Exciting news!

Today marks day 53 since we sent in our I-800a application (US immigration).  From time to time I would  check on the status to see if I could figure out when we could expect our approval.  Well.... The Lord sent me another sweet blessing today... APPROVAL!!!!!!! 

We are in just complete shock!  This process has gone so smooth and after the nightmare we faced getting Madelyn here, I am on bended knees giving thanks.  (We gave thanks during the nightmare too).

One HUGE step closer to our baby girl.  <><

Happy 6th birthday to our baby far far away...

Grace turned 6 on October 3rd, the day before her daddy's 40th birthday (pics to come later).  We were able to get another cake and gift to her for her special day. Our cake service said it will be awhile before we get our pictures due to the moon festival in China so I didn't expect anything until next week...

Well, I think the Lord knew this mama needed to see my baby girl and gave me a sweet blessing this morning delivered to my inbox...





Looks like she might be getting ready to blow out her candles.



My Baby girl...Look at those eyes and the little piggy tails on top of her head.  **when we started this adoption, I sent a request asking them to let her hair grow (a little bolder the third time around I guess...)Well, I think they got my request and I am thankful!!! 

that's a big piece of cake and I LOVE her little buddy!

Aren't they precious!!! 

being goofy.  We have a picture of Madelyn from China doing the same thing! LOL

Pumpkin patch!

We took our annual trip to Curtis Orchard, about an hour south of our house. The weather today was simply perfect for the first day of October...56 degrees with a little breeze which made it chilly in the shade...perfection! This was the first time we went on a Saturday. There was live music, fresh kettle corn, face painting, pony rides, apple/pumpkin picking, etc... Oh how I LOVE this time of year. And next year, little Miss Gracie Faith will be in the gang too. God's blessings to all... Happy Fall!



Kettle corn!




Annual picture in front of the Emerald City!




My perfect pumpkin.





Following big brother out to the patch.

 


Trevor helping Linzhi Rose.




Linzhi Rose




My boy.




My loves.




Daddy helping Rachel Cate.





All finished!




determination!!!!




Taking a break in the shade.




Pony ride for Linzhi.  The others decided to watch only.  Rachel stated she prefers to ride horses instead. :)




waiting for Madelyn and Rachel to bounce down the inflatable slide.




My heart.







Madelyn

 Happy 10th birthday to our eldest daughter Madelyn. CJ and I feel so blessed to have this precious soul in our home. It's so nice to look back on her first year home but it's just as nice to have the first year over. That statement may come as a surprise but it's the truth. I love where she is now, she's more confident in her English and she's more settled in the family and best of all, her walk with Jesus grows everyday!

Thank you Lord for your gift to us.

Birthday morning!  Ready to open a special gift from Rachel.

A crystal nail file.  Madelyn has wanted this for awhile and Rachel remembered.

A sister hug.

Linzhi has a special gift for Madelyn too!

A beautiful snow globe.

Another sister hug!

Our 10 year old beauty.

Her special cake from mom and dad.

Her build a bear Jasmine with the build a bear cake.

Opening gifts (Mom and dad got her a shiny new bike).

I love her smile and laughter in this picture, it captures her sense of humor.

She was covered in LOVE by grandparents and extended family.  Madelyn chose the menu for dinner.... Fried chicken, mom's famous spaghetti sauce, salad, pickle rolls (thank you grandma sharon), french bread and potato chips (thank you,  Grandpa Bill).  Thank you to everyone who sent her cards and gifts, she was blessed!!!

Another step...

God is so good...All the time!   With every one's work schedule or school schedule, I was praying we would be assigned to get our fingerprints completed on a Friday as it would just be perfect for our schedules.  Well, He came through again.  We are all scheduled for September 23rd @ 8am!!!!

One step closer to our baby girl!!!  Hallelujah!! 

She knows.

Little miss gracie will be our third adoption in four years.  I feel somewhat of a "seasoned" mother as she will be my fifth child but I know one this for sure...She knows.  Gracie knows she is leaving her China family very shortly and by the look on her face she's feeling it.  I know in my heart she was told because her facial expression is all too familiar...First with Linzhi, then with Madelyn.  Linzhi felt the grief immediately, Madelyn covered it until we were back home.  I knew Madelyn's smiles in China were covering her pain, I knew it deep in my soul.  Linzhi was too little to make heads or tails of what was going on, Madelyn was almost nine and got it, quick!  Linzhi's grief lasted a couple of weeks, then like all little one's they forget.  Nine year olds don't forget, they carry it forever.  What about a six year old?  How much does she understand?  Did she look at our picture and freeze?  My guess, yes.  I look at her face and I see it plain as day.  She knows we're coming and to be real honest, when I looked at her face, I froze because it became very real to me that SHE IS COMING!  When we start a new adoption, I always feel like it's so far away and I don't "plan" things in my mind.  I don't often picture them in our home or prepare much because I know it's months and months away and I am not good with waiting so I trick myself into not thinking of it at all.  Well, now we're getting into the second phase and the idea of Gracie is becoming more real.  I am now picturing her in the house, looking through Linzhi's clothes to see what would fit little miss (we found out through the measurements, she only stands 37 inches), I am now getting her school books ready and wondering if she knows her ABC and 123's and most of all I am getting concerned for her emotional well-being.  I already see it in that precious angel face.  She knows. She may not understand it all but she knows something is going to change in her little world.  And as her mama my heart feels it too.

1 Peter 5:6-7

 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.


Jesus, cover her in your Grace.  Prepare her heart for her new life.  Hide her under your wing.  Cast out her anxiety and fear in your precious name.  Amen!

A notice

Today in the mail we got a notice from immigration that they have received our application, cashed our check and that our appointment for fingerprints will be coming soon.  Many of you know when we adopted Madelyn this is when all kinds of "issues" started to take place.  If you would like to read what happened, please go to the archives under "documenting our miracle" to get caught up.

I feel very calm this time.  I know it is not up to any country, government office, USC!$ officer or the enemy to decide whether or not we are blessed to call Gracie Faith our daughter.  It is up to our Heavenly Father and IF it's His will, we will get our approval from immigration, DTC, LID, LOA and TA (all those lovely steps before we can travel).  What I learned through our spiritual growth during Madelyn's adoption is that NOTHING stops God from His plan and that we must be patient and wait upon Him for time and direction, not just through adoption but LIFE.  For me, this proves to be difficult as I look at my daughters face everyday and want her home, like yesterday!!!  :)

My heart jumped today when I saw that envelope in the mailbox... I felt some fear (a bit), excitement (lots), butterflies (a million)...Because as of today, we are one step, one more day checked off and one less hour away from having her placed in my arms.  <><