Party At Our Crib!!

We finally went out and bought Lauren's crib this week! We have had it picked out for a long time, but didn't want to buy it until we were through the last review room. It's a "built to grow" crib, which means is will convert into a toddler bed, then a day bed, then a full size bed. She can take this to college! :) I couldn't find an exact picture of it to show here, but this is pretty much how ours looks except we got it in Cherry wood. It will be delivered in 6-8 weeks. I'll post pictures when its here! :)

Thank You Don & Connie (Lauren's grandma and grandpa) for this beautiful gift. We love you!!

Searching

I met a co-worker of mine today who is adopting from Guatemala and we of course started telling eachother about our stories. She has gone to see her son and is waiting to go back and pick him up. She showed me his picture that was attached to her badge and then started to tell me her latest news from her adoption agency. Gosh, knowing how hard it's been on us adopting from China, you won't believe this!

She was just told this week that her sons bio-mom does not have a birth certificate and for some reason they HAVE to have this. So, they are trying to locate the midwife who delivered the birth mom 42 years ago! If they cannot locate this midwife, then the adoption is off and they will have to start completly over!

I cannot imagine being in her shoes! Once I have held Lauren, there is no way I could ever let her go!

I pray they find the midwife soon.

Rock On Team Hoyt!

For all of us fighting for our daughters through the muddle of papers, fees, and waiting ...I encourage you to read and watch the video of this incredible story.

http://cjcphoto.com/can/

Josh Groban!

Last night a friend of mine called and offered me free Josh Groban tickets!! Dan and I were just coming back from hiking, so we showered quickly and we were off! It was awesome! I've always wanted to see him in concert. I was really surprised at all the young girls going nuts! It reminded me of the video's I see when the Beatles were big! :) The opening act was a lady singer from Africa and she had us dancing and singing to African songs. Lots of fun and tons of energy! We were a little tired come this morning, but is was so worth it!

Happy To Be Back!

Sorry it's been so long since my last post! I've been sitting through many hours of lecture, orientation, and signing up for benefits and the whole shibang! :) I tell you though, I love my previous co-workers and patients, but it is good to be back at Mayo. It's awesome to be a part of such an amazing health care orginization. I'm pretty excited!

Just thought I would drop a note and let you know I'm still here!

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Today is my mom's birthday! We celebrated as a family yesterday by going to the Renaissance Festival. We saw jousting matches, heard a harpist play and even threw axes and used a crossbow! I forgot my camera unfortunately, so I can't post any pictures of our fun...HOT (99degree) day. :)

Now, about my mom...she is the most selfless,loving,thoughtful, and strong person I have ever met. I am so thankful that God chose her to be my mom. I am so grateful I have had her to model after.

Mom was born in a little town called Cass City. She had me at 21 and my earliest memory of her is her laying me down for naps and playing "Marcy" songs softly on the record player while she cleaned the house quietly. Mom married her high school sweetheart, who broke her heart five children later. So...after many tears...she packed us all up, rented a U Haul and drove from Michigan to Arizona...with $500 to her name. Her perseverance is incomparable.

When Dan proposed to me, mom wanted me to have the wedding I dreamed of and wanted to pay for it the way she thought was "proper". Mom worked weekends at a miserable job for a year, without complaining once, so she could pay for my beautiful wedding.

In life, you can always count on my mom to be there and to make the right decision. She has taught me to be strong and to never waiver from my beliefs and values. She has taught me to trust Jesus. She has modeled for me what a beautiful women is.. one that is modest in dress and follows God.

My mom is truly my hero. I love her beyond words can say and am so Happy to Celebrate HER today. Mom...life has not given to you nearly what you have given to it. You leave an imprint everywhere you go. Thanks for making this world a better place. Thanks for being my mom and friend.

My Virtual DNA

I saw this on other fellow bloggy friends sites and thought it was pretty cool! It's pretty accurate as well!

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Our 1 Year LID Anniversary!

It's been quite the year. We've painted Lauren's room, picked out her crib, followed others "Gotcha" days and cried, met awesome bloggy friends from all other the world, felt numb from emotion, felt overwhelmed with love for our daugher who we've never layed eyes on, went on many "last trips before children", and learned so much about the Chinese culture,etc.

This is such a special time in our life. The waiting period. We celebrate 1 year today since we were officially logged in at the CCAA!

Happy Birthday Steph!!!

It's one of my favorite bloggy friends birthday today!! I think many would agree that Steph has made our waiting period much more bearable. She is the one who started the secret pal exchange for March L.I.Ders. Also, you can always count on her blog to be filled with the most up to date info. on our adoption process.

I had the honor of meeting her and her D.H. over Thanksgiving and she is such a special person. Beautiful inside and out.

Steph you are going to make a great mommy and I am so glad you can spend your birthday with the peace of knowing your dossier is in the "matching room".

Happy Birthday Steph!!

Stork Alert!

More families today saw their daughters face for the first time! The following is a note from our CHI coordinator:

The CCAA updated the CCAA/Agency Communications Tool overnight with the following news for Department 1:

" The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents
registered with our office before March 31, 2006.

