Malaga Spain for Thanksgiving!!!

We just got back from a fabulous trip to Spain. We spent a week in a great timeshare on the beach. It was too cold to swim, but the boys got in the water anyway. We collected great shells and I got attacked by a giant squid actually it wasn't giant but it grabbed onto my finger and tried to suck it into it's mouth thats when I started screaming and the boys came to my rescue.
We went to Gibraltar and saw the coolest monkeys they were jumping all over us I think I did some screaming there also.

Nov 10, 2005

Still busy with the never-ending paperwork. We picked an agency out of St Louis, Missouri - Children's Hope International. We went to the US Consulate in Frankfurt to file our I600A so we will be able to bring our little girl home from China. Our homestudy is almost completed! We have decided to call our little girl Grace. The boys are excited about having a new little sister. It seems like such a long way off until the paperwork is finished. We continue to pray that little Grace is safe and healthy, even if she isn't born yet.

Dear Sweet Daughter

As a girl I had a common dream, to be a mom someday,
My baby would have eyes of blue and hair the hue of hay.

But now my dreams have been transformed, new visions fill my head,
Now the tresses that I long to stroke are raven black instead.

And in my dreams those eyes are not so big or blue or round,
Now in my dreams they're almond shaped and colored cocoa brown.

And in my dreams my arms can stretch across enormous seas,
they reach half-way around the world and hold you close to me.

As you grow in your mother's womb, carefully knit together,
you're also growing in my heart, where you will stay forever.

And in my dreams the moment that your mother says good-bye,
I'll be right there to comfort you and hold you as you cry.

Our features may not look alike, we're different as can be,
but still I know the Father has created you for me.

And though I've not yet seen your face, or held your tiny hands,
And though we're half a world apart in very different lands,
I'll be right there to get you just as soon as God allows
But til he says the time is right, I give you this my vow.

We'll pray for your protection every day on bended knee
for God to hold you in his arms until you're here with me.

Oct 24, 2005

We continue to do paperwork!!!
We took the boys to Disneyland Paris and visited Versailles to learn more about those crazy King Louis' of France!

Sept 22, 2005

We begin our homestudy paperwork with our social worker in PA. And when we say paperwork, we mean paperwork!
We did our background checks and fingerprinting today. We are so excited to know God has this special baby to be in our family. As we begin this journey of love, we trust in His guidance and grace and perfect timing in all things.

China - Ultrasound

Our Adoption Journey Begins - August 2005

God had placed it in my heart to consider the journey of adoption. I began to pray that God would confirm the feelings I had in my heart for these children in so many countries in need of a home. I prayed God would put someone in my path to direct us in our journey. Mike and I had discussed adoption in the past, but it seemed to never be the right time. I prayed God would work to give us both the peace and desire to pursue the adoption process. God is gracious and his patience with me is overwhelming. The next day as I sat on a bench outside of church, a woman sat next to me and shared her adoption story. She later told me she never tells anyone that her children are adopted. I was overcome with emotion as I shared my prayer and conversation at church with Mike. God had been working in his heart and he had been preparing us to begin this journey of love, but still so many questions. Which country? The need is so great. We began to pursue Poland because the lady I had talked with had adopted all 3 of her children from Poland. Doors began to close and the goverment was not willing to allow us to adopt with 4 bio children in our home. We did more research and were moved by all the precious baby girls that are abandoned in China every year. We had begun our homestudy and they suggested a Christian agency, CHI, out of St Louis MO. God's grace is truly amazing!!!!!