One more....we think

Just a little paperwork update. Of all the papers we have sent to the embassey to be approved, they are sending one back :(. In the big picture not a big deal, just another delay. They want Greg to resign a document. Then we have to send it back again ( with another mOney order) it will be done but another rediculous delay. So yes I am anxiously awaiting the mailman once again. We were in DC this weekend, perhaps we could have gone into the embassy , introduced ourselves and corrected the flagged paper. Or been arrested for trespassing! Lol!

Being Thankful

Tonight I was "teaching"my three year olds in AWANA craft class the theme was "being thankful" which goes with the season of Thanksgiving. But I really tried to focus on the fact that we should all be thankful each day, not just Thanksgiving. Not just good days, not just bad, sad, happy days but we should be thankful each day simply because God has created each day and for that we should be thankful! Now I am home and I really think that although I was "teaching" this to my very captive audience of three year olds, I truly believe God was teaching me the lesson of thankfulness!

Sometimes it is hard to understand

For the past couple months the girls and I have been doing some field trips with a local homeschool group. It has been nice watching Cali and Lily grow a bit in the independence, knowledge and relationships. Cali and I have kinda clicked with one mom of six children. Her sweet youngest daughter is about the same as Cali. This sweet, happy, feisty , independent,smart little girl has downs syndrome. It has been such a blessing for me to watch Cali play beside her new little friend and has never asked or looked at her new friend differently than her her other playmates. The innocence that Cali still processes is a beautiful thing to be a part of.
Lily has also made a special friend. this little girl is Lily's age and the oldest child in her family. Her mom was about 7 months pregnant when we met in September. So I enjoyed the tail end of my new friend's pregnancy. Always such an exciting time! This week she delivered her beautiful baby girl. Her sweet precious baby girl is now with Jesus. I know where she is but the pain of this family. So sad. Hard to understand sometimes the plans God has. Praying for them tonight.

Gotta love fed ex tracker!

I was able to track the package that contained our last document being sent to our agency. Our dossier consultant emailed me today and told me she did receive it, and sent that along with our other documents to Washington to get authenticated. She feels that we should have all of our paperwork in China in the next 3 weeks. Then basically China does the same thing with all the paper work that the US just did. Once we get our "DTC" (date to China) delivery date I will know for sure our file is there! Barring any earthquakes and or huge snow storms(both of which slowed down our last adoptions) we should be traveling within the next 3-6 months. It seems a bit more real now!

New book to read by Kay Bratt

If you have adopted,especially from China, Kay Bratt has written three books that you should read.Chasing China: A Daughter's Quest for Truth (Volume 1) is her newest release. Kay Bratt lived in China for several years. She volunteered in an orphanage. Her writing depicts her experiences while in China. Her was first book Silent Tears.

Approval arrived!!

We are one step closer. The US sent our approval letter to adopt. They received the request on August 24 and we received the approval letter today November 12th. This is one of the last steps on the US side of the paperwork. Hopefully all the documents can be authenticated and translated and sent to China by Christmas. Once the papers reach China it can still take up to 6 months to travel. This time can vary so of course I do hope we can travel earlier but...God knows exactly which day they will put Mia Caili in our arms. Happy dance today!!

Mail today??

I am praying that the mail man will deliver our approval letter from USCIC today. Then I will have to have it notarized and authenticated and then it (I think) will be the last piece of paper to be collected for our dossier be complete and ready to send to China.I am so ready to board that plane...
Please pray with me me for
Mia
Her foster family
My dear dear friends working in China
My patience

Veteran's Day 2011

Today is Veteran's Day. My father proudly served in WW 2 (he was 15 years old with a fake ID) and then re enlisted during the Korean War. Today we attended a wonderful service at my daughters high school honoring those who have served our country. There were men there that may have been about the same age as my Dad would be today. Hard to believe my Dad has been gone for so many years. He passed away when I was 16. His death changed the course of my life. I still miss him and love him dearly. As a Christian, we all want to hear "well done " one day. I wish I could hear that from my Dad. I did hear that from a dear dear older gentleman this summer and when I closed my eyes I pictured my Dad.
So today I thank my Dad and all the other men and women who have served this country.

I love these almond eyes!

Guess who
is looking at you?

Sunday November 6th, Orphan Sunday

So here I am again, it is Orphan Sunday. Why is there a day we call Orphan Sunday? I am assuming someone started this to raise awareness for the plight of the millions of orphans around the world. For me right now I feel like I am on stand by. I read other blogs and they are so on fire. On fire to help, to adopt, to raise funds, to go and be missionaries in orphanages in far off lands. I look at my two girls and I am amazed at their resilience, strength, love. I know it all comes from God. Other wise it would simply be unexplainable. As we embark on another adoption i feel so many emotions-excitement, fear, uneasiness, frustration, sadness, happiness, love, loneliness, togetherness, overwhelmed, sure, unsure ...do you get the picture...a bit of everything...I know that Satan fills me with all the negatives and God is all good.
Today our Pastor was teaching us that all of the bumps, u-turns, struggles, valleys, are orchestrated by God so that we can see His glory in everything. Some days I feel like I am in a valley, on top of a valley, traveling on a smooth road and then on a "caution ahead" flashing sign ahead. But I need to remember, believe that it is ALL for the good of God, all of the time!
Romans 8:28
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
I am glad I know his purpose for me, for right now anyway...

sweetness

A few weeks ago we received some updated photos of Mia Caili. Although we are not allowed to share her photo at this stage in the process, I figured this cant hurt!And i love sweet fingers, don't you?

Out of the mouth of my babe

After I read to the girls at bedtime and after they pray, Cali has started to ask each night, "why isn't Mia home yet?" God knows the day sweet Cali, that I can assure you!