Photos from the actual phone call!!! And celebrating out!

Fuzhou City Social Welfare Institute..Sophie's orphange

Hard to see, but glad it's so "pretty" looking...this is where our Sophie Su is right now!

Introducing our baby girl, Sophie Su Ruth!!!

Here is the day I have dreamed long and hard of...the introduction of our sweet baby girl!!! This is the first pic we've received today, tomorrow Fed Ex will be bringing more pics, some of her in an exersaucer and such....I can't even believe this happened..and OMG...she was born on my birthday!!!!!! Novemember 26th 2008!!!
more to come, i can't think!

Today is the Day, June 22nd, 2009!!!!

Today is the day....this morning is the very last time I will Post on this blog w/o knowing who our daugther is....in the "real world" of course. I've known who she is in my heart for 3+yrs now. For 3+yrs, this baby girl was born into my heart and soul and has grown there. Through, excitement, and disappointment, through laughter and tears, through patience and frustration, we made it through this wait, this long, long wait.

Sophia Ruth Rogers we would not trade this journey to you for ANYTHING!!!!! Waiting for you has allowed God to make me just who I need to be for you and your big brother! And I couldn't be a more proud mommy!!!!

The first words out of charlie's mouth as he woke this morning and ran into my room and jumped on top of me were: "mooooommmmmyyyyy...guess who's picture we're gonna see todayyyyyy!!!!!!!!!"

Those words....priceless!!!!!

And now we wait one more time for that phone to ring....RING PHONE RING!!!!!!!

It's official, we will be seeing Sophie Ruth for the first time THIS COMING MONDAY...IN 3 DAYS!!!!!!!!!

6/19/2009
Matches Arrived!!!



We just received a group of matches today! The CCAA matched our families with log in dates of March 15, 2006! We also received matches for our expedited families due to Chinese Descent who were logged in through April 10, 2007! At this time, the CCAA has not updated their intranet website, so we do not know the official cut off date.

Congratulations to all of our families who were matched in this group! We are excited to be calling these families on Monday!

We will update this website when more information becomes available.



Again, OMG, OMG, OMG this is all that's running through my brain!!!!!
This is it, it's official, we will all be seeing Sophia Ruth THIS MONDAY, as in THREE DAYS!!!!! OMG!!!

HOLY CRAPOLY!!!!!

OMG, OMG, OMG!!!!!....agencies in Europe are receiving their phone calls!!!!! OMG, OMG, OMG....which for all of you out there that have not adopted..that means, European agencies, who are 6 or so hrs ahead of us, are calling their families that were waiting and rt now those families are getting the phone call and looking at their babies faces right now!!!!! So for us, since our agency is not even open today yet,they will be opening their mail in a few hours and it WILL have Sophies picture matched to us and they will be calling us......????? I'm going to be on the safe side and say probably not until Monday, but there is that slight chance our phone will ring tonight!!!!!....Or maybe Saturday?????

I just can't beleive this, I really can't....

Oh Sophie, you will never truly know until one day, when you grow up and wait to become a mommy how this love feels...how it is so real and alive in you...how you can love someone so completely that you have never even met yet. You are so, so loved..more than we will ever be able to probably have words to explain to you. This wait has been so long and hard, but I would NEVER trade it for the world. Knowing we are only days/hours away from seeing your sweet face, and then only weeks aways from holding you in our arms is absolutly priceless!

Keep watching ya'll!!!!!! She's on her way!!!!!

OMG!!!!! It's almost a/b to happen!!!!!!

Matches Completed!



We have learned the CCAA has completed the next group of matches. We do not know the cut off date for the next set of matches at this time. We do hope the CCAA mails matches soon!

We will update this website as soon as we have new information



This,above, is a direct quote from our adoption agency!! We are in, it's a done deal, WE HAVE BEEN MATCHED!!!!!
Now all we have to do is wait for them to be put in the mail in the next day or so and then we will get the phone call and see our sweet babies face!!!!!
I can't believe this is about to happen!
I do not even have any more words at the moment...I'm just silently FREAKING OUT(good freaking out..LOL!!!!!)

