Wings for Ladybug

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2011-11-03T22:02:00.000-04:00

100 Wishes Quilt Finished!

2010-10-15T19:55:00.000-04:00

Well, as finished as I can make it! It will go off to a professional for the actual quilting. But the borders are on and all 100 squishes are attached.

But no rest for the wicked. I'll be starting the second quilt for AJ soon! Be sure to check out his blog for more info.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the quilt. There are squares from friends, family, cyber friends and so many wonderful people.

:D

34 Months.....

2010-01-31T17:53:00.002-05:00

It's funny looking back over this adoption journey and all the things we worried about. What if we traveled to China when Brian had class? (He graduated May 2008.) What if we would have to skip the Bejing tour because we traveled during the Olympics? (We are just two weeks away from the opening of the WINTER olympics, and if we travel before the London 2012 olympics I'd be surprised.)

So I'm just not worrying anymore. It is what it is, and nothing I can do will change it.

My heart goes out to my cyber friends who just can't take the waiting any more and are dropping out, giving up on their dreams to be parents. We are not quite there yet, but the thought has crossed my mind. It just shouldn't be this hard!

So thank you, dear friends, for hanging in there with me. We'll keep you posted!

:D

Advent ~ A Season of Hope

2009-12-22T13:52:00.003-05:00

Well, here we are in our third Advent season of this adoption journey. The travel has been treacherous thus far, and there is little cause for hope that it will get any better. But that is just what we need, HOPE, to sustain us through this challenge.

As in advent, we hope for the coming of Jesus with certainity that He will come again, (we just don't know when), so in this adoption we hope for the coming of a referral with certainity that it will come, (we just don't know when). It is not always easy to keep the hope, and I spend plenty of days in despair, wrestling with the fact that I may never be a Mom. But there is always something that comes to give me hope.

Sometimes it comes in the form of a package from a secret pal on an especially dark day. Sometimes it comes from an email from a friend that I haven't heard from in a while just checking in to see how I am doing. Sometimes it comes from following along when a cyber friend travels to China to meet their child for the first time. Sometimes it comes in a card from Half-the-Sky that tells me that a family member cares enough to send a donation in the HOPE that it will somehow benefit Ladybug.

So thank you all for being an angel that brings me the grace to hope another day. I wish you all a very HOPEFUL Christmas and a joyous New Year!

:D

The Miracle of the Soggy Home Study

2009-10-30T18:13:00.002-04:00

Our current 171-H (permission to bring home a foreign born orphan) expires on November 11, 2009. We have to update our paperwork every 18 months. The update includes criminal background checks, DMV record checks, Child Protective Services background checks, medical exams and a visit to our home by our Social Worker. It's kinda a big deal.

Our home visit was October 12. Because of recent changes to the way USCIS approves couples to bring an orphan to the US, we had to have major tweaks to our home study, so it took a little longer than normal. While our SW was updating our study, another couple had some issues with the USCIS, so she wanted to get to the bottom of that issue to make sure that our home study was compliant.

So finally, on October 23, our SW FedExed our homestudy update and papers to us. Mind you, this package contains our homestudies (our entire life history ~ how we were raised, our relationships with our families, our education, how we met and fell in love, how we plan to parent, our financial situation, etc.), copies of our birth certificates, copy of our marriage licence, copies of our drivers licences, our social security numbers, you get the idea ~ mega personal stuff.

We thought it might come on Monday, but the FedEx tracker said that the package would be delivered on Tuesday by 7 pm.

Tuesday evening, I was at church for our parish mission. The theme of the night was the gospel of Luke, and Fr. Jude spoke a lot about discernment. How we know if we are following God's plan when things seem to fall in place and we feel a certain peace.

So when we got home (B was at another meeting) and discovered that neither of us picked up the package, we checked the tracker, and it said that it was delivered at 2:36 PM. I was out in the rain, searching the yard with a flash light looking to see if the package somehow blew into the bushes. It was 9:15 pm, too late to knock on neighbors' doors to see if they received the package by mistake. B got on the phone with FedEx and demanded to know where the package was delivered, but they were unable to tell us anything until they spoke to the driver in the morning.

I jumped online to see when the paperwork HAD to be in to the USCIS. Basically, the answer was asap. We called our SW on her cell phone to see if we could arrange a new package to be put together on Wednesday so we could drive down and pick it up. Our SW told us that they would track the package first thing Wednesday AM, and if need be drop another one in FedEx so it would arrive Friday. Cutting it way close for comfort! Plus there was the "small" matter of our super personal information being lost somewhere out in the world!

We were just so devastated. We have hit road block after road block in this adoption journey. What if this was a sign that we were just supposed to stop the insanity and pull out of China? I was IMing my friend during this crisis while researching online, and she said that God does not communicate that way ~ it is more of the devil's MO. So after much soul searching and tears, we went to bed around 11:30 pm, ready to get up first thing and start tracking and deciding what to do.

Around midnight, our dog started barking. I heard the storm door open and close. I thought it might not be latched, and since it was stormy out, the wind was blowing it around. So I grab my glasses and my robe and stumble down the stairs to check the door. When I opened the door, guess what I found ~ a very soggy FedEx package containing our home study packet!

The pages were a bit wet around the bottom edge, but I was able to dry them with my hair dryer, and then I put them under our big family bible to flatten out. The were in great shape in the morning, and we were able to sign them and put them in the express mail later that day.

So, is the miracle that the FedEx driver came out at midnight to deliver a lost package?

Or is it that a neighbor got home at midnight and found the misdelivered package and decided to bring it to us right then and there instead of waiting until morning?

Or perhaps the miracle that God saw our despair and stepped in and said "You are going to complete this adoption. You will have that home study tonight," and prompted someone to bring us that package that night.

This has been a long strange journey. It has at times alienated me from God, and at other times given me great insight into our relationship with Him. Right now we are on good terms. I hope this is the beginning of a climb out of this valley to a wonderful new peak!

:D

New Strategy....

2009-10-12T20:47:00.002-04:00

In 1997, I leased a Dodge Stratus, mainly because it was a nice big car suitable for kids, which we planned on having soon after we were married.

In 2002, we purchased a Ford Focus Stationwagon, mainly because it was a nice big car suitable for kids, which we planned on having later that year.

