Lucy's medical exam

Lucy and her little friend Kierra attended their adoption medical exams today. Lien accompanied us as we had the babies weighed and measured. The doctore consulted each baby's mom about feeding schedules, tempermant and general disposition. Heather, Kierra's mom, was kind enough to snap a few pictures of Lucy during her exam. Heather has been a very kind photographer for us, capturing things we had not thought of for Lucy to treasure later. Thank you Heather!


a Few Parting Shots

John and Mason have about 96 hours left in Vietnam. We've been trying to determine if there are any experiences we wanted them to have before they left for home. Can't really think of many, accept that I notice John holding Lucy every chance he gets. Mason has been a little less reluctant to accompany on our walks in the city-and he'll even hold my hand a bit as we venture. Tender kisses on the cheek from my sweet husband have come a little more often and the words of encouragement and advice both from me to the boys (now remember, hold Bryn as often as you can, and please get the kids up in the mornings...) and from the boys to me (stay in after in gets dark and remember to come home, don't forget we need you once we leave and you and Lucy have run of the place on your own...). Sometimes the anticipation of separating can be a tender time to remember how great it has been to be together, and can help as a sweet reminder of a reunion yet to come. The day all the Grahams are under the same roof again (all 8 of us!) will be a sweet day for sure.


Thoughts on Home

We found a new restaurant her in Saigon; Texas Bar-b-Que. We walked there for the first time on Monday and enjoyed a fine lunch of pulled pork, texas ribs and a cheeseburger for Mason. We to come back again today we liked it so well. It is a pretty sureal experience to sit in the middle of Ho Chi Minh City and listen to country music blast through the joint as the Vietnamese wait staff struts around in fringed shirts and big belt buckles. As my eyes were wandering through the restaurant, trying to keep half an eye on Lucy (the wait staff at all the restaurants have taken to her, and scoop her out of our arms when our food is served. Mason is quite protective of Lucy in these circumstances, and we have started sitting across from each other, so each of us can keep an eye on the wandering waitress wherever she takes Lucy through the restaurant) I spotted this map of Texas. It got me thinking about that great state and how blessed I feel to have lived there in my life. I thought of Laura Asay, a true big sister and best friend, of my days learning spanish from the wonderful women of our church congregation (hola Hermanas con la Iglesia!), of Mark and Ev Taber, Chuck, J., Molly, John Scholl and so many other amazing men and women from John's office with BCG. I thought fondly of Evans and Judy Mank, our heaven-sent neighbors and dear friends. Evans taught me how to grow things (I'm getting to be a pretty decent gardner Evans, come and eat some of our tomatoes, would you?) and he let Mason and I tend his birds back in the day. Evans and Judy taught us many fantastic lessons, not the least of which was that adoption is a wonderful way to create a family. I thought of Miss Sandy of the Dallas Cooperative Preschool. I swear Brynley cries for Miss Sandy at least once a month, and we moved away from her almost 4 years ago (we love you Dallas Co-op!). Dallas grew us into Sweden, and then Sweden grew us back into Dallas. I'm so thankful to a loving God for the richness of our friendships there and the experiences we had because we were led to hang our hats in Texas. Who'd have thought that lunch in Saigon would stir thoughts of hot summer days and life in the Big D. Thank you Texas; what a great state.