Derby Time

At time of this post there are 25 day 20 hours and 13 minutes until the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby! I'll be watching from home again, but still holding out hope to one day attend this gala event. If I had my choice of any sporting event to attend, this would be it. But I want to sit with the owners PLEASE, I want to attend the parties and be a part of it all, which is really unlike me.

1969

Maybe one day, I'll have a nice Derby Party and all the ladies will be required to dress accordingly. Here are two hats I've picked out!

First Flowertown Festival

Saturday, Grace went to her first Flowertowne Festival in Summerville. This is a tradition that Bonny and I do every year. I missed last year since we were in China. We were there ALL day. By the time they added rides our little ones were too big, so this year we hit the ride section. Grace really liked it, so she should enjoy the fair in the fall.

Here is Bonny, Grace, Christy and CJ waiting in line for the slide.

Up the long stairs to the top
I couldnt get any really good pictures of this
Grace liked the slide, I wasnt sure if she would since at home, we have to coax her down. Aunt Bonny loves the slide.

Mrs. Craven, Bonnys mom with the kids.

On the train

In the car

We all took turns pulling this wagon, ALL day! Whew, that was work.

Stacey Nicole and Grace


Bonnys brother, Dennis won the barbecue contest this year. My dear sweet bon could be heard above all else with the squels. Bless her heart !!!!!!!! I do love my Craven family.

Now its a shame we cant all ride this way!

Prom Night for Berkeley High : I roll like that!

Those were the words out my baby boys mouth when I told him to take his glasses and hat off. Can you see the vest? Can you really see it?
Yes, its Camo! He was determined to find a tux with a camo vest! I tried to talk him out of it, no such luck.

This is Becky, she is so sweet, they dated their Freshman year and have been friends ever since. So it was really nice and fitting that they went to the prom together.

Try explaining to a four year old why she cant go to the party! And she wanted to know where her flowers were! Here is her PaulPaul giving another girl flowers, she was happy about that. (OOPS that was suppose to say she was NOT happy)

One Year Already!

This was the first glimpse of our baby girl, Lu Xin Ming! Dec 07

I prayed for a little girl, and God blessed me beyond my dreams.

A bundle of nerves long before we reached this spot.

GOTCHA

03/31/2008

With the Orphanage Director

Our little Grace was so brave. She never shed a tear that afternoon. I am so thankful for her foster mother. She prepared Grace so well. Our little lady, she stole our heart, more than her Baba was prepared for.

That first car ride, her Baba got the very first smile out of her! He would get alot of first.

Hong Kong

Arrived Safely in Charleston, as a US Citizen

Our first trip out! We had to go to Walmart and down to Granny's & Granddaddy's

May 2008
Tea with Daddy! Who would have thought this man would be having tea.
Sleeping with Big Brother, Brandon

Loving her brother, Paul Paul

Sept 2008

Nov 2008


Dec 2008

Feb 2008

March 2008

One Year "Gotcha" Day Anniversary.

We had "China Chicken" as Grace calls it. And I made her a choc cake.

Paul Ray and I want to thank everyone who followed along on our journey, our family and friends who stood by us. You made this journey so much easier.

I had given up on having a little girl years ago. Little did I know that God did in fact have other plans for our family. This very special beautiful little girl who has blessed our lives a million times over. People say how lucky she is, I'm hear to say, not nearly as lucky as we are for getting her. It took a loss in our family for my husband to know this was our path in life. I've always said Grace reminds me of Devan, and she does.

I've had this child with me for the most part of this year. We've been apart one night, and could probably count on less than 2 hands the number of times we've not been together. She still at times sleeps with us when she needs to, and I think because of this she has bonded really well. I've been blessed to have a great boss who has allowed me to bring Grace to work with me. She will continue to stay with me until school gets out, and then she'll stay with Ashlee Gail. I cant believe she'll start school in August. How can it be time already, she's only been home a year. Can someone please slow down time. It seems like yesterday my boys started school and we all know how big they are. I miss going to the football games to watch Brandon play in the band, and he'll be getting married next year. My baby boy Paul will be graduating high school this year. I just want time to slow down a little.

And another thing, is it age or me? But I find I cry at the drop of a pin, how will I ever get through raising a daughter without being a blubbering fool.

Here you go Lynds. She didnt think I would put this on the blog, and I wasnt going to. The icing didnt want to come out right at first.

Has it been that long already?

It seems to be an emotional day today. I didn't really expect it to be. One year ago today, I was running around with a million things to do. My very best friend in life, Bonny, was at the market downtown getting me candy to add to the gift bags. Later that night she would come help me pack, and then unpack because I had too much stuff.


I cant believe the time has flown by. Can you believe its been that long already?????

Just a sneak preview

Grace got her dance outfit today at dance class. She had to come home and show her daddy.

Would you just look at that smile!