Care Package for Sophie

I am sending this care package to Sophie. There is a pair of pajamas, a summer outfit, baby doll, princess fruit snacks for her and Jelly Bellys for her caretakers. I am also sending her more pictures of me, Ricky and the boys and a picture of the outside of our house and a picture of her room.

Sophie's Room

I have been working on Sophie's room. I think I have gone a little overboard with the pink!! :-) Still have more work to do!

Pictures from surprise shower

Gifts from surprise shower

Surprise Shower!!!

I work with the most wonderful women in the world. They have been there for me in time of grief when I lost my Dad and now rejoicing with my family as we anxiously await the arrival of our new daughter. They got me good! I had absolutely no idea that the luncheon was for me today. It was "suppose" to be a teacher appreciation luncheon!!! I was too busy today to even second guess anything that might be going on behind my back!!!! I have to admit that I was actually tired and anxious from the day and was thinking "I don't even think I have any brain cells left to carry on any adult conversation today!!" It is just a busy time of year with program practice, T-shirt orders, cutting out projects, putting together end of the year books, and very busy 3 year olds. blah blah blah.... so that is sort of how I was feeling today and Mrs "sneaky" Mann was in and out of the room a lot today making it even more busy. So what a surprise to this "blah" spirit I had going on inside of me when I walked through the doors and saw Sophie's Room hanger that Mrs. Mann gives to everyone who has a new baby!!! I was shocked and so surprised!!! As I sat there in group prayer for Sophie and my family listening to all the sweet, precious, and graceful words that my sweet friends lifted up to the Lord on our behalf, my spirit began to be comforted and uplifted. I am blessed, my family is blessed, and Sophie is so loved already from so far away. Thank you sweet friends for all the gifts and the sweet prayers for our little girl. I love you!!!

Justin

It is Justin's turn to have some blog time. My sweet, quiet Justin. He is a man of very few words but has a big ole heart!!!! He is a "Buddy" for a 6 year old little boy named Joshua who plays baseball at our new Miracle Field here in Dothan. I have never seen a smile on Justin's face the way I saw it the very first ballgame night. Joshua has Downs Syndrome and he is so precious. He is full of energy and had Justin running all over the field. He kept throwing his hat and Justin would go get it until he threw it over the fence. Justin smiled and giggled the whole time. He gave Joshua a big hug and a high five after the game. I am so proud of Justin. My first-born child is growing up too fast!!!!!

Joshua

Most of you reading this know that my Joshua is never at a loss for words. He will talk to you about anything and everything and always asks a ton of questions!! Most of the time he is happy just being the only one that is talking. Today when I picked him up from school he had a lot of questions about our airplane ride. What kind of plane? How many times we will have to stop and change planes? So here is how it went after all the plane questions....

Josh: Mom can you believe we will be going to China in 2 months?

Me: Josh it will be a little bit longer than 2 months.

Josh: I'm gonna be the first person born from you to step into China. I am going to dance around and play my (air) guitar!

Me: Wow!!!

Josh: Will we have lots of snacks on the plane?

Me: Yes, there will be plenty of pretzels and peanuts and real food too.

Josh: Will they have boiled peanuts?

Me: No Josh they will not have boiled peanuts.

Josh: I am going to lay back, listen to my I-pod and drink 15 cokes!!!!!

Me: Wow that is a lot of coke....I don't think so!!!!

Josh: Mom, it won't be long before she is back there in her car seat saying "Josha, Josha"

I can't even begin to tell you how precious this conversation was to me today. Justin and Joshua are so excited and they are going to be the best big brothers to their sweet little sister!!! My heart is so full of thankfulness!!!!

We Are LID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I received email notification from our adoption agency that our paperwork was logged in April 2. This means that our dossier has begun it's journey through CCAA(China Center for Adoption Affairs. The next step will be the arrival of our LOA (Letter of Acceptance). The agency says this can take up to 120 days, however I just read a blog that only took 77 days to receive their LOA. So we are hoping to be 77 days or less. Next will be our TA (travel approval) Once we receive this we will be traveling within 4-6 week timeframe. We should definately be flying to China in July!!!

YOU KNOW YOU'RE AN ADOPTIVE PARENT IF ...

1. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.

2. You realize DNA has nothing to do with love & family.

3. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.

4. The fact that, if 7% of Christians adopted 1 child there would be no orphans in the world, is convicting to you.

5. You spend free time surfing blogs about families who've experienced the blessing of adoption.

6. It drives you crazy when people ask you about adopted child's "real" parents.

7. You've been "pregnant" with your adoptive child longer than it takes an elephant to give birth.(2 years!)

8. You'd no idea how you'd afford to adopt, but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing He'd provide. (& He does!)

9. You've taken an airplane half-way around the world with a child you just met.

10. You believe God's heart's for adoption.

11. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart & family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.

12. You know what the word "Dossier" means & you can actually pronounce it correctly!

13. You've welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.

14. You shudder when people say your child's so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you're the blessed one to have him or her in your life.