Weekend to Remember!

This past Memorial Day weekend was extra special for us and our family. In honor of our loving Gramma Ruth, who passed away this past January, we all took a trip to Cleveland, Ohio, her birthplace(and mine) and took a trip down memory lane for her, and us, followed by burying her ashes next to her husband at the Lutheran Cemetary.
My three brothers, their families, my mom and dad, my Aunt Evie and her children with their families, and my best friend Kim(who is like family too)and her hubby and kids all gathered for this weekend celebration of Gramma's life! It was a perfect weekend and one I'll remember forever and ever!
Some snap shots above from where we stayed downtown at the Reniessance Hotel and a local park, Charlie and his cousins who he adores!!
We also visited the famous Christmas Story house, and those pic's will soon follow!
Sophie girl, maybe you've already been born, maybe you are being born, but somehow I know you are of this world already in some way. Gramma Ruth may never meet you the way I had hoped she would, but she already knows you and is guarding you with all her heart! I love you!
Mommy xoxo

Charlie's last day of Preschool 2008!

I can't believe it, once again...Where oh where did the past 9 months go? It blows my mind that Charlie is done with pre-k and now officially a Kindergartener! I truly feel like it was just last month that I was dropping him off on his first day and then crying in the van thinking I'll never get used to him being gone in preschool and now it's nearing the end of May and he's done! (And yes, I did get used to him being gone -maybe even enjoyed it a little bit too! LOL!)
He has grown so much in the past nine months and he LOVED school! We've seen him grow and mature and I know his school/ class and teachers had something to do with that too! We are so proud of our Charlie boy and all he's accomplished this year! And a few years from now I can't wait to do it all over again with Sophie!
And on a side note, notice all the "ladies" surrounding Charlie in the pic's above! He had lots of great friends both boys and girls, but his teachers say the girls definetly loooove Charlie!
And on the adoption front, no news yet..."Rumor" has it that they will reach towards January 23rd by the end of this month and then "possibly" get into matching the begining of the month of Feb 2006 next month at the end of June. That will be sooo exciting once they are into matching Feb of 2006 knowing we are that next month of March! ....getting closer and closer!!!!
Love you Sophie, mommy xoxo

Happy Mothers Day 2008!

We spent Mother's Day weekend with Gramma Jean this year and had such a nice visit! Charlie played in his last soccer game of the season and scored another goal!! It was exciting that Gramma got to see it! He has really had a great season and says he want's to play again this fall!
On Monday I got to go to school with Charlie for a special Mother's Day celebration and then Charlie and I headed to Barnes and Noble to hang out, have a treat and drink, and then browse all the wonderful books! This is something he and I used to do weekly before he started preschool, so it was fun to revisit the tradition since he got out of school early! I so cherish these days of just Charlie and me, and it reminds me that I have so much to look forward to in doing it all over again with Sophie!
So Happy Mother's Day to all you mommies out there, ESPECIALLY, the waiting ones. I know this Mother's Day was probably really hard since this adoption wait has been insane, but for all of you(esp. my sweet friend Georgette), DO NOT think for one moment you are not a mom already...after enduring this wait for a child you've yet to see, hoping, praying, having faith in and loving this baby to be...you could NOT be more of a mommy already!
And to my sweet Sophia, I have faith you will be with me for Mother's Day next year..I know you will and it will be one of the best celebrations of my life to celebrate being yours and Charlie's mommy, I love you so much!!! -Mommy xoxo

Talk Derby to Me 2008!!

Well I can't believe another annual Kentucky Derby Event is here and gone and still no Sophie. I feel like we were at Derby last year like it was just a couple months ago...time really goes way to fast, which for you my sweet Sophie is a good thing!

This years theme for Derby was, "Talk Derby to Me!" We had such a great time especially in the box seats Poppie got us in! As always, Grandy was the best, and cared for Charlie, Ashley and Austin, while me, Jeff, Auntie Kim and Uncle John, Poppie and Uncle Dougie went out to the races!

Okay Sophie, Next year you WILL be here for your FIRST Derby weekend, I just can't wait!!

And, on a sadder note....this last batch of referrals was not very good, they only covered 3 days. So we went from January 9th, to now they matched through January 12th....BUT, I refuse to stay sad....all that matters is that the program is still moving and moving closer to our March 15th date....!

Love you to pieces Sophie Ruth! Love Mommy

Sophies Tree!

