tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6822683514356292232024-03-13T05:08:20.014-07:00Walking With FaithBlessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-90569262327658700152013-11-28T01:13:00.001-08:002013-11-28T01:13:02.567-08:00Happy Thanksgiving from China!<p> I know I haven't been a very good blogger since we made it to GuangZhou, but between all the tours, adoption stuff, shopping with the kids, and being sick, I just haven't found the time! So today is Thursday, and it's nearly 5 pm. At home I'm guessing all the crazy shoppers are anxiously awaiting the arrival of their morning paper, and in just a few hours will be gathering with family to celebrate Thanksgiving. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Here, it's just another day, and that is a bit surreal. This morning we were able to sleep until around 9, partly because Matt napped super late yesterday and was up at midnight wanting to play, so we didn't get him back down til after 1! After breakfast we came upstairs, and finished packing. We realized we needed to get 1 more suitcase, just to be on the safe side with the weight allowance, so we headed next door, and found a great deal on one, then proceeded to the next stall where the twins got a new pair of shoes, and we bought Annabella a couple new pair. We bought some gifts for the kids classmates, and then headed back to repack! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>We promised Andy when we were in ZhengZhou that he could have McDonald's every day while we were in GuangZhou, so we've made good on that. Greg and I finally had absolutely all we could stand and begged him to eat some papa johns for lunch. After getting our lunch, we've just been sitting around watching some old war movie, waiting on 5:30. From here we will have a van ride to Hong Kong, straight to the airport. We should arrive around 9-9:30 pm. After getting checked in, we will board at 12:55 am flight to Seoul, then have a 5.5 hour layer over before heading to Dallas, where Matt will officially become Americas newest citizen! After another 5.5 hour layer over we will board our flight to Memphis where we will be met by Greg's Dad and my parents at 3:30 pm. We then have a 2 hour drive to get home. So you can see it's going to be a loooooooooooooong journey! After we get home, and get back on our feet, I'll post more pictures and more about our time here in China. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>It's truly been an amazing experience this time, and I know that some day we will be back again, and I just can't wait! Pray for safe travels for us, and especially for Matt. He wasn't too keen on the last flight, so we are a bit weary of how all this traveling will go over with him. Thanks for following our family through this amazing time, we pray that God blesses you each and every one! </p>
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<p><em><font color="#fe00ff">"I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus" 1 Cor 1:4</font></em></p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-8675842470572848942013-11-24T06:20:00.001-08:002013-11-24T06:20:40.372-08:00Our first few days in GuangZhou...<p> Sorry for the shortest blog post ever, but yesterday was a long day, and we were dead tired, and that was just about all I could manage! When we landed I started having dizzy spells, and woke up the next day with a nicely full blown sinus infection. We began yesterday with breakfast in the hotel, and then went back upstairs to get the final things packed before heading off to the airport for our flight to GuangZhou. Our flight was originally supposed to leave around 6:30 pm, but we received word that it had been moved up to 4:30. That was both good and bad news. Good in the sense that we were able to get to GuangZhou earlier, but bad in the sense that we needed to receive our kids passports before we flew out, and just getting them by Friday was going to be a challenge, much less early on a Friday. <span style="line-height: 1.3em;">In the end, though, our agency was able to persuade all of the cities to expedite the passport process and we all received our children's passports before the flight left. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><br>
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<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Once we got checked in to the flight, and said good bye to our guides there, and headed to our gate. The flight took off on time, but we did have a snafu with the stroller. Usually you can "gate check" them, meaning you give them to the flight attendant when you enter the plane. They didn't seem to know what to do with them, so originally we took it to our seat, then they came and asked for it and told us it would arrive separately, the. We were told it would be with the baggage. Whatever. We just needed to take off at that point, so we prayed for the best as we all relinquished our strollers. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><br>
</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Sitting in the plane and even taxiing down the runway was fine, but when the plane began to ascend, and the pressure began to build, Matt began to get pretty unhappy about it! It was a booked flight, and I had a businessman in a nice expensive looking suit sitting next to me. I did the bes I could to contain Matt, and to keep him from wailing loudly, and finally found that cookies worked best, so I gave him several, and we were ok again for awhile. After about 5 more minutes, he again got pretty fussy, and kept spinning and twisting, so I put him down and let him stand between my legs, and he was one happy camper again. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><br>
</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">After another 30 minutes or so, they brought out some dinner, and while we were eating, I felt my leg, and it felt like it was wet...sweat or??? Turns out, it was ??? Yep. I got pooed on. On an airplane. With no clothes to change into. That's me, alright, just call me poopy pants. So after the meal got taken away, I made my way to the bathroom, and changed mr stinky pants into a clean diaper, and clean clothes, so at least only one of us smelled bad. Landing was tricky, as he didn't like being held, and all that shaking and noise one little bit. Not really looking forward to the flights home. Not. At. All. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><br>
</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">After we landed, we hiked over to the luggage claim, where we found our "baby wheelchairs" (as the airline called them) along with the rest of our luggage and when we turned around there was Grace, or guide from last year smiling and waving at us. It was so great to see her again, and our other guide, Jocelyn is super sweet too. Getting back to the hotel, and checked in was a breeze, and when we made it up to our room, we found a gorgeous, two room suite with 2 bathrooms. It is so perfect for our family, and the boys think it's the best room ever. After getting somewhat settled in, Greg was able to get Matt down for bed, and the we settled in for the night. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><br>
</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">This morning we had breakfast at the Buffett downstairs, and then headed off for the medical exams. Matt, master of the poo, soiled his only short sleeve outfit in the lobby before we even left, so he got changed into his "emergency" outfit, which was the silk outfit we bought for him in Beijing. All the other clothes we have are for cold weather, so this afternoon, we are headed off to find some clothes for him, and to the toy market that the boys have been anxiously awaiting. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><br>
</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Fast forward... I didn't get to finish posting this yesterday, so let me catch you up on the rest of our day yesterday, and today! So yesterday, the medical exam went seamlessly, and we quickly finished the process and were back to the hotel. After letting Matt grab a much needed nap, we grabbed a cab and headed to 1 Link plaza, to the toy market. The boys racked up with more Lego sets than I can count, remote control helicopters, a remote control car, and a few other odds and ends. Matt go a tambourine, and a wooden pull toy, and he's been running around all afternoon pulling it around behind him. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><br>
</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Getting there was easy, getting back, not so much! We stayed until they closed, so there were hundreds of people trying to catch a cab. After hiking over to a hotel a few streets over, we finally were able to get a cab back. Once we made it back, all the boys played for awhile with their new toys and I crashed into bed. My sinus infection is much worse today, but I'm hoping that starting antibiotics yesterday will kick this thing in the tail, and that I'll wake up feeling better tomorrow. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><br>
</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Today we started off early, again, with breakfast, and then we headed off to do the city tour. We visited the same places that we saw last year, but it was good for the boys to be able to experience it too. The first stop was the 6 Banyan Temple, then we were off to the Chen Family Academy, and finally the provincial Arts and Crafts store. We spent the rest of the day just relaxing at the hotel as it began raining shortly after we got back. This evening we ventured down to the pool where the boys swam awhile, but the cool wind finally chased us back upstairs around 8. We also made a quick trip to the 7/11 next door to get batteries and when we got back in, the boys were able to play with their rc cars. Nathan bought one that was called a wall climber, and we soon found out it also drives on the ceiling. I have to say it's pretty darn cool! </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><br>
</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Matt's been pretty good the past couple of days, but bedtime is still a challenge, and he wakes up at least once, usually twice a night too, so we are really feeling it. Already we are scrambling trying to figure out how to fit everything in to the time we have left that we want to do. Tomorrow morning is our consulate appointment, and by the time most of you are getting ready for bed, we will have taken his oath to become an American citizen. Technically he won't actually gain citizenship until he steps foot on American soil, but the oath is what allows that to happen, and what we must do to receive his visa. After the appointment tomorrow, we are officially done with all of the steps of the adoption process, and it's just a waiting game until the consulate issues our visa which should be on Wednesday afternoon. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><br>
</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Well, it's late here, and we've got to be up by 6:45, so I'm going to attempt to upload this before bed. Thank you to everyone who has commented, either here or on Facebook, and to all who have prayed for us along the way. We surely feel every one of those, and all the love they show. Tonight I would like to ask you to especially pray for the people at the 6 Banyan temple, that they will be reached by the truth of Christ! and will be open and accepting of that truth. Being there a second time, was especially heartbreaking for us, and it weighs heavily on me tonight. Thanks again, and may God bless you!</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><br>
</span></p>
<p><em><font color="#fe00ff">"You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. Isiah 43:10</font></em><br>
</p>
<p>One last picture from ZhengZhou<font color="#fe00ff"> </font></p>
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<p>Greg getting Matt to bed </p>
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<p> 6 banyan temple</p>
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<p> The leaning pagoda has a hidden story in each one you see</p>
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<p> Each of the golden Buddhas weighs over 10 tons </p>
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<p> Banyan tree</p>
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<p> Cute one from the bus...</p>
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<p> Twins!!!</p>
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<p> The Chen Academy, all of this is hand painted every few years</p>
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<p> </p>
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<p> </p>
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<p> Looks like a photograph...but it's actually hand woven silk </p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">Look who's a smiley happy man!</div>
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<p> </p>
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<p> </p>
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<p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-73274346022576567702013-11-22T08:14:00.001-08:002013-11-22T08:14:39.925-08:00Shortest blog post ever...<p> Made it safely to GuangZhou, goodnight! <3</p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-8488220591335937942013-11-20T21:41:00.001-08:002013-11-20T21:41:56.699-08:00A free day...<p> After the hectic pace we've been on since first arriving in China, it was so good to finally have a free day to relax and explore on our own time. Matt woke up around 5:30 needing a diaper change, and he was WIDE awake afterwards. So finally around 7 he and I went down to breakfast while the others slept. After breakfast we headed back to the room to find the boys all awake. Matt began imitating them and soon the game was on to see what all they could get him to do. Watching them all play together was so heart warming! He really blossomed, and began to chatter away, crawl around, and even stood and tottered around. He is incredibly curious, and Oh. my. Goodness. Did he start getting into things! We are really going to have our hands full trying to keep him out of things!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We met up at 11 with Rachael and Adam, the sister and son of one of the other adoptive families. We walked down the block to the park, and spent the next several hours playing, walking, climbing, riding rides, and chasing pigeons. On the other side of the park was a mcdonalds, so we had lunch there, before heading back through the park for more fun. </p>
<p>The kids got mobbed to take pictures after we entered the park! Andy was too shy, but the other boys all wee really good sports about it!</p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">You know my boys HAD to climb the trees</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">Paddle boats on the lake, Matt snoozed through most of the ride</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">Enjoying the swinging ride at the park </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">And having fun with the bumper cars</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">Blowing bubbles</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">Just chillin'</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lvX0p9tc-AU/Uo2b2HqJqII/AAAAAAAACZc/xXJZcTdnLYA/s2048/Photo%252520Nov%25252019%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252011%25253A37%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lvX0p9tc-AU/Uo2b2HqJqII/AAAAAAAACZc/xXJZcTdnLYA/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252019%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252011%25253A37%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1385012514838.908" class="alignnone" alt="" width="500" height="333"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">Climbing the rock wall</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">A flock of pigeons</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">And only one black one</div>
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<p> </p>
<p>When we got back to the hotel, we took the opportunity to try to get some school work dome with the kids. It's really the first opportunity we've had to do any, so we spent about an hour on it before heading out to meet Kim and Mike at the swimming pool. They had the kids pool closed, but the boys enjoyed swimming in the big pool, and matte njoyed running back and forth on the spongy walkway around the pool. After Kim and Mike came down, he had the brilliant idea to go put the little kids in the empty kids pool with some stray ping pong balls (there are ping pong tables on one side of the pool, and always ping pong balls in the pool, and the floor surrounding it.) they had so much fun running around in it, chasing the balls we would bounce for them! </p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">The are renovating the hotel, so the walk to the pool is quite cold!</div>
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<p> </p>
<p>Finally, we were all getting tired and hungry, so we ran upstairs to change and then headed next door to the noodle place. We got some corn and pumpkin soup for Matt, Nathan ordered dumplings, Greg got chicken satay, I had tomato and egg soup, and Alex ordered a dish that had fried rice with a fried egg on top. Andy refused all food, so the rest of us enjoyed our dinner before heading back to the hotel for bed. Matt had been trying to nod off during dinner, and in the short time it took to walk from the holiday inn express to the crowne plaza, he fell into a deep, deep sleep. We got him changed and put in bed, and he never even cracked an eye open!</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>Around 1:30 we met the "mad" Matt that the orphanage had described. He woke up with a fury, and we could not feed or change him fast enough! We listened to him scream and cry for the next hour, as nothing we did could soothe him. Finally he gave it up, and went back to sleep, and we fell back into bed exhausted both physically and mentally. It's good for him to get that out, even if it's hard for us to manage, because he will see that no matter what he does, we will still be her, still love him, and still care for him, so we are building the trust with him, that we need. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Knowing that doesn't make it any easier though. Hearing him scream and cry, and throw his bottle, and kick his feet, and try to bang his head is just heartbreaking. Knowing that he is grieving and that there is nothing I can do for him, is so incredibly hard. I just long for him to see how much love we have for him, and I know that he is beginning to, but we are still so new to him, and he still has a long way to go before he can truly understand and accept us. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Today we were able to go to LuoHe, linyang county, to see Annabella's finding place. Not being able to go last year, has weighed heavily on me, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to go there this time. I think it's important to share with Matt and Annabella everything we can about their past. They will never know if they have biological brothers or sisters, or what their parents looked like, what their name was at birth, or why they we given up. Even their birthdates are just estimates. So what I can do for them, is to gather every shred of what we can about their early childhood, so that one day, we can say with confidence that we did everything we could to give them as much history as we could. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Annabella was found at the gates of the women's and children's hospital. Here are the pictures of where our baby girl was left.</p>
