reading and I really enjoyed all of the author's stories that went along with each month. It definitely wasn't easy and her kids did plenty of whining and complaining, as mine would, but I think this topic of youth entitlement is important to consider as we raise up our little warriors. My kids already do chores but this way of looking at it makes those jobs more meaningful and also helps me see that there are many more things they are able to and should do for themselves. As a mom, I tend to get overwhelmed by all the things I should "do" so I hope this doesn't come across as a giant to-do list. That is why the author took an entire year and looked at it as equipping rather than just being a taskmaster. I hope this was helpful, I haven't done a book summary since I was in school (very rusty!) but felt the nudge since the topic struck a chord with me and other moms as well. Happy reading! Jaymi<br />
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<i><br /></i>Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-50517740357436698662014-01-13T10:00:00.002-08:002014-01-13T10:03:02.583-08:00The Efficient WorshiperI was blessed to be a guest blogger again! I love sharing my story of how God has shaped my heart for worship. Big thanks to Jonathan DeGroot and Daniel Brunz for their role! <br />
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http://www.shift115.com/2014/01/the-efficient-worshiper/#more-1314<br />
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<br />Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-74103819251311536102013-10-21T06:06:00.001-07:002013-10-21T06:08:03.793-07:00I was recently asked to be a "guest blogger" for my friends at Shift115 so I wanted to include the link! This is the story of my journey of worship and how God has used my kids to teach me what it means to be free. Enjoy! <br />
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<a href="http://www.shift115.com/2013/09/a-lesson-from-our-kids/">http://www.shift115.com/2013/09/a-lesson-from-our-kids/</a><br />
Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-82064143211470526742013-02-14T11:03:00.003-08:002013-02-14T11:03:52.453-08:00Gotcha Love Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's hard to believe today is Zachary's "Gotcha Day" and that one year ago, on Valentine's Day, we met our sweet boy for the first time. And yet, it seems strange to me that he hasn't always been with us because it sure feels like it. I can't possibly express how crazy we are about this kid. I stand in awe at how God has set this little one in our family and he soooo fits right in =).</div>
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Feb 14, 2012 we saw Zachary for the first time at his orphanage. He was so scared and upset, his nannies did their best to comfort and reassure him. We had to keep our distance at first.</div>
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Justin had to walk with him outside the orphanage to try to calm him down while I got all the info I needed inside. We found out later that while Justin was sweating bullets with our terrified toddler and I was furiously writing down and videotaping everything the translator was telling me, Grace was hanging out with the nannies and holding babies in the nursery. Happy girl.</div>
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Saying one last good-bye to the ladies who loved him so much.</div>
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Sad and scared...broke our hearts and yet we trusted he would feel safe soon. </div>
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February 14, 2013</div>
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We celebrated both Valentine's Day and Gotcha Day first thing this morning at our favorite...The Original Pancake House. The kids woke up this morning so excited that it was Zac's special day. He was very confused and kept asking if it was his birthday! Who ever heard of Gotcha Day anyway? =)</div>
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I am crazy in love with all 5 of my babies and their daddy. It's been an awesome journey to Taiwan and back and I am so thankful for the way God's hand has been on this little boy's life. We are so blessed to be his family.</div>
Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-16214378210108287422013-01-03T09:35:00.000-08:002013-01-03T09:35:09.852-08:00"Hold You Lap"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Zac is such a cuddlebug. He is always reaching up for Justin or me and saying "Hold you" or "Lap" or "Hold you lap". I love that he wants to be close to us. This morning I sent my big kids back to school after a really nice Christmas break. No one wanted to get out of bed (me especially) but they made it out the door on time. Asher has been sick and just wants to lay around (SO not Asher) so I was hoping for a little quiet time with my Bible, coffee, and gently falling snow while the two little boys watched a movie. I barely cracked it open when Zac came into the kitchen..."Mommy, lap?" I said, "Don't you want to watch the movie with Asher?" "No thank you (he's seriously that polite). Lap." So up he came. I love holding him even though it makes it a little harder to drink my coffee and hold my Bible so I tried again to see if he wanted to sit next to me and color or do a puzzle. Nope, "Lap". So I tried to read while he chatted about how he wanted hot cocoa, his daddy, and looked at a picture of himself that I used as a bookmark in my Bible. "Zackey...aw, cute!" (He's heard that more than a few times!). I wasn't comprehending anything I was reading so I finally decided to read out loud. I was finishing up Revelation, a book that I tend to avoid. I know I am not supposed to be fearful but I confess that I find myself freaking out a little when I work my way through it so I was excited to read the last chapters when all things are new and Satan is banished forever. I was surprised when tears started forming in my eyes as I read aloud. By the time I got to Revelation 21 I was pretty much sobbing through it. <br />
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<em>"I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a beautiful bride prepared for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever. And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making all things new!" Revelation 21:1-5</em><br />
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I share this story for a couple of reasons...one is that I was reminded of the power of the Word of God this morning. Reading it aloud made it even sharper to me. The other reason is to encourage other moms of little ones. There are opportunities to sit at His feet when your 3-year-old wants to sit on your lap and you never seem to be alone. In fact, a part of the reason I found myself in tears was just being struck again at the miracle that I even had this precious, beautiful little boy on my lap and I had the honor and joy to speak Truth over him. He kept putting his little hand on the page...he has the sweetest little hands. <br />
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There's so much more I could say about my experience reading Revelation this time. I know God led me back to it again. Read it...maybe even out loud...and be filled with the hope and assurance that Jesus wins the battle and all things will be made new.<br />
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(<em>sidenote...Zachary was on my lap as I wrote most of this post too...=)</em><br />
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Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-63580203789963807172012-11-19T15:48:00.001-08:002012-11-19T15:48:42.925-08:00It's Official!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's OFFICIAL!!! We went to the courthouse today and appeared before the (very nice!) judge and promised to be Zachary's family forever. His name is now officially changed to Zachary Dale Vandewater! I LOVE how it is stated in the document..it is now the same as if he was our "natural born" son. It is the same, buddy. You are <em>our</em> baby, sweet boy.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joah having a little fun in the "hot seat"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we are with the judge and our social worker (Joah was having a "moment").</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids outside the courthouse</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We got them out of school so they could be with us - they were so excited and eagerly told the judge they loved having Zachary as their little brother.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Milkshakes to celebrate!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Z1ZuFS0xyec3Uv0k9sKeom7YZ75YljnzaPJ0KTUc0tirX4mUrEwBBEAC1DBrBJzk-3RZF6Wn9GktJ16f93TdYb296OxF_-Ts4B5bq1d6B78-ThtW4oviCpP41AKYVcDkOwRoiT5HDos/s1600/it's+official!++2012+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Z1ZuFS0xyec3Uv0k9sKeom7YZ75YljnzaPJ0KTUc0tirX4mUrEwBBEAC1DBrBJzk-3RZF6Wn9GktJ16f93TdYb296OxF_-Ts4B5bq1d6B78-ThtW4oviCpP41AKYVcDkOwRoiT5HDos/s320/it's+official!++2012+008.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's officially a "Vandewater" and we LOVE it!!!!</td></tr>
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<br />Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-84007233765484903372012-11-06T09:03:00.002-08:002012-11-06T09:05:26.618-08:00BirthdayBirthdayBirthday<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirw9zLr72FXoinQTJuVIAoi9NBsu5xsTwPR8999qCcUvzaLVnx5c8o06dcmKoixkP3qOq7DfN1m19v4mH0XZmby9gL3O1HXZxChjHEBB1L7wxGNQtaVObest2L6rQ0nBuMU1pFoebmfik/s1600/asher+is+4+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirw9zLr72FXoinQTJuVIAoi9NBsu5xsTwPR8999qCcUvzaLVnx5c8o06dcmKoixkP3qOq7DfN1m19v4mH0XZmby9gL3O1HXZxChjHEBB1L7wxGNQtaVObest2L6rQ0nBuMU1pFoebmfik/s320/asher+is+4+015.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">October was birthday month at our house! First up was Asher who turned 4!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD-JZEQZtFdnpRXx3TAEwywLs8uBQQFK_b7TFIk5RvCGpyWcYmyN8zPzhmaprmTxqgz1yUwpWQtPuKaGsgENYq-JzF66RaMnaXQ3SureMf1MTdT6saIoDmmWUMzYah9SC_rYWd4wXihb4/s1600/asher+is+4+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD-JZEQZtFdnpRXx3TAEwywLs8uBQQFK_b7TFIk5RvCGpyWcYmyN8zPzhmaprmTxqgz1yUwpWQtPuKaGsgENYq-JzF66RaMnaXQ3SureMf1MTdT6saIoDmmWUMzYah9SC_rYWd4wXihb4/s320/asher+is+4+009.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday pizza with Nana and Uncle Gabe</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JwXMZItrgzresH-TOeBIKn0wgB8LKcezy2a0KbvVA0TCMdWaGeZTtMvbm4ufzDOhIioNgrO_LQDC2YfViPmwBlJ2Zgp_cn26FSK9vmemyMLjhPRna_96xSK-eMaV3pXmL-6lZ4fZv_4/s1600/october2012+138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7JwXMZItrgzresH-TOeBIKn0wgB8LKcezy2a0KbvVA0TCMdWaGeZTtMvbm4ufzDOhIioNgrO_LQDC2YfViPmwBlJ2Zgp_cn26FSK9vmemyMLjhPRna_96xSK-eMaV3pXmL-6lZ4fZv_4/s320/october2012+138.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Next was Zac who turned 3! It was so special to celebrate his birthday for the first time WITH him!! He was most excited about his "choo choo" cake!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9aIU2CeU3JL7xTe6WoRU3YvXORigI3stH3ujbwJAkZ6nOI-ilCll8b5sPRe_xx7kbVQNaPehSjiIaBIwt0xjlbw6RttAP6cuGLobq-Q3u4L6HSJYSsRQP1vx3qt0a3UoY3aXPdVdvQpw/s1600/october2012+035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9aIU2CeU3JL7xTe6WoRU3YvXORigI3stH3ujbwJAkZ6nOI-ilCll8b5sPRe_xx7kbVQNaPehSjiIaBIwt0xjlbw6RttAP6cuGLobq-Q3u4L6HSJYSsRQP1vx3qt0a3UoY3aXPdVdvQpw/s320/october2012+035.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zac LOVES cars, trucks, trains and tractors and Asher was more than happy to help him open us his birthday presents!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijR1QJCYSlpXH0a_ssqnmGynBixOBFfob2AUXjOYtbMrCfUANQZUi-zJ0TdkoGZ-grpwMrkMP3rTR4VfbUVzdgMfgn7Denm0ePg9eyf-prQom7hO0UnzGW4ZJMjnYUMCe6tyV3igikpw/s1600/october2012+144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijR1QJCYSlpXH0a_ssqnmGynBixOBFfob2AUXjOYtbMrCfUANQZUi-zJ0TdkoGZ-grpwMrkMP3rTR4VfbUVzdgMfgn7Denm0ePg9eyf-prQom7hO0UnzGW4ZJMjnYUMCe6tyV3igikpw/s320/october2012+144.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNshkzqPbxsWns5UzlHvLXr1aX5VPbKYsyRdgq9ozsi4r8YSA438INOBMayt18zGQ5YP6ZE2SWAZKg-qZKS3g-uhujS9FI-fRd4YNyVv43jCI9WLGJ2cOWm43ByXETIlZIavj06xLswc/s1600/october2012+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNshkzqPbxsWns5UzlHvLXr1aX5VPbKYsyRdgq9ozsi4r8YSA438INOBMayt18zGQ5YP6ZE2SWAZKg-qZKS3g-uhujS9FI-fRd4YNyVv43jCI9WLGJ2cOWm43ByXETIlZIavj06xLswc/s320/october2012+033.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute sweatshirt from grandma!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oFvbidl7czJbBuKy2Erxt1FQvvWXGoR8FlChFbFj2_EtE99z7xBb5VOVhKOqMqPDk7jzYKrM8XFKNUzExv9JOVPsPowY16rUlaOR3JSr7BLMIMHGA2m4eIkHE9MOwPLoJm4n2n3KhHY/s1600/october2012+050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oFvbidl7czJbBuKy2Erxt1FQvvWXGoR8FlChFbFj2_EtE99z7xBb5VOVhKOqMqPDk7jzYKrM8XFKNUzExv9JOVPsPowY16rUlaOR3JSr7BLMIMHGA2m4eIkHE9MOwPLoJm4n2n3KhHY/s320/october2012+050.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zac showing Nana the very special little photo books he got from his little sister for his birthday. They are such a treasure because they have many pictures of he and his sister together when they were at the orphanage. He is so proud of his "Mei Mei" ("little sister") and prays for her every day. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5Q16TjOlSNnvcKvI24q5PCXZIWiJGTUzY6UbHIw2iD5LBqu5UC9K9udo0V_32cGtuSO3XH54NhzfYxBkt7UyQPPBx6IolPNPufMikOS_CnEID8P_xHerAb7OGfzjCw0dyWAnhF5DA0M/s1600/october2012+072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5Q16TjOlSNnvcKvI24q5PCXZIWiJGTUzY6UbHIw2iD5LBqu5UC9K9udo0V_32cGtuSO3XH54NhzfYxBkt7UyQPPBx6IolPNPufMikOS_CnEID8P_xHerAb7OGfzjCw0dyWAnhF5DA0M/s320/october2012+072.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zac and I snuggling with the cute monkey Zac's sister sent with a hug for his birthday. Thank you Mei Mei! I love you!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMMEv76I4b6vNFcRHFQCA52enaCpade8aAr13pHqHE7cXOg11ihmn2rltuZjRobOdGoZZmp_pH71S7hHUKyGoHEGd2_B15k7D-d9G04dnNn3Dt49dn8YeL5pF8M-bsFRoqrSA9zS9otI/s1600/halloween2012+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMMEv76I4b6vNFcRHFQCA52enaCpade8aAr13pHqHE7cXOg11ihmn2rltuZjRobOdGoZZmp_pH71S7hHUKyGoHEGd2_B15k7D-d9G04dnNn3Dt49dn8YeL5pF8M-bsFRoqrSA9zS9otI/s320/halloween2012+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last but not least it was daddy's birthday!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZx_6nwsItpISxk3wLIbJKiZKq3EvJPDJ2eqcUpZ6tHedJRImyzR6spQDGfYP-at-Pf7HSlx6yrFv1zCoyefqrlT7V3VnDXI25FayhdHUMlt_X1yCIw-n0S2AcsqmJBrWDbBSKy3_45I/s1600/halloween2012+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZx_6nwsItpISxk3wLIbJKiZKq3EvJPDJ2eqcUpZ6tHedJRImyzR6spQDGfYP-at-Pf7HSlx6yrFv1zCoyefqrlT7V3VnDXI25FayhdHUMlt_X1yCIw-n0S2AcsqmJBrWDbBSKy3_45I/s320/halloween2012+008.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now that Zac is an expert at birthdays, of course he had to help blow out the candle!</td></tr>
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<br />Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-67447286389258304432012-10-17T20:55:00.000-07:002012-10-17T21:00:09.587-07:00A Daddy's Arms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you have followed Zac's story, you know that daddy was his favorite from day one. I can proudly say that our little cutie loves his momma now too but daddy still has an extra special place in his heart. I don't even know how to begin to share how much Justin adores Zachary. It's beautiful and miraculous and it makes my heart tighten with emotion to think about Justin's personal adoption journey. I often hear similar stories from people...mom wants to adopt, dad is not so sure, mom prays, dad gives the green light and falls head over heels in love, becoming an even bigger supporter of adoption than his wife! He finds out that God provides, there is great blessing in taking a risk, and YES he can love an adopted child just as much as a biological one (I've heard that one a lot)! These are all concerns I have heard specifically from dads and I love love love seeing how God gently leads and moves on behalf of his children.<br />
