I got her finding ad today!!!!

Wow things just keep moving right along... I am almost afraid to think that was but they are! I received Lily's finding ad today. She has sure gotten cute since then it is hard to find a resemblance, maybe her nose? She was only 2 months old at that point. I did not get much other info than what I had. It basically said the same thing as the paperwork I got from her agency. One thing that was odd was in the translation of the add it said she has congenital heart disease. It was posted in the paper on May 30, 2008. She was found on May 10th. This means one of 2 things, 1 she had a medical check before they posted the ad or 2 her birth family left a note. With Kai it said in his finding ad that there was a note, so I am not sure??? Her poor little lips look blue in the photo :( and like Jack she looks bald! I am sure you are dying to see it but Mike has the camera, so this is a little taste of anticipation. As I was typing above I had a hard time typing Lily and someone asked me the other day if we had finally made the decision on Lily being her name and I said yes (because I thought I was sure) but??? To be honest, I have a hard time calling her Lily. I love the name and I hope it grows on me before the time we have to make the decision!!! For now I usually call her Mei Mei (may may) or Sa meow. I will post the photo later!

He sure knows what we need...

Well after a really tough week God spoke to me loud and clear! We are having to make some really hard decisions at work right now . The economy and rising cost for fuel and materials has really hit our business hard! We are having to take a substantial pay cut and I was starting to really worry if we will be able to afford this adoption... Well last night I checked my e-mail to find a letter from our agency saying they are increasing their grant for waiting children by $2000!!!! WOW! I was so shocked by this!! I will still need to come up with some fund raising Ideas but I basically just got $2000 of the $15,000 I have to come up with in the next 9 months! Thank you Lord! I also say all the time "I know God will handle it he is in charge", but some times I just say it. If that was not enough of a tap on the shoulder... This morning I was going to feed the fish in the pond and there in the front door are 2 UPS envelopes, at first I thought it might be Lily's finding add. NO, it was our state certified birth certificates!!!! I ordered on 6-22 they said it would take 17 to 32 days! I told everyone I would not see them for at least 30 days! 5 DAYS oh one of little faith! And then my mind goes right to... if things keep moving at this pace HOW will I get all those funds in a shorter time! But I will try not to worry, I heard Him loud and clear!!! I can only say one thing He uses each valley to help us grow and I truly believe this. So I know with thing going on with the business We are going through a time of learning and growing, and with the adoption process I learn to have more faith in Christ because I have no control! It is His plan and He will work it out (no matter how much I mess things up!)

First Fresh Harvest =)

Yummy.... We were surprised to get radishes today! Cant wait to make a yummy fresh salad tonight!! I also added photos of our green bean Tee pee that Kai James and I built. We are excited the beans are up and will start climbing soon. I am so thankful for special moments making the tee pee and in the garden! Today while picking our harvest. Kai spotted a grasshopper I said catch it he said you don't eat grasshoppers! I put my hand by it and it jumped right on the palm of his hand and he put his face really close and said Oh he is so gentle mom. How I wish I had my camera at that moment. It will be traveling to the garden form now on. Thank you Lord for blessing me with these wonderful moments and for our harvest today!

On the paperwork front...

I sent for our child abuse clearance and our birth certificates yesterday so I am trudging right along. It will take 17 to 32 days to get them. I would have much more done I think but this week is VBS at the church. We have spent allot of time at the church, we are having a great time. I am working with the pre-schoolers and Jack with the older kids. Tonight he may have to dress in a dog costume hehe =) I am almost done with the photo albums one to keep and one to send to Lily!!!I have stuff to send in a care package too, now I need a address!

They got their referral!!!

OH she is soo cute!!! and she was born on Amy's birthday! I am so happy for you guys!!!

They get the call Monday!!!!

I just got a e-mail from Amy they will finally get to see a picture of their baby girl on MONDAY!!!! Their referral is in=0 Jeff (my cousin) Amy and Charlie have been waiting over 3 years for this day I am just sooo excited for them. I don't know how they are going to get any sleep this weekend. I know God has taken this time to prepare them and it will be the perfect time for their daughter to join their family. So Monday I will be hitting refresh on their site I will find out if I can add a link for their blog and add it on the side.

Packet in hand!!

Yesterday I finally got my hands on the packet so I can get to work!!! I filled out everything I could last night and have lots to send off today. I will be able to start getting the dossier papers together... I also recieved a paper saying there is a new hoop to jump through, as of july 1st TB test on the adoptive children while in China. What does this mean, well alot of children get TB vac so they may test positive and we may be required to get chest x-rays and possible treatment before leaving China. So they are saying it may cause family to be in China for longer and how long depends on the treatment needed. They are askking we contact our congress and state representives and hopefull get this changed. So for now I am just glad to have this packet to work on. The boys will get to see lots of offical places this summer!!

We Got IA!!!!!!!

24 Days since they sent our application to China for IA (initial approval)!
I received this in an e-mail today...
Great news =) You got approval.
They want your dossier submitted by September 11. So we really need to get on the ball. =)
I am ready!! I have been waiting since May 15th to start all the paperwork! I asked if we were still in the 9 to 12 month time frame and she said yes we can do it. It is 6months from log in date so if I can get my dossier done in 3months we may be looking at 9 months!! I will try not to get my hopes up as long as we don't go over the 12month mark I will be happy! It would be great to get her for her 4th birthday! sorry if this is rambling but WE HAVE IA!!

Boys doing what they love!

I am posting these pictures so you can see JUST how big they are getting. these pictures are from a couple weeks ago but it was a beautiful day and we all had a great time. Friends that moved to California were in town and we got together to do a little riden. The first few are Mike and some pretty ones by pond.

Kai Lovin the dirt!

Jack WOW!!

Here he is... It scares me to see my child doing this... and I took these pictures!

We had a really great weekend! Friday night we went to the new Crushers stadium and say the Crushers 2nd game and fire works! Sat. we went to Lake Farm Park with our FCC group it was lots of fun. And Sunday all my boys went motocross racing (Kai went to play in the dirt!) I went to church and did some much needed weeding! The boys are growing up so fast it is hard to believe! Jack is already 13 and Kai is 5 1/2 wow time really flies. I thank God for blessing me with 3 great guys!!!

Ok ...

Well I have not sent this blog out thinking, what if IA does not come and what if this and what if that... Well I think maybe if I send this and everyone knows what is going on they can pray along with me and get things moving!! So scroll down to the bottom which would be the earliest post and work your way back to the top. And don't forget to pray for IA!!!
PS I ordered her finding ad! (read earlier post)

In Gods time...

No IA yet... I do know God will work it out for the best. I know this because of all the road blocks we had with Kai's adoption. But in the end it was perfect!!! In the end Kai ran to us very excited, the Lord had prepared us and Kai, the weather was perfect, we met wonderful people. In the end God knew the perfect time and I believe he has already pick out the day we will hold our daughter and it will be perfect too. I feel guilty posting I do not have IA yet, when my cousin and his wife have been waiting over 3 years. But I know God will bless them with the perfect child for their family and he has had their day pick out too.

Self protection mode...

Well I am still in self protection mode. I created this blog over the weekend and still have not sent it to anyone. I also received an email back from Bryan saying they found her finding add. But I did not order it. I am waiting for IA (it should have come today). I think IA is just a formality, but guess I am not allowing myself to excited. Although after making this blog I am getting excited! I just need that IA so I can start the paper work and get this going. I am starting to get photos together to make photo books for her and I have found a few things to send in a care package. But once again I kept the receipt with it... Come on IA!!!