People That Make A Difference

It is more blessed to give than to receive.

I can attest to this biblical truth. I have been so blessed this week to have the opportunity to help others.

Three different calls came, "Can you watch my kids?"Sure, bring them over. Truthfully, my kids were thrilled to have playmates. I guess we need to invite kids over more often. I forget sometimes that they want to be with other kids, because they play so well together.

A sick pregnant friend sent me an s.o.s. for some chicken soup. I so want her to feel better so she won't worry about that precious babe growing inside her.

So often, the weeks slide by and I feel like we live in our own little bubble of busyness and life. When these opportunities come, I want to embrace them as a gift from God, a gift to serve others and become the hands and feet of Jesus.

Someone who continues to support our family and our ongoing relationship with the boys' birthmother is our parent aide assigned during our last case. She was absolutely WONDERFUL. She has selflessly given her time both on and off the clock to help everyone involved learn to make good choices and build healthy relationships.

She was great with Rosy.

Terrific with the other kids!

Supported the siblings.

What's not to love?

Thanks, Molly, for all you did and continue to do.
You did make a difference in someone's life!!!

Let Me Count The Ways

This is what I often see in my bathroom.

The funniest thing is that I cannot remember whether this is a new phenomenon or if it has always been this way.

What I do know is that it is bugging me.

Really, after 24 and 1/2 years?
You know, the tube off the top.

Lets all the flouride out? I read that in a magazine.

Which is probably poisoning me anyway. Read that somewhere, too.

Redemption is beautiful, isn't it?

The girls and I felt so special when my man came home with roses for us.

He never forgets us on Valentine's Day.

I think I will go put that top back on the tube of toothpaste now.

Wow, What a Weekend!

What do you suppose I needed these for?

Well, there were two of these...

And two of these...
And one of these!!!
Along with a couple of characters...
It all equals FIVE siblings!
Rosy was in heaven having her big brothers
and her little brothers all in one place!

As if that were not enough excitement,
Jerrod went and did this...
Broke in two places, snowboarding.
Said it was worth it.
Thrill seeker.
Which led to surgery, closed reduction.
He's feelin' it now.
A brave boy!!!
At least it was his left hand this time....

Happy faces.

Mom, take my picture.
We call this skin and bones.
He glows in the dark, no kidding.
An arm full!
The sweetest face.
Love her.

Pre-Approval

(Picture taken in 2009 by Red Thread Charities)

Pre-Approval came today from China (in only 6 days)!!!

One step closer to bringing our little guy home!

(Picture taken in 2010 by Red Thread Charities.)

For those who are new to this international adoption stuff like us, pre-approval means that the China Centre of Adoption Affairs has agreed to handle and process the case of the named child as an adoption of a special-need child after our application (dossier) file arrives in China.

It is the first step.

An encouragement!

Please pray for expedition and that any desk our paperwork crosses will find favor if that is God's will.

We know His timing is perfect.

Pig Pile On Sister

I crack myself up.

Pig pile on sister.

There is a trailer with 4 pigs out in my driveway.

That is a story for another day.

Aren't they adorable?

"Oh........."

"This is what I get for being the oldest? Really?"

I LOVE my kids.

Even if one is missing.

Pre-Approval paperwork went to China today.

Hip Hip Hooray.

We are on our way!!!

Who's The Baby Now

I am glad that Micah is now the baby of the family.

Somehow he deserves it.

When kids come and go from our home,

it takes time for everyone to move up or down the ladder.

This time, everyone is settling in quicker.

It's all good.

No, scratch that.

It's all God.

Living Dangerously

There was a day.....

when PANIC would have set in.

In fact, I would have refused to drive at all.

I am now throwing caution to the wind

and living dangerously.

Not one, not two, but three dummy lights.

After leaving at 7:00 am and returning around 10:00 pm,

I had to document my wild side.

Actually, by my 6th trip of the day, I was bored silly.

Lest you think I am reckless, not the case.

The check engine light keeps going on and off,
windshield wiper fluid runs out a lot this time of year,
and the air bag, well, I need to get that fixed.

Anyway, Lamplighter Theatre has some highly recommended

books on CD. This week in the car I listened to:

Sir Malcom and the Missing Prince

The Captive

Both are excellent stories with great messages.

Paperwork - WOW

The whole family. We had a 15 minute window when we were all in the same house. Since Lindsey was in Africa and then the boys had youth retreats, it has been tough finding a time when we were all together. But we did it. It is REALLY hard to get 10 people to all smile and take a decent picture. Interestingly enough, this one came out the best and the camera was set on a timer.

Sorry for my lack of blogging.

The baby left and we are all trying to adjust. It's a grey rain cloud that blows through every now and then. We have been looking at pictures and adjusting the lumps in our throats. She is doing fine and I have talked to her on the phone.

International adoption is NOT for the faint of heart.

I have been up to 11:00 pm or later every night slogging away on all the paperwork.

We are taking a 10 hour course.

The social worker comes next Monday to interview us for our homestudy.

I keep checking off the list. I am learning to pace myself.

I sent in my passport renewal even though it is fine until 2012, it has to have at least 18 months until renewal. I will be all set for quite a few years - check.

Criminal background checks for our state - check.

Waiting for paperwork for background checks for other states we lived in.

Passport photos - 8 of them. She gave me a break at the drugstore - check.

Birth certificates ordered - check.

Bob goes to work with a list every day of phone calls or faxes. He is so patient.

We are hoping to expedite this process. Lots to do, then a hurry up and wait period.

Here are the mug shots we had to send for our pre-approval paperwork.

I still have so many stories to tell you about the many miracles that have happened. Quite astonishing. If nothing else, my faith has been daily strengthened by God's goodness.

Here is an example: Do you see the picture in the background of this shot of Bob? Yes, a panda bear from China.

It just keeps happening, ALL THINGS CHINA is my new motto.

The red thread is here to stay.

Sending Them Home

"I don't know how you can give them back."

The most frequent comment/question we get.

"You fall in love with them and then you have to let them go."

Where does one go from there.

"I could never do that."

Kind of a dead end.

We have had sixteen kids come through our doors over the last nine and a half years.

Five stayed.

Eleven went home or moved on.

No, it wasn't easy.

But here is what we've learned:

• How to grieve. A good counselor can be really helpful.
• About vicarious trauma. Sharing in the pain isn't easy.
• God has a plan.
• It's a gift to be part of God's plan.
• Being part of someone's journey is a blessing.
• 2 days, 2 weeks, or 2 years, we DID make a difference.
• Following God's call is hard but to NOT follow is harder.

We do grieve. Change is hard. Good change is hard. We are not supposed to talk about cases but the fact is that one day we have a kid and then the next we don't, and it is kind of obvious.

We gathered as a family and said a special prayer over the baby at church on Sunday.

We all went together to drop her off at home. That good counselor helped us learn many years ago how to give our other kids closure. Everyone has a visual about where the kids are that we have sent home. They know all the parties involved. We have as much closure as possible.

This time it is a little different because our families will remain tied forever by biology. The baby is Trey and Micah's sister and there are other siblings that they deserve to know as they grow up.

Siblings in care and their relationships have taken on a new meaning for me over the past year. It will become a point of advocation for me in the future.

Precious, precious memories.

The best part?

Birthmom is open to how God is working in her life.

Hallelujah!



Bye for now but not forever.

We love you Baby R.