Homestudy Update:

Everyone say a little prayer, our first appointment with our Social Worker is after church next Saturday. 7:00 pm.

Gracie, we are another step closer to you baby girl, I love you more each day!!!!!


A Great Big Thank You;

I wanted to say thanks to Bonny, Nicole and Liz for writing such wonderful reference letters for us.

They really mean alot to us.

We love you.

To the Mountains We Go!

This past weekend my mother and I made a trip to the mountains of NC and TN. It was a nice trip. We went to the Biltmore, rode the Smokey Mountain Railroad Train out of Bryson NC and then on to Cherokee and then Pigeon Forge, (where they had the biggest car show I have ever seen- If I had only known we would have skipped that part), but all in all it was a nice get away. Needless to say, Gracie got lots of goodies. She got a pair of moccasins from Cherokee, a big cuddly PINK teddy bear, some books off her wish list (my favorite is Gigi, Gods Little Princess) another Christmas ornament, more PJ's (and hey one of them was yellow /for all you people who think she will be sick of pink) a very soft pink blanket with a matching stuff lamb and some more socks. I'll post some pics of some of her things just as soon as I get my camera software reloaded (which I have to find first)

Homestudy
just an update, Paul Ray has finished his autobiography, so we should be able to get our first appt soon.

Our Gracie Helps Build a Church in China!!!!

Just how Awesome is this. Our friends (and builder) Trina & Ralph Wilson are members of a small group at Seacoast Church that partnered with International Cooperating Ministries to build a church in China. The group had just about raised all the funds when Trina & Ralph donated the remaining money in honor of our Gracie. How wonderful that she will always have this connection to her birth place. I am just so honored that they did this. I know God has big plans for our very special baby girl. The church should be finished in early 2008, so I am hoping to be able to visit it while we are in China.

Thank you again guys for doing this. Love ya

Our Social Worker called last night!!!!!! I thought we should all do a happy dance, but my DH and son thought I was crazy!!!!! Anyway, she is sending me everything I need to get started there.

On a serious note, she asked me about being a transracial family????? My thought on this, "I never really considered us that way" Um, maybe because I have that Phillipeana blood in me, I dont know. I just think of her as my daughter.

Where to start? . . . . . I'm sure that this adoption came as a very VERY big surprise to some people, well most people. Those that know me, know how much I have always wanted a daughter, which means you also know my husband, enough said there.

Back in March, Paul Ray said that we could adopt, not sure how serious he was at the time, but at this time in our life, it opened a door that I couldn't shut, however afraid I was that he would say no. So I turn to my sister in law who told me to pray about it. I tried that and just wasn't sure. I remember asking her, how I would know that God was answering me and not just me wanting a daughter. Well in March, I got that answer, I went on a Ladies Retreat (Church) with my sister in law, it was the last day there, during praise and worship, and it was the most awesome experience, and I knew at that moment, it was ok for me to love this child, it would happen. God would see us through it. I asked my girlfriends to pray for Paul Ray.

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord. Psalm 127:3

Well during this time, we were building our house, he wouldn't hear of it, how can we afford to adopt. He said we would discuss it once we were moved in. So I waited, (I didn't say patiently) and the Friday of the first week we we're in the house, I brought it up. Needless to say, it didn't go as I had hoped. But I kept on. I started doing my homework, (which is the way our marriage has always worked), so when he was ready to talk about it, (he has to think everything through, CAREFULLY), I had it all ready. One of his first questions, (and most people) was, why not here, which is a fair question. The answer is simple, the system in SC is not the greatest, they can give you the child only for the parent to come back later and want her back, NOT AN OPTION. After going through the different countries, China was it. My heart is in China. People say she will be a lucky little girl, but I know the truth, we are the lucky ones.

So by July, he was onboard. (Did I say how much I love this man!) I named her Grace and her daddy (baba in Chinese) gave her Noelle for her middle name. Although she is not born yet, most likely not even conceived, I am so in love with this child. I believe she has her very own angel to watch over her (Devan, we love you and miss you so much).

We mailed our application off on August 3, 2006. Daddy got the phone call on Monday, August 7. Kathi called to say we were approved!!!!! Praise God! PaulPaul said he sounded excited.

We mailed our Orientation packet back on August 9 and received the info on how to get started on the 11th.

So we are now officially PaperChasing!!!!!!! Each Day brings us one day closer until we have a beautiful little girl in our lives. I see lots of little pink dresses but her daddy and big brother, Paul Paul, keep telling me NO WAY! We'll see.

We should find out this week (Sept 5) when our homestudy will be.

It will be a long road, we don't expect her home until early 2008, so I ask that you bear with me if I talk about her a little too much. She will be between 6 - 24 months. Yes, we will travel to China to pick her up.

Again thanks for all your prayers and I'll try and keep this site updated monthly.

An invisible red thread connects those who are destined
to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance.

The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break.

A Chinese Legend