12 years later: no kids, but a "grocery getter" for a car.

So, in an effort to tempt the adoption fates into a faster referral, we decided to get a sporty 2010 Mazada 3! It's not a "family" car in the strictest sense, and that is just perfect for us! It will be a fun car to drive around for a few years. If and when we have kiddos, we'll trade in B's car for a more kid friendly vehicle.

I finished piecing the 100 wishes quilt this weekend. I just have the boarder to put on, then to get it to the quilter! I'll post pictures when it is all set for the quilter!

We are having a wonderful fall so far. We had visitors from the North, enjoyed the State Fair, and are emersed in post-season baseball. Go Yankees and Phillies!

Hope you are enjoying this wonderful season!

If you come to a fork in the road....

2009-08-28T15:04:00.002-04:00

... take it! Wise words from Yogi Berra.

That describes this point in my life perfectly! After 29 months of "waiting" to adopt from China, I've decided to take the fork and pursue both goals of advancing my carrer and being a parent. We'll just have to wait and see which path ends up working out!

I applied for the MBA program and start classes next Spring. With an MBA, I'll be able to advance in the academic world and it will also prepare me for work outside the university if life leads me in that direction.

It is very odd working towards mutliple, mutually exclusive goals, but that is the best move with the hand that I have been dealt! Hopefully this will keep me nimble enough to deal with the next curveball life throws.

We had a wonderful summer with family vacations and visits. But I am done with the heat and humidity and I am looking foward to crisp autumn days and the changing colors.

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!
:D

More Musings on Lemons

2009-05-31T16:44:00.005-04:00

Well, I think my head and my heart are finally in agreement that it is going to be another 3 years yet before we bring Ladybug home. Along with that comes the probability that she will be our one and only.

The journey has not been a picnic. "It will be worth it in the end" makes me want to throw up. I'm coming to terms that the wait is worth it NOW.

I've seen many of my cyber friends' marriages crumble under the stress of adopting from China. I think that our marriage is stronger for it. I am convinced now more than ever that I truly married my soul mate and my best friend. It isn't without its problems, but it is a great marriage and I wouldn't change one minute of it. With out the wait, it may have taken me years to realize the treasure I have in my dear husband.

Many of our friends tell us "Enjoy your free time now, because once you have kids you won't have any." We have taken that to heart. We have sleep-in days, naps in the afternoon, take day trips, plan big vacations. We enjoy grown-up TV shows and movies. And this has strenthened our relationship and our enjoyment of life.

I truly think this will help us be better parents, as well. We've had 11 years together as a married couple. We've spent 7 years waiting for a child to come into our lives. My sincere hope is that I have no regrets about having a child, that I never wish that I had one more "sleep in day", never wish I could have just one day to myself, never offer my child to a friend (or stranger) because "I just need a break." I hope this wait will prepare me to embrace the busy-ness that a child brings into the home.

So you will forgive me, dear blog reader, if I post here less often about the adoption. Since we are now through the Review Room, there really is no news to tell until we get referral 3 years from now. I will continue to post interesting happenings in our family, but I imagine that updates will be sparse.

Under the interesting happenings category, B received an award this week from a law enforcement agency because of his work on a case that helped put a loan shark in jail and ensure that his victims receive restitution. I've posted a picture from the night. It was a great evening in a grand old building!

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!

Cute Poem

2009-03-23T22:14:00.002-04:00

A dear friend of mine sent this along to me. I don't know who wrote it, but man, can I relate!

YOU MIGHT BE ADOPTING FROM CHINA IF:

~You know that I-600 & I-171 aren't highways....

~You've been expecting a baby for over 3 years....

~You understand that it's 2006 in some parts of the world....

~You've "paid for" 3 citizenships, but never brought anyone into the U.S....

~You know that waiting for China has nothing to do with Dillards or dishes..

~Your homestudy is followed by a number (i.e. #3 or #4)...

~You never know how many days next month will have...

~You know that babies come in batches...

~You've been fingerprinted four times, but never committed a crime...

~You automatically assume everyone who is expecting is having a girl...

~You own new clothing in 3 little sizes for all 4 seasons...

~You look twice when you see a lady bug...

~You're more interested in what will happen in March 2006 than in March 2009...

~You know people who understand when you talk about 2 day months & 5 day months...

~Your due date hasn't changed by days, but by years...

~You know who the Rumor Queen is ... AND ... you don't know who she is...

~You know that forecast doesn't have anything to do with the weather...

~You've waited so long, they re-checked your fingerprints to see if they changed...

~Trying to understand why they're printing you again, you study your own fingerprints and wonder if fingerprints grow wrinkles...

~When you speak of "that time of month" you're talking about CCAA updates & referrals...

And finally...

You might be adopting from China if you love someone you've never met with all your heart

Author ~ Unknown

MEGA Tear Jerker

2009-02-27T15:10:00.002-05:00

I'm having trouble with YouTube in posting the actual video here, so I'll just do the link for now.

BEFORE you click on it, grab some kleenex. Seriously, go grab them. I'll wait.

The words are powerful, but the pictures are what did it for me. Someone made this for their little one. They obviously got a referral because they have some picutres. I think the orphanage pics are from someone else. They haven't traveled yet (at the time they made the video).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcPBA9-wyZE#

This hit me so hard today. I can totally relate to this song and the video. The room is all ready, just no Kiddo to sleep in it yet.

The end of the song gives me hope that this will happen, someday. Until then, it is such a comfort to know that others are enduring this wait, and even made a song about it!

Maybe a candidate for the adoption video. What do you think?

:D

Wonderful Surprise!

2009-02-16T19:01:00.003-05:00

We received a phone call over the weekend from one of the local FCC (Families with Children from China) families. They have an annual tradition of providing the flowers for their church on the weekend closest to the day that they met their daughter in China. After services, they then give the flowers to a waiting family to help boost their spirits and wish them luck in the process. The family selected us to receive the flowers this year! They just stopped over and delivered the flowers. It was 14 years ago today that they first met their daughter. She is a lovely young lady now!

We are so touched by this gesture. It is a goregous arrangement, and I plan on pressing some of them to put in Ladybug's scrapbook. We are truly blessed with a wonderful support network here!