Enjoying the sunshine and early summer fun!

Praying this is the Week!!!

Well, so far nothing yet....BUT there are some rumors out there that papers are moving and in the air here from China for people's travel approvals from the last May 21st batch of families that received their babies...and USUALLY, once travel approvals come out..the next batch of referrals follow....WHICH WILL BE US!!!!!!

Trying to stay patient and calm..but rarely succeeding.....LOL

This past girls weekend away helped!
Thanks to you, Kearston, Jen, and Georgie;) I had the best time away w/the best girls around...I can't imagine going through any of this w/o the support of my amazing friends and family! Love ya guys to pieces!!!! I pray Sophia one day has friends like you all in her life too!!!

OK...please pray along w/us that one of the next posts you see our sweet baby girls face!!!!

Our official First Grader to be!!

Schools out for summer!!!!

Charlie had his little "graduation" last day of school party on Monday and it was so much fun! His teacher brought each of them up to the front of the circle time carpet and dedicated a special award with a folder full of treats! Then we headed outside to the field for rely races and an ice cream social!
Our sweet big boy is growing up so fast, and his daddy and I couldnt be prouder of what a amazing little boy he is!

We love you buddy to the moon, and stars, and sun and back and back and back! xoxox

And to my sweet Sophie Ruth....we will soon be able to begin all over again with you! This past three years of waiting for you has truly flown by....Your big Brother Charlie was only 3 years old at the start of this journey to get to you.....and back then we thought the two of you would be a/b 2 or 3yrs apart.....and here we are now...and you'll be 5 yrs apart...but I would'nt trade this age gap for the world..
I am so thankful to God that I've had these past 6 years to focus on your big brother and give him all the one on one we did..and now you my sweet girl will be able to get the same...all my one on one next year while your big brother tackels first grade!!! We will be able to have "mommy and Sophie" days just like I've had "mommy and Charlie" days the past 6yrs...oh how I treasure those days with him and will soon again w/you!
Any day now....any day now....we wait patiently(well some days I'm patient-LOL) and hopefully for the phone call that will change our lives forever....the introduction of sweet wonderful YOU!!!!
We are coming soon baby girl!!!
Mommy xoxoxo

Last half day of school ever!!!

Well, this past Thursday was my baby's last half/two hour day of school EVER! I can't beleive kindergarten is over...where oh where did those 9 months go?
Tomorrow morning he will walk one last morning as a kindergartener to go have his final day and graduation....I already packed my kleenexes:(
And then it's official summer break and official prepare to go get Miss Sophie Ruth!

We are praying and keeping our hopes up that this week we hear good news that referrals are on their way!!!!!!

It's so thrilling and overwhelming and yet calming all at the same time to know that one of my very next few posts will include the introduction of our daughter and her beautiful face!

Happy Memorial Day...and WE ARE NEXT!!!!

As biased as I am....isn't he the cutest thing ever?!!!!

Poor Charlie....I know he secretly hates that his mommy is a photo taking/scrapbook making nut....-LOL!!
But oh how sweet he is to comply w/me and endure my make shift photo shoots out in our yard!!!

Hope everyone had a blessed Memorial Day weekend celebrating the wonderful men and women that served the very country we are all blessed to live in!

Oh..and WE ARE NEXT-LOL!!!!!! (I wake up every day now telling myself this w/the biggest smile on my face!)

We are coming soooon my sweet baby girl to be!!!!!

We Are Next!!!!!!!!

Well...as much as I've said these last couple months.."I think we MAY be next"...today, I can finally say with 100% certaintly...WE ARE NEXT!!!!

People logged into the program through March 14, 2006 receieved there baby referrals yesterday.....and if you havent memorized it by now(lol)....our log in date is March 15, 2006!!!! NEXT, NEXT, NEXT DATE IN LINE!!!!!!