<p> </p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">She was found here...</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"> </div>
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<p> </p>
<p>Tomorrow we leave ZhengZhou behind, and head to GuangZhou. Our time here this year has actually been pretty enjoyable. Being able to get out and see and do more, has made this time easier, but I'm still looking forward to moving on. Please pray for us to have a safe flight, and that we will all receive our passports for our children. Without them, we will be unable to make our consulate appointments on Monday, and have been told that our next opportunity will be December 4 to visit the consulate to get Matt's visa, which means we will be delayed an entire week. We are confidant that won't happen, but as we learned last time, you just never know for sure! Well, I'll wrap it up for now. Our next post should be from GuangZhou!</p>
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<p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-59721700834598501692013-11-19T18:59:00.001-08:002013-11-19T18:59:52.039-08:00The longest day...<p> Yesterday began very early, with breakfast at 7:45, followed by a trip back to the registration office, where we first met Matt. There we received our official adoption certificate, and everything we have prayed for became 100% official!!! An Ze, officially became Matthew Gregory Bennett, one less orphan!</p>
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<p> After the adoption was finalized, we headed over to the notary office, to sign some more paperwork, and then we headed back to the hotel. </p>
<p>We had about an hour and a half before we had to leave for the orphanage and passport trip to Anyang, so we ordered so e room service for lunch, inhaled it, and were off for the long drive to Anyang. The drive took about three and a half hours, and when we arrived, we found it was actually a really big, well developed city. We passed a beautiful building, that our guide explained housed the oldest piece of Chinese history, some ancient writings on tortoise shells. Here is a link to the Wikipedia page that talks a bit more about it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anyang<br>
</p>
<p> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"> </div>
<p>And here is the picture of the museum...it's a bit blurry, because we were speeding by in the van...</p>
<p> <a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9rpeS1iJzz0/Uowe8HXM-yI/AAAAAAAACTk/JerrwHBXH5E/s2048/Photo%252520Nov%25252018%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525202%25253A02%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9rpeS1iJzz0/Uowe8HXM-yI/AAAAAAAACTk/JerrwHBXH5E/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252018%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525202%25253A02%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1384916387423.5212" class="alignnone" alt="" width="500" height="333"></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Shortly after we passed the museum, we arrived at the Anyang PSB (public service bureau) where we made the formal application for Matt's passport. It was a very quick process and soon we were off to see the orphanage. We were expecting it to take at least 15-20 minutes, but in just about 5 minutes, we arrived at the gates of the Anyang social welfare institute. The place houses both orphanaed children, and the elderly, and it was huge. It was very rundown, with paint peeling from all of the buildings, and no doors, just heavy plastic strips to keep the cold out. </span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">(the building with the playground equipment is the orphanage)</span></p>
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<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><br>
</span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">We were allowed to go into 2 of the rooms, and I tried to love on every child I could. We had taken some silly bands to give to the children on the street, but this time of year, we haven't encountered as many as last summer, so we took all of them to the orphanage. We were allowed to pass them out to the children there in Matt's room, and the looks on their faces were absolutely 100% priceless! </span><br>
</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Some of the precious children at Anyang SWI </span></p>
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<p> Passing out silly bands </p>
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<p> </p>
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<p> Saying goodbye to Matt's building</p>
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<p> </p>
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<p> The open door in the middle is the directors orphanage</p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">The orphanage director</div>
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<p> After leaving the orphanage, we made the trek to Matt's finding place. It was about an hour from the orphanage through traffic, though without the traffic, it probably would only have taken about 20 to 25 minutes. We had to stop a couple of times to ask if anyone knew exactly where the place was, and finally, we were there. The road there was a service road, and was filled with factories, and run down or abandoned buildings. The road was filled with pits and potholes, and big trucks hauling trash, boxes, and fruit. There were vendors and small shops along the way too. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>His finding spot was just in front of the entrance to a factory. It was a busy road, so I know that whoever left him, knew that he would be found quickly...that's a consolation at least. I knelt and prayed for the family who had lost a son there, and asked God to grant them comfort and give them peace. We took lots of pictures of everything that could be seen at night, and then we left the place where our son was left. </p>
<p> </p>
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<p> </p>
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<p> </p>
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<p> </p>
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<p> We stopped on the way home to get dinner at a service area (rest stop) along the highway. They had a bot food buffet, which Greg, Matt, and I all enjoyed...the boys...not so much, lol! It was all very traditional Chinese food, and was really, quite good! Once we were back on the road, Greg and all four boys f ell fast asleep, and slept the 3.5 hours back to ZhengZhou. We finally arrived around 9:30p.m. And after a quick snack in the room, the twins quickly crashed. Nathan and Greg watched a bit of TV while I posted a quick blog! And tried to get Matt to sleep. Getting him to bed last night was much more difficult, as he would begin to writhe and scream each time we got near the crib. Finally, Greg was able to get him down, and we managed a couple of hours before he was up again. Greg got him back to sleep the first couple of times, and I took the next couple. Finally and around 5:30, he had a major blowout, and after the clean up, he was up for good. We went down to breakfast around 7, then headed back to the room, and went to the boys side of the suite to let Greg catch a bit more sleep. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The boys and Matt have really enjoyed playing this morning. He is really opening up, and smiling and laughing today. He has begun to walk some on his own, but he is still very wobbly. He has started imitating the boys too, which is precious! I'm going to try to post a video later today, if I can get it to upload!</p>
<p>Bath time!</p>
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<p> </p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">Sleepyheads</div>
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<p> </p>
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<p> Seriously crazy boy</p>
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<p> This was the longest day. From here it's all downhill. We have a free day on Wednesday, then we believe we will be able to go to Annabella's finding spot Thursday. On Friday we hope to receive Matt's passport, then late in the afternoon we will head to GuangZhou. Well, it's time to give Matt a bottle, so I'll wrap it up for today. Please continue to remember our friend George in your prayers, that he will find the truth in Jesus, and lead his family to salvation too. We are forever grateful for all of the messages, emails, and texts we've received from all of you! </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><font color="#fe00ff">"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Romans 15:13</font></em></p>
<p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-5984903877894111792013-11-19T07:10:00.001-08:002013-11-19T07:10:45.023-08:00Gotcha day continued...<p> They say that every gotcha day is different, and after two, I must say, that's absolutely true. Matt's gotcha day couldn't be any more different than Annabella's! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>We started the day early, with breakfast in the hotel, where all of us were excited, nervous, and generally covered in goosebumps and prone to crying at any little thing. After breakfast, we headed off to the local registration office to await the arrival of all but 1 of the children. One family's child had to travel by train from over 4 hours away, so they would have their gotcha day after we got back to the hotel. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>When we arrived, we walked into the building to find two children already waiting. We hurriedly took their families cameras and we all started snapping pictures. One by one we watched as the children arrived, and took turns taking pictures for each of the families. Finally there were just two of us left waiting, one family who was waiting for a little girl, and us. The boys kept a vigil by the front doors and alerted us each time a car arrived, and finally a child emerged with a pair of adults. When they turned towards the door, we immediately could see that our son had finally arrived.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We quickly threw our camera at the first person we saw, and ran to the orphanage staff. After a moment, we were identified as his parents, and they handed him over to me. The emotion that comes over you when you hold your child for the first time, is simply overwhelming, and I had tears streaming down my face as I covered him in long overdue kisses, and cradled him with arms that had long awaited the moment. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>He was wearing cute canvas shoes, a t shirt, socks, split pant overalls, a heavy coat, and a vest. He never cried, and let Greg and I both hold him. He was silent, and just took in everything around him. Shortly after Matt came in, the last child arrived, and after we signed the 24 hour guardianship agreement, and took the official family photo, we loaded onto the bus and headed back to the hotel. Shortly after we arrived we got the call to head to the third floor that the other family's child had arrived. We headed down to give them our support and meet their baby. After taking some pictures of them, we slipped back upstairs and began the process of truly meeting our son. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>As we got him changed, we found a surprise. He has a fairly large surgical scar on the left side of his groin area. Our guide came and took a look,a md took so,e pictures, and is inquiring on our behalf to see if we can find out what surgery he has had, but our guess is that he had hernia surgery. The scar is old, and since the is absolutely nothing about it in his paperwork, we think whatever caused it, probably happened prior to his being orphaned. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Later in the afternoon, Greg and I took turns filling out paperwork downstairs, then decided to head out to do some shopping. Matt was a real trooper, and seemed to enjoy seeing all of the people, lights, and dogs (we seemed to pass a LOT of dogs!) We found a few children's clothing shops, and managed to find a pair of shoes that was cute, and fit perfectly for 55 RMB, which is less than $10.00. A few shops later we found the most adorable hat for 25 RMB, which is around $4.00. As we reached the end of that block, we saw a Chinese medicine/ western medicine shop, and so we had to go inside! You could buy starfish, fungus, adult supplements, and all types of "western" medicine including codeine, and sudafed. It was really quite interesting! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>After leaving the pharmacy, we headed on to wal mart to grab snacks, diapers, a bottle, and some toys to take to the orphanage. We spent a long time looking through the store, and finally had everything we needed. After we left, we stopped along the way to enjoy the nightlife here in ZhengZhou. At night, the sidewalks are covered with people doing evening exercise, breakdancing, playing games, and all sorts of other things. We passed several night vendors, and even a gentleman who had a sprayer filled with water. He was using it to write on the sidewalk. Although we couldn't read it, it was quite beautiful, and fascinating to see. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>When we got back, we tried giving Matt the bottle, and he lapped it right up! So we will have to wean him, but that will come after we get home. For now, we will bottle feed him, and let him find comfort in everything he can. After taking two full bottles of formula, he fell completely and deeply asleep, and slept all through the night.</p>
<p>Overall, the day couldn't have gone more smoothly, and by the end of it, we had managed to hear him utter one sound, and a few small grins. Today we were able to visit the orphanage, and see Matt's finding place, but I will have to blog about that tomorrow. It's been an incredibly long day, and it's all I can do to keep my eyes open to finish this post. Thank you all for your love, prayers, and support. I wish each of you could be here, and feel the joy that we have in our hearts at finally having our precious baby boy!</p>
<p>First bath...</p>
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<p> First smile...</p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">Brotherly love...</div>
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<p> Nighttime shopping...</p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">ZhengZhou alley at night...</div>
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<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><font color="#fe00ff">"I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High." Psalm 9:2 </font></em></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-91953567437424681052013-11-17T21:56:00.001-08:002013-11-17T21:56:23.461-08:00Gotcha Matt!!!<p> I think I'll let the pictures speak first...</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This was the moment we first saw him...</p>
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<p> Handing him over...</p>
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<p> Gotcha!</p>
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<p> </p>
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<p> We've had him about 2 hours. </p>
<p>So far he hasn't cried, but he did poke a quivering bottom lip out once or twice.</p>
<p>He hasn't uttered a single sound yet. </p>
<p>He's beginning to open up just a little</p>
<p>He likes all his toys, especially his oball links, and car</p>
<p>He's a big fan of the little round cookies Annabella loved </p>
<p>He can sit up on his own, and feed himself, but we haven't gotten him to drink anything yet</p>
<p>He wears 12-18 month clothes, and what appears to be size 4.5-5 shoes</p>
<p>His hair sticks up off his head</p>
<p>He has the longest eyelashes, ever!</p>
<p>He has a runny nose, but otherwise seems incredibly clean and healthy</p>
<p>He's absolutely perfect, and we adore him!</p>
<p>I'll post more about our gotcha day later, just wanted to share the photos for all of our family and friends who are waiting to see him!</p>
<p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-25025514318140651142013-11-17T07:15:00.001-08:002013-11-17T07:15:32.311-08:00The night before....<p> Today has been filled with travel, and preparation for tomorrow....The day we've been waiting for since February...the day we finally get to begin to show Matt how very much love we have for him. The day I've dreamt about countless nights. And wept for countless days. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>After our trip to wal mart to get formula, rice cereal, toddler snacks, juice, wipes, and diapers, we came back to the hotel and tried to organize everything so that tomorrow we can get up, have breakfast and go get our son! I sat in the floor surrounded by the toys, books, snacks, and sippy cups, and I just began to shake. It finally, after all this time, really and truly hit me. Greg was in the adjoining room helping the boys with something, and when he came back in he said I was white as a ghost. We just sat in the floor and prayed, and he just talked to me and calmed me down. Together we decided what toys to take, what to place into the backpack for our son. To say emotions are running high, would definitely be an understatement! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I just don't have much more in me tonight....I'm going to take a shower, and get in bed, so that I can be as rested as possible for tomorrow, and the crazy few days to follow. Please pray for us as a family, that we will be understanding of Matt's needs, and able to comfort his grieving. Pray for the nannies who have cared for him, his friends who will miss him, and especially pray for our precious baby Matt. Pray that he will quickly bond with us,a md allow us to comfort and love him. Pray for his health, that he will be healthy, and remain healthy for the rest of our time in China. And pray for his precious heart....his life will change so completely tomorrow, and he will grieve the loss of all that he has ever know. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Thank you for your prayers, and for following our journey....next stop...Gotcha Day!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><font color="#fe00ff">"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." Lam 3:24 ESV </font></em></p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-59627493365419481442013-11-16T06:20:00.001-08:002013-11-16T06:20:34.964-08:00Beijing Beautiful<p> Wow. That pretty much sums up today! We started early, and met our guide from last year, George, and we, and another family headed off to see the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. It was so much more beautiful than the section we saw last year, and just a completely different experience, and we are so thankful to have made the decision to break away from the CCAI touring and go off on our own. Seeing George again was so wonderful, and I'm grateful to have been able to share his exuberance with our kids, and our friends. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The section of the wall we visited had many different vendors, and once we got through that maze, we made it to the ski lift that takes you up the mountain to the wall, then made our way through several of the guard tower sections. The weather was beautiful, and we were able to take our time, and really enjoy the time we spent there. After we had walked and climbed as much as we could, we headed back to the area we had gotten off the lift. Just beside that was the toboggan ride that takes you down the side of the mountain. We loaded on, and off we went! That ride was so much fun! Greg and Andy rode first, Nathan was second, Alex and I went next, then Kim and Mike followed behind us. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>After we ran the gamut of vendors, and succumbed to a few souviners, we headed off to lunch with George. We ate at an authentic restaurant that was family style. We enjoyed an eggplant dish, steamed buns, greenbeans with garlic and chilis, noodles, fried rice, sweet and sour chicken, Kung Pao chicken, and French fries. It was fantastic, and I think we ate just about every bit of it!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> When we were done with lunch we headed off to see the Olympic stadium. The wind had picked up and it got cold quickly so we spent a few minutes walking down to the birds nest and the water cube, and on the way back, had George help us negotiate for some hats for Alex and Nathan. Once he had a good price, we had some very happy boys! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>After that we headed over to a very nice tea house, and were shown all about the traditional ways to drink tea. We tried five different types of tea, and then had some time to browse around the shop. We all wond up coming out with several types of tea, and new tea cups. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Today has definitely been one of the most incredible days we've spent in China (outside of the day we got Annabella, of course!) I truly hope that I'll be able to visit beijing again, and that I will see George when we do. As we bade goodbye to George, Greg asked him if he attended a church, and he responded with some questions about Christianity, and said that he had been visiting a church nearby. Greg took the opportunity to walk down to the market down the street, while I took the kids to the room, and was able to help answer some questions that he had. I ask that you all be in prayer for George, and his family, and that he will see the truth in God, and will accept Him as his Lord and savior. Nothing would make me happier than to know that our point in coming back here was to be used as a tool to bring our friend to Christ! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Well, we have an extremely early morning tomorrow, so I'm going to try to upload the pictures from the night market last night, and from today, then head to bed. Thanks for your continued prayers for our family, and journey, and especially for our friend, George! </p>
