Happy Birthday Gracie!

I cannot believe my precious baby is EIGHT! Gracie I am so thankful God gave me the gift of having you as my daughter. I remember thanking him over and over when you would wake up at 3 AM for a feeding as a tiny baby. We would rock and I cherished every second you were in my arms.
At 2 months we were told you would never have any vision. God had other plans for your life because by 5 months all of your vision was restored. A miracle. I love the way you embrace life and the strength and determination you enter into any challenge. God has such great plans for your life. I will be very surprised if you do not become an attorney like your daddy ~ you have mastered the gift of holding on strongly to an opinion. You are grace and beauty!

I love you precious girl.

EIGHT!

11 Days and Counting

Our New Kitten ~ Atticus

On Labor Day we heard that our LID (log in date) was September 2. China has all of our papers and we are now waiting to receive our LOA from China. This is the most difficult wait, next to being matched. There is no rhyme or reason to when it will be. The wait has been as short as 30 days or 100+. It could happen with the group you share the same LID with or not.

I pray we will travel with my two dear friends who have very similar time lines. We would have so much fun bringing our girls home together.

Home schooling is going great. It was VERY difficult the end of last week and we hardly finished our weeks worth of work. This week will be hard, but all things considered we are having fun. I did not know how it would be having Grant and Amelia home, but I really do love teaching them. The fighting between them is not as bad as I thought it would be. I so badly want them to really love each other. It is going to take some time.

Grant is really talking! He can carry on such a sweet conversation. I can understand almost all of what he says, if I cannot, someone in the room can. He keeps calling for Annabel when it is time to go to sleep or timeout. I will say to him, "I am your mama." For a long time he would say, "I am your mama." I would say back, "you are my Grant." Today we were headed to his room and he asked, "I am taking a nap?" After I told him yes, he cried for Anna and then daddy. I looked him in the eyes and said, "I am your mama." And he said, "And I am your Grant." Isnt that sweet. I have no idea how to pour into him how much I love him. I pray my love reaches the place where it can really change his heart and allow God to heal him from such a hard start in life.

My last post I said I loved reading 100 Dresses and I am changing my mind. It was a terribly depressing book. I do believe it was an important book for Grace to read, I just wanted a different ending. It made me very sad. I think we are going to rewrite the last two chapters together.

Summer Is Offcially Over

I am actually excited about moving into homeschooling. We started back on Labor Day; felt like the celebration was a perfect day to begin laboring over our studies. The kids felt differently. Skip had the day off, so he could help me with the little ones while we tried out our first day.

Grace and Quinn are my younger elementary students and Amelia and Grant are my preschoolers. I cannot tell you which group I love teaching more. I LOVE reading 100 Dresses with Grace! and Quinn's math is coming alive for him. Together we will study Countries and Cultures by My Father's World. This will be the second time I have taught Countries and Cultures so hopefully it will be easier. The first year was when I first began homeschooling (a great big blur).

Preschool is sweet! Amelia and Grant are so much fun ~ a big gigantic explosion of personality! This week is A week. Today they loved marching to "The Ants Go Marching One By One" . Grant kept saying, "Do again, Mommy! Do, again!" with a big toothless grin on his face! I love his little eye teeth! Yesterday when I pulled out the shaving cream, oh their faces! They played and played ~ giggling. The lesson was to practice writing their As, but I think the shock of me allowing such a mess distracted everything. The older children begged to practice writing their As too. I just responded, "the rules are no fun will be had by anyone over 4!"

My junior high school girls started a Christian Classical school that meets once a week. They go to school one day a week, get all of their assignments and report back the following week and had in their assignments. They are still home with me, but it is nice to have most of their teaching done by someone new. They are learning the important lesson of how not to procrastinate. They actually started school a few weeks back. I am very proud of how hard they are both working. The work is a lot more challenging than what they were used to. Annabel came home the first day of school and said, "Mama, Mrs. N makes learning so much fun!" (never mind I have been her teacher since 2nd grade!) With all that aside, it is going to be a year of growth for both of them ~ really for all of us.

