Paul Ray took this picture, he was on his way home when he spotted these two birds enjoying the puddle. For the life of me I cant remember what kind of bird he said, maybe a hawk.

Run of Bad Luck

Two weeks ago, Paul Ray was on his way home from work. He was approaching an overpass when a piece of cement hit his car. Turns out some teens (who were later caught) damaged about 8 cars over two nights. Thank God he was not hurt.

Then last Monday, (on top of being swamped at work and considering a child's file) on my way home from work, I was rear ended. 5 o'clock traffic on 526, she was a young girl, but very nice and truly sorry about the accident. My car is in the shop, I'm hating the rental (which by the way, I'm on the second one, the first one died going down the road), I miss my car!!!

Some good news though: My boss (which by the way, I do have the best boss ever - STILL) is going to allow me to work from home once Gracie is here. I'll go in once a week. How AWESOME!

Our package being delivered

Here is our referral package being delivered. She thought I was nuts for wanting the picture.

Then when I said you have my daughter, she really thought I'd lost it!

There couldnt be a better Christmas Present . . . . .

We are so thrilled to introduce the world to our little beauty. At about 11:30 am on Wednesday, December 5 we spoke with Pam and told her we would be honored to have this girl as our own. There is no greater gift that I could have received for Christmas. God is so great!!!! I will forever be grateful for this little girl. I now have my princess to go with my two boys, and I cant wait to love and spoil her.

Please welcome Miss Lu Xin Ming who is currently waiting on us in the Tianjin City Children's Welfare Institute. She shares a June birthday with her brother PaulPaul. He is very excited about that. He was even more excited about the fact that there would be NO diapers. Brandon is still coming around, but I'm sure she will wrap him around her little finger. He is such a sweet, loving person. Gracie Lu (as I've been calling her) has so many people waiting to welcome her home. I cant thank all of them enough for their love and support they have given us over the last year and a half. The next three to four months are going to be SOOOOO busy, things I've been putting off because the wait was just so long. Auntie Ashlee I sure hope you are ready!

Lu - Surname
Xin - Heart, mind
Ming - Bright, brilliant



All she needs now are some dresses, matching shoes and bows!

This is where our Gracie Lu is waiting on us at:

I find it interesting where people are at reading my blog. I would love it if you would leave me a comment letting me know who you are and how you found me! I know I have several blogs that I follow daily.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll leave me a comment.

Moncks Corner, SC, United States Thu, 05 Jul 2007 17:48:28 -0500
Savannah, GA, United States Thu, 05 Jul 2007 17:30:31 -0500
Charleston, SC, United States Thu, 05 Jul 2007 16:55:31 -0500
Singapore, Singapore T hu, 05 Jul 2007 12:31:16 -0500
Atlanta, GA, United States Thu, 05 Jul 2007 12:04:01 -0500
Fort Myers, FL, United States Thu, 05 Jul 2007 07:52:51 -0500
Charleston, SC, United States Thu, 05 Jul 2007 01:52:54 -0500
Bridgeville, PA, United States Wed, 04 Jul 2007 23:13:45 -0500
Tallahassee, FL, United States Wed, 04 Jul 2007 22:26:57 -0500
Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago Wed, 04 Jul 2007 17:34:08 -0500
Istanbul, Turkey Wed, 04 Jul 2007 17:33:55 -0500
Porsgrund, Norway Wed, 04 Jul 2007 17:22:56 -0500
Salvador, Brazil Thu, 05 Jul 2007 18:49:45 -0500
Lima, Peru Thu, 05 Jul 2007 18:49:21 -0500

Minneapolis, MN, United States Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:50:57 -0500
Iberia, MO, United States Wed, 11 Jul 2007 15:59:23 -0500
Atlanta, GA, United States Wed, 11 Jul 2007 15:03:06 -0500
North Charleston, SC, United States Wed, 11 Jul 2007 14:42:38 -0500
Knoxville, TN, United States Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:48:06 -0500
Aurora, CO, United States Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:46:32 -0500
Cleveland, OH, United States Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:30:46 -0500
San Juan, Puerto Rico Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:28:06 -0500
Smithfield, RI, United States Tue, 10 Jul 2007 21:04:07 -0500
Savannah, GA, United States Tue, 10 Jul 2007 20:25:31 -0500
Honolulu, HI, United States Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:28:14 -0500