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<p>The night market...</p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">The Great Wall </div>
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<p> </p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">Olympic Stadium</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">George keeping Andy safe and warm</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t09yRubWSy4/Uod7lN0_bbI/AAAAAAAACPw/FJvI49QI8vw/s2048/Photo%252520Nov%25252015%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525202%25253A23%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t09yRubWSy4/Uod7lN0_bbI/AAAAAAAACPw/FJvI49QI8vw/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252015%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525202%25253A23%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1384611620209.8936" class="alignnone" alt="" width="500" height="333"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">Bargaining for hats</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">The Tea House</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-X8K0P1Ro8O0/Uod-RhWuoZI/AAAAAAAACQM/tSjoh0CY9MQ/s2048/Photo%252520Nov%25252015%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525203%25253A13%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-X8K0P1Ro8O0/Uod-RhWuoZI/AAAAAAAACQM/tSjoh0CY9MQ/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252015%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525203%25253A13%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1384611620201.8123" class="alignnone" alt="" width="500" height="333"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;">Flower tea</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: none;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pnj4M7Dmymc/Uod_IVODSAI/AAAAAAAACQU/DeVvQcVSNIw/s2048/Photo%252520Nov%25252015%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525203%25253A31%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style=""><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pnj4M7Dmymc/Uod_IVODSAI/AAAAAAAACQU/DeVvQcVSNIw/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252015%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525203%25253A31%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1384611620147.567" class="alignnone" width="500" height="750" alt=""></a></div>
<p> </p>
<p><em><font color="#fe00ff">"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." 1 Cor 12:12</font></em><br>
</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-51933591398757643532013-11-15T00:39:00.001-08:002013-11-15T00:44:40.557-08:00Ni Hao Y'all!Well, we made it in one piece to Beijing last night, and got checked in to our hotel room around 9:45 p.m. local time. That would have been 7:45 a.m. At home. Considering we left our home at 12:30 a.m. , that was around 31 hours travel time. Nathan and I got sick on the airplane, but we are both much better now! We had some turbulence with all of our flights, but take off and landing couldn't have been smoother on all of the legs of our journey. The boys thought that the planes were the coolest planes that they had ever seen, because they each had their own game system, and movie screen...but by the end of the 14 hour flight from Dallas to Seoul, they were more than ready to leave the flying part behind! Cool plane or not. <br />
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This morning we got up and enjoyed a breakfast buffet, and I have to say each of the boys at least tried one something they had never seen before. None of us were quite sure of this...nor we're e brave enough to try it...there's just something about "dried meat floss bag" that doesn't quite sound appealing! (Just click the picture to get a close up of the sign!) the donut looking things to the right of the picture, were called fried bagels, and the boys LOVED those!<br />
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-a9nW_dl7ojg/UoXckcghBGI/AAAAAAAACJY/l8ttquV-dwI/s2048/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525206%25253A27%252520AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="333" id="blogsy-1384504775575.8506" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-a9nW_dl7ojg/UoXckcghBGI/AAAAAAAACJY/l8ttquV-dwI/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525206%25253A27%252520AM.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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After breakfast we met all the rest of the CCAI families, and off we went to visit Tianamen Square, the Forbidden City, and then we visited a family in the Hutong area where we had a home cooked meal. We had some type of meat ball, sticky rice, BBQ chicken wing, a shredded garlic dish, some sort of sliced potato, spicy friend peanuts, dumplings, Kung Pao chicken, and sliced sautéed onions with pork. It was all really fantastic, and even Andy ate the meatballs.<br />
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There are five families in our group so far, though we will be met by more in Zheng Zhou. All of the families we've met, are super nice, and all but one has their children with them. Three of us are returning adoptive families, so it's a really great mix. I think several of us are planning to meet for dinner tonight, at the same restaurant we ate in last summer in Beijing. <br />
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Being back here is so strange. It's familiar, yet new. The stinky tofu smell is not at all prominent this time of year, and overall, it's way less crowded. The pace of the touring was much more relaxed this time, and we are really enjoying the weather, pace, and and scenery more this time. The weather was beautiful today. Cooler this morning, but nice enough to wear a lightweight longsleeve shirt this afternoon. <br />
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The boys were really amazed at the Forbidden city, and it was really neat to be able to watch them experience it. But I think riding the rickshaws was the highlight for them! After dinner tonight we plan to walk down to the night market, and Greg and I are both super anxious to see what they think about it!<br />
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It's hard to believe that somewhere between 48-72 hours from now we will have Matt. I just have to let that sink in a minute....seriously. My Bennett bunch of 6, is getting ready to become a clan of 7! <br />
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Tomorrow we will break away from the CCAI group, and head the the Muitainyu section of the Great Wall with our guide from last summer, George. Greg and I are so excited to have the opportunity to see him again this year, and are looking forward to spending the day just kind of doing whatever else we choose to do with him. We may take the kids to the Olympic stadium, or we may go to the cloisonné factory. I think we will just enjoy playing it all by ear. <br />
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Well, I'm going to take a bit of a nap before we head out tonight, so here are a few pictures from our fun today! <br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-COQIZGcffbk/UoXcoFqF3lI/AAAAAAAACJg/QfYzLwXiwsw/s2048/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525208%25253A34%252520AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="333" id="blogsy-1384504775604.5066" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-COQIZGcffbk/UoXcoFqF3lI/AAAAAAAACJg/QfYzLwXiwsw/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525208%25253A34%252520AM.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
I believe this was facing the Natural history museum<br />
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VtkEkmKtGNE/UoXcsCHrjJI/AAAAAAAACJo/_-Ak-Qq2AHw/s2048/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525209%25253A08%252520AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="333" id="blogsy-1384504775610.5374" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VtkEkmKtGNE/UoXcsCHrjJI/AAAAAAAACJo/_-Ak-Qq2AHw/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525209%25253A08%252520AM.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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Behind us is chairman Mao's tomb. This is on one side of Tianamen square.<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4wdpV1WRjZw/UoXcvROqc7I/AAAAAAAACJw/MP7D-TiVV6o/s2048/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525209%25253A17%252520AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="333" id="blogsy-1384504775560.3748" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4wdpV1WRjZw/UoXcvROqc7I/AAAAAAAACJw/MP7D-TiVV6o/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525209%25253A17%252520AM.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
This was inside the forbidden city <br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xHPJriDpJa4/UoXcz4-yv8I/AAAAAAAACJ4/QERQfR59YzY/s2048/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525209%25253A37%252520AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="333" id="blogsy-1384504775630.724" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xHPJriDpJa4/UoXcz4-yv8I/AAAAAAAACJ4/QERQfR59YzY/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525209%25253A37%252520AM.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
Forbidden city<br />
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BDLxCAcsMGY/UoXc4T35k1I/AAAAAAAACKA/DSJM_QcRkLs/s2048/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252010%25253A10%252520AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="333" id="blogsy-1384504775581.207" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BDLxCAcsMGY/UoXc4T35k1I/AAAAAAAACKA/DSJM_QcRkLs/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252010%25253A10%252520AM.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
The above picture is the main gathering area inside the forbidden city. This is where all of the government people would gather for speeches from the emperor. <br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M4bkM1PaQpc/UoXc-ZT0NyI/AAAAAAAACKI/UST1Tvfrq1Y/s2048/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252010%25253A21%252520AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="750" id="blogsy-1384504775577.4404" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M4bkM1PaQpc/UoXc-ZT0NyI/AAAAAAAACKI/UST1Tvfrq1Y/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252010%25253A21%252520AM.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
Greg in front of one of the copper statues.<br />
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Wg9Ft2Rhu-o/UoXdC2atf4I/AAAAAAAACKQ/7fCTPTVmSsA/s2048/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252010%25253A37%252520AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="333" id="blogsy-1384504775624.0679" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Wg9Ft2Rhu-o/UoXdC2atf4I/AAAAAAAACKQ/7fCTPTVmSsA/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252010%25253A37%252520AM.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
Chilling on a wall inside the forbidden city<br />
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Htm9UHRu1xw/UoXdH6V6DEI/AAAAAAAACKY/nLv5wHAAh30/s2048/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252010%25253A39%252520AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="750" id="blogsy-1384504775590.2637" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Htm9UHRu1xw/UoXdH6V6DEI/AAAAAAAACKY/nLv5wHAAh30/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252010%25253A39%252520AM.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
This was between a set of steps inside the forbidden city<br />
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LMH3vevdL0Y/UoXdM0R3LiI/AAAAAAAACKg/xIblBJNOAz0/s2048/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252010%25253A57%252520AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="333" id="blogsy-1384504775577.1733" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LMH3vevdL0Y/UoXdM0R3LiI/AAAAAAAACKg/xIblBJNOAz0/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252010%25253A57%252520AM.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
Andy standing in front of the female lion in front of the wedding chamber of the forbidden city<br />
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2CUgdHH3TMQ/UoXdRa3RMkI/AAAAAAAACKo/WQ7Iqtenuuw/s2048/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252011%25253A02%252520AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="333" id="blogsy-1384504775628.2068" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2CUgdHH3TMQ/UoXdRa3RMkI/AAAAAAAACKo/WQ7Iqtenuuw/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252011%25253A02%252520AM.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
More from the forbidden city<br />
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qpuX9M_zP0s/UoXdWnsYSJI/AAAAAAAACKw/40SHJIzZ0so/s2048/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252011%25253A14%252520AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="750" id="blogsy-1384504775588.8513" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qpuX9M_zP0s/UoXdWnsYSJI/AAAAAAAACKw/40SHJIzZ0so/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252011%25253A14%252520AM.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
The couples tree inside the forbidden city<br />
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SAI5SXT6wRM/UoXddA3KWRI/AAAAAAAACK4/qGhUrFdBpl8/s2048/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252011%25253A17%252520AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="333" id="blogsy-1384504775574.699" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-SAI5SXT6wRM/UoXddA3KWRI/AAAAAAAACK4/qGhUrFdBpl8/s500/Photo%252520Nov%25252014%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252011%25253A17%252520AM.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
Rock formation in the garden at the forbidden city<br />
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This rock tower from inside the forbidden city gardens was actually taken from the bottom of a lake near Shanghi.<br />
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Riding the rickshaw in the Hutong area<br />
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The bird that sang as we ate lunch cooked by a local family in the Hutong area<br />
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Mcdonalds<br />
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<em><span style="color: #fe00ff;">"All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you!" Psalm 145:10</span></em><br />
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Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-27970089614318194422013-11-12T21:36:00.001-08:002013-11-12T21:36:34.813-08:00China.....here comes the Bennett Bunch!<p> </p>
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<p>It's 11:17 pm, and all is quiet in the Bennett household. Everyone is sleeping but me, even the cats! As I sit here enjoying what will be the last silence I'll have for who knows how long, I'm thinking of all that's led us to this point. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>NEVER would I have thought a few years ago, that I would be here. With one adopted daughter, and getting ready to go back to china for a precious little boy to add to our family. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>God has truly blessed us in more ways than I can write about in what short time I have. The clock is set to go off in just a few short minutes, and that will be the beginning of a very long day for us... One which ends when we land in Beijing. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have so many new emotions this time, even though, in some ways I'm already a "seasoned" vet. Every trip is different, every child is different, every adoption is different. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I wonder how our boys will do on this long and brutal flight overseas. I wonder what they will think of the culture, the history, the people...how much will they truly understand, and how much will this change their lives? </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I wonder if Matt will be accepting of our love, if he will be healthy, if we will all bond quickly. I think about how his life is about to change so drastically from anything he's ever known. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I read and sang to my daughter, the baby of the family, before tucking her into bed at my parents house tonight. It was the last time I will ever do that to her as the baby of our family. The next time I tuck her in she will officially be a big sister! I wonder how she will handle not seeing us for the next couple of weeks, and what she will think when we come home bearing the gift of a new baby brother. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>So many unanswered questions....and I am so very thankful for them. Thankful that God has blessed me with the ability to love enough to wonder such things....thankful for these things to love....these children, this husband, this life. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Well, my time is up, it's time to wake the kids, and load the car, and head to Memphis. Thank you to all who have helped, prayed for, read about, and shared our journey. Please pray for our family, especially for health, understanding, patience and bonding. We can't wait to share this next part of the journey with you!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><font color="#fe00ff"><em>"May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ." 2 Thess 3:5</em></font></p>
