Fingerprints and more!

Just back from sending yet another set of fingerprints off to the courts! Friday we will fill out our I-600A and send this off and then set up our homestudy for the third time!

I went in to the UPS store to mail my fingerprints and the owner, who I got to know well when we were first putting our dossier together, almost fell over when he saw that I was still in the paperwork stage of our adoption. It did make me realize how LONG this process has been. I remember taking my little nephew as a newborn in with me to send dossier paperwork out, now he's 3 years old!

I have to say though, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. CCAA is less than a month away from our LID! woohoo! :)

Please Stop and Pray

I am passing on this request for prayer for this sweet little girl. This is a couple who recently went to get their little girl from China. Imagine all the waiting and work to get your baby girl, finally the time arrives that you have been hoping for, the time you will hold and love your daughter and take her home... and to find she is very ill and in the hospital.

This picture speaks a million words to me and just verifies that adoption is truly a miracle of God. I can only imagine the little girls perspective, she's sick, she doesn't have any parents that she knows of, and in walks "mommy and daddy". God IS so good.

Please pray this families paperwork will be processed quickly and that they can get their little girl to a place to receive the treatment she needs.

As a side note, I have no idea if her illness is connected with my previous post.

Health Crisis in China

6200 children and counting have been affected by a tainted formula scandal. The link below gives details. Please pray for these little ones, and I can only wonder if our little girls are being affected as well.

Tainted Baby Formula in China

9/11

Today we remember the tragedy that hit our country 7 years ago.

All week we have been watching our neighbor's girl in the mornings and I have been walking her to school each morning. Yesterday, I was floored when a little boy walked up to me and said, "Do you know what tomorrow is?" I said, "What?" (expecting him to say his birthday or something along those lines). Instead, he replied with a sad face, "The anniversary of the twin towers". Wow,I was encouraged to see this boy who was barely born at the time, affected by 9/11 and remembering.

Today, I witnessed children riding to school with American flags sticking out of their backpacks and I was taken aback again! Good signs for our future!

Labor Day Weekend

I was so excited for referrals that I haven't posted on our weekend away yet! It was interesting. I was going to title this post the good, the bad, and the priceless..

Dan and I started our weekend away after I finished teaching at 5 p.m. on Saturday. We first went to the ASU football season opener and they won (good), we sat next to a group of drunk adults who carried flasks of whiskey into the game and proceeded to talk and share pictures of their last guy's night out (bad). We then left the game and checked into the wonderful JW Marriott resort and spa (good).

We slept like babies (good) We had a beautiful buffet breakfast shown above (good). I scheduled a massage (good). While waiting for my massage in the relaxation room a women across from me fell asleep and was loudly snoring (bad). My massage therapist talked to me a lot and yes, adoption came up, and yes the laundry list of questions we have all been asked proceeded while I was getting my massage (bad).

I then went and woke my husband from his nap and we went swimming (good). We got burnt (bad). We then bought some playing cards and went down by the water where a band was playing and planned to order drinks and play cards (good).

Our room was beautiful and a wedding was performed right outside our balcony and I quietly sneaked out and sat and listened to the jewish wedding being performed (good). At night,we layed outside under the stars and talked for a long time (good). We then proceeded to our room for the night and fell asleep at midnight (good). We were awaken by screaming, laughing, ("Janice from Friends" kind of laughing)(bad). 30 min. later, still sounded like a frat party next door, called security, security came, quiet for 2 minutes, frat party starts again, security called again, security came, quiet for 5 minutes, frat party again.(bad)

We get up, pack our stuff and checkout at 2 a.m.(bad) The hotel apologized profusely and offered us a luxury room ,etc. I just wanted to go home by this point...left the hotel and a terrential downpour began, leaving us completly soaked by the time we got the luggage in the car (bad). We sat in the car laughing (good). We went home, slept, picked up Bailey from my mom's and at 10 a.m. the next morning, I was snuggled in bed between my husband and my pup and realized home is better than any 5 star hotel..priceless.

Referral Update!

I received the following email from our agency today..my heart did a little flip! They are less than one month away from OUR LID!!