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The reason this is on my heart tonight is because of a story Justin just told me. He said around 3am last night Zachary came to our bed and didn't just crawl in but wedged his way under Justin's arm so he could be as close as possible to his daddy. I never even knew he was there because he was snuggled up so tight to Justin. Justin said he became overwhelmed with the thought that there are so many little ones who don't have a daddy or mommy's arm to snuggle up under. Our son has a family now and the thought of him not having someone (us!) to adore him it too much to take in. Zachary was one of millions of amazing children who need families. (Seriously, the child is amazing. =) <br />
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Justin's story really brought me back to the place where God wrecked me a few years ago...the reason I longed to adopt. <em>There are close to 147 MILLION orphans and we can love one.</em> That's it. That's where it began for me. I have shared before that I did not feel like I "needed" another child. I was perfectly content with our family just the way it was. But when I found myself weeping over the mere thought of a child without a mommy I knew my comfortable, content existence was not where I was supposed to stay. I feel so strongly that our own comfort is our worst enemy if we allow it to take precedence over what Jesus clearly calls his followers to do...LOVE others. Maybe we won't have the picture perfect life (some dreams will be let go and replaced with others). Maybe my biological children will struggle with adding a new family member (in our case his name may or may not start with an "A" =). Maybe it will cost me something I didn't think I wanted to give (to find out more every day that it was worth it all). But we have arms that a sweet little boy from Taiwan whose picture we saw on a "waiting child" listing can crawl under and find a safe place where he will always be loved. I pray we will always use our arms to hold and love children. They are so precious to their Father.Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-78370882499052045382012-08-14T14:55:00.000-07:002012-08-14T15:00:05.233-07:00Marking the Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Looks like I may have missed a few months of updates! Six months ago today, we saw Zachary's face for the first time. It genuinely feels like he's always been with us. I look at pictures the orphanage sent us of his life before becoming a Vandewater and I have a hard time believing it's true...that he had another life for almost 2 1/2 years. This week I have been thinking a lot about how we mark the time. Six months since I touched my baby for the first time...yesterday my dad would have had his 59th birthday...on Monday Justin and I will celebrate 13 years of marriage...Joah is starting kindergarten...five years since we started going to our church, The Crossing, and God turned my heart to Him in a deeper way. All these things are big markers in my life. There is one marking of time that has been the most pressing on my heart lately. Next week, on the 21st of August, it will be one month since some very special people in our lives suddenly lost their 4-month-old baby girl, Quinn Noel. Quinn's story is not mine to tell, but even writing her name makes my heart tighten into knots and my eyes fill with tears. I have been unable to keep her and her sweet parents out of my mind. They are the kind of people who you notice...at first because they are outwardly beautiful. They shine. Ali lights up every room she enters and Tim is so good at loving people. A moment after you notice their outward beauty, their inner beauty outshines it. We call them both family and friends. Every time they have been to our house Ali blesses me by tackling the dishes and Tim sneaks away from the adult conversation to love on my kids. They adore Tim and Ali just as much as we do. Quinn is a miracle we all prayed for. I believe that when you pray for someone for a long time, your heart is tied to them in a beautiful way. I was excited to get special time with her when her mom started teaching again and I would babysit her. I would watch Asher and Zachary when they were around babies, curious how they would treat Baby Quinn at our house each day. I had decided the girls' room was the best place for her to take her naps and I wondered how she would do at library storytime each week with the boys. I selfishly hoped we would have a special bond and I also looked forward to getting to see her mom or dad every morning and afternoon when one of them dropped her off and picked her up. Losing all these things I "planned" and even "dreamed" about for my upcoming schoolyear with Asher, Zac, and Quinn are just the slightest brushstroke of heartache when compared to what Tim and Ali are feeling and experiencing each moment of every day. Everyone who hasn't experienced this kind of loss says, "I can't imagine." I can't imagine. This is the thing I love most about Tim and Ali, though. You know when I talked about how Ali lights up every room she enters and Tim is so good at loving people? That Light comes from the Light of the World and that Love comes from the One who IS Love. Even through their pain and mourning, weeping and brokeness I still see that Light in Ali's eyes and that Love in Tim's. It is something that does not change because the Holy Spirit is inside them and He <em>does not change. </em>It is that Spirit that gave Ali the peace that passes all understanding...the peace I could actually feel when I held her one week after she endured the most horrible night of her life. I could <em>feel</em> it. I believe Jesus is real...He is Love...He is Light...He is Peace. I love you Tim, Ali, and Quinn.Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-65809683798861864282012-05-20T20:26:00.000-07:002012-05-20T20:37:16.404-07:00Three Months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I recently told someone it's like Zachary has gone through his entire baby phase in three months. He is such a "big boy" now whereas when he came home he was very much a baby. Zac is now done with bottles and has much less time for cuddling because he has to keep up with his brothers! He is saying a lot of phrases in English, sneaking out of his bed at night to jump in with Joah, and joining in the wrestling matches. He loves to swing high on the swingset and zip around on Asher's little powerwheels jeep. He laughs uncontrollably when we tickle him - it is the best sound in the world! </div>
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I will say this month has been harder for me. I finally noticed that even though Zachary was doing so beautifully, I was starting to unravel. I was very overwhelmed with the "dailyness" (mountains of laundry, never ever finishing a task, and still making sure I got a chance to really connect with each child each day) and was starting to doubt that I could be the mother I wanted to be to all five of my kiddos. I heard that little lie..."You could be a really great mom to two children. Think of all the time you'd have to help them with homework, make sure they always used their manners...maybe even their clothes would match because you could dress them instead of them dressing themselves!" At one point after Asher had completely trashed our basement and had a few deliberate "poop" incidents I cried on the phone to Justin, unsure that I could do it and do it well. I also asked some precious friends to pray for me and I firmly believe they carried me yet again and God gave me a renewed mind. I started to recognize when the lies were creeping in and choose to battle against the enemy who placed them there. I know I am a good mother and I have no doubt this is what I'm called to...raising up our little arrows and sending them out. I loved what my friend Erica told me..."Asher's arrow has fire on the tip." Indeed it does. He is a little warrior. All of our kids are very strong, some of them often defiant. But they are also fiercely compassionate and wildly fun. It's not an easy calling to be a mom but it's what I love. I am so in love with these five little fiery arrows.</div>
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three amigos</div>
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Daddy took the girls to their first father/daughter dance</div>
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Joah's preschool graduation</div>
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A common sight when you have 2 and 3 year old boys!</div>
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Nana and the boys</div>
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The red car is always a favorite at Nana's house</div>
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The kids really wanted to swim in the lake Mother's Day weekend - I think that was a first!</div>
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Zac stayed in his bed the first 2 months he was home - now he's venturing out...this is where I caught him after we tucked him in. He wanted to put his shoes on to go out and play!</div>
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Mommy said "no" so Zac wasn't happy with me and found a great place to pout</div>
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first baby pool day!</div>
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a trip to the zoo with our friends</div>
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We had family pictures taken by a friend and I love how they turned out!</div>
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my girls</div>
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love this little guy</div>
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What's in there Zac? Joah cracks me up in this one too.</div>
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Someone likes to be Mr. Independant...I wonder who??</div>
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My mom gave me this for Mother's Day and it made me cry..."God is within her, she will not fall."</div>Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-64385005025437259862012-04-16T15:11:00.001-07:002012-04-16T15:11:59.474-07:00Two Months Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtm8JNCJEvH9zcrAWVY8IeqTLDz2QastU-ddT49KZ3iREFvSBm_8TensY35G4tcukJDGi0LjvjIyTBWh8O8ojiiNJ4XUVGiTcN2QYtkLjE2pHh2Jd12mac2cKjQ1WTS3u65w19dz0w54/s1600/March2012+080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtm8JNCJEvH9zcrAWVY8IeqTLDz2QastU-ddT49KZ3iREFvSBm_8TensY35G4tcukJDGi0LjvjIyTBWh8O8ojiiNJ4XUVGiTcN2QYtkLjE2pHh2Jd12mac2cKjQ1WTS3u65w19dz0w54/s320/March2012+080.JPG" width="320" /></a>It's been another fun month with the "Taiwan Tornado" (I stole that name by the way =). Even looking back at this blog amazes me. Zachary looks so sad and scared in those first pictures and now he is wrestling, running, giggling and eating right alongside everyone else. He will not be left out of anything (I love it). </div>
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I'm very excited to share that we have been in contact with Zachary's little sister's family! I haven't asked permission from them to post any pictures of her yet but her mom sent me some pictures she took when they went to Taiwan this past December to bring her home. They were able to spend some time with Zachary and take pictures and videos of he and his sister together! They said he called her "Mei Mei" (little sister) and she called him "Ge Ge" (big brother). This is the most amazing part...when I pulled up the pictures her mom took of them together I pointed to her and asked Zachary who it was and he looked for a couple of seconds and then said "Mei Mei!!" He totally remembered her!! It was a wonderful moment and a sad moment all at the same time. I am so thankful Zac has a biological sister and that he had time to bond with her in the orphanage but I was surprised at how heartbroken I felt too because they are separated now. He knows her, his eyes lit up when he saw her. I am so thankful that "Mei Mei's" parents feel the same way we do and they want to stay in contact! (On a sidenote, a lot of people have asked why Zac and his sister weren't placed together and it's because both of their adoptions were in process before they did the DNA test and found out they are siblings.)</div>
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We spent Easter weekend with Justin's side of the family and Zac got to meet his cousins! There were 10 kids under the age of 10 running around! I love this picture of of Benj, Zac, Asher and Sammy in the tub.</div>
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Everyone's favorite thing is Grandpa's 4-wheeler and Zac would not be left behind!</div>
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Exploring Grandma and Grandpa's yard</div>
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Ok I'm a little proud of getting this shot of Joah and Max shooting a basket at the exact same time</div>
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He wasted no time</div>
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Getting into Joah's stuff while he's at preschool (Zac adores Joah and copies everything he does)</div>
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Hottest March I can remember - we even got the sprinkler out!</div>
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Digging and collecting worms - the only thing they will all work together on without fighting!</div>
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Asher is very proud that it's his job to catch Zac at the end of the slide</div>
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A fun weekend with Sadler cousins!</div>
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I couldn't get a picture of Zac at the pool before this because he was a MANIAC and it took both Justin and I to make sure he didn't drown. I quick snapped one when he needed a little breather with his blankie and pacifier (and daddy). Then he was right back in there!</div>
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Joah and his sidekick</div>
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Everyone always asks how Zac is adjusting he is just doing amazing. We prayed specifically for a <em>seamless</em> transition and for God to begin <em>sewing</em> him into our family even before we met and those prayers have been answered, all glory to God who loves this boy even more than we do. I know those prayers came straight from the heart of the Father because other dear friends prayed for him and our family using those <em>exact</em> words we had been praying. <em>He knows us. </em>He knows you too. Blessings...jaymi</div>
