Zoo Field Trip

Bucky and I decided to take the kids to the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC today. The weather was perfect: beautiful and warm with lots of sunshine. Without fail, at every exhibit, Brennan would say, "Me hold it." or "Me pet it." He wanted to cuddle all those exotic animals. And without fail, we had to coax Xan to even get close to the glass or whatever barrier was there to protect the people. They are polar opposites of one another. Sasha brought his camera and took pictures of literally every animal. I believe he came home with 152 pictures.

No zoo adventure would be complete without visiting

Fun With Our Friends

Today was another beautiful day and we got to enjoy a picnic lunch with our friends, The Snook's. I jump at any opportunity to spend time with this sweet family because in a matter of months they will be leaving the USA in order to fulfill God's call on their lives to be foreign missionaries. I am so excited and so sad at the same time.

Not sure what Brennan is doing, but he sure is cute!

Xan doing some kind of karate move.

Enjoying the warm spring weather

What better way to enjoy the weather than to play in the mud....

Bucky taught them about dams and lakes.

Sasha wanted no part in playing in the mud.

The best part was that Bucky gave them baths when it was over.

How to move forward....

Since finding out that we could not accept the referral of the beautiful baby girl because I am not 30, I have really struggled with how to move forward. Do I continue to look at her beautiful face everyday and fall deeper and deeper in love with her? Do I continue to show her off to strangers, friends, and family? Do we celebrate her birthday on April 24th? Or do I try to forget her, put her photo away and try not to think about her anymore. WHAT DO I DO????

My friend Jen gave me some really awesome advice that I believe is straight from the heart of God. She said that I am in a situation similar to a women that carries a baby in her womb only to find out she miscarried or that the child is sick and may not survive past birth. Now let me stop here and say I in no way am comparing my hurt to the death of child or implying that I am experiencing the same kind of grief of that of a mom who has held her still born child. But what Jen said and what I think is right is that God has given me THIS baby girl, whether that be only during this two month wait or whether that be as her forever family. She is mine for now. I am to love her, hurt for her and celebrate her for however long God sees fit. We will celebrate her birthday on April 24th and I will continue to show her off to anyone and everyone who cares to look at her beautiful face.

The paper chase is complete

Today I turned in 18 more pages of paperwork to our adoption agency. Hopefully next week we will proof and approve our homestudy, then it will be on its way to DSS. Whew, what a relief to get all the paperwork done!

Homestudy visit: Complete

One GIANT step for our China adoption is complete: our in home visit with our social worker. We spent two hours talking to our social worker not only about China, but also about Sasha's one year post placement anniversary that is coming up in just two months.

Today is March 9th, in two months, I will finally be 30! It will not come soon enough. But while I am waiting, I am keeping myself busy with adoption paperwork, homeschooling, and just having lots of fun with my kids.

Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord

"He gives and takes away. My heart will choose to say, blessed be the name of the Lord."

We had to relinquish the referral of the precious baby girl that we had accepted because I am not 30 yet. We are praying, praying, and hoping that she will sit on the waiting list for two months until I am 30. But if not, God has another precious girl for us.