Bynum Photography

If you don't know Alison Bynum of Bynum Photography you'll want to give her website a look. She's an amazingly talented photographer, a dear friend and a beautiful person. (is this considered gushing?) Anyway Alison, thanks for the loving eye you shoot every shot with. We see Addie's personality in every picture. Thank you, my friend.

Out of Africa

These pics are long overdue. After you view, please pray for our missionaries in Guinea, Daryl and Glenda, for the Maninka people and the enormous darkness that envelopes them. Pray that Daryl and Glenda will be encouraged as they continue to served among these mostly Muslim people.

 

In June, I traveled with a team of 5 to Mali & Guinea, West Africa.

We visited as friends among Maninka villages

and shared the Word from the Most High God.

village huts

The savanna 

Richard & Jeanne S., Brad B, Pat H., and our Maninka translators.

Penda Toure, my beautiful translator.

A tribal chief

We were met with wide-eyed wonder & gracious hospitality.

Adam & Cousin It

Adam is the son of my niece, Mandy. So that would make him cousins with you know who...!
They came to visit for a couple of days and we had so much fun watching Adam and Addie play. Sarah reminded me that I was a Great Aunt. Yes, I have always been a great aunt and yes, I am aware that I am also a Great Aunt and have a child the same age as my great nephew. I think it's really cool that my niece and I can watch our children play together. 

Mandy is a wonderful mother and a godly woman. I love how she and Robert parent Adam. I am so proud of them for bringing Jesus to their community in Memphis where they are Church Planters. Check out their website for Neighborhood Church This time next week their family of three will become a family of four when little Micah is born. Here are  some pics from their short visit.

Mother's Day

My Mother's Children

We had such a good time Sunday at Mother's. The food was great. Yes, I did contribute my famous fruit salad and guess what else? I fixed Cheesy Potatoes (thanks Kari E.). Oh yeah! Even though it was only frozen hashbrowns, shredded cheese, 1 can each of cream of celery and mushroom soup, sour cream, milk and a little S & P and I fixed it in the crock pot - it DID NOT come thru the car window so it counts as cookin'! 

I love my mother. She is a godly woman and I am so grateful to her for so many things.

Thanks Mom for:

letting all the grandchildren lay in your waterbed & watch TV,

having a couches in every room so we can all hang out,

making the kitchen the family room,

never having room in your fridge (because there is always something to munch on),

saving all your Southern Living Magazines,

saving all your mail order catalogs,

letting me talk about rearranging furniture for the umptenth time,

loving diamonds, platinum and all things 14kt & shiny,

getting excited when my wysteria blooms,

always loving me the way I am,

making me feel like a good mother,

...answering the phone and much, much more.

Happy Mother's Day, Mother!   Love, LellyMo

Prom & Potty Training

      I would never have thought I would be potty training one child and sending another to Prom at the same time. Who'd have thunk? Here are Prom Day pictures. I'll leave the potty training to your imagination.

 

Hair by Totally Polished (Vickie gave Sarah her very first hair cut)                      

                                                                                               Make Up by Ulta at The Avenue

Brotherly Love by The Bubba's (Jarrod & Jeremy)

Muscle by BFF, Devan & Sarah

                                     

             

Date by one of my favorite guys, Tyler

  Sarah Marie by Dick & Leslie

We are so proud of the godly young woman Sarah has become. She is beautiful thru and thru. 

Keep your guard up and His Word hidden your heart, Sarah. 1-4-3.  We love you, Mom and Dad

Agape Children

While our team was in China a few weeks ago, we became especially attached to several of the children at the Agape House. Over the next few posts, I'll highlight some of the children, their pictures and their special needs.

Elizabeth

Elizabeth (DOB 2/14/06) was born with club feet. Her feet have been repaired by American doctors visiting in China. She was sent to Agape House to recover where they have fallen in love with her and decided to keep her and be her family for now. 

Her feet are in good condition. She is wearing AFO's and special shoes to keep her feet in the correct position. She can walk and run without assistance.

Elizabeth has no sponsors at this time. It takes about $150-$200 USD/month to insure her needs are met  during her stay at the Agape House.

April 10, 2005

Happy 3rd Birthday, Addie Mei Huidan Overby!

Her finding ad was translated to us as: "Nan Hui Dan, female, was found on 4/10/2005 at the gate opposite of Petroleum Hospital, Maoming City, about one day old, left arm missing, accepted by Mao Nan District Social Welfare Institute of Maoming City, Guangdong Province."

(Actually, now we think she was abandoned at Petrochemical Design Company in Maoming which is a common finding place, since we have found no evidence of a Petroleum Hospital.)

She was found in a "suit of yellow baby clothes" and her umbilical cord did not fall off, "it being wet". It was found that her left arm was absent but the skin on the end of the left arm was intact. She was diagnosed with "missing left forearm." Hmmm.

When I read this now it is almost comical, but when you are waiting for your child, every tidbit of information is monumental. We were clinging to details - weights, sleeps, poops, peeps - everything was a connection to our baby.

3 years ago, her birth mother knew there was no future for her baby girl in China. I wonder what she must have been thinking when she saw her little arm? While the umbilical cord was still wet, she dressed her baby in a yellow outfit and made sure she was left in a safe place where she was sure to be found quickly. I wonder if she waited nearby and watched?  I will forever be indebted to her that she chose life for her child and that for those few hours after birth, she protected her baby.

Thank you, God, for perfectly orchestrating the life events that began even before our daughter was born. Addie Mei Huidan Overby has brought inconceivable joy to our family. I pray that on the day of the celebration of her birth, her birth mother knows the love of our heavenly Father and finds comfort in somehow knowing that the baby she bore is loved beyond measure.