Happy First Birthday to Ruthey!!

We feel so blessed to have Ruthey home with us for her first birthday.  Well... what a day she has had! 
Her Nana, Papa Chuck and Great Aunt Norma are here to celebrate with her.  Along with the rest of us, I think they are smitten with her too.  She had great fun eating her birthday cake and opening gifts. 
We are just amazed at Ruthey's progress since coming home.  Within three days of being with us, she rolled over.  After about a week, she was saying "da da" and "ma ma".  Within two weeks, she was trying to pull up.  Now, she's doing her best to crawl.  She scoots around; however, she moves backward.  It's precious!  Before too long, she'll be running!  We are just in awe of how far she has come in such a short time.  One of our favorite things.... she says "Lola".  Lola is our miniature weenie dog.  We just can't believe it!!  Now... as I type, her Nana and Aunt Norma are pretending to cough and Ruthey is mimicking them.  Ruthey will cough and just laugh.  Goodness knows we don't need another drama queen :). 
Many of you have asked why I haven't updated the blog.  I have to tell you; I've been just a little busy.  I promise to do my best to update it once a week.  The jetlag has been a little rough this week. 
Please pray for Ruthey's sleep.  She does great at taking her naps in her crib during the day; however, nighttime is a different story.  She cries and cries for us to just hold her.  It's as if she's scared we are going to leave her.  We just can't let her "cry it out".  We feel she's been crying it out way too long and we'll just work through this.  It will not last forever!  If any of you have any experience with adoption and this issue, please let us know.  We would greatly appreciate advice from other adoptive parents. 
Grateful to HIM!!
Greg and Kim






Breakfast time!!




Ruthey with Uncle Buddy's special forces cap.





Ruthey's birthday cake




Publix gave Ruthey her very own personal cake.





Sorry this is blurry, but... YUM YUM!!




Her very first baby doll :)



What a mess!!  She loved the cake and was very upset when we took it away.  We didn't want her to get sick. 



Home at last.



My first time to hold Ruthey!  These are the two ladies that brought Ruthey from orphanage. 





Our first embrace. 





Kailey and Ruthey after her first bath.





proud daddy!!





Kailey, Ruthey and Brady on the famous "red couch" at the White Swan Hotel.




Dinner with our new friends.  They made the trip so much better.





Ruthey with her new outfit from Aunt Alisa.  Precious!!




Ruthey with Aunt Alisa. 



Ruthey's "red couch" photo




Aunt Alisa just had to put these boots on her.  They are just a little big :).





Ruthey and Henry.  She loves him!!



Cutie pie!!




Ruthey with Andy and Susan Jordan




Ruthey and her proud Grandma!!




Ruthey with Roy and Deby Franklin

Reflecting back through the past five years, I can honestly say "it was all worth it".  The wait was tough at times, but God always pulled us through.  He was faithful to give us just what we needed for those struggling days.  We all are so grateful we never gave up.  Ruthey is perfect for us.  God is all ready changing our hearts and really stirring within each of us a more passionate heart for orphans.  There are 147 million across the world.  We'd ask each of you to really search your hearts on how the Lord would prompt you to help one of them.  He calls us all... just in different ways. Thank you all for encouraging us through the wait.  Many of you have walked this same journey and I so appreciate your words of wisdom. 
Now, on a lighter note...
Thursday evening we were welcomed home by a huge crowd.  Thank you all!!  Words can not express how much that meant to us. We were in awe!  After living here just a few months, God has all ready blessed us with all of you.  We praise Him for that.  Several of you drove in from out of town (TN and AR).  We are so glad you did and are grateful you were there.  Thank you to those of you who contributed to the "full refrigerator" and goodies left on the counter.  I know several of you took part in this.  Thanks!!  Thank you to the Gardunia's for caring for our two dogs (Henry and Lola) while we were gone.  Lola and Henry especially thank you.  Otherwise, they would have stayed in a kennel.  AND... by the way, we were concerned Ruthey would be terrified of Henry and Lola.  She is not!!  She loves them. 
As for Ruthey.... She's happy to be home.  Her sleep is all messed up.  Hopefully, we'll be able to get her on "our time" and back to sleeping at least 8 hours a night.  Right now, she's only sleeping a max of 4 hours.  Needless to say, mom and dad are a little tired.  I think she's so over stimulated and afraid of what she's going to miss if she goes to sleep.  Although she's not sleeping as much, she is still such a happy baby.  That smile just melts all our hearts.  Just wait till each of you see it up close and personal. 


