Our very beautiful niece Payton is now safely at home. Donna & Matt arrived home with her around midnight Sat night. We went to meet her on Sunday, and she is just about perfect. She has a smile for everyone and let us hold her.
I cant wait to get to know her.


Paul Ray, PaulPaul and I were at the gun shop Saturday. There was a little Chinese girl (around 3) and cute as a button. I could not bring myself to say anything to her daddy, I just watched. She smiled at me several times. I miss Grace more and more, sometimes I feel like she will never get here.

Can we all say a prayer that the CCAA really picks up their pace and soon.

You have to see these overalls!!!!!!

They are at Girly Chic which I found on someone's blog!!!! We have to have these. They can even be monogramed!!!!

http://www.girlychicdesigns.com/store/WsDefault.asp?One=261

Thank You, Thank You and Thank You!!!!

My Secret Pal is THE BEST!!!!!

After having a bad week, I came home to find a gift from my secret pal, and I now feel so much better. You put a smile on my face and a tear in my eye!

Lets see, we got a lovely note on the post card, a ladybug magnet, some panda info, a bid (I Love My Daddy) and a PINK Osh Gosh Bgosh tshirt. (I love Osh Gosh and you know I love PINK)

Where is Penny?

OK where are you hiding, I havent heard from you in awhile! Hope all is well.

Where is my waiter? We made it back safe and sound Saturday around 3 pm. We had a great time, it was nice just to relax. I must say out of my 5 cruises, I felt this Ship rock! We were ready for dinner last night and there was no one to bring it to me, I miss it already.



We arrived at Port Canaveral around 1pm and let me tell you the wind was unreal. We got on board around 130 pm Monday, made our way to our room and explored the ship. Then up to the lido deck for lunch and my first frozen drink, which I would have passed on, if I had known how bad the trip down was going to be. We were at a table of 6 for dinner, we were with 2 couples on their honeymoon.



Tuesday we were at sea, and Paul Ray took us to the very top deck to lay out, where I nearly froze from the wind, and got more sun than I realized. This was formal night, and the pics turned out nicely. We didn't take alot of pictures, I did buy several. I'll have to scan those in later.



Wednesday we went to Grand Turk, they had wild donkeys and dogs all over the place, roaming the streets. They just opened this port to ships last year. We hung out pool side at Jimmy Buffetts Margaritaville. I had a $13 frozen drink. We did a little shopping, my DH was great the entire trip. Then we were off to our excursion which was running late. We did the horse ride and swim. It was awesome. OK, I'm not fond of the water, love to look at it, just don't like to get in it. So once they changed from saddles to the water pad, I was a little nervous, but hung in there. Paul Ray had a great time, wish I could have gotten a picture of him riding in the water.









Thursday we were at Half Moon Cay which is Carnivals private island. The water was beautiful but too cold for me (good excuse) not much to do there but lay out, eat and drink.



Friday we were in Nassau, did the usual, shop, shop and more shopping. Then back to the ship for our last night on board, that is always sad. A week is just not long enough. All in all we had a great time, I missed the boys. Paul Ray had forgotten how nice taking a REAL vacation is. Two days in, he said I could plan our next one, when Paul Paul graduates (2009), I'm still hoping Gracie is home next year. The picture below is me with my choice of the next cruise. Carnival Glory, which I've been wanting to do since it came out and a Disney ship.



I'm posting some of the pics I took and I'll try and scan the nicer pics that we bought.


This is the only thing we bought for Gracie.









Happy Mothers Day!





When I got up this morning, I found two gifts, the first one is from Brandon, it's a basket with Mary Kay stuff in it.
And this one was from PaulPaul, its a pink Gamecock hat and the movie "Departed". I love my boys, they can be sweet, When they want to!!!!!

AH!!!! 2 Days before we set sail. I am so ready for a vacation, we have not been on a real vacation in some time. I cant wait to have some quality time with my DH.

Here's an update of whats going on.

First, my son got his letter for ROTC at school!! Time to get that jacket now!

Second, he had a fender bender in his daddy's truck the other day, he's a little sore, but more upset about the truck. While we were there waiting on the cop to fill out the paperwork, guess what I found: In case you cant tell, its a ladybug (I took the pic with my cell phone)

Third:

Happy Birthday Ashlee Gail
Her birthday is Sunday, but her mom and I took her and 3 of her friends to Myrtle Beach. She wanted to go to build a bear and then have dinner at Planet Hollywood. It was a really nice night. Here she is building Gracie's first build a bear!

Yes I know, Gracie really didn't really NEED this, but it made her mommy feel better to get it for her, so what ever helps in this long wait. While we were there, there was a little girl, most likely 6 or so, who was most likely adopted from China, it made my heart skip a beat. When Ashlee said grace at dinner, she also said a little prayer for Gracie to come home soon, I thought I would cry, she is such a sweet girl.

