Proud Mama :)

This is Brady with his special toy that he picked out as a reward for not getting his card pulled for the entire month of January. That may not seem like a big deal; but to Brady it is a HUGE deal. He was getting his card pulled at least twice a week. He was not listening (not ever, according to his teacher), not following directions, not controlling his impulses and not keeping his hands to himself. We know these things are a struggle for Brady. He was diagnosed with ADHD in the fall. He's now got a little help and he's trying extra hard to behave the way he should. He WANTS to behave. I am so proud of the effort that I have seen at home and his teacher has nothing but praise for him these days. Such a little trouper!

A warm day, Chinese New Year, total cuteness...

Today is a beautiful day here. About 65 degrees which is much needed after all the 20 degree weather we've been having. Jeff and I did a little yard work while the little ones played. So nice to get them out of the house for a bit! Hope they sleep well tonight.





Yesterday we drove up to Kingsport to go to the Chinese New Year celebration with Our China Angels (that's the group name, not our kids ;) ) We are so incredibly blessed to have such a God centered CNY celebration so close to us. The last two years, we have had Orphans from Living Hope orphanages come to perform for us. Last night they performed to the song 'No Orphans of God' which is an emotional song as it is. During their performance, one of the little boys runs to Jesus and Jesus scoops him up and carries him onstage. By the end of the song, all the children onstage are worshiping at His feet. I have tears in my eyes just thinking about it. Beautiful! These are kids that are unadoptable and will remain in China but they are being taught about God's love for them and they will be such bright lights in China. You can sponsor one of these children for $25 a month. Here's the link: http://www.livinghopeintl.org/ Allie and AnnaClaire picked out our child. A beautiful little girl named Emma in Fuzhou.





Coralie loved dancing along to the Chinese music. I think she's done this before. The outfit she is wearing is one we had custom made for Allie when she was 9 months old. Coralie is an itty bitty.




And last, I must share another picture of our tiniest blessing because she's so stinkin' precious. When God started to speak to our hearts last fall about adopting again, never in our wildest dreams did we think it would go so seamlessly. I can't tell you how much we ADORE this kid! If we could just break her of her 'Signing Time' addiction, she'd be about perfect. :)

One Less!

This is powerful stuff...

One Less by Matthew West (The Story Behind The Song) from emicmg on Vimeo.

Davids is ONE LESS! He has a family!!!!

Here is their blog:

http://kilgore6.blogspot.com/2011/01/blessed.html

Check out the picture of him when he learns he has a family coming for him. Now go grab some Kleenex to wipe those tears from your eyes. :)

Davids' Story: URGENT NEED!!!

Please read about this precious boy...and PRAY! It will take a miracle for him-thankfully God is in the miracle business! The thought of a child aging out of the system is hard enough to bear but the thought of a child being told that a family is coming for them and to have them change their minds at the last minute is unbearable. What must this poor boy be feeling?

I Will Be A Carrier: Davids' Story: URGENT NEED!!!: "Earlier today I posted 'a plea for a boy in Latvia,' and later received more information about his story.  It is heartbreaking, and he ..."

I love this song!

Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas!

I love you

Amen, sister!

Say Yes!

Orphan Sunday Video

Orphan Sunday 2010 from Matthew Wilson on Vimeo.

Coralie's Popeye Face

Brady's first Day of K ~a bit delayed ;)

Misty needs a home!

Click below to check out Misty, who is a HEALTHY 9 year old listed with ASIA (our agency). Her file is ready to be returned if she doesn't find a family. BREAKS.MY.HEART.

Cornbread and Chopsticks: Misty: "Please everyone take one last look at sweet Misty.  Her file is to go back probably today.  She is a beautiful, healthy, fun loving li..."

First Day(s) of School

Already? It seems so soon, but school is in full swing for Ryan and Allie. Ryan says his new school is 'stupid'. He's still mourning the move and wishing we were back in JC. It's hard to be the cause of your child's unhappiness. :( Allie seems to be doing well. She loved her 1st grade teacher so much that I was worried no one else would be able to hold a candle, but she seems to be liking 2nd grade so far. Of course, 'good' is the most I can get out of her so I can't be sure. Maybe one day my kids will start to answer my questions with actual sentences instead of just a grunted word. AnnaClaire had her first day (sort of, they do a staggered start here so she only goes one day a week with 4 other kids) of Kindergarten yesterday. Her teacher said she did great and AnnaClaire said she liked it. At pick up, I saw her gabbing away with another little girl in her class, so I am glad she made a friend before we take her to China. I hate that she'll essentially be 'the new kid' from the very start of her school career. Brady's first day is Monday. He's excited but starting to get a bit bummer that AnnaClaire always seems to get to do the fun stuff before him. Jeff and I met Brandon for lunch between classes earlier this week. He seems to be enjoying college life and, of course, asked for money. Again. Boy, get a job! He's on the 12th floor at Carrick just like I was. Here is the view from his room...


and here we are after walking up 12 flights of stairs with his stuff. I was sure I was going to have a heart attack.


Cameron turned 21 yesterday. It's hard to wrap my mind around that fact. Weirder is that my kids range in age from 2-21 and when I was 21 I had a 2 year old. ACK!

Itinerary

Friday, August 27-Sunday August 29

Fly from LA to Guangzhou (CZ328, arriving at 06:20AM)

Monday, August 30

Meet child in Guangzhou.

