What was I thinking?????

So I thought (maybe not thought it through) I would take our Visa pictures instead of going to get them taken, it is not cheap. What I did not think about was who I would be taking pictures of and who would be taking my picture!!! Although it was really funny and frustrating!!!!! I had to threaten Mike with sending one of the worst. He would NOT smile nice. Kai wanted to be funny like his dad. Jack thought it was really funny to not take my picture until I was telling him to "just take it". I was laughing so hard I was crying. He then thought it would be funny to try to tickle me with the camera up to his eye. Let just say he missed!! Then we were both in hysterics = ) After about 25 shots and 25 min I did find 1 of each of us that I felt was not screaming "we are a bunch of goofballs" I really love to laugh like that!!!! I may just frame this!

Pink Lint !!!

Yes Pink Lint! It brought a smile to my face as I was washing all of Lily's cloths. I am really enjoying doing her room. Grandma P. is working hard on making her a doll. I can not wait to see it. We went Friday to pick out fabric. We are waiting for our I-800 approval it should be coming in the next few weeks, I am thinking Feb. 5th or possibly the 8th. After we get that we send it to our agency and then apply for our visas. I will keep you posted!! = )

More pics of Lily's room are coming soon!!

Changes!!! Sneak preview...

Ok so the blue jeans just don't look to girly

Green will my inspiration was the photo below I just love the outfit!!!!!

and this is just a sneak peek...

You will have to Wait for the rest!

LOA !!!!!!!!!

The first one of 2010!!!

I got the call at work today!!! I looked at the caller ID as I always do and it was unknown caller. I heard Kristin answer the phone and say " I am not sure if she is available can I ask who is calling? and where are you from? ok let me check to see if she is available" she turned to me and said "Nicole from AAC ?" I grabbed the phone so fast I could not believe it!!! Day 70 WOW! I was really thinking it was going to be a long few months!!! and I guess it will but for much different reason!!! Nicole said I knew you would pick up when she told you who it was!!! = ) It feels so close now it had been feeling so far away not knowing if it would be in 4 months or 6 months. Now I cant believe I will meet my daughter in about 3 months!!!!! I cant explain what that feels like!

So now what...

Well our agency is overnighting some papers for us to sign and over night back to them.

then they file my I-800 after it gets approved (a couple weeks) then they send it to the China facilitator and she files them with the US consulate in China. The consulate will contact them in a few weeks when they are ready and they will send them to CCA and they will process them and send us TA this should take 2 to 3 months!!!! I am so happy I hope this post makes some sense.

Thank you Lord for blessing me once again!

More winter fun!

More fun in the snow!!!

Lookin good Jack!

so cool = )

not so cool dad!

very cool/cold Kai

Enjoying my boys! I had so many cloths on because I am a freeze baby that I was sweating!

And how beautiful the snow looks. It has been so cold here that it looks like glitter!

So some one posted a chart showing how often LOAs come and it has not slowed as much as I had thought and there are weeks that there are no LOAs so Hoping this week there will be lots! we are not expecting ours yet but it would be great!!! We met a couple in church this week, She was born here but is Chinese and has lived there for the past 3 years and her husband has been there for 2 years. they live here now and just got married and are expecting. I ask if she would tell us about the Chinese holidays and she was excited to. She invited us over to celebrate Chinese new year. She said she would teach us how to make dumplings!!!! = ) When Kai heard that he kept asking "what time does she want us to come over?" I had to explain not till next month. I am very excited to get to know them, they lived really close to where Kai was in China and know the area well. It amazes me each time the Lord put people in our life like that. And why should that surprise me?

Snow Day

First snow day. Fun in the snow!

No they did not shovel all that snow!!!

Jeff loves the snow just look at that dog smile!!!

I love how it looks but I am not a fan of being cold!!! As I was getting Kai all bundled up he said with a big smile will you be making hot chocolate and marshmallows for when we come in? Of course I will! Sometimes I think they go out so they can get the hot chocolate!!! I am really praying to get our LOA soon. I know we are at 65days and my agency is saying closer to 4 months but I am praying they are wrong and we get it soon. The time it takes after LOA is growing and the average from LOA to TA (travel approval) is 69 days but can be 3 months or longer = / Their have been NO LOA this week and that is really hard even if it is not me getting it it is always easier to watch others and celebrate with them. It is rear that there are none in a week most weeks other than holidays there are at least a few but usually 9 or 10. With a new director in China and with the new Hague program you just don't know what is going on or what might get changed. So if you would please say a prayer that we would get LOA soon!

Day 62

I keep opening my blog to post but I don't think I can top my last post and I just love seeing her smiling face!!!
Donations are continuing to come in and I just don't know how to thank everyone. I just pray each person is blessed in return. I pray they are also blessed knowing the funds will be helping so many children that have been orphaned. I am very connected to the adoption world and it just breaks my heart that there are just so many orphans and their needs are great. When you see the pictures it is hard not to say it looks like a really nice place and it does. But it is no place for a child to grow up. The Nanny to child ratio is very sad and these ladies do the best they can. That may be just a few moment per child. In the colder areas they layer the cloths some times 8 layers they survive the cold but in return that causes law muscle tone. These orphanage donations are very much needed for heat, food, medicine... the list is long. So again I thank you for your donation may God bless you in many ways.