Getting Jonathan

Jon Likes to Eat Drumsticks Upside-Down!

2009-06-06T15:40:00.001-07:00

Jon is doing amazing. He is saying more words like the sounds of animals and he can also point to his nose. Jon is eating well. He is still doing amazing at nap and bedtime. We are so blessed. Jon does not have tantrums anymore. He is a such a joy to be around.

Potty-training update on Nate. We thought we were getting a bike today, but Nate had another accident. Nate was disappointed, but doesn't seem too affected. Nate and Jon are getting along great. They both love each other and Jon wants to do whatever Nate wants to do.

Dottie is a blessing to have. She is such a helper.

Eddie made his hockey team - the Green Bay Gamblers. He is great with Jon and loves to make him laugh.

Marie94

Here is the verse of the day. Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Jon Is Doing Great!

2009-05-29T10:30:00.000-07:00

Jon is sweet and adorable. He is getting along with everybody and laughs and giggle alot. He really likes Mrs. Mary our babysitter too. At nap and bedtime he does not cry when put to sleep which is a huge blessing. He is does not know many English words words, but does know mama, dada, and bye-bye. But Jon understands alot of what we say. Jon also understands when we say "kiss", he will smile and lean his head down so we can kiss his forehead. So cute! Also, when my mom says go get your shoes on, he knows to run to the door. He will also say "ba" sometimes, which means hug in Chinese, which is also so cute! He laughs when my mom says it, though, because she says it different than him. He is wonderful to be around and is such a blessing. God is so great!
About everyone else. Dottie is an amazing big sister - not even a little jealousy. She loves Jon and is always sweet to him. She just got a new bike last night and screamed 'whoo hoo' about five times on our bike ride - very cute. She also just finished her last day of school yesterday. She was in the school play and was very cute as always.
Eddie has hockey tryouts this weekend. He is looking forward to that being over. He and Jon are buddies. Eddie is a great playmate with the little kids.
Nate is adjusting to not being the baby - not always easy when you have been everyones center of attention for 18 months. He is doing ok though. He is hoping to get a new blue bike - contingent on his potty training. At this point we don't feel like the cost of the bike needs to be put in the budget - a hint that things could be going better with the potty training.
And me - I am just finishing my school year. I am looking forward to a fun summer.

Here is the verse of the day. Romans 2:1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

I will keep you posted on what is going on here.
Have a great weekend,
Marie94

Pictures From Home and Family Picture

2009-05-23T09:56:00.000-07:00

Making Progress Each Day

2009-05-20T15:28:00.000-07:00

Jon is getting better. He has about 1-2 tantrums per day compared to about 7. When he does have tantrums they are less than five minutes compared to a half hour! He is much more enjoyable to be around. His personality is starting to come out more and he is very funny and cute. Jon also learned to eat with a fork. That may not seem like a big step, but it is because we used to have to feed him and now he wants to do it.

My mom said something that I totally agree with. She said that with Jon learning how to use a fork and shortened tantrums, it makes us thankful in the little things. This keeps us close to God, in turn, because we keep thanking and praising him for everything. It is very good.

Here is the verse of the day. Psalms 105:1 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what He has done.

We are Home!!!

2009-05-14T09:32:00.000-07:00

Hi,
The flight was ok except Jon was really bad for the first seven hours. The last seven he was good though. The flight seemed to go pretty fast. The whole trip seems like a dream. Everyone was so glad to be back together and I didn't realize how much I actually missed everyone until we met up. I am very tired and only slept about 5 hours last night.
Jon is adjusting well. He likes everybody. He lets me hold him too which he didn't do in China.
Jon was screaming when my mom put him down for nap and he finally stopped.
He is also warming up to the carseat and the highchair. He whines a little when we first put him in, but as soon as he sees the food, everything is good.
Jon still has his tantrums, but they are alot shorter and less frequent.
Here is a scary story that I just remembered. This morning, my mom heard Jon in his bed. She let him be because she figured he was ok. But then around 5:15 a.m. we heard a "BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!". I didn't know what it was because I was still iny bed. So, my mom told my dad to go check it out and my dad saw Jon laying at the bottom of the steps. Jon climbed out of his bed and tried to come down the stairs (hard wooden stairs). We don't even let Nate walk down the steps by himself. It was was a miracle that Jon was alright and didn't even cry. In China Jon never even stood up in his crib so we never worried about him climbing out. I told my mom later that morning that I was amazed we didn't have to bring him to the hospital. :O So, that was enough adventure for one day.
My mom and I are so glad to be home and to be in our normal routine. I am actually excited to get back to school, church, and the other stuff we do.