Hope all is well with you!

OUT OF REVIEW!!!

2009-02-02T22:11:00.007-05:00

WHOOOO HOOOOO! We got the official word today that our file is now out of the review room! What a fantastic Lunar New Year Present!

This means that the CCAA has reviewed our file and found it acceptable. No questions, no additional information needed ~ we are approved!

We still have no idea how much longer it will be unti we get a referral for our Ladybug. Things are going very slow. We hope it will be within the next 2 years or so.

This is truly a big milestone worth celebrating. We are just thrilled to have this hurdle behind us.

So far the year of the Ox is shaping up pretty well! We are both Oxen, so maybe this is a good sign that 2009 will be a wonderful year.

Keep up the prayers for bringing Ladybug home soon!

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T13:03:00.004-05:00

Good riddance to 2008! Bring on 2009!

Here are some more pics of our Christmas decorations. This is my favorite display ~ my Precious Moments nativity set. My mom started me out with the basic set and the three wise men, and my sister-in-love scours e-bay every year to find good deals on additional pieces. This year I was surprised to receive the goat (very rare!), the pig and the bunnies. Once Ladybug comes home, I think that we will use the nativity set as an advent calendar and put one piece out a night until Christmas. Just a few more angels and we'll have plenty to do that!

Hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year!
:D

Christmas Decor ~ #1

2008-12-17T21:39:00.005-05:00

Well, since this site is about sharing, I think I'll post a series of our Christmas decor. Not many folks will get to see it this year IRL, so I'll share it virtually.

Tonight I'll post some outside pics. Sorry so fuzzy, but you can't really use a flash and get the twinkling effect. We bought new LED lights this year for the house and tree. It took a little getting used to the white light vs. yellow lights, but I really like it. The blinkie snow men are new this year. They are my favorite!

And, we timed it just perfectly. The day we put up the outdoor decorations was the one day that we had snow that actually stuck! You can see it in the pics! Adds just the right finishing touch!

Enjoy! :D

Getting Closer...

2008-11-17T21:33:00.004-05:00

... to 100 squares, that is. I have 94 now. Just 6 more to go! I started laying it out on our guest bed to see what squares I want next to each other. I'll give it a couple days before I start sewing it so I can play with it some more.

If you have yet to send in your squish, please get it to me asap. I'm going to get to 100 one way or another! :)

The line is moving slow as ever. They are up to 2/17/06. Keep up the prayers for a speed up soon!

And we are still in review. Some agencies are reporting that their March folks are out of review, but our agency still shows that we are in. Sigh. I guess no news is good news, but I'll still be glad when we are out of review.

Happy Fall!

WE ARE IN REVIEW!

2008-09-26T21:26:00.003-04:00

After 18 months, our file is finally in the Review Room! Some one may be looking at all our paperwork right now and determining if we are eligible to adopt a precious child from China. This is one of the last hurdles that we have to over come. Hopefully we will be out of the Review Room by Christmas.

After we pass the Review Room, we move on to the Matching Room. When it is our turn, they will take our file off the shelf, shake the dust off, and match us with Ladybug. Our place in line is 3/30/07 and they are on 2/9/06. It's like the deli line in Dante's 5th circle.

This is progress. This means we are real. Now let's hope that this line starts moving!

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!

Adoption Song

2008-09-19T20:51:00.002-04:00

Well, I heard the best song on the country radio station the other day. Try as I might, I couldn't find the lyrics or a video on YouTube given the limited lyrics that I remembered. On my way to the dentist today, the station played it again and told me the title!

The song is "Here" by Rascal Flatts. It's the third video below. Let me know what you think.

The other two videos are songs that have helped me get through the wait.

Enjoy!
:D

Rodney Atkins - If You're Going Through Hell

2008-09-19T20:49:00.001-04:00

Another one that helps me get through the wait!

Rascal Flatts - Stand

2008-09-19T20:43:00.001-04:00

Not for the adoption video, but a song that has really helped me get through this wait.

rascal flatts here lyrics

2008-09-19T20:39:00.001-04:00

I think this is it! Let me know if you think this is a good adoption video song.

New Landscape

2008-09-13T16:05:00.003-04:00

You may be aware of our boxwood issues. Apparently the front of our house is exposed to super sunshine that burns your average boxwoods. We've gone through two sets since we have lived here. B did some research and found some sun resistant boxwoods. If these die, we know we have mega problems, since they are made of plastic! They look great from the road and are very low maintaince. I hope they work out.

You can also see our new wishing well in the pic. We also have a new wooden planter that will go inbetween the boxwoods, but I'm waiting for cooler weather so I can plant some mums in it before I put it out. Maybe next weekend.

I also posted a pic of our humming bird feeder! We have humming birds! They are so pretty, and my next goal is to get a pic of one at the feeder....

Just thougth I'd share our new landscape!

Only 13 more to go!

2008-09-12T16:43:00.002-04:00

I counted up my squishes the other night and I now have 87! Only 13 more to go to get to 100!

It is my plan to start working on piecing the quilt after my fall class ends in the middle of October. If you still have a squish to send, please get it in soon! I have so many beautiful squishes and the quilt is going to be just stunning.

Things are going well for us. I'm taking economics this fall, and it is very cool to finally understand these concepts. I am surprised how many economic concepts are coming out in the political ads and conversations. I was so stoked that I understood the phrase used at the RNC: "China is like Adam Smith on steriods."

Our next big house project is the lawn. B ordered a whole bag of super seed, so hopefully we'll have a lush green lawn soon!

China is still crawling along. They have referred through February 9, 2006, so that puts us about 14 months behind the front of the line. I still have my fingers crossed that we'll see a significant speed up by the end of 2008 or beginning of 2009. There are reports that March 2007 is in the review room, but our agency still reports that their February 2007 folks are still in review. I will be so glad to have this milestone behind us! Not that I am worried about being rejected, but it will be nice to know that we are in for sure.

I hope all is well in your neck of the woods!
:D

Let the Games begin!

2008-08-11T20:00:00.005-04:00

Well, it's that time again. Every four years my world revolves around the athletes of the olympiad. This year is obviously near and dear since it is being hosted by Bejing. We originally thought that we would be watching the Olympics with Ladybug here in the US. Hopefully she'll be home by the 2012 London Olympics!

