Oops, I almost forgot!

At the end of September, JG and I took a trip to Oklahoma for a family reunion. It was a truly wonderful time. I met family I didn't know existed and they were all amazing.
I also had a blast being able to introduce JG to everyone. Of course she was a hit. Enjoy our reunion in pictures (yes they will be out of order). 

Me and my bff, Jeanette.

This pic was taken on the final morning of the reunion.
I'm sorry these aren't in order. 

My sister, Sarah and my mom's cousin Anne. 

My Papa (second from left) his 2 nephew's and son (far right). 

My Papa's 96 year old sister Winnie and her two "kids".

We had soooo much fun hanging out. 

JG and her new friend Anna. If I'm thinking correctly,
they are third cousins. 

Papa and his little Chinese Granddaughter. 

Thank goodness for Kathy, if it wasn't for her there would be no
good pics from our time together.  

LOVE me some Aunt Holly.

JG with her GREAT Aunt Holly, her
GREAT GREAT Aunt Winnie
and her Great Grandfather. 

She was a great travel buddy but I was still thankful for
a travel DVD player, that you might notice is playing FROZEN. 

and for her finally falling asleep

This is JG's adopted Papa Craig. 

I'm sad this is blurry. 

My sister's oldest daughter, Aireanna.  

Aunt Holly's first grandbaby, Madelynn. 

Anne was JG's bff all weekend.

My wonderful cousin, Jeff, Cheri and their lovely girls. 

Me and my sister!

JG and I did a bathroom selfie. :)

Cousins.  

It took three times to get a decent one and it was still blurry. grrrrr 

Heather.  

JG and her first carousel ride. 

I got to have another reunion, with all my Oklahoma friends. This is Shannon.  

I was so happy JG got to meet my bff, Jeanette.  

Papa Craig and Mimi Barb got to meet JG for the first time
and spoiled her rotten. 

JG hanging out with her Great Grammy. This was a precious time. 

JG loved Madelynn so much she named her doll back home Madelynn. 

JG got to meet OLAF!!! Thanks Mark and Stacie.

There were several others that, for one reason or another, refused to post. But you get the idea. The truth is, I posted this more for me than you anyway. :)

As much as I would never want to live in Oklahoma again spending that week there with my family and close friends warmed my heart and reminded me that at the end of it all there is NOTHING like family. 

Have a blessed week and don't eat too much turkey! :)

Here we are again...ready to catch up?

Thanksgiving is next week and once again, despite having 11 months notice I feel like the holidays have snuck up on me. But, its not a bad thing. In fact this is probably the first holiday I haven't felt the least bit stressed. I think the only thing I have felt already is a small twinge of sadness as I feel they will be over before its sunk in they are here. Sigh, moving on.

Our family has been through it these past couple of months, hence the silence on this blog. Oh, that and the laziness on my part. There have been lots of fun things to blog about, but I have allowed too many other things to get in the way. So here is my attempt at a final post before we begin 2015. Wow! Just say that out loud a few times. I specifically remember ringing in the year 2000 and silently laughing at a couple of my crazy friends who really believed all would end that night and had spent hundreds on preparations. Yet, here we are almost 15 years later.

First things first, the kids. Jared turned 21 in August and we had a dinner for him at one of our favorite places to eat. He invited just his closest friends (and a couple of ours) and it was a really nice evening. Its never easy watching your kid hit these age milestones. Its sadly just another reminder you're getting old-er. But he is doing well and for that we are thankful and proud.

Look at him at our wedding just 2 years old. 

So handsome. 

He was so thrilled to share his first "legal" drink with me. 

Jackson and Jayden started private school this fall after 5 years of homeschooling. It was a tough transition (more for me than them) mostly because I missed having them with me all the time. But it was time for them to be with their peers and they are doing well academically.

Jayden tried out for soccer, even though he had never played in his life and made the team. They went on to place second in their conference. Jackson, sadly, tried out for basketball and didn't make it. For anyone who knows Jack, this was a huge blow. That kid has more passion for that game than Michael Jordan, and that's not just my "mom" bias talking. He handled it really well and has decided to play rec instead. Both boys are planning to accompany their youth group this summer to Nicaragua on their very first international missions trip. Its a 17 day trip so this momma is slightly nervous but am letting go because I know how good it will be for them. Pray they are able to raise the funds they need. It is $1800.00 each and with us still in fundraising mode for the adoption, its a little daunting. 

