For our family and friends~ a closer look at quilt squares and wishes we have received!

To our family and friends, as promised here are some examples of quilt squares and wishes we have received. Thank you all for helping us create Mia's 100+ Good Wishes Quilt!

May the wings of love help you reach your dreams.
May you search for the truth in all things.
May your life be a light shining bright for all to see.
May you find peace and happiness with your Forever Family.

Our wish for you~

May your life be filled with love and happiness.

May you accomplish all you set out to do.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart

and with all your soul and with all your strength.

~Deuteronomy 6:5

Our prayer is that you always feel the love of your Heavenly

Father as well as your forever family. May you in return love God

and your family as much as they love you.

Having a place to go is home.

Having someone to love is a family.

Having both is a blessing.

In Our Life There Is,

A Single Color,

As On An Artist's Palette,

Which Provides The Meaning of Life.

It Is The Color Of Love.

5 months LID

Today marks 5 months since we have been LID. Looking back it was one year ago last February that we started our journey to Mia by submitting our application to CCAI. After our approval we received our dossier guide via e-mail and I remember printing it off and letting it sit on the desk for a couple days before I could even read it. It seemed so overwhelming to me! When I finally read it I decided I would concentrate on completing one section at a time. That made all the difference! I was a woman on a mission with a husband that followed my lead and signed where I told him to sign and showed up to scheduled appointments on time. Together we made it through the dossier process and together we will make it through the wait.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Here are some traditions the Chinese will celebrate as they welcome the year of the Pig!

Fireworks and Family Feasts

At Chinese New Year celebrations people wear red clothes, decorate with poems on red paper, and give children "lucky money" in red envelopes. Red symbolizes fire, which according to legend can drive away bad luck. The fireworks that shower the festivities are rooted in a similar ancient custom. Long ago, people in China lit bamboo stalks, believing that the crackling flames would frighten evil spirits.

The Lantern Festival

In China, the New Year is a time of family reunion. Family members gather at each other's homes for visits and shared meals, most significantly a feast on New Year's Eve. In the United States, however, many early Chinese immigrants arrived without their families, and found a sense of community through neighborhood associations instead. Today, many Chinese-American neighborhood associations host banquets and other New Year events.
Chinese New Year ends with the lantern festival on the fifteenth day of the month. Some of the lanterns may be works of art, painted with birds, animals, flowers, zodiac signs, and scenes from legend and history. People hang glowing lanterns in temples, and carry lanterns to an evening parade under the light of the full moon.

In many areas the highlight of the lantern festival is the dragon dance. The dragon—which might stretch a hundred feet long—is typically made of silk, paper, and bamboo. Traditionally the dragon is held aloft by young men who dance as they guide the colorful beast through the streets. In the United States, where the New Year is celebrated with a shortened schedule, the dragon dance always takes place on a weekend. In addition, many Chinese-American communities have added American parade elements such as marching bands and floats.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Another inspiring song

I also love this song by Casting Crowns.

And the voice of truth says, "this is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will chose to listen to the voice of truth

"Voice Of Truth"

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat
I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
To the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out his hand
But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. 'Boy, you'll never win!'"You'll never win"

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
And the voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!"
And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a Sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again "boy, you'll never win!"You'll never win"

But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them looking down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Inspiring song

I love this song by Third Day! It reminds me of our journey to Mia. Even with all of the frustrations of the increase in referral times(and yes I have struggled with that lately) we know that God has placed us on this path and He is faithful to see us through. I love the last line.

"Nothing can quite compare with what's in front of me."

Thought that I was all alone
Broken and afraid
But You were there with me
Yes, You were there with me
And I didn’t even knowThat I had lost my way
But You were there with me
Yes, You were there with me
‘Til You opened up my eyesI never knew
That I couldn’t ever make it
Without You

Even though the journey’s long
And I know the road is hard
Well, the One who’s gone before me
He will help me carry on
After all that I’ve been through
Now I realize the truth
That I must go through the valley
To stand upon the mountain of God

As I travel on the road
That You have lead me down
You are here with me
Yes, You are here with me
I have need for nothing more
Oh, now that I have found
That You are here with me
Yes, You are here with me
I confess from time to timeI lose my way
But You are always there
To bring me back again

Sometimes I think of where it is I’ve come from
And the things I’ve left behind
But of all I’ve had, what I possessed
Nothing can quite compare
With what’s in front of me