<p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-15153257770777865022013-11-10T00:01:00.001-08:002013-11-10T00:01:16.131-08:00Preparing...<p> It's hard to believe that it's almost time to go to China! The plane tickets arrived yesterday, and the travel insurance is bought. VPN's have been downloaded and installed, and the rapid chargers checked. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Since we received our Travel approval, we have had multiple lists of things to take care of, including double checking and photo copying paperwork, getting flu vaccines, squaring away household details, cleaning, and oh yeah...PACKING! </p>
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<p> (All of our meds to take to China)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We've had meetings at school to make sure we have everything the boys need to stay caught up while we are away, and that Annabella's teacher knows who will be bringing her to and from school, and who to contact in case of an emergency. </p>
<p> </p>
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<p> (Matt's clothes, and most of his toys, plus the adoption file that goes with us)</p>
<p>Last minute fundraising items got shipped out this week, and we sold the last set of mattresses today. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Closests, bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, bathrooms are either cleaned, or almost done. We will basically shut off all the bedrooms, and leave the cats to prowl the rest of the downstairs while we are away. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Christmas decorations are completely up, and the majority of gifts have been ordered. I even have managed to wrap some of the kids things, but most will be waiting for me when we get home.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We've got Matt's first pediatrician appointment lined up, insurance for him squared away, and his room is ready. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Meals are prepared, and in the freezer, so we will have something besides sandwiches and cereal to eat when we come home. I remember last year being so hungry for chicken and salad when we got back...I wonder what we will all crave this time! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Greg and I have gotten our clothes packed, and all the meds we will take, and all of Matt's clothes and toys. Tomorrow's plan includes packing the boys clothes, and getting Annabella's things ready to take to my parents. </p>
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<p> (Greg's backpack, fully packed, and all my clothes, ready to go into my backpack)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Monday and Tuesday will be our final days to finish cleaning, packing, and doing things like, taking out the trash, emptying the fridge of anything that will spoil while we are away, and installing Matt's car seat. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>My head spins with all that is left to do, but my heart is so ready to jump on that plane! The boys are so excited, and they've just been bouncing off the walls. I feel sorry for their teachers these next couple of days, as I know it will be incredibly hard for them to focus, and I'm sure their friends and classmates are excited and full of questions too! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Tonight I downloaded a few new books to read on the long layovers and on the plane, and I wrapped new books, travel games, and small, inexpensive digital cameras and travel journals for the boys. The plan is to give them something every 2 hours on the plan, to try to engage them and keep them awake, and moving around as much as possible on the flight over there. It will be easier for them to acclimate to "China time" that way. Hopefully on the way home, we can sleep some on the plane, as we will have some pretty brutal layovers in Seoul, and in Dallas, and I know we will need our wits about us for those times. We will have a toddler to keep up with! Oh. my. Goodness. I just love being able to say that! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I know this is one of the least eloquent posts I've ever written, but tonight, I just wanted to document the frantic pace that these last few days have had us on. Soon, though, this part will be behind us, and our lives as we know them will again change forever. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I sit here in awe of the fact that God has blessed me with this life. That He has entrusted me will an amazing husband, and all my precious children. That we have a home, that is warm, and safe, and ours. Life may not always be what we expect, but I'm so very thankful today for all that I never expected! I hope you'll follow along as we make the next leap of faith, and return to the land of China, to bring home our newest baby Bennett!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> <font color="#fe00ff"><em>"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, <span style="line-height: 1.3em;">to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Eph 3:20 ESV</span></em></font></p>
<p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-54963023427494161712013-10-12T00:58:00.001-07:002013-10-12T00:58:47.279-07:00A Beautiful Life....<p> I don't know how many of you have a person who has touched your life so deeply that you credit them with molding you into the person that you've become. Not just helped you and taught you, but truly molded you. A person you look up to, respect, and always know you can depend on to have your back. Many will say their parents, and that is certainly true in my case...I'm incredibly blessed to have parents who have loved me and stood by me, shaped and guided me, and helped me to become the person I've become. But I'm also blessed to be able to say that the bond I had with my Aunt Sharon, and the life lessons that I learned from her also played a vital role in the adult I've become. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The day my aunt passed away was one of the most difficult times I've ever had to endure. We knew it was coming, we even knew that the days and hours were few, but when the call came, I sat in utter devastation, shaking, and crying, and mourning that I would not see her beautiful face again this side of heaven. That I would never hear her tell me that she loved me, or see her smile that quirky smile again. I am eternally grateful for her salvation, and the promise that one day I will again know her embrace, but the eartly loss of her, is still painful for me to talk about.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Tonight as I was attempting my hand at making alphabet flash cards from household photos, (thanks Pintrest!) I came across some photos on our camera that in all honesty we had completely forgotten about. The pictures were from our quick trip to the beach this summer, and that's where we happened to be when my Aunt passed away. I guess with the funeral, family issues, Dad's open heart surgery, and then the tragic and unexpected passing of my best friend's father, life just got the best of us, and we haven't spared a moment or thought for life before the chaos.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>As I was going through the pictures, I saw the ones we took the morning we left and headed home to help with the arrangements for my Aunt. I found these...</p>
<p> </p>
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<p> </p>
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<p> ...and I was just over taken with emotion. It's been about 4 hours, and still I keep staring at them. I remember feeling so fragile, and breakable that morning. I was trying to hold it together in front of the kids, because we had not yet told them about Aunt Sharon's passing. I was making funeral arrangements and talking with family by phone behind their backs, sneaking into the bathroom when I couldn't hold in my emotions, and in all of the craziness, we still managed to snap a few parting pictures. What I can't seem to resist going back for another look, isn't that raw emotion that seeing these incites, but the simple beauty.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My Aunt was a beautiful person, inside and out, which is one of the reasons, Annabella is named after her. Looking at these pictures of her, knowing what was going on that morning as we took these, all I can see is that beauty. A year before, my daughter was living a life that no child should ever live. What a difference a year makes! Her smile is infectious, and the way she squints her eyes, and crinkles her nose, could melt a polar ice cap. She brings joy to everyone around her, and we get stopped every time we go out by people who tell us how beautiful she is. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I keep staring at these pictures and I can't believe that she is mine. That God chose her for us, that we could ever be worthy of this exotic treasure. She is feisty, opinionated, confidant, rambunctious, loving, kind, nurturing, radiant, joyful, and beautiful, both inside and out...just like my Aunt. I don't think I could have handled the emotions seeing these brought before tonight, and it's just another testament to God's perfect timing. He knew that it was time for me to stumble upon these, and He knew exactly what to stir within my heart. I am so thankful for the time I had with her. I pray that one day my daughter will understand what an amazing woman she was named after, and she will cherish that with all of her heart...the way I will always cherish the memory of Sharon. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Before I close, let me post a quick adoption update. On Tuesday, we had our Article 5 picked up and sent from GuangZhou, China, to Beijing. We now await our travel approval, commonly refered to as our TA, to be issued from the CCCWA. This is the last step before we book our tickets to go and get Matt. Our earlier estimate looks to be pretty spot on. If we get our TA within the next week, it is extremely likely that we will leave October 30, and will have Matt on November 5. If it takes longer than a week, we will almost certainly be leaving on November 13, and will have Matt on November 18. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>It's aAs far as our financial situation, I don't have exact figures at the moment, but we have raised approximately 1800.00 since my last update. God has humbled us in the ways that he has used others to help our son. One friend collected almost 400.00 from her classmates, and friends at Ole Miss, another has reopened her online shop and is donating 30% of her profits throughout the month to us, and still another has asked to come and clean our house and look after our pets while we are away. We even received a package in the mail that had the equivalent of about 40.00 USD in RMB from a family who just returned from China. That money alone, will be enough to get us water and a snack when we land at the airport, without needing to try to exchange any money, and will likely have enough left over to buy dinner that night. We continue to be in awe of the people we've never even met who continue to support us through our fundraisers, and through prayer. Hopefully the next post will be showing our bags packed, as we ready ourselves for the long flight to China, to bring home our precious Matt!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size: 17px; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><em><font color="#fe00ff" face="Georgia">"I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations." Psalm 89:1</font></em></span><br>
</p>
<p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-7579207634743469802013-09-09T23:05:00.001-07:002013-09-09T23:05:04.469-07:00Funding Update and a Glimpse of Matt's Orphanage<p> I just have a quick moment but wanted to say that we have raised 145.00 since my last post. </p>
<p>We had to take out a home equity loan in order to meet our agency deadline, but have done so with the full faith that God will provide a way for us to pay off this debt! Our God is such a good and loving God and He and He alone has knowledge of how this will happen, but we have full faith in Him to show us in His perfect time! Please continue to pray for how God might use you and continue to be in prayer for our fundraising. </p>
<p>We also received a photo from Matt's room in the Anyang orphanage since our last post. You can't discern which one he is, but here is a glimpse into his life...the life we are working so hard to take him from! Help us pray for these precious children, that they ALL find forever families! </p>
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<p> </p>
<p><em><font color="#fe00ff"> "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved." 1 Cor 10:31-33 ESV </font></em></p>
<p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-24021265406616785022013-09-02T22:06:00.001-07:002013-09-02T22:06:09.721-07:00Countdown to Travel!<p> This has been an incredibly difficult summer to say the least, but also one so incredibly full of blessings.</p>
<p>Our summer began with getting our paperwork sent to China and then receiving our LID or log in date, which was a critical step in being able to reuse our dossier. We were overjoyed to get everything in before the deadline, and so thankful for all the support from our home study agency, New Beginnings, who moved at record speed to help us achieve that goal!</p>
<p>Shortly after that we began our downhill slide. My beautiful Aunt Sharon, who has been one of my closest confidants, succumbed to cancer. Losing her has definitely been one of the most difficult things I have ever had to deal with. Through that loss though, I found myself rejoicing that she was no longer suffering, no longer in pain. I talked with her about her salvation, and I know that she is in Heaven now, reunited with her father. </p>
<p>The loss of my aunt, who was the glue that held our family together, has been difficult for us as a family, and there have been things that have been said and done, that can never be unsaid or undone. Our family has fractured, and I don't know if we will ever be able to mend it. I am 38 years old, and I have never, ever spent a single Thanksgiving or Christmas without my extended family, and this year, will be the first that we will not all gather together. Plans have been made, and I am beginning to realize that this might just be the "new normal" for us. It truly breaks my heart. But I have cried, and prayed, prayed and cried, and I have come to realize that from the ashes, new opportunities arise. We have asked Greg's parents to spend Christmas Day with us, something we've never had the freedom to do before, and we are grateful that we won't have the craziness of all 30+ family members to deal with mere weeks after coming home with Matt. I see it as a blessing. This year we should be focused on our more immediate family, and maybe this is Gods way of gently showing us that. </p>
<p>Just over two weeks after losing my Aunt, my Dad was admitted to the hospital, and had to have open heart surgery. We found out that the doctors that had previously seen him and placed stints, had done it incorrectly, and that he had been a ticking time bomb. They said if he'd had a heart attack, he would not have survived it. Talk about grateful! We are all so incredibly grateful that he kept insisting that there was still a problem, and that he sought a second opinion. Grateful that they saw the problem and worked immediately to do what they could to stabilize him, until they could do the surgery he needed. Grateful for the surgeon, whom we were repeatedly told by hospital staff was the best they had ever seen. Grateful that he came through the surgery with no complications, and that he is home now, recovering.</p>
<p>Just two days after my Dads surgery, my best friend lost her sweet Daddy, in a tragic accident. It was so sudden, and unexpected. My heart still breaks for her and her pain. He was such a good man. The kind of person who was always there to help, and willing to share what he could with all of his friends and family. He treated me like family, and always had a smile on his face when I saw him. We just never do know when God will call us home, and again, I am comforted by knowing that he was a Christian, and is now resting in Heaven with Christ. </p>
<p>The day we laid him to rest was very bittersweet. We finally got the call we had been waiting on all summer, that our LOA had finally been issued. This is the official letter stating we have been approved to adopt, and it is what begins our countdown to travel. I had also contacted our agency the week before to inquire about a little guy that has been on my heart and mind since we travelled to Annabella's orphanage last year. If you are a blog follower, you may remember the pictures of him, and me talking about him. He was a little boy with just stumps for arms and legs, who had learned to scoot himself around, and could hold a toy around his arm, and a sucker in the crook of his elbow. I have actually asked about him before, and thought that I had a peace of mind, that a file was being created for him, and that he would find his forever family...but something just kept bringing him back up in my heart and mind, and so I asked again about him. The day we got the call about our LOA, I also got an update on him, and learned that he had passed away. I don't know why, or how, nor will I ever have any answers, but his death has weighed heavily on me. Knowing he is in Heaven, and no longer an orphan is such comfort, and I praise God for his perfection, and grace, and love. I praise Him for the pain I feel, because it means that this little boy was loved here on earth. I loved him, and I can't wait to see him made whole one day when I can rejoice with him in the Kingdom of heaven!</p>
<p>Through all of this sadness, and all of these trials, God has truly blessed me too. He has placed a support system of other adoptive families in my life, that have been INCREDIBLE! They have blessed me with little uplifting notes, supported our adoption fundraising by encouraging me to open an Etsy store and sew for the public, then supported me by giving me more orders than I've known what to do with! They have prayed with me, and for me, and kept up with our journey enough to ask questions, and send kind thoughts our way. They have shared our frustrations, and delays, and rejoiced with us through the successes and fulfillment of each step towards Matt. I have laughed and cried and cringed at their stories, and been thankful every single day for this group of people who have blessed me daily!</p>
<p>I have met new people, and forged new bonds, and friendships. And Christ has shown us repeatedly that we are indeed, doing His will, by providing financially for us every step of the way thus far. Now, however, we feel that He is asking us to allow Him to work in others to bring us to our goal. So, I now ask you to please pray for our family, pray that we can step aside and allow Christ to take the wheel, and that we can fully trust in Him to provide the financial means necessary to reach Matt. We do trust that God will make a way, but we struggle with the enormity of it all. Help us pray for the people God plans to use, that they will answer His call and welcome it. </p>
<p>We estimate according to current flight data, and our estimated departure and arrival dates, along with the data fromour agency about all remaining fees, that our total adoption, including all the travel, will be $35,150.00 </p>
<p>Of that, we have already paid 10,700.00 through God's amazing provisions.</p>
<p>That leaves 24,380.00 </p>
