Thank You Awesome Friends and Family!

We have some awesome friends and family....and we want to say a special thank you to several of them for the love they have shown us:

Amy and Tim, who live about an hour from our house, took really good care of Patrick, Hannah and Joshua. They were so sweet and loving and I want to thank them. One Saturday, they drove up and took Patrick and company to lunch, the local science center and an Imax movie. They also brought some frozen burritos and a lasagna for all of us to enjoy. They came bearing gifts too...one for Hannah for her birthday and one for Jasper and me when we got home. I can't thank them enough for all they did to make our time away from home and our arrival back easier. They were even at the airport when we arrived! I am sure Esther Marie is going to soon be attached to cousin Amy and Tim, as all of my children are!

I want to especially thank Debbie B. who helped by coming over to my house one day to help me clean and sort MaryAlyce's room, which had become a disaster of a mess. She spent tireless hours helping me sort through things, get rid of stuff and organize! She even mended a couple of items and returned some books I had checked out. She and her husband, Emery, were on standby in case the family here at home needed anything....and they showed up at the airport to greet us.

Next I want to thank Susan N. and her family for all they have done. Susan has been checking the blog site tirelessly and helped make Hannah's 12th birthday one to remember...since it happened when we were in China. She and her daughter, who also had a birthday, invited Hannah over so they could have a joint party. Hannah, Evie and a couple of other girls had pizza, a cookie cake, went swimming, went to a movie, spent the night together, and went to the ceramics place the next morning. They had a blast! Susan and her husband, Victor, were also on standby to help Patrick with anything needed. Susan, Victor and the girls came to the airport with balloons in hand to welcome us home.

Vanessa and Tim were the hosts for the yard sale to benefit Esther Marie. Even though they had a rainstorm that morning, they persisted and had great results. Many thanks to them and to everyone else from the church who helped! WOW! I cry each time I think of this awesome gesture of love. Vanessa and Tim were in the group at the airport and we loved seeing their smiling faces.

Last but not least, thanks SO VERY MUCH to Patrick who gave up his time and left his home to come and be the guardian of Hannah and Joshua while we were away. I can hardly express how awesome he is! We love you Patrick..and thank you! Of course, he and Joshua were at the airport complete with the "ladybug express" to carry us home.

Many thanks again to everyone else for your love, support, interest, and prayers!

We love you all!

Sarah and Jasper