More Goodies How cute is this PINK ladybug. Then she's got more books and a CD of Chinese lullabies.

I'm having a parent moment!

My DS (PaulPaul) has found new freedom since doing so well in school this year. Tonight he went off with some friends to the Cypress Gardens Haunted ?House I guess you would call it. As always one of my first questions is what time will you be home. To which he replies oh, early, he left at 6:15 (and did I say he goes through as much gas as I do driving to Mt Pleasant Every Day) anyway, we let him go. Well I 9, I sat down to rest a minute and fell asleep. He calls at 10:05 to inform his parents (he's trying to be a good kid and keep us informed) that he is in line to get on the boat? In a dead sleep, I'm thinking boat, what!!!!! Back to sleep I go, I woke up 30 minutes ago and my baby is not home. Thank God for cell phones or I would have been out of the door. He answered, now on the boat! I can hear he is having a good time. Explain to him its time to come home and tomorrow will explain what a curfew is!!!!

Did I say how handsome this child is!
And he knows how to get his way.

Here he is at Brandon's birthday awaiting the cutting of the cookie cake.

What a day!

We did our last SW visit and guess what, she emailed us a rough copy already!!!!!


I did get to meet Louise (the other lady from Moncks Corner who is adopting from China), she bought me the dvd, National Geographic China's Lost Girls. How sweet was that. Everyone should see this dvd. Thanks Louise.

WHEW!!!!! The homestudy visits are done! One more thing done. The great news is our SW has already starting writing the report and should have it to the agency we used by Monday. Awesome, if it is ok to her, then she will email us a copy after our approval, they will forward to DSS!!!!! We're coming Gracie.

We're still waiting on my doctor, we both have to go in again and give more blood, my DH is not happy. We are also waiting on the employment letter for Paul Ray, the first got lost in the mail.

Cross your fingers and say a prayer, we could be DTC by the end of the year. What an awesome Christmas gift that would be!

God has put another family near us. Hopefully we'll get to meet today. We met online and she also lives in Moncks Corner. Her dossier has been logged in since Jan 06!

Our other church family adopting from China was DTC 10/20/06!!!! I'm still trying to meet her. She is a busy woman and our church is HUGE!

Gracie will have lots of little girlfriends to play with.

A Great Big Thank You and a Hug!!!!!!

Lynn it was so sweet of you to send me these along with your quilt pieces and wishes which I love!!!!!

I cant wait to start putting her book together with all her wishes.

Thanks, you are a great friend. Love ya!

Gracie's Quilt

Make sure you keep checking out the Quilt posting from Sept, I keep updating it!!! I received pieces from 4 people yesterday, but there is one I wanted to share with you here. There is a story to tell with it.


My SNL Donna came in with her hands full. She bought me one of Devan's doll to put on my bookshelves. I love it!!!! It will always be treasured.

She also had a very nice looking baby gift bag with her. Check out the contents!!!!

The one on the left (black with pink flowers) is from Devan's dress that she wore in Mine and Paul's Wedding. This in itself is a treasure. She was the most beautiful flower girl you have ever seen.

The one on the right and bottom are from her quilt that Granny Winge did for her out of Devan's dresses. To know Devan was to Love Devan, she was Brandon's mother hen from day one. So Gracie will always have that love in her quilt. Thank you Donna

For this last piece:

Talk about Amazing, for her to do this, words cant describe how I felt. How lucky I consider myself.

If you read my very first post you know that Donna and I went on a Ladies Retreat in March. It was there there I knew this adoption would happen. The presence of God that day was truly something. It was on this trip that God let me know it was OK to love this child. She would come home. One of the our small groups at church is the "20 Something". They put signs on everyones door one night. Donna took what was on that sign and had this made for me. A reminder of that special time will forever be with us. I know Gracie will love her Aunt Donna as much as I do.

Donna, thank you so much, as you know, it means so much that you did this for us. We love you.
PS / don't worry, we will teach her the word "NO"! :)

We celebrated Brandon's 21st Birthday yesterday, he turns 21 on the 24th. He has grown into such a sweet handsome (I think so) young man. We had a houseful which is always nice. Afterwards he and his friends went on a hayride.