I am very thankful to be able to spend this time with the children. I am learning so much about who God has designed them to be and even more about myself. Still cannot believe he made the all so different! LOL

Great News!

DTC! (Dossier to China)

Today we are one step closer to our sweet Ruthie Joy.

Exhale

Wordless Wednesday

I-800A Approval!

I called today and found out we received our I-800A approval! I should be over the moon, however, I am a bit embarrassed. I just knew in my mind we received our approval last Wednesday, because that was the day that worked (best for me). That would have made our approval letter arrive last Saturday or today. Well, our mail does not come until 4:30 and that was too late. So, I found our mailman making his deliveries and I asked him for our mail around 12:00.

I am glad I did this because after living here for 2 years I have never formally introduced myself. He is such a kind man. In the 5 minutes I spent with him he told me about his 82 year old mother who just had knee surgery and how difficult her rehabilitation has been. I am thankful to have met him. He did not have my approval and I got back in my car with a very heavy heart.

I really wanted that piece of paper called the I-797 today. It worked for me to have it today so that I could get it all ready to send. It was all about ME. I did call the USCIS later and found out we were approved today. This is a big celebration, but I am embarrassed and disappointed. Embarassed because I was so head set on getting what I wanted regardless of who in slowed down and I am disappointed because I allowed this one piece of paper to become more important than pretty much everything. It is hard to trust that the God who created the heavens and the earth has dominion over all! WHY do I forget who He is?

Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you. Psalm 86:3-5

They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

Psalm 112:6-8

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

Philippians 3:12-14"

Hopefully our letter will arrive sometime this week and soon we will have our dossier sent off to China!

Family Beach Trip

"Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare."

Psalm 40:5

We had a great time on our vacation.
The beach was beautiful and wonderful and full and needed!

We packed and loaded up for the drive to Carabelle, Florida.



Some of us were in absolute shock watching God's wonder.
Grant stood at the beach for a very long time and watched the huge ocean and waves.
All I could do is thank God for bring Grant home and for allowing us to be a part of so many first in his life. The world through Grant's eyes is really different and I forget to slow down to understand what he is thinking or feeling.



While the others delighted in it's great mighty power. And experienced some first too.




We collected a lot of sea shells and

hermit crabs,



larger crabs,



GIGANTIC crabs



and some kind of non-stinging jellyfish.

We relaxed,


and ate wonderful seafood and the best junk food and candy you can find!

Grant ended up loving the beach.



Towards the end of the trip, Grant would head out to the beach first thing in the morning. I love this picture of him dragging the body board in his PJs.

Another first, the oldest children had so much fun kayaking. They have always wanted to swim with the porpoises. God blessed their socks off! The porpoises became very interested in the kayaks and would play next to the boats.

Another first for us was having my step-father, mother and brother join us the last three days of our vacation. We were so grateful to have had this time together with them too.

During the trip, Skip and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary!
I asked Skip if he had a favorite year which led to us down memory lane. What stood out the most in our minds were the births and adoption of our children, our family vacations, and the difficult trials where God pulled us so close and then revealed to us His Glory.

I am so blessed.

"Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare."

Psalm 40:5

Thank you Lord!

Family Vacation

Definition of Vacation from Webster's Dictionary

1: a respite or time of respite from something

2: a. scheduled period during which activity is suspended
b. a period of exemption from work granted to an employee

3. a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation

Selfishly, I wish it was #1 and I am dreaming of #2, but I will graciously take #3.


We were gifted a week long trip to the beach. This past week I have been resting up for our vacation. Vacation for me is no to do list, no errands, no clutter, no projects, no TV, ~ just a simplified life with lots of sand, sunscreen, laughter and energy!

I am glad the boys are joining us this time.

It's going to be grand!

Energy Kale Shake

1/2 bunch kale
1 banana, peeled
1/4 c red grapes or blueberries
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 dash cayenne pepper
1/2 c ice
1/2 c water

place all ingredients in a blender and blend until combined


This does not sound wonderful, but it really is good. I buy a bunch of bananas, peal them and put them in the freezer. When the grapes are on sale I do the same. I have been adding Greek vanilla yogurt (1/4 c) and dry blended oats (3 Tbs).