Detroit, MI, United States Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:28:03 -0500
Belleville, MI, United States Thu, 19 Jul 2007 14:31:22 -0500
Cincinnati, OH, United States Thu, 19 Jul 2007 11:48:27 -0500
Ottawa, ON, Canada Thu, 19 Jul 2007 11:08:18 -0500
London, United Kingdom Thu, 19 Jul 2007 11:08:08 -0500
North Charleston, SC, United States Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:39:16 -0500
Saint Louis, MO, United States Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:36:39 -0500
Bonita Springs, FL, United States Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:04:00 -0500
Summerville, SC, United States Thu, 19 Jul 2007 03:37:01 -0500
Willard, OH, United States Thu, 19 Jul 2007 01:09:56 -0500
Lees Summit, MO, United States Wed, 18 Jul 2007 21:10:11 -0500
Paekakariki, New Zealand Wed, 25 Jul 2007 02:57:57 -0500
Knoxville, TN, United States Sun, 29 Jul 2007 00:07:42 -0500
Savannah, GA, United States Sat, 28 Jul 2007 17:25:20 -0500
Eaton Rapids, MI, United States Sat, 28 Jul 2007 13:52:06 -0500
Bothell, WA, United States Sat, 28 Jul 2007 11:59:15 -0500
New Castle, IN, United States Sat, 28 Jul 2007 09:23:18 -0500
Brecksville, OH, United States Sat, 28 Jul 2007 08:25:43 -0500
Morioka, Japan Sat, 28 Jul 2007 08:25:23 -0500
Singapore, Singapore Sat, 28 Jul 2007 08:25:01 -0500
Paris, France Sun, 29 Jul 2007 13:36:17 -0500
Nellore, India Sun, 29 Jul 2007 13:36:00 -0500

Albany, NY, United States Thu, 02 Aug 2007 20:08:36 -0500
Lancaster, TX, United States Thu, 02 Aug 2007 19:45:18 -0500
Savannah, GA, United States Thu, 02 Aug 2007 18:55:08 -0500
Rockford, MI, United States Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:29:23 -0500
Omaha, NE, United States Thu, 02 Aug 2007 15:49:46 -0500
Greenville, SC, United States Thu, 02 Aug 2007 14:46:49 -0500
Atlanta, GA, United States Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:52:28 -0500
Athens, GA, United States Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:50:47 -0500
Bothell, WA, United States Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:24:41 -0500
Akron, NY, United States Thu, 02 Aug 2007 12:22:00 -0500
Madison, WI, United States Thu, 02 Aug 2007 12:20:57 -0500
Cincinnati, OH, United States Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:29:44 -0500
Norcross, GA, United States Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:26:23 -0500
Brooksville, FL, United States Thu, 02 Aug 2007 10:39:13 -0500
Erie, PA, United States Thu, 02 Aug 2007 10:16:47 -0500
Auckland, New Zealand Thu, 02 Aug 2007 01:16:11 -0500
Charleston, SC, United States Thu, 02 Aug 2007 00:54:54 -0500

Summerville, SC, United States Sat, 11 Aug 2007 15:51:49 -0500
Suwanee, GA, United States Sat, 11 Aug 2007 15:42:58 -0500
Savannah, GA, United States Sat, 11 Aug 2007 13:59:39 -0500
Port Jefferson Station, NY, United States Sat, 11 Aug 2007 13:35:31 -0500
Germantown, MD, United States Sat, 11 Aug 2007 13:04:53 -0500
, , Canada Sat, 11 Aug 2007 10:07:05 -0500
Brooklyn, NY, United States Sat, 11 Aug 2007 05:52:22 -0500
Duluth, GA, United States Sat, 11 Aug 2007 04:35:16 -0500
Bangkok, Thailand Sat, 11 Aug 2007 02:29:23 -0500
, , United States Fri, 10 Aug 2007 19:30:00 -0500