The when factor is not completley determined at this point...some rumors are pointing towards the next week or two...if all goes well, and the CCAA resumes sending out referrals as they always did...we should start hearing something towards the end of next week!!!!!!
I can't believe we are next...I can't believe it!

Somewhere..across the world today...two files sit.....
One w/pictures of us...
One w/pictures of her...
Two files matched together at last...

Oh Lord, keep her safe...please guard her with your angels...
guard her mind, body, soul and spirit....
Oh keep her safe, our sweet Sophie Ruth...

Hold on tight sweet baby girl...your forever family is coming soon!
Love mommy xoxoxo

Positive Rumors...ladybug signs and Thankyous!

Well, FINALLY after 3 wks of waiting to hear SOMETHING we are hearing "some" things....all good...all pointing towards things moving along again w/baby referrals(fingers crosssed)....no word that we are IN this time...but HOPEFULLY if things do resume...we will be in the following batch!

Last wk was a hard one with everything going so still and quiet b/c of the swine flu(even thought the CCAA does not admitt to this being the reason)..but anyway, I had to dig deep and do lots of "talking" w/God to help get me through that quiet uncertain wk last wk and as ALWAYS, He did answer me in SOOOO many diff ways...(too many to share on here)...but one quick way I can share....he sent me so many ladybugs...and as all of you out there in adoption land know, ladybugs are a good luck sign in the land of Chinese adoption....so each day since last Monday I have not only seen them, but a few days, including yesterday, they've landed directly ON me out of no where!!!

"But as for me, O God, I will always have hope; I will praise You more and more"
- Ps.71:14

And lastly, a big thankyou to all you out there that have called/emailed us daily the past week and a half to check on us and offer sweet encouraging words! You all are a big part of this wait w/us and your support and encouragement have meant the world to us...we are so blessed w/the best family and friends around, thankyou, thankyou!

So heres to more hope, more faith and more praise that Sophie Ruth IS on her way SOON!!!

You are six..my first love..my first joy...

Dear Charlie,

Here you are six, six today...
I love watching you play...
My first love, my first joy...

Apple of my eye...
My love for you surpasses the sky...

Love Mommy xoxoxo

Oh Swine Flu PLEASE go away.....

I feel like I'm in a bad dream....one I desperately want to wake out of....

How can it be that we were RIGHT there...so close..NEXT to be matched....
And then, as life would have it, the Swine Flu is introduced...and has now thrown China into a hysterical panic...one in which they are manhunting down anyone that has had flu symptoms and quarantining them until it's gone.....one that the gov't is not even letting parents in or out of schools to pick up their children....one that is taking temp's of every human on that land and having it reported to their gov't....one that is denying visa's to travel to most places in China.

So as you can conclude...we probably wont be going to get Sophie anytime soon(or as soon as we had thought)....not even a match.....Is it possible to get through this...of course it is...are we giving up...of course we are NOT...but does it suck and make my heart ache daily and my stomach a ball of nerves....YES..a thousand times YES.

Someone said to me on Monday.."I don't know how you can go through this and wait anymore..if I were you I would have pulled out of the adoption program long ago"
Is this someone a good friend, NO.....but still.....it just goes to show they have no clue how we feel a/b Sophie, and it made me so mad.

Sophie may not be "real" to any of you..but she is to us. We feel God planted her soul into our hearts 3+yrs ago and since then she has been growing....growing into a love like the love we have for our first....it's no different....

I said nothing to this person..just shrugged...but what I wanted to say..what I should have said was this...

Imagine carrying a child..being pregnant....(maybe as long as an elephant-LOL)and then that child has to be taken out of you for whatever reason...and taken away for awhile...you can't hold this child..you can't see this child..you cant smell this child....but you are told all you have to do is wait...how long you say? No one knows for sure...but if you wait, you will get to her....

And I should have said to this person, "would you wait" -OF course you would wait..it's your child...your baby...the baby the Lord made just for you....
And that's what Sophie Ruth is to us..our child....our child the Lord made just for us....and we will wait...through my tears and aching stomach I will wait and be strong and keep my faith......
Sophia Ruth I will NEVER give up on you....Love mommy xoxoxo

All is Quiet....

