At the Ballpark

Taking a little break from posting on our adoption journey - praying that our next update will be our next approval when we can post photos of our sweet Nora!!!  In the meantime ...

We spend a lot of time at the ballpark in the summer, and we love it!!!  Here's a glimpse into this weekend's ballpark activities.

Samuel

Samuel did coach pitch baseball again this summer.  His last game was today - proud of the boy!  He made tremendous progress on general skills and was quite attentive during his games.

Okay, this photo was actually from two weeks ago, I didn't get a good photo of Samuel batting this weekend ...

 Buddies!

Jack

Proud of this boy too!  Jack showed a lot of leadership on the field this year!  Love it!

Intensity!

What a good group of boys!!!

Lydia

Yes, Lydia needs her own section as you will find her at the ballpark for all of the boys' games.  Most of the time she is asking for Samuel to chase her when Jack is playing or she's asking for lollipops!  Today, she hit the jackpot as Jack's coach's MIL made the best sugar cookies ever (think bakery style!) and of course, included Samuel and Lydia.  We love the coach's family and this community!  We are blessed! 

Baseball wraps up this next week, what will we do with ourselves the rest of summer???

One Step Closer

We are PA!!!  So many adoption acronyms, so what does this mean?  This means that we are “pre-approved.”  So excited to get notification today with the very important “It is hereby advised that with a review of the Rehabilitation and Nurture Plan for the Child made by the family, the China Centre of Adoption Affairs agrees to move this application file into the procedure for adoption of special-need children.”  LOVE IT!!!! 

And, as this will become part of Nora’s “birth story” here’s some of our major milestones:

DTC (Dossier to China):  7/10/2009
LID (Log In Date in China):  7/22/2009
DOR (Date of Referral):  6/21/2012 (Oh, Happy Day - Seeing Miss Nora for the First Time!)
LOI /EA (Letter of Intent / Electronic Acceptance):  6/28/2012
PA (Pre-Approval to Adopt Miss Nora):  7/20/2012 (Happy Birthday, Grandpa!)
RA (Referral Approval - Final Approval): “Patiently” Waiting
TA (Travel Approval):  Will be a Day to Celebrate
Travel Dates: Eager Anticipation ...

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act."

Psalm 37:5

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!! 

Looks like you have room on your lap for one more, thank goodness as you'll need it next year!

We love you!  XO

Stella & Dot Invite

You may remember my sweet friend Elizabeth from former posts about the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure.  Elizabeth has been my cheerleader and walking buddy the three years I've done the 3-Day walk (folks, this will be Elizabeth's 9th consecutive year of doing the walk - you go girl!).  Elizabeth and I met our Freshman year of college in our dorm.  We went on to be roomies as we finished off our college years.  Elizabeth is one of the smartest people I know, she's also super witty and creative, and she has a generous heart.  On that note, Elizabeth, who in addition to a more than full-time career is a Stella & Dot "Stylist", has graciously offered to do an open house / trunk show for us and donate her commissions to bringing home Nora.  So humbled ...

So, for my local readers (and non-local if you happen to be in the "neighborhood"), ya'all are invited to pop over on Sunday afternoon, August 19th for snacks and hanging out.  If you can't make it, but would like to browse on-line, leave me a comment and I will send you a link to my trunk show.

Elizabeth, my friend, thank you!

One Year Ago Today

One year ago today, an infant girl was found at the gate of a Children's Welfare Institute in China, she was wearing white thermal clothes and was wrapped in a little pink blanket.   

Looking at our 2011 calendar, this was a normal summer day for us ~ a day of work, play and baseball.  And, on the other side of the globe it was significant, it was our daughter.  It tears at my heart not to know Nora's birth story.  But, God knows and in that we find peace.  He created this little one knowing that she would leave her birth country and join our crazy family, adding beauty to the tapestry He has created.

And, for that we are thankful ...

Birthday from Afar

Today Miss Nora turned one.  I tell you, this celebrating of birthdays where our little one is not physically here is a bit exhausting (with Owen's birthday a little over a month ago and now Nora's).  But, we did enjoy celebrating our little miss.

We actually started last night by releasing a lantern - from a timing perspective this would have been her actual birthday morning in China since she is 13 hours ahead of us. 

And, today we had cake and sang Happy Birthday!

Our birthday letter to our little miss ...

Sweet Baby Girl,

Today we celebrate you – it’s your first birthday!  Our little one, God made you beautiful and we cannot wait to hold you and pour our love on you.  You have been a part of our family since we began this adoption journey, God knew you long before we had the privilege of seeing your sweet little face in photos.

Our hearts are with you today and with many emotions we pray for you, little one, as you celebrate your first and perhaps your only birthday in your home country.

HAPPY 1^st BIRTHDAY, SWEETHEART!!!!

With much love,

Your Forever Family - Daddy, Mommy, Jack, Samuel & Lydia

"China Girl" Update

It is with great joy that we "formally" share an update on our little miss.  I know that I was driving some of you crazy with the hints below. 

We have been matched to and accepted a referral for our little "China Girl" who will now be known as our Nora Jane (I'll post about her name at some point).  Our little Nora is in an orphanage in the Gansu province and is nearly one (her birthday is this Sunday, July 8th).  Little miss has congenital cleft lip and palate (again, I'll post more about what this means in terms of surgeries, treatments, therapies, etc.).

We are again in a waiting stage as we wait for our next round of approvals and paperwork.  After which we should have a better idea of timing of travel (likely this fall). And, at that point we should be able to post a photo here and share our beautiful daughter.  She is beautiful!

We are in awe of God's timing and all of the ways He is showing Himself in this journey ... His grace is so clearly evident in this story.

"I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you."  John 14:18

We love you baby girl and are waiting with joyful anticipation to bring you home!

A Fun Little Project

Went to the Asian market on Friday and picked up a super-sized bag of fortune cookies!  The boys (including Jason) were in awe of the sheer size of the bag of cookies.  I'm talking lots of cookies, my friends.  So, what did we do with the cookies.  Well, "Mr. Tweezers" (aka, Samuel with a little assistance from Jack occassionally and some supervision from Lydia) dissected the standard "fortunes" and we inserted our own.

Friday Night Eats

A friend, Kim, is super creative - one of her specialties is "Silly Suppers" - themed suppers.  Man, she comes up with some great ideas!!!

This past Friday night, we did a little themed supper here.  Check it out!  You may enjoy the interesting techniques being exhibited with the chopsticks.

If you think there is any hidden meaning here, you might be right!  More soon!