Stuck on Shore

On Saturday, we headed to my dad's sailboat to celebrate his birthday and enjoy a day of sailing. We haven't been to the boat in a few years :( Having babies/young kids has kept us on shore. The boys were eager and excited.

We brought along our Aloha shirts that EJ's mom brought back from her recent trip to Hawaii. We thought it would be a fun photo op. This might be our last photo as a family of 5 :) We will have to get another pic of the 6 of us b/c Avery has a matching dress hanging in her closet ;) If you throw a luau party anytime soon, please invite us, we are ready!

Why take the picture at the marina, you might ask. Well, because that is as far as we got on my dad's boat. The engine he uses to get the boat out of the marina and into open waters was giving him a hard time. We couldn't take the boat out :(
We still made the most of our day. We drove to a nearby beach and played in the sand, went out for lunch and enjoyed some birthday cookie cake. We even bummed a ride on a friend's sailboat, who just happened to be at the marina too.

The boys had a great time despite the change of events. We were glad to spend time with my dad on his birthday and we did our best to sing "happy birthday" a handful of times. Unfortunately our renditions did not improve with practice :(
Thanks for the adventure, Captain! Happy Birthday, we love you!

Counting Down Déjà vu

My darling Sugar Plum,

5 (long) months ago, I saw your sweet face for the first time.

In less than 1 month, I will finally hold you in my arms.

Original flights were cancelled, new flights have been purchased. We are exactly the same number of days away from meeting you as we were a week ago. Time has stood still. I have cried many many tears over the saga: one less week of being with you, the money lost and the way your new family has been at odds with the stress. It wasn't pretty, but He is helping me trust that He knows what He is doing. It's a long crazy story that I can not yet tell with kind words. Don't mess with a mama in her last trimester ;)

Meet you soon, sweet girl. 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

A Different Kind of Update

The last 5 days have been stressful. I will post about that eventually. But for now I am choosing a different story.

If you have been reading this blog a long time you know that I suffered for a long time with chronic muscle pain. Thanks to a proper diagnosis (finally) and meds, I am almost 100% better. BUT stress doesn't help. EJ and I (and many others I am sure) were concerned when we started our adoption journey. I know it's been in the back of my mind this whole time.

Well, I just need to praise God that the stress I am currently under has not (so far) attacked my neck and muscles. My hair seems to be falling out more, like pregnancy hormones and my weight has dropped a little, but other than that I have felt great.

I am exercising at least 3 x a week now plus chasing boys and baseballs ;) It feels good to be back in a routine. A workout doesn't goes by without me remembering how bad I used to feel and how far He has brought me. My strength training is increasing and it feels awesome. Don't get the wrong impression, I do a few free weight exercises, maybe totally 5 minutes :) I am not on the path of body building, nor do I want to be! It's just encouraging to see my muscles get used more with no ill effect.

There is a lot more stress to come and I am thankful for the folks who are praying for us. Please pray my body continues to handle it well.

To Him be the Glory

Forever Reign

Rough few days, nothing good coming from my mouth, so this is all I will write. I listened to this at the gym multiple times hoping it would stick. I tried to ride the elliptical all the way to China. I had no idea I could go so fast. I didn't get there, but I do feel better. I thought about using the punching bag but I have bad wrists already ;)

Clinging to these words...

Forever Reign by Newsboys

You are good, You are good
When there’s nothing good in me
You are love, You are love
On display for all to see
You are light, You are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope, You are hope
You have covered all my sin

You are peace, You are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true, You are true
Even in my wandering
You are joy, You are joy
You’re the reason that I sing
You are life, You are life
In You death has lost its sting

Asking for faith to do this...

I’m running to Your arms
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares
To Your embrace
Light of the world
Forever reign

Listen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0lvwlC2ALA

Just a Glimpse

These 3 photos were taken at same exact time. A small snap shot of having a 3,6,9 yr old. They don't seem to agree on anything. At least in this moment they were all "sitting" and pretty peacefully I might add. We have all been relearning what it means for us all to be home during the day. Fun times! Lots of disagreeing, pestering and "I have nothing to do," quotes.

Two things on my list for Owen before China: teach him to play solitaire and lessons with my camera. I can cross 1 off my list ;)

 

The one thing they all do together. Eat! And all the time if I'd let them ;) 

But of course not the exact same things b/c that would be too easy ;)

It's a good thing I got so much done for our trip before school was out. Cause I ain't getting nothing done now! Random fevers have made things more interesting too. Mason on Monday and Ryan Wed-Thurs. Who's next?

Counting Down

My darling Sugar Plum,

5 (long) months ago, I saw your sweet face for the first time.

In less than 1 month, I will finally hold you in my arms.

Our flights are booked!!!!

Meet you soon, sweet girl. Happy 22 months!

 

Please Lord, hold her close and send our faces to her in her dreams. 

May she sense our love and your love, from the moment we meet.

May she be comforted in our arms and by our voices.

Help her to fall in love with us and us with her.

Driving

Say it ain't so!

We went to my parent's house today to help with some yard work. The crazy storms we've been getting has left their yard littered with sticks and branches. After his work was done, Owen took the tractor for a test ride!

TA

Yahooooooooooooooooooooooo!

We expect to receive our travel dates in the next day or 2.

We are coming for you, Avery!

Fun, Full Weekend Final

On the way home. Tired boys!

He is such an awesome father. We are so blessed. 

Soon to be a dad to 4!

Fun, Full Weekend Part 3

These pics are from Courtney. While EJ and I were at the wedding, the boys were having tons of fun. 

