Keepin it Cool

Our cousins sent us this fun inflatable sprinkler. 

Thanks, Diane! The boys had a blast.

It will be a perfect way to stay cool between wiffle ball games in the yard this summer.

The 2 of Us

I am one lucky lady. To be doing this. Feeling a little guilty that the other 2 are in school :)

I doubt I will be sitting on the sidelines much this summer. I am really really trying to enjoy him, but I so desperately want to GO. She is missing and I feel it all the time.
I am really struggling to be "HERE". I've been pretty anxious this week thinking of all that will transpire when we get our TA. Still praying it comes early next week. I can't quite fathom booking international flights with such little notice. It's just not how I like to do things. I am not a spontaneous person. This trip is going to really stretch me. Thankfully EJ is better at it.
Most days my heart feels like it's going to jump out of my chest and my stomach as been in knots much of the week too.
Thankfully we have FOUR baseball games this weekend to keep me occupied :)
Go Nationals! Go Riverdogs!

Read this quote on a blog. Wow!

“My friends, adoption is redemption. It’s costly, outrageous, expensive, excruciating & exhausting. Buying back lives costs so much. When God setout to redeem us, it killed him.”

~Derek Loux

Silly Me

Disclaimer: Despite the the information shared in this post my house does not look as neat and clean as it might sound.

Every time I go to clean something, I find myself doing the task as if I will never do it again. For example, I was putting the dishes away one day and decided to overhaul the Tupperware cabinet. One day when I wiped down the counters I ended up cleaning the fronts of all the cabinets and our island. The linen closet and laundry room cabinets have never looked better. While I assumed all this was "nesting," I am now thinking otherwise.

Today, while Ryan was playing play dough and I had willingly agreed to play with him (instead of my to-do list), I got distracted by the dried up play dough at the bottom of the toy container and decided it was high time to clean it out and throw out some things they never use.

As I am doing this I realize, this is not ordinary nesting, this is NERVOUS ENERGY. And while I am thankful for a slightly more organized home, I am realizing it's quite ridiculous and perhaps I need to channel it else where :) The wait is getting shorter and I am so thankful, but we (EJ and I) are kinda freaking out!

Thankfully I have this ham to keep me laughing.

Language Lessons

I do NOT have an ear for language (even English). I can't understand the sound much less make it with my tongue. argh!

I found a website with some Chinese phrases for adoptive parents. 

Sayings like...
"You are beautiful."
"We are your forever family now."
"Are you thirsty?"
"Are you hungry?"
"I love you."

and then there was this one...

"No, you may not date until you are thirty-five!"

CRACKED me up. Don't you think EJ should learn that one :)

 

More of Tripp

His face says it all. Mason is pumped about having a cousin. He was in tears, Thursday, when he found out (by mistake) that Ryan had gone to the hospital with me. Oops!

 Too much cuteness! It's hard to believe Mason was this age when Ryan was born.

Flashback :)  Mason with Ryan

Owen still hasn't met the little guy. Oh darn, I'll have another excuse to visit ;)

I am an Aunt

As of 1:25 a.m. on Wed May 22, 2013

Introducing

David Alexander B. III to be called "Tripp"

 7lbs 7oz and is 21 inches long.He is such a cutie!

Mom, Dad and I were at the hospital from 11 p.m.- 4 a.m. to welcome him and congratulate the happy parents. Lissa totally rocked the labor and delivery. They are both doing great.

 Alex's mom and niece

I took Ryan this morning to see them and take Tripp a balloon. Ryan has been planning this for months ;)

 

Welcome Tripp. I love you to pieces!

Article 5

Our daughter's visa paperwork was picked up from the Consulate's office in Ch!na Monday night (earlier than expected) and sent to the CCCWA for them to issue us our travel approval (TA)!! TAs have been coming in about 2-3 weeks. Once we have TA, we can call for our consulate appt which sets our travel dates.

What's left?

_Travel Approval (TA) received from CCCWA (approx. 2-3 weeks)
_Apply for Consulate Appointment
_Receive Consulate Appointment (Approximately 2 business days after application)
_Travel (approximately 2 weeks after receiving TA) 

Bday at the Ballfield

The 5 of us went to a ball game tonight and not because one of them was playing ;)

It's a whole other ball game. Although frankly it was a boring game and at least little league scores some runs!

I'd love to say we had a marvelous time, but there was too much asking or complaining about all the treats surrounding us. Kind of ruined my night. Just keeping it real.

 Birthday boy with special guest Phillie Phanatic.