Children's Hope International received 22 referrals today, September 2, 2008. There were 21 beautiful girls and one handsome little boy in this group of referrals. The families that received referrals had LID's of February 9, 2006 and there was one Chinese expedited family with a LID of January 22, 2007. The children are from Beijing and the Jiangxi, Shaanxi, and the Guangdong Provinces. These beautiful children ranged in ages of 5 months to 9 months old. In addition there was a 29 month old, a 3 year one month old, 3 year 2 month old, 3 year 11 month old, and a 4 year 1 month. The parents that received the children over 24 months fell within the range of what the families requested or the parents were with in the age guidelines for a toddler. Congratulations to all of these families!

Families waited 31 months for their referrals and the Chinese expedited families waited 19 months. The CCAA sent referrals out for families with LID's of 2/1/06 through 2/9/06. The next LID for Children's Hope families is 2/17/06.

Weekend...ahhhh

I cannot wait for Dan to come home tonight! It will be the start of a great weekend! I teach tomorrow until 5, then off to the ASU football season opener, then we check in to our favorite local resort, order a margarita, schedule my massage, and do nothing but relax the next two day. As Mary says, spaaaaahhhhh. ;)I hope you all have a fabulous Labor Day weekend!

Teaching

I taught my first class last night and LOVED it! It was nice to finally start after all the preparation, planning, shopping,etc. It is so much fun teaching the subject I'm passionate about! Saturday is our first lab where the students get to have fun with hands on things such as learning to do blood pressures, injections, etc. I'm looking forward to that too. :) Life is good!

Lauren

Thinking of Lauren today, images of holding her, smelling her, loving her, crept into my devotion time today. Despite doubts Dan and I have had through this winding road of 2+years, faith and these images keep us taking one day, one step at a time, toward our baby girl.

Happy Monday!

Drumroll please...

Ta Da!!





Just kidding!...here's the new do! :)

Short Hair

I recently was using my hair straightner and it somehow got too hot and burnt my hair! After conditioning treatments, etc. etc. (etc., etc. meaning I cut my own hair in desperation with the kitchen scissors)...I went to my hair stylist yesterday. After telling her what I did we tried to mend it, but is was no use, I had to cut my hair...short, shorter than I have ever had it...

As I sat in the chair thinking about how I was going to have to drastically cut my hair, I thought of it!! Wait a minute..expecting mom's always cut their hair!! This must be an omen! Lauren must be coming soon! I told my hairdresser and she totally agrees..it's definetly an omen...hehe..

8/8/08!!

Let the games begin!!



Did you catch the story of Lin Hao during the opening ceremonies? He is a 9-year-old survivor of the recent earthquake. 20 of his 30 classmates died in the earthquake. He survived, pulled himself out of the rubble, and saved 3 of his fellow classmates by pulling them from the rubble. His response to his actions that day? "...I'm the class leader, the hall monitor...it was my job."

Chapman Family

Just finished watching Steven Curtis Chapman and his family on "Larry King Live". What struck me the most in their testimony of such a tragedy in their lives is through their questions, anger, and grief...they had and have hope. The contrast was startling as they went to commercials about the campaign trail, etc., etc., that what is really important is investing in those we love and loving He who created us.

Mary Beth Chapman said at the end... "even in the deepest, darkest hours we may have landed flat on our faces..but we landed on a foundation".

Reunion

During college, I had the privilege of being a nanny to a very special boy who I grew to love like my own son. He was our ring bearer in our wedding and very special to both Dan and I. He moved out of state....time went by and we lost touch. Well, excitedly, about a month ago Dan and I saw him on a hockey site and were blown away! Here he is a young man now! We wrote a note to him on his hockey team guestbook and since than we have been reunited in our friendship and it has filled my heart with joy. More than anything, I am so happy to see his sweet heart has not been calloused by life. I believe our reuniting has been God-driven and am reminded of how good God is.

Samantha Brown in China!

I absolutely love Samantha Brown on the Travel Channel and she is doing a special on China starting tomorrow. I saw a sneak preview of it yesterday and it is awesome! Check it out on Samantha Brown: Passport to China

Great Read

I finished reading this book recently and it has had such an impact on me. I am not one for which tears flow often and this book brought out emotions and tears in even me.

It's a book about romance, but not a romance novel. If your looking for a great read this summer, I would recommend it, especially for those who are married. Lately it seems a high volume of friends and coworkers are having difficulty in their marriages. Though Dan and I have a great marriage, this book and my friends stories, as well as my own parents divorce has opened my heart and made me cherish even more deeply my marriage. It has also raised my awareness that it is the "little" things that slowly corrode a marriage.

Summertime!

I hope everyone is having a great summer so far!! We have been enjoying some cloud cover and rain recently and, although this may sound crazy to some of you in the Midwest, this is very welcome weather to us in Arizona :)

Enjoy!

Summer Update!

This is a pic of a beach in China...just a few people :)

Our Agency sent an update today. The CCAA is now finished with dossier's up to January 25,2006. We've been bumped up yet again!! We're getting closer Lauren!

I hope you all are enjoying the summer! I'm enjoying my patho class and am excited to be planning my clinical sites for next semester. It's starting to feel real that I'm going to be a N.P. Dan and I are planning a "vacation" at home next week. We both have 6 days off and we are going to enjoy walking Bailey, sleeping in and just being together.

Happy Birthday My Love!

My DH turned 35 yesterday! I am so blessed to spend my life with this incredible man. Anyone who has ever met him will agree that to know him is to love him. His energy and passion for life and people is like none I have ever known. Since he'entered my life...I've had the time of my life.

Remembering to Rely

I saw this picture on Seventh Diamond's blog and thought it pretty much summed up my morning thoughts. As I was driving back home after dropping Dan off at work, my mind was racing as to when Lauren might arrive, how much the cost of airline tickets will be by then, etc. etc. and than a thought passed through my mind. Oh yeah, God is in control. I so often forget this and take hold of the reigns myself. I like to be in the driver's seat, however, life is so much more peace-filled when I rely on Him.

Nine Years Ago Today...

Nine years ago today I showered while singing "going to the chapel" (later to find out he did the same thing). Nine years ago today my 5'1" mom was driving all of my out of town relatives around in a huge white rental van. Nine years ago today I danced the Macarena, bunny hop, chicken dance, and the Waltz with my husband. Nine years ago today, my groom and I forgot all the moves we had rehearsed for our Waltz and looked into eachother's eyes and just "winged it".

Nine years ago today I married my best friend and could not have imagined how wonderful life was going to be as his wife.

Ouch

My DH broke his left radial bone in his Jiu Jitsu class last week. Can you see the fracture in the picture? He'll be in a cast for 6-8 weeks. :(

11 Days

The past 11 days have been blissful. I cannot remember feeling this relaxed. We started our vacation by going camping up in Flagstaff. Despite it being the coldest camping trip we have ever been on, we had a blast...


Bailey enjoyed herself as well...


An attempt to get a family picture by the fire :)


We played games including Star Wars Stratego and Yahtzee. I rolled a yahtzee on my first roll! (We laughed until we cried trying to get this shot)

Did I mention Bailey enjoyed herself? She was thrilled to find that our new tent had a door just for her! ;)

The wind was howling when we left and Dan got this shot of the tent flying away as we were trying to take it down.

Life is good!

Remembering Them

Life, every moment of it, is a gift...as I age I am all the more aware of this. The recent loss's of those close to my heart have also reiterated this. Today we remember those who have given their lives for our freedom.

Dan and I are retreating up north for a week of camping today. I am looking forward to enjoying a time of reflection, renewal, and fun :)

Unthinkable Tragedy

Steven Curtis Chapman

Please be praying for Steven Curtis Chapman and his family. Yesterday a tragedy happened that is simply unthinkable. For those of you not familiar with Steven Curtis Chapman, he is a Christian song writer and vocalist. He has adopted 3 of his daughters from China and has been very active in raising money for ophans in China. It was at one of his concerts that Dan and I were sparked with the idea of adoption. It was 3 years ago on Memorial Day that we heard one of his songs on the radio and his urge to adopt that was yet another sign that adoption was meant for us.

Yesterday Steven's teenage son was backing out of the driveway in a SUV and did not see his sister behind the vehicle. She was air evacuated to a hospital, however, she did not survive.

Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank You Kayce!

I received this beautiful hand-made bib in the mail today. What a nice way to start the day! The bib is absolutely wonderful, it's print is perfect and the underside is a soft, pink terrycloth. Equally as nice is the card that came with the bib. Kayce your words touched my heart and I am so grateful to have a friend like you. This journey to Lauren has allowed me to meet beautiful people like Kayce and I am forever thankful for this time in my life.

Generations....

In continuation of my last post, I want to share this letter my mom sent me today...


Your friend's story is beautiful. I understand Stephanie's tears. Yet it reminds me of another amazing story about a man, a woman, a boat and circumstances that were changed beyond their control.

It was 11:00 AM on November 11, 1911 at the Church of England in the village of St Austell, England. It was Albert & Mary’s wedding day! Soon after their wedding they planned to travel by ship across the Atlantic Ocean to a new place where they would make their home and begin a new life together. They’d made arrangements to travel on a brand new, beautiful ship. It would be the ship's maiden voyage and the news media would be at the dock to see the ship and all it's passengers off. It was all so very exciting! There was also much talk about the safety of this new ship - it was far superior to any built before. And the fine, onboard accommodations out surpassed any other ship of it’s time. Although Albert and Mary regretted leaving their families in England, they were equally excited to begin their new life together - in a wonderful new place. Their hopes were high as they made preparations for their new venture.

However, as sometimes happens, their plans changed and they learned they would not be able to travel on the beautiful new ship after all. Albert & Mary were disappointed at this news, yet they refused to give up hope. So they made new travel arrangements to sail, a bit later than planned, on a much older ship. There would be no news media with flashing cameras present when they set sail; nor would there be the elaborate accommodations onboard the ship. Yet, Albert & Mary would still be together and they would have a wonderful life in a new, exciting place. The day finally came when the young couple set sail on a ship that had traveled many seas to many destinations. The ship took them to Canada where they lived for several years before traveling once again to America. They made their home in Flint, Michigan. Although times were difficult in this new country, Albert & Mary’s dreams did in deed come true and they lived for many, many years in true happiness - just as they had always planned!

Albert & Mary were blessed with nine children. On February 6, 1927 their youngest daughter was born. They named her Ethel. In the summer of 1950 Ethel met Harold; a shy farm boy from a small town in the Thumb Area of Michigan. Wouldn’t you know it was love at first sight! And so, on June 9, 1951, Harold & Ethel were married. They settled in Harold's home town of Cass City. Times were difficult for this young couple as well, yet they were married for 54 very happy years! They had two children. Their daughter, Sherry, was born on March 18, 1952 and a son, Larry, was born the following year, right on Mother's Day, May 8. 1953. Harold & Ethel loved their children deeply and taught them - by word and by actions - to love and depend on God for whatever might come their way in life. They taught them to always hope in God and never give up on their dreams. They taught them that no matter how difficult the situation, to always turn to God for the answer and to know all things were best left to God’s planning and timing.

On July 10, 1971, Sherry married her high-school sweet-heart, Bob. On October 1, 1973, their beautiful baby girl, Mardi Leigh, was born. Mardi was an extraordinarily special person. Sherry often said, "God knew what he was doing when he gave me Mardi." Even as a child Mardi was very determined and always knew her own mind. God gave her an added dose of compassion and empathy for others; she always seemed to be far wiser than her years. Yet, the time came when Mardi wondered if she would ever find a husband. She didn't want just any husband; she wanted "her husband". God heard Mardi’s thoughts and he also knew her heart. And so, one night Mardi had a dream and in her dream she felt a man's arms come around from behind her and lay his hands across her arms - ever so gently and lovingly. Though no words were spoken, Mardi knew those were the arms of "her husband" and she knew right then that God had a plan for her to someday meet this extraordinarily special man. And so Mardi waited. She waited and waited for what seemed to Mardi far longer than necessary – after all, how long could it take God to bring “her husband” to her? Yet she did not give up hope.