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</div>Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-54934041147865585322012-03-14T19:20:00.010-07:002012-03-14T20:26:16.406-07:00One Month with Zachary!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhSzstuH8YA02AUSMi6Rh4yRDzJGROJ4RZ4Skgfcwer6xLd9l7x9Eufl-Oi4NqBQXuKmvrCumxpABolH2V1nyp43V2xg9_OwQeoTEpRI76-jk1dfKje8VaPJ3RU9FA3r-L0D6krylnFE/s1600/midmarch2012+032.JPG"><img style="width: 240px; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719944953667795490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhSzstuH8YA02AUSMi6Rh4yRDzJGROJ4RZ4Skgfcwer6xLd9l7x9Eufl-Oi4NqBQXuKmvrCumxpABolH2V1nyp43V2xg9_OwQeoTEpRI76-jk1dfKje8VaPJ3RU9FA3r-L0D6krylnFE/s320/midmarch2012+032.JPG" /></a><br />WOW!! One month ago today we got our sweet, spunky, snuggly little boy! I love this picture!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgun7RdmGCeSTRxzNozd96qSulmNVLmYyrCH14Ds5LoVWOMHR10oBouS-mu8pLpIru5D-tnJciHUYlpIVMdu-Sw53uoB78pjLhxO9eehw0K19JuIr-WhaAMMWIkwNo6nEGca_MLa5Bf_Io/s1600/midmarch2012+038.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719944777025084402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgun7RdmGCeSTRxzNozd96qSulmNVLmYyrCH14Ds5LoVWOMHR10oBouS-mu8pLpIru5D-tnJciHUYlpIVMdu-Sw53uoB78pjLhxO9eehw0K19JuIr-WhaAMMWIkwNo6nEGca_MLa5Bf_Io/s320/midmarch2012+038.JPG" /></a><br />Things are going so well - it's nothing short of a miracle to see how beautifully Zac fits into our family. He has a joyful heart and we all adore him. He is saying "daddy", "mama", "Laineee", "JoJo", "Ashah", and "jay-jay" (which is big sister in Mandarin so Grace is still "jay-jay").<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVD65CX3YtaJqF-Irv9VH1wsEszUZIl69-mT959RSQxinvz7c88vpM0SrvGUHuRDwkjDCsxQKTdUKnO0xLU2e_lXLyXE_EdJYxsXhqevqTha8KfKpO723kVStEbR_n5xoYjr1Zu2ADIIM/s1600/midmarch2012+028.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719944576203688818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVD65CX3YtaJqF-Irv9VH1wsEszUZIl69-mT959RSQxinvz7c88vpM0SrvGUHuRDwkjDCsxQKTdUKnO0xLU2e_lXLyXE_EdJYxsXhqevqTha8KfKpO723kVStEbR_n5xoYjr1Zu2ADIIM/s320/midmarch2012+028.JPG" /></a><br />He gets extra silly right before bed =)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5xMiiGzImNn2Oo9O0qnYtDi6e6PfXIivRIR4RxoMIGiTukrM9H7X7Xfy4z_r7bywtbOH58qpxo0lKYO4XAHFpPOsXM883nValgoHqtc2pmQF70JKOR6salNwULZ_J6m212n6LzltQIg/s1600/midmarch2012+027.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719944468405485922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5xMiiGzImNn2Oo9O0qnYtDi6e6PfXIivRIR4RxoMIGiTukrM9H7X7Xfy4z_r7bywtbOH58qpxo0lKYO4XAHFpPOsXM883nValgoHqtc2pmQF70JKOR6salNwULZ_J6m212n6LzltQIg/s320/midmarch2012+027.JPG" /></a><br />It's like he is going through the entire baby phase in a matter of weeks. No more letting mommy feed me - I can do it myself! He loves to eat and usually says, "more-more!"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB90hUVvRZOlzgFxNSYFNVNiZzv1UNbelRIVdIk2vU-gKr5E3wN9K67X5Y8OxVKh5oyZXmMkfTGzfeHe5TT5kStEHyISIXPQFRASDatV_szuJIbVRrQGh5LxwKxqULzS-LtcWnf0L_TZM/s1600/midmarch2012+019.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719944237833579778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB90hUVvRZOlzgFxNSYFNVNiZzv1UNbelRIVdIk2vU-gKr5E3wN9K67X5Y8OxVKh5oyZXmMkfTGzfeHe5TT5kStEHyISIXPQFRASDatV_szuJIbVRrQGh5LxwKxqULzS-LtcWnf0L_TZM/s320/midmarch2012+019.JPG" /></a><br />The weather has been incredible here for the month of March. We have been outside a ton and Zac is loving it!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQK-HHQsKl5Ld8pPeZWq1EJxaSxBSwLOqtlRaP1t2qpQdDL8qPh4RiJC4yVM36vL_orX5O2NEl6OY2LnYCsUem6EKHdM_QApY1Xh8GCi56Xy8_3isfHcInRHxpIlnEGRw6mdruynrSq1w/s1600/midmarch2012+018.JPG"><img style="width: 240px; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719944112142122642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQK-HHQsKl5Ld8pPeZWq1EJxaSxBSwLOqtlRaP1t2qpQdDL8qPh4RiJC4yVM36vL_orX5O2NEl6OY2LnYCsUem6EKHdM_QApY1Xh8GCi56Xy8_3isfHcInRHxpIlnEGRw6mdruynrSq1w/s320/midmarch2012+018.JPG" /></a><br />Are you following me mom?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVaTBd9nRil7YaZfUFDyCu-n6i8tnTYMJizJLX1RJZziyWnZfNDkPBmDdutKa_tTeCYVuZFYLZGIJEmSaMfRNP_GIniZ9ATK95VqX6dZZAZLygr67npnhkun-iqs-PTRlhpR3IMGMrrvQ/s1600/midmarch2012+009.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719943954083479202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVaTBd9nRil7YaZfUFDyCu-n6i8tnTYMJizJLX1RJZziyWnZfNDkPBmDdutKa_tTeCYVuZFYLZGIJEmSaMfRNP_GIniZ9ATK95VqX6dZZAZLygr67npnhkun-iqs-PTRlhpR3IMGMrrvQ/s320/midmarch2012+009.JPG" /></a><br />Nana came to visit and got a little cuddle time with Zac. We are glad he is still wanting a bottle a couple of times a day - such a precious time to have with him.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0-9Y4DZsQ8HuwPosVW20QYd-VAISsgOeerZawj3GkLssbsGJq484DnAhQmcesHEPQ9MiInWuHBSxiZ-lzJIM1WwFevF91VcOi9lRaGUZBB2KZXo7OeRLgIYpdzKDbSnu6yEmaR6yvoE/s1600/midmarch2012+008.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719943816877630434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0-9Y4DZsQ8HuwPosVW20QYd-VAISsgOeerZawj3GkLssbsGJq484DnAhQmcesHEPQ9MiInWuHBSxiZ-lzJIM1WwFevF91VcOi9lRaGUZBB2KZXo7OeRLgIYpdzKDbSnu6yEmaR6yvoE/s320/midmarch2012+008.JPG" /></a><br />Please pay no attention to the sleepy looking bedheaded momma...and take note of the absolute JOY Justin and I get to experience on Saturday mornings...I love it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKajnI-aDwVAyvArcsV5UE0t6F2p5fUJu7AU9Drkzg7eiJVqileU2Vd4Rr-pQgoxA_X8Dd_LP4zaNV7g3IAfixWqqmgckQFiNYE0HxOdwTHdfsvgwWu6ggJdvRPFXF6CzZE0iUkJVqTA/s1600/midmarch2012+006.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719943711994067682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKajnI-aDwVAyvArcsV5UE0t6F2p5fUJu7AU9Drkzg7eiJVqileU2Vd4Rr-pQgoxA_X8Dd_LP4zaNV7g3IAfixWqqmgckQFiNYE0HxOdwTHdfsvgwWu6ggJdvRPFXF6CzZE0iUkJVqTA/s320/midmarch2012+006.JPG" /></a><br />Checking out the piano - such a sweet face.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsgj0YXa31QLXDtSbc4ki-3_29zDLTkA2R9T7826MlxBlj7yvmMWcmG81MgXv90YeiznfRB6HHGlet75S-pA1Unzjduhyphenhypheng78JnQcDnUYoc4SCMgcMCOCFTQzpORxx26BuTKFqRZCrI7Y/s1600/midmarch2012+002.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719943536824873362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsgj0YXa31QLXDtSbc4ki-3_29zDLTkA2R9T7826MlxBlj7yvmMWcmG81MgXv90YeiznfRB6HHGlet75S-pA1Unzjduhyphenhypheng78JnQcDnUYoc4SCMgcMCOCFTQzpORxx26BuTKFqRZCrI7Y/s320/midmarch2012+002.JPG" /></a><br />mommy's favorite time with Zac<br /><br />I've had so many thoughts on what I want to share on this blog but today I am just so thankful and amazed that we have gotten to be with Zachary for a month. We have tried to slow life down as much as possible this past month and it was definitely the right thing to do. Zac needs to just be home with us as much as possible as he bonds with us and we are so thankful to see how comfortable and happy he is at home. He is still very nervous around new people and in new places but we can see that he is already becoming more comfortable at our church and with some of the people he has seen more than once. We are just taking it slow and it has been a good reminder to all of us - enjoying each other is so much better than running around like crazy people! The kids are not in any extra activities right now (except Grace's piano lessons) and they do not miss them at all. I often wonder if having a bigger family actually saves us money because having everyone in a bunch of extra activities is not an option! The family time has been wonderful and I love seeing how much my kids love just playing outside together, getting dirty, reading as a family before bed. They don't need anything fancy or expensive to be happy. I know eventually I will let Lainey take ballet again if she wants to and I know my little athlete Joah will be playing ball but I hope we always value our family time first. Just another way Zachary has blessed our family - there are already too many to count!Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-17372173093487427202012-02-25T18:48:00.011-08:002012-02-25T19:37:17.467-08:00One Week Home!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtvorYP9Nz2-cwlfsNynePPe2wtC3E2AAkYBrUbCGeiZE1OqWBJ-ek5cHaBR294V1AY7DQFiJDVZLF7kTbSppuzq0cZ8-iU9-e-o5KdplEhz1PEfzlPveWQUobRbhFI18goj_BIIBEkw/s1600/One+Week+home2012+007.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713281372940963954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtvorYP9Nz2-cwlfsNynePPe2wtC3E2AAkYBrUbCGeiZE1OqWBJ-ek5cHaBR294V1AY7DQFiJDVZLF7kTbSppuzq0cZ8-iU9-e-o5KdplEhz1PEfzlPveWQUobRbhFI18goj_BIIBEkw/s320/One+Week+home2012+007.JPG" /></a><br />Me and my cuddle bug after bathtime (I might be right up there with daddy now!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8K3XVLgH5XWtSTsZFol-gnzEUbLF7yTO0GA5BZoo7j0LVgLwCNA2aEtJx2nqJS8IzvbHnCeHApDtP7PmddEV3w3CD-Fv6h45cbD1wIPPeGhSlJkbe3ltrWr831OjCiQl8GfwhfCKS4Dk/s1600/One+Week+home2012+009.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713281207763260850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8K3XVLgH5XWtSTsZFol-gnzEUbLF7yTO0GA5BZoo7j0LVgLwCNA2aEtJx2nqJS8IzvbHnCeHApDtP7PmddEV3w3CD-Fv6h45cbD1wIPPeGhSlJkbe3ltrWr831OjCiQl8GfwhfCKS4Dk/s320/One+Week+home2012+009.JPG" /></a><br />Saturday morning breakfast<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShwljsXu0Gm2pc9_MsmYSGvD5Kce-jUzoNre1jpC3wmhst4gfmcuyS7q0vhvuveSiM4xo3RSF4ty_M0Yh0GVps5vXuFGegawqTRL1vaNukgehW2CCycF_V02PPWWjLQT-TzZuimOuhAE/s1600/One+Week+home2012+014.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713281039354288962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShwljsXu0Gm2pc9_MsmYSGvD5Kce-jUzoNre1jpC3wmhst4gfmcuyS7q0vhvuveSiM4xo3RSF4ty_M0Yh0GVps5vXuFGegawqTRL1vaNukgehW2CCycF_V02PPWWjLQT-TzZuimOuhAE/s320/One+Week+home2012+014.JPG" /></a><br />Little colder than he's used to! This scarf and hat was given to him by his nannies.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_x4cP4Bu1GvM-GWgP3xdkSMj8B6jGbn3BZpUZGJcnwxithrouYxs5vo2QGlJmztLo3114J1NPlCnL2DoFgIIzfFwP2Mq7IkHqnxgPqNxmQciFeZfsnDV0CtZ7NOkQ_B5KkTyiCgWGpA/s1600/One+Week+home2012+015.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713280910730652594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_x4cP4Bu1GvM-GWgP3xdkSMj8B6jGbn3BZpUZGJcnwxithrouYxs5vo2QGlJmztLo3114J1NPlCnL2DoFgIIzfFwP2Mq7IkHqnxgPqNxmQciFeZfsnDV0CtZ7NOkQ_B5KkTyiCgWGpA/s320/One+Week+home2012+015.JPG" /></a><br />Minivan is looking a little crowded! (one of the moments I dreamt about - seeing all my babies back there =)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2nSzBBieMII_un-GEZlnacNsPy_LI1vfZ6bmxM-bsBLeXSEwHCJeEeoPCszMgIQPyCTNrg8J6loSsqoGGWqOLaTMlSKdlp5uC6KJdWbPdzuzEmV4N7zW8eAhQIr2eJsNJXp9trkVXOY/s1600/One+Week+home2012+023.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713280735062397682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2nSzBBieMII_un-GEZlnacNsPy_LI1vfZ6bmxM-bsBLeXSEwHCJeEeoPCszMgIQPyCTNrg8J6loSsqoGGWqOLaTMlSKdlp5uC6KJdWbPdzuzEmV4N7zW8eAhQIr2eJsNJXp9trkVXOY/s320/One+Week+home2012+023.JPG" /></a><br />Quick trip to the zoo to see the dino exhibit and the monkeys (zoopasses are the best!) It felt good to get out today!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2xVH9q1puFwd2bwCF6zRrJF9FFnB37KD7DVlLdwFzrBedx2FHA55hQGOi1208jVS6YekwHctKXnDnTBqh84quynq0dXDp0Z51jjB4xrIJ_bHCv3cIDhYHy6kO-M5o5eFB6O26O3cIJI/s1600/One+Week+home2012+026.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713280604255209762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2xVH9q1puFwd2bwCF6zRrJF9FFnB37KD7DVlLdwFzrBedx2FHA55hQGOi1208jVS6YekwHctKXnDnTBqh84quynq0dXDp0Z51jjB4xrIJ_bHCv3cIDhYHy6kO-M5o5eFB6O26O3cIJI/s320/One+Week+home2012+026.JPG" /></a><br />Yeah...there's nothing like it (we've come a long way!!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1i2CXBVeB1Rd90O91qJEbTaDci5eWopUwC0SDBbxIjlQ1-qY4vXD0vhrQEQ1GQuB-I-v4E9P_cD9-ZgR4MCLwIV2CdGQ7tfk3tZJxOj-Cb-9m89WdDtZQ5ndMMsT6Smq61fukdRRU24/s1600/One+Week+home2012+030.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713280462667105618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1i2CXBVeB1Rd90O91qJEbTaDci5eWopUwC0SDBbxIjlQ1-qY4vXD0vhrQEQ1GQuB-I-v4E9P_cD9-ZgR4MCLwIV2CdGQ7tfk3tZJxOj-Cb-9m89WdDtZQ5ndMMsT6Smq61fukdRRU24/s320/One+Week+home2012+030.JPG" /></a><br />I LOVE this necklace my wonderful friends and kairos partners, Cassie and Kristin gave me!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqA_FL6Ip4X3THoma4mmq8B9xwTytzhqYKKYXVCHs3KCZMNWs-4dbfMRfxvk_6Izwgt8rbtjKZlXdsvX_7xJB9b7QzsAx-dIJsJFbIBae-VuKr8Ow9hG0cucVbEAnhV0bKux8J5mevNo/s1600/feb232012+007.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713280012873804514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqA_FL6Ip4X3THoma4mmq8B9xwTytzhqYKKYXVCHs3KCZMNWs-4dbfMRfxvk_6Izwgt8rbtjKZlXdsvX_7xJB9b7QzsAx-dIJsJFbIBae-VuKr8Ow9hG0cucVbEAnhV0bKux8J5mevNo/s320/feb232012+007.JPG" /></a><br />Just had to include this one - I promise I didn't stage this!<br /><br />It's been another fun day with Zachary. He's is such an amazing little boy and so delightful. Tonight he copied us saying all 4 of the kids' names - he is such a quick little guy. He is very busy but it's an exploring, playing, being silly kind of busy. He still gets pretty upset at naptime and bedtime and is very cautious around new people but overall he seems to be adjusting so well. I have had so many people ask me about the language barrier and how we would communicate with Zac. I remember someone saying that would be the least of our worries and they were right. I don't often know what he's saying but somehow we communicate just fine! He is picking up English words so quickly and we know some Mandarin now so we get by. <br /><br />Last night we watched a movie as a family and he snuggled in my lap the whole time. I just drank it all in...I am still completely amazed that he is here in our house. We all are so in love with him - I can't even explain it. He is OUR baby, without a doubt. There is such a joy in our home - there always has been but it has grown with Zachary here. His smile is so bright. We noticed that on many of the pictures we had gotten from the orphanage he had a big smile on his face and now we can see why! He is a joyful child and loves to make us laugh. <br /><br />I finally unpacked the suitcases today (we've been home a week =). Not gonna lie, I am exhausted keeping up with these five busy little ones but I count it as JOY!! I often sing the little Veggie Tales song, "A Thankful Heart is a Happy Heart" to my kids (and they roll their little eyes at their dorky mom) but it's true! I am so very thankful and my heart is overflowing. We have been sustained by lots of prayers and delicious meals from sweet friends (thank you!!!).<br /><br />My good friend Sara came over yesterday with her little daughter who was adopted from China and at one moment Samantha and Zachary were standing together and I just looked at them and words can't describe the awe I felt at our God, who parted the waters and made a a way for these two beautiful 2-year-olds to be here together. Sara has been my encourager, my prayer warrior, my friend in this process and being together with our two little Asian miracles was a very special moment for me. It also made me think about all the other Zacharys and Samanthas out there who are these incredible children, created and loved by our Father in heaven who still need a family. I have had two people talk to me about starting the adoption process since I got home - God is moving on behalf of the orphans and He will make a way!!<br /><br />Time to turn in and rest when they are resting...blogs might be few and far between now but I will continue to update how things are going in the Vandewater house. I have been so surprised at how many people have said, "I read your blog!" This is God's story so it makes me happy to know people are following it and celebrating with us. Humbled and grateful...jaymiVandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-76317398043877681462012-02-20T19:40:00.000-08:002012-02-20T19:51:09.265-08:00Lainey's Prayer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX891jH4nXw_39vMUrRYxD8oL9tHq2njyiLAcJPb44o45w0V87jziTzxYmVgTYIZSFKmn6_eZ2-BUDyug65YRkvq2zFvz8599-N88Rhbx5tPqt4durqP-gc9-Uqf6q5kK5zhIdggzGZN8/s1600/lainey+prayer.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 370px; height: 482px; float: left; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711429578807707058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX891jH4nXw_39vMUrRYxD8oL9tHq2njyiLAcJPb44o45w0V87jziTzxYmVgTYIZSFKmn6_eZ2-BUDyug65YRkvq2zFvz8599-N88Rhbx5tPqt4durqP-gc9-Uqf6q5kK5zhIdggzGZN8/s320/lainey+prayer.bmp" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">My seven-year-old Lainey's sweet prayer was answered today...thanking Jesus for my amazing kids (all 5 of them).