This is all in an effort to eat more fruits and veggies.

Dreaming of Winter

Today the heat index is between 104 and 108!

The Girls First Annual Beach Trip!

Last Thursday the girls and I set out on our first annual beach trip. It was such a WONDERFUL vacation. Our dear friend from China, Kari, has lived in the states for almost 3 years and had never been to the beach. So we picked her up on the way and headed south.

BOYS WEEKEND! They were just as excited.

Beautiful

We spent hours enjoying the ocean.

We met Kari during our paperchase for Grant. She had come to the states to get her master's degree. Once she finished school she came to live with us while she looked for a job. She has had a very hard hard year trying to find a job that immigration will approve. She was hired twice by two different universities, but the job description did not match her education level. Had she had a HS diploma she would have been able to get a visa ~ basically she was too educated for both jobs. However, each position needed someone to speak Chinese fluently.

We had an idea she would have to leave soon to return to China, but we were very shocked when we heard Friday at the beach that she had to be out of the country by Sunday. Kari has really become like a daughter to us and we have tried everything to help her stay in the US. She had also tried everything. We are all at peace believing God has much bigger plans for her than we could orchestrate!

Despite the news, we had such an amazing time together and only God could allow for the time to be filled with the silliness and fun we packed in around closing bank accounts and arranging for international travel ~ all while enjoying the beach. Kari was so generous to give us this time. She had a lot of people here to say good-bye to but she chose to stay at the beach with us.

Sunday, we drove her home and packed everything she owns into two suitcases and two carry on bags and she left the country at 7:30 PM. We will really miss her, but look forward to meeting up when we travel to get Ruthie.

Precious

New Pictures of Ruthie Joy!

Look at this blessing!!! Pictures of our precious precious daughter and the gift of capturing her face seeing her family for the first time. A friend of mine picked up her daughter from Ruthie's orphanage, the Shanghai Children's Welfare Institute. She delivered a package from us and was able to meet and pray over Ruthie Joy! Ruthie was just returning from her PT and on her way to lunch ~ a little tired and hungry. But cute as cute!

You can see a lot of her personality from the pictures. She is oh so sweet and beautiful!

Seeing her family for the first time ~

Almost can hear her in her soon to be southern accent saying, "Oh My!" as she sees all 8 of us.

Is she about to clap?
(I wonder if the look on the nanny face is due to the translation of Ruthie being on of 7 children?)

That will be me holding her just like that very soon! Such a serious little face.




This is where the pictures get really really sweet

LOOK AT THAT SMILE!~

Doesn't get any sweeter than a kiss blown from China! and to see the tenderness and connection you have with your nanny. You are loved!

My sweet Ruthie Joy, I caught it!

Adoption Update

Ruthie at 15 months

Yesterday we received all our documents from the Chinese Consulate. 12 documents (medical report, birth certificates, financial reports, police clearances, homestudy, letter of intent ...). Each document had to be notarized, then we needed a seal from the county, state, state department and then the Chinese Consulate. All to verify they were real authenticate documents. Next to packing to travel this part is the most stressful part for me. Each document has to be less than 6 months old, the staples after a seal has been applied cannot be tampered with or removed (even if the clerk got all of the papers out of order). The stack of documents has grommets and staples and you have to work around them to get good copies. It is DONE!~ Yipeee.

We are now on day 27 waiting for our I-800A approval. The average wait is about 60 to 70 days. Once we receive this approval we will copy the approval letter, write a letter stating it is a true and original copy, notarize it, take it to the county, state, mail it to a courier to take to the State Department and then to the consulate. It will then be sent to our agency BAAS and the following Friday we will be DTC (dossier to china). Then we line up in for the next approval!

I am getting so very excited and love all the great celebrations along the way. I love little Ruthie Joy! I cannot get enough of her sweet little face. I just cannot believe she is my daughter. I am so grateful to God for the opportunity to adopt again. I am blessed beyond words to have another daughter!