~ Black and White Wednesday ~

Knowing Rachel is loved and being cared for in China is more precious to me than anything.

It seems like we have waited forever to bring her home and in just a few short weeks, she

will be in Kerry's arms. I would give anything to be able to go to China, however we just can't

swing it and someone needs to stay home with the kids. I have forever with Rachel, I can

wait an extra two weeks until Kerry brings her home. I know he will do amazing!!

Official Updates ~

We received several pictures taken of Rachel just yesterday. She is getting so big. Hard to believe we will hold her in a couple of weeks. It's been a long and trying year of paper chasing, with one issue after another, but you know what? God had it all worked out and we are within weeks of going to get our baby girl!!

~ My New Best Friends ~

All five kids have been sick for the past week. It's not a nice quiet I don't feel good sick, this is an all out running to the bathroom, having a bucket very near sick. I have spent the last week on my hands and knees scrubbing carpets and throwing out pillows that were beyond rescue.

Here's to a new week and hopefully no more sick ones soon...

~Thankful Thursday ~

Today I am thankful for the family in China right now that visited Rachel's orphanage and gave her a hug from us!!

Hang on baby girl, it won't be long now.

Less than a week....

For your chance at a very beautiful Red Threads creation!! Robin is auctioning off a gorgeous outfit ensemble (Skirt, top, bracelet and hair bow!!) to the highest bidder and all proceeds go towards our adoption...

If you haven't been over to her site, check it out. She has the most amazing skills!! Much better than I ever hope to have.

~ Black and White Wednesday ~

Silence is so accurate
Mark Rothk



Gracie J is my little drama girl. She has the most expressive eyes and she can say a thousound words without opening her mouth.

Longing for the lazy days of summer.....

Hannah's flower picture for her drawings. She is into water colors now.

The girls idea of keeping their hair out of their faces for pictures.

So are we there yet?? How many more days until school is out and we can relax and just have fun?? This year has been tough, so much going on.

Tomorrow I register Hope for kindergarten. I am anxious, no lie. I know she will do well, but will I? It's always so hard to think about one of your babies getting on the bus for the first time.

NVC Letter!!

We are one more step closer to Rachel!! We received our National Visa Center letter saying everything was cabled to Guangzhou on April 7. This means we "should" get our article 5 in two weeks and then TA shortly after. It looks like we will be getting our TA in May and our agency said we could leave as the following Friday after TA!!

This is awesome news!!

This isn't the greatest quality picture but Rachel is still a cutey. A group of waiting mom's all sent cake and fruit to the orphanage so the kids could enjoy an Easter treat.

~ What a wonderful friend ~

I have a friend, someone I have never met but have known for years. We exchanged quilt squares way back in 2005 when I was waiting for our daughter Hope to come home.

Robin has a heart for adoption. She goes out of her way to help other families adopting. She also advocates for those left behind and helps to raise money for charities.

She is a very talented seamstress. Much better than I will ever be.

Robin does something every couple of months for a waiting family that she calls
"Stitches of Hope"

It's sort of like a raffle. She makes an outfit with a bracelet donated by another adoptive mom and also a hair bow, again donated by an adoptive mom. She gives the outfit to the highest bidder and the proceeds go to the family she has chosen.

Now here's the amazing part, this month she chose us!! I am humbled. There are so many hundreds of adopting parents out there struggling to bring their children home and she chose us.
She has named this one the "Rachel Set". Isn't it just the cutest thing you have ever seen??

Please visit Red Thread Stitches to read more.

Robin, you are an amazing person!!

So Long My Good and Faithful Friend...

You have been good to me....But, you are just a thing, nothing that can't be replaced.

You see, when I bought you a year ago, we had no intention of adopting again. We thought our family was complete.



However, Rachel found us. Out of the blue this little girl from far across the ocean, with this very adorable smile melted our hearts. Isn't she just the sweetest thing!!






We truly started this journey with nothing but $500 in our savings and God has provided. Through the generosity of others and fundraising we are almost there.

But, we have found that flights are much more than we thought and we are about $1700 short, so my prized SLR camera is going. I am listing it on EBay this weekend but if any of you are interested.....

The specifics can be found here. It is a professional camera, like the ones they use for school pictures. It has a much loved custom camera strap, lens, bag and all the accessories. Worth over $500 used. New over $700.


We are expecting TA the first week of May according to our agency and will fly out the following Friday, God willing.

Getting back to sewing....

We have been told our TA is about 4-5 weeks away. This is wonderful news.

The not so wonderful news, we are still fundraising. I am trying to get back to sewing but business has been slow, very slow. I have finished all the bunnies I had fabric for but, if there is more interest will gladly make more.

I am also still sewing sundresses and pillowcase dresses.

Another option, we are asking for airline miles to be donated so we can have at least one ticket paid for.....

Thank you all for your wonderful prayers and help, without you we would not have been able to bring our daughter home.

Our Easter ~

What an amazing day!! Made all the better because we spent it with family.

Our church had an awesome service and our son Jacob, made the decision to accept Jesus into his heart.

ALL BY HIMSELF.

He went up to the front of the church with his Grandpa and prayed to have Jesus come into his heart.

What a proud mama I am today. I hope your day was just as amazing!!

Yes, this was the only decent picture we could get....Ahh the joys of trying to coordinate a large family..... LOL

Happy Easter!!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:3