<br /></span><div></div>Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-6498794808872438352012-02-18T19:49:00.001-08:002012-02-18T21:28:08.558-08:00Traveling HOME<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizI3UYaXg4Gd77muzmZ-gzejPjxe67kYfZ9axeWu22Ohf9qF1shjc-_vdLigImRVF5DnJuXKSk9Uw5nNcckZfJhTLoUXTZ9Aqu5iRaN4_QdN_FCGFfmLSalnR5TBRK0-3_GzzFrQ_RpHI/s1600/last+day+and+home+001.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710696224902394754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizI3UYaXg4Gd77muzmZ-gzejPjxe67kYfZ9axeWu22Ohf9qF1shjc-_vdLigImRVF5DnJuXKSk9Uw5nNcckZfJhTLoUXTZ9Aqu5iRaN4_QdN_FCGFfmLSalnR5TBRK0-3_GzzFrQ_RpHI/s320/last+day+and+home+001.JPG" /></a><br />We had to see Taipei 101 before we left!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZGRpwvrAk-uw52S63_xJChEL9pgD7YYHjNCJUPQRGPz4WefYuBBAqn6O3FrjMwPUmbfpujxuJ65Fhr3dxGYoqhelrnt7w2-DUy4xhnjp277EvPH38h9KDmBnrAs1_cYtp-DyyhWzLRk/s1600/last+day+and+home+002.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710696074462003394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZGRpwvrAk-uw52S63_xJChEL9pgD7YYHjNCJUPQRGPz4WefYuBBAqn6O3FrjMwPUmbfpujxuJ65Fhr3dxGYoqhelrnt7w2-DUy4xhnjp277EvPH38h9KDmBnrAs1_cYtp-DyyhWzLRk/s320/last+day+and+home+002.JPG" /></a><br />Justin wanted to go to the top so Grace, Zac and I waited by the elevator. This moment of "content Zachary" lasted about 2 minutes...he wanted daddy BAD and he couldn't come back down fast enough! Zac was screaming and crying and all these sweet Taiwanese people were looking at Grace and I like we had kidnapped him! Some of them looked genuinely concerned! Others talked to us and tried to help calm him down. Finally "baba" (daddy) came off the elevator and all was well again.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhE5qL0Dcc0DwZ7tFKxGW3eox6fAgYbD7AC41gUvPJEkQioIBr9jDLIF2FTSwneIYcl90Uq1kcphLTootUaiybt60L_Zhw9NieJ7bGPHv6izYPYam8jTFWSZueSqw00Q2VNfEHhK8jcM/s1600/last+day+and+home+006.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710695886315939218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhE5qL0Dcc0DwZ7tFKxGW3eox6fAgYbD7AC41gUvPJEkQioIBr9jDLIF2FTSwneIYcl90Uq1kcphLTootUaiybt60L_Zhw9NieJ7bGPHv6izYPYam8jTFWSZueSqw00Q2VNfEHhK8jcM/s320/last+day+and+home+006.JPG" /></a><br />Justin's view from the top of Taipei 101!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWS57xwccfrkY4DNt5tgu3j4qeybOZFEDfQTwYn2RvvgiuXgyhDCJfWEDDd1FBs1oqLnbhAJrKtHTOrGjLZhrs2JIwJKz3GxaYU0_KjVOt-qRwCYD6x7Zrj-SOAcB_UrzQnTi0iQFGwUo/s1600/last+day+and+home+010.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710695725407333010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWS57xwccfrkY4DNt5tgu3j4qeybOZFEDfQTwYn2RvvgiuXgyhDCJfWEDDd1FBs1oqLnbhAJrKtHTOrGjLZhrs2JIwJKz3GxaYU0_KjVOt-qRwCYD6x7Zrj-SOAcB_UrzQnTi0iQFGwUo/s320/last+day+and+home+010.JPG" /></a><br /><br />In front of Taipei 101<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaTtt1-PVnUJCKRa7DU9DjVstRy4LML3dWX9NGzbfcP7Z5k36nxQeMNbgoyOHhWXd8JsODLH-bfaCd1ckcLX6nZFkdudFgGOT_KJTc7xMFLFL2dC3sbRGWbapRS1R4lvfC6XPY6NZ5TY/s1600/last+day+and+home+022.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710695535922455666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAaTtt1-PVnUJCKRa7DU9DjVstRy4LML3dWX9NGzbfcP7Z5k36nxQeMNbgoyOHhWXd8JsODLH-bfaCd1ckcLX6nZFkdudFgGOT_KJTc7xMFLFL2dC3sbRGWbapRS1R4lvfC6XPY6NZ5TY/s320/last+day+and+home+022.JPG" /></a><br /><br />We went to a place called "The Diner" across the street from Taipei 101 for dinner and Zac came alive again (he did every time we went out to eat!) We love seeing his fun, silly side and are so happy when he eats because he hasn't wanted to eat very much.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWB4OdC3huvvdlUKYwWNqJfQESNFRpGyGydr6Ij6scmja5TAcu2btWtKxguBw6HxAzEwPFVgEtHE6SdXuir0-yKV0SloqO7ymat7uQITVG2TGakMXjWRHT8xY22ZD9LJK-3nU0awy038o/s1600/last+day+and+home+025.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710695378119050434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWB4OdC3huvvdlUKYwWNqJfQESNFRpGyGydr6Ij6scmja5TAcu2btWtKxguBw6HxAzEwPFVgEtHE6SdXuir0-yKV0SloqO7ymat7uQITVG2TGakMXjWRHT8xY22ZD9LJK-3nU0awy038o/s320/last+day+and+home+025.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Taipei at night - very beautiful<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNXps47IyuGBgmlFtnbuB46OOiIdWdTyq9L37GOE9-qcBFNNoxHyYbFBiWrkV8o2zcoWoPntpeRSD82ib0I7m0r6TFsbLWa0zlS8Sg3oYdoEzxagQ3AT6SEBvN5uNRyWUJHJ8qCm3iv0/s1600/last+day+and+home+031.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710695160949612962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNXps47IyuGBgmlFtnbuB46OOiIdWdTyq9L37GOE9-qcBFNNoxHyYbFBiWrkV8o2zcoWoPntpeRSD82ib0I7m0r6TFsbLWa0zlS8Sg3oYdoEzxagQ3AT6SEBvN5uNRyWUJHJ8qCm3iv0/s320/last+day+and+home+031.JPG" /></a><br />We woke up at 4:30 am and headed to the airport. Little did we know what the day would hold...<br /><br />To make a long story short, I was completely nauseated the entire flight from Taipei to Tokyo and yes, I did throw up on the plane. Justin, Grace and Zac sat in the 3 seats together and I sat in the center with a couple of strangers (who were very glad to be seated next to the pea-green colored American girl who was puking in the little white bag.) Zac was beside himself the entire flight, kicking, crying, absolutely terrified. It was bumpy and long and he hated it. Justin couldn't even do anything to calm him and Justin told me later he thought he was going to lose it...but he didn't - he was patient and calm and did the best he could with a very upset baby (and a wife who was unable to help him!) </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>The next flight was the long one - 12 hours from Tokyo to Minneapolis. I started the flight out still nauseated and it began as well as the last one - puked in the bag again. I am not joking people, it was not pretty. Zac did even worse on this flight. He would not calm down. He was exhausted and I prayed so hard that he would fall asleep and Justin could have a little break. Zac slept about 1 hour of the 12 hour flight. Let me tell ya, my husband is the most AMAZING man in the world. He was so tired and weary but he hung in there and took care of Zachary the entire flight. Zac just could not get comfortable and was so restless and so very upset. I couldn't even look at him and he would scream even louder! The people around us were absolutely wonderful. They were so kind and understanding. Many of them commented on what a wonderful father Justin was. They couldn't believe his patience and gentleness. I had to laugh at the girl behind me, she said she thought Justin must have been a single father because he had no wife there to help him (that would be me!). I did feel better about half way through the flight, thankfully. It was long and painful, I will not pretend it wasn't. We knew it would come to an end, but it felt like forever. At one point I looked at Justin and said, "Some day we'll laugh about this??" He said, "Not for a LONG time."<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nNRadK_KO6ll4paT-I0CgNX03JdXRS_wZ3-zUm6u4Qm8yPBGt7pie33pfiBH2DWBaJqmIh7CHhowKM8ZKiUhdbIR5j9RI_ijdd6dzBg4Ib1aLHZEkRn53nsRBTQWGZiRcepjPkRthQw/s1600/last+day+and+home+035.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710695018406347762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nNRadK_KO6ll4paT-I0CgNX03JdXRS_wZ3-zUm6u4Qm8yPBGt7pie33pfiBH2DWBaJqmIh7CHhowKM8ZKiUhdbIR5j9RI_ijdd6dzBg4Ib1aLHZEkRn53nsRBTQWGZiRcepjPkRthQw/s320/last+day+and+home+035.JPG" /></a><br />Finally at the Minneapolis airport. All...so...tired. We were so thankful for this security guard who went back onto the plane to find Zac's blankie and also let us through customs even though we had 2 bananas I had forgotten about. He said, "Just give me those bananas...you guys may go on through." The flight home went great - no vomiting and very little crying!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSJ1Dh07BtYy_GqUeHtYc32Vn2fxH26DajSl57zJ71n600wvGRCQSFb2duqmmRI6KvF1bWOlp5qfJl6XyS4DCp__JdRe4c_1PezvtGuk3pdrZ7wjKMhdJOTXtNCi-Jrp1fIv9UOwLAmM/s1600/pics+from+de+jagers+012.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710694795359533650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSJ1Dh07BtYy_GqUeHtYc32Vn2fxH26DajSl57zJ71n600wvGRCQSFb2duqmmRI6KvF1bWOlp5qfJl6XyS4DCp__JdRe4c_1PezvtGuk3pdrZ7wjKMhdJOTXtNCi-Jrp1fIv9UOwLAmM/s320/pics+from+de+jagers+012.JPG" /></a><br />And these were the beautiful faces waiting for us when we arrived!!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WrtR30Q4A8bfl0n6aePUsuBpDJ4AkSAGzSLCCklA30Moizb_KYe_PZQSM0rh8ek32gf83U-jvqArTe9y1W2PLXMnM0BE1FtOtsZlbUIfUYJgx4VemViswoLQaMiq_0Z5PGqaquCGaq0/s1600/pics+from+de+jagers+005.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710694522085147186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WrtR30Q4A8bfl0n6aePUsuBpDJ4AkSAGzSLCCklA30Moizb_KYe_PZQSM0rh8ek32gf83U-jvqArTe9y1W2PLXMnM0BE1FtOtsZlbUIfUYJgx4VemViswoLQaMiq_0Z5PGqaquCGaq0/s320/pics+from+de+jagers+005.JPG" /></a><br />Welcome home signs from our 3 "middle ones"<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWmf6K8QbpO4VPdrGuB8d4cuk73Mf5szkyHSpz2NfBzlsztMxelMrRyoKhs4apMbbCDGXONB9SXh9h7Sd1yXh_V0eyVWcmofal23Gz94N8LTNNBhXgxk7EFn4DJgOz-DwC_oCb_y_rnY/s1600/pics+from+de+jagers+014.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710694275788320242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWmf6K8QbpO4VPdrGuB8d4cuk73Mf5szkyHSpz2NfBzlsztMxelMrRyoKhs4apMbbCDGXONB9SXh9h7Sd1yXh_V0eyVWcmofal23Gz94N8LTNNBhXgxk7EFn4DJgOz-DwC_oCb_y_rnY/s320/pics+from+de+jagers+014.JPG" /></a><br />One of the best moments of my life was seeing all these people we love so much. I couldn't get to them fast enough!<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6sRC4NE7rhWn9BHV4aMAuLi0yjLuZMwcvGEiAOjUswuufnmE-0rhAy7XLf6ulwqSIhjwAklkNnC2RxtrcIk_G81_QL_ULu7O5gFlRzjwC8VgQQqDhhxzxenOly2nwNmSOyg7wBPYgeA/s1600/pics+from+de+jagers+017.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710693783002838418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6sRC4NE7rhWn9BHV4aMAuLi0yjLuZMwcvGEiAOjUswuufnmE-0rhAy7XLf6ulwqSIhjwAklkNnC2RxtrcIk_G81_QL_ULu7O5gFlRzjwC8VgQQqDhhxzxenOly2nwNmSOyg7wBPYgeA/s320/pics+from+de+jagers+017.JPG" /></a><br /><br />After 24 hours of traveling, I wanted my babies!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdk1dU4A7XriusWpEB6QVyj5R1OI66650w6vkUsP5d025JJqKTSJYlm5zJSTH3u-wiINZEaeek3FfUbjJ3cmG9qBm6OZxd3LKl4-EMQilbbmtz1s2PUZM_elnBz41zsLBrOORsKbA5FIo/s1600/pics+from+de+jagers+019.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710693579550755874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdk1dU4A7XriusWpEB6QVyj5R1OI66650w6vkUsP5d025JJqKTSJYlm5zJSTH3u-wiINZEaeek3FfUbjJ3cmG9qBm6OZxd3LKl4-EMQilbbmtz1s2PUZM_elnBz41zsLBrOORsKbA5FIo/s320/pics+from+de+jagers+019.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHNqD4_pzBQVkNzBTtwE_Jd7nbRxl2C2opshtrf5mpBMgaxYBEYJZj0S9BznkWrmgR8gd88sPsuohTIRj0BbzePf74pN_jkOvI5zigQL-Rca54lH8nP0kgGj93B2Qf74Yqq1iuDuJBmY/s1600/pics+from+de+jagers+020.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710693379617181458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHNqD4_pzBQVkNzBTtwE_Jd7nbRxl2C2opshtrf5mpBMgaxYBEYJZj0S9BznkWrmgR8gd88sPsuohTIRj0BbzePf74pN_jkOvI5zigQL-Rca54lH8nP0kgGj93B2Qf74Yqq1iuDuJBmY/s320/pics+from+de+jagers+020.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUhETf7q6AcsFDqEzXCD5MbRD0EDcplmkuS4f7ofys00fbtP2KPjjjRks1JEZz8bRE_IxTlI0HKqO-lGt8UkaB7wR5tipLhICxgRaZ1g5sBGgaUKRwMSUY_uP2kpl5pXyV7RNVZQwcaY/s1600/pics+from+de+jagers+026.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710693066173496706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUhETf7q6AcsFDqEzXCD5MbRD0EDcplmkuS4f7ofys00fbtP2KPjjjRks1JEZz8bRE_IxTlI0HKqO-lGt8UkaB7wR5tipLhICxgRaZ1g5sBGgaUKRwMSUY_uP2kpl5pXyV7RNVZQwcaY/s320/pics+from+de+jagers+026.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7AIdTtACXmnt0Qy-xJa8w6LhQPW6ZQM7lwCUBmT7p2tDuQBygq5MLgCyFUK2fvKsxBPf8XbDP-eS7b4ZqKqtmCn3kUd5Z8d8EQ8t1weSvkjFNCcYacus7R_dh7pX58vdSbUnQpFDudzc/s1600/pics+from+de+jagers+034.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710692817476727858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7AIdTtACXmnt0Qy-xJa8w6LhQPW6ZQM7lwCUBmT7p2tDuQBygq5MLgCyFUK2fvKsxBPf8XbDP-eS7b4ZqKqtmCn3kUd5Z8d8EQ8t1weSvkjFNCcYacus7R_dh7pX58vdSbUnQpFDudzc/s320/pics+from+de+jagers+034.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRHNewFMGumjfaKWrWcQXxVVPQWh-ED5NRC7eOFaHzyp4rLa7OK4aRh5UMUx4H68OjpEWMthVOFX8ONMyvdkumkxeaW4N5nv4wW19h8yC4R8z-FQkmzMqOitQ3ZjM_9ybrVZ0emncVLc/s1600/pics+from+de+jagers+035.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710692631932198050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRHNewFMGumjfaKWrWcQXxVVPQWh-ED5NRC7eOFaHzyp4rLa7OK4aRh5UMUx4H68OjpEWMthVOFX8ONMyvdkumkxeaW4N5nv4wW19h8yC4R8z-FQkmzMqOitQ3ZjM_9ybrVZ0emncVLc/s320/pics+from+de+jagers+035.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqP3Kd-vhNVdlW-WumqzwTbZBhmJw3jk7L3vzROGLOLKHc8Ea6aj5CWmYAXKfoXdU79E7tOX8rt9hX4UQOdJBGRvzwP-qpOaur9jak7KpHGhSq260YYoBGwo2qxsVGYCkzadMGtiv3RoI/s1600/pics+from+de+jagers+048.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710692059676005346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqP3Kd-vhNVdlW-WumqzwTbZBhmJw3jk7L3vzROGLOLKHc8Ea6aj5CWmYAXKfoXdU79E7tOX8rt9hX4UQOdJBGRvzwP-qpOaur9jak7KpHGhSq260YYoBGwo2qxsVGYCkzadMGtiv3RoI/s320/pics+from+de+jagers+048.JPG" /></a><br /><br />FAMILY OF SEVEN!!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsP5yYW8r1secPEv96SE0sgowj4iyJFbeIddSenooj-QHehzUrsM8nuMO8q0GaUsvSXR1_iUFT9Co9epoeNCsHlgPrGPXuZjZRgRSqlpKs3H7WTuWBlqEymb06ZIhA8yjT_jgdvpOEd8/s1600/pics+from+de+jagers+051.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 214px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710691800988062722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsP5yYW8r1secPEv96SE0sgowj4iyJFbeIddSenooj-QHehzUrsM8nuMO8q0GaUsvSXR1_iUFT9Co9epoeNCsHlgPrGPXuZjZRgRSqlpKs3H7WTuWBlqEymb06ZIhA8yjT_jgdvpOEd8/s320/pics+from+de+jagers+051.JPG" /></a><br />Thank you to Joy for taking these priceless pictures of our homecoming with Zac and to Greg for taking videos! I am so thankful to have this moment captured to look back on. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISDE_zM32CQMr9xoV0KdNBiucUikxwGQI822mhgW2tiNjNZkiM1eWRh5q1UExGNRgDNg8Nw8c4RHVKG4KeYW8GRwtomJKPOANqANsY2-AR4nJq1EaGh7ZX8VEr2l77gd3d5z0uoIrwEg/s1600/last+day+and+home+036.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710691409021311186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISDE_zM32CQMr9xoV0KdNBiucUikxwGQI822mhgW2tiNjNZkiM1eWRh5q1UExGNRgDNg8Nw8c4RHVKG4KeYW8GRwtomJKPOANqANsY2-AR4nJq1EaGh7ZX8VEr2l77gd3d5z0uoIrwEg/s320/last+day+and+home+036.JPG" /></a><br />We had this as well as some awesome decorations the kids made to welcome us home! Our parents are THE BEST. They kept the kids while we were gone, did laundry, went above and beyond to make this trip and transition as easy as possible. THANK YOU!!!!!<br /></div><br /><div>They also gave us the best gift ever - sleep! They took the 4 older kids to the hotel for the night so they could swim and Justin and I could sleep! Zachary, Justin and I slept 14 hours! I would definitely recommend this plan to anyone adopting in the future! (Of course, you have to have grandparents as wonderful as ours!!)<br /><br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TQsoHy9Jh2oemUiEM0Taqn6fM1MipCK65DmMKSFBgEwy6u8npvZ7o2iVAUs3VpkfPdb7GDoJll4neLUI8NtQB_lIHDnRN4mEoKzGP5a5K8ZcQU8yQ-y1iAL5O71-Ca5wYwIugAXphK4/s1600/last+day+and+home+039.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710691256103862914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TQsoHy9Jh2oemUiEM0Taqn6fM1MipCK65DmMKSFBgEwy6u8npvZ7o2iVAUs3VpkfPdb7GDoJll4neLUI8NtQB_lIHDnRN4mEoKzGP5a5K8ZcQU8yQ-y1iAL5O71-Ca5wYwIugAXphK4/s320/last+day+and+home+039.JPG" /></a><br />Justin and the little boys...Asher keeps saying,"Hey buddy!" to Zac - so cute.