Happy to be home,
Marie94

Possibly the Last Post :(

2009-05-10T19:54:00.001-07:00

It is a sad day, but happy as well that this could possibly be the last post ever. Happy because we will be on our way tomorrow! The reason is because the internet service lasts until 3 p.m. today. It may not be the last post, though, because we have to go to Hong Kong in order to fly to Chicago and the internet service may be free. So, I just wanted to say goodbye and thank you for your support and prayers.
The plan tomorrow is we have to take a bus to Hong Kong. The drive is 3.5 hours and we have to carry the luggage on the bus. Should be fun. :) Then we will stay in the airport hotel overnight and go to the airport the next morning. Our flight leaves at 12:45 p.m. and is 14 hours. So, we will land in Chicago at about 2 p.m. the same day. The flight to China did not seem long, so we are praying that this flight won't and that Jon will be good.
It will be sad because we will have to part from the families, but we hope to visit them later in life.
Here is the verse of the day. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed,
because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
I apologize, but I don't have any pictures because it still early.

Have a great day,
Marie94

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-09T21:26:00.001-07:00

Today, we went to a temple and the artwork was very intricate and precise. There was also an embroidery room, where, sadly, you couldn't take any pictures, but it was very amazing. As my mom, grandma, and I were walking out of the temple, we saw these mice in a small cage. The man with the mice also had an outlet with what looked like a deodorizer but actually shocked the mice. We watched it and when he would do it, the mice would scatter and run wildly throughout the cage. He said that if you did it enough times, it would eventually kill the mice to get rid of them in your house.
After the temple, we went to the tea shop. There were some really cool tea pots. We also got to try some tea. There, I realized, I am NOT a tea person. All of the ones we tried seemed so bitter and bland. But, we think Jon likes tea. We learned that tea has caffiene! GREAT! Looks like we'll be having an all-nighter tonight!
Today, my mom and I went for a walk while Jon was napping. We went to lunch at the hotel restuarant and it was so good. Partly because we were both so hungry. We also walked past this Chinese restaurant where they sold anything from turtles to rattlesnakes. As I walked by, I got major heebee-jeebees! I have pictures for you.
Today, so far, Jon has only had one meltdown, so we are doing well. He is also getting better at changing time.
Here is the verse of the day. Psalm 97:11-12, Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.

Posing with the statues.

A man literally hand-painting a piece of art.

Intricate and precise work of part of the temple.

Mom putting sunscreen on Jon

Snake is on the menu at this restaurant

Does shark sound good?

The food was placed near the sidewalk, so when you want to go in, you just pick what you want.

The eel looked the least appetizing to me.

Marie94

Funny Things to Share

2009-05-09T04:21:00.000-07:00

I have some hilarious news, but first, we went to a Japanese restaurant. It was the kind where they cook the food in front of you. I had fried rice and ate the whole bowl. It was very yummy. Now about the funny stories. When we were walking out of the restaurant toward the elevators, we saw a guard picking his nose! He was standing up straight and at attention for his job. First, he put one finger in and then switched. We were laughing the whole way up to our room. Our new nickname for him is "Booger Boy". He was a Chinese guard about 40 years old.
Also, my grandma was picking up some baby snacks from the floor, she pulled a muscle. When she walking after that, she looked as if she needed a cane. Very funny. She's ok now.
Here is the verse of the day. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9.
Have a great weekend,
Marie94

We are in Guangzhou!