Red Lion, PA, United States Thu, 16 Aug 2007 13:46:03 -0500
Rushall, United Kingdom Thu, 16 Aug 2007 13:04:24 -0500
Bothell, WA, United States Thu, 16 Aug 2007 09:08:47 -0500
Charleston, SC, United States Thu, 16 Aug 2007 00:26:25 -0500
Charlotte, MI, United States Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:48:39 -0500
Savannah, GA, United States Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:10:14 -0500
Suwanee, GA, United States Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:16:59 -0500

Kannapolis, NC, United States Sat, 01 Sep 2007 07:41:05 -0500
Nygårdsheden, Sweden Sat, 01 Sep 2007 01:21:34 -0500
, , United States Fri, 31 Aug 2007 20:19:43 -0500
Savannah, GA, United States Fri, 31 Aug 2007 18:03:49 -0500
Summerville, SC, United States Fri, 31 Aug 2007 15:58:06 -0500
Raleigh, NC, United States Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:50:40 -0500
Akron, NY, United States Fri, 31 Aug 2007 12:24:04 -0500
Bothell, WA, United States Fri, 31 Aug 2007 07:32:01 -0500

Kannapolis, NC, United States Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:13:37 -0500
, United Kingdom Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:54:53 -0500
Raleigh, NC, United States Thu, 06 Sep 2007 12:35:45 -0500
Greenville, SC, United States Thu, 06 Sep 2007 09:33:52 -0500
Burlingame, CA, United States Thu, 06 Sep 2007 07:06:52 -0500
Dallas, TX, United States Thu, 06 Sep 2007 06:45:49 -0500
Buenos Aires, Argentina Wed, 05 Sep 2007 22:35:46 -0500
Spartanburg, SC, United States Wed, 05 Sep 2007 21:12:06 -0500
Savannah, GA, United States Wed, 05 Sep 2007 21:07:23 -0500

Dallas, TX, United States Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:17:52 -0500
Raleigh, NC, United States Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:17:14 -0500
Charleston, SC, United States Tue, 18 Sep 2007 08:04:41 -0500
Saint Louis, MO, United States Tue, 18 Sep 2007 06:30:05 -0500
Summerville, SC, United States Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:48:25 -0500
Savannah, GA, United States Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:05:25 -0500
Manila, Philippines Mon, 17 Sep 2007 19:47:26 -0500
Mexico, Mexico Mon, 17 Sep 2007 19:45:52 -0500
Kannapolis, NC, United States Mon, 17 Sep 2007 17:31:37 -0500
Huntsville, AL, United States Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:09:14 -0500
Atlanta, GA, United States Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:29:07 -0500


Rochester, NY, United States Wed, 19 Sep 2007 07:44:29 -0500
Kannapolis, NC, United States Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:46:46 -0500
Summerville, SC, United States Tue, 18 Sep 2007 14:26:56 -0500
Buenos Aires, Argentina Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:19:28 -0500
Dallas, TX, United States Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:17:52 -0500
Raleigh, NC, United States Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:17:14 -0500

Raleigh, NC, United States Fri, 21 Sep 2007 09:54:09 -0500
Ridgefield, CT, United States Fri, 21 Sep 2007 09:40:32 -0500
Lecanto, FL, United States Fri, 21 Sep 2007 09:32:54 -0500
Orlando, FL, United States Fri, 21 Sep 2007 09:24:25 -0500
Wilson, OK, United States Fri, 21 Sep 2007 08:41:30 -0500
San Antonio, TX, United States Fri, 21 Sep 2007 07:57:25 -0500
Tidcombe, United Kingdom Fri, 21 Sep 2007 07:11:07 -0500
Charleston, SC, United States Fri, 21 Sep 2007 05:19:28 -0500
Huntsville, AL, United States Thu, 20 Sep 2007 22:14:17 -0500
Kannapolis, NC, United States Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:48:18 -0500
Madison, WI, United States Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:58:21 -0500
Concord, NC, United States Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:16:02 -0500
Jacksonville, FL, United States Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:05:06 -0500
Maximo, OH, United States Thu, 20 Sep 2007 11:59:36 -0500
Lexington, SC, United States Thu, 20 Sep 2007 11:46:18 -0500