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeJttBc0Tj7-mbA5iR8OTIZlMUSouyVG7-KsDmuLEIZVdsjXQZGXUIoNg42m4Dzy_4bvOjZUuQoNhQQpMQDXV9G44JQsLWv_BR_cWmv37Jp_40CKhP1Yv6HwnZ1zkLFKx4-KZa93COUE/s1600/last+day+and+home+043.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710691107360845810" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeJttBc0Tj7-mbA5iR8OTIZlMUSouyVG7-KsDmuLEIZVdsjXQZGXUIoNg42m4Dzy_4bvOjZUuQoNhQQpMQDXV9G44JQsLWv_BR_cWmv37Jp_40CKhP1Yv6HwnZ1zkLFKx4-KZa93COUE/s320/last+day+and+home+043.JPG" /></a><br />Zac really took to grandpa and kept reaching for him to hold him! Lainey got Zac to eat some oatmeal and we were so excited until he threw it all up on grandpa! He's not sick, just didn't sit right with him. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHm5bwcJhcZDp9cn2t4rSGVKo_0h5YsC30MsfH6df0lZUcftSWfNrg3NLPn_lxixP_oPqYe2oX046jW6tVYrgPy1mIyErTAIqoHAUOgw6F-Je4G0DbTkjzSD0fin0WWe92D4g68I2H8Hs/s1600/last+day+and+home+048.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710690940561945858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHm5bwcJhcZDp9cn2t4rSGVKo_0h5YsC30MsfH6df0lZUcftSWfNrg3NLPn_lxixP_oPqYe2oX046jW6tVYrgPy1mIyErTAIqoHAUOgw6F-Je4G0DbTkjzSD0fin0WWe92D4g68I2H8Hs/s320/last+day+and+home+048.JPG" /></a><br />His happy place =) So much for the "light hair" theory (right, grandpa?)<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPbf-KT_F4zXBj22iqr8D8jJv5Jwua3EH-XRN7I8nUYrsKT-yFAg6eM0QRK0hngYjJJ-cGRypnpEcmS_02dcx_mRmzWQ3dnhx_3YiI8m90rUgJpjcLIicxhvVvdyD7a7gJCY8gfi45Jw/s1600/last+day+and+home+056.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710690742887627458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTPbf-KT_F4zXBj22iqr8D8jJv5Jwua3EH-XRN7I8nUYrsKT-yFAg6eM0QRK0hngYjJJ-cGRypnpEcmS_02dcx_mRmzWQ3dnhx_3YiI8m90rUgJpjcLIicxhvVvdyD7a7gJCY8gfi45Jw/s320/last+day+and+home+056.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Joah wanted to take a picture of everyone - he did a good job!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXDXe0_iOpIq2N-Cnlzjhka9eWoscnvgOi46HKF3g3-6o-k9M2x4DLEDkSWDh7L1XB31B4DT88klashjz4queMOnzkOMIzkzyzLJe65GM2h2ZHNj7TLtFG9sjYKD22WahTW8MuqOobPI/s1600/last+day+and+home+062.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710690579254973266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXDXe0_iOpIq2N-Cnlzjhka9eWoscnvgOi46HKF3g3-6o-k9M2x4DLEDkSWDh7L1XB31B4DT88klashjz4queMOnzkOMIzkzyzLJe65GM2h2ZHNj7TLtFG9sjYKD22WahTW8MuqOobPI/s320/last+day+and+home+062.JPG" /></a><br />sweetest face ever!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXhu9DYKKw-Sk0KJrn-xsDc2Gm4XJ3ihYVI3yQyZUg26U6-B9fzfIcMS4LtU1Tk4ze67yLCkB0TtlX9xZ-l9UfCh6_n6_-pEgFXSQ8vUq9AhaZhkOiWz4yhWFJFun0blAD4iqcLRGTjA/s1600/last+day+and+home+068.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710690406212019506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXhu9DYKKw-Sk0KJrn-xsDc2Gm4XJ3ihYVI3yQyZUg26U6-B9fzfIcMS4LtU1Tk4ze67yLCkB0TtlX9xZ-l9UfCh6_n6_-pEgFXSQ8vUq9AhaZhkOiWz4yhWFJFun0blAD4iqcLRGTjA/s320/last+day+and+home+068.JPG" /></a><br />All 7 of us sat down to have dinner together tonight and Zac began to warm up to the kids. They are so thrilled to have their little brother home. Our kids are so kind and sweet and they are (trying) to give him some space - it's hard when you've been waiting so long for your baby brother to come home! At one point Asher said, "Daddy, can you put him down for a nap so we can wrestle!" It will be hard to share daddy so much but I have enjoyed being able to take care of the other kids while Justin totes his little sidekick around. Justin is so in love with this boy. I can see it in his eyes. He is truly an amazing husband and father. I COULD NOT do it without him. I see Jesus in my husband and that is the best gift any dad can ever give his family. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhFPgVxs3oyW20VDgDkA7FK0fRdetlQ8z5Y3Zbq81zdjyp9qKNKZXpFbFlgIxgVACuQZEBLBSL7ya8QNBMvOZJoli3CYuE1QfuLFo6Mc0D6hSE92kaQ8hWBRwdw4GCMoy9IdXSlSVLCw/s1600/last+day+and+home+070.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710689777124974482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhFPgVxs3oyW20VDgDkA7FK0fRdetlQ8z5Y3Zbq81zdjyp9qKNKZXpFbFlgIxgVACuQZEBLBSL7ya8QNBMvOZJoli3CYuE1QfuLFo6Mc0D6hSE92kaQ8hWBRwdw4GCMoy9IdXSlSVLCw/s320/last+day+and+home+070.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Trying to get back to a little bit of "normal".<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2D0LoyKfoL2jZN2akACBDbNBP7uShkiVZCbedji3aADQ1j_wpnfQxkypw24PSPWOBYwffhrxVnztD8hG0OBzfaaIyAl2jHjnwFMfebllPzCvJZkKQtO_xb0tI6C_07Jr8tnknF6eYepY/s1600/last+day+and+home+074.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710689618846687762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2D0LoyKfoL2jZN2akACBDbNBP7uShkiVZCbedji3aADQ1j_wpnfQxkypw24PSPWOBYwffhrxVnztD8hG0OBzfaaIyAl2jHjnwFMfebllPzCvJZkKQtO_xb0tI6C_07Jr8tnknF6eYepY/s320/last+day+and+home+074.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Joah trying to love on his brother - Zac isn't too excited yet, but it will come and the kids seem to understand that for now.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgG4d_naRjWfmNrjc9Of8dC_6yjSLLdrfg-bgqq9FC0CB9fiOOm5RO015xPSjRvlYV0hrCAtKWv7x69LcroaKDbwn6zylAJzZRIzf3yTweFRULuj2fRefXLvAKhhg5CBZTlqtNFEK_Uc/s1600/last+day+and+home+075.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710689428369517234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgG4d_naRjWfmNrjc9Of8dC_6yjSLLdrfg-bgqq9FC0CB9fiOOm5RO015xPSjRvlYV0hrCAtKWv7x69LcroaKDbwn6zylAJzZRIzf3yTweFRULuj2fRefXLvAKhhg5CBZTlqtNFEK_Uc/s320/last+day+and+home+075.JPG" /></a><br />I can't even comment on this moment....so beautiful<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpiYvxZwQu0_EwpMeQZ2T2XO8UKiJ0br37xeNJWPV0L42LixMEEsN7pKkNHuktoDycgvQou7M9Nzkz3M38jDLlhaST1QcxOZUtKY9tho5DAdzahWgl-Nxj_UKym6BoQ1Tqxp4YgMbhcc/s1600/last+day+and+home+080.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5710689175929129090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpiYvxZwQu0_EwpMeQZ2T2XO8UKiJ0br37xeNJWPV0L42LixMEEsN7pKkNHuktoDycgvQou7M9Nzkz3M38jDLlhaST1QcxOZUtKY9tho5DAdzahWgl-Nxj_UKym6BoQ1Tqxp4YgMbhcc/s320/last+day+and+home+080.JPG" /></a><br />Everyone wanted to snuggle and watch "Rio" - it was another precious moment for sure. (Thanks Aunt Sandi for the cute jammies!!)<br /><br /><br /><div>Now everyone is in bed. (Justin has been laying on the bed next to Zac's bed so he's always in sight.) I wanted to blog and do my best to remember God's faithfulness - to write it down so I never forget. And also to make sure you all know that you were a part of this. It truly took a village to bring our baby home. From Todd notarizing all our documents to Emily babysitting so I could pack. If I started, the thank you's would never end. And here's another miracle you were a part of...our adoption of this precious baby boy is FULLY FUNDED thanks to our village of family, friends, and the people from Katelyn's Fund, Lifesong for Orphans, Show Hope, and the Isabel Fund who gave us grants. Thank you will never be enough...never.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-13247527532264845382012-02-15T20:58:00.001-08:002012-02-15T21:23:29.145-08:00Last day in Taiwan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4YPdBlyWOP7Bi0oyAbwO4yNRQiyjlkbHxwf6b13O82q2_1dbM2LyAvRFnv0T4IosTBUr9i9Ta5p_hm_UN_mR8ZZkdTgd6wi63X14132ZSS-LlvoBPubkvhecQoMn93CDOJE8wCCyqGs/s1600/feb162012+005.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709595317141998050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4YPdBlyWOP7Bi0oyAbwO4yNRQiyjlkbHxwf6b13O82q2_1dbM2LyAvRFnv0T4IosTBUr9i9Ta5p_hm_UN_mR8ZZkdTgd6wi63X14132ZSS-LlvoBPubkvhecQoMn93CDOJE8wCCyqGs/s320/feb162012+005.JPG" /></a><br />It's our last day here! I can hardly believe this week. This has been the most incredible experience. I never thought I would love Taiwan so much. The people we have met are helpful and kind and we have felt very safe here and have had very few problems getting around and communicating with people. Zachary slept great again last night (he loves to sleep!) but woke up very sad this morning. He cried quite a bit and it is a very sad, heartbreaking cry. He let me take him down to the lobby while Justin got ready and he was very happy when we stood by the window and watched everything going on outside. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtXeAs5vnm3rTaFdGbZlh_YApxPb6IHAwJXafTBYBNp-rtd7slpJA1u0GIaaVvvTjCJDIo32muZPsMnrXR5Btsy1-hLXgpTplsWJ3jUB2EieLftlPVMIXkRint-tj1jRHl0myIGDU8aQ/s1600/feb162012+007.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709594985020105554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWtXeAs5vnm3rTaFdGbZlh_YApxPb6IHAwJXafTBYBNp-rtd7slpJA1u0GIaaVvvTjCJDIo32muZPsMnrXR5Btsy1-hLXgpTplsWJ3jUB2EieLftlPVMIXkRint-tj1jRHl0myIGDU8aQ/s320/feb162012+007.JPG" /></a><br />Justin got Zac to eat some yogurt! We all celebrated that he ate something again! He did have some fun with his Cheerios at dinner last night. He wanted to eat them with a fork so he put the Cheerio on the prong of the fork and ate it that way. He is a fun little boy and very smart. The waitress told us he said "thank you" to her in Mandarin when she wiped up a spill at our table. She was very impressed that he thanked her (and we were too!)<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimc4HXDhgY7q8ZsTb0BRrUjHH9bAv5Qk91v9dmf8pYSg5TN4YjR7KckMQaXGbFhTG8_MGCezIKGJy4vrCi5gmfHHVSulVOkjJ7WiE3Kih8UzGN7tQjPZ3movaQV4DNFDZvBENUdmsFLc/s1600/feb162012+011.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709594862745890882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimc4HXDhgY7q8ZsTb0BRrUjHH9bAv5Qk91v9dmf8pYSg5TN4YjR7KckMQaXGbFhTG8_MGCezIKGJy4vrCi5gmfHHVSulVOkjJ7WiE3Kih8UzGN7tQjPZ3movaQV4DNFDZvBENUdmsFLc/s320/feb162012+011.JPG" /></a><br />You can see how much we adore him =)<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zcQE1bZ_TdOo3iMKnIVPDW60_fGyQDgcQq8rHPRmb4QO8vGbVJUZSu-yLvgXcDGFSlvZ4gy6XEc8LU1T0376pCLhd6kdysUmj9qFzRZyHY1d3DvpHHF5W3BEkZIkNqZE1jq1OsaboXc/s1600/feb162012+015.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709594751792790642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zcQE1bZ_TdOo3iMKnIVPDW60_fGyQDgcQq8rHPRmb4QO8vGbVJUZSu-yLvgXcDGFSlvZ4gy6XEc8LU1T0376pCLhd6kdysUmj9qFzRZyHY1d3DvpHHF5W3BEkZIkNqZE1jq1OsaboXc/s320/feb162012+015.JPG" /></a><br />Beautiful cherry blossom trees!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGzyAXV0OYRwJ3n8EYd70p1SbShs6vFJd23JN-oO6K35vxBGAIIKbRZdGglMQXwWJLW-2T-f2iVBwF_H7oIRcZWEynXylrN4ig4gTUFxE0zJQzQ3MV6lz2ItcpfmLERyGK8QlZjSYOhs/s1600/feb162012+016.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709594647637335586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAGzyAXV0OYRwJ3n8EYd70p1SbShs6vFJd23JN-oO6K35vxBGAIIKbRZdGglMQXwWJLW-2T-f2iVBwF_H7oIRcZWEynXylrN4ig4gTUFxE0zJQzQ3MV6lz2ItcpfmLERyGK8QlZjSYOhs/s320/feb162012+016.JPG" /></a><br /><br />We headed to the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Absolutely stunning!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnexHzTtxZtlt8PHrI8UFIVahB7RV35Ru-ICcnPkaPWWu02jP7KOy0QyRnBaXJtFHRXbXuCyPxJ1fu7CKtWow0-nqFWzOdE4KusEvl8n_4mygPICMMinywgQm-d_R3r5MBl0G90ImqmJU/s1600/feb162012+022.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709594490400654338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnexHzTtxZtlt8PHrI8UFIVahB7RV35Ru-ICcnPkaPWWu02jP7KOy0QyRnBaXJtFHRXbXuCyPxJ1fu7CKtWow0-nqFWzOdE4KusEvl8n_4mygPICMMinywgQm-d_R3r5MBl0G90ImqmJU/s320/feb162012+022.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MyPzyKHiX335STvl2mvipREHmo2aPCEG_5XOEgg98epDsjrVV0TDNItey9fjNz_v0k3Kii7uXCeE2IMQTNtHpqY0WtBQhOk-qma16p477WRZ9ahlkc2RXhJ0QFH0aqDeqiHSIVZuFyo/s1600/feb162012+028.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709594326537023522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MyPzyKHiX335STvl2mvipREHmo2aPCEG_5XOEgg98epDsjrVV0TDNItey9fjNz_v0k3Kii7uXCeE2IMQTNtHpqY0WtBQhOk-qma16p477WRZ9ahlkc2RXhJ0QFH0aqDeqiHSIVZuFyo/s320/feb162012+028.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nZwclFdG93JRxLoeaHbdASVK7RMCFZrM8rKTVRpjk_jdGLjc-_6TPCuWivzjr1-VoQ_wx8yJkWv8C5gBSRd_WQdlOv0dmzkWm3h_abfOj6CyeMHcaSnT4tMtaxp-BQ9WUOROIsp1deQ/s1600/feb162012+036.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709594183610329602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nZwclFdG93JRxLoeaHbdASVK7RMCFZrM8rKTVRpjk_jdGLjc-_6TPCuWivzjr1-VoQ_wx8yJkWv8C5gBSRd_WQdlOv0dmzkWm3h_abfOj6CyeMHcaSnT4tMtaxp-BQ9WUOROIsp1deQ/s320/feb162012+036.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_npK-sFLBfpNvJ4N-HVb6Xk61l5pdGi9128UBnNt2E01EEE6Eb51-1xLUWhRvSAmI0-zdsUzeQ3FWZxGWVk-A9Vu4hAb_m4ioPPOouHwm39vyhUuIXqZwc5bOAAkCrelfaH_FyY2lpY/s1600/feb162012+048.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709593941995755250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl_npK-sFLBfpNvJ4N-HVb6Xk61l5pdGi9128UBnNt2E01EEE6Eb51-1xLUWhRvSAmI0-zdsUzeQ3FWZxGWVk-A9Vu4hAb_m4ioPPOouHwm39vyhUuIXqZwc5bOAAkCrelfaH_FyY2lpY/s320/feb162012+048.JPG" /></a><br />He's letting me hold him a little bit more. He even reached for me one time! <br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaebsS2pP-I_RTsVnCyIxuxKDJOHAmk09RoGVBe-fuR89Bt-wDen7kTLWN9rtHZxY6IuaRVbLU4NTQdM_OkjGwuK6pyzKemC3TZ2kt76Leo66MCt0pRZ9SFBxmdCt2_QT_gbuqB5YtG0/s1600/feb162012+051.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709593804177134498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaebsS2pP-I_RTsVnCyIxuxKDJOHAmk09RoGVBe-fuR89Bt-wDen7kTLWN9rtHZxY6IuaRVbLU4NTQdM_OkjGwuK6pyzKemC3TZ2kt76Leo66MCt0pRZ9SFBxmdCt2_QT_gbuqB5YtG0/s320/feb162012+051.JPG" /></a><br />Daddy was awesome and hung out with Zachary while I shopped at the Handicraft Promotion Center for little gifts to take home. I had fun!! Justin said they did too and Zachary finally let Justin put him down so he got to run around a little bit!<br /></div><br /><div>Zac is now napping (he is a great napper - it's given me lots of time to blog!) and then we will head to Taipei 101. Then we pack and head home tomorrow! It is a 24 hour journey home so please continue to pray for us. Please know we could never express how thankful we are for your prayers and support!!!!<br /><br /></div><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-8912819205661476352012-02-14T23:46:00.001-08:002012-02-15T00:32:51.379-08:00Happiness at Subway<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapnaKe0oLFgchFelMAlL1rM0aXTdX8aC-mw60jrWT0sM2OWgPzz3JvRQq21yJ6z5KxYCEYlX6EEnI0if5Qd92mRdTHcCL3oiG3OjaLSnVkyqfk_BJ38DZMY6oTie2x9vELbsg_o0wmLA/s1600/feb15part2+001.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709267796255169026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapnaKe0oLFgchFelMAlL1rM0aXTdX8aC-mw60jrWT0sM2OWgPzz3JvRQq21yJ6z5KxYCEYlX6EEnI0if5Qd92mRdTHcCL3oiG3OjaLSnVkyqfk_BJ38DZMY6oTie2x9vELbsg_o0wmLA/s320/feb15part2+001.JPG" /></a><br />This morning was our AIT appointment to get Zac's visa so when we got back he was so tired. He slept great but spent most of the morning crying so he was wiped and took a great nap. AIT went great - we were in and out in about an hour! On the way over it started to rain pretty hard and even though our hotel is only a few blocks away, we still got a little lost. Just when we were going the wrong way and praying for some help, here came this American man on a bike with a big colorful umbrella. He stopped and asked if we needed help and guess where he worked - yep, at AIT. He pointed us in the right direction and gave us his umbrella saying "Tell the guard to return this to Bob." Thanks Bob, you were an answer to prayer! I got a little emotional at AIT - it felt so "official" and this was the part that I was nervous about but they said all our paperwork was in good order!! Another cool thing is that I popped in a cd they gave us at St. Lucy's and it had almost 500 pictures of him on it from when he came to them on Nov. 3, 2009 to the day we picked him up! I cannot believe this amazing gift. There are 3 precious pictures of Zachary and his sister together. I can definitely see why they did a DNA test to find out if they were siblings - they look so much alike!