Showing off this new soccer shoes

First day of school

#7 is on the move.

And what can I say about the now 3 year old girl who wrecks our hearts with her cuteness and overwhelms us with her tantrums? She is 3! And we are once again learning how to be consistent with a toddler. She is THE most precious little girl and we are so blessed to be her mama and baba. She blows us away with her intelligence and almost daily she will say something and we wonder how on earth she knows that. Every night before bed we kneel and pray and she tells me that Jesus gives her angels to take care of her and that Jesus will never leave her or forsake her. I could just eat her up. So blessed to be able to change her life and that she already knows that Jesus loves her. She loves to sing, and color and dress up (although she will take yoga pants any day over a dress) and play in her kitchen. She is sassy and funny and everything in between. Despite the fact she is hard work and wearing us out we couldn't be more thrilled to be doing it all over again. She literally lights up every corner of our world and that of her brothers'.

For JG's 3rd bday we threw a party/fundraiser in which we asked for
donations in lieu of gifts. Most people ignored us and brought both.
We are so blessed and raised almost $700. JG was so excited at
her "FROZEN" themed tea party. 

Centerpieces (which I am proud to say I made
with a little help from my friends).

JG and her "Nai Nai" (adopted GMA)

She had so many gifts I put most away for
Christmas and future bdays. 

And last but definitely not least our fifth and future daughter Joy's update. Our agency has all but one piece of paperwork for our dossier to be complete. Since Thanksgiving is this week there will be a slight delay. So we are thinking it will be the first week of Dec. before they have it all. Once its in their hands they will cross the T's, dot the i's and it will be on its way to China. That fee will be $3500.00. Based on what China has told us about Joy's file we are hoping to receive her file at about the same time. Once that happens our "match" with Joy will be official and we will then have to pay our agency fee of around $11,000. Crazy that both fees will be due almost simultaneously. 

And also at that same time we can send Joy our photo book and letter. Our photo book has been ready for awhile but our letter is a little more tricky this time. This isn't like sending a letter to a 19 month old who has no idea what is being read to her. This not so little girl will understand everything this letter says and coupled with the photo book will be her first impression of her new family. Its a little nerve wracking to say the least. However, we are more than confident that God will equip us with this letter just like He's providing our financial needs for this adoption. Thank you again for all your support (prayer first, financial second), we could never walk this without you. 

As for Brian and I? We are doing much better. We have had more challenges than we would have liked over the past few months. I am not going to go into all of them but I am thankful that God knows us better than we know ourselves. I am thankful that he reveals all things hidden in His time and for His glory and that we are teachable. I am also thankful for the trials, whether it be our marriage, our adoption, or our kids because I can rest knowing His will is at work when we invite Him into our lives. 

I pray you, too, will choose Thankfulness this holiday season and make it a daily practice because it is amazing how it changes your outlook and attitude. God is truly good even in the mess. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

MERRY CHRISTMAS 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

A Different Kind of Waiting

Waiting is hard. Whether you're waiting for something to start or end, test results, an important phone call or an answer from God, waiting.is.hard.

I feel like we have been in a waiting phase for the better part of 4 years. But this is a different kind of waiting.

When we were waiting to be matched with Jenna Grace, we were just waiting for that magical day to happen. To see a sweet face, read a file and to say yes.
This time around, we have already seen that sweet face. We picked her. Well, God picked her and used us to say yes. Truth is, He has picked all the orphans, He is just waiting for those families to say "yes".
We have her picture on our phones but more importantly she is already in our hearts.
However, her file is what is lagging. We are waiting for that file.
What normally happens is this: a child is abandoned and the orphanage in that province immediately begins to put their file together (you know, height, weight, shot records, foods they eat etc)so they can be put out on a list so their future family can find them. Well, thats the gist of it.
That is not what has happened here. Our girl, for some reason, unbeknownst to us has never had a file put together for adoption. Somehow all along the way, she has fallen through every crack. Until now.
And so this waiting feels so different. We don't know how tall she is, how much she weighs, her likes and dislikes. We don't know what she weighed when she was born or how many surgeries she has had to correct her cleft lip/palate. We know NOTHING, and to be honest, its driving us crazy. The paperwork, albeit, frustrating is coming together and we aren't worried about the money because that will happen right on time but waiting on this file is like nail biting waiting.

