Monday was Chinese New Year, welcome to the year of the Ox. We made our annual pilgrimage to St. Louis last weekend. It was entirely too much fun. 7 of the 10 couples that traveled together to China were able to make it this year. Since our last gathering the families have grown some. The most notable addition was one of the couples added their fourth child and their second child from China. This new addition was a bundle of 'ham' named Max. Max is 6 I think, or maybe 5 I don't remember, but he arrived just a few short months ago and is all boy. I will let the pictures tell the rest of the tale about Max.
Total damage for the weekend was two broken toes and one broken arm. One mom and one dad suffered unfamiliar furniture injuries of the toe, and one of the 7 'sisters' broke her arm.
The girls ran and played the entire weekend with little or no rest or hesitation. The coolest thing to witness was that the girls went at each other like they lived in the same house all there lives. The hundreds of miles of separation and in some cases the years of not seeing one another meant absolutely nothing to them. The have been asking about each other all the time and once plopped down in the same room with each other they reacted not as long lost friends, but like sisters who they play with all the time. As each new arrival made their entrance and were greeted with hugs and the like, one of the girls would come and fetch the new arrival. This was usually Gracie, our little Walmart greeter, who would run up, grab a hand and proclaim, "comm'on sis, come play with us, this way, this way"
Tired and smiling eyes
7 of 10 from Hunan falling down
5 of 10 from Hunan posing
Yes he is
G squared
Dressed for dinner at Hunan Empress
Cheese !!!!!
what is that pose ??
Hot moms
cool dads
all the kids
(35 people total in the condo)
'Red couch' 2009, 7 of 10 from Hunan
for comparison, 6 of 10 from Hunan 2007
The original 'Red Couch' picture
The three of us and our coordinator Sabrina just after the 'Red Couch' picture
By the time we left for home poor Gracie was exhausted, not tired enough to sleep much on the way home, but she did sleep a little extra the next few days. The bond that exists between these families, between these girls, is not something that can be explained. It is not logical, it is not normal even for people who went through what we went through together. All I can say for sure is that God is in this, has been in this, and will remain in this with us now and always. My gut, or my spirit if you will, tell me His plan is at work here. He has big plans for part or all of this extended family group. I can't wait to see what happens.
(you should be able to click on the pictures to make them full size. I only mention this for the computer handicapped like my sister in law. Love ya sis, but if you cant figure out how to comment, you need help)
2 comments:
I like the pictures from the original red couch to this year's. Really cool to see how the girls are growing and fun memories.
I love those red couch pictures. One day if you think of it, it would be really cool for you to post a pic of Gracie from "Gotcha Day" and then at 2 and 3 and 4 and so on until now. It's been amazing to read about her growth from when she was as shy little baby to a mini-Walmart greeter. :)
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