Tuesday, August 31

Conduct adoption registration paperwork and notarization formalities and apply for child’s passport.

Wednesday, September 1

Wait for child’s passport to be issued.
Have child’s visa photos taken and go through the physical examination in the morning.

Thursday, September 2

Visit Foshan orphanage.

Friday, September 3

Pick up adopted child’s passport.
Check TB test result.

Jeff and AnnaClaire fly to LA on China Southern Airlines flight (CZ327, departs at 21:00).
No lunch and dinner included.

Saturday, September 4

Free time.

Jeff and AnnaClaire arrive home.

Sunday, September 5

Sightseeing in Guangzhou in the afternoon.
Group lunch or dinner.



Monday, September 6

Safari park.
Group lunch or dinner.



Tuesday, September 7

At 09:30am, Local guide goes to US Consulate to submit orphan visa petition documents.
Free time in the afternoon.


Wednesday, September 8

Free time in the morning.
Go to US Consulate for the oath-taking ceremony in the afternoon.

Thursday, September 9

Go to US Consulate to pick up visa in the afternoon.


Friday, September 10

Fly to LA on China Southern Airlines flight (CZ327, departs at 21:00).

Saturday, September 11

Lisa and Coralie arrive home

Ch..ch..ch..changes

It been forever since I posted about what's going on with our family. We've really had a crazy summer. Jeff started a new job at the beginning of May. The job meant that we would be moving back to Knoxville after 8.5 years in Johnson City. Since we'd had the house on the market from September 08-September 09 and couldn't sell it, we figured that we'd be in Johnson City for a few more years while we tried to sell the house and Jeff would spent part of the week in Johnson City and part of the week in Knoxville. Not ideal, but you do what you gotta do, right? We put the house on the market in late April. By late May it was sold. We were shocked. It's truly been a whirlwind of finding a house big enough for a family of 9, packing, moving, submitting Supplement 3's for the adoption (1 for the job change and then one for the move), finding a new church, finding new doctors (not to mention a trip to urgent care for Brady's ruptured eardrum), registering the kids at their new schools (4 HOURS to register Ryan), getting prepared to say good-bye to Cameron and Brandon as they both will soon leave to live on campus at their colleges...oh, and preparing to go to CHINA! Jeff, AnnaClaire and I leave on Friday, August 27 and arrive in China on Sunday, August 29th. We'll get Coralie on Monday, the 30th. When you wake up 4 weeks from today, we will have her!!! Not that I am excited or anything. ;)

I should also note that Mr. Brady is finally 5. He had to wait 3 long months after AnnaClaire turned 5 to be able to say that he was also 5. That was really hard for him. Brandon turned 19 a few weeks ago. Where does the time go? Cameron will soon be 21.

I need to dig out my camera and get some new shots of the littles. It's been a while.

Urgent Situation

UPDATE: A FAMILY HAS COME FORWARD FOR THIS PRECIOUS GIRL! PRAISE THE LORD!


Please click below to read about this precious girl who needs a family to commit to her by Sunday or her chance at a family will most likely be lost forever. Wasatch has her file and there is a $1000 grant towards her adoption.

Cornbread and Chopsticks: Urgent Situation: "I know I just published my Waiting Kids post just yesterday but today I was asked to post about a beautiful little girl who only has until S..."

Children's Day!

I had Ann at Red Thread send a cake to Coralie's orphanage for Children's Day. I didn't expect that we'd get new pictures but I sure HOPED we would. In my wildest dreams I never thought we'd get so many. Behold the cuteness...

The Graduate!

Brandon graduated on Saturday, May 29th. We are so proud. :) We were happy to celebrate with family.

Brandon

Brandon with Brady, Allie, AnnaClaire & Mason


Cameron & Charity


Jeff, Brandon & Popaw (my dad)


w/ Popaw & MeeAll (my mom)


w/ Grandma & Grandpa (Jeff's parents)


w/ Uncle Mike (Jeff's brother) and Aunt Shelly


w/ Uncle Ronnie and Aunt Connie (my aunt & uncle)


w/ Cameron & Ryan


w/Ryan and Mom (me)


w/ Ryan


w/ Brady


and a perfect picture of our family life. Check out Allie and Brady...

700 Club Controversy Over Christians and Adoption

Click this to see the video:

700 Club Controversy Over Christians and Adoption

Posted using ShareThis

Wow. Just wow. Count the cost? I counted the cost when I decided to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior, knowing that there would be hard times, ridicule, and that I may be led to do things that were out of my comfort zone or maybe even seemed unreasonable. I am so glad that when God kept pressing adoption-specifically China adoption-on my heart that I didn't say to Him, 'You know, God, I realize that you've done a lot for me and I really appreciate it but I just feel the emotional cost of adopting an orphan is too much for my family.' Yeah right. And there IS cost. Bringing home a child who has been neglected, or bounced around from place to place, possibly abused...it's HARD. Life changing hard. But it is worth every tear and all the hard work. The families in the video were a great example of how out family feels adoption has blessed us. The teenager talking about how having adopted siblings has enriched his life and the mom saying that she is the lucky one...they are telling our story. The story of so many families who took that leap of faith and were blessed by adoption. I have a long way to go in my walk, but I am confident that when I get to heaven that God isn't going to chastise me for not counting the cost as we chose to go where he led our family.