But it is kinda cool to think that she is part of the national pride and ferver that is sweeping China right now. At the very least, her birth mother is enjoying China's coming out party, and that will always be a part of Ladybug's past.

We are putting all prayers and good thoughts toward a speed up in referrals after the Olympics. The CCAA has referred families logged in through 1/31/06. We are logged in 3/30/07, so there are still 14 months between us and where the current referrals are. Please keep a speed up in your prayers so we can be united with our daughter soon!

Hope you are enjoying the Olympics! Take in the beauty of the country ~ hopefully we'll have pictures of us in front of the venues in the not too distant future.

:D

Ain't We Got Fun!

2008-07-02T21:49:00.003-04:00

For our tenth wedding anniversary (time flies!), we decided to go on a fantastic Carnival cruise out of NYC to St. John, New Brunswick. It was a wonderful four days of being spoiled with service and gourmet food. We took a bus tour to St. Martin to see the sea cave and have "world famous" clam chowder. Canada is beautiful country!

There was so much to see and do on board the ship, as well. We loved to people watch in the casino and every night we were treated to an awesome show. The Karoke bar was a hoot, as well! (No, I did not get up and sing. There was not enough liquor on board the ship for that to happen!) It was so nice to be able to pop back to the room for a quick change or a nice nap and not have it interrupt the day.

And the dinners! Perhaps my favorite was the Chateaubriand, or perhaps the Maine lobster tail and shrimp, although the tiliapa was yummy. B enjoyed the prime rib, panko crusted shrimp, salmon and chicken. The appetizers were wonderful as well. Fresh fruit, stuffed mushrooms, shrimp cocktail, mmmmmm. And the desserts! You would gain 5 lbs just reading about them, so I'll spare you all but the melting chocolate cake. Chocolate cake on the outside, yummy hot fudgey chocolate sauce on the inside, served with vanilla ice cream. I'm drooling right now thinking about it!

It was a wonderful way to pass the time while waiting for our Ladybug. It is great to have short term things to look forward to help me from going crazy waiting for her!

Hope you were able to get away for a bit this summer!

IZ - Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World

2008-05-13T20:59:00.001-04:00

Somewhere Over the Rainbow/ What a Wonderful World

Don Henley - Taking You Home

2008-05-13T20:54:00.001-04:00

Taking You Home

Martina McBride - In My Daughter's Eyes (LIVE)

2008-05-13T20:47:00.001-04:00

New Adoption Video Candidates

2008-05-13T20:43:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I posted some videos.

"In My Daughter's Eyes" is just a great song and makes me think of what I want to be to our daughter.

"Taking you Home" is my current favorite. I think it is just so appropriate, with the waiting theme.

Finally, Iz's version of "Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World". It is just a really pretty song, and makes me think of our Ladybug waiting Over the Rainbow for us!

Let me know what you think, and if you have your own suggestions!

Lessons from Lemons

2008-05-04T19:12:00.003-04:00

My Aunt Janet once sent me a card that said: "When life hands you lemons, stuff them down your bra. Can't hurt, right?"

Seems like I am always trying to find new ways to use the lemons that life hands to me. This latest lemon of the ever expanding adoption wait (we are now at month 13 of our "10 month wait") has really put a lot of things into perspective for me. Please indulge me while I muse on some of those lessons in periodic posts on this blog!

The first lesson comes from a Don Henley song, "My Wedding." The lyric is "To want what we have, to take what we are given, with grace." That has really hit me hard lately. It seems that we have been looking forward to the day when our family starts to grow that we have forgotten to live in the present. I know that I have gotten caught up in the monthly countdown and have been wishing away this past 13 months.

So, after hearing this song, I have taken the challenge to really want what I have right now. I am in the very fortunate position to be married to the most wonderful guy in the whole world. He is so supportive of me and is truly my best friend. I can enjoy just being us. I have a great job, and a goal of completing the business certificate program. I going to start living for today and just let tomorrow come.

We've been dealt a pretty tough hand, but it is what it is. We can scream, cry, fight, blame, and withdraw from life, but what good would that do anyone? So, we choose to take what we have been given and make the best of it.

We have been blessed by wonderfully supportive family and friends. Thank you for your prayers and kind words.

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.

One Year Down...

2008-04-01T19:52:00.002-04:00

Well, we celebrated our one year LID anniversary on March 30. Who knew a year could go by so fast and yet drag on. What a weird sensation.

Still no good news out of China. Looks like April will be another 5 day batch of referrals.

B is almost done with his MBA degree. He is looking forward to being done with homework. I, on the other hand, have just started back to school. I figure that I might as well do some thing constructive with the wait. I might even be able to earn MY MBA!

Well, that's all for now. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!
:D

New Focus...

2008-02-14T22:01:00.002-05:00

So in the craziness that we call our life these days, I have a new focus. I'm trying to find songs for the adoption video. I will occasionally post songs that are in the running, and you tell me what you think.

This first one comes from my mom. I love it because I can totally see my DH dancing with our DD to this some day, and really live the words. (Have I mentioned that I have the best DH in the entire world?)

Enjoy "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman.

She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders
It's been a long day
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me
Saying "Dad, I need you
There's a ball at the castle
And I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone...

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone
She will be gone

Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away
But I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"
So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

Steven Curtis Chapman ::

2008-02-14T22:00:00.001-05:00

Cinderella ~ possible adoption video?

Urgent Request

2008-02-02T16:43:00.000-05:00

Many of you may have heard about the snowstorms in China. What you might not have heard about is the many orphanages that have been hit hard by the storms. Many are located in parts of the country that do not typically have such harsh weather, and therefore do no have heaters, blankets, warm clothes, etc. They are having trouble getting food and supplies into the orphanages. Roads are closed, and supplies in local stores are quickly becoming unafforadable due to supply and demand.

Even though Ladybug might not be born yet, we have many friends whose daughters are suffering right now. We have a couple friends who have pictures of their daughters and are just waiting for travel authorization. Can you imagine "knowing" your daughter and wondering if she is warm and fed tonight?