 

EVERYONE at the wedding asked who had our boys. We told them with a family who has 6 children of their own! It was pretty funny to see their reactions. I may have felt a little guilty but I didn't worry for a second. Blessed to have friends like them. They didn't just babysit! They played hard, feed them, gave baths, and put them to bed!!

We love you! Thanks a million!

Still Waiting

Still no word for us. Some folks have received TAs. At least progress is being seen. 27 days and still counting.

Fun, Full Weekend Part 2

Heading out to my cousin, Daniel's wedding

Alone! Just the 2 of us. So fun!

 Daniel watching the ring bearers. See pic below.

The ceremony took place on a small island at a vineyard. The ring bearers got a little distracted by some fish as they walked across the dock :) It took awhile but they made it. So cute!

 

Lissa took this one

 Daniel and Jessica

 Special tradition at this vineyard. Couples lock a lock on this pier and throw the key away.

 The weather was gorgeous. The bride was gorgeous. Everything was so lovely.

EJ and I had a wonderful time together. The calm before the storm. So to speak ;)

Fun, Full Weekend Part 1

After such a sad (for me) week, I was quite relieved and excited for our fun weekend plans. It certainly helped keep me going.

After the boys' half day we headed to the Cassada's for a quick visit. Courtney knows what this wait is like and I am so blessed by her prayers and our conversations. It was just what my heart needed.

It was a beautiful weekend and there was lots of time spent outdoors.

 Levi and Ryan are still quite the pair.

I didn't get pics of Owen and Joshua but they picked up right where they left off. Played catch almost the entire weekend ;)

 Today is Levi's bday :) 

SO fun to sing to him and remember back 2 years ago when he first met his forever family.

.

We also got to see the Youngs. But I didn't get any pictures :( The Cassada's graciously babysat our 3 on Sat. night while EJ and I attended a wedding. Then we spent 1 more night and left fairly early this morning. It was short, but sweet and hopefully next time we see them will be at the airport with Avery which won't be long now :)

Last Day of School

Just a tad excited and silly about the last (half) day of school. Hair flicking and silly faces ;)

Really ?!?! I swear he is not actually 13 now. It's only been 9 months, right?

Oh my heart.

He is thrilled be done. Curious what this next week holds ;)

I feel a little like how Ryan looks in this picture ;)

Waiting at the bus stop for brothers.

A little something waiting for them when they got home.

Kicking our summer off with a bang :)

And super excited to be heading to the Cassada's house for the weekend.

In Two Places At Once

I am here, but just barely. I want to curl up in a ball and cry, but there isn't time at least not without 6 eyes staring at me and getting worried. We have heard nothing from China in 3 long weeks and no news isn't good news in this case. We are in a time crunch that we didn't expect and the waiting feels awful. Our agency doesn't know anything, yet. 

For the past 2 weeks C(CWA has been experiencing glitches in their new computer system and those glitches are prohibiting them from issuing TAs. We still do not know if the glitches have been worked out, and we do not know if TAs are being issued again. Plus, this week started with a 3 day holiday. 

Normally this wouldn't be such a big deal. Just a delay by a week or two. BUT last week we learned that US Consulate in Guangzhou will be closing to move to a new location on July 15th. They will suspend all operations from July 15-July 24 (all adoptive families must go through the consulate at the end of their adoption trip to finalize their adoptions). These are the weeks we had assumed we'd be there or already back home! This means is that if we can't get our Consulate Appointment (CA) for July 11 or earlier, then we will have to wait to travel to China until sometime after July 24th. I am fairly certain our deadline for TA is tomorrow, but we have not be officially told.

I am trying to be "here" with my boys, with their last week of school, with thoughts of summer plans (that I didn't make b/c we were going to be gone). But honestly, I am worthless. Unless I am in His word or listening to praise music, my thoughts spiral into a terrible mess.
God has been so faithful to draw me nearer to Him. As hard as this is, I have not felt alone, I have become even more convinced of His love for me (thanks to some prayer warriors) One minute it is "well with my soul" for us to be held back and the next minute I am running back to His word for reassurance, b/c I have already forgotten.

I will treasure these lessons in my heart b/c I know I will need them even more in the next few months. Not only is He asking me to trust him, I feel He is challenging me to be thankful in the midst. I am resisting this b/c it doesn't come natural, I'd rather have a pity party, but He is showing me that is the next step to grow in my faith. His grace covers me, I do not doubt that He will give me the faith to thank Him.

It could be far worse than a small delay. I do have so much to be thankful. And one of those is this sweet precious boy who I adore. He played at this water table for a very very long time. Time I just needed to sit and read and pray. Trying to Count My Blessings. No one said this would be easy ;)

End of Kindergarten

I can't not say enough good things about Mason's sweet teacher. She is a blessing!

Today, she organized a small celebration for her class with "paper plate" awards, a slideshow of pics from the whole year plus donuts and fruit.

The awards were based on a characteristic she saw in them that she would love them to continue to be in the future.

"Mr. Cooperative"

Ryan loves being at school and he is well received and cared for by Mason's friends. We went back a couple hours later for a pizza party. This week is crazy! He gets another award tomorrow morning ;)

Boyz!

Apparently Owen and EJ missed baseball so much that we went to the batting cages this weekend!

   Daddy even had a turn :)

Then it was on to the go-carts.

Thankfully the boys have no clue what my heart is going through as I wait word on our travels. EJ was sweet to let me work on a house project this weekend. I just needed to do something! He knows me well. It was good to be by myself, be productive and it wasn't related to traveling or the adoption at all!
Please pray we get TA this week. It's a long story, but if we don't, we will likely not travel until the end of July. (we were assuming end of June) SADNESS!