Well, as our luck would have it, we heard NOTHING yesterday.....same rumors floating around that we are in...but no word from China or our agency....so that means we just do some more waiting(think I've got that down pat)until Monday...
Ok guys..so heres to this week....here's to getting our phone call...heres to seeing our sweet baby girls face for the very first time....
Please pray w/us for Miss Sophie Ruth Rogers!!!
Stay Tuned!!!!!

And the Rumor Says....!!!!

OK..so trying to stay calm here....BUT...hard to....there are a few agencies out there, and the famous "rumor Queen" herself, all saying that things are pointing in the direction of our favor and we may very well be in for this next batch of referrals!!!!!!!! OMG...did I really just write that?

OK..so, nothings for sure yet, but just the fact that we are FINALLY after 3 long yrs involved in a "rumor" that says we are NEXT makes me beam from ear to ear....

Did I sleep last night? Well....I did a good job of composing myself after reading that we may be getting the phone call next, and falling asleep...UNTIL..my personal cheerleader..aka..Kearston, rings me out of bed at 11pm...freaking out b/c she too had just discovered and heard we may be in!!!(thanks K-LOL!!)So then did I fall back asleep...??? Of course not!

Thoughts of you my Sophie dear consumed my mind and I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed w/so many, many diff emotions.....

Part of me feels like we are on a game show, playing a game that has lasted 3 yrs too long...and now we are a/b to hear.."and the winner is..."...AHHHHHHHH "The Rogers Family!!!!!"....-LOL!

Stay tuned...we are holding on w/both hands.....!!!!!!!..and holding our breath!

The Kentucky Derby 09, and STILL waiting to hear a/b Sophie!!!!

Here we are again back from our annual Kentucky Derby week long celebration! I would never have guessed back 15 years ago when my family was relocated to Louisville, that going to the Derby would soon become one of my favorite things to do each year, but it has!!
It really is an amazing event and one that the whole town goes nuts over! We had such a great time, although no big win's at the track, we had a blast all around!
We had three newbies join the gang this year, Uncle Dougie's girlfriend, Anna, her brother Anthony, and our dear friend Mark. I really wish I could add little Miss Sophie to the list of "new" people at Derby this past week, but not quite yet!

So on that note...we have the swine flu thing that may or may not slow things down a bit for this next batch of baby referrals.....figures.....time will tell. So our agency is reporting that although the Chinese Gov't is asking you to use common sense when traveling and maybe holding off a wk or so, they are not stopping the matching process...so....that being true we will hear ANY DAY NOW!!!!!!

Hard to believe that we are only one or so weeks away vs the months away we've been for so long...

Oh my Sophie Ruth, one day soon you will be with us gracing the Kentucky Derby track with your sweet presence!!!!! WE love you so, so much!!!! -mommy xoxoxo

Kentucky Derby Weekend 2009!!!!!

"Faith is the Substance of things hoped for"-Hebrews

One "lesson" I will say God has taught me along this journey while waiting for our little Sophie Ruth is to have "eyes of faith"....

Eyes of Faith

Through my eyes of faith I can see Sophie

I can see her dark shining hair
I can see her gorgeous dark brown eyes
I can see her soft smooth skin and pink flushed cheeks
I can see her little arms wrapped tightly aound my neck......

And through my eyes of faith, it's the "vision" of that tiny embrace that keeps me going each day....each day..a day closer to my Sophie Ruth....

-Amy M Rogers..aka..Charlie and Sophie's mommy xoxoxo

Sophie's Tree..April 2009

"When your pink flowers appear....."
Oh Sophie Ruth we are so near..love mommy xoxoxo

Easter 2009

Happy Easter to our sweet Sophie Ruth..wherever you are tonight...we are coming soon...Love Mommy xoxox

Lullaby..turn your computer up to listen....

