If she needs me....

I am trying to decide on bedding for little sister's room and while online shopping I was talking to Tia about it and how close their bedrooms will be. We live in a house built back in the late 1800's with bedrooms that are rather odd shaped. I reminded Tia that if we make little sister's room next to hers she will have to walk through it to get to her room. I asked her if this would be ok and did she understand that she might have to be quiet sometimes. She said, "that's fine, that way I am close if she needs me." She is going to be such a great big sister!

We got our paperwork back from the China Consulate in Houston today....Yippee! I'm hoping and praying our fingerprint appointments get her soon from the USCIS.

Here's the picture of the bedding I am considering. I am not an online shopper, but just love this. I wanted something pink and green, but also wanted ladybugs and most ladybugs are red, which would totally clash with the other bedroom. Give me your thoughts please.

Oh, what nice hands you have

What is one to do on a rainy summer evening when mom says, no more tv, they don't want to read and we just need something different. I stopped by the consignment store and decided to buy a NEW paraffin spa for only $10. The results were lots of giggles(I know he doesn't look like he is having fun, but looks can be deceiving), really soft hands and a cure for boredom for just a little while.

Adoption update: No news, we will continue to wait ever so patiently for our USCIS info to come back so we can send our dossier to China. Please pray for our little girl as we look forward to the day we can bring her home.

What does $40 buy?

Not much these days it seems! I certainly can't feed my family out anywhere for $40 nor can I hardly step foot in Walmart for that price. Well, Friday I decided to see if $40 was worth it. I sent my money in to Ladybugs and Love to see if they could get some new information and pictures of our little girl. I was skeptical of this, especially since every penny counts as we try to raise money for our little one waiting in China. I was told I would recieve answers to 10 questions, new measurements and possibly new pictures within about 7-10 days. That was Friday afternoon. Monday morning as I opened my email I was so shocked to find a message with all of the above. Oh, how I wish I could post pictures- she is a doll! I just want to reach out and hug that sweet baby girl. So for me God allowed a $40 purchase to bless me abundantly. I now have three new pictures that I will always treasure, I know what some of our little girls favorites are, and I know what name she goes by as we try to decide upon a name. What a wonderful service these ladies have provided to waiting adoptive parents. Thank you Ladybugs and Love! Now, please pray with me that the paperwork trail goes quickly so we can bring her home!

Our PA(Pre-Approval) came from China today! One more "A" to mark off the list. For those new the the adoption jargon, this is just our initial approval from the CCAA(China Center for Adoption Affairs) that we have been pre-approved to adopt our daughter based on our initial information. It was so neat to see this document both in English and Chinese and realize that this a journey that God is orchestrating every step of the way!

Just yesterday, I was about to mail our I800A application to the USCIS and a friend stopped by to visit. This visit delayed my trip to the post office and praise God for His PERFECT time. We realized that our youngest son, who will turn 18 in just a few weeks, needed to have some additional information included in our homestudy before it was sent. Making this change now wouldn't cost anything, but once mailed any amendments would cost us $340. I was confused on the exact path we were going to need to take with this so this morning during my quiet time as I was trying not to stress I prayed:

Lord, I am approaching your throne of grace with confidence,
so that I might receive your mercy and grace to help me
in this time of my need. Hebrews 4:16

If I trust in you I know you will direct my path and show

me the way to go.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Immediately after praying for God to give me wisdom on the path I needed to take today about this form I got a call from Lauren(our family Coordinator with AWAA)telling me not to stress it was all going to be easy to fix. We just had to have our social worker update some of our information. This should be complete and ready to get in the mail in the next day or two.

Church Camp

Little sister has officially gone to church camp. For those that know her, we all know this is a big deal. She doesn't spend the night away from home more than one night at a time. It may be a long week. Daddy already asked if I could call and check on her. I reassured him that she would be fine. Please pray that she has a great time and God gives her the peace she needs while away.

UPDATE:

So what do you think I was thinking when the phone rang at about 10:30 pm?

Of course that miss Tia was ready to come home.

Well, it was her voice,

and she didn't sound upset, so we talked for a minute.

She just called so we could say prayers over the phone together

and then she was good to go to bed.

Hearing her sweet voice praising God was about the sweetest thing

ever and an amazing way to end my day.

Marvelous Day!

I couldn't ask for a better day! God's blessings have been abundant today! First, this morning the weather was wonderful and I was able to enjoy time alone with God, the hummingbirds, and my husband. Then the mail came and our home study arrived! We can finally move on the the next step of our adoption. We will go to Austin to have everything authenticated one day this week. My grandmother had her surgery today and the tumor was benign and she should come home tomorrow. Thank you for your prayers on her behalf! We also had the privelege of playing with Grant and Trent. Grant has a precious blog to share Grant's Big Adventure as he goes through treatment for Leukemia. Stop by and check it out.

FREEDOM

My favorite guys celebrating with lots of food, family and swimming.
Isn't this just the cutest niece ever and the perfect picture of July 4th?

My birthday boy and grandmother; so glad I was able to celebrate with both of them!
Please keep them in your prayers this week as she undergoes surgery Monday
morning and he drives back from Texas to California on Tuesday.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.
Galatians 5:1

Happy Birthday to my firecracker

22 years ago today I spent July 4th in the hospital with my first born son, Justin. Where have the years gone? It has been six months since we have seen him and at this moment he is driving home and is somewhere between California and Texas. Justin, I'm proud of the man you have become and proud that you have chosen to serve your country. I can't wait to watch as God fulfills His promise of Jeremiah 29:11 for your life,

"For I know the plans I have for you,

plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

plans to give you a hope and a future,

thus says the Lord."

Patience is a virtue...

My husband has often reminded me that patience is a virtue, although I have often told him that I don't think it is one of mine! Our trip to Austin will wait a little longer since we did not get our homestudy in the mail yet again today. I'm reminded that:

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength,

they shall mount up on wings as eagles;

they shall run and not grow weary,

they shall walk and not faint."

Well, I'm not so sure I can run and not grow weary. I am, however, trying to get in better shape and walk more so that I can walk and not faint in order to keep up with a four year old when our little one gets here! With this Texas heat though walking isn't even too easy! So, as David and I say, we must be very slow to learn, because God is always trying to teach us that painful waiting lesson. We know though that His timing is SO perfect.