Updates and the 7 month mark

Easter pictures

It has been a while since I have updated our blog. I must admit I have been in a bit of an "adoption funk." Last month brought only 2 days of referrals which was very disappointing. I needed to step back from the process for a while and try to focus on other things. Of course my boys have helped tremendously with keeping me busy. Ethan and Logan are both playing soccer. Ethan is playing on two different teams this season. Ethan and Logan are also getting ready to test for their black belt in Tae Kwon Do in LESS than two weeks so there has been alot of extra training involved in preparing for that. Christian is loving his Tae Kwon Do class! More big news~I registered Christian for kindergarten last week~sniff, sniff. It is so hard to believe that my baby is ready to go to school with the big kids! It is also hard to believe that there are less than 4 weeks left of school before summer break! We are so ready for summer!

Our ladybug is back!

I just noticed our little ladybug in our timeline is back. She had "disappeared" for a couple weeks but it seems she found her way back!

We made it to the 6 month mark!

Another month down and we have officially been LID for 6 months! There is something very different about this particular milestone. I am not sure what it is but ever since we were first LID I have looked forward to the six month mark. Maybe because it is halfway to a year and a year really feels like a milestone at this point. Maybe it is because when we first started this process the wait for a referral was about a year. At that time I imagined if I could just make it to the 6 month mark we would only have to wait 6 more months to bring Mia home and that seemed completely doable. Unfortunately, though while I am happy to celebrate this milestone, I wonder how many more "6 month milestones" we will "celebrate" until Mia is home.

As I have reflect back on our journey so far and especially now I am reminded that God is in control and He has the perfect child chosen for our family. In His timing she will join our family and we will know the exact reason why we had to wait. I am confident that when that moment finally does arrive it will all make sense and the wait will be just a distant memory.

Update on Mia's quilt

Good news! No GREAT news! I found someone to create Mia's quilt! One of my best friends Bev is going to do us the honor of making Mia's quilt! It makes Mia's quilt that much more special to us to have such a wonderful friend create this treasure for us and Mia.

Thank you so much Bev for being part of this keepsake for Mia!

NewSong-China Rescue

Future soccer player or baseball player?

It finally feels like spring has arrived~at least for today! We are enjoying weather in the 70s but by the end of the week it is suppose to be in the 30s! At least we know spring is on its way even if we are spoiled just for today!

Signs of spring

Yesterday was a beautiful day with lots of sunshine and highs around 60 (at least that is what the temperature gauge said in the car and I am chosing to believe it!) Yesterday was a sunglasses kind of day! The snow is finally melting and spring is in the air!

Another sign of spring is that I signed the boys up for soccer last weekend. I am so excited for the soccer season to start! I love to watch them play! Of course it means a busier than normal routine with all three of them in Tae Kwon Do three nights a week and two of them in soccer but it will all work out. It might be wishful thinking on my part but eventually it has got to get here! I am trying to remain postive and hope it gets here sooner rather than later because I am tired of feeling the winter blahs!

China Families meeting their children

Here is a video of parents meeting their children. This day is commonly referred to as "gotcha day."

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

First real snowfall

The past two days we have had our first significant snowfall of the season. The boys were excited to finally see snow and to be able to go out and play. Yesterday Ethan and Logan got off the bus and immediately threw their bookbags on the ground and started having a snowball fight! Of course the mother in me wanted to tell them to zip their coats and put on their hats but I just quietly observed for a few minutes from the living room window and then went outside to take some pictures of the action. Of course today when they got off the bus I was prepared with thier boots, snow pants, and gloves.

Cute T-shirts

I went to Target yesterday to pick up a couple things and found these cute little t-shirts for Mia. I remember Target having the "everyone loves a brown-eyed girl" t-shirt in a long sleeve version in the fall. I wished I would have picked it up but I am so glad I found it in a short sleeved version! As for the "Trouble is spelled BROTHER shirt" need I say more? Gotta love Target!

Mia's 100+ Good Wishes Quilt

To welcome and celebrate a new life, there is a tradition in the northern part of China to make a Bai Jia Bei or 100 Good Wishes Quilt. It is a custom to invite friends and family to contribute a piece of fabric along with a wish. The pieces of fabric are then sewn together to make a quilt. If you are interested in participating in Mia's 100 Good Wishes Quilt please do the following.

1. Chose any 100% cotton fabric that you like. It can be fabric from a piece of clothing or a fabric store. Any fabric that is special or unique to you would be perfect! Cut the fabric into an 8X8 square and include 1 small swatch (1X1) or (2X2) to be attached to the blessing, scripture, or wishes card.

2. On a 5X7 card stock card please include a blessing, scripture, or wish for Mia. Also attach the small swatch of fabric to the card. All wishes collected will be placed in a scrapbook for Mia to look at for years to come. She will be able to identify your fabric in her quilt by the fabric swatch included on your wishes card.

Thank you so much for helping us to create this wonderful treasure for our daughter. If you would like to participate and need our address please e-mail me at dmptrsn@hotmail.com.

4 months down

We are now officially 4 months into our wait for Mia. Surprisingly it has gone pretty fast. I remember thinking when we first got our LID that we were in for a LONG wait and I wondered how I would get through it. The current wait for a referral is 15-16 months from LID. The truth is we are still in for a long wait but it is comforting to know that each passing day brings us closer to Mia. The adoption clock only moves forward not backwards.

Weekend shopping trip

Sunday afternoon my friend Sheri and I went shopping at the outlet malls. Sometimes I can find good deals there and other times I find that the prices aren't much different than in the regular stores. It seems to be a hit and miss for me. This past weekend I found AWESOME deals in the Carters and The Children's Place stores. I went with the intention of shopping for the boys. Unfortunately I didn't find a lot for the boys but I found some great deals for Mia! Oh how I wish I knew how big she would be as the deals were too great to pass up! I must admit because we don't know how big she will be I really have not done any shopping for her. However I took a chance and I figured if the clothes don't fit I can sell them on e-bay and easily get back what I paid for them and probably more! This was my first shopping trip for Mia and it was so much fun to buy girly clothes!

A new year and my new calendar!

It is a new year so of course I needed a new calendar! My 2007 calendar is called "From China with Love". It is also currently serving as my screensaver. Each month features beautiful Chinese children. What better way to count down our wait than to be able to look at these beautiful children and know that it DOES happen! What an inspiration!