Just got a call from my darling Mother scolding me for the length of time that is lapsing between blog posts now that life is C.R.A.Z.Y. Apparently a post everyday is more to her liking!

And since I always listen to my Mom (Hi, Mom!), and do everything she tells me, here are some photos of our sweet new princess to meet my quota for a post today.

The weather is beautiful here!

Yes, technically our sweet new princess is riding on a tractor and playing with a nerf gun….but at least she is wearing pink, right?

Today after Eliza’s nap I sat her down to pull her hair up and she took the bow out of my hand and said “It is so pretty!” IT IS SO PRETTY? I thought we were all going to fall off our chairs! I have spoken this language my whole life, and even though I am still very young (grin), I don’t think I make sentences grammatically correct all the time yet! Grammatically correct all the time yet? See what I mean?

This sweet new princess is a rock star! She continues to amaze us ALL DAY LONG.

We love you so much Eliza Claire!! How did we ever live without you??!!

P.S. I have a post ready for tomorrow that you are going to love!

We are soaking up all that summer will give us before school starts….and having a blast!! Eliza is still amazing us all, and even amazed our caseworker who was here today for our first post placement visit. She said what we ALL say – “She is doing so well, it seems like she has just always been here!” We are all over the moon in love with this little miracle! Thank you, Lord!!

We had a campfire with coffee and dessert after dinner one night. How I missed our favorite summer gathering spot!

It was great fun to watch Eliza take her first “swim!” She LOVED this!!

Kayla took Chad in the big pool after he had a yummy smoothie first!

I also snuck away during Eliza’s nap today to spend some time with the two youngest boys. We went to the library and then to the Co-op for a special snack! They picked a cookie and a root beer (both gluten-free, of course!). Their can’t-seem-to-get-over-jet-lag Mama picked coffee. Heh, heh.

Stick around a little longer summer! We are having fun!!

We are all just in AWE of how well Eliza is doing. I feel like we have put her through SO much….and yet she is adjusting to her new life very quickly. I even had a conversation with our caseworker about coming home from China and how much “new” would be here for her – so many more people, such a big house, the whole farm, so many animals, so much space. Eliza has taken it all in stride. It makes me all the more thankful for all that we went through with her while in China, because we literally flew away and left most of that sad, but very necessary, grieving behind.

Here is a peak into Eliza’s new world!!

Is there anything better than littles after their baths and in their pjs?

Being outside is one of Eliza’s favorite things. Coming back inside is not one of her favorite things!

We are making her world full of sensory type play. She does well touching and experiencing all these new things! They have not overwhelmed her at all.

Helping Kayla fill the lettuce tub was another sensory activity!

She also spends time playing on her own already. It is so sweet to watch!

Eliza is amazing. She mimics EVERYTHING we say, and then remembers it. I opened her shade to her room on Thursday morning and she starts yelling “Puppy! Anaya! Puppy! Swing! Outside!” just as clear as I would say it! But she still says many things in Chinese as well, as Addie Mae is still Jie Jie (pronounced jeh jeh) which means big sister. When Eliza is given something she says “xie, xie” (pronounced syeh, syeh) which means thank you. She also gave me a talking to in Chinese when I picked her up in the grocery store yesterday evening because it was time to go….I can only imagine what she was yelling at me!

Last night was the first night that Eliza slept all night long. Wish I could say the same for me! Jet lag is much worse than I could ever have imagined! Praying that we get completely through it soon, because I have plans to start school next week (might as well be productive while we are cocooning here!), and we have a garden that will need harvested and put up for winter! Eliza also has her first doctor appointments next week, music studies start again for Addie Mae, there are chiropractor appointments made……back to life full speed ahead! Jet lag, you better hit the road!

Life in Eliza’s new world is amazing. Praise be to God!

When Eliza and I arrived in La Crosse Tuesday evening, we had quite the surprise in store for us. As I picked up the stroller outside the airplane an airport worker said to me, “There is quite the welcome for you out there!” And, YES, there was…..

There were over 60 people in that little airport waiting to welcome us home. I am humbled beyond belief. The support we have had is amazing. May God bless each of you for being obedient to prayer, for the endless comments and e-mails, and especially to those of you in our area who made the effort to be at the airport Tuesday night. We love you all so much! ELIZA IS HOME!!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!! ELIZA IS HOME.

“Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth: Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” Isaiah 43: 5-7

**A BIG thanks to sweet Megan for these beautiful photos!!