TA!!!!!! {and various other items}

We received a message from our agency notifying us they received our TA yesterday....WOO HOO!!! One step closer to our sweet Sophie. C@WLI mentioned they currently have 20 families in China right now that actually left yesterday, May 21st. The agency will see how things go with families on this trip and make future travel plans based on their experience given all the H1*N1 concerns/restrictions in China right now. C@WLI told us it could be 1-2 months till we travel. I pray we're only looking at 1, but I know that what ever the wait may be, it will be in His timing.

I have definitely been MIA on the blogging front lately, as things have been CRAZY here!! Thank you to everyone who has checked in on me!! I don't know how schools are in other areas, but around here we have so much going on in the last weeks of the school year you could easily fill a six month calendar! On top of all the school events and activities, Nathan and Owen are in baseball (serious stuff around here) and cub scouts, and we seem to have something after school every day. It's fair to say most dinners have been VERY simple and on the run!!! I'm definitely in the nesting mode, and have been weeding out a lot of unnecessary stuff in the house (boy does it feel good!). I would love to have a garage sale before we go to China, so as if I'm not stressed enough, I'm throwing that into the mix as well. Owen's birthday is at the end of this month and I had promised him a party with class friends this year so I'm trying to come up with ideas to do with about 8 boys. I'm praying for good weather(Puh-LEASE!!!), so all of the activities can be outdoors. Then, you throw in all the daily routine stuff...I'm sure you can imagine what days have been like around here:-).

My mom and dad are here for a visit and they were able to experience 'Sophie night' for the first time this past Monday. It was VERY SPECIAL and they were of course quite taken with her (Uh, who wouldn't be??!!). John was away on a business trip and unfortunately missed the call this week. It was so sweet when Sophie asked where her baba was (Aaawwwwwww:-).

I'm so happy to say I received 100 pieces of fabric for Sophie's quilt!! I want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to all my bloggy friends who sent me fabric and a wish for Sophie. Sara, Kathy, Desiree, Kim, Tanya, Amy, Carrie, Denise, Jenna, Mignon, Lauren, Alycia, Vicki and JD (private blogs)....your kindness and generosity are so appreciated!! All the material is at the quilters now, and I can't wait to see how it turns out. Obviously ALL of the fabric and wishes we received are cherished, but since I got so behind in posting pictures, I'm going to share only the fabric swatch and wishes that I received from those of you who know us through blogging. We received a very special package from China that I included in the photos as well, as I know all of you in the adoption community would feel the weight of this special gift. Many people at New Day Foster Home sent fabric and wishes for Sophie, and to say I was overcome with emotion upon receiving this is an understatement. The blessings we have received during our journey to Sophie are too numerous to count, and having Sophie's China family represented in her quilt is simply beyond what I could ever dream.


I have FINALLY decided on how I'm going to decorate Sophie's room, so I'll be doing before, during and after posts about that....stay tuned!!!

As always, God is good!!!!

{2} Sophie Night updates

Wow...this past week has been CRAZY!! The boys were on spring break all last week, baseball is in full swing here, and we made a 6 hour car trip to visit my parents this past weekend in order to celebrate my dad's retirement! This is the first day in over a week I've had some 'alone' time:-). My 'To Do' list is very long, but I wanted to give everyone a quick update since two weeks have gone by, and I know you all keep hitting your refresh button in anticipation of these posts(yeah right, LOL;-)!

Last Monday's conversation was extra special because Nathan and Owen saw and spoke to Sophie for the first time. We let them stay up since they didn't have school, and they really enjoyed meeting their new sister for the first time. Nathan played Sophie "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' on the Sax, and Owen drew a couple pictures just for her that he shared. Then the 3 of them sang the ever famous 'I Love You' song together....It was VERY SWEET, to say the least. The boys got the idea it would be cute to show her Bullet and Bear, our two gerbils. After seeing them, Sophie went to get a stuffed kitty she said could eat the mice..LOL...I don't think she got the concept that our gerbils are pets:-). The boys got a kick out of it!! Sophie only called John 'Ye Ye' (grandfather) a couple times, as I think she likes his reaction when she says that! It's becoming apparent, our little girl has quite the sense of humor....and I have a feeling Sophie will be a match for John, who keeps us laughing and enjoys practical jokes.

Last nights conversation was a needed blessing for me. I CAN'T WAIT until we meet Sophie in person and bring her home, but honestly, the 'what ifs' are entering my head now. I'm getting nervous about the trip, nervous about leaving the boys behind, nervous about her liking us, nervous about her transition and oh, I could go on but I think you get the picture.... and not to mention a bit overwhelmed with all I still have to do, thanks to being the procrastinator I am!! I do work well under pressure, but honestly, I wish I had done some things prior to this point. Oh well, list the most important things needing to get done first, and work backwards right?? Somehow, blogging is evidently out of place, but I just can't help it;-)!! With all that said, when Monday night comes around and I see Sophie's face and hear her sweet voice, ALL my 'what ifs' and worrying instantly fade away. She is such a ray of sunshine and I am simply still in awe over the fact she is our daughter.

Last night she had a cute pair of glasses with her and I was able to take some pictures to share. Tonight Sophie said she wanted to be like daddy, since John wears glasses. I have a feeling she is going to be a daddy's girl, which is A-OK with me:-). I was (still am, and always will be) a daddy's girl...and there is something unbelievably special about that bond that never goes away. Sophie also wanted a piece of gum, since DADDY was chewing one, so she got her first piece of bubble gum, which was a huge hit. Of course, she wanted to share with everyone, and she kept wanting John to blow bubbles much to her amusement! She's getting the bubble blowing action down, and I bet by next week, the two of them will have a bubble blowing contest!! Well, there you have it...another universal 'language'...bubble gum!!!!

So, without further delay....here's Sophie...glasses, bubblegum, and all....





God is good!!!!