Life in a List

So our first few days in the states have been a blur... and lots of fun. So far we've:

• Eaten snowcones. I had margarita sunrise and Jacob had pina colada. Yum. Thinking about them makes me want another one. What's your favorite flavor of summertime bliss?
• Played an endless assortment of games with a certain 5-year-old who was exceptionally thrilled to find her big brother/someone-new-to-boss-around had arrived.
• (Seriously, when we walked through security. She came running, screaming "Gay-Gub! Gay-Gub!" and threw herself into his arms. She's not a bit dramatic. Not a bit.)
• Went to a big American grocery store. We're seriously blessed, people. Seriously. Blessed. I'm not sure there's many other places in the world where you can buy any fruit you want at any time of the year. It's certainly something I'm not taking for granted anymore.
• Spent time with two of our four living grandparents, met a new baby in the family, seen aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. It's been a busy few days of reunions. And we have lots more in the next couple of weeks.
  
  
  
• Speaking of reunions... our Dallas get-together is officially set in stone. I'm truly sorry for all the back and forth and changes of plans, but they won't change now. We already have quite a few people coming. We're super-excited about the get-together because we'll be meeting up with lots of old friends, and some new ones too! Leah Hope (a grad of our foster home) and Sammy (a little guy we first met a couple of years ago in his orphanage) are both coming with their families! We can't wait to see them! And, if coming to see us isn't incentive enough, you can certainly come to see these two! So, check out the details, and let us know if you want to come!
• Back at the foster home, Wednesday (Tues. night here in the states) is going to be a very big day. Addison is going to have her second heart surgery. Her heart defect is very complicated, and they expect her to be under anesthesia for the whole day. The surgery is very, very dangerous, and we're all on pins-and-needles a bit as we wait for it. Please lift up our staff in China and Addison as she goes into surgery. We love this little gal so much, and though we know she desperately needs surgery (and we're thankful she's finally strong enough for it!), we're still scared...
• Ok, well, I need to sign off... Because it's time for another Texas Summertime Tradition that we haven't yet indulged in. BBQ!