Kisses in the Wind

I hold you in my heart and hug you in my dreams.
You are here each day with me, at least that's how it seems.

I know you wonder where we are... what's taking us so long.
But remember child, I love you so and God will keep you strong.

Now go outside and feel the breeze and let it touch your skin...
Because tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God hold you in His hand until I can be with you.
I promise you, my darling, I'm doing all that I can do.

Very soon, you'll have a family for real, not just pretend.
But for tonight, just as always, I blow you kisses in the wind.

May God wrap you in His arms and hold you very tight.
And let the angels bring the kisses that I send to you each night.

                                                                  ~Unknown

Missing our girl tonight.  Praying she's home with us soon!  

School's out for Summer!!!

I can't believe that the school year is over!  This year flew by.  As I dropped my baby boy off for his LAST day of elementary school, I drove home thinking about what a great year both kids had.

 Last day of Elementary School

Reece was a fourth grader this year.  He stayed busy with sports ALL year.  In the fall, he played youth football for the first time.  He really enjoyed it and made some great friends.  He was # 30, just like his Daddy in high school...it was lots of fun cheering for #30 in purple and gold again!! As soon as football was over, he was on the court for Upward basketball.  Trent was his coach again and they always enjoy the season.  Of course, Spring brings baseball.  Reece tried out catcher this year and did a great job.  He's also turning into a great left handed pitcher!  We love to cheer him on and watch him enjoy sports so much.

As proud as I am of him athletically, I am thrilled with his school performance this year.  He is one smart little boy!  He made all A's for the year and amazes me with his love of math!  During graduation today, he got the Principal's Award of Excellence for having all A's throughout his years in elementary school.  He kept a high A in conduct every 9 weeks.  YAY!! My boy loves to talk, so this was huge :)  He even got the Good Citizenship Award two times this year.  I was soooo very proud of him.

 4th Grade Graduation

Mary Ashtyn was a 6th grader this year.  She stayed busy this year.  She cheered for the youth league in the Fall.  She worked hard and did a great job.  Bless her heart, she had to put up with me as her sponsor!!  As a 12 year old, I'm sure the worst thing in the world is your MOTHER doing cheers and chants AND dances with your squad.  She handled it well and we both really enjoyed it.  I just knew she was going to follow in my footsteps and try out for cheerleader for the middle school.  WRONG!!  A month before tryouts, she decided she wanted to try out for majorette.  Imagine my surprise, since she's never held a baton!!  Thank goodness for my brother's sweet wife, who worked with her for 3 weeks and taught her the basics.  We love Aunt Ashlie!! By the time she tried out, she had the hang of it.  All those years of dance kicked in and she was a pretty little majorette.  We were thrilled to hear her number called out to be on the line for next year!!!!  So proud of my sweet, quiet girl who can do anything she puts her mind to!

 6th Grade Musical

Of course, she had a great year at school.  All A's her entire school career makes me smile :)  She was elected to Student Council and made the newspaper staff. 

 Mary Ashtyn  D.A.R.E Graduation

Both of our kids are blessings and I am so thankful for them.  It amazes me how God had the perfect plan for us.

No Lily update...just waiting.  Our home study should be finished by the end of the month.  The I800a has been mailed, so we're waiting for the appointment letter.  Whisper a little prayer that we get it very soon.

Fruit Basket, Turn Over

We have spent the weekend changing the kids' bedrooms.  Our house is a wreck, but Mary Ashtyn and Reece are so excited about their new bedrooms.  Mary Ashtyn has moved to our playroom and Reece will be in her room.  Lily will be in Reece's room.  Once we get everything rearranged, it will look so good.  


As excited as I am, I have been a little sentimental this weekend.  Almost 14 years ago, Trent and I spent months finding just the right baby furniture for our first baby.  We picked out a "crib to college" bedroom suite for Mash.  I will never forget how excited we were to put her crib together.  Although we had months to wait, we had the entire room decorated before our first home study visit.  I can't tell you how many hours I spent sitting in her room and staring at that empty bed.  When we finally got her home and put her in the crib for the first time...I lost it.  She was my dream come true!  Eighteen months later, we converted her crib into the toddler bed when she started jumping out of the crib to get to us during the night :)  She never was a good sleeper!  We changed it to the full size bed when she was around 5.  I've tucked her into this same bed for 12 years...until last night.  She got a new bedroom suite and Reece will get her furniture.  They slept in the new beds for the first time last night.  I will admit that I sobbed after I tucked them in...if you know me, you know I'm a sentimental sap!!  HA

Here is Mary Ashtyn's new bed in her new room.  She wanted a queen size bed, so that she, Lily, and Reece could have spend the night parties!  Can't you already hear my 3 little monkeys giggling??  We can't wait!!!

In the middle of our moving day, I went to get the mail.  So excited to find....our passports are here!!  Another step closer to Lily.  We'll be submitting our I-800 tomorrow.  Pray, pray, pray that it will be approved quickly. 

Faith

I have always believed in God and trusted Him.  When we decided to adopt our first daughter from Russia 12 years ago, I knew without a doubt that this decision was God's will for our family.  Three years later, our sweet son came home from Kazakhstan.  I have always praised God for my children.  There is no doubt that they were always meant to be mine.
Lily's adoption has been a huge surprise...only we would have an unplanned adoption!!  LOL We weren't yearning for another child, we weren't even looking. Finding an older child with a hip dislocation was never in my plans.  Falling in love with a little girl who may never walk "normally" was never in my plans.  I am so glad that Lily was in God's plans. 
I've loved her for only a month and haven't met her yet, but she has taught me so much about faith.  I'm not good at letting go and letting God.  For the first time in my life, I am completely stepping out in faith and giving God complete control.  It is AMAZING to see how He is changing our family through Lily.  Through her, God has strengthened my faith and my family.  Lily is meant to be our daughter and I am so thankful!

We met with an orthopedic specialist on Friday (5/06/09).  She reviewed Lily's video and x-ray.  We won't really know if hip surgery will be the best option for her because of her age.  We'll have to have more tests done once she is home.  The doctor did say that even if the hips can't be corrected surgically...there are many options for Lily to walk!!  What a blessing to hear that.  She did tell us it was so important to get her home as quickly as possible, because she is at the upper age limit to be able to have surgery.  Please pray with us that everything will move quickly.

We left the office feeling a little down because we knew we have months of waiting ahead of us.  Once again, God reminded us that HE is in control.  As we drove out of the parking lot...I got an e-mail from our social worker.  I opened her attachment to see our CANs clearances!!!  One step closer to bringing home our little miracle!!!!!!

When God is going to do something miraculous, He begins with an impossibility.

Stepping out in faith has already blessed us so much!  Please keep praying for Lily, God has big plans for her.

Guess who knows she has a family????

So thankful that she knows about us!!  Sheri and Katherine from Gifts to China with Love did an excellent job sending a care package for us.