At this same time, in a far away place (Arizona), there was an extraordinarily special young man named Dan whose heart God was speaking to. You see, Dan too had questions about where he would find “his wife.” For he knew only God could make a woman into the extraordinarily special person he could some day call his own. And unbeknownst to either of them, God knew Dan & Mardi would be an extraordinarily special couple. Together, they would be just what God was looking for to complete a very special journey; a journey God had planned for many, many years. But it would be several more years before God would reveal Dan & Mardi’s true purpose and mission together to them.

And so, on a very special day during the winter of 1996, a man named Dan walked into Mardi’s life. Dan took one look at Mardi and thought she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever met! You see, on this day, God allowed Dan to see more than physical beauty; he allowed Dan to glimpse Mardi’s inner beauty – a heart touched by God himself - and this was very new to Dan. Right then and there Dan asked Mardi to go on a date with him. Mardi said, “Yes,” she’d go on a date with him. The love between them blossomed with each new day. And a short while later, Dan asked Mardi to marry him and she said, “Yes,” she’d marry him. And so, on June 12, 1999 they did just that. And Dan & Mardi have lived very happily together ever since that day! And today, Dan & Mardi are making very extraordinarily special plans to travel to China where they will meet their little girl, Lauren, for the very first time. Lauren will be beautiful and perfect - just like her Mommy. She will be the answer to Dan & Mardi prayers. And Lauren will be loved and cherished – for her entire life - by her Mommy & Daddy.

It is something to note that Albert & Mary's hope, courage and strong determination are seen even today in later generations of their family. For these are truly good characteristics to pass on to our children. Another important note is the name of the ship that Albert & Mary did not travel on - that ship was the Titanic, which is now docked at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. For, as we all know, it's first voyage was also it's last. If Albert & Mary had kept their original travel arrangements, they very likely would have died together on that ship and this story would have ended there. But it did not, because God had planned all along to send a little girl named Lauren to be born in China. He knew Lauren would need an extraordinarily special Mommy & Daddy - people who would never give up searching for her. And this extraordinarily special Mommy & Daddy would travel across the seas to wherever Lauren was waiting for them. And God knew this extraordinarily special couple would bring Lauren home – to a very special place - where they would all live very happily ever after. For this is Dan & Mardi’s true purpose and mission together, all planned by God many, many years ago. And this is the true tale of Lauren's Journey Home.

Love, Mom (Lauren's Grandma!)

Our Trip

A friend of mine who is adopting as well just shared this story with me...I think it says it perfectly.




Deciding to have a baby is like planning a trip to Australia.You’ve heard it’s a wonderful place, you’ve read many guide books and feel certain you’re ready to go. Everyone you know has traveled there by plane.They say it can be a turbulent flight with occasional rough landings, but you can look forward to being pampered on the trip.
So you go to the airport and ask the ticket agent for a ticket to Australia. All
around you, excited people are boarding planes for Australia. It seems there is
no seat for you; you’ll have to wait for the next flight. Impatient, but anticipating
a wonderful trip, you wait--and wait--and wait. Flights to Australia continue
to come and go. People say silly things like, "Relax. You’ll get on a flight
soon." Other people actually get on a plane and then cancel their trip, to
which you cry, "It’s not fair!"
After a long time the ticket agent tells you, "I’m sorry, we’re not going to be
able to get you on a plane to Australia. Perhaps you should think about going
by boat."
"By BOAT!" you say. "Going by boat will take a very long time and it costs a
great deal of money. I really had my heart set on going by plane." So you go
home and think about not going to Australia at all. You wonder if Australia will
be as beautiful if you approach it by sea rather than air. But you have long
dreamed of this wonderful place, and finally you decide to travel by boat.
It is a long trip, many months over many rough seas. No one pampers you. You wonder if you will ever see Australia. Meanwhile, your friends have flown back and forth to Australia two or three more times,marveling about each trip.

Then one glorious day, the boat docks in Australia. It is more exquisite than
you ever imagined, and the beauty is magnified by your long days at sea. You
have made many wonderful friends during your voyage, and you find yourself comparing stories with others who also traveled by sea rather then by air.
People continue to fly to Australia as often as they like, but you are about to travel only once, perhaps twice. Some say things like, "Oh, be glad you didn’t fly. My flight was horrible; traveling by sea is so easy."
You will always wonder what it would have been like to fly to Australia. Still, you know God blessed you with a special appreciation of Australia, and the beauty of Australia is not in the way you get there, but in the place itself.
Diane Armitage printed in the April 21, 1995 "Dear Abby" column.

