Wishing you a DEVINE 09!

"Please be safe on New Year's Eve...I want to make sure you all continue to follow my journey...I am just getting a good start!"
(her expressions are classic)

~As you can see I am truly enjoying my Christmas present....FABULOUS Photos of Princess Halle-Grace who SO loves the new camera! Just wait till I really learn this high tech machine!






Poor Jason is really sick! Say a prayer he is feeling better soon! He was in bed ALL day while I worked out of town and Halle-Grace stayed with Maa Maa & Pa Pa (thank God for Peggy & Austin...they are such blessings). Since I have been home since 6pm there has been ZERO improvement...flu? virus? We can't ring in "DEVINE 09" with a sick dad...not to mention, he is a BIG helper who is greatly missed when he is out of commission!

IT'S TIME to contact those you HELP put in office

(From Joint Council)
Dear Families, Friends and Colleagues,
Senators Landrieu and Coleman, along with other Members of Congress, are continuing to show their support of ensuring every child’s right to a permanent, safe, and loving family. As part of their commitment, they will be forwarding a letter to Nguyen Tan Dung, the Prime Minister of Vietnam. This letter will encourage Vietnam’s continued participation in negotiations related to the new bilateral agreement on intercountry adoption. The letter will express Congressional support for the continuation of intercountry adoption and will emphasize the importance of the transition to a Hague-compliant system and a new bilateral treaty.
Between Monday, January 5th and Wednesday, January 7th, individuals can support this important initiative through the following methods:
Contact your Congressional Representatives and Senators and ask them to sign the letter to the Prime Minister of Vietnam regarding the future of intercountry adoptions from Vietnam. Also, note that if they are interested in signing, they should contact Sarada Peri from Senator Landrieu’s office (Sarada_Peri@landrieu.senate.gov) by Wednesday, January 7th. For a list of Senators and Congressman that have signed the letter as of the time of this writing, please see below.

To contact your Senators’ phone numbers and email address at www.senate.gov
Representatives’ www.house.gov
The letter to the Prime Minister can only be successful with your help!
Please note the following Senators have already signed the letter to the Prime Minister of Vietnam:Senator Landrieu
Senators Coleman, Oberstar, Lincoln, Lautenber,Menendez, Kerry, Johnson, Bill Nelson, Akaka, Roberts, Murkowski,Durbin, Klobuchar
Please note the following Representatives have already signed the letter to the Prime Minister of Vietnam:Rep. Jim Oberstar
Rep. Scott Garrett, Jerry Costello & Joe Pitts

If you have any questions, contact Joint Council staff via advocate@jcics.org

A Devine Christmas

Christmas 2008 with our Christmas Angel!

Mamaw Devine with her 11 GREAT grandchildren!

Giving Kay Kay Christmas Kisses...

And Papaw Ronnie too!

Halle-Grace & Hunter

Halle-Grace and Nanny

Opening presents from Santa with Daddy

MY GIRL!

Halle-Grace and her great aunt Sally at the Cornwell breakfast

Hannah & Halle-Grace




Granny & Halle-Grace

Santa came to see Halle-Grace and left her lots of goodies...and shared some with her too!!!

Christmas morning! What a busy and special day with our tiny miracle! We are all exhausted from a FUN-FILLED day! We hope your day was a special one as well. God Bless and may we never forget the meaning of this day!
Is that Santa?

Merry Christmas to all...Santa is coming tonight!

It's Christmas Eve...I have so many amazing photos to upload but we have to go to bed so Santa can come and bring Halle-Grace some Christmas surprises! Here are a few pics from our family time tonight! Thanks to Jason for an excellent dinner!



The Turners

Nanny & Papa Gene with Hunter, Hannah & Halle-Grace
Jason & Hunter prepare dinner for all!

The stone of heaven...

Today I received my make-up order in the mail from my great friend Jamye Shaw. Now she can make a killer swimsuit (the best) and her make-up is flawless but today she had her own mascara running down my face!!!
She sent Halle-Grace a Christmas gift that holds SO much meaning! I am incredibly touched and I know someday when Halle-Grace is old enough to understand, she will be as well (and equally excited about the swimsuits..lol)
Halle-Grace can use the jade cross as a piece of jewelry or to hang on a ribbon as a bookmark in her bible. Here is more about this symbolic stone (keep in mind "Khanh" her given Vietnamese name means precious stone). God is cool, huh?
"The jade stone is very symbolic of the Asian culture and therefore holds a special meaning for Halle-Grace's culture...it is the stone of heaven, and signifies BEAUTY and SPIRITUALITY...it's strength and quality is 2nd only to diamonds. Today it remains a symbol of the good, the beautiful and the most PRECIOUS!!! Some even believe it brings good fortune and protection!"
Jamye and the entire Shaw family, thank you, we love you and Merry Christmas!

More fun photos of Miss Personality...Princess Halle-Grace
Playing dress-up again with mama!
Please daddy, look how cute I am!
What kind of caption goes with this??? She is full of surprises. A new trick from our little character...you know I didn't do this because I wouldn't allow a Halloween pacifier in sight at Christmas!!!

Happy Birthday Mamaw Devine

Mamaw Devine is 85 years young and today the family threw a SURPRISE party for her. She is one of the sweetest ladies you will ever meet and her legacy is beautiful! She has 4 children, 8 grandchildren and currently 11 great-grandchildren...and more to come in the future! You can only imagine what the holidays are like at Mamaw Devine's house! 5 of the great-grandchildren were not with the family last Christmas so we are all excited about this Thursday! She had NO idea about the party and when she walked into the church fellowship hall...all she could do was cry! She is a GEM! HAPPY 85th Birthday!


"Happy Birthday to you Mamaw Devine"

Halle-Grace, Lizzy and Zoey


I sang to Aunt Amy but I went to sleep instead!?

Aunt Judy is too much fun...I cried for her!!! WHAT? You don't even cry for your mom or dad Halle-Grace!!

Ready for bed after too much partying!

OH NO mama has a new toy!

If you are logging on to the blog, you know I LOVE to take photos. Jason gave me my Christmas present early...a NEW CAMERA! Thank goodness he did because I have SO much to learn. It has more bells and whistles and it will take a lot of practice, reading and maybe a class or two!!! Here are some shots on "regular" settings. Madison, Halle-Grace and Jason will all be glad when I get the hang of it! LOL!
Thanks Jason, I LOVE IT!!!