Adoption Update

This week we have been busy with paperwork.  Actually this has been over a year of non-stop papers and I only see more paperwork in the future.  Thank goodness I have Butch handling this for us.  He tells me where to sign and I sign.  What a blessing because I don't think I could keep all of this straight.  It is an unbelievable amount of documents to keep straight.    We sent off our Referral Acceptance one day and the next we sent off our Visa application information.  Needless to say we are still waiting for our travel information, but we do anticipate going sometime in December.

These next two months are going to fly by.  I just want to rush and get on the first airplane headed to China, but I know that we are not prepared yet.  Trying to read as many blog posts from other people who have gone before us.  Learning what to pack and expect while we are there.  One thing I've learned for sure...this is not going to be a vacation.  This will be a blur of an adventure filled with paperwork, sight-seeing, shopping, squatty potties, sickness, searching for American food, rushing here and there and not over-packing our 44lb per person weight limit!   Did I mention that there will definitely be some tears shed on this trip?  Those of you who know me, know there will definitely be some tears.  I can only bring home one child.

Whatever is in store for us it will be well worth it!!

Introducing Mia Qing

With the most grateful hearts and all praise to God, we welcome our new daughter and little sister......
                                            
                                           Mia Qing

Here are a few pieces of information that we've been told about Mia:

• Lives with her foster family in the province of Hubei, China
• Birthday is April 25, 2002
• She is cute and gets along well with other kids
• Dances, plays games, sings and likes to listen to music
• Likes books and can recite poetry
• Loves to play outside on the playground
• Works hard on her studies
• Not choosy with her food and has a good appetite 
• Quiet and obstinate sometimes (what 9 year old isn't?)

We look forward to discovering her personality, gifts and talents.  

Referral Acceptance

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
Matthew 21:22 NLT

We have been praying that our RA (Referral Acceptance) would come some time in the month of September.  It must be God's will because today we received our  phone call even though it wasn't scheduled to come until at least October.  Thanks be to God!!

Our Family Picture

Mia's Blankets

When Li Qing was one day old she was wrapped up in a blanket and placed at the front gate of a market in her province of Tuanfeng County.  I'm not sure why her birth parents made this heartbreaking decision, but I choose to believe that they did it out of love and it took tremendous courage to leave her behind and walk away.  This is what I will raise her to believe.  That her parents loved her so much they wanted better for her.   We can second guess this decision for the rest of our lives because we will never have any answers for the many questions that will plague our daughter as to why she was left. We choose to be positive and I hope she does indeed have courageous genes because she is going to need them in her future.

Our little daughter weighed 7lbs and was 20 inches long on that day in April of 2002.  Perhaps the orphanage kept her original blanket.  They usually do try to keep their clothing and whatever they were found with.  I made her a baby blanket because she will indeed be our baby girl.  No matter what her size is now. 

She was left in a blanket of love and she will be received in a blanket of love!!

           

Hummingbird Frenzy

Today I am going to try something new by adding a video to my blog.  I want to see how this works because when we are in China I want to be able to add videos.

My parents live out in the country and they have the most beautiful yard with flowers, birds and butterflies.  I can sit for hours and just watch.  Actually it looks like a scene from Birds & Blooms magazine.  Yesterday they had so many hummingbirds that you couldn't even count them all.  At our house I've seen maybe 8 at one time.  Check out this incredible view.  

Homecoming & Wedding

Congratulations Cy-Ranch on winning your first ever homecoming game.  The mustangs won 34-21.  It was a great game.  Michael went to the dance on Saturday with Taylor and his friends.

Butch and I went to my friend Diane's wedding.  Diane was my student teacher last year at Keith Elementary and we became good friends.  It was a beautiful Vietnamese wedding.  I would say probably one of the best weddings I have attended.  However, it was an eye opening experience for us.  Sitting there in the church pew not understanding a single word at times and being only one of just a few caucasian people in the entire church, we realized how our new daughter is going to feel.   To look and sound completely different from everyone gives us a better understanding of how she will feel coming to a foreign place where the language, food and people are different from her.  I'm very happy we got to experience the occasion.  Just one of the many experiences God places in our lives to enrich us and help us to grow.      

Homecoming Senior Mum

Rachael's Creation

Rachael Surprised Michael

Beautiful job Rachael!!

He Loves It!!

Here in Texas we are getting ready for homecoming next week.  It is a tradition that the girls give the boys a garter to wear on their arm and the boys give the girls a mum to wear.  Since Michael's date for homecoming was a senior last year we don't do a mum for her this year.   If you are not familiar with these monstrosities let me tell you the "bigger the better."  In fact they are quite ridiculous and a total waste of money, but you gotta have your mum.  I remember when Rachael went to her first homecoming her mum even had lights.   Rachael has been waiting for several years now to create her brother's

"perfect senior garter."   So last night she and I had our mum making party.  The senior class mums are white and gold.  All other grades have the school colors. Michael came home last night and Rachael surprised her brother with his completed mum.   Can't wait for the game next Friday.  Go Mustangs!!