Well its official! Lets Sail Away Together!


We can mark one more thing off our list. Paul Ray and I have planned our little getaway before our Baby Girl comes home. Our last adult vacation, by the time this one is grown, we'll be too old to travel.


I'm so excited, I love to cruise, just put me on a ship, doesn't matter where it's going!

We're leaving out of Port Canaveral on May 7 aboard the Elation.

Tuesday is at sea, Wed is Grand Turk, Thur is Half Moon Cay, Fri is Nassau and back home on Saturday.

Something else we love to do is ride horses, check out the excursion we will be doing in Grand Turk! Yes! How cool is that. You ride along the beach then into the water you go.

February 26

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y ! ! ! ! !

Devan - Happy Birthday Devan. You are in our hearts forever. We love you and miss you so much.

Payton - Happy Birthday Payton on your first birthday. We can't wait to meet you.

Lots of Love

Uncle Paul Ray

Aunt Peggy

Brandon

PaulPaul

Balloons for Devan

My fortune cookie said "You find beauty in ordinary things. Appreciate this gift."

Dinner was good, the company was great! I'm thinking, we'll be packing lots of snack food!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Today is the Chinese New Year! If Gracie is born this year, she will be born the year of the Pig just like her daddy!

PIG 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

Well Paul Ray and I are on our way out the door to celebrate the event. Our first trip to a Chinese restaurant with new friends! I'll let you know know how it goes!

Not much going on. We've settled down for the long wait, sorta like the bear in the winter! I really hope the wait is shorter than what some say. I still see her coming home next January, not sure why, just do! My best friend Bonny is already planning my shower, I think she is excited as I am! I do love her.

Paul and I are planning a little get away before Gracie comes home and our vacations go back to Disney World and such. PaulPaul will turn 18 this year, can you believe it. My baby is wanting a tattoo! I'm not impressed, and have offered him several things if he promises NOT to get one. He is currently in Washington on a field trip with the ROTC, it sure is quiet without him, except his dog Nelli keeps looking for him. Brandon, my sweet child is still trying to find his way in life. He is going to make someone a great husband one day. We've also got to do something with our yard. We cleared almost 2 acres when we built the house, and every time it rains, it's like we live on our own swamp! Not to mention, we have to get our baby girl a room ready, a room fit for a princess.

We've also got our nephews to keep us busy and help pass the time. Paul's baby brother and his family come over every couple of weeks. Now those that know our family wouldn't have thought of Chris with a family at such a young age! But this once "Wild Child" has turned into "Daddy". He was one of those that you just knew God was going to give him a child just like him one day, well let's hope not. (You know I love you!!!!) I love watching his kids grow, it seems like yesterday that Christopher was born. We spent the entire night at the hospital waiting on him to be born, he decided to enter this world early that morning. Little man (as I call him) is now two and one of the true loves of my life! Hunter boy just turned one in January, he came 3 days before my birthday, (I still say his mother could have waited 3 days). He cries whenever Aunt Peggy tries to hold him or get near him. He'll come around, but I think he may have to be old enough to be bribed first. He did let me hold him for 5 minutes last Sunday, but once the chocolate was gone, so was he!

I was an only child growing up, but not any more!
Let me introduce you to Gracie's Uncle Chris, Aunt Erin and cousin Hunter!

and here is my Little Man - Christopher

Friday, 02/16/07

I received a phone call while at work from my former employer, Dr Etheridge, who is also Paul Pauls pediatrician (and Gracie's once she is home) I immediately thought something was wrong since my child is in Washington on a field trip! Turns out he was calling to let me know he finally found the fabric for Gracies quilt. He knew what he wanted, but said he had to find it.

I worked for Dr E for two years, he is a super great guy and an even better doctor. His logo was a big oak tree, the name was Little Oaks. Little acorns grow up to be big oak trees. His fabric has acorns on it. I thought it was extremely sweet.

I'll post a pic but its hard to see.

Paul and I have decided that since some family and friends weren't sure how much fabric to get, the ones that we have extra of, we're going to make Gracie a small quilt, one just her size.

It's Official!!!!! Everyone up and shake your booty!!!!!!!!

I need a picture of the dancing baby here!

I owe PaulPaul a cookie cake. We're LID as of 02/11/07. That seems quick, let's hope it is a sign of things to come. It is time to celebrate It wont be long now baby girl and so much to do before you get here. Your dad and I are going out to dinner for Valentines, now we really have a bigger reason for celebration. You are in my every thought, I love you more each day! I know God will keep you safe until it's time for you to come home.

Happy Valentines!!!!!!

This is Valentines week and it's one of my favorite days! Paul Ray and I had our first date on Valentines 1987! Can you believe it's been 20 years! Who would have thought, from our first date at Pizza Hut in Moncks Corner and a ride to the lake (his grandparents lived out there) that we would be here today. I was smitten with him from day one! Yes, I thought he walked on water and was so totally handsome at that!!!!!

He was and is my biggest dream come true! Not to say our marriage has been perfect, far from it, but we made it and our life together is great today!



He has really made all my dreams come true, well the last one is in the works!

