Rain! And we're not even out of L.A. yet! Heading to LAX soon.

Butterflies only have 6. Where do the others go? Fun facts from applebees

I just learned that caterpillars have 16 legs and

Girl's lunch @ Applebees. Having fun w/my daughters.

Yeah! This morning we are packing up to head home. We will get to visit the precious children here at Shepherd's Field on more time before we leave. Everyone is excited though to see our loved ones back home!

The China team has just one day left on the ground here. We have finished up our VBS, cleaned up a school, serenaded children and organized otherwise disorganized places.
For the girls, Trista, and I, however, we won't be leaving until Friday. Keep us in prayer as we will be without Grace, who has been translating for us. Should be exciting!

The China team has just one day left on the ground here. We have finished up our VBS, cleaned up a school, serenaded children and organized otherwise disorganized places.
For the girls, Trista, and I, however, we won't be leaving until Friday. Keep us in prayer as we will be without Grace, who has been translating for us. Should be exciting!

Quick update!Team from Spokane had their last day of VBS, so we helped out. Fun dinner tonight at an indoor Garden restaurant.

We are here in China - safe, sound, and maybe a little sleepy. We had a fun game day w/the PHF kids and a little tour of Shepherd's Field.

Getting ready to board plane to China. Signing off for now.

Tucking into bed. Wake up call 3am! In the air@7am.

This is a test blog from my mobile phone.

Getting Ready for China

We are counting down to our departure to China...just 6 days left! I hope that we will have internet connection in China so I can update this blog. However, I have heard that this site might be blocked in China, so if so I will try to set up something different to keep everyone posted.

Tonye made it to Russia with the team yesterday. I haven't heard any specifics yet, but by now they should be in Smolensk. I am sure God has big things for them there over the next two weeks.

In the meantime here are a few pictures as of recent. These are from Chante's June dance recital.

Birthday party fun!

We celebrated our beautiful Ruthie today! She was officially 6 on May 26th and today we celebrated Chinese style with a Ni Hao, Kai-Lan party. Though the weather was a bit dreary, everyone's spirits were bright and cheery. The highlight had to be the dragon boat relay race, in which the children and adults both participated.

We are blessed with so many wonderful friends, who are really more like family. Everyone pitched in to give Ruthie an extra-special day!

It is hard to believe that Ruthie is already 6, but in so many ways she is truly growing up. She is reading and writing beyond her years, but more wonderfully her heart is tender toward the Lord and others! She chose to collect donated items for Shepherd's Field Children's Village instead of asking for presents this year. She is going to have a blast giving all she collected to the children when she gets to China this summer!

Thanks to everyone who helped to make this day so wonderfully memorable!

Adventure in Odyssey

We had a great time on Thursday at Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs. Their entire bottom floor is dedicated to Adventures in Odyssey, a Holyde girl favorite. We had so much fun exploring downtown Odyssey, watching visitors make their own radio program and even had the chance to step into Narnia. What a blessed day!

Hello from the Midwest!

The Holyde girls are traveling around the Midwest this week. Our first stop was in Colorado where we have had fun catching up with family and making new friends too! We stopped in Idaho Springs where we ate buffalo burgers and panned for gold. We didn't find much gold, but had a lot of fun!

had a great time with Matt & Kayla Barnes tonight, eating Chinese food, playing the Wii and performing another infamous Family Bible Theater.

Fun Weekend!

This weekend has been full of fun times! Chante and Tonye celebrated Valentine's Day early at a father/daughter Valentine dance. Apparently Tonye even "busted a move" or two. I wish I would have been there to catch that on tape!

Saturday we celebrated Chinese New Year with other families who have adopted from China. What a bunch of cuties we saw...imagine little Chinese boys and girls dressed up in their finest traditional clothes. It makes us that much more excited to go back to China this summer.

just finished a great dinner with missionary friends on their way to serve in Nigeria.

Amazed at my beautiful daughter, Chante, who looked so grown up last on her Father/Daughter Valentine's dance date.

Chinese New Year

Today we are celebrating Chinese New Year with other families that have adopted from China. Hope to post pics later.