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6opzpKHJCmqsFzHV-rMFXsMY6DpPVZkOvep1OanIsmDUJymqz8T0BWEugL1moG1fVJlCiloyPpBfGgnOY43jgzWX4FQZWP9G1OYMQjRWz_r2a12JG4-fo26Scg3XfbvAQ_TZi1CVGts/s1600/feb15part2+002.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709267709521185250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6opzpKHJCmqsFzHV-rMFXsMY6DpPVZkOvep1OanIsmDUJymqz8T0BWEugL1moG1fVJlCiloyPpBfGgnOY43jgzWX4FQZWP9G1OYMQjRWz_r2a12JG4-fo26Scg3XfbvAQ_TZi1CVGts/s320/feb15part2+002.JPG" /></a><br />He wanted to do nothing but lay on our bed and would cry when we tried to move him. He would let Grace and Justin come close but still not me so I just stayed a few feet away but kept smiling at him (which made him cry every time!) Grace and I even danced a little - pretty sure he thinks we are weird! =) I was starting to get a little concerned that he wouldn't eat or drink anything. He had only one bottle since we picked him up and we tried to encourage him to drink and he would just look away. Grace and I did have a good laugh when he pulled his big blanket over his head and then drank some of his bottle underneath it so we "couldn't see". He is a stinker, I can tell - and he will fit right in with his stinker brother Asher! I'm gonna be in for it!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoimmH2eqvthJFbuSffSBTF_aDMWvVif2E4Fjcq0JMOKOy6lfnARFpSzUxqfF_sN9Pg9iK_R39pJHoZ-1GQXx93XRBpyvsRINoGB6yPFYKJ6Cxyyq9wDF4YPJ-DQivffMqXSQ5Ls_B3bs/s1600/feb15part2+005.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709267605676580018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoimmH2eqvthJFbuSffSBTF_aDMWvVif2E4Fjcq0JMOKOy6lfnARFpSzUxqfF_sN9Pg9iK_R39pJHoZ-1GQXx93XRBpyvsRINoGB6yPFYKJ6Cxyyq9wDF4YPJ-DQivffMqXSQ5Ls_B3bs/s320/feb15part2+005.JPG" /></a><br />You might recognize this blankie! Joah has been attached to his blankie since birth and he had an extra one and wanted me to bring it for Zac. Zac LOVES it and keeps it with him always. Thank you Joah - you are such a great big brother!!!! And thank you to Matt, Andrew, and Julia for the very cool shirt he wore to his AIT appointment today!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtndn8QEH6E_KckyRmhRtrQ4lW-gtgCQB80qtaCgxTo6Ijvk0sFj7ddoYPYuFi7m9cm7E5ARLwgHlWf-HEu9uLm_ot84vC8q2rVxpsW34AAeWeHyMoOspxTUjppYyjQ4_lODx0AeKrQaM/s1600/feb15part2+006.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709267503740462610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtndn8QEH6E_KckyRmhRtrQ4lW-gtgCQB80qtaCgxTo6Ijvk0sFj7ddoYPYuFi7m9cm7E5ARLwgHlWf-HEu9uLm_ot84vC8q2rVxpsW34AAeWeHyMoOspxTUjppYyjQ4_lODx0AeKrQaM/s320/feb15part2+006.JPG" /></a><br />We decided to pick him up and head out rather than let him stay in bed all day (he was awake) so we went to Grace's favorite, Subway. He cried when we ordered and pulled his hat over his eyes when we tried to look at him (I have to say I love that). BUT...we sat down and started eating and Grace put some of her cookie and a few cheetos in front of him and all of the sudden he picked up some cookie and ate it!!!! We were so thrilled!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AlOJgs51BmsNonB7SU917RGa4qYldDtnDj709DfspClmQ7PltxQrqgyA6Rufv7qePZza4-ZebREtvdIDE9XHWJnviIxY0Kk__9JiJX28tCl1WHXXpxNrvvwAtu2RG5eN7orJUYmFVis/s1600/feb15part2+014.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709267232101892274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6AlOJgs51BmsNonB7SU917RGa4qYldDtnDj709DfspClmQ7PltxQrqgyA6Rufv7qePZza4-ZebREtvdIDE9XHWJnviIxY0Kk__9JiJX28tCl1WHXXpxNrvvwAtu2RG5eN7orJUYmFVis/s320/feb15part2+014.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Cookie crumbs on his little lips! (This is where I must point out that he is ADORABLE!!!!)<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIq837qygzIA94Jyo3TOi5MB77nbkhzWZ0Wr7CAYFCuEpsicQ8J-VsI3VX34_QLSOUVBX4dufE0ZMBMU9nxXlZjaIhx_Ger41dUZ16qwgqgeqvHIMQaN2DEFriDFqvK31hhnvoq3KGUSw/s1600/feb15part2+018.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709267050600282690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIq837qygzIA94Jyo3TOi5MB77nbkhzWZ0Wr7CAYFCuEpsicQ8J-VsI3VX34_QLSOUVBX4dufE0ZMBMU9nxXlZjaIhx_Ger41dUZ16qwgqgeqvHIMQaN2DEFriDFqvK31hhnvoq3KGUSw/s320/feb15part2+018.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>And we made a nice big scene when he took a drink of his water too! Subway is the best!!<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDJ_Oy5qsSpu6267kcU4Btdb12ZRNtc9UNiDQo0wNPzk-1UwDmANfbQbCz4Nc7kQRrjng26YAGmgvvkRRCXuOdvxL-DJYa49-j_C0dXcIe8nylZCebq2Tsau0Fm2gzpx_7bgiL_e1uvs/s1600/feb15part2+023.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709266903307649506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDJ_Oy5qsSpu6267kcU4Btdb12ZRNtc9UNiDQo0wNPzk-1UwDmANfbQbCz4Nc7kQRrjng26YAGmgvvkRRCXuOdvxL-DJYa49-j_C0dXcIe8nylZCebq2Tsau0Fm2gzpx_7bgiL_e1uvs/s320/feb15part2+023.JPG" /></a><br />He loved playing with the straws! Cannot tell you how it felt to see him perk up and have some fun!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2D2sTjUSPy7l1Ka7ty8ya8HGHmw7jRENkmqR0oUhB4SNg-TvQIpRFHjbtwf3_tLo96jJ22OoBXdJJ-mta2wcwAv-aZCkabrGNKoD6c6qXNfntAT0gzJhhE1rZJXa2JefBbRxZok1JUZM/s1600/feb15part2+026.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709266750621925634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2D2sTjUSPy7l1Ka7ty8ya8HGHmw7jRENkmqR0oUhB4SNg-TvQIpRFHjbtwf3_tLo96jJ22OoBXdJJ-mta2wcwAv-aZCkabrGNKoD6c6qXNfntAT0gzJhhE1rZJXa2JefBbRxZok1JUZM/s320/feb15part2+026.JPG" /></a><br />Totally different boy from this morning - he was being so silly. I can't wait to see more and more of his personality come out.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWe_N_Uo203NQxxSqkG6mk1B9MfEN9RItxyfmqmS-wH3eoDvm_IQ-5Z1yJtZCcbnW1HcnyQcVWv9fu4XDFhmePlhOJJE0bCtEjU1-1d8RiYGMLKhpbzN5PJQM5maEreQ_DibqBm2G0OQ/s1600/feb15part2+028.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709266605597880114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizWe_N_Uo203NQxxSqkG6mk1B9MfEN9RItxyfmqmS-wH3eoDvm_IQ-5Z1yJtZCcbnW1HcnyQcVWv9fu4XDFhmePlhOJJE0bCtEjU1-1d8RiYGMLKhpbzN5PJQM5maEreQ_DibqBm2G0OQ/s320/feb15part2+028.JPG" /></a><br /><br />We walked over to a very nice park and he took Grace's hand to walk a little but then wanted Justin to hold him again. Sara - the baby carrier has been a lifesaver! Thank you!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4Z79Zh2FJHZ1ivIr_QD59qWx1QabCU4nqjItL70-a55W6Ujsdc6gIaBrDGKWQIlFAL4QdKWSG4atsac7-OVdMoWg40OELCTrqh-Ult-aOU2dLF2QAYQDIuEuEq0tXi9hyIAQ-5iKJ7o/s1600/feb15part2+031.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709266425785998338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4Z79Zh2FJHZ1ivIr_QD59qWx1QabCU4nqjItL70-a55W6Ujsdc6gIaBrDGKWQIlFAL4QdKWSG4atsac7-OVdMoWg40OELCTrqh-Ult-aOU2dLF2QAYQDIuEuEq0tXi9hyIAQ-5iKJ7o/s320/feb15part2+031.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Got some giggles swinging!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUS8T50w9LbYKkia4bO-FbrqfBhV0rOx3vxRywfz2EqOMzKDInm_SpB-iV_F1j9ZZlav7DXBce4j0HY93Y5R8PdzcUlo5-az0Z5DGlx042K7UQnZWhzw80p5wg7wmciQfP0rCD1OKJPac/s1600/feb15part2+043.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709265955397428050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUS8T50w9LbYKkia4bO-FbrqfBhV0rOx3vxRywfz2EqOMzKDInm_SpB-iV_F1j9ZZlav7DXBce4j0HY93Y5R8PdzcUlo5-az0Z5DGlx042K7UQnZWhzw80p5wg7wmciQfP0rCD1OKJPac/s320/feb15part2+043.JPG" /></a><br />And then guess what happened...he let me hold him!!!!!! Oh, it was so wonderful. He laid on my shoulder because he was getting tired again. I loved every moment. The mommy "bounce and rock" kicked in and I soaked in all 30 pounds of him, singing little songs in his ear. He still pulled his hat over his eyes when I tried to look at him but I am NOT complaining. So so thankful we are making progress. I can't believe this little face I have been looking at since April is now right here with us. It is no doubt a miracle orchestrated by a loving , good Father who binds up the brokenhearted and sets the lonely in families.<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-5004696731695809712012-02-14T01:42:00.001-08:002012-02-14T02:37:44.607-08:00We have our little boy!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEn9xFtezvaQF2xmtZ-R7FeDCkan2gAZL7vTGa7lNoy5qE3b3RNiH1DqZDNfAZZNgsqfenrrxAKs3M5vImE7lyrd1FCjGDs1TtqnInyuDWMQQuJB7XxR5khGU5D3b-1kjrdFdgyViOtlM/s1600/feb142012+002.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708927585667482290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEn9xFtezvaQF2xmtZ-R7FeDCkan2gAZL7vTGa7lNoy5qE3b3RNiH1DqZDNfAZZNgsqfenrrxAKs3M5vImE7lyrd1FCjGDs1TtqnInyuDWMQQuJB7XxR5khGU5D3b-1kjrdFdgyViOtlM/s320/feb142012+002.JPG" /></a><br />Last picture before we head to St. Lucy Orphanage! We pulled up and the very first face we saw through the taxi window was Zachary! He was playing outside and we knew it was him right away! What a feeling - I just can't describe seeing him for the first time. We were told ahead of time that he would be shy. Well, let's just say terrified seems like a better word. He cried and cried when we would try to get near him and clung to his nannies. I was not at all discouraged by this because the longer we were there the more we saw how INCREDIBLY loved and adored he has been by these beautiful women for the last 2 years. This is a gift we could never know how to thank them for. He is extremely attached to his nannies and they said he knew he was leaving them that day and was very sad. I am thankful for every tear he cried (and is still crying) because I know the significance of the great love he has for his nannies. This is no ordinary orphanage, that was very clear!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_k_v_gJdAcSIYvfr7dDEbiVuDjHBt5iKVbZvI7hHkvv3QA5Juel42M7iYJmLu5BbSugYfeUFgEEN3zppfy70PHq-1AC9ndMGLBcpmYNYtRgdgd05Uvm6-pig2Y0og8ivXFGpvyqsR8Y/s1600/feb142012+006.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708927449086003122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_k_v_gJdAcSIYvfr7dDEbiVuDjHBt5iKVbZvI7hHkvv3QA5Juel42M7iYJmLu5BbSugYfeUFgEEN3zppfy70PHq-1AC9ndMGLBcpmYNYtRgdgd05Uvm6-pig2Y0og8ivXFGpvyqsR8Y/s320/feb142012+006.JPG" /></a><br />We kept our distance at first because the closer we got the more he cried! He was the oldest child at St. Lucy. We found out there are only around 30 children there, most of them babies.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1TjmkrYwJ8VpeT8BAdtWsUYAAuR_vwOQI6SdXI3VJTbm_BMg0kCLQpAWL_cPZtNrVij1VOQQB0QrUssMleLtzvsZRnfstvO6TBxK9pJK0vT9w-NbSyM8tHeIXTYsDEEpHRyt1mYRiI8/s1600/feb142012+008.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708927301299461074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1TjmkrYwJ8VpeT8BAdtWsUYAAuR_vwOQI6SdXI3VJTbm_BMg0kCLQpAWL_cPZtNrVij1VOQQB0QrUssMleLtzvsZRnfstvO6TBxK9pJK0vT9w-NbSyM8tHeIXTYsDEEpHRyt1mYRiI8/s320/feb142012+008.JPG" /></a><br />We watched the nannies say good-bye to him and try to encourage him that we were his mommy and daddy but he would not have it. We totally understand that it is okay that he didn't come running into our arms, he will grieve for these women he loves so much. They are part of my heart now as well. I just can't say enough about them.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kpzCEmyyVa3PUD6pzezH07_Ov2aCEXlUJPMfoqrtLl5XLhisPKUwLf1_LnFQWF5SrCQiZ9g3iuiAQ3RsfC2UftNWo4BgnZzUCYzXtOzi1kkiWenaz83Him-yz3FrzGksHsrD3y4Axeo/s1600/feb142012+009.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708927201997478258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kpzCEmyyVa3PUD6pzezH07_Ov2aCEXlUJPMfoqrtLl5XLhisPKUwLf1_LnFQWF5SrCQiZ9g3iuiAQ3RsfC2UftNWo4BgnZzUCYzXtOzi1kkiWenaz83Him-yz3FrzGksHsrD3y4Axeo/s320/feb142012+009.JPG" /></a><br />Rosa and Spring Peach trying to tell Zachary that we are the people in the photo album (we had sent him for Christmas) and we are here to take him home. (He also got his beloved pacifier to help calm him down - they gave us 3 extras and also one he had chewed a hole in as a "memory" for us).<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aYanQ4K3Z4yAttw1Iz1qD3JPAtcl5yrMzDTmJFogN6-CLd-ILgZ07cIAG9Mqn8mALvxcvfJESZz9cARKu0TIIaYe86TOCbvT5fvhCn4le_weTpbONkbfVwqNKgqVkWsoN8z9kbxs_V8/s1600/feb142012+011.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708927029924483026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aYanQ4K3Z4yAttw1Iz1qD3JPAtcl5yrMzDTmJFogN6-CLd-ILgZ07cIAG9Mqn8mALvxcvfJESZz9cARKu0TIIaYe86TOCbvT5fvhCn4le_weTpbONkbfVwqNKgqVkWsoN8z9kbxs_V8/s320/feb142012+011.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Justin finally took him and he calmed down after we went for a walk (they said he needed to move away from the orphanage because he wouldn't stop crying for his nannies if he could see them). I laughed later that his shirt we brought for him says "Mom's #1 Fan" and I am not his favorite person quite yet! =)<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMONibIHNTFmHuSVC-XeHMYARKwpWX5k6dEOtgf_-Xoh_wicS6ZCym7F0BEvVBtzdyyXS3oaqMwQXlZxZ3ZYAwG8v39uEUBHFIM6XhgnSDvrl2Cbifz4dc6bgNow28jknzbYp7s9zIdOU/s1600/feb142012+014.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708926919628312562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMONibIHNTFmHuSVC-XeHMYARKwpWX5k6dEOtgf_-Xoh_wicS6ZCym7F0BEvVBtzdyyXS3oaqMwQXlZxZ3ZYAwG8v39uEUBHFIM6XhgnSDvrl2Cbifz4dc6bgNow28jknzbYp7s9zIdOU/s320/feb142012+014.JPG" /></a><br />first picture with the 4 of us - just need 3 more little ones to make it complete!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7KXAHod6SqAMVkMmKuM2CL-RllGW_aWPxeVvsVK7P0tJ3yP7VXedTd3cF1_6jDIf6RHRN497eiTGkkga95srxrur4sdpsqugOgB0jjMV3Z486EgcuiMCR2zx-KTe3EiZoHHK-T4l-RY/s1600/feb142012+020.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708926765671253266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7KXAHod6SqAMVkMmKuM2CL-RllGW_aWPxeVvsVK7P0tJ3yP7VXedTd3cF1_6jDIf6RHRN497eiTGkkga95srxrur4sdpsqugOgB0jjMV3Z486EgcuiMCR2zx-KTe3EiZoHHK-T4l-RY/s320/feb142012+020.JPG" /></a><br />Spring Peach had a special gift for him. Justin had to stay outside and walk the street with him so he wouldn't scream for his nannies so I went in and learned about his schedule and received some precious gifts for him. I was told so many things about him that I never would have dreamed I'd ever get to find out. The biggest news (and most shocking!) is that he has a biological sister! We were so confused and wondered how this was possible since he was abandoned. They said a baby girl, one year younger than him, was found at the same location and she looked so much like him a DNA test was done and they found they they are biological siblings! His sister was adopted by another family in America and they want to contact us!! How crazy is this!!!!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJs66jckCe-n1rhdHCddWt591DbRPG4EqyiwETVCLzMdsM_tDXil_8ioaY__vOq43tz4ptX0xHaBHniybkULrsuF7IUMtcxGoqNIdRFtsQiwjPkv83_YstsUS5hKhF1hJ7o5ogzriPIrs/s1600/feb142012+021.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708926616293303890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJs66jckCe-n1rhdHCddWt591DbRPG4EqyiwETVCLzMdsM_tDXil_8ioaY__vOq43tz4ptX0xHaBHniybkULrsuF7IUMtcxGoqNIdRFtsQiwjPkv83_YstsUS5hKhF1hJ7o5ogzriPIrs/s320/feb142012+021.JPG" /></a><br />This nanny made a beautiful scrapbook for Zachary as well as a handmade scarf. She had the hardest time saying good-bye to him. She said he was her favorite and she loved him so much. She and I hugged and cried and I thanked her over and over.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKZQhiSerjGaraf5_kY-0yXR0k-iCuG6WA9vDWrItdN2GeHrmYYNM34sniHH195bd8xIbyefaQIdQwnq7sFmWQfYS39cQiXhc9zjBr0tjctcJVsZ2TAaNLLuxZEJLIPJsuTusNfKlTnk/s1600/feb142012+025.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708926419257740322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKZQhiSerjGaraf5_kY-0yXR0k-iCuG6WA9vDWrItdN2GeHrmYYNM34sniHH195bd8xIbyefaQIdQwnq7sFmWQfYS39cQiXhc9zjBr0tjctcJVsZ2TAaNLLuxZEJLIPJsuTusNfKlTnk/s320/feb142012+025.JPG" /></a><br />Another emotional good-bye<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqBTuIzYcgxZrGF-d1tVvSf_LAoAvK98dkYR3Blvn_IeMmu_VccZvZy8UtA-zLoQ8m6YmXCo54BCiQ0lLlXlmekT8_VH1fl9XPHymkMxqt3nJC6SRrZ4vVcF0dUBloDaaTs_jmik-EfY/s1600/feb142012+028.