D4 dancing

Oh and just in case you didn't know what I meant by fun...here is Ruth dancing with her students last semester..

Yep Ruth..I found it! ;)

Finishing Up!

I am officially finished this semester as of last night. I submitted my last research paper and assignment! Tuesday was also my last clinical with my first group of students! I have been teaching nursing clinicals for ASU with a mentor(Ruth, who is pictured in themiddle). I have thouroughly enjoyed this group and watching them grow over the semester. They have impressed me so much and I will miss them greatly. If ever you are ill and you see one of these nurses walk into your room...know you are in good hands.

P.S. Ruth, ...thank you for all the advice and help you have given to me over this semester and for making it so fun! :)

"Bell" is Home

I am so happy to report that "Bell's" owner's called and she is now home.

Lost Pup

I went out for a run this morning and found this sweet girl running down the street. I called her and she came running to me friendly as ever! No collar... so I walk all over the neighborhood ringing doorbells, trying to find her home... No success, so off to the vet, no chip, back home,take pictures, make signs, post signs in neighborhood, take one to the community center, give her food and water, put her in my laundry room, try to keep my Bailey separate from our new furry friend and now it is almost 1 pm. and I have done nothing I had planned today including write my research paper. Oh, I hope someone calls! I really don't want to take her to the pound! I also cannot take on another pup right now!

Saturday

Well, today is Saturday and my weekend has gone way too fast. I work Sunday's so my weekends consists of Friday and Saturday. I don't know what it is, but about this time each week, I start to want to grasp onto time and not let it go. If you've seen "Kate and Leopold", it's like when Meg Ryan who plays Kate says, "Sunday's are ruined because they are the day before Monday". I don't know why I feel this way. I absolutely love my job, but I guess I love being home with my hubby and pooch far more. Dan and Bailey are napping right now and when I look at them, I want to freeze time.

Just In!

The following message came from our Agency today:

On April 4, 2008, Children's Hope received 7 China referrals. These
referrals were for our 1/6/06 log in date families. We did not
receive any Chinese expedited referrals in this group. This group
of referrals included 7 beautiful little girls! They are from the
Jiangxi province. Their ages are 7 to 9.5 months and one 3 ½ year
old. The family that received the 3 ½ year old little girl
requested a 0-18 months old girl but the referral fell within the
CCAA age guidelines. These families waited 27 long months from log
in date to referral. We expect these families to travel in about 8
weeks.

This group of referrals began with the 1/5/06 log in date but the
CCAA has not updated the CCAA Information System with a cut off date
yet. I will send out the official cut off date once the CCAA
announces it.

Congratulations to these families and all our China families who
have moved up in line! Children's Hope International's next log in
dates are 1/13/06 and 1/16/06.

We also received seeking confirmation letters (official referrals)
for 2 waiting children families today! Congratulations to them
also!

I find this to be encouraging since our agency's accreditation is "pending" right now, I am glad to see they are still receiving referrals. There is hope for us yet!

Congratulations to all of us who have moved up in line!!

Hiking At My Door!

I am so excited! Dan and I love to hike and now we have new hiking trails just blocks from our front door! A couple of weeks ago we trailblazed our way through these beautiful mountains and had so much fun! While the trails were being built we watched men in little "bobcats" making the trails and were amazed at how they could sit on the side of a mountain in these little machines and not fall off! The scenes are beautiful and the wildflowers right now are amazing! I can't wait until I'm feeling better to get back out there! You are all welcome to come join me anytime! :)

Happy Spring!

We returned to the Butterfly Exhibit at the Phoenix Botanical Gardens this year. We celebrated Easter, Mom's birthday, and my sister's birthday on this day. These are pic's of my niece and nephew :) The weather was perfect and it was really nice spending the day laughing with family.

I've been home sick the past few days and I am really hoping to be feeling better soon. You know you've been sick too long when you start to know the t.v. commercial schedule.

Well, I'm off to the couch again...or should I change it up and go to bed this time. :)

Happy Spring Everyone!