Raleigh, NC, United States Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:15:33 -0500
Stone Mountain, GA, United States Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:01:47 -0500
, , United States Tue, 25 Sep 2007 11:01:19 -0500
Newark, NJ, United States Tue, 25 Sep 2007 10:55:51 -0500
Grünbein, Argentina Tue, 25 Sep 2007 04:20:40 -0500
Huntsville, AL, United States Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:23:31 -0500
Charlotte, MI, United States Mon, 24 Sep 2007 19:13:53 -0500
Savannah, GA, United States Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:58:58 -0500
Buford, GA, United States Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:11:01 -0500
Summerville, SC, United States Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:33:30 -0500


Modesto, CA, United States Fri, 19 Oct 2007 10:23:16 -0500
Monroe, CT, United States Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:40:15 -0500
Montréal, QC, Canada Fri, 19 Oct 2007 08:32:03 -0500
Knoxville, TN, United States Fri, 19 Oct 2007 07:13:29 -0500
Jakarta, Indonesia Fri, 19 Oct 2007 02:00:18 -0500
, , United States Thu, 18 Oct 2007 22:10:42 -0500
Concord, NC, United States Thu, 18 Oct 2007 21:57:52 -0500
, , United States Thu, 18 Oct 2007 18:41:39 -0500
, , United States Thu, 18 Oct 2007 18:19:12 -0500
Auburn Hills, MI, United States Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:09:26 -0500
Palatine, IL, United States Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:50:42 -0500
Greenville, SC, United States Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:48:36 -0500
Buford, GA, United States Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:32:54 -0500
Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom Thu, 18 Oct 2007 13:55:52 -0500
Colorado Springs, CO, United States Thu, 18 Oct 2007 13:46:14 -0500
Raleigh, NC, United States Thu, 18 Oct 2007 12:10:50 -0500
Crittenden, NY, United States Thu, 18 Oct 2007 11:43:02 -0500
Birmingham, AL, United States Thu 18 Oct 2007 11:37:56 -0500


Ramla, Israel Sat, 24 Nov 2007 03:44:20 -0600
Le Montellier, France Sat, 24 Nov 2007 02:38:54 -0600
Dayton, OH, United States Fri, 23 Nov 2007 20:17:13 -0600
Saint Louis, MO, United States Fri, 23 Nov 2007 19:33:38 -0600
Suwanee, GA, United States Fri, 23 Nov 2007 16:44:18 -0600

After Referral Announcement

Englewood, CO, United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:54:47 -0600
Moncks Corner, SC, United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:03:28 -0600
Irving, TX, United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 19:22:40 -0600
, , United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 18:28:02 -0600
Tallahassee, FL, United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:32:27 -0600
Charleston, SC, United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:24:45 -0600
Raleigh, NC, United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:48:27 -0600
Nürnberg, Germany Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:12:22 -0600
Chattanooga, TN, United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:01:54 -0600
, , United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:21:09 -0600
Littleton, CO, United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 13:28:34 -0600
, , United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:36:33 -0600
Knoxville, TN, United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:36:19 -0600
Omaha, NE, United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 11:46:11 -0600
Washington, DC, United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 11:03:40 -0600
Fairfax Station, VA, United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:27:44 -0600
Ambridge, PA, United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 09:11:55 -0600
West Jefferson, NC, United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 09:06:15 -0600
Downers Grove, IL, United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 08:30:05 -0600
Richmond, VA, United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 08:25:42 -0600
Charleston, SC, United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 08:02:56 -0600
Greenville, SC, United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 08:01:44 -0600
Atlanta, GA, United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 07:45:24 -0600
, , United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 07:44:30 -0600
Walnut Shade, MO, United States Fri, 07 Dec 2007 06:27:55 -0600


Moncks Corner, SC, United States Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:41:14 -0600
Huntington Beach, CA, United States Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:26:14 -0600
Sacramento, CA, United States Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:03:31 -0600
Albuquerque, NM, United States Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:29:48 -0600
Cincinnati, OH, United States Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:19:11 -0600
Ranson, WV, United States Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:06:42 -0600
Littleton, CO, United States Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:01:43 -0600
Columbus, OH, United States Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:43:32 -0600
Westlake, LA, United States Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:43:27 -0600
Randolph, NJ, United States Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:26:08 -0600
Atlanta, GA, United States Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:13:18 -0600
Paris, France Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:06:43 -0600
Carnaxide, Portugal Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:33:45 -0600
Templeogue, Ireland Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:14:27 -0600
Alba Iulia, Romania Wed, 12 Dec 2007 14:13:57 -0600
Kesteren, Netherlands Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:29:55 -0600
Maqueda, Spain Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:17:23 -0600
Beltsville, MD, United States Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:48:26 -0600
Santiago, Chile Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:26:25 -0600
Ewa Beach, HI, United States Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:19:35 -0600
Yonkers, NY, United States Wed, 12 Dec 2007 09:27:24 -0600
Santiago, Chile Wed, 12 Dec 2007 09:00:32 -0600
Easley, SC, United States Wed, 12 Dec 2007 08:13:12 -0600
Závodie, Slovakia Wed, 12 Dec 2007 08:06:24 -0600
Greenville, SC, United States Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:36:17 -0600