Well, as you can see, Sophie's apple tree is finally blooming! Just like the poem says, spring is here, her apple tree blossoming and we ARE closer to you Sophie girl!
The brillant pink flowers and fragrant smell in our yard just excite us with what is to come, our precious baby girl on her way!
Baby matches for this month have begun....we will find out any day now how far into January of 06 they are through....they can't get to March of 06 any faster...but we will wait patiently for you my sweet daugther to be...
My heart just swells with love and excitement for you....I feel like I am "nesting" like I did towards the end of my pregnancy with your brother, Charlie..I think I am going to start on your nursery soon, Charlie is so exicted to help paint...I still think we are going with a light shade of sage green...or baby a soft baby pink...I havent decided yet, but I can't wait to get started!
Anyway...I feel so happy in anticipation for these next few months! Life is Good!!!
Love Mommy xoxo

Thanks to Melissa for our new blog designs!

As you all can see, our blog is new and gorgeous filled with butterflies thanks to my friend Melissa, the mommy of Lily, one of the precious gems I care for!!!
She has started a business in blog design to raise money for a foundation called Half the Sky. The proceeds go to the orphanges in China and I believe she is doing one for Taiwan as well.
She was so sweet and offered to do ours as a gift! Thankyou so much Melissa we love it and know someday Sophie will love it to!!!!

On another note...It really hit me this past weekend how many people are waiting for you Sophie, besides mommy, daddy and Charlie. I was out at the bank, and had to walk in for something, and b/c I go there so often, most of them know I am adopting from China, so they always ask for an update on you....then as I was leaving, they said, "you better bring that baby girl in here once you are home with her so we can meet her!!"
And a few days before that, I was at the post office, and China came up,(b/c it somehow always does!)and again, our postal lady said she just couldn't wait to see me walking in there someday soon with you, Sophie, in my arms.
Then last Friday, I was at Charlie's parent/teacher conference, and since this is the last one, and charlie won't be going there next fall, they both made me promise to bring you in next year so they can meet you!
And yet another day, I was at the spa getting a facial, and the facialist was getting to know me, and upon hearing about you, our waiting daughter, she proceeded to pray with me for you, for God to protect you and bring you home to us soon!
So Sophie, not only mommy, dadddy, Charlie, Grandy, Poppie, Gramma Jean, and all our other family and friends, but soooooo many everyday people out in our communtity are anxious and praying for us and waiting for you, precious little you, to come home to be with us, your forever family!!!!! I love you so much already Sophie Ruth....you are going to be such a special little girl, I just can't wait!!!
Love mommy xoxo

Spring Soccer begins!

Gramma Jean comes to visit/April referrals....

Spring has sprung, thank goodness!!! April is here, warmer weather has arrived, spring soccer is beginning and baby referrals are in....
I have been putting off mentioning referrals just simply b/c they suck this month...the number referred sucks! I hate to say it like that, but that's exactly how I feel. They have matched families with babies logged in through Jan 9th 2006.....BIG BUMMER. I really thought they'd have gotten further into Jan of 06 by this point, but once again disappointment. And again, there's nothing we can do but pray for this speed up that supposedly is going to happen again one day soon. We pray that next month on May 1st they have gottten MUCH farther into January....with our log in day of March 15 2006 I feel like we are soooo close and yet sooo far at the same time. But...I still feel God's blessings for chosing this path for us, and although my hearts hurts and aches on a daily basis while enduring this wait, I have not given up hope AT ALL, that our sweet Sophie Ruth is waiting for us and we will get to her some day soon!
I love this baby girl who lies oceans away...I love this baby girl who I've yet to meet, but will some day....
I thank God for this adoption journey and thank him for the daughter he has made waiting for us.
Okay, so on a happier not so negative note....Gramma Jean came last weekend and we had a fabulous time, Thank you so much Gramma Jean! Mommy and daddy went out on the town till the wee hours of the night while Gramma and Charlie spent some fun time together. And we also spent the day in the warm sunshine at the zoo! And much to Charlie's delight he got to see his favorite animal the tiger, up close and personal which made his day!! We love you Gramma and can't wait for our journey together in China to be coming some day soon!

Happy Easter Sophie!

