Camping in Sedona

We've tried to pack in some fun stuff with the girls before we leave for China very soon. We took them camping last week. Our favorite place, Sedona. Our poor camper that is 30 years old is having a hard time keeping up with us and the lining falls apart on the pop up a bit more each time we set it up. It has patches saftey pinned all over it. Pretty classy digs.

Camp Site

rabbits were all over our tent site

 We tried a few new trails and found some new wonders. Arizona never ceases to amaze me in it's beauty. Against our better judgement we thought we'd try a trail that led to The Devil's Kitchen. We had said we'd never hike another trail with the word Devil in it, because it usually turns out to be just that, a trail leading to hell. This trail promised that the Devil's Kitchen, a huge sink hole, was right at the beginning of the trail and if you only walked a little farther, you'd come upon The Seven Sacred Pools. The pools are hollows in the red rock that even in dry seasons have water in them. The trail delivered. Nice great big sink hole and seven skanky pools- oh, er sacred pools. The water was pretty stagnant so we decided not to dip in the sacred pools.

Devils Kitchen

The Seven Sacred Pools

Pools from another angle

Love the colors on the tree

Another angle of the Devil's Kitchen. Hard to get a picture of how big it is.

This rock formation is called Katchina Lady

We tried a few vortex trails, didn't feel anything but Brent would like his crankiness on the trip back to the vortex trail so perhaps we felt something...

Trying out a vortex

Brent at a Vortex

Brent and the kids are on this rock that's supposed to be a vortex. You just can't see them.

My favorite was walking a trail to get a fantastic view of Cathedral Rock. Spectacular!

Trees

Cathedral Rock

Karianne with Cathedral Rock

The valley in front of Cathedral Rock was covered with these cairns

Splash Bash

Last night was a water night at church. There were inflatable slides,  wading pools and slip and slides. The big hit of the night was the Foam Machine. See pictures and tell me you wouldn't love to try it! 

We're coming Jack!!

We received Travel Approval. We will be leaving for China on July 11th to bring home Jack. We will finally see his sweet face and hold him on Sunday July 15th. We are over the moon excited. Will be posting on our blog, stay tuned.

Happy Birthday Jack!

Another one of my sons had a birthday today. I also didn't get to spend it with him, but I'll see him soon! Jack turns 3 today. I had a gift for him but it didn't make it to China in time, so we made a video of his family giving it  our best shot at "Happy Birthday Little Brother" in Chinese! 

 Since China is a day ahead of us, I already got pictures back of his birthday and of him watching his video. So now we kind of get to celebrate with him.

I don't understand the eggs and watermelon, will have to ask about that later. :-)

Happy boy! 

Watching the video of us. 

Eat Cake!

Party festivities

 Very soon little guy! You'll be with us. We can't wait. Our Article 5 is being picked up at the US embassy in China tomorrow and will be delivered to the Chinese Center of Adoption the same day. Then we just wait for an invitation to come get him. Currently it's taking about 2 weeks to get that "Travel Approval" or TA. I'm praying for just a bit sooner. Momma can't wait much longer!

I remember

9 years ago today
I remember going in to premature labor and going to the hospital. I was excited when the doctor said, "we're going to have this baby early." They wheeled me in to the the delivery room and put me under because they had to get this baby out now. When I woke up, I saw Brent, he was crying and tried to tell me something. They put my dead son in my arms. I was struggling to shake off the anesthesia and comprehend what was going on. I cradled him and held him close. I didn't get to hold him long, they took him from me and wheeled me to an elevator and then to a room. I slept and woke up and asked for my son again. They brought him to me, but everyone acted uncomfortable, so I didn't hold him long and gave him back.
 I remember the unthinkable. A funeral for a child. Everyone that came was there for me and my husband, no one knew my son. No one got a chance to meet him. There's nothing to say at a funeral about a child who is stillborn. No memories. People just said they loved us. The anguish.
  I will always remember. We love you Jason.

We have several anniversaries that we live through every year with the loss of 5 children. Some days don't hit me very hard. Some do. Today I couldn't stop crying and was one of those anniversaries. Sometimes even a house full of 4 kids feels empty. I have 5 other kids in Heaven, all mixed in in birth order with my 4 children here. They're missing from my life and I miss them so much.

I remember.