CCAA update

The CCAA has finished the review of the adoption application documents registered with our office before September 30, 2006.

The CCAA has finished the placement of children for the families whose adoption application documents were registered with our office before December 8, 2005.

Prayer Request

There is the sweetest little girl on our agency's website. Please pray that she finds her perfect forever family.

OK, how cute, No not the baby, the buggy cover! I've added this to my long list of things to buy my child.


http://www.angelinasuniquebabythings.com/buggybagg.htm

and it comes in this pattern!

http://www.takeastroll.com/ceramictiles.htm

I need to look at her crib set again, but how cute are these tiles. I've been looking for something cute like these. I hope they match.

Go Cocks!

If you're from the South, then you know what Saturday is!!!!!!

It's Game Day! Go Cocks!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

I just want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving.

We've had Paul Rays brother, Randy, and his wife staying with us the last two days, its been nice having company. Chris, Erin, the boys, Willie and Lyndsey (Brandons girlfriend) were here. Our niece (Randys daughter) Amy came over with her family. She has a little girl who will be one on Dec 29. She is a sweetie. We had pizza and some of us roasted marshmallows, the spoiled one in the family wouldn't have any because I didn't have chocolate bars and Graham crackers. (Chris you know we love you anyway) Erin is ready for the baby to arrive any time now. He's due on the 19th I believe, I dont see why she cant hold out till Christmas. I just think that would be awesome! A Christmas baby, no mother could ask for a better Christmas present, in my opinion. It would also seem that I am the only one with that opinion.

In the blog world, we have "Thankful Thursdays" I've never done this before, but since today is Thanksgiving, I'd thought I'd post what we are thankful for.

Here are some things that Paul Ray and I are thankful for
*We are fortunate enough that we get to spend our holiday with our families.
*We have two "handsome" healthy boys
*We have family that (no matter what) is always there if we need them
*We have our little nephews that visit us regularly and keep us entertained
*We have our health, good jobs, we live in peace and quiet in the woods
*We live in a world where we are free
*We are thankful to the men and women in the military (and their family)
Here are some things that I am thankful for
*God gave me two great parents, who are Always there for me, no matter WHAT
*I also have two boys that I just adore
*I have a great husband (for the most part:)
*I have a job that I really enjoy and a great boss
*I am thankful for my best friend, Bonny
*I am very thankful that I married a man with a big family (I was an only child)
*I am so grateful that his family trust us with their kids (Little Man told me he wanted
to go back to Disney World and ride the race car with Uncle Paul)
*I am very very thankful that at this point in our lives we are awaiting the referral of
our little Princess, Grace Noelle.

and I'm also very thankful to all my new friends that I have met in the journey. The adoption community has a wonderful group of people in it. I'm sure I've met life long friends here.

I hope that everyone has something to be thankful for today, I must get going now, we have to be somewhere at 12:30. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Our Sunday Trip Downtown

I've lived here all my life and never really done the downtown site seeing thing. We were going downtown on Sunday for the candle lighting ceremony, so the boys and I (and Lyndsey and Little man) went to lunch and then went to the market and walked along the streets. I found a really nice kids shop that I'm looking forward to buying Gracie some dresses from.

Anyway, we all had a really good time. Here is PaulPaul pulling up little man's pants, they kept falling down, poor thing.

Little Man, Brandon and Lyndsey
Hand in Hand, how sweet.
This is before the candles are lit, the ones we took after dark didnt turn out so well. Its really pretty, all the candles lit up around the lake at night. This was our third year going to this, sometimes it seems like yesterday and then other times it seems so long ago. No matter the time frame, Devan will be in all our hearts until we are together again. She was a very special young lady who touched so many people.