<p>And we have to pay 2,246.00 of that by September 10, or we will be delayed in getting to Matt.</p>
<p>I keep turning to this scripture from the book of Matthew, chapter 17 verse 20... <font color="#fe00ff"><em>"For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.' "</em></font></p>
<p>This is one of my favorite scriptures, and the basis for the very first small group study I led. So now, I am trying to remain focused on that mustard seed, and having the true faith God requires. I am believing that God will give us exactly what we need, and that He will do it in His time, and in His way, and not in ours. I believe that He is asking us to turn to you, our friends and family in Christ. Pray for how God wants to use you in our adoption. Whether He would like to pave a way for you to make a donation, or perhaps, He wants you to share our story. Maybe He is calling your church, your Sunday school class, or your youth group to take up a collection, or even host a fundraiser. A car wash, bake sale, or yard sale perhaps? Maybe He is calling you to post fliers at you place of business, or to collect donations form area businesses for our online auction that we plan to begin in a couple of weeks. We have worked tirelessly since February, accepting any and everything that has come our way as a means to reach our goal of getting to Matt. Greg has worked every overtime shift that has become available, I have begun to sew for the public, we have hosted an online yard sale, I even was blessed to be able to keep a little boy over the summer in our home. We have been told that we can expect to travel between October 28 and November 14. That is 8-10 weeks from now. </p>
<p>We have 8-10 weeks to reach our goal of 24,380.00. </p>
<p>So please, pray with us. Pray our letters are received with open hearts, and that God will use them to fund our way to Matt. Pray for our story to be heard, and for those that hear to be led down whatever path God has in store for them, whether it be to help financially with our adoption, or prayerfully. Pray for our son, who is about to be taken from everything he has ever known. Pray for him not to be afraid, and for his health. We still don't really even know what his medical condition is, or if he has minimal or severe health concerns. Pray for a smooth transition for all of us. Pray for our travels, that we stay safe and healthy. And pray for Matt's caretaker who will grieve when we come to take him home with us. </p>
<p>And if you find, that after prayer, God is calling you to donate, you can do so by either using our Paypal button on the top right hand side of our blog, or by mailing a check to our church, with a note attached stating it is for the Bennett family adoption. You can send that to: </p>
<p>The NorthStar Church</p>
<p>112 Bauhaus Dr. </p>
<p>Saltillo, MS 38866</p>
<p>I will be adding a meter to our blog, that will track the amount we receive in donations, and until then, I will be updating our blog at least twice weekly with our total funding. Please continue to pray for our family, and for God to show out! Pray that our story opens the doors for others that God needs opened, whether it is to adoption, or to Him. And most of all, please continue to pray for our precious baby Matt!</p>
<p>I'll end with this...our most recent picture of our precious little baby, Matthew Gregory Bennett </p>
<p> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_HRb_sCC-gQ/UiVuPRE9CoI/AAAAAAAACGU/lz1h9Oj8B8s/s397/Photo%252520Sep%2525202%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252010%25253A17%252520PM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_HRb_sCC-gQ/UiVuPRE9CoI/AAAAAAAACGU/lz1h9Oj8B8s/s397/Photo%252520Sep%2525202%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252010%25253A17%252520PM.jpg" id="blogsy-1378184769656.946" class="aligncenter" width="396" height="397" alt=""></a></div>
<p><em><font style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" color="#fe00ff"> "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." James 1:27 ESV</font></em></p>
<p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-31031711557021730882013-06-05T01:42:00.001-07:002013-06-05T01:42:40.647-07:00Roughly 5 months "paper" pregnant<p> Yep. That's us. Roughly 5 months into our paper pregnancy phase of this adoption. And surprisingly it seems we are about halfway there! We've gotten our dossier completed and it has been logged into China. That was our MAJOR hurdle, and we were/are so very thankful to have that behind us. Currently we are being told we can expect our LOA, or letter of approval, within the next 20-50 days. Once we have that in hand, we should travel within 10-14 weeks. So it's getting close....much closer than I ever expected to be at this point! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>With all that's been going on, I've not made time to update my blog in quite awhile, so let me just fill in a few details! In March we celebrated my Mom, Dad, and Nathan's birthdays as well as several other close family members. Mom got a severe case of diverticulitis just before her birthday, and was hospitalized, right about the time Greg and I were getting over the flu. however, my flu turned into pneumonia, so I wasn't able to help out much while she was in the hospital. Once we were all feeling better, we celebrated Nathan's birthday by taking the kids for an overnight stay in Birmingham to a hotel with an indoor pool, and we utilized our season passes to take them to the McWayne science center. It was really nice to get away, and spend some time as a family.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In April, we celebrated Annabella's 3rd birthday (her first birthday home with us.) She had a wonderful party, and was blessed beyond measure with gifts, family, and friends. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>In May, the boys finished school with AMAZING report cards, Annabella was finally approved for 330 hours of speech therapy a month by the school system, and that will begin through the school this fall. Mom had surgery for her diverticulitis in Memphis, then Dad began having heart trouble and wound up needing 2 stints. He's still not 100%, nor is Mom, so I'm helping out as much as I can with them. We also got all of our paperwork completed and logged into China as mentioned above. I also found an incredible support group of adoptive families who are going through the adoption process roughly along the same timeline as us on Facebook, and that has been such an amazing resource and outlet! Since things are moving so quickly with this adoption we've really begun to try to kick our fundraising into overdrive by having online yard sales through Facebook, and we are gearing up for a bake sale next weekend, then a yard sale at our home the following weekend. Because of my parents health, we've decided to take the boys with us to China this time, and are completely trusting in God to provide a way for this to happen financially as we can't do it on our own!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We've also been trying to decide how to best rearrange so that Matt will have his own bedroom. We've finally decided to move the twins into the playroom, and turn their room into Matt's. the playroom is slightly larger, so it will better fit the twins, plus there is a wall mounted tv in that room, and it will be great not to have to unhook and move all their video games from that room! Though Nathan has been bunking out in the twins room, we are going to hook his tv up upstairs, and hopefully he will be content to move back to his room up there. With no extra money to spend on making a cute room for Matt, I've been researching ways to economically decorate it to at least look more like a toddlers room. Here are a few of the ideas I love!</p>
<p> </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vrpHGHlpvMg/Ua75sMil32I/AAAAAAAACEY/uETmnJgFFVQ/s1936/Photo%252520Jun%2525205%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525203%25253A03%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-vrpHGHlpvMg/Ua75sMil32I/AAAAAAAACEY/uETmnJgFFVQ/s500/Photo%252520Jun%2525205%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525203%25253A03%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1370421758537.6892" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a></div>
<p> We have a bedding set we got using a gift card for Target we received as a gift. It has alphabet and animals on it, so sticking with that theme, I would love to do his name above his bed. The "A" "W" and "E" above are some of the cool ways we could really add texture and make an impact without a lot of money. My Dad could cut a letter from scrap plywood, and cut the holes for the lights for the marquee letter, and the lights we can get for 40% off at Hobby Lobby for around 6.00. The paper rolled one wouldn't cost a penny. I already have plenty of scrap paper from old books from when I taught altered art classes and even have a spare chipboard letter "A" upstairs. And of course the string and nail o e, we could do with scraps stuff laying around the house. I can't afford curtains, but I do have loads of scrapbook paper and a few circle punches. I thought about getting some in the colors of Matt's bedding and making some shorter lines of them to serve as almost a "valance." The one thing I'm dying to purchase is these alphabet cards! They would cost less than 10.00 including shipping, and I'm so, so, so in love with them! They are 5 x 7 each and it includes the entire alphabet! I would love to either stick them to the wall, or possibly hole punch them and tie ribbon around them and hang them from small limbs in his room. </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br>
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8ECRrklPqIA/Ua752rPN7tI/AAAAAAAACEg/i1da_MxQTCA/s1936/Photo%252520Jun%2525205%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525202%25253A59%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8ECRrklPqIA/Ua752rPN7tI/AAAAAAAACEg/i1da_MxQTCA/s500/Photo%252520Jun%2525205%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525202%25253A59%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1370421758485.638" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="500" height="500"></a>For the animal side of the decor, I was thinking possibly using scrap plywood to cut out one of the animals like the alligator, or elephant from Matt's bedding much like the whale pictured here. We could probably freehand it, and use a jigsaw to cut it. This however would require a small can or possibly two colors of paint, so probably to going to be able to swing it. Love the idea though! Sooooooo in love with the fake taxidermy unicorn! There are tons of tutorials for how to DIY these, so going to keep researching them to see if we could possibly pull something like that off. Again, I'd probably go with an animal from his bedding...maybe the giraffe. Speaking of giraffes, this is the cutest little framed print! Super easy to do! I could print or freehand the image then cut it out of scrap fabric or scrapbook paper. Adhere it to scrapbook paper background, and use one of the bazillion frames we have upstairs to frame it. I still have a little white paint leftover from Annabella's dresser too, that I could paint the frame with. I may do a set of three of these to hang on the wall. The fabric totes pictured are hand made by a lady in the UK, and run around 75.00 USD each. I am wondering if it would be possible to sew so e, or find cheap fabric hampers like these or even fabric square or rounded baskets that I could sew or adhere felt or fabric onto myself for reasonable. Still researching and pondering how to make these become a reality for his toys, because they are SUPER cute!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2YHagUBAnyg/Ua75-2Dtr6I/AAAAAAAACEo/CTlHDLWUuR4/s1936/Photo%252520Jun%2525205%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525202%25253A57%252520AM.jpg" target="_blank" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2YHagUBAnyg/Ua75-2Dtr6I/AAAAAAAACEo/CTlHDLWUuR4/s500/Photo%252520Jun%2525205%25252C%2525202013%25252C%2525202%25253A57%252520AM.jpg" id="blogsy-1370421758504.4192" class="aligncenter" width="500" height="500" alt=""></a></div>
<p> And last but not least, dollar store plastic animals. What could be cheaper or cuter than these! So many possibilities, not sure which way to go with them, but we've amassed quite the impressive collection of them and NO ONE plays with them. So I've salvaged them from the yard sale pile, and am contemplating the best way to utilize them. The "zoo" is something I've had pinned on Pintrest for some time. Our older boys have a thing for stuffed animals and we have about 100 zillion of them. Maybe more. We have seriously considered buying the dowels and just making one, or two of these for the kids. This would fit Matt's room perfectly, and is not too babyish for the others, so we might yet wind up making these! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>So that's just about all the news I have for now! The boys have been at church camp since Sunday, and they will be home to or row. I can't wait to hear all their stories and about all the things that they have experienced. We didn't think they would be able to go, but were so incredibly blessed to have found out that their camp fees were taken care of! Humbled at how God provided a way for them to attend! Ian's always we covet your prayers and support for our family as we continue to follow with blind faith this path that The Lord has set before us! </p>
<p> </p>
<p><i style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#fe00ff" face="Georgia">"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8</font><br>
</em></p>
<p><i style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </em></em></em></p>
<p><i style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </em></em></em></em></em></p>
<p><i style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><i style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </em></em></em></p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-90369499158206917932013-03-18T20:41:00.001-07:002013-03-18T20:41:50.404-07:00Laying It Bare<p> The one question, or comment you get used to when you adopt is about money. " doesn't that cost a lot?" " how much is it?" " we always wanted to adopt, but could never afford it." " I wish we could adopt, but it costs so much!" We were even asked once, as was a friend of ours, " How much did she cost?" Really?!? I simply said she was and is priceless. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>But, back to the matter at hand. Adoption is expensive. Every adoption is different. Especially with International adoption, because you have to also pay to travel one or more times to the country in which you are adopting, and travel is a huge expense! Our adoption of Annabella cost us roughly 34,000.00. Put that in terms of a new car. We've never owned a car that cost that much, and we've usually spread our car payments out over 5 years. With adoption, the fees are due, and you don't have 5 years in which to spread it. We are still almost 19,000.00 in debt for Annabella's adoption. Having lived debt free, other than our house payment or a car payment for nearly 10 years, that is a huge thing for us. Intentionally going into debt. We believe you should strive to live debt free, <font color="#fe00ff">( "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is the slave to the lender" Proverbs 22:7)</font> and thus, trying to dig ourselves out of this hole. We didn't plan to adopt again, and most assuredly not within a year! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Matt's adoption, like Annabella's were simply following Gods call for our lives. If He calls us, we will follow. It may be hard for us, we may not know how we will pay for it, or find the strength for it, but whatever and wherever He calls us, I pray we will always have faith enough to follow. We made a couple of lackluster attempts to raise money for Annabella's adoption, but we only raised around 400.00. While we were grateful for that, it really didn't scratch the surface of the amount, and so we drained our savings account, and took out a second mortgage on our home. This time, we don't have those options. We can not extend our loan without a new appraisal, and even then, we likely can't extend it enough to fully cover the cost. Our savings account is bare, since we are trying to pay off the debt we already have. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Our estimated cost for Matt's adoption is around 25,000.00 I say estimated, because travel expenses change daily, and we will not know those until days before we leave. Last time our flights alone cost 14,000.00 plus there is the three week hotel stay, travel within China, including two flights there, and food while we stay. We are hopeful that we will have a little shorter stay this time, and that we will be flying at a less expensive time, and those things will help bring the cost down from last time. Since we will be doing much more fundraising this time, I thought I would just go ahead a and peel back the curtains. After all, if we are asking you to invest in Matt's future, shouldn't you know what the real costs are?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So here is the actual and estimated cost that we will incur for this adoption:<br>
</p>
<p>Home study update to New Beginnings, 900.00 actual cost, we have paid this already.</p>
<p>Post placement visit fee to Nee Beginnings, 1470.00 actual cost, this was paid today. </p>
<p>Local background checks for Greg and I, paid to Lee Co Sheriff's department, 10.00 actual cost, pd.</p>
<p>Vaccinations required for international travel, HIV, RPH, TB tests, paid to Lee co. Health dept. 131.00 actual cost, pd</p>
<p>First program fee for CCAI, 1450.00 actual cost, already paid.</p>
<p>Waiting child program fee, paid to CCAI, 85.00, actual cost, already paid</p>
<p>Fee for State background check, paid to State of Ms, 64.00 plus 1.20 fee for money order, actual cost, pd</p>
<p>USCIS fingerprint and filing fee for Homeland security background check, and I-797 paperwork, 890.00, to be paid upon filing, should be filing this later this week.</p>
<p>Second program fee to CCAI, 1500.00 actual cost, to be paid when we submit our dossier to China, approx 5-10 weeks from now.</p>
<p>Third program fee to CCAI, due when we receive our LOA, 1600.00, actual cost to be paid</p>
<p>Post adoption deposit to CCAI, 1000.00 actual cost, to be paid before travel</p>
<p>Courier fees for sealing dossier documents and getting our visas, 175.00, approx cost includes fed ex fees, this will be due upon receipt of our I-797 paperwork, estimated to arrive in 5-10 weeks</p>
<p>Documents sealing, 100.00 approx cost includes mailing fees, we will begin this process this week</p>
<p>CCCWA fee paid to China, 775.00, actual cost, paid with dossier submission</p>
<p>CCCWA service fee, paid to China, 125.00 actual cost, paid with LOI, already paid</p>
<p>CCCWA post adoption translation fee, 360.00, actual cost, paid to China, actually not sure when this is due</p>
<p>Visa fee to enter China, 280.00 actual cost, due after dossier submission</p>
<p>In China travel and accommodations, 3,800.00 approx cost, due 1-2 weeks before we leave for China</p>
<p>Adoption registration and notarization, 800.00 approx cost, paid while in China</p>
<p>Matt's passport, 120.00 - 150.00 actual cost, paid in China</p>
<p>Orphanage fee, we pay this even though he is in foster care, 5,600.00 - 5,700.00 actual cost, paid in China</p>
<p>Food while in China, 800.00 - 1000.00, estimated cost, due in China</p>
<p>Matt's physical and photo, 90.00- 120.00, actual cost, due in China</p>
<p>Matt's visa, 230.00, actual cost, paid in China</p>
