"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

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!