As If We Didn't Have Enough Excitement Yesterday

It finally happened.

Jerrod passed his driver's test yesterday.

Glory Hallelujah!

When he came out in the morning in a scuzzy t-shirt, I quietly suggested that a collar shirt might make a better impression. Never saw that boy turn around so fast. One for Mom.
One quick call to the insurance company followed by a few rules and an admonition to not become a statistic and then:

Take the car and go.

Please just go!
When they are ready, they are ready.

I'm glad we waited.

Proud of that boy.

More Waiting - The Latest

Ok.

Yeah! We have a Consulate Appointment.

September 7th, 2011.

Good, right?

Not quite.

Monkey Wrench. Warfare. Whateveryouwannacallit.

Our province has a very pregnant registrar for adoptions.

She is going on maternity leave on the 28th.

We were supposed to register our adoption on the 29th.

There is no substitute.

Office closed.

No adoptions.

Please pray that God will make a way.

As my Dad said this morning, "It looks like we are working on God's time."

And I know that is best.

Even if I just want to cry.

Still Waiting

I know, I know.

Plenty to blog about.

Like seeing bald eagles and porpoises and whales.

But I am waiting on pins and needles and too distracted.

Are we leaving next week or not?

We cannot buy those plane tickets until we get CA.

CA = A Consulate Appointment in Guangzhou, China to finalize our adoption on the US side and receive our Visa to come home.

Oh goodness.

I am in FREEZE mode of Fight, Flight, or Freeze.....

I know, I've had too many therapy sessions.

China Calling

While we were away from home. I borrowed a funky cell phone modem thing from my friend and checked my mail on Friday night at 10:30pm. Because I have learned that all things China happen around the clock, I brought my laptop just in case. I had convinced myself that nothing was going to happen until next week so I was surprised (like shrieking) to find THE E-MAIL stating that we have:

"T"

"A"

Travel Approval from China.

Here are the willing participants, side view T.

Side view A.

One of the scenarios had us leaving THIS week.

Oh my.

Can you believe it?

We are going to China.

To meet our son.

I wonder every day what he is thinking.

About us.
What do you suppose his laugh sounds like?
I'm hoping he is going to give us a great big smile when we meet,

in TWO (EEK) WEEKS.

New Picture

We got new pictures just taken YESTERDAY.

A lot of things happened YESTERDAY.

While we are on vacation, again.

Thankful for the power of the internet.

Sharing a modem, so I will fill you in later.

Our Birthday Boys

Our Irish Twins.

For 4 whole days, they are the same age.

And it happens every year.
Micah's birthday comes first and he turned "3".
Three wonderful years.
He is a joy and destined to be our youngest.
Four days later, Trey turned "4".
If boys could be beautiful, he would be.
He was SO patient waiting for his day. Proud of HIM!
Thank you, Farmor, for the presents.
Very cool bubbles. A big hit.
A smile.And a cuddle.
Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa.
"We are very strong like our Dad."
Our twins.
Happy birthday boys! Can't imagine life without you.

Sometimes Adoption Makes Me Sad

No man's land.

We've been there.

It took me by surprise the first time it happened.

I got the call that birth mother had relinquished her parental rights.

I cried.

Then I got the paperwork and cried some more.

Our child was a "ward of the state".

Orphan.

With no one.

As hard as foster parenting is, somehow knowing that birth parents were still in the picture was better than no man's land.

That day, I was overwhelmed with sadness for what this mother had done.

What she had given up.

For her child. For my child. For our child. Hers and Mine.

Everyone told me I would be "happy" because the child was now free for adoption.

On the outside I was, of course.

Moving forward is good. Being a foster child is not good.

But there is no gain without some loss.

I remember introducing her (still quite young) and people telling her how lucky she was to be adopted into our family.

You wouldn't have seen it, but I did.

The shadow of confusion that went across her face, a split second.

Yes, of course she was happy. But she was filled with sorrow, too.

Because gaining a new life means loosing the old one, even if it isn't so good.

That's how I am feeling about Joshua today.

I am sad that he has to give up EVERYTHING to be part of our family.

The onus is on him to change.

He has to learn our language. (We have Chinese word charts on the wall.)

He has to eat our food. (We like Chinese food but it's not the same.)

He has to adapt. (We only have to make another place at the table.)

He will have a family. (Not an institution.)

He will have the best medical care available. (Not limited by status.)

He will know the Savior. (And have eternal life if he chooses to embrace the Hope.)

There is no gain without some loss.

Thank you, Jesus, for giving your life so that we might have ours.

Freedom Summer Music Camp

We are fortunate to have our kids attend a relatively free music camp run by a small church in Freedom. They round up a bunch of kids who like to sing and pull together a musical complete with solos, harmony, and plenty of dialogue in just 5 days.

Our kids have been attending for many years because the people who donate their time are top notch performers and have taught our boys a lot. For the first time, we signed Cora and Kloey up, too. They had not gone before because the supervision in this type of camp tends to be grandmothers and generally wonderful townspeople. We felt they were ready this year and everyone had a ball. This year the story of Esther was portrayed.

Cora landed the part of the narrator. No one was more surprised than me! This girl could hardly read 6 months ago. Way to go, Cora. She did a fabulous job.
Erik, as the oldest boy-man, landed the role of King Ahasuerus/Xerxes. Excellent casting. He did a wonderful job commanding his kingdom.
Erika was a crowd's person and the wife of Mordecai including a small solo. Nice job, Erika.
Kloey was the advisor and sang a wonderful short solo. We were pleased and surprised at her confidence. Did I mention there was dancing?Good times.

These fun experiences are what they will remember.

Words To Live By

Before you say anything,

Consider the following:

Is it true?

Is it kind?

Is it necessary?

Fourteen Going On Twenty

Not only has Erik launched into the teen years,
but he is a highschooler.

No way.

He is my baby.

Turned middle child.

June birthdays often happen away from home.

Once in Sweden.

Once at camp.

This year in Vermont.
Erik is a wonderful young man to have around. He fixes everything. I love having a handyman on the premises.
I remember the day you were born, on a Sunday as the sun was peeking over the horizon.
Okay big man! Looking forward to seeing what God will do in your life this year.