Houston Zoo- America part 4

I couldn't visit Texas and not take my children to the Houston Zoo. It's one of my favorite memories from when we lived there pre-Thailand days. However, this day was the hottest day on record in 50 years for that particular day!! It was blazing HOT!!!!

Here's the boys on the red train! Wow! It's so much nicer than it used to be.

Look at me mommy! I'm so cute.

Chandler slept through the whole experience. Good thing we'll have pictures. 

My love

The pretty red train

Cayden loves animals!! I mean loves them. Sometimes it's hard to tell. He likes to hold our animals by the neck or puts his whole body on top of them as a sign of affection. The animals are trying to get away for their dear life. When they see him coming, they run, bark, or hide...... hahahaha but he pursues them until he overtakes. They're all so sweet to endure his torturous love. They tolerate him. 

 The zoo is seriously one of his very favorite places to visit.  So when we got to the petting zoo part, he was super excited!!!! We don't have a petting zoo in Thailand. However, Daddy had to give him a good talking to before he went in. We didn't want one of the animals biting him or ramming him with their horns. ; )

I think this animal might like him. Look at that face! 

 Lamb! Come back here!! Lamb! Do you hear me! Come back or I'll....I'll jump on you.

What a perfect picture!!

My monkies 

An American Citizen. What?!? ---America part 3

The evening after the big party Clinton, Cayden and I got hit with a horrific stomach bug! I’m talking horrible!!!! We were all three vomiting every 15min for the next 12 hours. This was the first time since Clinton and I have been parents that both of us were sick at the same time AND had a baby sick too. He was at one toilet, I was at another and then when Cayden had to throw up he'd go and find one of us in a bathroom. 

We’re not talking a little stomach bug people. We’re talking gut wrenching, bone breaking stomach bug!! Clinton’s mother sat at the bottom of the stairs praying and getting Gatorade, ice or whatever we needed all night. Bang, bless his heart had to run up and down the stairs all night, but praise God he didn't' get sick!

On top of all of this we had to be up at 5:30am and drive to Houston, Texas, for Bang to get his certificate of citizenship. 

All both of us kept thinking was “How are we going to make it to Houston?!?” Somehow, by God’s amazing grace, we pulled ourselves out of bed, got dressed, got the babies dressed, got in the car and made our way there. We arrived 2 hours early, but went ahead and turned in our paper work. We were sitting, barely alive, in the waiting area FILLED with people. But to our delight they called us within 5min! God had mercy on us!!!

Bang raised his right hand and swore his allegance to the United States of America. After ten short minutes, everything was finalized and we were walking back to the car. 

The look on his face is hilarious! Look at his eyebrow. "I'm not too sure about this." :)

The long awaited document. It took us 6 years to get this piece of paper.

A few days later, once we were back alive from the dead,  we celebrated at Clinton’s Granny’s house his 18^th birthday and his citizenship! Of course Nonnie did it again! She planned the party, and made two cakes. She's amazing!!

USA

I love the way the older generation love to hold babies! I mentioned this before. Between Aunt Dee Ann and Granny Chandler was taken care of! They both wanted to hold him ALL THE TIME. It was so wonderful seeing my family hold my baby!

Aunt Dee Ann holding baby Chandler. Between her and Granny

 The big thing about Bang's citizenship was in order for him to receive the benefit of the N600K we had to finish the process before his 18th birthday! We were pushing it to say the least! His citizenship was granted on September 4th and he turned 18 on September 22nd. If it weren't for the ladies at the USCIS(United States Citizen Immigration Servcies) here in Bangkok this wouldn't not have been possible. They were a HUGE blessing to us and helped us tread through the mound of paper work that had to be completed.

Happy 18th birthday Bang

Of course Cayden had to help blow out the candles. Doesn't every little kid??

 Notice how the family decorated the table in red, white, and blue! His bag was filled with all kinds of wonderful gifts..... a patriotic Christmas ornament, patriotic wind mills, and much more. One of our relatives made him a beautiful patriotic quilt. The cards the family gave him were so special. He's saved all of them and has them on his shelf in his room.

Birthday blessing

Chandler's missing in the family picture because someone is holding him. :) 

Love to all of you and thanks for reading!

Amber~

Memorial Day- Big Welcoming Party for Us

My mother in law aka Nonnie and my Aunt Dee Ann planned a huge welcoming party on Memorial Day. This was the first time in 25 years to have both of our families together at one time. Some of you may be asking, "What about when you got married?" Well, our first wedding 25 years ago was very small at Granny's house and only Clinton's family and my mother were present. Our second wedding 15 years ago was a little bigger and we had a few family members from both sides and many of our church friends. 

So this was a very special occasion to have most of our families together to greet us and our children! We brought three new children with us that no one had ever met! What a special occasion!

Aunt Melissa holding Chandler for the very first time.

This day was so full of fun and talking with many people we hadn't seen in so long. Bang single handily took care of Cayden ALL DAY! He's so good with Cayden and Cayden loves him!

Bang feeding Cayden. 

Here's Granny again holding Chandler! This is the day she held him for an hour. She was so content to sit in that rocker and hold him. She has six of her own, 10 grand children, and 11 great grand children. She's held some babies in her day!                                                                     

Clinton's Aunt Cathy on the left and my Aunt Norma Jean, who came all the way from Dallas to see us. 

