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!!

The School Year Begins

Michael started his senior year this week.  How is it that my "baby" is now a senior in high school?  Michael is glad that he is no longer going to be "the baby" of our family.  Mia will take his place.  We had our first football game on Friday night.  I love Friday night football.    The Cypress Ranch mustangs beat the Ft. Bend Austin Bulldogs 34-21.  It was a great first game.  Michael is sad that Mia will not be able to see her big brother in the marching band.  I will take video and she will be able to see him during the concert season, but it is not the same as marching on the field.  We will take her to the football games next year.  Who knows maybe she will be in the marching band one day too!

Mia's Name

I can't remember exactly when we decided to name our daughter Mia.   I have always loved the name and it just felt like a natural fit.  We were going to add the middle name of Joy because we liked that too.  However, since our "Mia" is older we have decided to keep her Chinese name of Qing as her middle name.  Today I thought it would be interesting to find out the etymology of the name Mia.  So, I googled it and was so astounded to find out the connection between Mia and Qing.  The following is what I found out.  Mia, originally Hebrew short for Michal (interesting that we have a son named Michael.)  Mia was a woman in the Bible who was a sister of Moses.  Hebrew meaning "deeply hoped for daughter."  When we received our paperwork from the orphanage they said that Qing means "the hope for her to be loved by others."

So I would say that this deeply hoped for daughter will definitely be loved by others.  Especially her family.  Thank you God for connections.  

One Year and Waiting

One year ago today we started our adoption journey.  On August 17th, 2010 we took a leap of faith and ordered our adoption kit from America World.  We began a journey lead by faith and prayer.  Now we have a precious little face to put with the prayers of our heart and we can't wait to meet her.

"We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life.  But those who make their journey home across time and miles, growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them, are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us by God's very own hands."  

                                              Kristi Larson 

 

Vacation Time

Butch and I have just returned from a quick trip to Idaho to see his grandparents and family.  They are both 90 years old and have been married for 64 years.  Just the cutest, sweetest  couple.  We should all be so blessed!!  They are excited about our trip to China to bring Mia home.  We are not exactly sure when we will travel, but it looks like possibly December or January.

PA - Today

Great News!!  We got our PA (pre-approval) email today.  Which leads us to the next step...we start  waiting on the RA (referral acceptance) which could take 2-4 additional months.  Whew....almost one entire year spent on paper chasing and waiting.  Thanks be to God!!

Just as a side note:  I went to the store today and bought some yarn to make a blanket.  "Mia" was found at the market place wrapped in a blanket, so I want to make her a special blanket for her "Gotcha Day."