Ok..so I found this song by the Dixie Chicks(whom I love) randomly and immediatly started crying when I heard the words....

So if you have sound on your computer, turn it up and listen...

The love for a child is a love like no other....whether that child was born from your body or your heart....it's a love beyond measure...a love I've been blessed to feel for Charlie and a love I've been blessed to feel for Sophie.

Dear Charlie and Sophie...is forever enough..is forever enough????

Love Mommy xoxox

The last batch of Referrals....and Sophie's tree..not blooming yet...

Well..to speed you all up..the last batch referred matched families w/their babies logged in through March 8th 2006.....BUT..interestingly, a handful of families that were logged in on March 9th, 2006 also got their phone calls and were matched....
No word on why this is...but I'm just happy b/c that means the were more people covered..so for this next month it gives us more of a chance to get our phone call!

I am praying and hoping we are next...our agency said they think we are....it would mean the Chinese Gov't would have to refer 6 1/2 days worth of families logged in to get to us(they have not done this many days in a bit..)...and two of those days in the year of 2006 fell on the weekend...and USUALLY, there are not many if any people logged in on weekend days....
SIGH......

In 2 wks or so from TODAY...we will begin to hear rumors.....the rumors could say that our day is approaching...the rumors could say we are NEXT!! The rumors could say china will MISS our log in day of the 15th by one day and we are not next.....

Reguardless of what the rumors say we are closer than we've ever been in this past 3+years....PRAISE GOD for that!

All of you out there... please pray along with us and think big for this next batch for us to be included!!!!

And Sophie Ruth your tree is standing so tall and beautiful right now...it's not blooming yet...not yet...maybe it's waiting for you!!!!
Love Mommy xoxox

Sneak Peek at Sophie's room...and no news yet..!

Well, the pic's above are an attempt at snapshots of some of Sophie's room...as you'll see I'm not very good...thankgod we'll have a realtor taking photos of our home next spring when we go to sell and not me!!

Anyway....there it is....with the suitcases all ready...well..almost ready for travel...in the corner....some of her baby dolls and panda's that Charlie ever so carefully placed in her crib....her chandelier hung and rehung w/care by her daddy...it's all almost coming together....all we need now is one sweet perfect China doll....Sophia Ruth!!

So....everyone is asking me what was the March batch like and how far did they match?? I wish I could say seeing that it's April 3rd and we still have heard NOTHING!! We have heard rumors that they got March 7th and 8th of 2006 matched w/babies(which is great b/c march 7, 2006 had an ENORMOUS amount of families logged in to get babies)....but our agency says the Chinese Gov't is still matching and we may not hear until Monday...UGH...SIGH....

But...so many have asked me, "arent you freaking out not knowing??" And I'll have to say, NO.... I can finally put into play what I've learned over this journey thus far...
That it's all in God's timing..not ours...no matter what the situation...what the need or want...it's about letting go and TRUSTING God no matter what..trusting that He already KNOWS every day of the rest of our lives...He already knows what we need, not want, He knows what's best, and will only bring to us what we need when we need it....Patience...yes patience...not always my strong suite for me in the past, but I am and have learned it...
Now...is it agonizing waiting each month now at this point when we are soooo close to see if it will FINALLY be our turn next or next month??? Of course it is..!! WE CAN NOT WAIT TO SEE YOU SOPHIE RUTH!! The fact that it IS going to happen either this month of April or next month blows my mind....
But again..I KNOW and TRUST He will bring her home to us soon enough and in HIS perfect timing!!!
OK..that's all for now...hope the next post brings good good news from afar!!!

Spending time together on our last spring break as just Mommy and Charlie!