<p>The remained of the cost will be our flights to and from China, and Matt's flight home. In addition, he will see an International adoption pediatric specialist team when he comes back and will have to have all vaccinations, from birth through his current age at the time of adoption. This cost around 1200.00 out of pocket expense for us with Annabella, after the insurance paid their part. Matt will require some testing that Annabella did not, so we expect his to be more expensive than hers. He will also need Intensive speech therapy, and most likely some occupational and physical therapy when he comes home to "catch up" to where he should be in those areas. We will need to buy him clothes and shoes, and diaper, and wipes. We need a car seat for him. These are just the fees that I know of at this time. There will be other minor things, like postage fees for mailing documents, that probably won't amount to more that 15.00 - 20.00.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In addition to all of that, we have had the opportunity to begin sponsoring Matt's care. The cost of this is 40.00 a month. This pays for his food, clothing, and care while he is with his foster family, and we in turn get quarterly updates and pictures of him, and a peace of mind, in knowing that we are already caring for our son, in the only way we can. We were able to send a care package to him to let his foster family know he was matched with us. We chose I expensive items, that totaled around 40.00, and fit into a shoe box. The cost to mail it to China, was just over 30.00. We will send him at least one more care package, probably two, just depending on how quickly the adoption progresses. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>So you see, this is what we actually have to pay, and when we have to pay it. The first bulk of expense has already been paid, and that has come from our online yard sale, selling aluminum cans, and saving every extra dime we could scrounge. We have cut our already tiny grocery budget of 200.00 a week back, ( that includes all food, diapers, paper products, cleaning products, and pet supplies for our family of 6!) and with the exception of the kids birthdays, have agreed not to go out to eat, or to any recreational anything. We did go out for our anniversary, but we used gift cards we received for Christmas. We are taking the kids to Birmingham for a night this coming weekend, and that is what Nathan is getting for his birthday. So when we have our fundraisers, please know its not because we don't want to go further in debt, or we don't want to have to do without, or we don't want to have to fork out the money ourselves! We already have gone further in debt, cut back, and wish we could pay for this without help! We are simply a family, following Gods call, with complete faith in Him to provide the means. We KNOW that He will provide for our needs, because we know that we are being obedient to Him, and that He is ALWAYS there for us! <font color="#fe00ff">"And my God will meet all of your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19</font></p>
<p> </p>
<p>So we will faithfully continue. We believe that we must do the work to receive the reward. This means more online yard sales, local yard sales, bake sales, possibly spaghetti dinners, auction, coffee sales, whatever it takes! We will be organizing, and putting forth all the effort and work we can to achieve our goal!<font color="#fe00ff"> "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of The Lord Jesus himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive' " Acts 20:35</font> We have been so incredibly blessed in watch how God has provided for us already, and I am excited to be watching Him work in our family in so many different ways through this process. We know that not everyone can help financially. For those that can, please know we are not asking for you to give your money to us, just so we can have another child! We are asking you to invest in a child's future! Invest in God's plan for Matt! For those who can't, please don't feel badly! We need your help just as much! We need for you, our closest friends, and family, who follow our journey to share our story with others! Matt needs and deserves to be loved by a real family! Help us by praying for him, pray for his foster family, that they meet his needs, and shower him with love! Pray for his health, and happiness! Pray for us, that the financial aspect of this adoption will be covered! Pray for our fundraisers, that they all be incredibly successful! And most of all, please keep praying for these things throughout the process. We have seen first hand the power of prayer, and we fully believe God answers each prayer. It may not always be the way we expected, but He always answers our prayers! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love and your support. God has placed each of you in our lives for a reason, and we are so incredibly blessed by all of you! </p>
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<p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-66530403107240496342013-03-04T21:05:00.002-08:002013-03-10T13:07:39.938-07:00The Flu, our LOI, and a lil something extra!<p> I haven't posted in a few days now, and so I have several things to share! Let me just start at the beginning, and you can walk through the last through days with me.</p>
<p> Thursday: Greg and I run around when he gets off work completing a few dossier and home study paperwork items. He comes in, goes to sleep, (for those who may not know, Greg works overnight, so he sleeps usually from 8 A.M. until 4 P.M.) He sleeps late since we had run errands that morning. He gets up with 101.0 degree fever! So he stays home Thursday night.</p>
<p> Friday: The Dr agrees to squeeze Greg in, so we send Annabella to Mom and Dad's and I take him to the Dr. He tests neg for the flu, and they say he has the "flu like virus" and pneumonia. He comes home to bed! I nap off and on as Annabella naps, and the kids allow. By midnight I'm wide awake. </p>
<p> 1 A.M. hop into the shower to prepare for the arrival of our friends Phil and Niki Smith, who are leaving at 6:40 A.M. for China to adopt their daughter Guan Ya. After a few cups of coffee, and a couple chapters of the book I'm currently reading, they arrive. We head to Memphis! Drop them off, stay to watch the plane take off. Head to Dunkin Donuts for donuts and coffee. Head to Greg's parents house for a visit since they live in the Memphis vicinity. Have breakfast and a nice long visit with them, and a shopping trip to Target with Greg's Mom before heading home. Get home and crash into bed. Wake up at 6 P.M. feeling pretty raunchy. Chalk it up to lack of sleep. Fall back asleep. Wake up again with racking cough, and fever. Fantastic! Especially since it's my week to work all three services at church on Sunday, which I was super excited about!</p>
<p> Sunday: I wake up ridiculously sick, and begin to blame husband for OVERsharing. We both spend the majority of the day quarantined in our bedroom. Eternally grateful for my parents living next door! It was truly all we could do to have the kids all bathe, and get into bed.</p>
<p> Monday: Alarm goes off at 6:15. I wish someone would just shoot me now. Seriously. Shoot. Me. Now. Greg has less fever than me, so he gets up with the kids. Mine is over 100 degrees and I can honestly say I've probably only run a fever that high MAYBE 3 times in my adult life. I do not ever run fever over 100, and rarely over 99 degrees. 9 a.m. I call the doctor and beg them to squeeze me in. 11:30 they call me back and say be there at 1. Hallelujah!!! 1:15 get positive test result for the flu. Despite having taken the flu shot. Its a variant of B strain which wasn't covered by the shot. (Keep in mind, I have been, am currently, and plan to remain a STRONG proponent for the flu shot!)</p>
<p> So after we stop at the pharmacy for my Tamiflu, again, Hallelujah, we head home. When we get home, I check my email to find that our LOI was officially accepted by the CCCWA, meaning that pending completion of all our adoption paperwork, Matt is officially ours! He is officially locked in, and no one else can take his file. Upon receipt of this news CCAI released our next packets, including all of the paperwork that we will need to complete and have logged in to China by July 17th. Please see the NEW counter on the right side of the page. It is our countdown to July 17th, the last possible date to have our paperwork logged in without having to completely redo our dossier. (This would add an extra 6 months, and several thousand dollars worth of fees to our adoption, thus the importance of this date!)</p>
<p> Not only do we have the email saying our LOI was officially accepted, and the email with our new paperwork, we have another email saying that our son can be sponsored! And with that came his most recent update and a new picture! The great part of being able to sponsor Matt is that we should be able to receive more frequent updates and pictures, so this was REALLY EXCITING news!</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VLisoHJMgyI/UTV5XWg4KII/AAAAAAAACDk/sLYE5UTNNWg/s1600/Matt+1-2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VLisoHJMgyI/UTV5XWg4KII/AAAAAAAACDk/sLYE5UTNNWg/s400/Matt+1-2013.JPG" id="blogsy-1362946036546.6064" class="" alt="" width="400" height="400"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't he a cutie?!? I've covered the person's face holding Matt since I do not have a way to obtain their permission to post their photo.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p><br>
SO I know this post does not contain my usual "tone" for lack of a better word or phrase. I just wanted to let everyone know what has been going on the past several days and why I've been absent. Hopefully I will feel more like myself in the next few days and my blog will begin to sound more like me again too ;) Thanks for always sticking with us, and for loving us enough to follow along on our journey!</p>
<p><span style="color: #e06666;"><em> <span class="text Exod-15-2" id="en-ESV-1923">"The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> is my strength and my song,</span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Exod-15-2">and he has become my salvation;</span></span><span class="text Exod-15-2"> this is my God, and I will praise him, </span></em></span><span class="indent-1"><span style="color: #e06666;"><em><span class="indent-1-breaks"></span></em></span><span class="text Exod-15-2"><span style="color: #e06666;"><em>my father's God, and I will exalt him." Exodus 15:2 ESV</em></span></span></span></p>
<p> </p><div style="text-align: right; font-size: small; clear: both;" id="blogsy_footer"><a href="http://blogsyapp.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://blogsyapp.com/images/blogsy_footer_icon.png" alt="Posted with Blogsy" style="vertical-align: middle; margin-right: 5px;" width="20" height="20" />Posted with Blogsy</a></div>Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-716703502419913412013-02-26T12:37:00.001-08:002013-02-26T20:46:42.330-08:00Things forgotten...There are things in life that we forget all the time. The small stuff. You forget to buy milk at the grocery, forget to lock the house when you leave, forget to water the plants. Or maybe you forget the name of that guy/girl you dated in high school, the password to your online banking account, to put on socks before you leave for church. <br />
<br />
Then there's the stuff like, you forget the pain of childbirth, the joy of seeing your child for the first time, or the extreme heat of the summer. For me, I realize how much I'd forgotten the excruciating waiting of a paperwork pregnancy. You get "to do" lists from your agency of paperwork to be filled out, and fees to be paid, and you rush madly about trying to get it done as quickly as possible so you can get to your child as quickly as possible, but each time you finish the mad dash, there is always a long wait. Wait for the government to do their stuff, wait for the Chinese government to do their stuff, wait for translation, wait for the courier, wait, wait, wait. <br />
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During our first adoption journey, one of the most prominent lessons God taught me was that waiting is inevitable, and though it is excruciating, He is there, holding you up when all you want to do is fall down. Waiting is POSSIBLE, because He is there waiting right beside you, holding your hand. So today, as I check, double check and triple check my agency "to do" lists just to make sure there is nothing else I can do to speed things up, I am reminded of Gods great love and His promise to us. <br />
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</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #fe00ff;">Psalm 40:1 "I waited patiently for The Lord, He turned to me and heard my cry." </span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: #fe00ff;">Hebrews 10:36 "For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away and enjoy to the full what is promised." </span></em><br />
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So with these promises, we wait. We wait on the perfect timing and the will of The Father, who promises that reward. It doesn't make it easy, but it makes it possible. Knowing the joy that He has in our faithfulness brings me hope during these difficult days of waiting! So for now, I will begin to conquer other tasks and work towards other goals. But for those of you who may be waiting too, whether it be for a tax return, an answer to medical tests, or perhaps God to place someone in your life to love, I just urge you to turn your eyes towards Him! He is the great provider, and in Him I pray you will also find strength and endurance for your own wait. <br />
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Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-26423919714839782272013-02-24T12:57:00.002-08:002013-02-24T13:02:16.490-08:00Oops, We Did It Again!!! My last post was titled Ebb And Flow, because that's what has truly been on my mind. The simple quiet place where there is just the sound of the sea. That's the place I go when I need to listen to God, and that's the place I've spent a lot of time lately. I knew that God placed something within my heart,but I never imagined, that He could trust in me so much! You see God has a plan for each of us, and we may not always realize it, or even believe it, but if we stand still long enough, and become open enough, and earnest enough, sometimes, He will grant us a glimpse of it.<br />
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When we were in China, God changed us. I believe we began changing long before we landed there, but when we truly saw the children on the streets, and later in the orphanages, He gave us a mission. He set a fire in my heart, and a passion in my soul to become a voice for these children. As Americans, it's easy to think that we understand their plight, but truly I say to you, if you have never seen it first hand, you simply can not understand the depth of it.<br />
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We had an amazing travel group, and when you go through such a life changing experience as adoption, you bond deeply with one another. We've been incredibly blessed to keep up with most of the families in our group. We have also made friends with many families in our local adoptive group. Just within these families I can tell you some of our first hand experiences, and even without a word, these pictures can tell you volumes! They were all taken by Niki and Phil Smith last summer.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zEVBg57Rvh4/USp6oqeDffI/AAAAAAAACBA/ZxyFgEQrOcY/s2048/Photo%252520Feb%25252024%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252012%25253A21%252520AM.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="667" id="blogsy-1361738477628.5405" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-zEVBg57Rvh4/USp6oqeDffI/AAAAAAAACBA/ZxyFgEQrOcY/s500/Photo%252520Feb%25252024%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252012%25253A21%252520AM.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a man and child in Beijing on the streets begging. The child was asleep on the ground .</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ojJJ46vyswI/USp6unxlroI/AAAAAAAACBI/0PcdD0myA2c/s2048/Photo%252520Feb%25252024%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252012%25253A23%252520AM.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="375" id="blogsy-1361738477657.1433" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ojJJ46vyswI/USp6unxlroI/AAAAAAAACBI/0PcdD0myA2c/s500/Photo%252520Feb%25252024%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252012%25253A23%252520AM.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This girl was curled up on the sidewalk in front of the entrance to the Xin Xiang orphanage. We suspect she had lived here and had no where else to go.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oUoba_sLM8s/USp63aDHHcI/AAAAAAAACBY/eqGDY-CixSU/s2048/Photo%252520Feb%25252024%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252012%25253A23%252520AM.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="375" id="blogsy-1361738477601.949" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oUoba_sLM8s/USp63aDHHcI/AAAAAAAACBY/eqGDY-CixSU/s500/Photo%252520Feb%25252024%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252012%25253A23%252520AM.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Babies were in broken cribs, that were rusting out, with holes gouged into the stone walls.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5Vq69NTdE4Y/USp67F-C4cI/AAAAAAAACBg/E2Rd36YUoMU/s2048/Photo%252520Feb%25252024%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252012%25253A21%252520AM.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="375" id="blogsy-1361738477656.887" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5Vq69NTdE4Y/USp67F-C4cI/AAAAAAAACBg/E2Rd36YUoMU/s500/Photo%252520Feb%25252024%25252C%2525202013%25252C%25252012%25253A21%252520AM.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This girl was eating in a rusted out crib, completely unaware anyone was visiting the orphanage.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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One family has a daughter who was left bundled in a crib for approx 20 hours a day. She had no core strength, and at 1 year of age she could not sit up unassisted. Her hands had been bound, and she had to undergo desensitizing therapy for nearly 6 months after coming back to the states, because her hand were so overly sensitive at being able to finally experience FEELING, and TOUCHING things for the first time in her life.<br />
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Another child was so malnourished that her hair was brittle and her skin was discolored.<br />
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Our daughter has had behavior such as keeping food in her mouth for hours. It's called hoarding, and is typical of adopted kids. They are unsure if this is their last meal, so they keep a little for later, so to speak. Even after months with us, it was hard for her to grasp that she would NEVER go hungry again!<br />
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In one orphanage a family saw as many as 4 babies in a single crib, and 8-10 year olds curled in a fetal position sleeping in cribs. Another family saw a child believed to be in their very early teens curled up on the sidewalk in front of their child's orphanage. (see above picture.) Inside they saw a baby whom they were told was brought in just a day before who was blue. They didn't know what was wrong with the child, but it's not believed that the baby survived.<br />