Happy Easter Sophia Ruth,
Another holiday here and gone and you are still not in my arms...
I sat in church on this splendid Easter morning with the brilliant sun shining through the sanctuary, and I couldn't help but let my mind wander to you....
You-my sweet daugther to be, all bundled up snug a world away sleeping through the night, this Easter morning.
As I celebrate Easter this year, it just makes me realize what a gift being a Christian is and what a privledge to celebrate that Christ has risen for us, all of us, and you too Sophie! It is He that gives me strength and courage to KNOW with all my heart you are safe and protected right now while you wait for us, and us for you........
"Do not be afraid for I am with you, I will bring your children from the East and gather you from the West" -Isaiah 43:5
Love, Mommy xoxox

Easter Weekend 2008/Addie's First Birthday Celebration!

Sweet Mattie Gail!

After being home 7 months now, I finally got over to my dear friend Tressa's to see her baby girl, Mattie! If you remember, we met Mattie for the first time back at our halloween party in October and she had only been home from China for a few weeks! Tressa and I became good friends about a year and a half ago and met while waiting to adopt our daughters from China. Tressa and her husband were logged into the Chinese Gov. in Novemeber of 2005 so that's why they already have little Mattie girl! Sophie- I have a feeling you and Mattie will be good buddies one day soon!
I had so much fun visiting with Tressa and Mattie! Tressa is doing such an amazing job with her, she is a ray of sunshine, I couldn't stop smiling at her and couldnt help leaving there that day filled with such hope and excitement that it is going to be our turn soon! Our turn to bring home our own ray of sunshine, our Sweet Sophie Ruth!
I dreamt of you, Sophie, for the first time in a very long time, it was so real, you were about 2 to 3 months old and I was staring at a picture of you, it was sent to me from China somehow and I remember just staring so intently at you....I can still see it in my minds eye.......it seemed so real.
Oh Sophie, I can hardly wait for you and that moment I stare at your picture for the first time in real life...it's only a matter of months now, not years......only months away!
Love Mommy

March Referrals are in!

Well it's official, they've matched families with there sweet baby girls through January 4 2006! Although we were hoping they'd have gotten farther into January, it still brings us great joy to announce that they are FINALLY into our year of 2006!!! There are only 63 days left before they get to our date of March 15 2006(omitting seven days for Chinese New Year of course when they dont' log anyone into the match department!)
Sophie each day we get closer I feel you more and more...I have been dreaming of you more often...you may not being growing in my tummy right now, but I am 100% sure you are growing in my heart...I feel you growing my heart bigger each day!
Born in My Heart
I see you in my dreams and feel you in my heart
Sweet baby waiting patiently half a world apart
I try hard to imagine your many gifts and charms
Passing time until at last I hold you in my arms
Soon we'll be together, (daddy, Charlie, you and me!)
And I'll give you all my love
My precious little angel from above!

Love, Mommy

March 2008....Surprise Trip!

Well, it was Grandy's birthday weekend and we decided to give her a little surprise and drop in for an unexpected visit....and boy was she surprised!! During our stay we were lucky enough to enjoy some very warm weather(almost 70 degrees!)and a delight from what we've been used to! We also went rollar skating and had a blast!!! I can't wait for you to learn to skate with us, Sophie, it's sooo much fun! It was a nice little get away and refreshing to be outside again so much! Happy Birthday Grandy...just think, next year Sophie will be celebrating with us! No news yet about the next batch of babies being matched, but "rumor" has it that they are most definetly into Janurary of 2006....our LID Year, HOORAY!!!!(we are March 2006)
Stay tuned.....!

About the Pictures below....

The slide show below just captures some snapshots of Charlie's birthday celebration...And although the "original party" didn't go as planned due to the yucky flu we had for 10 days(yes, 10!) Charlie still managed to have fun!
Gramma Jean and Auntie Kim, Ashley and Austin came down the day of the original party, and although it ended up being cancelled, Charlie still had fun with Gramma Jean, Poppie, Grandy and Auntie Kim and family...
Thankfully, the next day he felt so much better and we threw together a small celebration with some of his good buddies!
I still can't believe our baby is five....so independant, smart, funny, sweet and so loving!
Sophie girl you are going to be so lucky to have such a great big brother!
And although this wait has been two years tooooooo long......we know it's God's plan and one that will work perfectly for our family! I am beginning to see how the four year age gap between you and your brother to be will really fit us well!
During our bought with the flu I couldn't help but think and worry about you.....I pray the flu stays away from wherever you are right now, and I pray you are healthy and warm and loved by whomever God has by your side.....
Sophie we just Can't wait to get you home!!!! I know these next six months are going to fly by...March is right around the corner....then April /May/June/July.....and oh my goodness we will only be moments away from you at that point I hope!!!!
I love you my sweet daughter to be!!! (and daddy and Charlie too!)
Love, Mommy xoxox

Birthday festivities for our Charlie Boy!