2009-05-07T19:14:00.000-07:00

Sorry that I didn't post last night, but I had started and then forgot to finish. So, what happened today was that we went to the Physical Examination office so the doctors could make sure that Jon is healthy. He had to get a shot and we think that he has gotten a shot before so he really screamed.
Right now my mom has a meeting in our guide's room and Jon is not having a tantrum since she is gone. But the trick is, you have to distract Jon.
Our group went shopping today. We got Jon a toy today and he likes it alot. He is playing with it right now. It was kind of annoying though, because the clerks didn't understand what we were saying when we wanted to get this one "Dancing Car". So, we just left.
At the store and on the bus to the store, my stomach ached. As we got in the store, I started feeling worse and worse. Eventually, I felt like I was going to faint and my stomach really hurt. I was sweating too. So, we quickly got what we needed and headed to the bus so I wouldn't totally fall over. On the bus, my mom, grandma, and I all realaized that I had low blood sugar. I was given some cookies and apple juice and felt better almost immediately. It was weird, because I have gotten that only one other time. We were all assuming that it was from different foods and possibly lack of water. It was awful.
It is nice to be back with families. Because, in Hefei we were obviously by ourselves so we couldn't relate to any of the families. But, here, we can. For example, one family's baby has tantrums like Jon and they say to leave him be. Another family's baby doesn't want to be held. It is nice to be able to talk to people about our problems.
Here is the verse of the day. He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. Proverbs 10:17

A dog that we saw at the park.
On the bus, to the Physical Examination Office.
Santa pictures that were hung on the wall at the Phys. Examination Office
Getting ready to be checked
Extreme close-up

Another Traffic Story

2009-05-07T02:19:00.000-07:00

So, today we were going for a walk, and as I have told you before, the traffic is very bad. Anyways, we were walking across one of the streets and went right behind a car that wasn't supposed to be going. It stopped because a biker was in front of the car and it almost hit us. But, the car hit the biker and the bike wouldn't start after that. I pulled my mom back who was holding Jon and yelled, "Mom, go, go, go! If I was a cat, I would have about 6 lives left with as many encounters with death as I have had. As the man in the movie last night put, "I wanna meet Jesus, but I don't want to meet Him tonight!" So, that was our adventure for the day. Hope you enjoyed the story.

Marie94

Visit to the Museum and Orphanage

2009-05-06T20:25:00.001-07:00

At 9:00 this morning, we went to the outside of Jon's orphanage and we got the director of the orphanage to take pictures of the inside for us. They are good pictures. We also went to a museum about Chinese artifacts and houses. That was good as well.
Jon still loves mom to hold him and he whines at the littlest things when he doesn't get something he wants and it starts to get annoying. But, we can't give into everything because that will make him spoiled.
Here is a joke our guide told us. There were newlyweds and they were getting in an arguement. The wife was very stubborn, so the husband saw a group of donkeys and asked her, "Are those your relatives?". And she said, " Yes, by marriage." I thought that was very funny.
Here are the verses of the day. 1 Corinthians 13. Here is a piece of it: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
I also want to thank you guys for all your comments of support and encouragement. You are awesome! I am glad everybody likes the blog so much.
Tomorrow is the day that we go to our last city, Guangzhou. Our flight is at 2:00 p.m. Please pray for us that the whole thing goes smoothly.

Thank you,
Marie94

The park that the kids in Jon's orphanage used to play at.

The door to where Jon stayed.

The different rooms of the orphanage

Jon's friend

One of Jon's nannies and the room that he slept in.

Jon showing off his cute little teeth.

More News

2009-05-06T03:46:00.000-07:00

Today, we went for a walk and there are no stop signs or lane lines, and it is so chaotic. So, we had to cross one of these roads. It was windy and Jon's hat flew off his head into the middle of road. My mom yelled,"His hat, his hat!". I instinctively ran into the middle of road not looking at the cars and I have to say it was a miracle no cars were coming either way! I felt very blessed and somewhat frightened,"
Jon also took his first tub and he was sobbing the whole time. But, it was much better than Dottie, because she was practically screaming bloody murder and my family was crying too.
Also, my mom wanted me to let you all know that we are not allowed in the orphanage because of the H1N1 (swine flu), but we are allowed at the outside of the gates to take pictures.
Here is the verse of the day. Psalms 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.

