Feburary updates

We had a fun Valentine's Day. We made a cake and Carson signed his own name on all his cards.
This is decorating and eating the cake!


Carson and I love to hunt for letterboxes. This is one we found at High Falls State Park in South Georgia. It was hard to find, even Chris helped look.


Laura Joan loves to help Mommy with the laundry!


Carson doing his Weyerhauser work in his pirate hat. He loves to work with Daddy.

Laura Joan's Dedication

Today we dedicated Laura Joan to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Which means we stood before our church today and promised we would raise Laura Joan to know who Jesus is to us so that she too might come to a saving knowledge of Him when she is old enough to make this decision for herself. The Church body prayed for her and our family. It was a special day for us and we are humbled that we have been given such an important responsiblity. We ask for all of your prayers too.

Around the House

Helping Mommy cook, what I can't recall buy she loves to help and to eat.


Laura Joan is learning to use her spoon now alittle more than her fingers. She's fast becoming a big girl.
I think this is my dish towel she is holding and it must be after dinner and ready for bath time.
Laura Joan already knows her family's routine.



Mommy, Laura Joan and the Teddy Bears

The Zoo

Riding the train at the Zoo.



Laura Joan sliding at the zoo. She loves to slide and she is rarely afraid.


Carson the Zoo Pirate.

Riding the Merrie Go Round at the Zoo.

The Mahler's Christmas 2006

Our first Christmas photo with Laura Joan. Taken in front of the Briarlake Christmas Tree.

Santa brought Carson a remote control boat. Of course he can not play with til the summer time when we are at the boat in Tennessee. I guess Santa wanted to teach Carson patience.

Sharing Toys

Laura Joan has had to share alot of her toys, even with Mommy and Daddy. Thank you Granny and Papaw we ALL love the Musical Cow as you can see.

Of course Carson loves his boots and had to put them on right away!

The Rocking Horse

For both kids the rocking horse turned out to be the most loved gift of all even though it was supposed to be for Laura Joan. They seem to be sharing very well and Carson even helps Laura Joan get on it.

Sweet Gifts

Carson made and wrapped special gifts for Mommy and Daddy.
For Daddy he made a "Go Big Orange" Wind Sock and for me he made a snow globe. They are both the sweetest gifts we got. This was truly a special Christmas for us. With Carson's sweet loving heart that was so excited about Christmas. He counted down the days with our advent calendar and sang so beatifully in two Christmas Choirs. With Laura Joan here with us getting into all kinds of mischief. Instead of wondering and worring what she was doing in China. God is so Good and Gracious. We are just filled with awe and gratitude for His Precious Gifts to us.

Carson Prints His Name

Carson is very proud and so is Mommy because Carson has learned to write his name very clearly. Yeah Carson!

Chris's 48th Birthday Party

We did not have 48 candles so we used the 45 and added three singles
The old fart was just happy to have cake.

Yes I tried to lick the whole can of frosting!

Decorting Daddy's Birthday Cake

Which Mahler do you think enjoyed Chris's 48th Birthday the most?

Home from China

Laura Joan and I sleeping on that really long flight home.

Laura Joan officially entering the United States and becoming a US citizen. Hooray!


Welcomed home by my loving family. Carson looked so big when they picked us up at the airport. I thought he had grown a foot taller in just two weeks. Laura Joan sure seems happy to be home too. Thank you Jesus!

Guangzhou Sites

This is the William's little girl and oldest son ready to explore the dinner boat we took one evening.

This is me laughing about something as we watch the sites go by on top of the dinner boat. We had a nice time.


Laura Joan and I on the dinner boat.





Theses are the hotels all lit up around the island we saw on the dinner boat. The last picture with the flower and "Welcome" is our hotel the White Swan.


The daytime pictures are views of Guangzhou.

The White Swan Lobby

The Bethany October Children of Promise Travel Group




Pictures in the White Swan Lobby. Can you believe the beautiful waterfall.
We learned today that the White Swan is a very famous hotel. President Bush, the Queen and many other famous people have stayed here.

The Famous Red Couch Pictures

This is the famous Red Couch at the White Swan Hotel. All the adopted children have their group picture taken. Noah are little boy in the group would have none of this picture taking stuff with the girls. It was hysterical! Laura Joan decided she needed to take little Brea"s toy (the baby at the far right).

The children in the photo are all from the Shaanxi Province. From left to right they are Gracie (2), Chloe (2), Noah (22 months), Laura (16 months), Samantha (19 months) and Brea (16 months). These were all Children of Promise (special needs) children assigned to our agency by the Chinese government. Our agency then published the list of children to their offices and collected names of families interested in adopting them. After two weeks of collecting names the agency picked a family for each child from multiple request for each child. We are honored that we were chosen and thank God for the blessing of thise little miracle each and every day.

They don't have dryers too many dryers in China, most people hang their clothes out to dry like this. Even Laura Joan's foster home with 17 kids just got a dryer after we left. Can you imagine what doing laudry is like for 17 kids with no dryer. I never want to find out!






These stautes are all over Shamien Island in Guangzhou. They are so funny. It was such a treat to walk around the island and shop and take pictures. This is the vacation portion of our trip.

The White Swan in Guangzhou

The kids are playing ring around the rosey. As you can see Laura Joan is the smallest walking child in the group. She loves the other children, they are all delightful.


As we waited for our guide to check everyone into the hotel we were treated to a violin concert by one of the children in our travel group. Harmony is 8 years old and is traveling with her mom, dad and sister to adopt her baby brother Noah. Harmony played "Amazing Grace" beautifully and it was a real treat for all of us.