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These are not stories I heard through the grapevine or saw somewhere online. These are people I KNOW, people who experienced this with their OWN EYES. I could write for hours on the subject but I will stop here. I just wanted to preface the next part, and leave you understanding the real point of it, the truth of it. God opened our eyes. He molded our hearts. He set a fire within our soul!<br />
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He knew then that we would be back. He was paving the way for us! So yes, here's where my catchy blog post title comes in... <b><span style="color: #cc0000;">We are adopting again!</span></b> This time, God has chosen for us a beautiful baby boy. Our son is currently living in a foster home in the same province our daughter Annabella lived in. So later this year, we will be traveling back to China, to the Henan province to adopt our newest addition.<br />
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I was humbled that God allowed me to parent my three beautiful sons. I praised Him and thanked Him for them. When He placed Annabella into our lives, I becalmed even more humbled at His love for me. Now that He is again entrusting us to raise another beautiful boy I find myself in awe! I am so unworthy of His great love, of His trust in me. We stressed so much over finances with Annabella's adoption, that when He began calling us back, it was with great resistance that we finally began to listen to Him! But let me tell you, the peace that we've found since giving over to His will, is priceless. How will we pay for this adoption? Through Christ! He will open the doors for us! We have learned to have so much more faith in Him because He has shown us and taught us how!<br />
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I certainly won't say having gone through one adoption makes us seasoned vets at it. I doubt someone who's been through 10 would call themselves seasoned vets! What awaits us on this journey? We have no idea! But I know this. God is with us! He will never leave us! He will never fail us! So here we go again, into the unknown waters, with nothing but faith to guide us. We hope you'll follow along as we again begin on our journey to the other side of the world, to change one child's life forever.<br />
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And now, I'm pleased to show you our most recent picture of our precious son, Matthew Gregory Bennett!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XtAJTV7ErHU/USp-aGf614I/AAAAAAAACBo/GA359QgzyGM/s1600/Matt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XtAJTV7ErHU/USp-aGf614I/AAAAAAAACBo/GA359QgzyGM/s640/Matt.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #fe00ff;">"<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="text John-14-12" id="en-NIV-26681"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">12 </sup>Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.</span> <span class="text John-14-13" id="en-NIV-26682"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">13 </sup>And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.</span> <span class="text John-14-14" id="en-NIV-26683"><sup class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">14 </sup>You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."</span></span></span> <span style="color: #fe00ff;">John 14:12-14</span>
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Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-42880925742949757852013-02-21T18:07:00.002-08:002013-02-21T18:07:21.008-08:00Ebb and FlowTo be perfectly honest, I'm more of a mountain person than a beach person. I've never been a "hot weather, lay in the sun and bake myself" kind of girl. I'm much more of a "scenery seeking, chillin' in the cabin hot tub, mini golf kind of girl. But still, there's something that's always calls to me, and draws me to desperately want a beach vacation every so often. There's something that is just mesmerizing in the sound of the ocean, the smell of the salty air, and the call of the gulls. I can sit in the evenings with the ocean waves lapping at my toes and get lost in the ebb and flow of the tide.<br />
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Life is like that. A series of movements, like the ebb and flow of the tide. Sometimes you go though the stormy patches, and sometimes you hit the calm, but ever present is the simplicity of the constant ebb and flow of all that surrounds us.<br />
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Most of you followed the birth and growth of our blog through the adoption of our daughter, Annabella. You prayed for us, cried with us, felt the frustration, anxiety, excitement, and joy of it all through the words I typed from the depths of my soul as we journeyed though the process and finally reached the ultimate goal, bringing our daughter home. Much has happened since we came home.<br />
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Annabella had struggles with diet, and ear tubes. We had major palate repair surgery, and speech. We came through the dietary struggles, and now have a very adventurous eater, and have completely put the surgery and recovery far behind us. We do still have frequent ear infections, but that is common with kids who were born with cleft lip and palate, and we look for this trend to continue until Annabella matures more, hopefully growing out of it around the age of 10. She is also beginning to make many new sounds now, and as these sounds increase, we are beginning to add a few new words to her vocabulary as well.<br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We've been blessed to be able to keep up with many of the families who traveled with us last summer, and it seems as if all of our precious children have absolutely blossomed into their own individual personalities, and have bonded and completely integrated themselves into their new homes and families. Our dear friends, Niki and Phil Smith have evn been called to adopt again, and are due to travel back to adopt their daughter, Guan Ya in a matter of days!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I have many times missed being able to share with you on our blog, but with my last post, I found that I could no longer post here without paying high monthly fees. Finally finding a bit of time to devote to finding a way around this roadblock, I am hopeful that we will now be able to resume posting here. Thanks for loving us enough to keep reading as we continue to walk by faith, and follow the path laid before us by our great Creator! Be sure to keep reading...we have lots to share in the coming days!</span><br />
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<br />Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-81794886956737565122012-11-23T16:17:00.000-08:002012-11-23T16:23:29.412-08:00Another peek...Again I am amazed at how time has flown and how long it has been since I've been able to sit and create a blog post. I will say that it has been in part, due to computer issues, and in part due to the fact that life NEVER SLOWS DOWN here!<br />
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The school year is nearly half over, and there have been many battles to fight this year as far as school has gone. Unfortunately, we have a new principal at Nathan's school who is more concerned about her image of authority than her student's welfare, so we've had to get an advocate for Nathan in order to have him removed from a verbally and mentally abusive teacher's room. This has taken much time, and much energy, and many, many tears, and is still not over. His grades have suffered this semester as has his attitude and morale, and as a parent, that has been excruciating. We are continuing to do everything we can to help him, and are praying for a resolution to that situation soon. Andy and Alex have had stellar years this year, and that is due to the fact that they have some pretty excellent teachers. They will be moving into the Elementary school system next year, where Nathan is now, and already I am concerned about how that will affect them. Hopefully this will just be one blip on the radar, and next year will usher in great teachers, and great grades, and attitudes about school and learning! Prayers for Nathan and for the situation he is in are soooo appreciated!<br />
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Annabella has also had much going on these past few months. We had our first set of tubes put in her ears, and found that she had a VERY adverse reaction to the anesthesia or to simply waking up without anyone she knew. She screamed and was completely inconsolable until we finally left the surgery center, and she immediately quit, and perked right up. We soon found out the tubes were clogged and wound up having to get a second set within 6 weeks time after several methods and medications were used to clear them unsuccessfully. We had the second set of tubes placed at the Children's hospital in Birmingham, where she had her first Palate revision surgery just a little over a week ago. She has done fantastically since that surgery, and we are looking forward to our post op visit on December 6th with her amazing surgeon, Dr. Grant. We ask here for prayers for her continued improvement and healing after this major surgery!<br />
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We also had Annabella tested with speech, physical, and occupational therapists here, and were all set to begin feeding, speech, and physical therapy back in August, but unfortunately the rehab place has yet to find a way to fit her into the schedule. So We have gone another route and have applied for and been accepted into the Children's Medical program here in the state of Mississippi. They are working to find the therapists we need so that we can begin therapy ASAP. I do believe that she no longer needs the feeding or the physical therapy though, so we will get a re-evaluation before beginning those.<br />
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One of the biggest issues we've had since we came home with Annabella was her eating habit. She would only eat rice and cous cous for the first several months, and just within the past three weeks has begun to eat other things. She began with eating french fries one day at Steak and Shake. The next new food was some chicken and dumplings my Mom made. She moved on to bacon, and oatmeal soon after, and the day before her palate revision surgery ate Thai chicken pizza, shrimp, and white corn guacamole! Since her surgery, she's been strictly on soft foods, and she has eaten chicken casserole, English peas, black eyed peas, turnip greens, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, grilled salmon, carrots, boiled potatoes, baked potatoes, butterbeans, ham, scrambled eggs, and pinto beans. We are praying that this eating habit will continue and that she will continue to eat a variety of foods when she has her arm splints taken off and is able to feed herself again.<br />
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Annabella had another first....her first VACATION! With the help of my parents, we were able to get a cabin in Pigeon Forge, TN and spent 4 days there. It was so fantastic to just get away from everything for a few days. The weather was absolutely beautiful, and we all had a really nice time. We even got to see a bear pretty close up at Cade's Cove. And the kids all enjoyed walking around there and seeing the old buildings. We had a pool table in our cabin and the boys and my Dad spent countless hours challenging each other to games! We also visited the aquarium in Gatlinburg and the kids had a blast seeing all of the creatures there. It is a very nice aquarium, and is really geared towards the kids, with many hands on exhibits.<br />
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Of course it's that time of year again, and Christmas preparations are in full swing! We have completed most of our shopping, and I even have almost everything wrapped and under the tree! This is the first year in many that I haven't been able to go shopping on Black Friday, and I can honestly say that as much as I love it, I didn't really miss it this year. Since we already had most of our shopping done, I didn't feel the pressure of trying to find deals and stuff just to have it. I've really had some revelations this year as well. One is that I don't need 9/10ths of the "stuff" I thought I needed. I am constantly overwhelmed by the clutter in our lives. Toys, kitchen, laundry, junk mail, junk period! I am just sick of it!!! We gave in and hired some weekly help and that has been remarkable. I've been paring things down, a little at a time, including kitchen items, toys, clothes, and household decor items. I still have a long way to go, but at least we are making progress! Unfortunately, our help has gotten a full time job and is no longer going to be cleaning house after this month, so the search is on for another inexpensive, trustworthy, reliable person to help out with the deep cleaning, laundry, dishes, and decluttering! Although it may sound shallow, prayers are appreciated as this is no easy feat and this is something that has been such a relief and help to us! <br />
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Well, I guess that's all I have for this post. Since it's been soooooo long, I wanted to share loads of pictures with you of what we've been doing the past few months, but when I tried to upload them I got a message that my Picassa album was full and that I would need to pay a monthly hosting fee to upload more. Until I can figure this out I will be unable to share pictures with you. If anyone knows a way to solve this, I'd love to hear from you! Until then I have created a new blog and will use it to post pictures. I will still be writing the posts here, or at the very least posting a link to the other blog each time I post new photos. Thanks for your continued interest in our lives! You can click <a href="http://walkingwithfaithpartdeux.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here</a> to go to the photo blog!<br />
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<br />Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-36784740153078917072012-08-31T22:14:00.003-07:002012-08-31T22:14:50.472-07:00Snapshots...<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>In the past two weeks we have...</b></span><br />
1. Battled through more than an hours worth of homework with a 2nd grader multiple times,<br />
2. Grilled steaks (a rarity!)<br />
3. Weathered a hurricane...OK, we didn't get much of it, but still, this was another first for our daughter ;)<br />
4. Seen a blue moon<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RnfskXUd0mA/UEGQ9ARJqXI/AAAAAAAAB58/3PYxlc2K1yU/s1600/071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RnfskXUd0mA/UEGQ9ARJqXI/AAAAAAAAB58/3PYxlc2K1yU/s640/071.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Moon...Isaac's clouds wreaked havoc on my picture</td></tr>
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5. Annabella slept in her crib in her own room almost all night one night (We made it til 5:15 A.M. when I gave up and brought her to the pack and play so I could sleep for one straight hour!)<br />
6. FINALLY successfully delivered a stool sample for testing...we've been trying to get one to Southaven during regular biz hours on the same day as the sample for 4 straight weeks.<br />
7. Been able to sit outside and enjoy the porch without having a heat stroke in the evening<br />
8. Had someone try to break into our home one night with just the kids and I home<br />
9. Installed two new motion lights on the back of the house (Just in case whomever tried to break in to our house a couple of weeks ever decides to come back!)<br />
10. Watched Hummingbirds on my parent's porch<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xmw4bwthzak/UEGU8dzmlzI/AAAAAAAAB7s/kuiwrIA4W40/s1600/065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Xmw4bwthzak/UEGU8dzmlzI/AAAAAAAAB7s/kuiwrIA4W40/s640/065.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at the tiny feathers! I love the detail of this shot</td></tr>
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11. Annabella has really mastered using a spoon<br />
12. Seen all three boys make 100's on work in school<br />
13. Found out what the twin's IQ's are<br />
14. Welcomed Andy into Discovery (our gifted classes)<br />
15. Been to Memphis or Southaven three times<br />
16. Cleaned the fish tank...and didn't kill the fish!<br />
17. Had Annabella's ears pierced<br />
18. Been swimming in 20 mile bottom countless times<br />
19. Killed multiple wasp nests and wasps equaling the size of two five gallon bucket openings <br />
20. Greg has been stung twice, Nathan once, Dad once<br />
21. Found three of the cats <strike>playing</strike> <strike>with</strike> attempting to kill/eat a lizard INSIDE our house.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ufz1hip05JQ/UEGUdEx51zI/AAAAAAAAB7k/A6ePZf9Sh_c/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ufz1hip05JQ/UEGUdEx51zI/AAAAAAAAB7k/A6ePZf9Sh_c/s640/004.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lizard after we put him outside...not sure if he survived, but we did try!</td></tr>
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22. I've gone back to being a redhead<br />
23. Annabella has learned to say "Up! Up!"<br />
24. Installed four baby gates<br />
25. Alex has read almost through the entire Diary of A Wimpy Kid book all by himself<br />
26. Painted Annabella's nails for the first time<br />
27. Given all the cats nails a trim...except Prissy who is declawed :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CxIMXF9sZXA/UEGNtqf5F-I/AAAAAAAAB4c/o5v57mxVmEQ/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CxIMXF9sZXA/UEGNtqf5F-I/AAAAAAAAB4c/o5v57mxVmEQ/s640/055.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sadie after the toenail clipping</td></tr>
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28. Had our first "post adoption" home visit from our social worker<br />
29. Been able to begin serving at church again<br />
30. Initiated the "re-adoption" process to satisfy the State of Mississippi so we can have a birth certificate issued for Annabella<br />
31. Shaved Stonewall's underside. Yes. We shave our cat. No. We are not crazy. He's pretty tame about it actually.<br />
32. Said goodbye to a beloved family member.<br />
33. Annabella has learned to stack up to 8 blocks, and put Duplo legos together<br />
34. Introduced Annabella to the sandbox, and had many fun days playing in it since <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KiBfCVoyYsA/UEGP14Fn4YI/AAAAAAAAB5U/TaDD3PVtWjg/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KiBfCVoyYsA/UEGP14Fn4YI/AAAAAAAAB5U/TaDD3PVtWjg/s640/049.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing in the sandbox</td></tr>
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35. Cleaned Silly Putty from underwear, new school shirts, crib sheets, bunk beds, and numerous pillows and stuffed animals. Some survived, some did not. We had to shave one fuzzy pillow, then cut a section and had to sew it back together again. The things we do for our kids!<br />
