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

You might be adopting from China if.......

You Might Be Adopting From China If......
~You know that I-600 & I-171 aren't highways....
~You've been expecting a baby for over 3 years....
~You understand that it's 2006 in some parts of the world....
~You've "paid for" 3 citizenships, but never brought anyone into the
U.S....
~You know that waiting for China has nothing to do with Macy's or dishes..
~Your homestudy is followed by a number (i.e. #3 or #4)...
~You never know how many days next month will have...
~You know that babies come in batches...
~You've been fingerprinted four times, but never committed a crime...
~You automatically assume everyone who is expecting is having a girl...
~You own new clothing in 3 little sizes for all 4 seasons (because you
don't know when or how big)...
~You look twice when you see a lady bug...
~You're more interested in what will happen in March 2006 than in
March 2009...
~You know people who understand when you talk about 2 day months & 5
day months...
~Your due date hasn't changed by days, but by years...
~You know who the Rumor Queen is ... AND ... you don't know who she is...
~You know that forecast doesn't have anything to do with the weather...
~You've waited so long, they re-checked your fingerprints to see if
they changed...
~Trying to understand why they're printing you again, you study your
own fingerprints and wonder if fingerprints grow wrinkles...
~When you speak of "that time of month" you're talking about CCAA
updates & referrals...

And finally...You might be adopting from China if you love someone
you've never met with all your heart -author unknown..

Two of my girlfriends found and posted this and I just had to add it to my blog...it is so hysterical..and so so TRUE!!!

But most of all what I thought of after I read it is that not only does this above "poem" ring true for me and other waiting mama's b/c we are in the middle of this adoption journey...but there are a couple others out there, that are in my life, not adopting, that would tell you that they too understand all the above ....one being my mom(thanks mom!!)..which makes sense just b/c she's my mom and anxiously awaiting her granddaughter so of course she's going to take time to understand this whole process...but the other is my dearest friend Kearston...

Kearston is NOT adopting from China, but could tell you or explain to you any of that above information a/b Chinese adoption and more... because she has taken the time to learn it...Kearston has been my rock through this process..through this endless wait for Sophie..she has been my own personal cheerleader lifting me up over these past 3 years when I didnt know how much longer I could take this wait...Kearston has learned and made herself understand our wait for Sophie just b/c she is my friend...
Kearston R. if you are reading this...you will never truly know how much I love you or appreciate your friendship and support while waiting for Sophie...it means the world to me that you are so involved in this wait right along with me..I just can't wait for the day you will be able to hold my little Sophie Ruth...and I already know Sophia is going to be so lucky and so blessed to soon have you in her little life...I know you will be one of the most imp people in her life that she will forever look up to...thankyou, thankyou, thankyou..from the bottom of my heart!

trying out new digital scrappin..thanks to melissa!

Big Thankyou and pic from my fav boys!

I just wanted to send out a BIG thankyou to all of you who called or emailed us after reading our last post...All your prayers for our paper work issue to be resolved meant the world to us..and IT WORKED!!!!!
Our social worker called yesterday evening and said she spoke to someone at the immigration office that had denied our extention approval and they figured out what was wrong and fixed it!!! I will feel 100% better once the approval is mailed out and in my hands..but I am just so happy and thankful it's all sorted out!!!
And pic above is from J and C...my sweet wonderful boys!! They made me a picture message out of dominos the day I was stressing a/b this mess.....oh how I love them so!!!
And...rumor has it that matching has begun! We should hear later this week how much further into our month of March 06 that the Chinese Gov't has gotten....pray its closer to us...3-15-06!!

Hebrews 4:16

"Let us approach the throne of grace with CONFIDENCE so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" -hebrews4:16


Wow...now no one could ever convince me that God does not speak to us when we need it...
To back track..we are in a bit of a mess with some of our adoption paper work...our immigration papers, called an I-171-H, had to be renewed for a THIRD time back in January....so we followed EXACTLY what our social worker said..and what we pay her well to say and instruct us..but by an accident on HER part..she omitted a couple diff papers and the immigration office DENIED our extention...which TODAY denies us to get Sophie...(temporarily)
So now we have to go downtown to the immigration office Thursday morning and hope we can convice them to give us ample time to fix this error and resubmitt new papers...
For most of those who know me well..I would normally be freaking out and crying right now...I admitt, I am frustrated and a bit unnerved by this,..BUT....God really has taught me to TRUST him over these past three years..and again this morning while reading my devotionals..I randomly came across Hebrews 4:16..
And I couldn't have heard HIM more clearly....To receive His help and "mercy" and "grace" when we need it most..we need to be "CONFIDENT" AND trust Him with our needs...
So now I sit and trust Him and have confidence in Him that all will be resolved so we can bring our sweet Sophie girl home this spring!!