I thought she would look perfect in Gracie's Room!

Fourth:

We'll be LID for 3 months this coming Friday, 05/11/2007! Referrals are in through Nov 1, 2005!

Update on life . . .

These are the things that help in the long wait for my daughter to come home.

10 days!!!!! 10 days until I leave for vacation, just me & my hubby on a ship, no phone, no computer, just sun and fun!!!!!!

My niece who is in Russia will be home within the month, I'm so excited to finally meet her.

We're gonna need a swing set for 6 at my house!!!!
Adam, Little Man, Hunter, Payton, Peanut (?) and Gracie

Peanut you ask, well Chris & Erin are expanding their family!!!!! Yes, I'm gonna be an Auntie again. She is due in December, which does not make PaulPaul happy(not about the baby, but its birthday), he thinks he should have been a December baby (his dad, granddad and Chris were all born in December).

Well that's an update in a nutshell!

My Secret Pal did it again . . . . Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!

This month's gift bought tears to my eyes. Upon opening the box this was the first thing. Hair barrettes with her name on them. Ahhh How Sweet.

She got a Pooh blanket (PINK) I just love Pooh. She got a hairbrush/comb set (also pink), a toothbrush (PINK WITH LADYBUGS), a pink washy, a pair of clippers and a bib (PINK) that says I (heart) Mommy!!!! Ahhhh, I love them all, thank you.

Uncle Chris and Auntie Erin "finally" gave us four pieces for Gracie's quilt. (Just kidding, Erin has her hands full with the two little ones)!


1. Princess - just so true, she will be a Princess
2. Bright Flowers - just like her Auntie Erin's personality
3. Pink Camo - Uncle Chris picked out, now PaulPauls favorite
4. Frogs - because I love frogs (I think)

Thank you guys, we love you!

Ramblings of a waiting mother.

What a long and winding road this journey is. I'm not a patient person by nature. I do love to plan things, but things that I have a date for. I know I am suppose to trust in God that Gracie will be home in his time, and I know this is the case, however, I'm having a really hard time with that.

I know that God has put things in the order in which they are suppose to occur and I'm thankful for each and every gift he has given me.

I only "whine" or "cry" on certain people's shoulders, I know that our friends and family not in the adoption world don't understand. I've really had no problem with Gracie coming home in a year, that was my plan, all along I was set on 01/2008.

Penny, who is one of Gods gift and is paper chasing with the same agency, called them today to see what they wait time actually is. They are now saying 24 - 26 months. I've been stressing for the last week or so about the wait, and now this. I'm still hoping and praying that things will again pick up after the May 1st deadline for the new rules.

If she is not home until 2009, that will make me 41. Am I going to be too old? What do I do with myself for 2 years? My heart just aches when I think of all the children without families, all these women who have babies and don't want them. What happens to Gracie if something happens to me before she comes home, will Paul Ray be allowed to adopt her, would he go without me, my brain races through each day with these thoughts. I may be crazy by then. UHHHHHHHHH!

On a side note, one thing that helps are the little ones in our family. I had my two nephews, Christopher and Hunter (Hunter still does not like me) today. My nephew Adam has his first T-ball game tomorrow that should be fun. And there's my best friend Bonny's daughter, Ashlee Gail. UPDATE, she just called as I finished this post. She had her first softball game tonight, and they won 18-6. She is extremly smart and really into basketball and softball! I look for great things to come from this child.

I've got more fabric to post, I'll do that this weekend. My mom also bought her a cute little spring dress. At this rate she'll need two rooms when she comes home.

Gracie, I love you and cant wait until you are home. Most people think I'm crazy, you're not even born yet, but I do love you.
Love Always, Momma

TWO months LID!!

I promised PaulPaul months ago I would get him a cookie cake (he loves those) when we were LID, I was a little late, but better late than never right?

Nursery Update

I think this may be it - (You know I still have a long time and could still change my mind) :)

Its at Toys R Us. It has plenty of pink and some red. I really like it.

What do you think????

Ladybugs, Ladybugs, Ladybugs

That seem to be the theme at the Flowertown Festival this past Saturday. I go every year with my best friend Bonny and her dd Ashlee. This year her SIL also joined us. We had a great time as always. My legs are still sore, I'm really getting old!

I have been unable to decide how to decorate Gracie's bedroom, well it's official, now I just have to pick which Ladybug pattern I like the best.

Here is the first thing I bought her. It's a growth chart. Yes it has ladybugs on it.

The next thing she got is a sign for her door. How cute!

Then she got some hair bows, and yes the ladybug is a hair bow! My Darling sweet husband asked me, "what if she never has hair" WHAT? Only a man could come up with that.

My mom got her some stuffed animals. The frog giggles and the little girl says a prayer.

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!

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!

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)!!!

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!!!!