What can be done? There is a reputable organization called Half the Sky Foundation. They can be found at www.halfthesky.org. They typically provide support for the children of China in the orphanages until their adoptive parents can come for them. They have set up an emergency relief fund called the Little Mouse Emergency Fund. (2008 is the year of the rat/mouse.) If it is within your finaical wearwithall, please consider a donation to this fund. There is a little mouse icon on the homepage. They money will go to help provide diapers, formula, blankets and other immediate relief to the orphanages affected by the snow disaster. As with most developing countries, they can get a big bang for an american buck, so even a small donation can do a lot of good.

If you are unable to make a donation, please pray for the safety of all the little ones in the orphanages. They are among the most vulnerable in this type of situation and I am so concerned for their wellbeing.

Hope all is well in your neck of the world!
:D

100 Good Wishes Progress #1

2008-01-09T21:31:00.000-05:00

I've gotten a lot of questions about what exactly to send, what kind of fabric prints, what a wish should look like, etc.

So, here you go! Here are some pictures of fabric squares and some wishes and the scrapbook. The fabric should be 8x8, 100% cotton. Let your imagination run wild!!

Hopefully I will have all 100 squishes soon and will be able to start work on the quilt piecing! I think this will be incredibly theraputic for me and make the whole adoption thing seem more real. Sometimes the looooong wait makes it seem like it is never going to happen, like it is some sort of pipe dream that we are not getting any closer to. It helps to do concrete things to get ready, like decorating the nursery and making the 100 Good Wishes quilt.

Thanks for all of your support! If you haven't sent in a squish yet, get it in quick!

9 months down...

2007-12-30T21:10:00.000-05:00

Well, in any normal pregnancy, we would have our bags packed and awaiting that "honey, it's time to go to the hopsital" moment. But in this pregnancy, we are still waiting, waiting, waiting. The news for the January 2008 referrals doesn't look good ~ just another 5 days to 12/19/05. Here's hoping that 2008 will bring many many months worth of referrals!

We had a great Christmas visit with Brian's family. There were presents galore, and everyone seemed to enjoy their treasures.

Brian's mom is the best mother-in-law. In the Christmas cards that we send to the family that we are not going to see over Christmas, I write "We'll be home for Christmas, if only in our dreams." To the family that we are going to see, I write "Please have snow, and mistletoe, and presents under the tree." Well, the weather was very mild this year, so there was no hope of a white christmas. M&D got a new puppy this fall, so they did not put up a tree since Tuffy would have knocked it over. So M went out and bought a package of mistletoe so she could at least have one thing I "asked" for! Thanks, M!

We will start our paperchase for renewing our 171H in mid January. We'll have to do this every year until we bring Ladybug home. More fun! Please keep up the prayers for a speedy referral so we won't have to renew more than twice!

Wishing you a very happy, healthy 2008,

A Season of Waiting...

2007-12-13T22:16:00.000-05:00

Well, we are now in our second Advent of waiting for our Ladybug. Last year, we were finishing up our paperchase and getting ready to send our documents off to China. This year, we are just waiting. They ways things are going, we will spend the next two to three Advents waiting. It has been an interesting adventure in patience.

We will start the process of renewing our paperwork after the new year. We have to keep our I171H current, or else we have to start all over again and fall under the new rules. Hopefully it will be a lot easier since we did it last year.

Also, if you have quilt squares and wishes for the 100 Good Wishes Quilt, please send them along! I am getting very close to having 100 and would love to have your squish in the quilt! I hope to have this as my late winter project.

Christmas preparations have been coming along. I have just about all of my cookies done, gifts are wrapped, and cards are out. Hopefully after this weekend, I'll be able just to sit back and enjoy the season!

Hope you are having a very blessed Advent season!
:D

Back from Disney!

2007-11-03T17:18:00.000-04:00

We had the great opportunity to go to the happiest place on earth this fall with Brian's sister and her family. It was a great escape, and even though we hit 4 parks in 4 days, it was very fun. We visited China in EPCOT, and had the cast member write the name we selected for Ladybug in Chinese in my autograph book. He also added "Dreams Come True" in Chinese. We looked at all the cool stuff in the gift shop, and created a "wish list" of the real stuff when we go to the real China. We also got to watch the Dragon Acrobats ~ young, talented kids from China doing amazing acrobatics.

We also took in shows and rides, and had a great dinner at the Crystal Palace with Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore. I am so glad that we were able to share our niece and nephew's first Disney trip with them! Next time we visit, we hope that Ladybug has just as wonderful of a time.

We are now 7 months into the waiting process. Nobody has any idea on how long the wait is at this point. I've seen predictions that we could receive a referral as early as late 2009 or as late as 2011. So we just sit and wait and prepare as best we can. Keep up the prayers for a sooner rather than later referral date!

Hope all is well with you and yours!
:D

6 months down...

2007-10-05T21:41:00.000-04:00

This wait is so crazy! On the one hand, time seems to be standing still until we can bring Ladybug home. On the other, I can't believe it has been over a year since we started the process, and six whole months of being officially "in line."

We are still holding hope that it will be sometime in 2009 that we travel to China, but at this point, nothing is certain. It seems so funny that when we first started the process, we were concerned that Brian would still be in school trying to finish up his MBA with a little one crying in the night. He'll be finishing up in May 2008. Then, we were concerned that we would be traveling to China around the Olympics. The only glimpse of China we will get in August 2008 is from NBC's coverage of the Games.

We still believe that our little girl is somewhere out there. We pray every night for her birth mother, who may or may not even be pregnant yet.

Thank you for your continued support. It is a long haul, but we are hunkered down for the wait. We'll see what news the next few months bring us. But in the meantime, we'll just enjoy life as we know it while we can!

:D

New Favorite Band

2007-09-05T21:52:00.000-04:00

So, every once and a while I get an urge to listen to country music. Maybe because it reminds me of working at Schramm's in High School, maybe because it reminds me of summer nights star gazing with my dad, maybe because God wants to give me a message. Last year it was Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel" when we were trying to decide to go with adoption or not. Then it was Rascal Flatts' "My Wish" when I started working on the 100 Wish Quilt Scrapbook. I'm using the lyrics throughout the scrapbook to tie it all together. Now, in the midst of my despair, once again Rascal Flatts comes to the rescue with "Stand."

Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend 'til you break
'Cause it's all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad, you get strong
Wipe you hands, shake it off
Then you stand, then you stand

So many cliche's come to mind, and frankly I am just about sick of all of them. But this song really touches me right now, and I've heard it so often that I know it's God's long distance dedication to me.

Thank you all for your prayers and support in this difficult time. I truly don't know what I would do with out you.

Keep the positive vibes for a speed up!
:D

Four Days...

2007-09-03T09:43:00.000-04:00

The new referrals are on their way. The CCAA has posted that they include folks LID through 11/25/05. That is four days worth of LIDs this month. Last September, they were referring folks from July 2005. That means they have done less than 4 months worth of referrals in a calander year. We are currently 16 months behind the front of the referral line, which means if things do not pick up, we are lookng at 4 MORE years before they get to us. This does not take into account the 5 months of "official" waiting that we have already put in.

Please keep mega prayers coming for the process and for our sanity.

D

Where did August go?!?

2007-08-26T17:04:00.001-04:00

August has been insane for our family! The first weekend had us playing host to family visitors. We had a very fun weekend touring the 'burg. We painted some pottery and saw how doctors in the 1700's treated patients. Who needs HMOs? The picture is from this fun weekend!

The second weekend we traveled to Indianapolis for my cousins' wedding. It was a beautiful day and it was so great to see the family again. Since we are scattered all over the US, it is extra special to get together like the good old days!

The third weekend we made an unplanned trip back to PA for our friend Paul's funeral. He suffered for many years with his health, and died surrounded by his family. He and his wife Dawn are good friends, and we hold them in our prayers during this difficult time. Our niece was also baptized that weekend in PA. We weren't planning on making the trip, but since we were up there, we were able to celebrate the baptism with them.

This weekend is catch up weekend! We are busy with house work and yard work, and trying to stay cool in 95+ degree weather. We had a FCC Waiting Families dinner on Saturday. We met up with three other families in the area that are also waiting to adopt from China. They are all much further ahead of us, and with fewer people choosing adoption from China, soon we will be the only waiting family! We'll just have to have our own dinners! :)

We are truly hoping September is a much slower and cooler month!

Hope all is well in your part of the country!
:D

Home Coming!

2007-07-16T20:30:00.000-04:00

We had a wonderful weekend visiting our dear friends in PA. We went up to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix with Paul and Dawn ~ it was AWESOME!! (Can't wait till the book comes out this weekend.) We also went to the Cherry Festival for some good carnival sausage, fries and deep fried Oreo cookies.

We had a lovely dinner party with "family" from our Church. It was so great to catch up with everyone. Geoff and Sue's house is just perfect for a relaxing dinner by the stream!

The picture is my little pic of Americana. This is the square in our old home town where the Cherry Festival parade is staged. (3 hours of fire trucks, marching bands, floats and of course the Cherry Queen and her court.) The chairs in the foreground ~ they were set up about a week and a half before the parade to save the spot. That is one of my favorite quirks of the town!

No new news on the adoption front ~ still waiting, waiting, waiting. At this point, no news is good news. Please keep your prayers coming for a speed up and our sanity!

Hope all is well with you!
:D

Sneak Peak!!

2007-07-05T21:38:00.000-04:00

We have the nursery just about done! I love the room. It is a little pink for Brian, but as we add wall hangings, it will tone down!

The Ladybug in the bed is a gift from Brian's Aunts. She is just keeping the bed warm until Ladybug can sleep there.

We are also keeping our eyes open for another lavender window panel. I thought one would do the trick, but we need two, and Lillian Vernon is not carrying them right now. We have a cute sheer with appliqué butterflies and dragon flies on it, but it is a little long, and I don't want to fix it until I know for sure which panels are going to hang. CRAZY!

We are painting our room this weekend, and have ordered our super cool bed. That should finish up the major indoor projects. Yea!

Phantom of the Opera was incredible last weekend. We left early in case there was traffic. We got up to the District early enough that we killed some time at the Natural History museum looking at the dinosaurs and gems. Then we had a fantastic lunch at the Kennedy Center Cafe and enjoyed a spectacular vista on the terrace. We could see the Washington Monument, Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials, the Pentagon and the Potomac river. How cool! Then we went to the Opera House to watch an amazing performance of Phantom. Our seats were great and we had a wonderful time.

We'll keep you posted!
:D

3 Months Down...

2007-06-30T16:12:00.000-04:00

... who knows how many to go! The CCAA is now predicting at least a 2 1/2 year wait, possibly up to 3 years, or more. Many rumors as to why, but the one I believe most is that they are trying to put on a good face for the world for the 2008 Olympics. They publish that 1/5 of adoptions are international and 4/5 are domestic, so I think they are trying to force the numbers to match the "ideal." Sucks to be us stuck in the PR machine.

So any ideas you have to pass the time, we are certainly open to them. The 100 wishes quilt is slowly progressing. I have about 25 squishes so far. Keep them coming!

We went to Siena's first birthday party last weekend. We took our nephew Ben with us, and he had a fantastic time. The picture is of him giving Siena a Happy Birthday kiss. How sweet!

We go to see Phantom of the Opera tomorrow at the Kennedy Center. I am so excited!

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!
:D

Welcome, Miss Belle!

2007-06-20T18:32:00.000-04:00

I was fortunate enough to be in the delivery room as my sister and her husband welcomed Isabelle Marie into the world today! She made her debut at 10:33 AM, and weighed in at 7 lbs 12 oz, and was 19 inches long. Mom and baby are doing great!

Now let's hope that we get Ladybug soon so she and Belle can be best of friends! We hope to hear sometime this week from the director of our agency about the meeting that she had with CCAA officials last weekend. We hope one of the topics of discussion was realistic wait times and what is being done to shorten them.

Keep you posted!
:D

Thank You, Becky!

2007-06-04T18:26:00.001-04:00

This GORGEOUS quilt was made for Ladybug by my friend Becky. The dedication on the back of the quilt says: "For Ladybug ~ When your wings have carried you home." Isn't that the best?! I hope you can see all the different ladybug fabrics she found. How blessed am I with such talented, caring friends?!