Sophie Ruth we are holding on tight at the end of this "rollar coaster" ride of a journey to get you! We love you so much already and know you will soon be in our arms FOREVER!!!
Love mommy xoxo

Annual Cousins photoshoot 2009!!

Well, here it is, the 6th annual Sears visit w/Charlie's cousins! Funny to think 6 years ago there were only two, Emi and Char...this winter there are four...and this summer for our next shoot there will be six cousins!!! Emi, Charlie, Abi, Owen, soon to be Sophie, and soon to be Charlies fourth cousin at the end of May!!
I so cherish the relationship Charlie has w/my brothers children...With all the miles between where we all live you would think there would be distance between them...but for all who know these silly billy cousins, you would never know they lived so far apart... you'd almost think they lived right next door!! The bond they have is so beautiful..they all truly adore one another..it's such a blessing!
And my sweet Sophie girl...you WILL be in this next photo shoot!! And thank Goodness uncle Chris is having another one....he/she will be YOUR partner/cousin in crime too!!!
Love Mommy xoxo

Charlie's 6th Birthday at My Gym!

First of 2 Birthday celebrations for Charlie!

My Brown Eyed Beauty is six today!

Happy, happy birthday to our sweet Charlie boy!! We thank God every single day for the gift he's given us in you!!!
Sophie, I just can't wait for you to meet him, your big brother Charlie..oh you will love him so!!!

Sledding in the Fabulous Valley!

Cousins!

We finally got to meet our newest little cousin Chaz Rogers! Chaz was born on July 1 2008, and we got the pleasure of meeting him this past weekend up at Gramma Jeans!
Unfortunately, the circumstances were sad....we all met at Gramma's b/c Jeffs Grandpa Rogers passed away. The good news is that he is now at peace in heaven w/many, many others, most importantly his late wife and son, Jeffs dad...
Anyway, Uncle Steve, Aunt Angel, and cousins Alivia, Kayla and baby Chaz all drove in for the funeral, so we had such a great visit w/them, even though it was a short one, it was a great one!
Charlie had the most fun when we got to go visit the good old valley where me, Jeff and Uncle Steve used to go sledding when we were kids ourselves...Charlie, Alivia, Kayla, Uncle Steve, Jeff and I had such an awesome time!!! I havent seen that much snow in....many, many years...if that!

What Snow Days are all about!!

Three Cheers for ANOTHER snow day! Charlie and his good friend Emily had a blast sledding down the hill daddy made in the backyard!!
Mommy had fun too, but am praying spring is around the corner sooner then later-LOL!!

My First Baby 3 Years ago today....

I'm sitting here tonight realizing how great our lives are about to be changed...we are only a month or two away from adding to our family FINALLY after 3 years...
And these precious pic's are from exactly 3 years ago today....January 22 of 2006...we were in the midst of getting all our papers ready for our baby girl, and now tonight looking back then, do I see my first baby..my baby boy Charlie! I can't believe how little he looks here...it's so bittersweet looking back at these last 3 years b/c in so many ways I wanted them to rush by to get to Sophie...but they in reality felt like they crawled by during them...and for that I am forever grateful..Grateful for many different reasons, but mostly...
Grateful that I had these years with my first baby...and grateful I now feel so ready and prepared to do it all over again...and my first baby, in these three years, has become such a wonderful big boy who is about to be 6!
Sophie Ruth you are one lucky little girl b/c you are going to have the worlds best big brother.
It amazes me how much he understands now, and has understood even 3 years ago, about you Sophie, and how and why we want you to be part of us...I just laid him down to sleep a couple hours ago and he said again the prayer he prays every night for you..
"Dear God, please let Sophie's nannies take good care of her and let her have sweet dreams or no dreams so she is not scared..Amen"
We love you so much already...you are ours, you've always been part of this plan for us!
Love Mommy xoxo