Getting Started....

Well, we are finally getting started on the nursery. We picked out the paint last night. I am such a big softie. I actually got teary-eyed. With the unexpected longer wait, I just really had to get things started. I guess I feel like..... I have to be proactive when it comes to this adoption. -to keep things moving in a positive direction. It makes the wait seem.... doable. Lately the wait has made this adoption seem like it really isn't happening. I am hoping to go to Pottery Barn Kids tomorrow and check out the quilt I would LOVE to get for Madeline's bed. I am sure the boys will not be the least bit interested in making the trip.. but I am at least going to try.

We went to our Chinese Play Group tonight. What a refreshing experience. One family received their referral yesterday. There new daughter, Micah, is precious!! She has the cutest little chubby cheeks. Of course, she looks like a little Buddha, all dressed up in a million layers of clothing. What an exciting time!!



Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Year of the Dog!

May you have a year filled with peace, love and prosperity!

Happy New Year!!

Well, we are very thankful the holiday season is over and the new year has begun. We are also hopeful that we will not lose any more loved ones anytime soon! Three deaths in a little over 8 weeks was a bit too much!! We returned from New York on New Year's morning after the funeral. We are so glad that is all behind us.

China has significanly slowed down the referral time. When we sent our dossier to China we were told to expect a February or March referral. Now, we will be lucky if it is May or June. We are keeping our fingers crossed that things will speed up a little bit. We feel so bad for the people who have had their months split lately. We know how hard that is. You go from expecting to be traveling by now to still waiting for your referral.

As much as people say that it will happen at the right time.... yes, everything was perfect for Riley, it is still extremely frustrating and depressing to have one end point in mind and then to have it pushed back to the point where you are unsure when it will happen. Heck, we could possibly not receive our referral until August, 13 months after sending our dossier to China!! I know it will happen... just am ready to see some forward progress. I am ready to look forward to life again!!

The Year of the Dog is fast approaching! We look forward to Chinese New Year and celebrating this time with our family.

Sad News

On Christmas morning Mary's grandmother passed away. We will be traveling to New York later this week for the services. We are so thankful she died peacefully. What a crazy year this has been.

Ready for 2006

Well, we are more ready for 2006 than we care to admit. Mary's grandmother had a brain stem stroke this past week. She is in a coma. We are playing that horrible waiting game now. The doctors have said there is no chance of recovery. So, another death is upon us. In the past 8 weeks we have lost three members of our family. The entire concept of that seems so unreal. Mary will be heading to NY for the funeral. We are unsure if Jerry and the boys will also go. They have been through so much in such a short amount of time.

Yesterday, James asked to go see is Grandnana. Mary took him to Hospice House. He sat and talked with Grandnana for quite some time. Nana was also there. What a strong young man James has become. He said his goodbyes. He told her he loved her. He wished her a Merry Christmas. Wow! At 9 years old he is one amazing person. It was so very moving. We are bursting with pride at his strength and love.

Riley is so much more oblivious, which is a good thing.


We hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas.

Family

I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
"Oh excuse me please" was my reply.


He said, "Please excuse me too;
I wasn't watching for you."


We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said goodbye.


But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.


Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me very still.


When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.


He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.


While I lay awake in bed,
God's still small voice came to me and said,


"While dealing with a stranger,
common courtesy you use,
but the family you love, you seem to abuse.


Go and look on the kitchen floor,
You'll find some flowers there by the door.


Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.


He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,
you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."


By this time, I felt very small,
And now my tears began to fall.


I quietly went and knelt by his bed;
"Wake up, little one, wake up," I said.


"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"
He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.


I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.
I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."


I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."
He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay.
I love you anyway."


I said, "Son, I love you too,
and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."


FAMILY
Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company
that we are working for could easily replace us in
a matter of days.
But the family we left behind will feel the loss
for the rest of their lives.

And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more
into work than into our own family,
an unwise investment indeed,
don't you think?
So what is behind the story?

Do you know what the word FAMILY means?
FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU