Day Out with Thomas

Michael loves Thomas the Train and all of his friends. Today, we were able to take him to Baltimore for a Day Out with Thomas. We rode the coach cars behind Thomas, met Sir Toppham Hat, and played and played. Afterwards, we had dinner with some friends who went to China at the same time we did in 2008. Here are some pictures from the day:

Just One of the Guys

I have come to the conclusion that I am meant to be just one of the guys. I have a wonderful husband and a loving 3 year old son who fill my heart with joy everyday. My father in-law (Big Bill), brother in-law (Joe), and 9 year old nephew (Joseph) live next door to me. We spend a lot of time with them. On Saturday, I spent a whole day with my nephew at Busch Gardens riding roller coasters and talking. It was just the two of us and it was a day that we both needed.

There was a time that I thought that I would not be the only girl in my house. However, God had bigger and much better plans. Now, my days are filled with trains, cars, trucks, dragons, dinosaurs, baseball, football, etc. Most of all they are filled with hugs, kisses, and a lot of love.

Yep! I am one of the guys, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

The Hall Guys

Miracles & Easter

Michael is from the province of Shanxi. You may have seen the following on the news, but I wanted to share it with you. Shanxi produces 2/3 of the coal that China uses. We have a soft spot in our heart for the people of China, especially the people of Shanxi. Fortunately, this story has a happy ending for most. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36157561/ns/world_news-asiapacific/

We all had a good Easter. The Easter Bunny left Michael a basket full of toys and some candy (Michael doesn't care for sweets, so it was Baba's favorites that our long eared friend left). Below are two pictures from Sunday. In the one outside, the sun was shining in Michael's eyes, but I still like the pic.

A New Beginning

I have kept a blog for a little over two years now that detailed our adoption of our son Michael and our time home with him. (http://www.michaelmakes3.blogspot.com/) My last post there was on December 31, 2009. I started thinking about it and decided it was time to start a new blog with a new direction. This blog will not only be about Michael and our adoption. It will include more about our daily lives, including our family, our friends, our thoughts, etc. It will be a way for everyone near and far to keep up with us.

When creating this blog, I was faced with giving it a title. I threw a few ideas around and ended up with the title "Roots, Branches, and Wings." The three following quotes sum the title up:

"Our family is like the branches of a tree.We may grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one. Each of us will always be a part of the other."

“Good parents give their children Roots and Wings. Roots to know where home is, Wings to fly away and exercise what's been taught them.”

"Family gives you roots, friends give you wings."

I hope to keep the blog updated more than our last. The posts may be short at times. They may include a picture, a quote, or just random thoughts. Hopefully, you will enjoy this small glimpse into our lives.