Forever in our ARMS on March 31, 2008

Forever in our ARMS on March 31, 2008
Life is really going to be interesting now.

Friday, March 30, 2007

This is a poem sent to my LID group.


We Are So Blessed

We have the opportunity to pray and wait and plan and hope and dream and work for our child.
Circumstances don't allow us to take our child for granted - ever.
We do all these things for so long and at such great emotional cost, that when our child is finally in our arms, we truly cherish every minute.
Every second...We are blessed to be in our child's life.
We are blessed that God planned for us to be a family, and that we were given the opportunities that brought us together.
We get to see all the best parts of mankind in our wonderful children.
All the goodness and potential and innocence and ambition and confidence and love.
And what a beautiful sight that is...
We are blessed to have run this race.
It is long and, very often, it is practically impossible to complete.
But we run anyway, and believe in ourselves and our child enough to do the impossible.
We run, knowing that at the end of this great race, a child is waiting for a chance at a wonderful life.
And we get to be the ones to give her that life.
We are blessed that when our child laughs, we are the ones to hear it.
And when our child cries, we are the ones she looks for.
When our child feels pain or joy or accomplishment or excitement, she shares it with us.
We are so blessed to have had the chance to see life from a different angle.
To see that things don't always go as you planned them out in the 5th grade- but that better things are in store.
To be part of the few who feel constantly misunderstood.
To be one who always has to be on guard against the rude and ignorant comment.
To feel the frustration of not having the perfect comeback to that comment until three hours later.
Our kids can use those experiences and lessons we have learned.
We are deeper, stronger, more compassionate people because of this journey. And the world our children live in is better because we have grown in these ways.Our child is blessed.
She is patted and hugged and nestled and rocked and kissed and squeezed and taught and tickled and corrected and praised.
She is told of her value in God's eyes.
She is certain of her value in our eyes. And she never wonders if she will be cared for tomorrow or the next day...she sleeps comfortably each night, safe in our care.
We should tell our children we are proud.
We have saved and scrimped, prayed and begged, planned and schemed, worked and worried, and hoped endlessly for them.
We have dedicated years of our lives to finding them and bringing them home to their forever family.
And we have given our whole hearts to them even before we ever saw that precious face.
Now that is love.
And parents who adopt know all about that...Author unknown
Gracie's Nursery



I'm trying to decide what her room will look like. I'll post the ones that I like and you let me know what you think!
I found one site that had some beautiful pcs, but when I saw the $612 price tag (for the bedding), I assumed my life would be in danger for even looking! My husband would kill me for sure, for even thinking it!
I want something that will be appropriate to grow with her, at least for a few years.

I'll keep looking and posting!
ladybugs
http://www.babysupermall.com/main/products/kli/kli7001beds.html


  1. Camelot by Kids Line (Burlington Coat Factory)http://www.burlingtoncoatfactory.com/IWCatSectionAndProductView.process?Section_Id=33886
  2. Chloe by Glenna Jean (Burlington Coat Factory) http://www.burlingtoncoatfactory.com/IWCatSectionAndProductView.process?Section_Id=18063
  3. Froggy - Pink by BD Baby (Burlington Coat Factory) http://www.burlingtoncoatfactory.com/IWCatSectionAndProductView.process?Section_Id=27350
  4. Ooh La La by Kimberly Grant (Burlington Coat Factory) http://www.burlingtoncoatfactory.com/IWCatSectionAndProductView.process?Section_Id=34206
  5. Vintage Teaberry (Toys R Us) http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2266567&cp=2255986.2256244.2256251.2256261&parentPage=family
  6. La Petite Bebe (TRU) http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2265512&cp=2255986.2256244.2256251.2256261&view=all&parentPage=family

Her room will have to have a large chalkboard somewhere, I remeber as a child writing on any wall I could with chalk!

Monday, March 26, 2007


Today started out not so great, I had to call the eye doctor, my vision has changed and I've had alot of bad miagrains. Everything is ok, just need bifocals. Dont I feel old now! Went home afterwards, couldnt see anyway. Good thing I've got a good boss. Vision was back to normal around 3.


OK, the day gets better now.



We have 42 days until our ship sails out ` guess what was in the mail today ` Our Docs!!!! They have been filled out, our luggage tags are done, we've completed our funpass and I am ready! Just need to pack.








All filled out and ready to go!

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Gracie's quilt. . . . .

Hopefully we should be getting close to finish at collecting square. I joined the fabric swap with our CCAI LID Group, so we'll see.

We've gotten some really cute ones in. Go to past posts (or Labels - Quilt) to see pics of the latest.

We recently got one from Shirley Gleaves, Nashville TN who works with my husband. She is so sweet, thanks Shirley!

