Disappointments

This past Thursday was a hard day for me...maybe the hardest in this silly wait. RA's (Referral acceptance) came in for only some families and we did not receive ours. I was beyond excited when I saw that families were getting theirs, and I was waiting patiently (okay...not so patiently) by the phone.  Every time it rang I just KNEW it was going to be Lauren from AWAA telling me the good news. But my phone call never came.  Today is day 79 waiting for China to tell me that they will allow us to adopt our darling girl. This coming week is a China holiday (??) and the CCAA will be closed. That means that I will have to wait at least another 2 weeks to get my call. When I go to the Lord for comfort, He reminds me, AGAIN, that He is in control of it all. This does give me such sweet comfort. He is so good and so faithful. And He is with my darling girl in China. 

Thank you Father for loving her more than even I. Thank you for creating her sweet little body. Thank you for this journey to her. You will be faithful to complete it. In you am I resting.

Want To Help Sponsor An Orphan In China???

See this little cutie?  His name is "Trenton" and is living in Guangdong Province and is needing one more family to help sponsor him so that he can continue living with his foster family in China.  If you are interested in helping to sponsor him you can find out more information on him at Kay Bratt's site ---->HERE.

My Grandma's 89th Birthday Party

I'm such a slacker.  My Grandma's 89th birthday was on September 13 and my whole family got together to celebrate!! My grandma is such a dear, sweet woman and she is sooooo excited about Karleigh Mei and getting to love on her.  She is also a prayer warrior and is praying for her! Here are some pictures from our weekend.

This first picture is my grandma talking to Dawson, one of my sister's twin 2 yr. olds. Notice he is sitting on my grandma's walker. They LOVE that walker!

A picture of my girls with their great-grandma!

Okay...these next two pictures are not the best of my sister and her family, but I love them. If you look closely the first picture Dawson (on the left) has his passie in his mouth.  In the 2nd one Grayson (on the right) had just STOLEN Dawson's passie right from his mouth!! :o)  Too funny!  Also....my sister just recently found she's expecting another little blessing!!  Yippee!! I can't wait to have Karleigh Mei meet her newest little cousin.  So fun!!

My sweaty boy Garrison.  :o)

Pray for Susannah!!

Susannah was home for just a short bit and then was admitted to the hospital. Today she will have a heart cath procedure to see about her little heart. This procedure will find if she is a candidate for heart surgery or if her sweet little heart is too weak. Lift this darling girl and her family in prayer today as this procedure does have it's risks.

Also, be praying for Susannah's incredible "MaMa and BaBa". Leslie and I have become fast friends as our dossiers were sent to China together and we both received the referrals of our waiting girls around the same time. Leslie is a prayer warrior and a friend that loves at all times! I know that her faith is being tested and she needs encouragement and support from everyone. Please, PLEASE if you haven't already, leave a note of encouragement to her on her blog at www.roomforatleastonemore.blogspot.com  I know it would mean so much to her.

PRAY!!!!!!!!

Susannah's Coming HOME!

Look at this beautiful little girl!!  Be praying for her and her family as they are traveling home!!

Weekend Getaway....

Karl and decided that we needed a weekend away "one last time" before we head off to China for our sweet girl. My in-laws graciously agreed to watch our kids while we were away. We had a fabulous weekend in Wimberley, Texas.  We stayed at a wonderful B&B and had fun just relaxing and being together.  Karl was sweet and took me antique shopping downtown. Also, one of the reasons we went to Wimberley is because there is a Bonsai Exhibit there. Karl has always been interested in Bonsai and we thought it would be fun to check out.  We ended up each buying one!

This is the picture of our room---it was classy/casual. Very easy to feel comfortable in. The breakfast and Saturday night dinner they served in the Inn was VERY nice too!

The first bonsai is the one that Karl picked out. It is a Brazilian Raintree. I really like the little men that we put underneath it.  Just fun!

Can you guess why I picked mine? It's a Chinese Elm.  :o) I also like the little woman and crane I've got sitting under it.  Now let's hope we can keep them alive!

And whoever is interested, we are on day 73 waiting for RA.  sigh.

Such a BEAUTIFUL smile!!

Look at beautiful Susannah!! She is now out of the hospital and with her Mama and Baba! The Lord is so good and so faithful....it is so evident in this little girl and her parents.  Continue to lift them in prayer. Susannah still has a loooooong flight home and will have some major heart surgery soon. I believe this little feisty girl is ready to take it on! And the Lord will continue to rest His hand on her...of this I am SURE! Thank you Jesus for this incredible gift for such an incredible family! 

Update On Susannah

Praise God!!  Leslie is reporting that Susannah is doing much better!! The Lord is at work in such a tiny little miracle. They have posted some sweet videos of their darling girl. She looks like she is in love with her mama and baba! God is so good and I can't wait to see what he has planned for this precious family who loves Him so very much!

Susannah's Blog Opened...

I wanted to let you know that Susannah's family have opened back up their blog after being private. Send them an encouraging word as I KNOW it will help lift their spirits!  You can "click" on the picture of Susannah on the right to get to their blog. Such a beautiful little girl!!  I'm believing in mountains being moved and miracles taking place!!

Urgent Prayer Request!