I am still collecting squishes for the 100 Wish Quilt. Thank you to all who have sent their squish already. There is still plenty of time to send one in if you have not already.

We finally got some good news this month - the USCIS (Immigration) has made a ruling that those who have to renew their I-171H (Permission to adopt an orphan from overseas) after 7/30/07 can do so free of charge! This is a $600 fee that will be waived! YEA! Let's just hope that we only have to renew it once and not twice! (It is good for 18 months, and we got ours in January 2007.)

Well, I hope to continue to share good news with you! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!
:D

Hang in there?

2007-05-19T18:01:00.000-04:00

I can't believe it's been so long since my last post! Perhaps this wait will go quickly after all!

May has been very busy. The first weekend found us at a family reunion in PA. It was great to reconnect with some family that we haven't seen in a while. The cuties are my niece and nephew, who I love to spoil.

The second weekend was graduation weekend at the university I work for, so I was quite busy getting student records ready and helping the graduates line up and get their regalia on straight.

This weekend was the neighborhood yard sale. It was an early morning, and the sales were slow, but I got to spend some good time with Siena! I helped her mommy get things set up and torn down.

And of course, the yard work keeps us hopping! We will sod part of the back yard next weekend, and hopefully get our back yard up to par.

The news for the month was quite depressing. (VENTING ALERT!) Although no one knows for sure what the time line is, we are now in uncharted territory for wait times. The next group who will receive matches have been waiting 19 months (since November 2005), and there is no indication that that wait time will go down any time soon. Our agency told us that they now expect wait times of 18 - 24 months. Sometimes I think that we will never get our referral! Of course that time line could change if the CCAA decides to do several months at a time, but NO ONE KNOWS.

That is the most frustrating part of this process. When we started our journey last summer, all indications were for a 9-10 month wait ~ about the same as a natural pregnancy. Now things have ground to a halt, and we are fully emotionally and financially invested in this process. If we pull out now, who will look after Ladybug? (I guarantee that if we did pull out, the wait times would drop to 5 months!) If we adopt from anywhere else, or by some miracle get pregnant, we are automatically disqualified from China. It just seems so unfair! I just want to be a Mommy ~why is that so hard to accomplish?

As you can see, May has been busy, which is good. June will also be busy with getting the nursery prepared ~ watch for pictures! Please keep up your prayers for a speed up in referrals, and for my sanity! :)

:D

One Month Down!

2007-04-30T21:23:00.000-04:00

We have one month of waiting behind us! I only wish we knew how many more to go. There seem to be two camps out there now ~ one that says 16-18 months after LID, and one that says 3-4 years after LID. Our agency told us 16-18 months, so that is what I am holding onto. Please keep the prayers coming for a speed up!

We've started getting quilt squares in. This is going to be an awesome quilt! I will be collecting fabric all through the summer, so you still have time to go fabric shopping! I had such a hard time choosing fabric for the fabric swap that I am doing with my Feb2007DTC Yahoo! group ~ so many great choices! Just to recap ~ send a 8"x8" square of fabric to be used in the quilt, and a note with your wish and name on it. The note can be as elaborate or as simple as you want it to be. A lot of the notes I've gotten so far have been on card stock, but any paper will work.

We have been enjoying Siena in the meantime. She is growing bigger every single day, and coming out of her shell. She has captured our hearts! We'll get lots of great tips from her Mommy and Daddy.

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!
:D

L I D !!!

2007-04-18T21:05:00.000-04:00

We received word today that our dossier was logged in (LID) on March 30, 2007! WHOOOO HOOOO! We already have 3 weeks of wait in! The agency is still holding to 16 months from LID to referral, so hopefully by next summer we will have some really great news!

I feel like DTC was like taking a home pregnancy test, and LID is like having it confirmed by the doctor. It is just so wonderful to know that our folder did not get lost and was not rejected, and is now sitting on a shelf waiting to be reviewed!

From what I understand, they have through March 31, 2006 reviewed and ready for matches. They are at October 26, 2005 for matches. So keep up the prayers for expediency! They need to start doing at least a month of matching each calendar month for the 16 month wait time to become a reality. Adoption math!

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!

Love,
:D

100 Wishes Quilt

2007-04-10T20:35:00.000-04:00

We are still waiting to hear of our LID. The CCAA only did 2 days worth of referrals this month, and our agency missed the cut off by one day. So we probably won't hear of our LID until May. Keep up the prayers for a speed up in the process!!!

In the meantime, I am going to start Ladybug's 100 wishes quilt. It is a northern Chinese custom to invite friends and family to contribute a patch of cloth with a wish for the baby. Part of the patch of cloth goes into the quilt for the baby, and the other part of the cloth can go into a creative memory notebook with the wish for the child. The quilt contains the luck, energy, and good wishes from all the families and friends who contributed a piece of fabric.

If you would like to contribute fabric for the quilt, please send a 8" x 8" square and a swatch of the fabric attached to an index card with your wish for Ladybug. The fabric can be any color or pattern that appeals to your eyes! I hope the quilt and the scrapbook will help pass the time!

If you need our address, please leave a message and your email address in the comment section and I'll send it to you.

Have a blessed Easter season!
:D

Waiting to Hear

2007-04-03T20:49:00.000-04:00

I was waiting to post until we heard that we are officially "logged in." This is the date that our official countdown clock starts. Our agency told us that we are probably already logged in, and we just have to wait for notification, but it is still nice to know that we are official and there wasn't something missing from our dossier. The referrals are late coming this month (they could have come as early as yesterday, and they are not in yet) and we hope our LID (log in date) notice will be with the batch of referrals.

Brian called our dossier consultant this week to ensure that things were moving as they should. (apparently my word wasn't enough! :) ) She assured us that everything is OK. She was still promoting a 17 month wait at the most. She seemed to think that things will slow down for a little bit, then it will pick up again to an 8 month wait. We are just caught in the goofy spot that it will still be a 16ish month wait. Who knows! The best we can do is get everything ready and hurry up and wait!!

Fingers crossed that we learn our LID this week!
:D

Kisses in the Wind

2007-03-20T20:43:00.000-04:00

My friend Priscilla found these Chinese characters on line. They translate to Ladybug. No doubt that they will find their way into the nursery!