Happy Birthday Brandon! I love you

When I read this, it stirred so many emotions, and its just so true. It will now be my mission to go out and find this song: Words/Music by Three Four One

Someone is Waiting For You

Somewhere, someone is waiting

Though I can't see your face I know your heart

'Cause God has knit us together

Even though we're far apart

And until you can be here safe in my arms, I will trust

That somewhere, someone is holding you close

And keeping you warm.

My thoughts, my prayers are for you

Father, love her, protect her....I know you do

And until that perfect timing

When our hearts and eyes will meet

I will rest knowing that You are there, I will trust

That somewhere, someone is holding you close

And keeping you warm.

If time could stand still, Our love would bridge the ocean

But know that until then, that even an ocean,

can't keep me from you

Hold on, little one, hold on....

And until you can be here safe in my arms I will trust

That somewhere, someone is holding you close

And keeping you warm.

The wait is not easy, but I know that in the end it will be worth it. You already have my heart, baby girl.

I'm going to be an Auntie again!!!!!!! YEAH!!!! Next to being a mom, I love being an Aunt. My SNL Donna and her husband Matt are going to add to their family. One more thing to thank God for. They are such great parents, they are also Gracie's guardians should anything happen to us.

(Thought I would reword it, Donna is not pregnant, her and Matt are adopting a little girl from Russia. Gracie will have someone to play with! - Payton)

I'm off to to take Paul Ray to the airport, he leaves today for 4 days in Trinidad! He has such a bad life. He goes back for 3 weeks in November. I'll miss him. That's OK, because Gracie and I will get to go down with him once a year, so I guess it's a fair deal. Anyway, I still hate it when he's gone.

Another Awesome God Moment . . . I got a phone call from a very nice lady tonight. You wont believe this, Not only is she a member of Cathedral, and adopting from China, She lives in Moncks Corner!!!!!

God puts us right where we belong and when we are suppose to be there! I cant wait to get to know her, there is also another couple in the adoption process from Cathedral.

Time for bed, our next visit with our SW is early in the morning!!!!

Fingerprints . . . .

We are scheduled to get these done on 10/20/06.

Another step closer babygirl!!!!!

October 6

15 Years Ago Today . . . I was lucky enough to marry the man of my dreams.

1 Year Ago . . . . I gave my life to Christ and it just keeps getting better. God does make such a difference. What a wonderful way to live your life.

Donna, thank you for the most wonderful gift. It wouldn't have happened without you.

Our first homestudy visit went ok, our next one is this coming Saturday. 10/07/2006, one day after our 15th wedding anniversary, can you believe its been that long. She comes to our house on the 21st. Guess we'll be doing some serious cleaning on the 20th.

Our biggest issues seems to be getting everything we need from our doctor!!!! I came home from work sick today and laid down only to dream that our doctor quit . I'm hoping it was the fever!!! Because it was not a good dream.

I'm gonna try and post some of Gracies things here. We finally found the software for the camera.

This first pic is of SOME of the beanies that Granny Winge has given us over the years. I knew we were keeping them for a reason.





This is her PJ's. That seems to be what I buy PJ's and onies, since we don't know her size!!!! Which is a good thing for my husband's wallet. If all you NON pink people will notice, she has a set of yellow ones.


This one has some of the goodies she got from the mountains. Her mam-mam (my mom) bought her most of this and some clothes. I love her big pink teddy. The foot says "God Loves Me"







HER FIRST BARBIE! Now I ask, it was on the clearance rack, how was I suppose to leave it there!!!








Some more books!

"A Quilt of Wishes" was written by a lady who adopted from China. It is a great book. The little panda you see above the book is her very first Christmas Ornament! Its a little panda wrapped in a quilt that has little ladybugs on it.

Does everyone know that we have Less than 80 days before Christmas!!!! We all know how much I love Christmas. Maybe that is why her daddy gave her Noelle for her middle name. Only 2 more to go until we have a little one in the house again, not that we dont enjoy Paul & Brandon, its just not the same as when they are little.

This is my all time favorite! This is the first thing that her Daddy said I could buy!!!! Yes I did ask, (we were still making 2 house payments at that time). I hope that Gracie loves it as much as I do. It even has her name on it.

Paul Ray wont admit it now, but she is going to be such a daddys girl!!! You just wait and see!

He is such a sweet man, its just taken its time to shine through!!! I wouldnt trade him for all the money in the world.