Official Paperwork sent to Immigration! (and other exciting news)

   I'm so excited to announce that we have made it to the next stage in our adoption process. Since I last wrote, we received an official copy of our homestudy! (We had been waiting for this paperwork for several weeks!) With this paperwork, we then were able to send that off with several other important pieces of paperwork to Immigration last Friday. I was so thrilled, but let's just say it was quite a day!
   First, we went to the post office to get a money order. I have found that they were cheaper than getting it at the bank, but of coarse they only take cash or debit card which I did not have. So, I jumped back in the car and headed to the bank to get cash out of Grace's account. Then, headed back to the post office to get the money order. The paperwork had to be sent UPS or FedEx so I then had to head to the next location to get it mailed off. I went to this place that mails for UPS. The man was really nice and helpful. He helped me get the correct label and then took the paperwork and I left. As soon as I got in the car, I didn't feel at rest because I did not put the paperwork in the envelope myself. (All of this paperwork is so important and you feel very protective over it as you invest so much time and energy into gathering it! It can make you feel a little crazy at times!) I called David and he assured me that it was fine but that I should go right back in the store to check on it if I needed too. I was already down the road at this point and God was telling me to not fear. I stopped and it was so cute because Robby asked me what was wrong. It was a perfect teaching time. I told Robby that I was being worried about Grace's paperwork. I explained that fear and worry were not from the Lord but that we need to trust in Him with all of our heart. (Prov. 3:5-6 - Love that verse!) He told me that I should trust the Lord! Love how it is so simple to them. I told the Lord that I trusted Him and He gave me His peace but also assured me that it was okay for me to go back and check. So that is what I did! I sure enough walked back into the store, feeling a little crazy, and explained how I just needed to see the envelope all ready to go. The man kindly smiled and acted like he totally understood. He showed me the envelope and I felt better. (I felt the best when I tracked it last night and realized that it had arrived at the correct place on Tuesday!)
   Robby and Daniel have been such great helpers on all of our adoption errands. I am so thankful that they are such wonderful car riders and that they are excited about helping bring Grace home. We look forward to getting our official FBI fingerprint appointments in the next week or so. Immigration is taking 1 1/2 months - 2 months to process paperwork at this time. Once we receive their approval, we will then send all of our paperwork to a Chinese Consulate to get approved and then we will "officially" be waiting for Grace!
   Other exciting news is that Wednesday we had a conference call with our adoption agency, America World. We were officially accepted into the Waiting Child program for China. With this acceptance, we can begin reviewing referrals (adoptable children). We will probably not be matched with a child though until all of our paperwork is processed but at least this step is behind us and we can begin to understand the referral process.
   Adoption is such a process and I am so constantly reminded that it is a beautiful picture of what God has done for us! He desires us just as we desire sweet Grace. He pursues us and is willing to work on our behalf and he calls us His adopted children. All this work is so worth it as there will be a day when we will get to hold Grace and care for her as our daughter! I know He feels that way about us!

Movie Night

It's January and basketball is in full swing. We love to go to the games and are so proud of Daddy and his team. They are 19-0. Yes...That means they are still undefeated! Go Prep! But with 4 games in 7 days, Momma and the Boys had to take a break. (Too bad Daddy couldn't join us!!!) So instead of making the long drive to Pillow Academy, we had a night to stay home and relax. We made the decision to watch a movie and eat popcorn. I must say by the looks of my boys, it was a success and they may be asking for many more of these nights! Daniel acted so grown as he sat there and chowed down on popcorn. Robby was so kind to share "his chair" with him as this has been his favorite spot to sit and watch tv since he was Daniel's age. I so enjoyed snuggling with my boys and can't wait until Grace is here to join us. (We may have to get a bigger chair!)

In the next couple of days, we hope to be moving forward with the next step in our adoption process. Looking forward to being able to blog about that!

Christmas Gifts

   Our lives can be so busy and filled. This Christmas was so wonderful because I feel that we slowed down some as we tried to recognize the many gifts God has given us and truly focus on Jesus. We enjoyed giving small "happies" to neighbors and others who bless our lives each day. I desire for our children to want to give more than to receive because it does feel so amazing to watch the happiness a gift, big or small, can bring to another. This was also a great opportunity for us to share with others the true reason we celebrate Christmas.
  We thank God for His presence in our lives and for the sacrifice of giving His Son as a baby to become our Savior. We also thank God for leading us on this journey of bringing Grace home. She is already such an incredible gift to our family! As we already believe her to be a part of our family, we wanted to include her in our Christmas celebrations. We surprised the boys by having a gift for Grace under the tree. I saw this precious sweater and had to get it for her!

I can't wait to see her wearing it! Maybe next Christmas...
  Aunt Jenny also surprised us with a beautiful gift she made. She made stocking holders for each of the boys and also one for Grace! Our Aunt Jenny is so talented! I pray next year we will have three children waiting for  their stockings to be hung!

For our Big Boy Robby

For Big "D"

For Sweet Grace Elizabeth

  Just in case you would like an update of where we are in the process, I thought I would let you know. We are waiting for the official written copy of our homestudy paperwork. Once we receive this paperwork, we will send it off to the Immigration office. Then, the Immigration office will have it for a month to a month and a half. After they process the homestudy paperwork, we will receive an official fingerprint appointment and then also be able to turn our dossier into our agency. All that said, we are still dealing with lots of paperwork and waiting. Pray for us to wait graciously and that God would show us it is on His timetable and not ours!

Christmas Traveling

   Being the wife of a teacher is so great because we usually enjoy a nice week long break and travel to see family for the holidays. This year we decided to visit both sides of our family which made Christmas extra special. We headed off for our Southern tour and stopped to celebrate with the Horners in the North Georgia Mountains first. It was a packed day and a half. We enjoyed worshiping at their church, a great steak dinner, and exploring and playing at their park. Then we packed back up and made the next part of the journey down to visit my family in Florida.
   I am so thankful that our boys are such great travelers. We really have such a fun time all together in the car. (I hope Grace will love to travel just as much!) Daniel is so funny because he loves to be around everyone! He sometimes gets upset while we drive, but if I will just reach back and hold his foot he is the happiest little guy ever. He will call out my name and thrust his foot out until I hold it. It's hillarious! I couldn't reach him at one point on the way back because our car was so packed, so I asked Robby to hold his hand. Daniel calmed down and relaxed immediately. How precious!

   Florida was amazing! We could not have asked for better weather. Now I remember why I didn't own a pair of closed toe shoes until I came to MS for college. It was 75 degrees and sunny each day we were there. We really should have brought swimsuits and not sweaters! The boys loved playing at Mimi and Daddy Bob's park and I so enjoyed catching up with 2 of my sweet friends Brittainy and Juslin and sharing time with our family. I am so grateful for the friends and family God has blessed me with!
   I pray you enjoyed your family and friends this Christmas as you celebrated the birth of our precious Savior Jesus!