I love you Paul Ray! Gracie is going to be such a daddy's girl, I know you and know what's on the inside! Mark my words. :)

Friends

I'm so excited! I'm finally going to get to meet Penny. I feel like I've known her for ever. In addition to the fact that she is also adopting a little girl, Norah, from China, she was also involved with helping tend to our niece when she was in the hospital. I foresee a lifelong friendship!

Anyway, for the Chinese New Year, Paul Ray and I will be joining Penny and her husband for Dinner at the Red Orchid. I am so excited, did I already say that! She also has the cutest little boy who will fit in perfect with our crew of handsome nephews.

Does everyone realize, it is really happening, I'm going to have a little girl (not that I don't love my boys, but they are grown and don't need me). Every once in awhile it hits me, hey this is really happening. In about a year, I'm going to have another one, one I can dress in pretty little pink dresses complete with bows. I love having little ones around. I missed out on so much when mine were little, I was young and stupid, what can I say. I wont make that mistake again. I plan on cherishing and treasuring every minute God gives me with this beautiful little gift.

To all you young moms, it goes SOOOOO fast, don't miss it!

YES!!!!! IT'S REALLY TIME FOR A HAPPY DANCE NOW! WE'RE DTC!!! YES! YES! YES! Our DTC is 01/26/07

I have been waiting to hear that our dossier was sent off, hoping it would go off this week. We've been moving our office and I have not had access to a computer today, well low and behold look at the email that was waiting for me. Even better than hearing it was sent, is hearing it is there.

To: Paul & Peggy Winge
From: CCAI Dossier & China Departments

Congratulations! Your dossier has been delivered to the China Center of Adoption Affairs.

We will notify by email as soon as we receive your official log-in date (LID) from CCAA, and then you can go to the CCAI website to download Dossier Log-In Date Packet. This can take approximately up to 5 weeks from now. Please notice that this wait time can vary due to CCAA’s LID processing speed.

Sincerely,
CCAI Dossier & China Departments

Payton Update (My newest niece)
My sister in law and her mother are in Russia. They are on their first trip to meet Payton, she should come home in about two months. Please keep Donna and Myrna in your prayers, it is extremely cold right now in Moscow and lots of snow.

01/22/2007

It's Happy Dance Time!!!!!!!! Yeah!!!!!!!! Can you feel the excitement!

Our Dossier passed critical review, Jamie from CCAI called me at 3:41 pm today, I was on the way home from work. I was so nervous, I think she laughed at me. (In a nice way)

Our Dossier is now on the way to the main office in Colorado for translation and binding, then off to China we go!!!!!

Praise God! Its been in his hands from day one and will continue to be. Gracie will come home in his time.

01/23/2007 UPDATE

Our dossier was delivered this morning to the Colorado office at 9:19 am!

Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles.

Isaiah 40:31

My dear friend Bonny and I always do breakfast for our birthdays. Saturday we ate at Cracker Barrel. It was a great day. Look at the cutest little hat that she bought for Gracie. (They have several more I want to go back and get)

She had also bought Gracie a couple of things from a Chinese restaurant.

After breakfast we went shopping, look at these little rain boots! Every where I turned I was seeing ladybugs today. Clothes, piggy banks, purse, one right after the other!

It's Official, we are finally done with our paperchase. Our dossier will arrive at CCAI tomorrow morning!!!!!! It's been 5 months, 2 weeks and 3 days since signing the application!

It's a Happy Happy Happy Day!!!!!! We're holding out on the celebration until we pass critical review! Oh and my son told me last night as I was doing the Happy Dance, and I quote, "Don't ever do that again"! The nerve of that child!

Update: Our Dossier arrived at CCAI at 10:10 am this morning!

We just took some more pictures to finish up for our dossier! I really take horrible pictures! Here is one of the betters ones! Our dossier should hopefully go out on Tuesday and arrive at CCAI on Wednesday!

Time for Another Happy Dance!!!!!!!

Our docs arrived safe and sound from Carol at "Dependable Adoption Courier Service" this morning. She received them from us Monday morning and I got them back this morning, safe and sound! Now we can put it all together and send it to CCAI next week! I'd recommend her to anyone.

One step closer baby girl!!!!

Paul III

I wanted to post some pictures of my youngest son. Paulpaul (as we call him). He got a camera for Christmas, he and his friend were testing it out! I think the pics turned out great, and How Handsome is this child!

Gracie's First Bible!

My DF Trina is at it again, she got Gracie her very first bible.

Thanks Trina

UPDATE: The adoption community sent enough letters/emails that CNN/Paula Zahn did another show on Monday night regarding the subject!

CNN / Paula Zahn show on China changing their rules.

I just finished watching CNN's Paula Zahn show tonight. She was discussing the new rules for adopting from China. I could not believe she and her 3 guests made the remarks they made. They made presumptions about why "we" Americans are so fascinated with adopting Chinese Girls. According to them, we think they are smarter and work harder. They went as far as to ask why we could not adopt a "Black foster boy" from here instead. It was ridiculous. They honestly do not have a clue about the Chinese Adoption system and how it works. I'm sure they will be getting a lot of heat over this show from the Chinese Adoption Community!

http://adoptioninfoaccuracy.blogspot.com/

Congratulations to Glory and Kurt!

They are one of our church families that are adopting from China. They just got their referrals for a little boy! They are hoping to travel in March. We'll pray they have a safe and speedy trip.