Hello!  I know it has been a very long time since you last heard from us; understandably, we have been very busy.  I hope you don't mind my writing; I'd like you to know what we have been up to.

My daughter, Baio Lin, whom we adopted from Vietnam, continues to enjoy life to the full.  Being blind (and/or born without eyes) has never really stopped her once she got used to her new surroundings here in America.  In fact, she has been like a butterfly that has taken flight:  free to do whatever she wants, with no limitations.  (Baio Lin will be fourteen in a few months.)

Baio Lin still wants to be a singer; she has been working very hard to improve her voice.  She has performed at several Christmas pageants over the Christmas season, and now, with Easter coming up next week, she has been working hard, practicing for the special Easter music at our church next weekend.

Meanwhile, my two other children, Tanner (9) and Glendon (nearly 11), remain preoccupied with sports (now that baseball season is in full swing, they have games to play).  If it isn't dragging the boys to their baseball activities, I'm busy dragging Baio Lin to her vocal lessons/church practices.  It is chaotic at best, but as long as my children are happy doing what they love, then I am all for it.

My husband and I have very little in the way of free time.  If we aren't taking care of kids or catering to their every need, then we work our butts off, trying to keep the bills paid, the house in order, and make sure there is enough food for our growing family.  (With two pre-teens and one teenager in the house, the food supply dwindles faster than we'd like it to!  LOL)

The weather here in Arizona has been cold and snowy, but things are finally starting to warm up.  I am so glad; it's been a very long, hard, cold winter, with record snows.  Heard that around Christmas time, just about everywhere here in the continental US reported snow, even in places that normally don't see snow. 

I am more than ready for green leaves on the trees, flowers bursting with vibrant colors, and warm temperatures, not to mention, the sweet birdsongs from the birds, to announce the arrival of spring!

Well, the kids will be rising soon (school, you know); have to get their breakfasts on the table so they don't go on the bus hungry!  Just hope I can get Tanner and Glennie up; they are awfully hard to wake up; a bomb could go off or a tornado could be outside their door, and they wouldn't even budge!  LOL  At least Baio is easy to wake up!  Thank God for small favors!  LOL 

I will write in here again soon; until later, this is Aldene Cramer saying so long and God bless!  Happy Easter time; remember the cross; that is why we really celebrate Easter!

~Love, your Arizona friend, Aldene.  :)

*to be continued.*