Marie94

Jon Improving

2009-05-05T21:07:00.000-07:00

Today was cool, because we went to the memorial of this Qing (pronounced Ching) dynasty man, Lord Bao. There were many interesting things about him. Also, they wear the most intricate and absolutely beautiful clothes. Something a little gross, though, is that they use different swords to behead the people depending on what class they are in. The lion is for those who are royalty, the tiger is for those in government, and the dog is for common people.
As you can see from the title, Jon is getting better in that his cough is improving and he is starting to eat a little more, which is great. Also, he kissed my mom on the cheek and said "bao" (which means hug) and hugged my mom. That is a big step in attachment, because it is very common for adopted children to not be able to attach to their parents so soon. Thank you all so much for continuing to pray for us.
Jon is so cute and very ticklish.
It was funny because when we went to visit the memorial, he would put his arms out to our guide and when she would reach for him, he would pull away. Very cute!!
What we have learned over the past 2 days is that he doesn't like to be in the sun at all, because when we go outside, he starts to cry. It seems obvious now, but since we are used to the sun we never thought of it.
Also, the reason he doesn't like the stroller is because in the orphanage, he was either held or he walked, so he is not used to it and therefore scared.
Here is the verse of the day.
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. - Deuteronomy 7:9

My mom, Jon, our guide, and I taking a picture on what are called the Beauty Seats".
Jon getting tickled.
We have to put sunscreen on Jon, because he is so sensitive to the sunlight, but he doesn't like it much.
The black object in the center of the picture is where Lord Bao was commemerated by putting incense in it.
Jon is all smiles in this picture!

Min tian jian, (See you tomorrow in Chinese!)
Marie94w

Adoption Finalized

2009-05-05T03:41:00.000-07:00

Today was busy. We went to the Civil Affairs and the adoption paperwork is DONE and the adoption is finalized! Jon has been great except for the fact that he HATES his stroller and doesn't like to get undressed. He was also very restless at dinner. So please pray for us that all these things will come together.
Also, sorry that my post yesterday was so lame; I was just very tired and could barely keep my eyes open.
Here is the verse of the day. Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. (NIV)

Having fun with lou lou (grandma)
Ever heard the joke about the monkey and the mailman? This is how funny it is.
He loves to be thrown up in the air.
Ooh, ooh, I know the answer. It is that my hat is soo cute!

Have a great week,
Marie94

We Finally Have Him!

2009-05-04T03:42:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
Thank you for praying for us. It means alot. We did get Jon at about 3:00 p.m. Hefei time and we feel so blessed to have God's protection. He has not cried once and is so happy. He is eating cookies right now and stacking cups! Jon is so adorable it is almost unbearable. His white hair is just so cute too!

Today we went to this amazing restaurant on the 29th (top) floor and it revolved at about 1 mph, but made my mom and grandma sick. The food was a nice change and very good. We also saw a window washer on the outside of the window and that made ME sick, because he was so high up.
Also, just a couple of minutes ago, we went for a short walk and found out we were actually walking in the bike lane. The people were looking at us like we were crazy.
A funny story about Jon is that we went on the elevator (which he loved) he would sing and do a hop. It was very cute! :)

I took many pictures today and will show you what we have been doing with Jon.

Here is the verse of the day.
Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4

The first time we saw Jon walking down the hall with the nannies from the orphanage.
Jon being cute.
Again at the Civil Affairs office

Getting Ready to Leave for Jon's City

2009-05-03T04:27:00.000-07:00

So, right now we are packing to get Jon. We are very excited and somewhat anxious.
Today was not as busy as yesterday, but was still exciting. We went to church, the Jade Factory, and the Great Wall. I have some great pictures and funny stories to tell.
At the church, when you entered the door, instead of getting greeted with a handshake, you got a squirt of hand sanitizer! It was interesting. Also, at the Great Wall, we met a monk from Cambodia, he was probably under five feet tall and funny. When my mom asked him if he was a monk he replied, "I am the monk." We also saw a Chinese person who knew English going to work in Wisconsin.
The church service was about how in the eyes of God, we were worth so much, that he sent his Son to die for us.
Here is the verse of the day. Romans 10:13, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

My mom, grandma, and I standing near the first tower on the Great Wall.
My grandma and I standing with the Cambodian monk.

Marie94

We Made It!

