Thursday countdown- 6 weeks to go!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Well, I have to say counting down the weeks this way does make the time seem to move a bit faster. 6 weeks from today we get on a plane at Newark airport and head for China!!!! So in honor of the day I am going to list 6 things that I am extremely thankful for!!!

1. My husband I have the most wonderful husband I could ask for. Anyone who can put up with me is pretty terrific anyhow!! He takes such good care of this family and of me. When I am sick he always can make me feel better. When I'm cold he makes me a cup of tea. He does the laundry everyday and even folds it!! He cooks, he cleans, pays the bills and he always makes time to spend with us!! He believes, like me that its important to give back to your community.

And he is go ing to be an amazing father. When people ask me why at the age of 49 am I starting all over, I tell them that I want Scott to come home from work and have a liitle person meet him at the door yelling Daddy, Daddy!! I can hardly wait!

2. My 3 sons (sounds like a TV show)I can't imagine my life without my 3 sons. They are my greatest accomplishment and joy. I was fortunate enough to have been able to stay home for 14 years and spend every minute of their lives watching them grow. I thank God every day that I was able to do that. I loved every minute of it. They are incredible young men and I am so very proud of them. They take care of me in a way that makes me feel so special. They are also each others best allies and each one can count on each other for their support. I am lucky that they live close by but yet they are starting their own lives. And I am so happy for them!! Well David is still here with us, he's only 17!!!

3. Family and friends I am so lucky to have the brother and sister that I do. Although my sister lives in Maryland we are very well connected. I am never so happy as when she comes to visit. It is a bond like no other! Luckily my brother lives close by. I don't see him as much as I would liike but he is always there if I need him. Although my parents are gone I have numerous aunts, uncles and cousins who I am still close to. And Scotts family!!!! Oh how I love how they took my 3 boys and I into their hearts. I will be forever grateful to them for their acceptance. And they are so looking foward to Sierra's arrival!! I could not have even started this process without the help of my loving and caring friends. Each and everyone has supported me throughout this process. Also in years past when my parents were so ill some of these same friends were like rocks. They have been there for all the tough times in my life and I treasure them. They know who they are.

4.Health Although all around me I have friends and family battling serious health issues, I am thankful for the good health my family and I have. It is NOT to be taken for granted. As my brothers girlfriend Diane battles her newly diagnosed breast cancer, I am well aware how quickly that could change. She is facing it with great courage and grace and we all pray for a wonderful result!!! Also I am thankful that Sierra's health is, from all appearances and reports , good!!! Lets hope all reports will be equally positive when we get her home!

5. My community I started this post this morning but had to leave because our town was putting on its first ever free Thanksgiving luncheon. All members of the community chipped in to create this amazing feast that we served at our Community Center. Scott and David were up early this morning to go to the fire house to cook and mash 50 lbs of potatoes. The local churches made pies. The school PTF made breads, the town board cooked the turkeys,, etc. etc. I am so lucky to live in a community that cares about the people who live there. They will welcome Sierra with open arms!!!!

6. This adoption experience When we first started this journey we really didn't know what to expect and how long it would take. Although there have been some bunps in the road, I would not have traded this experience for anything. I had no idea how many children are living in orphanages around the world. (Please if anyone is considering adopting, check into it. It will change your life forever and the life of a child.) We have "met" some pretty inspiring people along the way. I think many of these people will remain connected with us. The support in the adoption network is undescribable. Everyone helps everyone else. People from all walks of life who have one thing in common. They want to change the life of a child. We are overwhelmingly blessed to have been matched with Sierra. When I look at her sweet face I know that she is the child we were meant to have. Soon we will know more about who she is and how she will change our lives. Being thankful barely expresses how we feel......

Every day I thankGod who has made all this possible, for the wonderful life he has given me!!

I wish all of you a blessed and joyous holiday!!!

Thursday countdown!!!!

Here it is, Thursday again!!! Now its only 7 weeks until we leave for China to pick up our sweetie. Is the time going quickly?!!! NO WAY!!! Its as if time has come to a stand still. I have never, well maybe when I was pregnant, wanted time to move more quickly.(Not because I hated being pregnant, I loved it!! But I was anxious to meeet my child!!) Yesterday we received some new, updated photos taken on Monday. They are such a gift. Its ALMOST enough to hold me over. Sending out a care package on Saturday will help too. She will be able to see pictures of her room, her dogs and more pictures of her family!

So 7..........mmmmmmmm. It's suppposed t be lucky!!! There are 7 days of the week and 7 doubled is 14, that's my lucky number. And David was born on August 7th and he is 17!! And both Paul and David wore the number 7 as their football number(although David couldn't get it this year) And Paul was wearing the number 7 a few years back when he kicked a field goal with 2 second left to win our schools first ever Section 9 Class A Football championship.

And who can forget the 7 Dwarves!!!

So I guess 7 is an OK number!

So Sierra, we will be leaving in 7 weeks to come and bring you home!!! We will be the lucky ones then!!!!!

New Pictures!!!!!

There is nothing like getting new pictures to put a whole new spin to the day!!! Please checkout our new pictures of Sierra. We are in LOVE!!!!!