I've been cruising the information superhighway looking at other folk's blogs and websites. There is so much good information out there, and it is amazing to sit and read your very own adoption story on a perfect stranger's website! It is an incredible feeling to know that I am not alone.

I found this awesome poem on a site, and wanted to share it with you all. It captures so much of what I feel, and it is great imagery until we can bring Ladybug home!

Have a great week!

KISSES IN THE WIND

I hold you in my heart and touch you in my dreams.
You are here each day with me, at least that's how it seems.

I know you wonder where we are... what's taking us so long.
But remember child, I love you so and God will keep you strong.

Now go outside and feel the breeze and let it touch your skin...
Because tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God hold you in His hand until I can be with you.
I promise you, my darling, I'm doing all that I can do.

Very soon, you'll have a family for real, not just pretend.
But for tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God wrap you in His arms and hold you very tight.
And let the angels bring the kisses that I send to you each night.
--- Unknown

Getting Braver!

2007-03-15T20:06:00.000-04:00

Ok folks! Now that I am less afraid of the blogging world, I have now set Wings for Ladybug up to allow comments from anyone! You don't need to have an account with Google. I will have the option to post your comment or not, depending on how appropriate it is.

We received ANOTHER batch of paperwork in the mail today. Not fair! I thought we were done with the paper chase and had nothing left to do but wait.

So we will spend the next couple weeks filling out these supplemental forms. I think we answered all the questions during our home study, but I think the larger agency wants to have it documented on their forms. Fun, oh fun.

Mark and Carol are enjoying their time with Siena in China. I know they are anxious to get back stateside to familiarity. I am anxious to meet the little cutie!

Well, that's the big news of the day!
:D

Siena's Coming Home!

2007-03-12T20:54:00.000-04:00

Our friends Mark and Carol are on their way to get Siena tomorrow. It is almost 9:00 PM Monday, which means it is10:00 AM Tuesday in China. They are probably on their way to the orphanage!

They have waited such a looooong time, and we are just thrilled for them. They have several days of bonding and sightseeing, paperwork to fill out, medical exams and somewhere, find time to sleep!

They will be back at the end of the month, but it will be a while before we can visit. Siena will need time to get used to her new home and parents before new folks are introduced. So while they live literally right behind us, it will seem so far away until they call to invite us over! But it is worth the wait.

We are anxiously waiting to hear about our LID (log in date.) This is when our clock will officially start ticking. We've heard 16 months, and that is the good estimate. Thanks for your prayers for a speedy process ~ keep them coming!!

Have a great week!
:D

Waiting is the Hardest Part!

2007-03-06T21:13:00.000-05:00

Well, the dossier arrived in China on February 26, 2007! We are now waiting for our Log In Date, hopefully by the end of March. Then the long wait begins...

Our friends Carol and Mark are getting ready to go over to China on Sunday to meet their little Siena! We are so excited for them! They live right behind us, so we will be able to visit Siena and spoil her rotten. We are looking forward to all the tips that Carol and Mark will give us after their trip.

We have plenty of projects to keep us busy! We have a nursery to prepare (Butterflies and Dragonflies!) and many projects around the house to finish up. My favorite project is going to be working in the side yard in the new flower bed. Big Plans! Watch for pictures.

I ask for your prayers for a speedy process. I just can't wait to hold our little Ladybug in my arms!

Have a great week!
:D

On It's Way!

2007-02-23T17:56:00.000-05:00

I am over the moon! We received word this afternoon that our Dossier made the final review and it is now on its way to China via FedEx! It is such a feeling of relief that our documents are finally complete, approved, signed, sealed and on their way to being delivered.

It will be 2-4 (or more) weeks until the Log In Date (LID), the official date recoginzied by the CCAA when it received the dossier. The LID is very important with regards to when/ if rules apply to you, and when you receive your referral (matched up with a daughter.) Right now, the referrals are coming 16 months after LID. So we are looking at Julyish 2008. Our prayers now are for a speed up in the process! :)

Thank you all for your support over the past 6 months as we put our ducks in a row. We have grown a lot over these past 6 months, and hope to find some peace as we wait now for the word that our Ladybug is ready to come home with us.

The Chinese symbols at the top of this blog are the symbols for "blessed," because that is how I truly feel today, for the first time in a very long time.

We'll keep you posted!

Happy Chineese New Year!

2007-02-16T13:00:00.000-05:00

This weekend is met with mixed emotions for us. We are still waiting for our 171-H to come back from the Chinese Embassy in DC. If it does not come today, or at least given to FedEx today, we will have to wait until the middle of next week since the Embassy is closed for CNY. That puts us very close to the February 23 DTC (Dossier to China) date. The next DTC date is March 9. All because of a silly typo from the Virginia State office! ARUGH!

I know God has a reason for the seemingly endless delays. He has our Ladybug picked out for us and this is just timing adjustment to make sure we get her. But, a girl can still ask for expediency! :)

Babies born in the year of the Boar are considered lucky tokens to have in the family. From http://www.locketown.com/chinese_horoscope.htm:

"By nature, BOARS are peace-loving, trustful, honest, and sincers. People born in the year of the Boar will be lucky and successful in handling money, business and academic matters. They have a deep desire for knowledge and are generally well informed. Boars are the finishers, they are the ones who put the last necessary touches to a project. Boars are suited to be doctors, bankers, businessmen, scientists and entertainers."

Our Ladybug will probably be a Boar Baby. It is exciting and heart wrenching to think about her life before we will know her. I guess the best we can do is pray for her birth parents and for her as she continues her journey to us.

Happy Year of the Boar!

Welcome to My Blog!

2007-02-12T19:10:00.000-05:00

We are so excited to begin our Journey to Ladybug! We are adopting a baby girl from China. This Blog is a great way to share our journey with our family and friends.

For those keeping score at home, we are waiting for our 171H (that's the US form for approval to adopt a foreign born orphan) to get validated by Virginia and approved by the Chinese Embassy in DC. Then it is off to Harrah's in Texas, where it will be sent off in the next batch of dossiers to China.

We'll keep you updated with adoption news and other exciting events in our family.

As always, thanks for your prayers and support through this journey.

Love,
:D