Adoption Update

This week we have had some significant progress with our China adoption. On Monday, we received our I800 approval from USCIS (11/15 approval date). I e-mailed the NVC late Monday evening and I received an e-mail back first thing Tuesday morning saying that we had been cabeled that morning (11/22) and that they would e-mail the pdf file "shortly" I waited several hours before e-mailing again requesting the pdf and it was e-mailed to me within an hour. I immediately forwarded the pdf to our in country coordinator. Several hours later I received an e-mail from the in country coordinator stating that our paperwork would be dropped off to the US Consulate in Guangzhou while we were sleeping (11/23). Our Article 5, which is what the US Consulate will issue after reviewing all of our paperwork will be ready to be picked up in exactly two weeks. Once the Article 5 is picked up, it will be overnighted to Beijing and we will then be waiting for our FINAL approval....Travel Approval aka TA!! We are so close and God has been so good!

My first GIRLY baby shower!

The staff wives at church gave me a "toy shower" tonight. I had a great time opening girly things. Laurel Horton hosted the shower in her beautiful home.

We are all laughing about how fun it will be to play this butterfly game with Bucky (he is terrified of butterflies).

YAY for girly things!

Laura Timmons made the desserts. They were yummy and I especially loved the cupcake decorations.

I800 Receipt Notice

Today we received notice that US Immigration received our I800 application on 10/31/11. Hopefully we will have our I800 approval before Thanksgiving.

LOA! LOA! LOA!

Slump...

Sorry I haven't updated the blog recently, I am in my adoption slump which manifests itself in a deep sadness. This slump happened with Xan and it happened with Sasha (it didn't happen with Brennan because we only had three days notice that he was to be ours). It isn't a lack of faith because I am confident that God is working all of this waiting for our good and His glory. God has certainly proved to me in our adoptions that His timing is so much better than mine and I am clinging to Him. I just have the "my whole body aches to have my little girl in my arms." When we were waiting for Xan, this longing manifested itself into chronic sickness and migraines (along with the sadness) because I didn't have three beautiful, rowdy boys to keep be busy and occupied. I am so thankful for my precious sons and how, without even knowing it, they are a constant source of joy in the midst of the sadness and longing for Rebecca. Children truly are a blessing from the Lord!

Magic Kingdom

We had a magical time at Walt Disney World. It was a hot, hot day, but the time just flew by. We waited no more than 15 minutes for any ride. Xan's favorite ride was the Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. He loved shooting all the aliens and Zurg. We rode that ride twice.

Xan shooting all those aliens. Look at that concentration!

Sasha liked it too. He and Bucky competed to see who could accumulate the most points. I am not sure who won, however, Sasha would say he did.

Inside the ride. It was really cool!

Xan drove me around the race track. He was so excited about driving his first car.

We rode dumbo. Sasha was not thrilled about having his picture made with dumbo.

This is me and Brennan on the train. This was Brennan's FAVORITE ride...can you tell. We rode it twice just for him. He had this smile plastered on his face both times. So precious!

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The park was decorated for fall and I thought these wreaths were especially pretty. I would love to come back when the park is decorated for Christmas.

Sasha favorite ride was Space Mountain and he rode it three times...once with Bucky, once with me and then again with Bucky. Xan and Brennan rode their first roller coaster, Thunder Mountain and both loved it. After the fireworks, we got stuck in the park for a while because the monorail was not functioning. So everyone in the park was trying to leave by boat or bus. It took quite a while to get everyone where they needed to go. We arrived back to Uncle Mike's at midnight.

Beach Day

We made a trip to Bradenton Beach Florida on Saturday. Sorry the pics are not very good because I had the camera on the wrong setting.