Karleigh Mei's Weekend...

Karleigh Mei's best friend will be leaving the orphanage this weekend.  As happy as I am for her sweet little friend, I worry about my sweet girl and how she will feel when her friend is not there anymore.  Please be lifting up Karleigh Mei AND her little friend this weekend.  

Also, please continue to pray for her...that the Lord is preparing her for us and the changes that are going to come for her.  We tend to see the adoption only from our view (how blessed she will be etc.)...and not from her view.  She will be leaving the only home she has ever known.  The only people she has ever known.  The only language she has ever heard.  The only foods she has ever eaten.  The only smells she has ever smelled. She will be scared.  She will be angry. She will be grieving her loss.  We all know what wonderful things are to be had for her, but she does not know this.  Please pray that the Lord whispers in her ear and gives her the unexplainable longing for all that we have to offer her.  Unconditional love. Warm clothing. More than enough food. Someone who will ALWAYS take care of her needs.  Someone who will ALWAYS run to her when she needs help.  The list goes on.  Sigh.

Thank you for your continued prayers. You don't know how much they mean to me!

I Belong....

I found this incredibly awesome song...sung by Kathryn Scott.  The words are so simple, yet they speak what I know to the very core of my being. I belong to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, my Father.  

I long to whisper in Karleigh Mei's ear who she belongs to. Who loves her more than even I. Who created her and knew her before time. Who formed her perfectly sweet little body. Who has a future for her. Who will never, ever leave her.

If you want to listen to this song, turn up the volume on your computer...I have it playing.  :o)

"I Belong"

Not angels, nor demons, no power on earth or heaven
Not distance, nor danger, no trouble now or ever

Nothing can take me from your great love
Forever this truth remains

I belong, I belong to you 

Not hardship, nor hunger, no pain or depth of sorrow
Not weakness, nor failure, no broken dream or promise

Getting Ready!!

I have been so super busy the past couple of weeks...and I don't see an end to my busy-ness!  I've had fun picking up this and picking up that for my sweet girl Karleigh Mei.  I have been in love with this carseat and when I saw it clearanced at Tar*get I knew I HAD to get it. Karleigh Mei...you've got the softest seat in the car!!

I have also been obsessed with Hello* Kitty* things after I spotted what appears to be one on one of her little shirts. It doesn't help that Tar*get has Hello* Kitty* in their $1 spot!!!

Mama loves you Karleigh Mei and I can't wait to get you HOME!!!!

Why We Wait to Post The MOST Beautiful Little Girl's Picture :o)

I had someone leave me a comment as to why we had to wait to post Karleigh Mei's picture. Most people, when they are given a referral, plaster their darlings picture all over their site!!!  I can not WAIT until I can do the same!!  BUT, because Karleigh Mei is a "Waiting Child" the process is a bit different.  We still don't have the coveted RA (referral acceptance---the final approval that, yes, we can adopt her) from China.  We must wait until we have this before we can post her pictures. For those that are waiting for NSN (non-special need) referrals, when they receive their referrals they automatically are approved because it was China who matched them to their child. I hope that this makes sense!

Best Friends...

At the insistence of Lexie, I used the service from Ladybugs N Love to see if we could get some updated pictures of our sweet girl.  Yesterday we got our report...and 2 pictures of our darling girl!!  We just can't seem to get enough of her!!  I was surprised to read that she is still taking a bottle.  Hmmm... that was a good question for me to ask...I'll have to be prepared for that!

I am always in total awe over how good our Father is to us.   You see, He loves to delight us!! We also received, through Ladybugs N Love, a super special contact.  Karleigh Mei's BEST FRIEND'S parents information! We also got a picture of these two special friends together.  To keep Karleigh Mei's friend's information confidential, I'm going to call her "Little Ladybug".  :o) "Little Ladybug's" parents are leaving for China at the end of this month to go and get her. While I am THRILLED for "Little Ladybug", I'm sad for my Karleigh Mei.  Please be praying that the Lord will give her peace while she is left at the orphanage without this special friend.

Thank you, Father, for connecting us to Little Ladybug's new family.  What a special treat for us and for Karleigh Mei.  You are so good Father...All Glory to You!!!

James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift if from above, coming down from the Father..."

A side note....the ladies at Ladybugs N Love are sooooo wonderful and sooooo sweet!!  This truly is an awesome ministry that they are offering to all of us waiting parents.  I would HIGHLY recommend them!!  They totally ROCK!!!  :o)

Karleigh Mei's Beautiful Smile!

Yesterday we received an incredible gift!!  A picture of Karleigh Mei smiling!!  I couldn't resist putting her sweet smile in my header---just a peek at this adorable little girl!!

***For fear of posting her pictures before I'm allowed to...I took down her sweet smiling lips.

Slipping Through My Fingers...

Last week my husband and I went to the movie "Mama Mia".  In the fall the broadway play was in town and I went with a group of ladies...along with both of my girls and my mother!  When I first heard the song "Slipping Through My Fingers" I had to really control myself not to become a weeping mess!  And then AGAIN last week when I saw the movie. For anyone that has older children, you will understand.

I created this blog to keep my family and friends informed on the process of adoption of our next darling girl, Karleigh Mei. It has become more than that, and has become a place where I can journal about my thoughts as well.  About life.  About my children. About my love for the Lord. I find myself in an odd place right now.  I'm preparing  for a toddler to come in my home, but also preparing for my oldest to take that final step off from the safety of our nest and wings. I also have 3 other children nearing that "flight" age. So many emotions...I can't quite focus on any of them!  I am much more aware of the fact that my children DO grow up!  :o)  And too quickly they are grown and adults on their own.  I have loved EVERY age my children have been at, so I don't wish for a time passed.  I just wish I could have them again! To maybe savor them a bit more. Life and children are such incredible blessings and I count it a privilege and an honor to have the children that the Lord has given me.

To my Katie-girl....I am incredibly proud of the young woman that you have become!  I am proud of all that you have accomplished thus far, and I have no doubt that the Lord has big plans for your life!  I cherish all of the memories of you!  You are a delight to me! Karleigh Mei is going to have an INCREDIBLE role model in you! You will ALWAYS be my very first darling girl!!  What a blessing you are!!  Let's savor all of the rest of the memories we are going to make!!

Slipping Through My Fingers

Schoolbag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile
I watch her go with a surge of that well-known sadness
And I have to sit down for a while
The feeling that I'm losing her forever
And without really entering her world
I'm glad whenever I can share her laughter
That funny little girl

Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see whats in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time

Sleep in our eyes, her and me at the breakfast table
Barely awake, I let precious time go by
Then when she's gone theres that odd melancholy feeling
And a sense of guilt I can't deny
What happened to the wonderful adventures
The places I had planned for us to go
(slipping through my fingers all the time)
Well, some of that we did but most we didn't
And why I just dont know

Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see whats in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time

Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture
And save it from the funny tricks of time
Slipping through my fingers...

Slipping through my fingers all the time

Schoolbag in hand she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile...