Psalms 126:3

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy!"


We've Been Waiting:

Making our Way to Miah:

We are very close to receiving out TA (Travel Approval) WHOOP, WHOOP!

April 23: All Hague adoption paperwork is complete. US Consulate will issue our Article 5 to China (CCCWA) within 10 days.


Happy Referral Day: February 21, 2013
(we waited 1 year, 6 months, 20 days, 6 hours, 13 minutes

LID - March 26, 2012

DTC (dossier to China): March 9, 2012

USCIS Approval: February 13, 2012

USCIS Fingerprinting visit: February 7, 2012

Dossier completed: January 2012

Chinese Consulate mailing: December 2011

Paper-chase began: August 1, 2011

Talk to our Agency: July 2011

Decision to begin the journey: Father's Day 2011

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Two Very Different Trips

Trip #1 was not fun!!  We were outside in the backyard throwing the ball to Maddy and Liliah jumped up and hit the new pavers face first. Scared the daylights out of me and I rushed her to the bathroom to mop up the blood running down her neck. I realized right away that we should head to the evening walk-in clinic.  Thankfully, they were still open.  I felt so bad for her.  She is an amazing patient though I must say.  She does not get hysterical or afraid at the doctor's office.  Once they gave her some numbing cream, she felt much better.  The doctor came in and said, I chosethe short straw.  I told her, oh you got a good one.  She won't put up a fight or make a fuss.  They gave her some sun glasses to wear while they cleaned her up and put in 5 wire stitches. She didn't even flinch when they gave her the shot around the wound. A nurse came in to assist and hold her hands down. After a few minutes, the nurse said, man you are right, she acts like she is chilling on the beach.  The doctor said they should of video taped her to show all the teenage boys who come in to be stitched up!!!  When headed to get some ice cream and she was dancing around and as happy as could be.  I told her later that night how brave she is and that mommy used to get hysterical as a child at the doctors.  She said, I was as quiet as a mouse!






Trip #2 over Memorial Weekend was fun for everyone!  We headed to the eastern side of the mountain where the tempatures are warm.  This beautiful river runs right alongside of the resort.  I took this after the sun set.  We want to go back in the summer and float this river when it's lazy, the current was fast due to snow melt off.  We schooled her about not going to the river and what would she do if her ball fell in.  She said let it go, I can always get a new ball! We didn't let Liliah or Maddy go near it without us.

We had a bug invasion the second evening.  There were thousands of these nat like bugs coming off the river.  Daddy went fly fishing . . .
   
The girls hung out at the pool.  My favorite part of the trip though, was while we were taking a family walk and  Liliah was holding my hand, out of the blue she says, Mommy, I LOVE you! Melt my heart, I about cried!  What a precious one she is.

   


  The funniest part of the trip was our ride on the elevator after putting on our bathing suits.  A man smiled and asked her how old she was and after telling her age, she proclaimed, very cutely, while pulling on her one strap one-piece, I have to keep my bobbies covered!  Liliah said her favorite part of the trip was swimming and that Daddy's favorite part was being with his girls!!!


Sunday, May 13, 2012

Mother's Day Weekend


Mother's Day weekend was a time to get outside and enjoy the summer-like weather.  We decided to pull the art easel outside for some creative time.  I worked in the garden planting new shrubs and perennials. I loved stopping my work thoug and taking time to just watch and be with Liliah.  She was scribbling all over the easel.  She said she was writing a message~ 
Maddy enjoyed taking in the sunshine too.
My beauty smelling the fragrant flowers . . .





We visited a Rhododendron & Azalea botanical garden.  We walked the trails and everything was in full bloom and very fragrant.

Liliah's view of the garden



This is our 4th,  Mother-Daughter Day! It is such a blessing and a privilege to be your mother.   
Thank you for the wonderful weekend! 
  


Thursday, April 26, 2012

A Mommy & Me Trip

H a l l e l u j a h !
We are out of  here . . .

Headed out for some FUN . . .
and a special family wedding! Mommy and I are going to sunny California. I hear the weather is going to be beautiful.

Friday, April 20, 2012

April Fun

4 Years Old is a magical age (of course, I thought 1, 2 & 3 were too)

You learned to hop scotch this month
Even with all the green on our sidewalk, you did not get distracted (we get a lot of rain which causes said greening which goes away in the summer/fall)




I get such pleasure out of watching you learn new things and the joy it brings you.
Minnie Mouse wearing a hat with her flowers.  We have been spending lots of time in our multipurpose (dining) room.  I have been sewing Miss M.s quilt and we find lots of fun things for you/I to do in here.
Trying to capture a picture of the princess riding her lady bug . . . mustn't loose that wand!
Silliness is always apart of the fun . . .
Sweet little lady bug.  It reminded me of another day . . .
The first day I saw you.  You were ONLY interested in getting on this and riding it.   My, how you've grown, how we've grown together!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Easter Weekend


Having some bubbly fun while coloring my Easter eggs.





My first community egg hunt at church


It was over in like 30 seconds, but I snagged 10 eggs!

There were lots of other fun things to do: face painting, a jump house and petting zoo.  Mommy & I got to ride in a cute little cart pulled by a llama.

 Hunting for eggs at home is fun too!

I love the expression on your face when you found this little chickie egg
Look over there . . .  how about look down, LOL!
 
I found a cute little bunny watering my garden . .  .

 Thank you Uncle Randy and Auntie Lori for the chocolate bunnies, jelly beans and Minnie Mouse t-shirt, I loved them  can you tell?




Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Log-In-Date & Spring Fever

We received an email from our agency that we have our LID 3/26/2012 from China!!! This is important as we can now be matched with our daughter!  We don't have an exact timeline, but our agency is receiving lots of good news of multiple files coming in April and May of children with minor needs.

 We've got spring fever in our home as we've had a colder and longer winter.We had our first weekend of spring weather in our neck of the woods.

We headed to the Sound to show Liliah all about throwing rocks into the sea.





It was good entertainment and nice to soak up some sun.





It was a great start to our spring.....since then, we've mostly had rain :(

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Batter Up!

Don't you just love her uniform.  It was our first really lovely Friday night since the time change and we were all ready to get outside and play. 
S W I N G......
And......a miss.... strike one . . . . Oh well, she's still smiling


Let's try that again....maybe I need to keep the bat off of my shoulders . . .






Swing, crack of the bat and zoom!



The J O Y of success! Priceless moments of our girl on a Friday night in her backyard.