Happy 6th Birthday

We've been busy celebrating Mason, and there is more fun still to come :)

Last night, an extended family celebration and chicken wings!

 He is so easy and fun to celebrate.

 His smile does me in. How can he be SIX?

 This morning

How many times can 1 person blow out a candle for their birthday ;)

School treats

 "dirt" and worms

You have patiently waited your turn with all our other birthdays. I am so glad it's time to celebrate you. I love your creativity, your kind heart and the affectionate spirit you bring to our family. We are blessed! 

I can't wait until you meet your sister for whom you've adored from the beginning. I know you will be an amazing brother to her.

We love you Mason!

Eyes to See

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Cor. 4:18

I sure hope I have done a good job at recording all that I have learned in this journey. The list is getting really long and I don't want to forget it.

There is no denying that when you participate in orphan care, you are going to see a lot of pain, longing, and heart ache, all of which has greatly challenged my faith. It is easy to assume God is not there, and yet his word promises he is. So, I began boldly asking Him to allow me to SEE him at work. TRY IT ;) Our eyes have a habit of seeing the world through a certain lens, I have begun to see just how much I miss. I know I am still "missing" a lot, but he has given me what I need to grow in my faith.

A year ago, EJ and I made the decision to apply to Lifeline Children’s Services (LCS), China Special Needs* program. We did not make this decision lightly. We were very very close to moving in the direction of a domestic adoption through the foster care system. This is not a post about one “way” being better than another. This is a post about God's faithfulness to us and our daughter.

After many months of praying and narrowing down agencies and countries, we decided that if we were “pre-approved” by China, that we would move forward until God closed the doors. EJ and I both take medicines (daily) that could have closed the doors. We submitted letters (I am not sure to whom) from our Drs. explaining our reasons for the medicines and a summary of our general health.

The day we found out we were pre-approved was May 23, 2012. 

At the very same time, all the way across the world, our precious little girl (8 mo.) was in the hospital undergoing surgery (all alone, with no parents) for a congenital birth defect. She was admitted May 8 and discharged June 12.

My prayer journal on May 25^th said, “be with our daughter, protect her, watch over her. Help her be loved and cared for. Provide the medical help she needs…”

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve begged God to help ME “see” him at work caring for the fatherless. There are SO many hurting lonely children in this world. He is faithfully and constantly showing me, yet it seems I am never fully convinced.

Now, I have my prayer journal to remind me that his spirit prompted me to pray very specifically and for a very good reason. Plus, he clearly moved in BIG ways to provide her (an orphan) surgery in a hospital far from her orphanage.

I am thankful that God would allow ME to "see" this part of our story.

Until now, I have not felt lead to write about our daughter’s “special need,” in fact, I don’t even think I mentioned we were in the special needs program. Anyone who knows anything about adopting from China could have figured this out by our timeline. Adopting a “healthy” child from China is a 6-7 yr wait. 

I don’t really know how much I will write about her health concerns on the blog. Until we know more, it doesn't feel like my story to write. We are hoping and praying that she will not need future surgeries, we've been told she is doing excellent, we will believe it when we see it ;)

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus". Philippians 4:4-7

Happy 21 months, Avery!

*No Hands But Ours, is an excellent resource, if my post sparks any questions about special needs adoption.

OUR Senior Idol

We had a weekend free (thanks to rain) from baseball. We got lots of chores done and some new friends over for dinner on Saturday. 

We kicked off our weekend with a special show on Friday night. My dad was a final contestant in a local Senior Idol contest! I did not inherit my dad's love for being on stage. But I am so thankful that he has always shown me not to be afraid to try new things. We are always amazed at what he is willing to try. I am thankful my boys get to see this too.

Waiting for the show to start :)

 On the big screen :)

 He did such a great job. We are so proud of him.

 Thankfully he was the 1st to perform (7:30 ish).

 We left at intermission and got a quick treat.

We got home and put the kids in bed and were able to catch the final results from a live broadcast!

He didn't win, but he is certainly a winner in our books! Way to go, dad!

Starring Mason

At least as far as we're concerned ;) 

The KG performance was this week. All 15 minutes of it ;)

Front right with red PJ top

 Our first to have a speaking role! He did fantastic.

Today was KG field day!

Ryan and I went to "help"

 Mason's class dominated tug of war.

 The big kids took a break from recess to cheer them on. The proud big brother in back row.

Getting pumped up for final round.

So serious!

 His teacher in the pink shorts is the cutest. He has had a great year. So blessed!