It was so neat to see the blog after coming home.  Not sure if you all knew it or not, but we could not view the blog (or FB) while in China.  My friend, Susan Jordan, posted everything for us.  I sent her emails and she posted.  Looking through the blog, I realize just how many pictures never made it through.  That was a daily struggle.  Not sure why, but we had lots of failures as far as pictures were concerned.  So, I'm going to post lots of old pictures and several new ones.  Hope you all enjoy. 


My friend Missi is expecting the blog to be updated daily by 7 am (lol).    I can't make any promises on that.  Many of you know blogging is not typically my thing.  Enjoy it while it lasts.  I 'll make every effort to keep it up as much a possible.  Ruthey all ready has me on my toes.   

Our Final Blog from China!

It is 9:15 p.m. on Wednesday evening here in Guangzhou.  We leave at 5:45 a.m. Thursday to fly to Beijing.  We leave Beijing at 4 p.m. and arrive in Chicago at 4:15 p.m.  No... it is NOT a fifteen minute flight as it appears. :)  We wish.  It's actually 13 hours!  We do gain 13 hours, however.  So, hopefully that will help with the jetlag we will experience.  This is our last blog comment in China.  The journey has been wonderful and a great experience we soon won't forget.  Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement during our trip.  Please pray for our safe travels back to the states.  I will do my best to keep the blog up to date when we get home.  At the least, I will update some photos.  There were many pictures that did not go through.  Not sure what was up with that.  There is a typhoon headed here, so we are so thankful to be leaving before the weekend.  Some may be delayed.  Please pray for those families.  I know most are eager to get home as well. 

We'll see some of you Thursday evening at 8:33 p.m. central time!!!  WOO HOO!!!  

Love,

The Franks'   (Greg, Kim, Kailey, Brady and Ruthey)

A few new photos

Today was our U.S. Consulate date!

Today was our U.S. consulate date!!  We had to swear an oath with 40 other American families adopting from China.  It was awesome.  Now, when we hit American soil, Ruthey will be an American!! 

This was our last big step in the adoption process.  Woo Hoo :)  The director even recognized Ruthey's upcoming first birthday (10/30).  One-third of all international U.S. adoptions go through this office.  Amazing!  What a great day.  It's been a long five years but we made it and have this precious child to bring home with us.  There were many times I didn't think this day would ever happen and I personally didn't know how much longer I could wait.  Grateful that God never let Greg and I quit.  His timing is perfect!  He knew Ruthey was our little girl and we just had to wait until she was born. 

Romans 11:33

"Oh, the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgements and unfathomable His ways! "

We ventured out on our own.

Starbucks!!

We are sending different pictures of today.  Feeling adventurous, we decided to venture out and stroll around the city of Guangzhou with some new friends we have met here.  They are from Washington state and just adopted a special needs girl that is 21 months.  We all just wanted to see the city and so we thought we'd all go together.  Of course, the taxi ride came first.  Oh what fun!!  First stop was the "Carefor"; this is equilvalent to Walmart or Target.  Again, lots of stares from the "native" people.  They even have asked us to take our picture.  Several teenage girls came up to us and asked to take our picture with them  They thought we were a "beautiful American family".  I informed them that they made my day.  We bought more formula, baby wipes and a few DVDs in Chinese for Ruthey.  Hopefully, she'll enjoy these.  We then walked about 20 minutes into the city square.  It looked very similar to Times Square in New York City; only smaller.  Everywhere we turned there were people!!  After a little while of taking it all in, we saw a Pizza Hut and well.... you know us, more "American" food... we had to stop in.  The restaurant was in a HUGE mall.  I hate malls,  especially big ones!!  We ate and left.  Of course, Greg and Brady had to go to the bathroom.  They both came out gagging.  Must have been pretty gross.  :(  Next... you guessed it... THE TAXI DRIVE BACK.  Oh what fun.  No rollercoaster we've been on can measure up.  Problem is:  there are other cars driving the same way all around you. 

Ruthey is doing great.  She didn't feel too well after the shots yesterday; however, this afternoon she seemed to perk back up.  Hopefully she gets a better nights sleep tonight.  She woke up at 3 this morning and had 1 nap today.  We are praying for sleep tonight.  I really think the shots just made her feel yucky.  After hearing other parent's stories, we feel blessed that she only had to get 3 shots.  Some children had to get 8 at one time!  Poor things. 

Hope all of you back home are doing well.  All of us are ready to be back home.  This has been a wonderful trip, but we are missing home and all of you.  :)

p.s.- I almost forgot; we had Starbucks today. 

"Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered."  Proverbs 21:13