But, those who wait or hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will rise up with wings like eagles, they will walk and not grow weary, they will run and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
Praise. I am smiling even just typing this scripture. There is peace, and there is hope as we wait on the Lord. As we trust in His timing. And so, we wait. We wait expectantly knowing His ways are higher than our ways. And we hold onto the joy that will also strengthen us for today and the days ahead as press on through this journey of adoption and life.

Guest Post - Brian

Well I have to say that I have heard and read the second time around is easier with regards to process and paperwork. Well I would like to officially state for the record, NO IT IS NOT! 

It has been a struggle, first of all I figured I could do most of the Dossier paperwork off memory, well obviously there is way to much to try and complete off of memory. Second, things change, and yes even though it has been a little over a year things have changed. I know you are going to ask why have things changed and all I can say is, "cause it can." I don't want to say anything against China cause we aren't done yet.

The start was rough, though now that we are going it seems we are picking up steam. This time feels so different and I think it is because we are kind of operating in the dark. We have yet to see any paperwork or file on her and being that we are 8 months away from her aging out we were in a totally different place at 8 months with Jenna Grace. We had seen and heard way more of Jenna Grace in terms of paperwork, pictures and videos. We had plenty of time to prepare mentally whereas in this case it feels like we are going to be in the eleventh hour introducing ourselves then jumping a flight to China. We trust God and we are having to rely on His will in this adoption more than ever. 

The Great News is our Home Study is done, our USCIS paperwork is in process and thanks to a local Congressman I know, it seems to be moving way faster than normal, thank you Brian Brown! 

We still have to complete our Dossier which is about a third done as well as our Visa's, Travel Approval, Travel Arrangements/Itinerary and finally complete all Fund Raising. 

I know we will get everything done and sure this will work out for God's glory. 

Thank you for your support and prayers! 

Brian 

I can't post on the blog without including some cute pics of Jenna Grace. 

                           Jenna Grace and Noah 4 wheeling!                            
                  

     JG with her new "hat"                           Supporting the Judge! 
                                           

An Update.

I had notions of grandeur when I started this new blog dedicated to our second journey of adoption but as usual life has gotten in the way. 

Its not a bad thing but when I have any time to myself I find its easier to veg in front of the TV. 

For weeks we advertised, collected, sorted and priced for our first fundraiser, a yard sale. It was a lot of work but we felt incredibly blessed as the donations poured in. We had so much help that both set up and tear down were flawless. I don't even want to try and name all of the people who helped us for fear I might leave someone out. We are so blessed. 

Our flyer that we posted online as well as in our local paper. 

Emily and Aubrey who were modeling the tattoo sleeves someone donated to us. 

All the bows my sis made for the sale. 

Judge Lee and B throwing all the Girl Scout cookies into our house from the truck.
We were given over 100 cases. 

YUM!

The night before. Sadly, I didn't get a pic of our back patio which was completely full of furniture. 

Jenn and Alice who worked our pay tent in the burning sun. 

Jackson trying to wake up with his daily cup of coffee. 

Some of our friends from church supporting our sale. 

We weren't able to sell them but donations from girl scout cookies alone totaled over $100. 

We had hoped to make enough for our next big bill which is our dossier fee of $3500. We made just about $1,000 less but God will provide. 

Which leads me to the update. 

We completed our home study last week and are currently waiting to receive the draft for review. Once we have reviewed it, it will go to our agency for approval. Once we are approved we are hoping to be approved to begin communication with our girl. Normally this is not allowed until your dossier is in China. However, since she is older and we are having to move much more quickly they will make allowances and we can begin writing letters back and forth and hopefully skype at some point. 

Her file is still not ready and therefore it isn't looking good for us to get an extension to re-use our dossier as we had once hoped but nothing is too big for God. In the meantime we have started working on it just in case. 

We are also working on several more fundraisers and just living life like the rest of the world. 

Jackson and Jayden will go back to school for the first time in 6 years and so the scramble to buy uniforms/school supplies is something I haven't had to do in awhile. 

JG has just had her 7th ear infection in 12 months thereby warranting tube surgery. Not exactly the best timing financially but as we ALWAYS say "it is what it is". 

Thanks for being with us on this journey...again. We cannot do it without your support and encouragement. 

Blessings.