A Whole Lotta Love

I've been going through my past photos and am realizing what an incredible work God has done in just such a short time.

Two little ones from China have become siblings with each other and have blended beautifully into an already established family.

It's exactly like what happens to us when we become Christians...we are grafted into the family of God.

I cannot wait for the next two to be "grafted in"!!!

Blizzards and Fingerprints

It's March...it's supposed to be warming up a LITTLE...you know...spring???

Not in Iowa. We've had three blizzards this month.

I'm 

sick

of 

it!!!!

But, wow, can you get some pretty awesome pics!!

And the kids love it, so I guess I can bare it a little longer!

And good news...I just received my notification that my fingerprint appointment will be soon! That is one of the final steps before all my papers go to the Chinese Consulate in Chicago...and then my dossier will be done!!

The last step is the dossier will be sent to China!!!

He's 14!!!

Yes, my baby!!!! 

My first born!!!

Did he take his driving test?

Yes! 

Did he pass?

NOOOO!!!

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

I'm so mean. :) Actually, he figured he wouldn't. His friends warned him that there were a ton of questions on the test that weren't in the book. (Yes, they all failed too! Ha ha ha ha ha).

The thing that I remembered this morning though (Moms, get out your tissues) was something that happened when Josiah was just a newborn. My husband and I went into a jewelry store and the lady behind the counter just adored Josiah. He was in his little carrier and she began talking about how "they grow up so fast," etc. It was kind of the typical stuff people say, but then she went on to say something that has impacted my husband and I all these years later. 

She said her son was 14 (the same age Josiah is today) and she kind of looked off, sad, and said, "You know, there was a day, and I don't know when it was, but it was the last day I held my son on my lap, and that time is gone now..."

I left the store and bawled my head off...and I vowed that I would hold my son even when he's 40.

He is now taller than me, he now helps me with all my electronic (daily) woes, he opens the door for me, starts my car...but today...yes, I made him sit on my lap.

Ok, I'm going to go cry now.

Happy Birthday, Josiah!!!!

Too Quiet

Nothing is going on right now adoption-wise. 

Nothing.

I've sent in my I800a, so I should be hearing back soon, but I guess not today. My kiddos are on spring break so we've been just relaxing at home (for once). 

But...I'm going craaaaaaaaazzzzzyyyyyyyyy!!!!

Come on already! Give me something to do: fingerprints, sign something, make copies, review files...COME ON!

Nothing. So I just keep taking pics of my children for my photography class. Here are some recent ones:

Yes, I'm still learning; I've got a looooong way to go, but by far these pics are better than I used to take!

Prayerfully I will have more news this week, until then I'm going crawl under a blanket and watch movies with my children and maybe take a few more (hundred) pictures of my kiddos! 

The Icebreaker

Johnny's Gotcha Anniversary was a few weeks ago, but I wanted to share some extra pics that I took, and also share a special way Johnny and I celebrated...just us.

When Johnny met us one year ago, his head was hung down, he was very shy, and oh so scared! I took a few moments and just loved on him, and then I did something that I had NO idea how impacting would be to him at the time...I offered him a lollipop. 

That was it.

That was THE icebreaker.

Do you know, he doesn't like any other flavor of lollipop now? 

It has to be a cherry lollipop.

Even other brands...he always says, "Mama, this isn't the same."

So on his One Year Anniversary...I offered him another cherry lollipop. 

I think I have started a tradition!

Perhaps when he is 40 I will still be offering him a cherry lollipop for his Gotcha Anniversary.

That's fine with me!

And yes, I've made a note to self: bring cherry lollipops to China for kiddo #5 and #6!

Fingerprint Update!

My fingerprints came back!!! I'm not a criminal!!!! Yay...whoo hoo!!! I wasn't sure, ya know? I mean, they had to check 3 times. I was trying to remember if I had ever worn a ski mask into a bank...ok now I'm just being silly. 

I should receive my home study next week and then I send it right back out with paperwork called I800a. It's the beginning of my dossier, which is huge. That's the stack of paperwork that goes to China. 

But the funny thing about the I800a is...it's all so I can get...wait for it...FINGERPRINTED...again!!! Agh!!!!

 But this time it's electronically, because, you know, the background check at the local police dept isn't enough, and the fingerprints (twice) at the sheriff's dept, and running my social security # isn't enough. 

Let's do it 

ONE. 

MORE. 

TIME!!!!!

Actually, I'm fine with it because it means I have (get) to go to a city that actually has a real mall, real restaurants, and people who don't shop in those malls in their pajamas, and eat in said restaurants in, yes, their pajamas. 

Sigh.

I should try it sometime...just to blend in. Perhaps there should be national pajama day...I mean...go to Wally W. and it's already begun.

Man, I can get off topic really fast. 

I was going through some of my photography class pics, and I forgot I had taken extra pics of Johnny for his Gotcha Anniversary. I gave him a lollypop...the same brand and flavor from one year ago. Actually, I should do a post on that alone, because it's actually a pretty neat story.

 Another day.