The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before October 24, 2005."

I will have our Beijing staff verify with the CCAA that all
our March 23 through March 31 dossiers have been approved. April 2006
dossier families, you are now being reviewed by Department 1.

Ann Tollefson
China Program Director

What this means is that all my March bloggy friends are in the matching room with me now! Welcome Everyone! :)

This also means the CCAA has completed up to L.I.D.'s of 10/24/05. Remember, when they get to March 7th --that's us! The wait continues to lengthen, it is now up to 16.5 months. That's o.k., we are getting closer everyday!

A special congratulations goes out to Steph and Kayce! You are FINALLY out of the review room!

Changes

If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and
stupid.
--Philosopher Epictetus

I've had this quote on my fridge the last few months and will be reminded of it often these next few months. I've made some changes in the last month and am excited and nervous at the same time. The first change is that I've applied to ASU's Nurse Practitioner program and am taking the GRE test on March 10th. I hope to be admitted and start in August. ASU's program is primarily online, I will only need to attend class downtown once a month. I am going to go part-time this first year since we should be getting Lauren soon.

This change led me to wanting to change jobs to get my tuition payed. So, last Friday I had an interview at Mayo Clinic Hospital. I worked at Mayo prior to my job now. I start there March 19th. Not only do they completely pay for my schooling, but they have better health benefits and a $10,000 adoption reimbursement. Yesss! :)

We are also, like many of my fellow March LIDers, starting the paperwork process again. Fingerprints, home study visit, money, more money, and then re-sending our I-171 H form.

In middle of these busy changing times, we've decided our old 2000 Neon is no longer suitable as our second car. So, we are going this week to buy a 2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Beautiful Morning Walk

Bailey, Danny, and I enjoyed one of our favorite Saturday morning traditions today. We went for a walk at Bailey's favorite "Sierra Verde" neighborhood near us. Then we sat outside at A.J.'s and had breakfast together. Ahhh. life is good.

Matching Room

Pictured above is the Matching Room, where our dossier is currently. I have linked a site below that tells what happens in the mathing roomm

http://www.chinaadopttalk.com/2006/12/07/how-the-matching-room-works/

Review Room Celebrations

The girls from work surprised me this week with this beautiful bouquet of pink and white flowers. The card read, "Congratulations! You're at your last stage!" I have been so amazed at the support I have gotten from my co-workers all through this process. I am so blessed.


Also,while Dan & I were at the FBR last week, my mom and sister came to our house and laid these adorable gifts on our table with little notes attached. I especially love the little hat and matching shirt that says, "I love my dog". :) Soo cute! Thank you Mom & Kristy! You never cease to amaze me with your thoughtfulness!

FBR OPEN

We're off to the FBR Open tomorrow. I don't watch golf on t.v. and I don't play golf yet, but I love to go the the FBR. It's so relaxing to walk the beautiful greens and hear the soft wave of the "golf clap" all around.

Jeff Quinney pictured in the bottom picture is from ASU and he has made it to the 4th Round. I'll be cheering for him!!

Left Behind

I feel like I've been freed from prison only to look back and realize my friends were left behind. My excitement will be truly fulfilled when all my March bloggy friends join me in the Matching Room. Hang in there guys! I'm pulling for you!

Out Of The Review Room

Oh my gosh!!! WE have news!! Our Dossier is through the review room! It has been so long since we have had any information to be excited about! Our Dossier has met it's final approval! Our next step will be to go to the matching room!

The following is the CCAA update:

The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before March 22, 2006.

The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before October 13, 2005

The picture to the left is of dossiers in China waiting in line. Our's could very well be one of these!

Secret Pal Revealed

Well, I found out today that Stephanie from California has been my Secret Pal! I could not have asked for a better Secret Pal! I mean, who makes homemade teddy bears for their secret pals! :) She is such an amazing person as well. I had the pleasure of meeting Stephanie and her husband, Drew, over Thanksgiving weekend. They are both very special people and I feel so fortunate to have made such a great new friend.

Thank You Stephanie!!

Back Burner

Well, I have to admit...I've been feeling a little rebellious lately. Our fingerprints expire this month and I haven't done a thing about it. This wait,
lack of information, and hanging by a red thread..it's definetly not for the faint hearted.

However, I have felt a sense of relief by putting my thoughts and plans of adoption on the back burner temporarily this month. During this time I have decided to start working toward my Nurse Practitioner degree. I'm pretty excited about this! It's been a 5 year goal of mine, so I figure why not now! Dan is excited as well. He is finishing his last year at Glendale High and will teach summer school this summer and then private tutoring until Lauren arrives. Change is good. God only knows why it has taken us this long to start a family, but I know looking back it will all be perfect timing..His timing.

Sweet Secret Pal

Well, it's the last month for our Secret Pal Exchange, and look at the sweet gifts I received! The little China girl is musical and soo adorable! I love the Chinese Mother Goose Book. It's really colorful and I know Lauren will love both of these precious gifts. Thank You Secret Pal!! I can't wait to find out who you are next month! :)