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708926301319239698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqBTuIzYcgxZrGF-d1tVvSf_LAoAvK98dkYR3Blvn_IeMmu_VccZvZy8UtA-zLoQ8m6YmXCo54BCiQ0lLlXlmekT8_VH1fl9XPHymkMxqt3nJC6SRrZ4vVcF0dUBloDaaTs_jmik-EfY/s320/feb142012+028.JPG" /></a><br />One last good-bye as we were loading into the taxi. Many tears...we promised to send pictures as often as we can. I just can't describe how wonderful these women are. Our son has been VERY loved.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjietmFnso50Ta2i9-wBn7nquMJxSaNuA1JVm92uBOTPkLf3jBm_32d4qGeHfmmUr0AbbpMeO-PZTfzYRyxYruDj2os-msqVSmlRt6mXqM4oJXD_rWZt4bMua2U9GKfFvV9xss7GPL74s4/s1600/feb142012+029.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708926128551260594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjietmFnso50Ta2i9-wBn7nquMJxSaNuA1JVm92uBOTPkLf3jBm_32d4qGeHfmmUr0AbbpMeO-PZTfzYRyxYruDj2os-msqVSmlRt6mXqM4oJXD_rWZt4bMua2U9GKfFvV9xss7GPL74s4/s320/feb142012+029.JPG" /></a><br />We passed his "finding spot" as we left - it was only a few blocks from St. Lucy and we didn't even know that when we were there the other day.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhP6pOpa40PPd4S2FNYVwnlHKqHucOHOVVH_S4-Dgh9CNwvDZUS_5gZJ6CvUNRMs1CKuw_CJXu-tJEUUPpyZEezpB59rJ8wKGA819J6x7p790KTDZrXhXJdOWWFyHpo15WQfKKzkH148/s1600/feb142012+032.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708925950058149954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhP6pOpa40PPd4S2FNYVwnlHKqHucOHOVVH_S4-Dgh9CNwvDZUS_5gZJ6CvUNRMs1CKuw_CJXu-tJEUUPpyZEezpB59rJ8wKGA819J6x7p790KTDZrXhXJdOWWFyHpo15WQfKKzkH148/s320/feb142012+032.JPG" /></a><br />At the train station. He was very calm when Grace or Justin held him. At this point I hadn't gotten to hold him yet because he would cry when I even looked at him. I am thankful he is peaceful and comfortable with them.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Sd0LgtE22FV5XSEpiEeKhQrvPTw3hQVZyJ5-2W1iNROpMRZApnYlbYDQb9sF-HOiDWVx4hqN1_pfne7x4a4F2dUwkKUo6wclirvovlSjAFtNI1LNIQW_hWhK-LOfJqwYO9Gb2TI_i8M/s1600/feb142012+033.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708925776100973762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Sd0LgtE22FV5XSEpiEeKhQrvPTw3hQVZyJ5-2W1iNROpMRZApnYlbYDQb9sF-HOiDWVx4hqN1_pfne7x4a4F2dUwkKUo6wclirvovlSjAFtNI1LNIQW_hWhK-LOfJqwYO9Gb2TI_i8M/s320/feb142012+033.JPG" /></a><br /><br />We were quite a sight walking at to the train with all of our luggage. Justin had Zac is one arm and pulled 3 suitcases stacked on top of each other with the other. I was the funniest looking with a backpack, briefcase, duffelbag, purse and camera around my neck! =)<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkt1ONtYPNxIzDoFhh8G-vLI2VzwogsR8yld7sOu-JN9L8haRtGY4srYvtbUA-ai7zcelmu54n3eGZ1ZgNLLJawaauYwBfOqTos_HiBGdKeDjuMZlWJSnaTQyodXGQDiGSgAhYpEN5yiU/s1600/feb142012+037.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708925587202447474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkt1ONtYPNxIzDoFhh8G-vLI2VzwogsR8yld7sOu-JN9L8haRtGY4srYvtbUA-ai7zcelmu54n3eGZ1ZgNLLJawaauYwBfOqTos_HiBGdKeDjuMZlWJSnaTQyodXGQDiGSgAhYpEN5yiU/s320/feb142012+037.JPG" /></a><br />Precious boy<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBTUko47nrGZOyjd6rkSkfl9ion2gmPuQgtK8rEi6uS4qD4ueK7MAMT2Fla_vjejPhGPlVJMWd6R49-F1WfzsFk48b-dZSQPTrGqswM87wSMXhklkXrT2oI0ZAb3pSKqFQ0n7JC4C9Ps/s1600/feb142012+042.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708925440838359458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBTUko47nrGZOyjd6rkSkfl9ion2gmPuQgtK8rEi6uS4qD4ueK7MAMT2Fla_vjejPhGPlVJMWd6R49-F1WfzsFk48b-dZSQPTrGqswM87wSMXhklkXrT2oI0ZAb3pSKqFQ0n7JC4C9Ps/s320/feb142012+042.JPG" /></a><br />He's still not so sure about that lady with the camera (aka mom)<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BrTB7EjafwQHBQwwdAEJNldI2hlE21Ot52x35Bax48Q24jc3CFRB5O8uukE14X_ymBIaJSwwMEm0WEUXdMq1G5G0JU79rQPE6AWIgvuI9KbtytxpqV6PPuaJssHs4UUPZXmEaOvcyUk/s1600/feb142012+046.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708925276389596786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BrTB7EjafwQHBQwwdAEJNldI2hlE21Ot52x35Bax48Q24jc3CFRB5O8uukE14X_ymBIaJSwwMEm0WEUXdMq1G5G0JU79rQPE6AWIgvuI9KbtytxpqV6PPuaJssHs4UUPZXmEaOvcyUk/s320/feb142012+046.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I FINALLY got to hold him at the hotel!!!! It was brief but so wonderful.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-qLnj53jBfy47qXRQxwh5hPt0P6EF_xkPmyBW2YoTDEFyW1mnJMstjbEpYEYrAzJoDV3SM6l9Q6lUWHITyiXDKNXpKBvntSPheP4JmWQtHQsaGj2CCCN_pmQeyyrvlJJ0O4m-L30ewY/s1600/feb142012+049.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708925127345521682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-qLnj53jBfy47qXRQxwh5hPt0P6EF_xkPmyBW2YoTDEFyW1mnJMstjbEpYEYrAzJoDV3SM6l9Q6lUWHITyiXDKNXpKBvntSPheP4JmWQtHQsaGj2CCCN_pmQeyyrvlJJ0O4m-L30ewY/s320/feb142012+049.JPG" /></a><br />LOVE this - oh my heart could burst. She is his comfort right now - thank you God for Gracie.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9eCa0Kn6Hzv_Lr-Pl7j29RrhHIjGYHY_99E4yxFJ84PIimH6BXVzhpeupOmqHYOiI1Xy01eAcSHmX_VEUw3vRs6pz2ynmBiseW8pmLih2dDbE_WPATmkDrY5xThS3moTPa6q5hLJ52I/s1600/feb142012+051.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708924904115942898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9eCa0Kn6Hzv_Lr-Pl7j29RrhHIjGYHY_99E4yxFJ84PIimH6BXVzhpeupOmqHYOiI1Xy01eAcSHmX_VEUw3vRs6pz2ynmBiseW8pmLih2dDbE_WPATmkDrY5xThS3moTPa6q5hLJ52I/s320/feb142012+051.JPG" /></a><br /><br />He is so tired - what a day. Still hasn't left her side.<br /><br /><br /><div>Now we are settled into our hotel in Taipei and will go to our AIT (American Institute in Taiwan) appointment in the morning. It has been a day I will never forget. A day I have dreamed about and prayed about. I know I will get my cuddle time with my new baby boy but for now I am rejoicing, thanking God, and pondering all this in my heart (thanks Erica) for this gift. If Zachary being scared of us and grieving his beloved nannies means that he has been loved and adored - I am nothing but grateful for God's loving Hand on this boy. Thank you for praying - please keep it up!!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-22916002234918592892012-02-13T01:44:00.000-08:002012-02-13T02:42:37.719-08:00Sightseeing in Tainan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4B5Nl1CoNukZags2S3fD4T8KFTzH14c4DBFKf4ZPYa8uVNpR5jYTOnP8VlopncgH6DIYxMoIY-R8WiWLd5eBFZNeRasJHdG___6Qx3umzRfJglsFuZbiBIFdqYTf2kN3U9dy7HqR4CMw/s1600/part+1+2012+063.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708557232589856018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4B5Nl1CoNukZags2S3fD4T8KFTzH14c4DBFKf4ZPYa8uVNpR5jYTOnP8VlopncgH6DIYxMoIY-R8WiWLd5eBFZNeRasJHdG___6Qx3umzRfJglsFuZbiBIFdqYTf2kN3U9dy7HqR4CMw/s320/part+1+2012+063.JPG" /></a> We spent a wonderful day sightseeing in Tainan! We are so blessed to have been able to see so much of the city Zac was born in and we will be able to tell him about the beautiful places we saw and the kind people we met! We grabbed a map and headed out and thanks to Justin's navigating skills and some friendly local people, we got around the city very well!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdS9C6ZI5cGKSCzKPG8vVz-Cf0bcbIHujZkS-1p4qCf7yq19XcEjdqV5KjYcjy8lad5SUkbwcPw0Kot_ESkYdizAxelYwcH8Vmzk5tTtWbRNxHmXJvYwkCaXJjuL2a53XSccqpUs0j6o/s1600/part+1+2012+045.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708557090050172914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdS9C6ZI5cGKSCzKPG8vVz-Cf0bcbIHujZkS-1p4qCf7yq19XcEjdqV5KjYcjy8lad5SUkbwcPw0Kot_ESkYdizAxelYwcH8Vmzk5tTtWbRNxHmXJvYwkCaXJjuL2a53XSccqpUs0j6o/s320/part+1+2012+045.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>Too chilly to swim but we still relaxed by the pool!<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWDwpGcqabe9omL-8hfI1RlShgFXkK00zkSb98pTizPN47fXwWjVFQ9-8u9d7V_VGziarEinL2wWw8DTWkqy49IPkEA2RvRV27dx_RAaLIviCWMEWLE71HvXHXbwCiNZIB1yIpD3uJSs/s1600/tainan+day+002.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708556908160661986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWDwpGcqabe9omL-8hfI1RlShgFXkK00zkSb98pTizPN47fXwWjVFQ9-8u9d7V_VGziarEinL2wWw8DTWkqy49IPkEA2RvRV27dx_RAaLIviCWMEWLE71HvXHXbwCiNZIB1yIpD3uJSs/s320/tainan+day+002.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>Breakfast was AMAZING! Grace loves chopsticks!<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7DxqPUCe-vW8GaBGoZ2iBNPCEiOC6h1v1bHrgWoZKQHClhDo9y7YETM0zIAj2FB1sCP0JhLocVwsCpLp-eIfLGUZy5AJKfbykGiRWxU1blLFPXnqip-r0FygqIl2f2vomD2TapY0yr4/s1600/tainan+day+005.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708556829750899330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7DxqPUCe-vW8GaBGoZ2iBNPCEiOC6h1v1bHrgWoZKQHClhDo9y7YETM0zIAj2FB1sCP0JhLocVwsCpLp-eIfLGUZy5AJKfbykGiRWxU1blLFPXnqip-r0FygqIl2f2vomD2TapY0yr4/s320/tainan+day+005.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>This is the view from our room on the 28th floor<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMl2MjB-ejHPfZEu2RZynQb7nYeWrHfgHBqE0QROby6H6g80ymCp-BThxn7M9bHoI6j9kIey8DqDs9tCrKpc6R6K0VfPlNMyBWDahyphenhyphenfMAnzfG9ZcHgMyJz-Uolrt0riR5BFqFtrNDeAMQ/s1600/tainan+day+009.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708556704941056178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMl2MjB-ejHPfZEu2RZynQb7nYeWrHfgHBqE0QROby6H6g80ymCp-BThxn7M9bHoI6j9kIey8DqDs9tCrKpc6R6K0VfPlNMyBWDahyphenhyphenfMAnzfG9ZcHgMyJz-Uolrt0riR5BFqFtrNDeAMQ/s320/tainan+day+009.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>One of the churches we saw<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnybVAkrYPPN5RVIO4XkJBKBQa3wCKJC5qmogKZzAj4O-V1o7lzJiHDRBv_H27_Z9C20vJtUSz7lSivOpIiw_kMH6uNfqcrp2A0yhmudymgR9_-TKu5yOXbjaUmcwMnES0goV-wLmF1Es/s1600/tainan+day+011.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708556580722525714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnybVAkrYPPN5RVIO4XkJBKBQa3wCKJC5qmogKZzAj4O-V1o7lzJiHDRBv_H27_Z9C20vJtUSz7lSivOpIiw_kMH6uNfqcrp2A0yhmudymgR9_-TKu5yOXbjaUmcwMnES0goV-wLmF1Es/s320/tainan+day+011.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>Our first stop, Chihkan Tower, built by the Dutch in 1653. Yes, I said the Dutch. You wouldn't believe all the Dutch history here (I am Dutch and almost found it comical at all the windmills and wooden shoes we saw!)<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPe1bsuZZ7Vn0CMMqzdmz6x63nop5ctUr176PdfmL6vOX24nGZcFEMfDRRUruUIRzBPjVOxFScUMUvB5L520B7_WPw5Oby4jXcrPU3ANdylgmB7wgOLIPTlZECgAmJGrVWaZgXDxltav8/s1600/tainan+day+015.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708556467291985826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPe1bsuZZ7Vn0CMMqzdmz6x63nop5ctUr176PdfmL6vOX24nGZcFEMfDRRUruUIRzBPjVOxFScUMUvB5L520B7_WPw5Oby4jXcrPU3ANdylgmB7wgOLIPTlZECgAmJGrVWaZgXDxltav8/s320/tainan+day+015.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1f0mlyyNrWk0Ny9gdY5DOBG2pZoaPzuRnDtRxN3vG5rtqgByQw87MFWXD-C6uOjgsac3kVK45yLsfA4a8mymp-SlzFkubbAKiqOi6aFyUt12iwdvaLkjvqUph2jKfb64B5n6TOrijo4/s1600/tainan+day+019.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708556339161769138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1f0mlyyNrWk0Ny9gdY5DOBG2pZoaPzuRnDtRxN3vG5rtqgByQw87MFWXD-C6uOjgsac3kVK45yLsfA4a8mymp-SlzFkubbAKiqOi6aFyUt12iwdvaLkjvqUph2jKfb64B5n6TOrijo4/s320/tainan+day+019.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKAGCowWznrc4BrWFfL3eYD5TX6EtI70LGy_2_E_BlfyOi8HBCmX_Y5Du5GOtW1f2l1ZLNcZfpcLIgqSXA7IZAUBKiLgM-TMjsv5TmEqZ5lwATxnsKgJx8hPN5OI2GqyBWdVbiB5MRX0/s1600/tainan+day+023.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708556193642336354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKAGCowWznrc4BrWFfL3eYD5TX6EtI70LGy_2_E_BlfyOi8HBCmX_Y5Du5GOtW1f2l1ZLNcZfpcLIgqSXA7IZAUBKiLgM-TMjsv5TmEqZ5lwATxnsKgJx8hPN5OI2GqyBWdVbiB5MRX0/s320/tainan+day+023.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>At one of the many shrines we saw. We walked through this one and people were burning inscense and papers to worship their gods. I quietly sang the name of Jesus as we walked through.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiGh7tvSrEILPliXWG6CXLudtAbULhsjMWi-Z5pROuCcxevd6LAGU4kHI6HDEY5Do4tcbYTkibEeGnHK6m4xyxfUhPXTGsCNszf3T5Bsua_18eOsT-PteNpvFYF8gxc7dTPmKrLmJfuM/s1600/tainan+day+034.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708555995233289410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiGh7tvSrEILPliXWG6CXLudtAbULhsjMWi-Z5pROuCcxevd6LAGU4kHI6HDEY5Do4tcbYTkibEeGnHK6m4xyxfUhPXTGsCNszf3T5Bsua_18eOsT-PteNpvFYF8gxc7dTPmKrLmJfuM/s320/tainan+day+034.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-lEx7nG6E2hoUSe-OwVO94Eqq8L-5yqaAHxT_GeBCPixcCFeel_hlTmgI9JxZMv8n1e8vELWxPK_B24uccJDdqjKX-JJm_j8lp8mEAE2N-7qe91Qr0MCCNoNvJgwO5M1viuJe0WRv5M/s1600/tainan+day+035.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708555863264677058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-lEx7nG6E2hoUSe-OwVO94Eqq8L-5yqaAHxT_GeBCPixcCFeel_hlTmgI9JxZMv8n1e8vELWxPK_B24uccJDdqjKX-JJm_j8lp8mEAE2N-7qe91Qr0MCCNoNvJgwO5M1viuJe0WRv5M/s320/tainan+day+035.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>wooden shoes for sale!<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3OH0jcOaiv_53Fn54LbbMeqnp6a_m_1tgVsVGE-mJDqwpsZUUJKyra7bg5O-DfkiTQz0CWom54q2Xde0XjkQCDk-AWDbStqGRXVmKCRnE_jB1Rl44yvuxzsnnBrYdyOH7BraQ8kh0Ss/s1600/tainan+day+046.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708555676665782674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3OH0jcOaiv_53Fn54LbbMeqnp6a_m_1tgVsVGE-mJDqwpsZUUJKyra7bg5O-DfkiTQz0CWom54q2Xde0XjkQCDk-AWDbStqGRXVmKCRnE_jB1Rl44yvuxzsnnBrYdyOH7BraQ8kh0Ss/s320/tainan+day+046.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>Anping Old Fort. In 1624, the Dutch occupied Anping and took ten years to build a fort named "Fort Zeelandia".<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlugzweniJQwRjLsUWFKAYfxdaEgwGmxBHijW4An_6L6-1Q11azFMt0B-sLNk32PsMNVgL8G_8S8N8_dQ7EgZgMHWzMTxqsjbfPVh9Oy9j57w2vKKnv7YaEC_uLgUQVyOF_0dLDN68oU/s1600/tainan+day+052.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708555492060001602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlugzweniJQwRjLsUWFKAYfxdaEgwGmxBHijW4An_6L6-1Q11azFMt0B-sLNk32PsMNVgL8G_8S8N8_dQ7EgZgMHWzMTxqsjbfPVh9Oy9j57w2vKKnv7YaEC_uLgUQVyOF_0dLDN68oU/s320/tainan+day+052.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>Anping Tree House. The roots and branches of banyan trees wrapped around the building!<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DhjBZKwILWwLwr2jA9_TZpUnIlIlPUCD7M3kwjwFIjp1bagMG7cc4zM4gSJXJSvnXbnZt_WM7PbROspY0Bn96ImpWpsSDnkSDPjkmt9lpE_Qk7eopgVNGlhTNXGldLxt6cuDd0DlxLY/s1600/tainan+day+055.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708555348858723026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DhjBZKwILWwLwr2jA9_TZpUnIlIlPUCD7M3kwjwFIjp1bagMG7cc4zM4gSJXJSvnXbnZt_WM7PbROspY0Bn96ImpWpsSDnkSDPjkmt9lpE_Qk7eopgVNGlhTNXGldLxt6cuDd0DlxLY/s320/tainan+day+055.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>Grace is getting tired but she hung in there!<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YlNOrwLxirEVQyv5y3OV4m2elK9CwX9RwK65mjx4DbabEjeJzLYvCZO2pKeySLbo82JR-iFa2mGsKc9o3fW-7z70S5fG5-nelH77SthSL83NllpQjgpybBjzK-jlwe1jvvgpI79voG0/s1600/tainan+day+060.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708555163151877922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YlNOrwLxirEVQyv5y3OV4m2elK9CwX9RwK65mjx4DbabEjeJzLYvCZO2pKeySLbo82JR-iFa2mGsKc9o3fW-7z70S5fG5-nelH77SthSL83NllpQjgpybBjzK-jlwe1jvvgpI79voG0/s320/tainan+day+060.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>A little more Dutch...windmill at the Tree House<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2tYl3SvR6erTqxYTg97yoRp_m_i45hv1pR3C0ajk4LAhFKXO3qk_tE5WLzvTiV7g9dECZOhJGbBV0jSaVyr__xJgy4whw9EmKyE6xoMEoQ7PB7kxYqR8C0dTA_RxBPvuFWEcknny4mY/s1600/tainan+day+063.