I finally meet Elyza!

Ever feel like this?

This is a painting from my college professor over at thehauptgallery.com.
He is just as amazing at teaching as painting. He taught me the art of 30 minute sessions. Paint (or whatever your doing) for 30 minutes at a time. Then walk away and leave the room. Come back and paint for 30 more, continue to work in this way. I use the rule of 30 minutes in a lot of what I do and have found that when I am deep into a project for a long time without the break, most of what I've done becomes over-thought, over-worked, and usually wasted time.

Elyza's Funny

Bucket List.

My friend Andrea over at flourishingmother.com inspired me start a bucket list. Some items have been floating around in there for a while, and I actually accomplished them already. So here goes the beginings:

1) Meet Mose Alison (accomplished)
2) Illustrate a meaningful children's book
3) Play in a band
4) Give away a possession that I think I can't live without
5) Stay in a cabin in the Alps for 3 days with my family
6) Learn how and write a short story (s)
7) Meet a guy I like at least half as much as my dad
8) Adopt a dog
9) Be most successful at loving others
10) Become an expert listener
11) Shave my head
12) Get a masters degree in theology/counseling
13) Have many more creative/intellectual moments with my mother, a very very creative/intuitive person
14) Open a jazz/coffee bar like the Baked Potato in California and live upstairs from it like my friend Ezra's place (http://www.myspace.com/sevenstudioz) and it be an open venue for things like Bible study, philosophical discussions, educational political talks, book readings etc.
15)

sweet angel eyes©

sketch for Elyza.

How about the cutest baby you've ever seen!

A Surprise in Nanchang-from Coco & J

This morning (Tuesday) we flew from Beijing to Nanchang which was about a two hour (turbulent) flight. We arrived in Nanchang around 2 p.m. We boarded the bus to take us to our hotel and the guide introduced himself, and told us that we'd be staying in a 5 -star hotel. But wait, it gets even better. He said, "and in 2 hours you will get your babies!" Wait, what?! Did you say that we are getting our babies today and in 2 hours...not tomorrow morning?!?! Yes, he did. All seven families screamed with excitement. And I believe there wasn't a dry eye. It was such an amazing surprise!



So we got to our hotel and had 30 minutes to grab our things and compose ourselves. We drove 10 minutes during rush hour to the Adoption Center where the babies were. When we arrived, there were about 10 babies and toddlers awaiting their new families! I scanned the room for Elyza and then I knew when I saw her. We both did. Jay began filming and then we were all asked to sit so that we could "formally" begin the receiving ceremony. They called our name and handed us a very calm and curious baby Bo Qian. Our hearts melted.


We got back to the hotel and began to undress her from the bundle of clothing that she wore (it's 30 degrees here). She had on 6 layers! She cried, so we gave her a bottle and put on a fresh diaper. She took the bottle for a bit and then finally, shook her head no, stuck her fingers in her mouth and fell fast asleep. She was exhausted, apparently, because she has been asleep for 4 hours now, since about 5:30 p.m. It was a long day for the little ones, I imagine, as they had to travel 4 hours on a bus to Nanchang from Poyang.
We are so in love with this baby girl. We feel like we've always known her. She is so beautiful! We can't wait to really get to know her personality over the next few days. Well, I best get some sleep because most likely she'll be waking up for that dinner bottle that she missed.

Bella.

This is the best film of the year. Please go see it.

Gotta Love Itunes.

Browsing through the "Just For You" on Itunes, a feature which suggests albums based on previous purchases. And, they were so right! I love these albums especially...check them out!

Introducing Elyza Bo Qian

DOB: June 24, 2007
Province: Jiangxi, Poyang SWI

About her:
A deep sleeper
laughs aloud
fond of listening to music!
has a ready smile
sometimes obstinate
fond of playing with toys

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From Courtney & Jay (the new parents):

We have a daughter!!!
Here is what we know so far...
Name: Bo Qian
DOB: June 24, 2007 YES, SHE IS 6 MONTHS OLD!!!
Province: Jiangxi Province, Poyange SWI (Poyang Lake is the largest fresh-water lake in China)
Weight: 11 pounds, 58 cm length (TINY)
We'll have pictures and more info tomorrow afternoon.
Check back!

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! 2 Cor. 9:15

My friend just told me that Bo Qian means "Precious Beginning".

Imagery.

I love to drink a cup of coffee in the morning. My favorite thing is to watch the cream cloud and fold in from the edges of the cup. Sometimes, I think I can see something in it. Like an image of a sasquatch. But it's so fast, it's difficult to identify. Or sometimes it's an image of the sun, so I turn my face really quickly so I won't go blind. This morning I didn't have a round cup, so it was a little harder to see, but, I think it was this:

An image (from google images) from the movie Koyaanisqatsi, which is a Hopi Indian word meaning "life out of balance." It is a really great film that is worth watching.

Stopped in for a photo at Jubilee!

If you don't already have it.

This album rocks! Your tree and garland will be happy as you swing around them in gladness to this amazing music. And you will smile. All year long. Don't think you are the weird one out when you feel an urge to slip it on for a few happy tunes this spring either. It's the Sufjan Stevens Christmas album. It's so good!

Christmas Past.

I found this file while looking for photos...one of my favorites. Click the images to read. It's pretty funny. My Christmas card from '05, the year I was homeless for half of it. Katrina had left no available apartments in Jackson. I was living with friends. It was fun, but a tough 6 months. I hope I never forget the feeling I had when I got the home I have now. All the fun of fixing it up (THANK YOU!!! Mom and Dad!) , and how my sister and I had prayed for the right price, and God made it available in all of His perfection (THANK YOU!!! Father!). I went from living, literally on friends' couches to having an entire house. It was/is great.

I really miss my Sony.

I had a sweet Sony camera, and then, it quit. First, lines formed across the screen and across photos. Then one day, the screen was black. Don't leave your camera in the car. Or it will surely go. I left it in the car, during the hot summer and the cold winter. I did not know.

Holiday Message From Buddy.

gfhhhhhhhhhhhhioppppppppppppppppppppppp