Hope the rest of this journey goes this quickly!

Our dossier made it to China and was delivered at 9:30 am Nov. 2nd. This seems so strange since that day isn't even here yet for us. It was mailed and Friday so this part was the quickest part so far! We look forward to finding out our log-in date and will begin the count down to the long awaited RA(referral acceptance).This weekend was a wonderful time to be outside with the beautiful weather. I was a very brave mom and took Tia to the creek to hunt for treasures yesterday. Our home has been here for at least 125 years and has a interesting creek running behind it that is not your typical nasty, dirty creek, but is a spring fed one that is crystal clear. Believe me, I wouldn't have been in it, had I not been able to seen the bottom! There are lots of beautiful rocks and broken pottery and glass. (There used to be a glass factory around here somewhere.)We saw lots of beauty in God's creation and had a great time just goofing off. So much fun that she begged Daddy to take her back today. Keeping my camera dry was a challenge, but I'm glad I had it with me. I'm so glad our church had a fall fest a few nights ago, so she was quite content with staying home carving a pumpkin last night.

Breathing a sigh of relief!

After many months of enduring the long and often frustrating paper trail, I was finally able to mail our dossier to the AWAA office today! I sent it next day mail so it should arrive in the Virginia office before noon tomorrow. Please pray with me that I remembered everything and all of this can be sent to China on Friday. I just hope I dotted all of my i's and crossed all of my t's! As I've been asked many times, "Now what?" Well, once our dossier arrives in China we will get our LID(log in date) and then we will continue to wait for our RA(referral acceptance). This generally takes many months unfortunately. However, we pray it will come quickly. I only wish it would come as fast as the lady at the post office said today when she said, "maybe you will have your little girl by Christmas." Wow, that would be nice, but in reality we are expecting sometime in the Spring. God certainly has a way of helping us learn a lesson in patience doesn't He?

And now, a few pictures of the incredible 10th birthday cake made especially with love by our dear friend, Rebecca.

A NEW YEAR....NEW OPPORTUNITIES!

I've rearranged my classroom, gone to workshops, read, planned, shopped, gotten haircuts(and colored unfortunately), cleaned house, done all the laundry, etc., etc., etc....

Now it's time for a new school year.

I can look at it with dread as I have to start getting up early once again and
I know there will be kids that will try my last nerve,

OR....

I can look at it with excitement, knowing that God has blessed me with another day, and He alone has given me the ability to teach kids from every walk of life.
He has blessed me with a job for which I am exceptionally thankful, some wonderful new friends, and new experiences every day. So for today, I will say...

This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!

At this moment I will get to meet 85 new students tomorrow and I pray I will get to share the love of the Lord with each one of them throughout this school year. Yes, I teach in a public school, so I can't TELL them about Jesus, but it is my heart's desire that my life will be a light on a hill that can not be hidden! I hope I can SHOW them my JESUS!

My youngest son, just came through the door aand told me he was leaving to go to the school to pick up his

"Last, first day of school shirt!"

He didn't really say that and not expect tears from mom did he?
Yes, that brought tears to my eyes as I realize my babies are growing up so quickly
and this is his senior year.
So,
Rather than ever have an empty nest I also look with anticipation on the day (hopefully soon), that we will bring our little girl home from China. This Thursday we go for our fingerprint appointment, so hopefully our dossier will be on the way to China within a month!