MAGIC!!!

The Orlandooooooo Magic, that is!

Ashlyn is a huge basketball fan. Which works out really well because we are a basketball lovin' family. She is Alex's biggest cheerleader at all of his games. She cheers and boo's something fierce. She even has a thing on her translator that teaches the rules of the sport. We told her she could play next year.

Matt just so happens to have a client, turned friend, who used to play for the Orlando Magic; Nick Anderson. So, he called up Nick and asked for tickets to the Faith & Family Night last night. The Magic played the Charlotte Bobcats and then afterwards Chris August performed.

Well, Nick totally hooked the brother up...

He got us the very best seats in the house...

FRONT ROW & CENTER!!!

Oh my goodness...

Ashlyn was in hog heaven...

Even before the game started we got to eat in the "special lounge" and then enjoy the pregame entertainment on the court. All the guys on stilts kept coming up to Ashlyn and talking to her and she'd just laugh and then we'd explain to them that she's fresh off the plane form China...

They thought that was great:)

The game started and she cheered her little head off. It was such a fun night and we thanked God once again for His blessings on our lives. Seriously, the blessings just keep on flowing and we are so incredibly thankful.

We went over to Nick at half-time and chatted with him for a few. Bo Outlaw was sitting next to him and he tried talking to Ashlyn too;) He loved it when we told him that it was her first game. They were so sweet to her and she ate it up!

It was a really special night with just me, Matt, & "the twins" :)

The really awesome part is that Alex & Ashlyn are great pals. It is the sweetest thing how they interact with one another. I wondered how it would all pan out... you know, with them being the opposite sex and the same age. It could've been "awkward" to say the least, but it hasn't been AT ALL. They act like siblings, but more like good friends.

Ashlyn's speech is really coming along. She talks up a storm now, repeating back to us the things that we say and answering now with, "yes", "no", "please", "thank you"... She even said "you're welcome" to me the other day. She loves to yell, "come on!" to the littles and at the basketball games. And when she's confused she'll say, "Huh?" or "Wah?"... Gotta work on that:)

She continues to amaze us. So many good things going on in our home... I just don't know where to start. She is loving her new life and we adore her. There is not one thing that I don't love about her. I am sure there are flaws, but we've yet to see any:)

I continue to unwrap little details of her life every day and I am so amazed. She went to church in China. She has a little book with notes she kept from her Bible studies. She has little drawings in it that tell me she understands alot about Jesus. This just amazes me. She goes to sleep every night listening to her Proclaimer that our good friends gave to her. It's the Bible, spoken in mandarin.

I'm tellin' ya... God has BIG plans for this girl and I am excited to see what her future holds.

Abby is doing really well too. It's different with her because she is non-verbal and the interaction is not the same as with Ashlyn. I think she's happy. She seems very well-adjusted. We just wonder what goes on in her head. She gave me and Averleigh kisses today all on her own. Usually when we ask her for a kiss she gives us her cheek;) She even gave Matt a kiss at bedtime tonight. She seems to understand simple commands, but who knows... She is a very well-behaved little girl. She's very quiet and we are scared to death of losing her. Matt tries really hard to connect with her... To the point of overdoing it most of the time. He can be quite the bull in the China shop and I am constantly reminding him that we have the rest of her life to get to know her. I know in my heart that it will jsut take longer with her, but I am positive that in time, it will come.

Pre-Game Excitement!

Matt & Alex

Our Twins:)

Me & My Girl

Me & My Boy

Ashlyn & Stuff (Magic mascot)

Alex, Matt, & Christian recording artist, Chris August

After The Game...

God is so good!!!

Blessings,
Rebecca & Family