Thanks to my Secret Pal
from our CCAI Jan/Feb LID group. My package just arrived today! I am so excited. Gracie got a ladybug book (which is too cute), ladybug stickers, a fact sheet and a very nice note.
Thank you so much.


A few ladybug facts.

  • There are nearly 5000 different kinds of ladybugs worldwide. (400 of them are in North America)
  • A female ladybug will lay more than 1000 eggs in her lifetime
  • Aphids are a ladybugs favorite food
  • A gallon jar will hold 72,000 to 80,000 ladybugs
  • It is the state insect of Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hamphire, Ohio and Tennessee.

For us in the Chinese Adoption World, it is just a sign of good luck. In case you are wondering March was ladybug month.





Borrowed from a fellow yahoo China adoption member. . . . . I thought it was beautiful and speaks volumes!

lilyspickle <lilyspickle@ yahoo.com> wrote:

No we don't have (our wives) belly's that get bigger by the minute.
No we don't have elbows, feet and little fists pounding our (wives) insides.
No we don't have ultrasound pictures showing us our child's development by the month.
But we are Moms (Dad's).
We are Moms (Dads) when we are getting to know our child in a country where no one speaks the same language as us.
We are Moms (Dads) the second they hand us our child in a hotel conference room.
We are Moms (Dads) when we are carefully packing medication, clothing and diapers for the child we haven't met yet.
We are Moms (Dads) when we receive the phone call that we have been matched with a baby and view the first picture of our little girl.
We are Moms (Dads) when we celebrate our LID.
We are Moms (Dads) when we are excited to FINALLY receive our I-171h or I-797c in the mail.
We are Moms (Dads) when we tirelessly collect, notarize, certify and authenticate every aspect of ourselves.
We are Moms (Dads) when a Social Worker inspects our home, and spends hours asking us about our personal lives.
We are Moms (Dads) when we make the decision to adopt.We are Moms (Dads) the first time we even have a thought about that child who will someday be ours.
We are Moms (Dads) even though most of our friends and family around us don't understand why a piece of paper or a Fed Ex package is as exciting to us as an ultrasound, or a positive pregnancy test.
We are Moms (Dads) who are madly in love with a baby we have not met.
We are Moms (Dads) who excitedly check email, Yahoo Groups and Blogs everyday to share this experience with other's around the country and world who are doing it too.
We are Moms (Dads) that cry in front of our computer screens when we hear that someone is DTC, LID, has gotten a referral, is leaving for China, or has experienced Gotcha Day!
We are Moms (Dads) to some baby out there who may be in a foster home, an orphanage, in her birth mother's belly growing, or that hasn't even been conceived yet.
WE ARE MOMS (Dads)!!!

Sunday, March 11, 2007



Today is ONE month being LID!!!!!!! Only God knows how many of these we will have to endure. My heart is set on her coming home next January. Now I know in the China adoption world, that may not be right, but that's me!!!!!!! One day at a time baby girl!!!!!!

Today is also my parents 40th Wedding Anniversary!!!!!!! They are coming over for dinner tonight.

Happy Anniversary Momma and Daddy!!!!

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Gracie got another gift in the mail today!!!!



On Tuesday, she received a package from Lynn Bellomy. I worked with Lynn at D's, she was the admin in WV for the longest time. She sent her a little teddy and a care bears night light.







On Monday, we got more material. There were two pieces from Linda Brindley, who was also a longtime admin with D's. Linda loves Mickey Mouse and Disney world, so I knew we would have a Mickey for her quilt.







I love the path that God has lead me on, I have made lifelong true friends and these are two of them.

Saturday, March 03, 2007

Look What I Found!

I went to Butchies (wallpaper place) with Bonny today. She just moved into a new house and is decorating and painting everything!!!!

Anyway! This is the boarder for Gracie's room!!!!!! Now I have to find a bed set to match it. How cute is this!!!!! I love the soft pink in it. The walls will either be a cream, or a green to match the leaves, I THINK. I would love to put hardwood floors down, (I'm still trying to talk Paul Ray into putting her in the dining room downstairs anyway)


What do you think?

Here is a site so you can get a better look.

http://www.decoratetoday.com/products/wallpaper/product_detail.asp?ptn=DZ885F2&gensearchby=1&quantity=1&si=4

Would # 5 on my list ( see old posts) match this, it is the Vintage Teaberry from Toys R Us. http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2266567&cp=2255986.2256244.2256251.2256261&view=all&searchSort=TRUE&s=D-StorePrice-TRUS&parentPage=family




9 mths 3 wks 3 days from LID to Referral

4 mths 2 wks 2 days from MCC to Referral

Timeline from signing the application to Gotcha Day!!!!