Bye, Bye training wheels!

Summer Fair 2008

Well once again we've survived the famous summer fair in all it's heat and glory!! We had a blast aside from having to peel our clothes off when home from being soooooo hot!!! Charlie actually pointed out a lot of kiddie rides that he said he will be able to take his Sophie on next summer!!!
We FINALLY (after 2 1/2 years) heard more of a definet time frame from our adoption agency. After having to go a 3rd time this past Saturday to be fingerprinted at our immigration office, our agency said it WILL be the last time, b/c they know we will have our baby girl home by THIS Christmas if not, worst case, January!!!! Although I am a bit numb to feeling excited yet at this point, I will admit my stomach did a little dance at the thought that we probably will have Sophie Ruth in our arms in the next 4 or 5 months.....Our agency is known for being very tight lipped and conservative with giving out ANY info as to when they think it will be our turn, so for them to have actually given a statement that it will be by this X-mas, tells us that they must know something very good!!!
So, as my sweet Charlie boy often says, "Good things come to those who wait"!
Sophie Ruth we are getting ready!!!!!!
Love mommy xoxo

Vacation Bible School another year here and gone!

Well, once again for the third year in a row we've completed the awesome VBS event at our church! It was great as always, and such a reminder of how privledged we are to be able to attend and worship at such an amazing church! Their childrens program is outstanding, Charlie, you and Sophie are so lucky! Jeff and I had so much fun teaching it again! This years theme was the Power Lab- The wonder working power of the love of Jesus Christ! Check out the pic's below for more VBS fun!
Sophie, one day soon you too will get to learn how much our Lord loves and adores you too!!!
Love Mommy xoxo

Vacation Bible School 2008!

Poem for Sophie -by her mommy, Amy!

When the warm breeze blows we'll see your precious face

When the sun shines bright we'll see your precious face

Thru God's Grace and our neverending faith we'll soon see your precious face... -Amy

Dear Sophie Ruth, I was looking back through a journal I've been writing to you in for the past two years, and this past February I had written this poem to you. As I read it, I realize that 6 months ago I was hoping we'd be coming to get you in this summer or fall, hence the "warm breezes and sun shining", and now I sit here in July and we are not that much closer to you....
SO...the sun and warm breezes may not be here on earth when we come get you this winter, but they WILL be in mommy, daddy's and Charlie's(poppie, grandy and gramma Jean's too) hearts for sure that moment they place you in our arms!
Sophia Ruth- not a day has gone by since March 15 2006 that you have not been heavy on my mind and in my heart. Before you were even conceived I've dreamed of you and prayed for you my daughter to be. This wait has been the longest, hardest trial I've ever endured in my life, BUT I KNOW our Lord has a plan, and ultimately, through all of this, I know 100% YOU will be our REWARD at the end of all this, and for that soul reason alone dear Sophie, this has been worth every minute, every tear dropped, every sigh of frustration, ALL OF IT, and I would do it all over again!!!! We are so lucky that the Lord chose us to endure this journey to you, and I thank him every day!
The Chinese Gov has matched families with babies right up to February of 2006....at the end of this month they should be a few days into February...we ARE getting closer...it' s only a matter of a few months now!
Love, Mommy xoxo

Water/swim classes+golf= LOVING SUMMER!

Baby Shower for Sophia Ruth!

Words can't describe how wonderful it was to have a baby shower and celebrate our baby girl's soon to be homecoming! I am so very blessed with the best girlfriends and mom's who dedicated their time to put this together, it was awesome! The decor was butterflies(of course) and Asian umbrellas, Asian dolls(thanks to Georgette!) and paper lanterns and Peonies(the flower of China) It was so beautiful, especially the cake(check out below)
Sophie you are going to be so loved not just by us, but by all who know us! I just can't wait for the next baby party b/c you'll be here and it will be in your honor!
Rumor has it that matches have started......stay tuned to see if they got into the month of Febuary....Let's pray!!!!!

Great Matches for the month of May...

Well, we finally had good news, the Chinese Gov't matched 8 days worth of people this last month, and although it was late coming due to the earthquake it was worth it! They have now reached Jan 20th..and only have 7 days to go to finish the month of January 2006! Chinese New Year runs Jan 28th -Feb 5th, so we get to omit that week!
The lastest rumor is that in 3 weeks, at the end of this month, they say there will be another big group of matches and they will probably be into the month of Feb 2006(we are March of 06) YEAH!! This is really happening and we are getting closer to you Sophie Ruth! We could only be 4 or 5 months away! Stay tuned and keep praying with us please!!!

Summer is FINALLY here!

The Famous Christmas Story House

While celebrating Gramma Ruth's life in Cleveland Memorial Day Weekend, we paid a visit to the Christmas Story House! It is the actual house that was used in the famous movie we all grew up watching year after year! I highly recommend it to everyone, it was so fun and surreal walking through it, you felt just as if you were in the movie! Charlie and his cousins had a blast, especially sitting under the famous sink where Ralphie's little brother Randy sat in the movie, and the yucky red soap that poor Ralphie had to have his mouth washed out with!(They even sell the actual soap!)
And STILL no word on the baby matches for this month. Due to the terrible earthquake that destroyed a large portion of China last month, the Chinese Gov't had stopped working on adoptions for a few days and part of their staff are still gone helping....although it's hard to wait to find out how far they got on matches, it's no comparison to the tragedy that all those poor people are suffering...so we can handle waiting.....

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