My friends Leslie and Charlie are in China right now to pick up their daughter Susannah. Susannah is very sick right now, is in the hospital, and they need prayer.  You can read about her here. Please be keeping them in prayer today!

An Orphan's Ticket Home Gala

Our awesome adoption fellowship group, headed by THE fabulous and amazing Cristie and Doug Martine, is putting on "An Orphan's Ticket Home Gala" at our church. I am so excited about this event! It has been a delight to watch the Lord work on this. This event will be benefiting AWAA's campaign "An Orphan's Ticket Home". <------ click here to find out more, or you can click on the "ticket" in my sidebar.

San Antonio, Texas: 

Date: Friday, November 21st, 2008
Time: 6:30 PM until 9:00 PM
Location: Community Bible Church
Youth Sanctuary, 2477 N. Loop 1604 E., San Antonio, TX 78232 (Directions) 

Guest Speakers:
Tom Davis, President & Founder of Children's Hope Chest & Author of Fields of the Fatherless & Red Letters. Brian Luwis, President, CEO & Founder of America World Adoption. 

Guest Music:
Billy & Cindy Foote, World Renowned Worship Leaders & Songwriters. The Footes penned such songs as, You are My King (Amazing Love), Break Our Hearts, I Have a River, Sing to the King, & You Are God Alone (Not a God). 

Check out the guest speakers and music!  Woo Hoo!!  Sounds like an amazing night doesn't it!!?? If we are NOT in China picking up our darling girl, you can bet this is where we will be at! 

Hurricane Ike

I'm praying for all who are in the path of Hurricane Ike!!!

Day 62...

I have been getting more weepy about wanting Karleigh Mei with me. It hits me the most as I'm about to fall asleep and I think about what she might be doing. China is 13 hrs. ahead of us and so I know that she is awake and still has a long day ahead of her. I hate the thought of going to sleep knowing she is awake! I have her sweet little face memorized in my mind and I try to envision her where she is at. I don't like it. I want her here with me, snuggled close to my heart where she belongs.  sigh. And so I wait. I wish I could just travel here and get her....I could just explain to them that I am her mommy and I love her oh-so-much!!! They would know that I'm telling the truth. I just know they would.

Her Orphanage:

Day 60 Waiting for RA

Today marks day 60.  We have been waiting 60 days for China to tell us we are officially approved to adopt Karleigh Mei.  I think the average wait time is 80 days.  So we continue to wait.  sigh. Praying it's not MORE than 80 days.

So I was talking with my sister this morning (we talk everyday--I'm so blessed to have her, she's my bestest friend!--LOVE YOU SARAH!!).  And we were talking  about what a blessing our kids are.  She has 3 awesome boys, Noah is 5 and Dawson and Grayson are 2 (God has more planned for them--I'll update as soon as I'm allowed!).  She is enjoying their toddler years. I have older children (duh!).  Anyway...we were talking about the importance of praying over our kids, but also how important it is to be praying for our kids spouses too!!  I think I know who one of my son-in-laws will be (hopefully I can update on THAT too!  hee hee--goodness, I've got a lot going on in my life right now....ALL wonderful blessings!!), but I don't have a clue who the rest of them will be. But I do love praying for each one of them!  Including Karleigh Mei's! I'm praying that he has a mommy and a daddy who love him very much and that he knows it! I'm praying that his mommy and daddy are raising him up to be a man of God. And that they are teaching him how to be a wonderful husband some day! It takes my breath away when I really stop and think about it all.  sigh.

So if you have children...stop and think about their one-day spouses they will have...and pray for them!! Your children will thank you one day.  ;O)

Day 56 Waiting For RA......

Sigh.

Okay....I've had people ask how I did the "scallops"...as I call them...on the top part of Karleigh Mei's walls. I made a stencil with half circles (with Lexie's trusty little compass--you know--the math kind?:o) ) and used it. I stenciled them on the walls with a pencil.  I used a smaller paint brush to do the edges of the circle (not as hard as it sounds) and painted the rest with a smaller roller. It was really very easy!  If I could do it, I bet you could too!

The quote "Such a big miracle in such a little girl" was actually a wall "sticker" I got at Hobby Lobby. I don't remember who it was that makes it. Next time I'm at Hobby Lobby I'll look and let you know!  ***UPDATE-- the wall stickers were by Once Upon a Wall. And Lynn pointed out, Wall Words is also another great place! Thanks Lynn!! ****

Waiting On God...

Wait

by Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried; 
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied. 
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . . 
And the Master so gently said, "Wait." 

"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply. 
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word. 

"My future and all to which I relate 
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait? 
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign, 
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign. 

"You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe, 
We need but to ask, and we shall receive. 
And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply." 

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate, 
As my Master replied again, "Wait." 
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut, 
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?" 

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . . 
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign. 
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun. 
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be. 
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me. 
You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint. 
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence are all you can see.

"You'd never experience the fullness of love
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

"The glow of my comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you.

"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait."

Karleigh Mei's Room!!

Lexie and I took on the challenge of painting Karleigh Mei's room this weekend. We are feeling pretty good about how it turned out!  I still am waiting for the dust ruffle for the bed to come in.  We also need to get a cute little window treatment. But I just had to share what's been completed so far.  Can't WAIT to get Karleigh Mei in there!!