So Charlie's been off all week on his kindergarden spring break week...and as much as I'd like to say we were off on some extrodinary vacation/break, we're not...pretty much just an ordinary week, but we had lots of fun hanging around town just me and my Charlie boy...and a couple friends some of the days!
We spent one day at the zoo, one day riding bikes to the park w/our friends, and yesterday made our annual trip to the Franklin Park Conservatory to see the releasing of the butterflies, which we have done each March since Charlie was 2 months old! We took along one of Charlie's best friends, Maylie, and our good friend Georgette came along too! We had a great time! Those are all the slideshow of pictures below...
So as I was saying..it was just an ordinary spring break week here at home...BUT..it got me thinking and feeling so thankful that although this week may have been "ordinary" it is b/c we are about to embark on the most "EXTRODINARY" vaca/break EVER..CHINA!!!!!!
Sophia Ruth...I don't even have words for how I'm feeling...I've never had so many "butterflies" myself swimming around in me as we are only weeks away from you now....We only have a/b 35 or so days left until we see your sweet picture and get that phone call....again...no words to describe the happiness I am feeling today for you and this journey we are on to you!!!
We praise God that this WILL be the last spring break w/o you our sweet baby girl!!!
-mommy xoxoxox

Enjoying Charlie's spring break week!

Our Taekwando King..moving up a belt!

Last weekend our Charlie boy moved up in the world of taekwando to the next belt level, the Yellow belt! During his ceremony he was required to complete many different punches and kicks and for the grand finale...(which we didnt know about)he had to break...yes break.. a board of REAL wood with a front kick!!! I was holding my breath the whole time...and he DID IT!!! He was oh so proud of himself and so were we!
No offical cut off yet for the "rumors" on the next batch of babies for this month..we'll hear this coming week to be....but it is still looking very very good...and I am still pretty positive we are oh so close....right around the corner!!!!

Enjoying the sunshine and Early Rumors!

Well..I think spring is here?? It sure feels like it..we've had lots of sunshine and warmer weather...it's been so good to be outside..above is Charlie and his good neighbor buddy Casey!
AND....we have some early rumors that are so good I don't even want to jinx it and post them, so I won't...but let's just say, if they are true, we are literally "around the corner" to be matched....
It's so surreal to me how close we are to you my Sophie girl...once a wk I go into your room and sit and look through your suitcases that I've already packed..I love to just hold your little pink butterfly jammies and silkie's that are waiting for you...I can just "see" you in them already...I feel you in my heart EACH and EVERY day and love you w/all of myself already.. and I KNOW we are so very close...this summer is going to be so magical, having my family complete FINALLY after 3 long years...you and my Charlie boy, me and your daddy...I already feel blessed beyond measure knowing what is a/b to unfold for me and my family!

Spring has Sprung! (we hope!)

Being able to meet friends at the park this past week due to the wonderfully WARM weather was beyond good!! You don't realize how much fresh air, warm breezes and sunshine can renew you until you've gone w/o it for so long and then get it back...now we just need to pray it stays!!!

Funny while in the backyard one day this past week, Charlie and I were looking at all the trees in the woods behind our house and talking a/b how neat spring is to watch all the leaves come back...and then I turned and looked at Sophies tree in our yard and it dawned on me that the poem I wrote her so long ago is about to come true..."when your apple tree blossoms and the pink flowers appear and your butterfly is near, that you Sophie Ruth know were on our way..."
And who wouldve known it would be a year later from when I wrote the poem..but that it would still hold true!!
We are so close....oh so close my Sophie girl!

February Referrals and good news on our paper work!

Well it's offical(I think)the Chinese Gov't matched families with their babies logged in through March 6, 2006...(we are March 15th!)...so nine more referral days to go!! Which translates into..2 more months maybe??!! I'm thinking we will get the call in April..it's getting soooo close!!!
And..the best news ever..we received out final approval paper from immigration this past Thursday of last week(this was the paperwork that was all screwed up a couple wks back)..our I-171H..and now its all fixed...Hooray!! It was so awesome to finally have it back in our hands with "approved" written on the top!! Now we just need the phone call!!!
Oh Sophie girl...we are so close to you now...I know these last precious months to wait for you are going to fly...and I know without a shadow of a doubt all this time gone by waiting for you will be more worth anything else i could ever imagine!! I love you my sweet daughter to be!
Love, mommy xoxox