2009-05-02T01:33:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
Sorry that I have not posted yet, but we have been having some technical difficulties. Our first full day in Beijing was very busy. We went to the Tianamen Square, the Silk factory, the Pearl Store, the Summer Palace, and an amazing acrobatics show. Right now, it is 4:30 a.m. Even though I am exhausted, it is hard to sleep because I am still getting used to the time change.

Here is the verse of the day.
Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

The the famous Bird's Nest used in the 2008 Winter Olympics
The throne that the emperor in the Ming dynasty used to interview people.
My mom taking a picture with an adorable Chinese baby.
My mom, grandma, and I taking a picture in the Forbidden City.

Have a great weekend,
Marie94

P.S. Tomorrow is the big day! Please keep us in your prayers.

Amazing Story!

2009-04-28T16:22:00.001-07:00

Here is something awesome to tell you. My mom's friend has a friend who adopted from Hefei City, where Jon is from and they took a picture of Jon. They took the picture because the little girl they were adopting was friends with Jon. As you can see from the picture if you look closely, he looks confused and sad because she is leaving. The picture was taken April 15 - just 13 days ago! So, I have the picture below. I hope you enjoy it.

Marie94

Getting ready to go!

2009-04-21T14:30:00.001-07:00

I am excited because we are going in exactly 8 days. I am nervous, excited, and relieved. I haven't exactly started packing my clothes yet, but I have time. My parents are leaving for Mexico tomorrow at 4 a.m. and won't get back till Saturday. Then, we will have three days (Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday) before we go on Wednesday. So, it will be a little busy before going to China, but we are all happy to be going. I will keep you updated, because this may be the last time I am on the blog before we are in China. Keep us in your prayers!

Now, here is a great Bible verse.
Psalms 103:12, "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us."

I was also just telling my mom that I decided to read Romans. If you don't have a devo, that is an AMAZING book to read. I am only on chapter 3 and I LOOOOOOOVE it so far. It is a loaded book with lots of information.

Here is a quiz for you to take if you want.

1. When you are bored, what do you like to do?
2. If you could have any animal (cheetah, monkey, etc.) from the wild as a pet, what would it be?
3. What are you doing right now? (besides looking at this blog!)
4. What's your favorite TV Show? Why?

Now here is an awesome pic of a carved watermelon. I was amazed and you will be too!

New pic of Jon!

2009-04-10T13:53:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone,
Sadly we are not in China yet. But, we could go April 30th. We also found a new pic (just taken yesterday!) of Jon on a website about his orphanage. He is very cute. Here he is.

Marie94

Praying for April 9th

2009-03-27T05:42:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
I apologize for not posting in so long. I have tried, but I can never seem to finish one, because I have been busy. Anyways, as you can tell by the title, we are hoping to leave for China on April 9th. But, we would have to go to Beijing first and then Jon's home city (Hefei City). We would also miss his birthday by two days and our goal all along has been to have him by that time (April 11th).
In a previous post, I said that I was going to visit my possible high school. It was beetween two high schools. We have finally decided where I am going to go, which is a huge weight off my shoulders. We just mailed in the application yesterday.

Here are some facts about random stuff. Did you know...?
-In 1992, chewing gum was bannned in Singapore, because people would stick it on the sensors of trains so that the doors could not open properly. A few people were so desperate for gum that they managed to smuggle it in from Malaysia! (Desperate times call for desperate measures, I suppose!)
-Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
-Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying.
-The full name for Los Angeles is, "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncul.
-An Albatross can sleep while it is flying.

The word of the day is lubberwort meaning junk food.

The verse of the day is 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. Mathew 4:10.

Marie94

We are very excited!

2009-03-06T07:30:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
The clouds seem to have cleared away now that we got our LOA, but we are hoping to travel in three weeks so that we can get Jon-Jon home before his birthday so that my whole family can celebrate it. That would be very optimistic.

Anyway, here is the Bible verse of the day. It is After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward. Genesis 15:1

Now are some cool facts that you may or may not have known. (Probably not.)
-The average person spends about 2 years on the phone in a lifetime.
-No president of the United States was an only child.
-At least 9 million other people in the world have your birthday!
-In chess, there are 169,518,829,100,544,000,000,000,000,000 ways to play the first ten moves. (WOW!)

The word of the day is... agroof which means to fall flat on your face!

For the first time ever I am going to show you pictures of my family.

We got the call today!

2009-03-05T09:56:00.000-08:00

Woohooooo! Our LOA has arrived in America and we got the call this morning. I think it has been 119 days (1 less than when we waited for Nate!).

Here is who we're getting if you've forgotten...

What a cutie!

Love,
Marie94

Busy Day Today

2009-03-02T15:07:00.000-08:00

As you can see from the title, today was a very busy day. Simply put, I am drained. Have you felt that way? Anyways, I am going to do all the usual stuff. The weird word of the day is HOITY-TOITY meaning giddy behavior.

Some unusual facts you may not have known below. Did you know...?
-The chicken is the closest relative to the T Rex.
-Horseradish ice cream is sold in Tokyo, Japan.
-A chicken once laid an egg with nine yolks!
-Right handed people live an average of 9 years longer than lefties.

Today's Bible verse is an encouraging. Personally, I really love this verse. It is Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. - Deuteronomy 31:6

Below are some great pictures that you will like.

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Marie94

Same Old Same Old

2009-02-27T07:30:00.000-08:00

Hello world,
I thought that I would do the usual but also give you a survey to complete. So here is the verse. I just went on google to find my verse and I really like this one. Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.
FUN AND RANDOM FACTS:
Did you know...?
-Right now, this very second, 70% of the people driving on U.S. highways are speeding.
-America once issued a 5-cent bill!
-Floccinaucinihilipilification, the declaration of an item being useless, is the longest non-medical term in the English language.
-The world’s longest-named lake has 45 letters (Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg).
Also, Happy National Strawberry Day!

Favorite Color Survey

1. What is your favorite color or colors?

2. Why?

3. What about your least favorite(s)?

4. Why?

5. What do they make you think of?

Here are some cool pictures below. They are optical illusions.

Mmmmm... That's some mouthwatering goodness right there!

Nothing New... Again

2009-02-26T10:35:00.000-08:00

Hi there,
I apologize if this blog is getting boring, but I don't really have anything to talk about! So today, I am just going to do the usual stuff. There is one thing. I am just about to leave to tour a high school possibility.
Here is the verse: Ephesians 2:6 And He hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
The random facts are coming now.
Did you know...?
-Your nails grow faster in outer space!
-The word racecar and kayak are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left.
-The Ten Commandments contain 297 words.
-It's possible to lead a cow upstairs...but not downstairs.
Here are some pictures. I think you will like the bunny one.
Also to let you know, it is National Pistachio Day and Blue Jean Day.

Marie94

2009-02-25T11:36:00.001-08:00

Hi everybody,
I don't really have any new updates, so I am just going to show some pictures, random facts, the verse, and etc.
Here are the random facts. Did you know...?
-Ants never sleep.
-The earth is approx. 6,588,000,000,000,000,000 tons. WOW. (Does anyone even know what that number is?)
-Since 1896, the beginning of the modern Olympics, only Greece and Australia have participated in every Games.
-Mosquitoes have 47 teeth.
Here is the Bible verse of the day: Prov. 18:10, The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
There are also some cute cat pictures below.

Marie94

Updates on Life

2009-02-24T16:56:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
It seems like forever since I posted something, but it's only been two days. I just wanted to let you know that on Thursday, I am going to visit the highschool that I might go to next year.
Here is the Bible verse of the day: Hebrews 13:22 And I request of you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: (exhortation means something that someone urges you to do) for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
Here are some random facts that you might find interesting.
Did you know...?
-In the average lifetime, a person will walk the equivalent of 5 times around the equator.
-Odontophobia is the fear of teeth.
-Children grow faster in the springtime.
-The roar that we hear when we place a seashell next to our ear is not the ocean, but rather the sound of blood surging through the veins in the ear. Any cup-shaped object placed over the ear produces the same effect.
Also, it is National Tortilla Chip Day and National Obnoxious Day.
Feel free to leave comments about what you think and if you think I should add or take out anything in my blog. Also, if you have any questions about my blog, feel free to ask. Thanks and have a good week.