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708555021826024258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2tYl3SvR6erTqxYTg97yoRp_m_i45hv1pR3C0ajk4LAhFKXO3qk_tE5WLzvTiV7g9dECZOhJGbBV0jSaVyr__xJgy4whw9EmKyE6xoMEoQ7PB7kxYqR8C0dTA_RxBPvuFWEcknny4mY/s320/tainan+day+063.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>I couldn't resist posting this. It was part of the museum section of the Anping Tree House and written by a Taiwanese woman who married a Dutchman. I'm not even sure how to comment on this...would love to hear yours! Haha =)<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMtyc1LcSb4MRUBFV90dTmI7Y7R-sVAWsGMKRnL-zhDEiFrSGfwwCKXAIDJZiRedRBYuTbMhcyNyTVZUnqpVt2SUhHjk5mE6so1qhSfoApzla441PQI8aDoyKCcMhMJvh31X_bpgbdcI/s1600/tainan+day+067.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708554833203191426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMtyc1LcSb4MRUBFV90dTmI7Y7R-sVAWsGMKRnL-zhDEiFrSGfwwCKXAIDJZiRedRBYuTbMhcyNyTVZUnqpVt2SUhHjk5mE6so1qhSfoApzla441PQI8aDoyKCcMhMJvh31X_bpgbdcI/s320/tainan+day+067.JPG" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>Starbucks!! Grace got her groove back =)<br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div>It was a wonderful day! We absolutely love the people here. One woman bought us all coffees and helped us read our map. Many people just came up to us with big smiles on their faces and asked where we were from and why we were here. It is interesting to see their reactions when we say we are adopting a little boy. It is not "normal" to see an American family here to adopt a Taiwanese child (at least it didn't seem like it). We have seen very very few non-Asian people so we really stick out!<br /></div><br /><br /><div>Tomorrow morning we get to meet Zachary!! It still all feels like I'm dreaming this all up. I am praying I can soak it all in and remember every detail of this gift...I consider this trip a gift. I love Taiwan and am so happy to have such wonderful stories to tell Zac. Thank you for lifting us up in prayer! I feel like I'm literally being held up by you and your intecession. God's gracious and loving Hand is so evident and we are soooo looking forward to tomorrow when we officially become a family of seven!!!<br /></div></div></div></div>Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-51929184087096267292012-02-12T03:05:00.000-08:002012-02-12T04:30:12.990-08:00Tainan!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_opZU8FGmY5sTtTHPBudeHcWxjK4DA1uCX8AyYDEESdOyjuO9QAQmRo1gTIuXH-ngziA-5k8q3dNh-kUB8TuSZLpG7P5N_FV_L9fo8lELz82AoLbb5JbvZu_DchtRS2AggxBu5R09D0/s1600/part+1+2012+048.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708207752637316290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga_opZU8FGmY5sTtTHPBudeHcWxjK4DA1uCX8AyYDEESdOyjuO9QAQmRo1gTIuXH-ngziA-5k8q3dNh-kUB8TuSZLpG7P5N_FV_L9fo8lELz82AoLbb5JbvZu_DchtRS2AggxBu5R09D0/s320/part+1+2012+048.JPG" /></a>We arrived in Tainan today!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisK-yeI5n-Xj8e2oFlvzaC-ggFDy66dgNMTYVuKzTnoyJa1ukzsjdYLI3Gj7JDP7u6jJRapt9_pqrM9iQb5VI0P2ZbaHHtF8Y3yhyphenhyphenR_jsUsFHSgLiMJ4gUr_JVSplCFP1YP_aQPshl7Cw/s1600/part+1+2012+060.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708205777110914610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisK-yeI5n-Xj8e2oFlvzaC-ggFDy66dgNMTYVuKzTnoyJa1ukzsjdYLI3Gj7JDP7u6jJRapt9_pqrM9iQb5VI0P2ZbaHHtF8Y3yhyphenhyphenR_jsUsFHSgLiMJ4gUr_JVSplCFP1YP_aQPshl7Cw/s320/part+1+2012+060.JPG" /></a><br />The picture on the left is the spot where Zachary was found on Oct. 24, 2009.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBgMJYgywtXq2FtJUY6Ux56QvsAiipDoI_g0M8P850FjiajNo7wUp-4V1D2APSNBZqwKKtucgNHLbofz64F9_gtEmszCyZWPZ_MZxR8r5EmZT2bCNCE5_qP8OyhwH-kQNSv5HEiB9Bzo/s1600/part+1+2012+056.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708205646767837490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBgMJYgywtXq2FtJUY6Ux56QvsAiipDoI_g0M8P850FjiajNo7wUp-4V1D2APSNBZqwKKtucgNHLbofz64F9_gtEmszCyZWPZ_MZxR8r5EmZT2bCNCE5_qP8OyhwH-kQNSv5HEiB9Bzo/s320/part+1+2012+056.JPG" /></a>The tall building is our hotel, the Shangri-La Far Eastern Plaza Hotel and it is beautiful! Many other families who have adopted from St. Lucy's recommended it and I can see why!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqU7wEqs5Jox0pyHcgHgnQPHqYejiY3rKHj18G9K-0577EfNXelqVR37hIDrmgJeMffRe_REukiuFoN7ApIVGH50AkbPMIOflQZseRwxXMJ7s8HDQUbbDqhQcTRTCEr0ebgC66Lixqgj0/s1600/part+1+2012+035.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQz0T4O6ecsBAUCRJ5_1pyQe2hKuHcqXzstk-rhoTNcQBNYzgUStS_usOh-ci8FRteB9MZ7s-5ift1Y_TiEbY6ZGyp77KQpewXtAucqNDEBsSxNZvHpgLsJdMYZhkHXW78RdFfH_YrTA/s1600/part+1+2012+037.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708204452962921058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnQz0T4O6ecsBAUCRJ5_1pyQe2hKuHcqXzstk-rhoTNcQBNYzgUStS_usOh-ci8FRteB9MZ7s-5ift1Y_TiEbY6ZGyp77KQpewXtAucqNDEBsSxNZvHpgLsJdMYZhkHXW78RdFfH_YrTA/s320/part+1+2012+037.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQge1FvielgfOojygJ9OLAkNd6_RuBV3nMOmD0uGbPi_p7_7vDO-8wBCTIGxerWQx3JqG9KOIpOq89wwBwkLGvC2oHOshJ9E0TiiLyQhJd9qC2jXOW2ZPrgiBGCCchGgZ9BvYx83AdoqY/s1600/part+1+2012+034.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708204031508088066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQge1FvielgfOojygJ9OLAkNd6_RuBV3nMOmD0uGbPi_p7_7vDO-8wBCTIGxerWQx3JqG9KOIpOq89wwBwkLGvC2oHOshJ9E0TiiLyQhJd9qC2jXOW2ZPrgiBGCCchGgZ9BvYx83AdoqY/s320/part+1+2012+034.JPG" /></a><br />Above is actually the first hotel we stayed in when we arrived. Gracie got a little homework done while I blogged this morning! Also above is the high speed train we took to Tainan. We are so impressed with the people here. They have been so helpful and kind and so many speak English. After arriving in Tainan, we checked into our hotel and got something to eat and then decided to head to Zachary's "finding spot", where he was abandoned. We had an address so our taxi driver dropped us off by a grassy area next to an apartment building. All we know is that we was found under one of the trees, wrapped in a beige blanket and he was a few days old because his umbilical cord had not fallen off yet. It was so strange to see where he was found. We believe the Lord remembered him there and that is why we chose the name "Zachary" because it means "The Lord remembers".<br /><br />We walked back to the hotel and enjoyed watching all the people. So many scooters!! Everyone is flying around on a scooter. Tomorrow we hope to do some sight-seeing and then we will get to meet Zachary on the 14th!Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-85398145373275160892012-02-11T17:47:00.000-08:002012-02-11T18:35:27.952-08:00We are here!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6huNCCjVc9LA3qlb_lj76hdbcUsfk12h7B3YaxHp6eEZ5QMgT0iUmJYQDc5yfYF46TjymyKXFN-epPgiP1iOBmdQvoXNH66p_n2HYxfN2eyA7ATOS6Bn5_xdLfUxs6Fe-7YRkUYgNizE/s1600/grace+pics+day+1+057.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708070032494466306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6huNCCjVc9LA3qlb_lj76hdbcUsfk12h7B3YaxHp6eEZ5QMgT0iUmJYQDc5yfYF46TjymyKXFN-epPgiP1iOBmdQvoXNH66p_n2HYxfN2eyA7ATOS6Bn5_xdLfUxs6Fe-7YRkUYgNizE/s320/grace+pics+day+1+057.JPG" /></a> Landing in Tokyo - it was so beautiful with the sun streaming through the clouds.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilvQdS9_agfJTBR_aKyVFP_suGYYhKQUJD4HnJ7LVcrk4fs8g9Etz7VjB3Cpv69NN0JsvHXe_OQ7mTZJV_ddCtTT5VfjE-4FhZQWbN8IfR_qmFeoeTtUFPm-PFPKdcjCFAf_H09DxgPQ/s1600/grace+pics+day+1+052.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708069855521851170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilvQdS9_agfJTBR_aKyVFP_suGYYhKQUJD4HnJ7LVcrk4fs8g9Etz7VjB3Cpv69NN0JsvHXe_OQ7mTZJV_ddCtTT5VfjE-4FhZQWbN8IfR_qmFeoeTtUFPm-PFPKdcjCFAf_H09DxgPQ/s320/grace+pics+day+1+052.JPG" /></a> Gracie on the long flight<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1IrhyphenhyphenDy0pJiZp_I0Qn2UGIPw_slIRRmYKA2UkljJDW3xE5ddpBX-VmcXA-awEfkj-F5Qb5G7oA4LaBvBTv51EAkJb-T3S8TiWi7BHAuyxEXWa-koi2ZHHn2Bg6jgb3B5P_DLg1cEJp4/s1600/grace+pics+day+1+051.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708069638734145890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1IrhyphenhyphenDy0pJiZp_I0Qn2UGIPw_slIRRmYKA2UkljJDW3xE5ddpBX-VmcXA-awEfkj-F5Qb5G7oA4LaBvBTv51EAkJb-T3S8TiWi7BHAuyxEXWa-koi2ZHHn2Bg6jgb3B5P_DLg1cEJp4/s320/grace+pics+day+1+051.JPG" /></a><br />Flying over Alaska!<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div>We made it!!! The trip took almost exactly 24 hours. We are so grateful (so grateful) to God for bringing healing to Gracie. Thank you to so many who were praying. The evening before we left she had a temp of 103 and was so miserable. She woke up a new girl the morning we left. She is still coughing but nothing like she was. Thank you for interceding for our family! God is so faithful. </div><br /><br /><div><br /><br />The trip went perfectly - seamlessly as we have been praying. We even ran into my best friend growing up in the Minn. airport, Stephanie Hoogeveen! How crazy is that! It was so good to see her and had been a long time. I still can't believe out of that whole place we ran into each other (it probably helped that her boyfriend Kyle is a huge football player so he was easy to spot!)</div><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div>We also met a Taiwanese family in Minn. and traveled on the same flights with them. They had 2 children and were such sweet people. The children waved and smiled at us every time we saw them. They gave us their number in case we needed anything - wow!! We also traveled with a group of teenage students from Taiwan and they were so adorable. They also gave us big smiles everytime our paths crossed.</div><br /><br /><div><br />The 12 hour flight went great! I am amazed at how well Gracie did. She watched movies most of the way. So cool that you have your own tv with movies, music, games - made it go so much faster! I watched "Gone with the Wind" because when else in my life (with 5 children) am I going to get to see that 3 hour movie again! I loved it =). The flight from Tokyo to Taiwan was during the middle of the night for us so we were exhausted and tried to sleep but it's hard on an airplane. We arrived around 11 pm and were at our hotel by before midnight! And here's the amazing blessing - we all slept the entire night and woke up ready for the new day, which is so wonderful since we are now on "Taiwan time". Maybe it was the "No Jet Lag" that helped (thanks Sara!!).</div><br /><br /><div><br />We are at the City Suites Gateway Hotel right now and will head to the high speed train soon and travel to Tainan, which is the city Zachary's orphanage is in. The City Suites Gateway is right next to the airport and was a great place to stay our first night. It was about $100 US dollars. (I want to use this blog also to help other families who may adopt from Taiwan because we are SO grateful to the families who did it before us and gave us lots of priceless information and advice!) </div><br /><br /><div><br />Gracie was fun at breakfast and ate rice with chopsticks. She is being so fantastic. Whenever I think about the people who have been so faithful to pray specifically for her in the last months I begin to cry. You have been a rock for her and have showered your love on her and it is such a gift - thank you. </div><br /><br /><div><br />As we traveled, we often thought about what it will be like on the way back with a 2-year-old! Please pray for that too! The support and love from our family and friends is completely overwhelming. I believe with my whole heart that God has surrounded us with a community of prayer warriors. Our church, The Crossing, is family to us, and our friends have been so close to our hearts. Sara, Erica, Joy - I love you so much. </div><br /><br /><div><br />We were able to skype with my mom and our kids this morning too! That is such an amazing thing. They were so squirrely - mostly watching themselves on the screen - haha. It was awesome. It is indeed a small world after all! Mom you are amazing!!!!!</div><br /><br /><div><br />Time to move on to the next part of this journey! Thanks for checking in!!</div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-24875392902213307882012-02-02T13:48:00.000-08:002012-02-02T13:59:48.102-08:00Stay Tuned!We leave in a week! Sometimes when those words come out of my mouth I think I must be making the whole thing up! This will be the place I update our trip so we'd love for you to follow our blog and see this journey unfold. (If we have good internet connections, I hope to blog a little each day.) The reality set in today that we will have 6 people in this house for only a few more days - soon it will be 7! I asked a friend today to pray that I would have the energy to "do" this week well with all that will need to be done. I don't want to turn into a demanding, stressed-out troll! I am enjoying all this right now so I pray the stress doesn't get to me. I dream about this trip and what it will be like. I imagine Zachary here in our home. I think about the people who are holding us up in prayer and I am so grateful. As I dream, I also know the reality is that it will be hard for all of us. Please pray that even when it hurts, our eyes will be set on Jesus. <br /><br />Stay tuned for more in about a week!!!!Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-64864235214325575742012-01-17T11:38:00.000-08:002012-01-17T11:43:57.462-08:00February 14!I just got the call we have been waiting for from our agency!! We have an appointment to pick Zachary up at his orphanage on February 14! Today has been a rollarcoaster of emotion for me (it didn't start out so great) and then God provided a sweet friend to brighten my day (thanks Cherish) and now this wonderful news. Adoption is quite a journey, but one I am very thankful for. So happy to share this news with you!!Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58966383707442367.post-37590542239157516312012-01-02T12:17:00.000-08:002012-01-02T12:29:36.908-08:00Uh-Oh (aka pacifier)If you know our kids, you know that ALL of them have had serious addictions to their pacifiers (which we affectionately call "uh-oh's"). Justin was the first to notice that in many of the pictures we have gotten of Zac, he has an "uh-oh" nearby - usually tied around his neck with a dish cloth. This was yet another assurance that he is truly a Vandewater baby! =) Here is a picture we just received today of our little guy and I was so happy to see he still has his uh-oh. I think it will be comforting to him when his whole world changes in the next weeks.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5ApW1VVjP-dmsUadptqYpNmrYUc71xK8mDkEdEohhuNVV6XXUgMi90qheA7osci0S6PH2tEIg3IL40Vm3L0LgWtWtnZfxjK-B7-HVeWsaTUQOepfgYSa6h-gk0ZyyLz9CuDnceOllV0/s1600/zacdec3.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693131752617336482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5ApW1VVjP-dmsUadptqYpNmrYUc71xK8mDkEdEohhuNVV6XXUgMi90qheA7osci0S6PH2tEIg3IL40Vm3L0LgWtWtnZfxjK-B7-HVeWsaTUQOepfgYSa6h-gk0ZyyLz9CuDnceOllV0/s320/zacdec3.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>We are still waiting for our "Final Decree" phone call and after we get it, we will be traveling within 1-2 weeks! We still are hoping for this month, but I was reminded that Taiwan will basically shut down for the Lunar New Year, which begins on Jan 23 and lasts for 2 weeks, so we may be waiting a little longer. Patience!! You can be sure I will post as soon as we find out when we travel.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We couldn't be more thankful for the overwhelming support we have gotten from friends and family. Christmas was an especially sweet time as many family members remembered Zac and gave us gifts for him. We are so blessed to have you in our lives!!</div>Vandewater Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04335912683944014663noreply@blogger.com0