Family Homecoming

Here is a link to the bittersweet homecoming of Sandy and her daugher.

http://www.wilx.com/home/headlines/11535626.html

New Referrals are in

Our agency finally got a new list of SN referrals, it is taking them a while to get through it.

I just want to say a Big Congratulations to Patricia at http://littlecabininthewoods.typepad.com/threeempresses on her referral. She is just beautiful.

A Buddhist Saying about Adoption

It basically says you and your husband must have loved your baby very much in your previous life, that you were able to find her again in this life.

This little girl of our is SO loved and by so many people.

Passing this along-

Bethany Christian Services are pleased to announce the Sheldon family has received their visas and are returning home from China this weekend. “We will continue to work with the family to make sure all their needs are met,” said John VanValkenburg, Public Relations Specialist for Bethany Christian Services. “This has been a difficult situation for the Sheldon family and Bethany would like to thank everyone for their prayers and support for this family, including the efforts of Michigan Congressmen, Vern Ehlers and Mike Rogers.”

Due to these special circumstances, Bethany is accepting contributions to support the family until December 31, 2007. Checks can be made payable to Bethany Christian Services and please indicate the Sheldon family on the memo line. Checks can be sent to Bethany 's Donor Records at 901 Eastern Ave NE, PO Box 294 Grand Rapids Michigan 49501 . Bethany Christian Services will give all donations to the family for their “Hope for Hannah” fund.

Dare to love completely

TGIF

I must say that in the last few weeks, I've really grown to like my Fridays!

This weekend is already full. My DH and I have a date, we're going hunting on Saturday. ( I try to go at least once a season with him). When we leave there we're going to pick up our little man to spend the night with us.

Sunday, my boys and I along with Lyndsey are going downtown for lunch and then walking around the market area. From there we'll meet the Winge family at Colonial Lake for the Candle Lighting Service. This is our way of including Devan in our Holiday season. She is never far from anyone minds.

We all love and miss you Devan.

Update on family in China now....

The update when I got home yesterday was:
Sandi's mom asked that no more phone calls be made on her daughters behalf. There had been that many in one afternoon. The adoption communitiy is one that pulls together when something goes wrong. What a great group of people.

This mornings update from another poster.
"I am part of Sandi's travel group. I spoke to her this morning.> >She had a meeting at the consulate this morning and was told with > >95% certainty that she will come home with Hannah as scheduled on> >Saturday. I also should've made clear from the beginning that there> >has been absolutely fantastic and dedicated bi-lingual agency> >representative here with Sandi the entire time who is helping her> >through this process. Thanks to all who helped with the effort to> >bring her home. Our agency representative said all the phone calls> >did make a difference"
What great news that is!

Prayers Needed for this family......

I'm asking you for prayer for a fellow adoptive mom in China now picking up her daughter. Her husband had been traveling with her and died suddenly due to complications of his diabetes. We have received the following information from a family traveling with them in China and we need all the help we can get to bring this mom and baby home. Here is the message...

The US Consulate in Guangzhou has denied Sandi Sheldon permission to proceed with the adoption of Hannah. They want her to fill out a new I-171 and are making no guarantees after that. Sandi, of course does not want to leave China and leave Hannah here because she has no where to go. Sandi needs our help desparately! Please start a massive campaign of calling to her US Congressman and US Senator and urge them to intervene on Sandi's behalf. We have discussed this with Sandi and she wants our help. Please pressure these elected officials to contact the State Department and straighten this out. Sandi should not be denied Hannah's adoption because her husband passed away unexpectedly. The adoption has been finalized here in China. Sandi's congressman is Mike Rogers. His Washington office number is 202 225 4872. His Michigan office number is 517 702 8000, he also has a toll free number 1-877-333-MIKE. Sandi's US Senator is Debbie Stabenow. Her Washington DC number is 202 224 4822 and her Michigan office number is 517 203 1760. Everyone should try to help and call these people until we get final approval.

We should continue to pray that her adoption is finalized quickly and that Sandi can return home to Michigan with Hannah.