Marie94

Yum! Now all we need is some salsa!

Day 110

2009-02-22T06:02:00.000-08:00

Today is Sunday (the Sabbath Day) and I am happy to be able to rest a day, because yesterday we were gone all day in Madison. We didn't get home till 12:30 a.m.! So, to say the least I am tired.
We have been waiting, if I'm right, 110 days. I hope that everyone is doing well and enjoying the weekend.
Today's verse: Hebrews 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
By the way, Happy National Cook a Sweet Potato Day, Be Humble Day. Also, Happy Birthday George Washington.

Marie94

Day 108 of Waiting

2009-02-20T13:52:00.000-08:00

Happy National Cherry Pie Day and Toothpick Day! (Those are real holidays!)
I hope that everyone is doing well. I do feel a lot better knowing that our paperwork is ok and done. Today is day 108 of waiting. I told my mom that it will probably be day 120 when we get the call to go, just like it was for our last adoption.
I think that I am going to start posting a Bible verse on each post. Here is the verse for today. 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
There is also a really cute cat picture below. I hope your heart will melt just like mine did!
It is also Brian Littrell's birthday today! (He is a Christian singer.)

Enjoy the weekend,
Marie94

Good and Bad News

2009-02-19T18:48:00.001-08:00

Hi!
I just wanted to let everyone know that our adoption agency (AWAA) called and said that our paperwork is fine and everything is done. So, they just have to send it back to the US. But, the bad thing is that it could take up to two more weeks! Plus, after we get approved to go, we have to wait about 6 more weeks, because recently several extra steps were added that need to be completed before we can actually go to China. So, we will probably go in April instead of March.
Also, today is the 50th day of 2009. Cool, huh? And the Butter Festival in China begins today! In the US, it is National Chocolate Mint Day.

Have a great week,
Marie94

New Facts and An Uplifting Verse

2009-02-18T09:19:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
Today, I just wanted to let you know, is day 106 of waiting for Jon. I hope you enjoyed the President facts, because I thought some were really interesting.
I also have a verse that I want to share with you: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. II Timothy 4:7. I just think that that's an amazing verse because after staying in faith with God and facing daily struggles, we will feel so happy, when we are standing before God. I can't wait for that and when He will say that we were his faithful servants!
I also wanted to give you some more random facts. I hope you enjoy them. Did you know...?

In ancient Egypt, people had pillows made of stone. OUCH.
It took Leonardo da Vinci 12 yrs. to paint Mona Lisa's LIPS!
More redheads are born each year in Scotland than in any other place in the world.

Happy President's Day!

2009-02-16T08:42:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!
I know it's only been one day, but we have not gotten approval to go yet. My mom and I thought today would be the day, and we're hoping so much that it is.
I also wanted to say Happy President's Day!
Here are some random president facts:

Did you know...?

When he was inaugurated, George Washington was down to his last real tooth.

James Madison was 5'4" tall, and weighed 98 pounds.

John Quincy Adams had a pet alligator, and had a pool table installed at the White House.

William Henry Harrison's inaugural address was two hours long, despite the fact that it took place in a freezing downpour. He refused to shorten his speech or even put on a coat. He quickly developed a cold, which then became pneumonia, and was dead within a month. His is still the longest inauguration and shortest presidency.

Andrew Johnson was illiterate until his wife taught him how to read in his young 20s.

Ulysses S. Grant's real name was Hiram Ulysses Grant making his initials H.U.G.

James Garfield could simultaneously write in Latin with one hand and Greek with the other.

Electricity was installed in the White House when Benjamin Harrison became president. He and his wife were horrified at the prospect of being electrocuted, so they never touched the light switches. The lights remained on at the White House during the entire Harrison presidency.

Enjoy,
Marie94

Pictures of Jon

2009-02-15T19:48:00.000-08:00

These are the other pictures of Jon. He is now 22 months old.

2009-02-15T18:57:00.000-08:00

Hi there!

My mom, grandma, and I are going to get my baby brother, Jonathan, hopefully in a couple of weeks. We have not gotten approval from the Chinese government to go yet, but we are very excited! We have been waiting 104 days.

I will keep you posted on what is happening.

Marie94