real baby bottles for doll babies..."really dad??"

what a mess!!

Im thinking she was not thrilled with the Max Lucado movies...lol

Christmas morning

stockings in mom and dads bed

barbie's

cheesecake:)

thanks Lily for the Barbie coloring book

thanks Lily for the purse

boots!!

luke painted this for Paul

no YOU open one!!

a coloring book and some 2nd hand clothes and shoes. 

not sure why i got all those other presents:)

part of me hates Christmas morning...please don't missunderstand!! I LOVE Christmas, its just that I plan and wrap and shop and bake and look forward to it so much that when it's over I feel such a let down:( We had a wonderful morning and a great time with my parents and sister's family, im just not ready for it to be over yet.
I pray that you all had a wonderful day, but more then that, I pray that you will have a year that is filled with hope, love, peace, growth, service to others and lots of unplanned moments of joy!

Luke's graduation info

Luke is graduating from TSA in the spring. please save the date 6/11/11 He is going to UT for education and wants to be a teacher in the inner city. He won a FOCUS jurors award for his graphic design and has really enjoyed glass blowing this year. he also has loved being a Jr. high sponsor, tutoring, leading worship and teaching sunday school.

Our Christmas Card

WOW this has been a year of growth and change for our family. Luke is graduating from high school this June and Lily became a part of our family in Aug. Paul and I spend every waking moment trying to keep up with this clan of ours. we wouldn't change a thing!! China was so HOT. we look miserable in all the pictures because we are. over 100 and humid every day and most days over 110. We were very glad that our air had been out all of July and I had gotten used to the heat. I had no health struggles while we were there. Cant say the same for Emma, she had a very high fever and gave us a very big scare while we where there, she was fine after 24 hours but they were the longest 24 hours of my life, even longer then the 24 hours spent on an airplane! Ellie fell head first down the great wall of China (im not kidding!) by Gods grace she was able to catch herself with her left arm on the railing to her right, she spent the entire time in china in a sling (ended up being a hyper-extended nerve that has healed fine) We are humbled by and so very grateful for the love and support of everyone who was involved in our journey. if i started naming all of you I would run out of room! We missed our big kids like crazy but they did just fine without us.. I'm still pretty sure they were glad to have us back:)


the girls are all growing up too fast! Abby is 15, majoring in Ballet at TSA and loving it. She played volleyball this year and her team won the last game of the season (their only win) she is obsesed with Barbie (don't ask) and anything pink. Her and Ellie stay busy leading worship, tutoring, going to youth group, shopping and hanging out with friends.
Ellie (12) is also going to TSA and loving dance. this year has been a huge adjustment with all the big kids in school but they are all enjoying it.
Lily (10) is learning english and how to be a part of a family. All things considered she is doing wonderfully. she loves having a family and is learning how to share and be compassionate. Her arms do not stop her from doing much. see our blog ferrellchinajourney.blogspot.com if you want to see her in action:)
Emma (7) is adjusting to Lily being the center of attention. She has had the hardest time with the adjustment. it's been hard but a wonderful character building experience and she is loving having a sister to play with now that Lily has more english.
Paul is doing well at work and we are so grateful for his job in these hard economic times. He was nominated for a leadership award, 5 of 13,000 were nominated. it was a huge honor. I am trying to keep up with everyone-it's my full time job:) homeschooling the little girls, taking the big ones to and from school, feeding them, praying for them and cleaning up after them....well if your a mom you know:)
LOVE YOU ALL

May the miracle of GOD WITH US fill your heart with hope! wishing you Love,Joy, Peace, adventure, grace and just enough craziness to make 2011 fun.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE FERRELLS!!

hide the vegi's/ feed lots of people recipes

croc pot chicken
3-6 pounds of boneless/skinless chicken thighs
one family size can of cream of chicken soup
one jar ragu cheese sauce, or 4 cups chedder cheese sauce from the gallon size at Sams
4 cups frozen corn
2 cups shredded cheese of your choice
mix first 3 ingredients in crock pot on med. for 6 hours
add corn for last hour
turn to low and add cheese
serve over rice

potato cheddar soup
all amounts are guesses, i don't cook with a recipe
8 potatoes
12 cups water
6 cups california vegi's
saute one onoin and 2 cloves garlic
add all together and bring to boil, turn down to a simmer/quiet boil for 4-6 hours
add 4 cups of chedder cheese sauce, simmer for an hour add milk to desired consistency
garnish with chives, shredded cheese and sour cream

things are settling down....

what a hard, wonderful, awesome, heart rending few months. having a very smart, emotional child who can not comunicate with you is a hard thing. I have felt God put his arms around me and comfort me when I did not know what to do next. Lily is adjusting so well, but it has been just that, an adjustment!! I was reminded that adjustments can be very painful when Ellie got braces a couple months ago. When she goes in for an "adjustment" she is in a lot of pain for a few days....but boy do her teeth look better. Change is hard but its good. God has been so real and wonderful to me and our entire family. Lily who had never hear of God 4 months ago is now telling me that its better to be in America because we can love Jesus!!! How amazing!
Christmas has been so fun, she has never had a Christmas before so everything is new and wonderful, from lights in the neighborhood, to parties, decorating a Christmas tree to buying gifts for her family...its all new! I am reminded of how we SHOULD view the gift of the manger when I see things through her eyes.
It was a very bitter sweet day when we put up the tree. all the other kids were hanging up their ornaments and talking about who got them for them and when...I had made sure that Lily had 6 of her own but she knew and felt that it was different... I looked over and she had big crocodile tears streaming down her cheeks. I asked it it was because she didn't have as many ornaments to hang and she shook her head no, and then in the saddest little wisper she said "I want to be in America... Christmas...longer" translated, i wish i could have been a part of this family as long as everyone else has been.....my momma heart broke, i held her and we just cried together...me too sweet pea....me too!!

Emma talking to santa:)