My cousin Jerry, who is more like my brother than cousin, holding Chandler for the first time. Chandler gifted him with a dirty diaper! hahaha I love this guy so much. When he left the party I cried knowing it would be a really long time before we saw each other again. It's so hard living overseas and only seeing family every two years or more. I find peace in knowing that God sees and cares about the sacrifices we've made to serve Him in Thailand and He's not a debtor to any man. 

I love the promise in Mark where Jesus says, "Assuradly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother..... for MY sake and the Gospel's who shall not receive 100 fold NOW IN THIS LIFE--- and in the life to come, eternal life. 

This is one of the scriptures that brought me comfort when we moved to Thailand and it still brings me comfort today. 

All of my cousins minus one. The first time for a picture like this in 25 years!

 My Aunt Norma Jean on the left and Aunt Dee Ann on the right. My mother had three sisters. One has passed away as well as my mother. My Aunt Dee Ann has been like a mother to me for many many years! I don't know what I'd do without her. I'm so grateful that God gave her to me. Aunt Norma Jean is the oldest of the four girls. She's 75! Can you believe that????? 

My two Aunts

I'm very sad to say that this is the only picture I have of my precious mother in law(back of her head)! Without her this day would not have been possible. She planned everything!! We love you so much Nonnie!! You're so special to us!!

 My brother-in-law Mike who is the hunter AND recently gave his life to Christ!! That's my pretty sister sitting next to him. We got to spend some special time together. So thankful!

The next post will be about Bang's citizenship! It's deserves a post all it's own!

love

Amber

First Few Days in America

I won't even go into how ridiculous it is that it's been almost 3 months since I've written on my blog!!

Maybe one day, my dear friends, I'll be faithful at keeping up with this thing. The truth is, I think about blogging ALL THE TIME, but sitting down and putting words on paper is another thing. So sorry.

So much has happened in the last month and I want to share all of it with you, but it would take me hours and too many pictures to put it all in one post. SO! I'm going to start with one post chronicling our first few days in America.

We received a letter from the American government saying Bang had an interview and needed to be in America on September 4th. We only had three weeks  to get things in order.

Clinton surprised me with the shock of a lifetime telling me that he had secretly raised money for Chandler and I to make the trip with them!!! I almost fell on the floor and rolled around like a crazy woman, but instead I buried my head in his shirt and cried. It had been almost 4 years since I had visited the states. I had put it out of my mind thinking it wouldn't be for another two years when we're finished with Joseph's adoption that this would be possible.

So we began making plans, buying tickets, making appointments with the American Embassy for Bang's  visa, and appointments with the Consular services to get Chandler's passport and birth certificate. It was a crazy three weeks leading up to the departure date!

My first photo is of Bang standing at gate D4 heading out of Thailand. What an exciting day this was for him!! A very long time coming. Bang came to live with us when he was 11 and we arrived in America just 22 days before his 18th birthday. God is faithful even if His timing isn't always ours.

When we walked in Bev's house (my mother in law) she had two dozed red and white long stemmed Gladiolas arranged in vases all over the house. Gladiolas are my all time most favorite flower! Let's just say GORGEOUS!! But I'm SO sad that I didn't get one picture of them!! ;(

Here's our very jet lagged little boy. This is two days after we arrived. It's 11:30am and he still hasn't woken up. We're trying to get him up and dressed to meet his Great Grandmother for the very first time, our lovely Granny!

Sleepy Channy trying to figure all this out!! Twenty four hours of travel with this little guy in my arms was quite the ordeal. Let's just say we were attached. Now he's saying, "I just want to sleep can everyone just leave me alone!

Sleepy boys on Nonnie's bed. "Cayden please wake up! It's sun shining outside. It's time for lunch for heaven's sake. 

Here's our beautiful Granny. She's 90! Can you believe that??? There's my feet and legs in the background. Not sure what I'm doing with my fingers??

I just love the way the older generation always want to hold babies! Every time we saw Granny she wanted to hold him. One day she held him for over an hour!! I wish we could bring her back to Thailand with us. She's one of my favorite!! She has on a shirt we sent her from Thailand. ;)

The second day we went to my sisters house. You could just say it's a mini version of Toys R Us. Cayden had never seen so many toys in all of his life!!! He was in awe! He's still talking about Auntie's house to this day! Just today, he said, "Mommy, remember when were at Aunties house I played with the stroller!" Everyday there's talk about America and Auntie's house is always mentioned. All those toys put a mark on his memory for LIFE. 

 Oh! And did I mention that my sister's house is also an exhibit for wild animals?!? Her husband game hunts and she's gracious enough to put the animals he catches ALL OVER HER HOUSE! Let's just say she's a better woman than I. 

Day 4 and the boys still have very bad jet lag!! This is 12pm and they still haven't woken up from the night before!! Cayden actually has drool all over his cheek but you can't see it in this picture.

Here's our precious friend Connie who planned an amazing romantic "getaway" for Clinton and I. The day of the getaway, she had us meet her at a clothes shop where she bought me new clothes and three beautiful lounge sets. She also made appointments for me to get my toes and nails done, and have a massage. She had our room decorated with roses, chocolate, strawberries, sparkling grape juice, and ALL KINDS lotions and potions!! We were in awe of the love and generosity she showed us!

Our lovely room.

Baby Chandler was in tow for the getaway, but he was no trouble. I mean come on, look at that face!! How could you leave him behind??

Chocolate cover strawberries. Yum!

Did I mention she got us the nicest suite in Beaumont! I called it the Oprah suite! 

Look at the jacuzzi room!

These pictures cover the first week we were there.  More pictures to come!

Love you,
Amber