Junior Prom!!!

Last night was David's Junior Prom!! I can't believe how fast the time has flown!! He wound up having a blind date. H s original date had to play a field hockey State chamionship semi-final game last night. (which they won3-0. Go girls!! They play in the final today!!!) Anyway his friends fixed him up with his girlfriend's friend. They go to a different school so they had never met. He looked so handsome and the girls looked beautiful too. And as far as I know ALL the kids made it home safe and sound!!!!

I am sooooo glad that David is coming to China with us. I can't imagine doing this trip without him sharing it with us. He will be an awesome big brothers. All the littlw kindergarten girls in my school love him. Some have even asked him to marry them when they are bigger. Sierra will be so lucky to have 3 very protective older brothers!

Thursday Countdown 8

I am starting a Thursday countdown. We will be leaving for China in 8 weeks from today. Although this is a longer wait from LOA than we had hoped we are coming to terms with it. It is part of the plan we may never understand fully but accept.
I mailed our China visa applications today. Our agency deals with a man from the state of Washington who will get our visas for us. The application was easy to fill out so this part of the process has been quite painless.
I am still having some hard moments about Christmas. There was no way we had prepared ourselves that we would not have her for Christmas. I still don't quite understand it all but I have faith in our agency that they know what's best. And its not like Sierra will know she is missing Christmas with us. Her stocking will still hang on our fireplace and will be waiting for her when we get home. Her picture will appear on our Christmas card along with the announcement that she will be coming joining us soon. She will not beside us as we hike up the hill to get our tree but she will be near our hearts as we celebrate the birthday of our Lord!!!
I am also reminded of the many people in our armed forces that will also not be home for Christmas. Their families are feeling the absence of their loved ones also. My heart goes out to them.
So little Sierra, we are counting the days. We are packing and planning and we are thinking of you endlessly. We will soon be there to take you in our arms!!! We love you!!

Veteran's Day

Today I was lucky enough to be off of work. And I knew and appreciated the reason why. As we are proceeding in our adoption journey I am often reminded, since we are dealing with China, how lucky we are to be able to have the freedoms we do. I maen jsut this past week we had election day and do matter how you feel about the outcome, WE HAVE THE FREEDOM TO VOTE!! And today is a day to remember all those who have been willing to give up their lives to make sure we have these rights. So imagine my horror when I had this brief exchange today with an adult acquaintance. "Hi Kathie How are you?" I replied "I'm fine, I'm enjoying my day off" He answered" Yeah, why is it that your off? I'm afraid I don't keep up with the holidays"

I was stunned!! How does one forget that it is Veteran's Day. Are we so holiday happy that we don't even take the time to appreciate the reason that we have been given the time off. My sister-in law took my nephews yesterday to visit a VA hospital. She brought them some things that our local elementary school students put together. Her father participated in the Gulf War when she was little. I always think of my late father on this day and his tour in Korea. He always talked of his time there with pride. So please let's all remember today those who have fought for us and those who are fighting now. Let's not get so busy that we become blaise about something as meaningful as Veteran's Day. And if you have a VA Hospital near you , go for a visit, and remember to say thank you!!

Enjoying the weekend!!

After almost 6 months of not loving weekends( because you never hear anything on the weekends) it's so nice to be able to really enjoy them again. Last night I hosted a family night at our church. We had a pot luck supper followed by BINGO!!! It turned out awesome. We had over 60 people there of all ages. I love the families in our church and we had a great time. I had a very tough week at work and it was a great Friday night activity. Today my husband surprised me and took me to one of the larger craft fairs in the area. I had forgotten it was this weekend but he didn't!!! I love that he goes with me and even buys me stuff.

We are starting to get things together for our trip. There are so many things to think of. Luckily the adoption community is so willing to help out with any information you may need. Monday is our travel meeting by phone to Kentucky. We will find out a lot of info then. It could be 2 hours long!!! There are at least 8 families that are going together. I can't wait to meet them all.

Its a little hard looking at Christmas stuff. We never imagined that we wouldn't have Sierra home for Christmas. But at least we know when we are going. We will be saving a little bit of Christmas for when we get back. Her birthday is also right around the time we return. It will be her first birthday party even though she will be 3!!!!

I'm including a picture that I took over Columbus Day weekend. We went pumpkin picking. The picture is of Scott, David, and Dylan, a little boy that we took camping with us. I love pictures from the back!!!

Have a great weekend!!!

Still floating.

After 3 days I am still floating. It is such an incredible feeling to know that on January 8th we will be leaving to go get our daughter. I am so excited and nerevous at the same time. Will I remember everything, will the plane ride be OK, Will it be really cold in Beijing and what will it be in Guangzhou!! But I am so, so happy to be asking these questions. Our LOA arrived before 10:00 on Saturday. We signed it and brought it back to the Post Office to be sent back. I have included pictures of the Fed Ex guy and the ladies at the post office.

Next Monday night I will have a 2 hour telephone conference call and learn a lot more information from the person in charge of travel at our agency. This is so exciting!!!