Our Charlie Boy/Power Ranger turns Five today!

Wow...where did those years go??? I feel like it was just last month we brought our sweet baby boy home...and now here he is "morphing" himself into the Red/Tiger Power Ranger..defending his territory with his tiger hand claw and tiger num-chucks(don't laugh if I'm spelling this wrong!)
Anyway....Sophie your big brother is soooo excited for you to be coming home soon in the next few months! This will be his last birthday without his baby sister, next year you'll be crawling all over the place at his party!
The last batch of babies matched was through December 27th 2005! Rumor has it that throughout this month they should be working on matching babies to families logged into January 2006! Again, we are March of 2006......we are getting closer to you my baby girl!!!!
I love you and your big brother to the stars and moon and back(as Charlie and I always say!)
Love Mommy xoxo

Christmas with the Rogers Family Jan 2008

We got together with Jeff's side of the family the first weekend of January and celebrated the holiday season together! Everyone came from all over to spend some time! We had a great time, and Charlie really enjoyed playing with his cousins, Alivia and Kayla!

Saying Goodbye....

A very important person left this world today....January 7, 2008....
Someone I longed for you to meet-
Someone who's name will now be a part of who you will one day become-
My Gramma Ruth......
Great Gramma Ruth to you....although you will not ever see her,
I will be sure you'll know her in your heart.
She was a wonderful grandmother to me and holds a special place in my heart.
There will not be a Christmas morning gone by, that I will not think of her...

When I was a little girl, my little brother(your Uncle Dougie)and I would call her first thing on Christmas morning....and by "first thing", I really mean it...
One year, Dougie and I were so excited we woke up a 3am....and sure enough...at 3am we called Gramma Ruthie to share with her what we saw that Santa had brought...
And unlike anyone else I know, instead of being irritated by the EARLY wake up call, she came over gladly, and came over with a smile for us! She LOVED Christmas, and loved us!

Gramma Ruth loved us so very much, that I know for sure, especially your brother to be, Charlie.
She and Charlie had an instant bond from the day he was born(maybe it was that bubble gum sucker she let him lick at only one month old!!!)
Charlie just adored her, and since a young toddler, would sit with her for hours playing games and just babbling on to her. And as he grew into the wonderful four year old he is, he has recently loved visiting her apartment, and knows just where she keeps the cookies and snacks, and loved riding on her scooter with her!

As much as it breaks my heart that she will never meet you Sophie-I know she will now be your Guardian Angel and guide you home to us.
She bought the very first present ever bought for you when we announced we were adopting. This teeny, tiny China tea set...it's purple(her favorite color)and it sits on a table in your room along with a cross she got you.
Sophia Ruth - My gramma's name will live on with you someday very, very soon!
Goodnight....and goodnight to my sweet Gramma Ruth...may you be living it up it our Glorious Heaven with your dear loved 0nes that were waiting for you there...and most importantly, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, I know He holds you near....
-Amy(aka: Mommy!)

Happy New Years 2008

Happy New Year 2008!! I can't believe another year has passed...as I'm sure all of you can relate..."where does that time go?" For us it's bitter sweet, half of my heart is sad that another year has flashed by and our Charlie boy is one year bigger and it's gone too fast, and the other half of it is soooo excited time has gone fast only to get to our little girl waiting!
We hope all of you out there, our loved and cherished family and friends, had a wonderful New Years Eve and Day and know how much we love you all!
We ask that you would all be praying along with us that THIS is our YEAR; the year God brings this wait to an end and our daughter/sister(and for that matter, grandaughter, greatgrandaughter, niece, cousin, newest playmate....) HOME to US!!!! And not only for us, but also for all the other precious families out there waiting to be built as well! (Especially our new wonderful friends, Rusty and Georgette, who are waiting along with us, with the same log in date as us...we will be traveling together to get our daughters!!)

Sophie, last night as the ball dropped, and daddy, Charlie(yes, Charlie stayed up!) and I rang in the new year we were thinking of you and praying for you and saying how we couldn't wait till next New Years Eve when you will be in our arms, and with us, your forever family! Love, Mommy xoxox
Happy New Year to all, and to all a good year!!!!!!