They're Checking

So my agency has finally decided (after 113 days) to check on the status of my little girl's LOA. Monday they were going to check. Nothing. I gave it a few days and called on Wednesday. They haven't heard anything. Today? Nothing. You.have.got.to.be.kidding.me!! I'm not Southern, but when I get ticked, I use the word y'all, don't ask me why...so...Y'ALL BETTER BE PRAYING FOR THAT STINKIN' LOA TO GET HERE!!! Yeah, I'm ticked. I do have a boiling point and I think I'm there. Ugh, now I have to go repent for being impatient. 

Can't Stop Looking at His Picture

Since I received pictures of my little boy, I can't quit looking at him! Honestly, my first reaction was shock. It didn't look like him in the first few pics. It wasn't until I saw the last picture (the one I posted) that it really "clicked" that this is my little boy...he's taller, they shaved his head, and he's so skinny!! The pictures are an amazing blessing, but it makes me want to get to China even quicker. The boy needs FOOD!!! Ha ha. Actually, it reminds me of Josiah at that age...he was tiny and skinny too! My agency is checking on my daughter's LOA as we speak. Pray for good news, guys!! Seriously! This waiting thing does NOT get easier! 

And as for my two bio kiddos, what's going on in their world? Well, Josiah thinks texting is appropriate for doing book reports. As in: "I like 2 go 2 church b cuz it's fun. LOL" Really, Josiah, lol??? In a book report? And as for Brianna, yesterday I swallowed a tad bit of coffee and it went down the wrong pipe so I started coughing. She walked over and gave me the heimlich. For coffee. I've never heard of anyone dying from coffee inhalation. Oh well, she's ambitious at least so...A+ Brianna on saving Mom from death by coffee.  

New Pic Of My Little Guy!!

Getting ready for his nap!! So cute!!

I will forever be grateful to a fellow adoptive Mom who took pics of my little boy!! It was right before nap time and he was really tired! As you can see, he's trying to escape. My heart melted and I bawled my eyes out. For someone who is non-emotional, adoption sure brings out the tears in me! How in THE world am I going to sleep now tonight?

110 Days

Today is 110 days wait on my Letter of Approval from China.  Those children at the top of my blog are not cute unknown children I happened to copy and paste into my blog title just for the fun of it.  They are my children...just as much as Josiah and Brianna are my children. I love them already.  I have bonded with them already.  I have hopes and dreams for them already.  They are mine.  And a piece of paper is between me and them; an approval letter. I've already received his but I still have to wait for hers.  So I wait.  I have to trust God's timing.  Sometimes IT. IS. SO. HARD!!! But I remember that God is the one who brought me on this journey.  And they are really His children...they belong to Him.  I think He knows what He's doing; He's never let me down before!  When I look back at my life, and I see how impatient I was in certain circumstances, I get upset with myself because I didn't trust God to know the big picture.  This will all make sense some day...or not...God doesn't answer to me! But usually when time passes, things make sense to me and I see the big picture.  So today...I trust and I wait.

Queen of the Throne

This is me. I may be small but I am still queen of the throne. I rule all.

Just kidding. My niece edited this. Don't know why I felt the need to take a picture of a grasshopper. Kind of scary. What's more scary is my 10 year old is currently lapping up water from a bowl like a dog as I'm typing this. This is my life. Gotta love it.

I Wish More People Would Adopt

Orphan...a part of me truly does NOT like that word. It means that a child lost something that they had no control over and they are in a current situation of uncertainty. But at the same time the word "orphan" also has such a sweet meaning to me. It's an opportunity for potential. It's an opportunity for a couple to reach into the deepest part of their hearts and look deep into their souls...and say, "Yes." It means overcoming fears, insecurities, and trusting that God is leading you down an "unusual" path...the path less traveled. When I look at the faces of little ones waiting, my heart crumbles. I want to rescue them all. I am so thankful for the day my husband said 'yes' and we began our adoption journey. In a few short months there will be two less orphans in the world.

Where Have I Been??? (And LOA #1)

I have been locked out of my blogging account.  Why?  Because of a conspiracy?  No. Because I forgot my password...again.  But in the meantime...I received LOA for our little boy!!!  Yay!  Still waiting on LOA for our little girl.  What is an LOA you say?  It stands for Letter Of Approval silly!!  China issues it after they've translated all the documents we've sent them.  Prayerfully LOA #2 will be here Monday!  Also, I am now way over the 100 day mark waiting for that little piece of paper.  I really, really want to travel to China before the end of the year!!!

The Apple Orchard

Yesterday a bunch of us Homeschool Moms took our kids to a local apple orchard. The owner put the kiddos to work for an hour, picking up apples, and later sorting them. What did they earn? A bag of apples and some fresh apple juice! They loved it!! 

Brianna is already begging to go back to the orchard. Josiah missed out because he was working at the church. He didn't get paid in apples and juice. That won't work for him. 

And in case you're wondering, it only took me five hours to figure out how to post this pic on here. I've been having a debate with the computer the whole time. I caved and begged my hubby for help, he walked over, clicked two buttons and ta da, there it is.

I will post more pics tomorrow, when I learn how to download more than one picture at a time....sigh.

Brianna, sweet as apple pie!!!

While In The Wait

At this point in my adoption journey I am at a loss for words.  It's just an emotion that cannot even be described.  I have peace knowing my long wait for my LOA has not caught God off guard, but at the same time I feel a gut wrenching agony knowing someone else is tucking my little ones in at night...and it's not me...yet.  People have all the same words to say... "Hang in there, it'll be here before you know it."  I'm sorry, but when you're over 100 days in your wait for a little piece of paper, there's no such thing as "before you know it!"  Then there's the people who offer up every bit of advice and decide to "teach" you by throwing out scriptures left and right, as if you forgot that God was on the throne.  And then, finally, there are those who know you're "going through it" and say...nothing.  Nothing at all.  They say, "Oh, I knew you hadn't received your LOA so I didn't want to say anything."  Nice.  Here's an idea, don't give cute little pep talks like you're a cheerleader, don't fire off scriptures like darts at my face, and don't ignore me because I'm still in the wait this week!  Just use your ears instead of your mouth when someone is going through it!!! Let them vent!  That's when ANYONE is going through ANYTHING.  And when you don't want to hear anymore, give them a pep talk, fifty scriptures, and walk away and ignore them....they'll get the hint. 

Ugh! Can't Post Pics Again!!

Andrea!!!  Help me!!!  Calling on all nerds: This thing called technology is out to get me, come fix it!  For the life of me, I don't understand how my brain works...rephrase that, why my brain DOESN'T work.  My sister JUST showed me how to post pics, so my creative side is going...I have all this stuff I want to do and I know how I want it to look.  She helped me download them to a disc (ahem, all 2000 pics) so rather 6 discs...she showed me how to put the disc into the computer - stop laughing - no, I DO NOT know ANYTHING about computers...anyway, that's all I remember.  I just clicked on all the cute little icon things but was I supposed to drag them somewhere?  What happened?  Did my brain melt?  Yes, yes it did.  So no pics today.  Bummer.  Well, I'll have a little chit chat with that droid sister of mine and maybe tomorrow I'll learn something new...again...for the fifth time this week. 

Finally Know How To Post Pics!!!

Thanks to my nerdy sister, I now know how to post pics on here!!!!

Josiah - age 12

Brianna - age 10

These were taken at our local beach. 

More pics to come!!