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As you can see, we've been quite busy, and these are just a few of the things we've been up to! Life here is busy, busy, busy, and I wouldn't have it any other way! Here are a few more pictures to go with these verbal snapshots of our life these past few weeks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UXI2L1bFatk/UEGNdorRxLI/AAAAAAAAB4U/jrM4oxi1GlI/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UXI2L1bFatk/UEGNdorRxLI/AAAAAAAAB4U/jrM4oxi1GlI/s640/054.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stonewall before the shaving</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yLw6x60svUo/UEGOJmXbwEI/AAAAAAAAB4k/BbalZaEBCsA/s1600/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yLw6x60svUo/UEGOJmXbwEI/AAAAAAAAB4k/BbalZaEBCsA/s640/046.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">20 Mile Bottom</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wm4EUU4xIlk/UEGOg-xR33I/AAAAAAAAB4s/zSbo97vRbTg/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wm4EUU4xIlk/UEGOg-xR33I/AAAAAAAAB4s/zSbo97vRbTg/s640/002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">6:18 A.M. one hour after I gave in and put her into the pack and play in our room, this was 15 minutes before I had to wake her up to take the boys to school</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2LlmcWSDLZo/UEGOvxBAV-I/AAAAAAAAB40/hJQ0bySzgKs/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2LlmcWSDLZo/UEGOvxBAV-I/AAAAAAAAB40/hJQ0bySzgKs/s640/029.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex and Annabella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yoH3PfbZ6KU/UEGO_ChANKI/AAAAAAAAB48/2osPwmlXPcY/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yoH3PfbZ6KU/UEGO_ChANKI/AAAAAAAAB48/2osPwmlXPcY/s640/032.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annabella and Alex playing in the sandbox</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a8X5IF8DfE4/UEGPRDmlIxI/AAAAAAAAB5E/sQCGXQcU2WM/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a8X5IF8DfE4/UEGPRDmlIxI/AAAAAAAAB5E/sQCGXQcU2WM/s640/036.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The remnants of Hurricane Isaac blowing Annabella's hair, look closely and you can see her new earrings!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xrTYsQ5F8cM/UEGPkhqX5SI/AAAAAAAAB5M/rubRAzSzBWs/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xrTYsQ5F8cM/UEGPkhqX5SI/AAAAAAAAB5M/rubRAzSzBWs/s640/042.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andy making silly faces for Annabella so she would laugh</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9OlYnvG4LJg/UEGVIA66kYI/AAAAAAAAB70/hE8bnAxOIjE/s1600/069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9OlYnvG4LJg/UEGVIA66kYI/AAAAAAAAB70/hE8bnAxOIjE/s640/069.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Landing zone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q1yCAeLm2dI/UEGQFHM1ZfI/AAAAAAAAB5c/uvKStTqOzXM/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q1yCAeLm2dI/UEGQFHM1ZfI/AAAAAAAAB5c/uvKStTqOzXM/s640/053.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hummingbirds at Mom and Dad's</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MP0XH0Mvu5w/UEGQTAHIVSI/AAAAAAAAB5k/DUPeSNKb8pI/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MP0XH0Mvu5w/UEGQTAHIVSI/AAAAAAAAB5k/DUPeSNKb8pI/s640/055.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting a drink</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nk9tb3jxnDo/UEGQgopnw8I/AAAAAAAAB5s/mGaJYlL3JuY/s1600/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nk9tb3jxnDo/UEGQgopnw8I/AAAAAAAAB5s/mGaJYlL3JuY/s640/056.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male and Female</td></tr>
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<i><span class="userContent">I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you. John 14:18</span></i></div>
<br />Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-63104640972510861842012-08-29T21:55:00.002-07:002012-08-29T21:55:34.641-07:00Honesty...This past week I read a post on adoption. It was titled "The truth about adoption 1 year later.." I love that some people have the courage to write about the real side of adoption. In this post, which you can read <a href="http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2012/08/21/the-truth-about-adoption-one-year-later#.UDQJAgt6ZGc.facebook" target="_blank">here,</a> Jan writes about her experience with adopting two older, unrelated children from Ethiopia. There are many truths that she writes about that we've already experienced, and it made me wonder if we will see more of her story unfold in our own. You see, I decided that though I've touched on this with my blog before, I would write our truth about adoption, 1 month later. So here are some truths about our journey.<br />
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1. Adoption is not for the faint of heart.<br />
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When we first began the process, I was absolutely flabbergasted with all the paperwork involved. Granted, I'm asking for a stranger from another country to hand me a child, but I mean, we had to turn our lives inside out from birth to present. After the initial decisions of what country we would adopt from, and what agency to use, the real paper chase began. We had to fill out medical checklists deciding what medical conditions we could handle if we were matched with a child who had them, as well as an age range. We then had to obtain police clearance reports from every county and state we'd lived or worked in. Birth and marriage certificates. Have a physical. Get vaccinations. Be interviewed and fingerprinted by the local sheriff's department, AND homeland security. We had to write up asset and debt documents, and once we obtained all that, we had to have it notarized locally, then mailed off to the state the document originated in to have the notary verified, then we had to mail it to Washington to have the verification authenticated, and then it had to go to the Chinese consulate to have it sealed. FOR EVERY PIECE OF PAPERWORK! The last two steps required a courier as they had to be walked in to the Washington offices of the Secretary of State, and the Embassy. And that was just the beginning!<br />
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2. The wait does NOT get easier...no matter how close to the end you think you are. And the paperwork does NOT end, even after the adoption is final.<br />
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With each piece of paperwork, we received, we would mail it off to the next place and wait. When the dossier was complete, there was the wait to be matched with a child. When we were matched with a child there was MORE waiting for MORE paperwork. When we finally got to China, there was even MORE waiting, both for Annabella, AND for MORE paperwork. It took 3 weeks to get home, and it was all about the paperwork. Can you see how the word "paperwork" became, and still is, a very nasty word in our vocabulary?<br />
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3. Even when you finally get your child, the process is still not over...by a long shot.<br />
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So we finally got Annabella and of course we were elated. She was petrified, but has really begun to blossom. Each day she changes more and more into the child she truly is, the one who is hidden behind the mask of obedience and insecurity. She is finally beginning to fully see that we are her family and that we will always be here to meet her needs, to feed, her, change her, and love her. She is exploring more, and vocalizing her opinions more. She is feeling more confident, and more vulnerable at the same time. By opening up more, she is showing that she is learning to trust and even love us.<br />
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Some things are still very hard for her. She doesn't trust men AT ALL. This includes my Dad, who she sees almost daily. It is extremely hard for me to see her turn from him in fear, and to see the look of pain behind his eyes that he tries so hard to hide from me. He wants her to trust him so badly, and so do I. I don't know what it will take, but I do know that one day she will learn that he is an o.k. guy, and when that day comes, I believe she will become completely, without doubt or reason, whole heartedly SPOILED beyond belief by him. Until then, I pray God grants us both peace and patience to get through this process.<br />
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I know that in seeing all I've seen, especially in China, that a piece of my heart has been ripped out, and it stayed in China. I mean that to sound just as brutal as it does, because that is the feeling that I get each time I see my daughter's face, and each time I think of the faces that we left behind. That a piece of me was RIPPED out of my body.<br />
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We were blessed to be led to an adoption agency like CCAI who gave us so much information about adoption, what to expect, and helped prepare us for a worst case scenario. In some of the documentation we received prior to leaving for China, we received a short article about PADS - post adoption depression syndrome. Having suffered from post partum depression, a sister to PADS, after the birth of the twins, I wonder sometimes if maybe some of the sadness and hurt I feel is due in part to a touch of PADS. Or maybe it is simply God's calling. Maybe this is His way of stirring MY heart for another adoption...or twenty! You see, though I'd ALWAYS wanted to adopt, my whole life, I honestly thought our family was complete with the three boys. When God stirred Greg's heart to adopt, I followed with complete blind faith, but I never really completely gave myself over to it. I was never 100% excited about adding another child. I admit it. It may sound harsh, but that's just the truth of my story in our adoption journey. GREG felt the call, not me. I was excited, but also a bit, well, irritated. I really didn't want to start again with a toddler. I selfishly like to go back to bed after putting the boys on the bus, and sleep as late as I want. I like being able to hop in the car and go where I want, when I want during the day. I like that the boys can fend for themselves if I am sick, and that I can be sick in peace. You see the common thread here is that I was only thinking about <u><b>ME</b></u>. <br />
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I know now that my life was never about me, nor will it ever be. That much God has already shown me, and helped me to understand. I can't imagine life without Annabella in it. And maybe having finally stopped focusing on the ME of me, I have opened my heart to accept God's calling for more children. Or maybe it is just wishful thinking. Or maybe, possibly it is just ME again. Me wanting to feel the exhilaration of bonding between Mother and child again. I don't know. These are the thoughts that trouble me. These thoughts that occupy my head at night. And the faces of those we left behind. I simply can't get them out of my head. I've finally gone back and looked at the pictures we took in the orphanage. I've yet to go back and read those posts from that time, but just going back and looking at the photos we uploaded that day were almost more than I could handle. It brought tears to my eyes, and a sickness to the pit of my stomach that no medicine can cure.<br />
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Perhaps what has caused me to start and stop writing this post multiple times over the past 2 weeks is simply the rawness of bearing my dark parts for all to read. I've erased and rewritten this post, and have finally decided to just be honest. Though all adoption stories are different, and ours is certainly far from over, there is a darker side that not many people talk about, and that is the desperate longing that so many people feel after they get home. The longing to adopt again, to save the orphaned children who were left behind, the longing to be able to financially, and physically do more. The feelings of complete and total inadequacy to cope with the loss of the precious children who still waste away, who've never felt the love of a family, and who may never even be told of the love of Christ. And though I may smile, and even be joyful, I still have that piece inside that rots away with longing and desire.<br />
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So tonight I leave this post with this request. Please pray for me, and for all the adoptive parents who feel the same way. Pray that we will all be led by Christ to understand where He will have us go, and that we will all find peace with His decision, no matter what it is. That we will have our eyes opened to His path for us, and that we will all be able to accept, with complete faith His choices for our lives. If another adoption is part of His plan, then so be it. If not, then that's fine too. It's the not knowing that drives me mad. Perhaps it is all just God's way of teaching me more patience, or strengthening my faith. I just know that right now I feel weak. And vulnerable. And sad. And I also know that I'm not alone, that there are others who feel the exact same way. So thank you, all of our faithful friends, and readers. Thank you for continuing to be part of our lives, and thank you for continuing to lift us and others up in prayer. Thank you for all the things we may never even know you've prayed for along our journey for our family. And thank you for sticking with us and continuing to follow along on our walk of faith!<br />
<br />Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-682268351435629223.post-33169318433253056742012-08-15T20:57:00.004-07:002012-08-15T21:07:51.478-07:00It's a new post!I know it's been ages, (and for those of you who were reading the daily posts from China, it probably seems like EONS,) since I last posted, but we've just needed to be a bit "unplugged" for awhile to get settled in here as a family of six. I've written about a dozen or more blog posts in my head, and now I find it boggling to the mind to try to write just one from all that's has happened since we've been back. So, I guess let's start this one off with a bit of housekeeping!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GYhMEfFmMQs/UCxbiHgeEyI/AAAAAAAABzE/a1h3Hu9KLJI/s1600/Annabella+cleaning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GYhMEfFmMQs/UCxbiHgeEyI/AAAAAAAABzE/a1h3Hu9KLJI/s320/Annabella+cleaning.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Our friend Krissy came over to clean the house for us last week and Annabella took up with her IMMEDIATELY which is something she rarely does! She either got carried by or followed Krissy the whole time she was here! This is her toting the broom and dust pan around.<br />
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O.K. Seriously, lol! Annabella went week before last for her check up at the pediatrician. It went very well, and we had some follow up labs work to go back for. That we did last week. We needed to get blood work and a stool sample for testing for everything from HIV and Hepatitis to parasites and simple infections. We got three vials of blood drawn in two separate sticks in her arms, and spent 8 full hours waiting on her to produce the stool sample. She did NOT cooperate so we will have to go back to Southaven again either later this week or next week to get that test taken care of. Most likely it will be next week. We have to go on Wednesday of next week for her evaluation with the ENT to see if she will need further surgery at this time for her cleft lip and pallate.<br />
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Next week we will also have our first, of many, post adoption visits from our social worker. This visit will basically cover how we are all adjusting and bonding, and will have a home check to make sure we are keeping her safe. This week we have been working on installing baby gates, and placing outlet covers into all of the available outlets. We still need one more gate that we've purchased installed, and we still need to purchase one more gate to go across the boys bathroom entrance. We will also need to purchase a few specialty things like a cover for a power strip and we have the aquarium plugged into the wall outlet, and will need a safety cover that fits over a wall plug. We have got to purchase and install all the drawer and single cabinet door locks, but we have all the double doors secured in the kitchen.<br />
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This past Sunday we went to church and checked Annabella into her Sunday school room for second service. It went so well, that we decided to stay for third service and she did just fine with the transition in rooms and caregivers, so Greg and I have decided that we will both go back to working with the tech team for at least two services a weekend. Greg will work 2 every week, and I will work 2 one week and three the next. Hopefully this will work, and Annabella will always be there for the same two services this way. The boys are happy because they don't have to get up as early as they used to, and they still get to go to their favorite service times.<br />
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I was even able to get to go to small group Sunday night, and that was SUCH a wonderful time! I knew that I'd missed that time of fellowship and Bible study, but I didn't realize just how much of a difference it makes to be able to physically see and feel the support from our group and the difference that small time studying God's word meant, until I got to sit down again Sunday and do it! I doubt we will both get the opportunity to go together and since Greg only gets to go every other week anyway, we may take turns and each only get to go once a month, but even with that I am still so thankful for that time, and for our friends there.<br />
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As far as the boys, they all seem to be doing really, really well with the transition. They started school last Tuesday, and they all seem to really like their teachers. I am THRILLED at who they all have this year, as all seem to be great teachers who really care about the kids, and what they teach them. The twins were both tested for Discovery (gifted,) class, and we should have results from that testing this week. Please be in prayer for that. Both want to be in Discovery sooooooo much, and I can not imagine having to tell one or both of them that they did not score high enough to make it! This is a very sincere request as this means a great deal to them, and has been a concern for us all summer, we sincerely appreciate any prayers for them, and also for us, in being able to adequately explain to one or both of them if they do not make the cut.<br />
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Life here has been strange....Annabella really had NO adjustment period. She simply walked in as if she'd been here forever, and that's just what it seems like. That is why I say weird. It is just as if she has always been here, and I guess in a sense she has been. God had our family all picked out before any of us knew it. I believe in her heart, and in all five of our hearts, He already planted the love, and bonding that He knew we would need, and when we all finally met and became one family, all we needed was already there. In our small group discussion, a question was posed, "Do you believe that what you do for God will gain you more wealth, health, or power?" My answer was yes and no. I know that nothing we do on earth will have God grant us more earthly pleasures, but I also know this as fact. We blindly accepted the calling to adopt. We were not prepared financially, emotionally, or physically to care for another child, and especially for the rigors and financial aspect of the International trip. But we knew that this was His plan, and so we knew that He would carry us. It was not always easy to remember that when the bills would come due, or when our health became an issue. But We kept reminding each other to have faith in God and His plan and that in the end we would be ok. I know that financially we are NOT wealthier than when we began this journey of faith. But I know that spiritually, and emotionally we've been blessed with greater faith, and joy than we've ever known. We physically have Annabella, which is truly a blessing, and spiritually and emotionally, the wealth we have received through the process and long road of this adoption journey far out weighs where we were just over a year ago. SO Yes. I believe that because we were faithful to God's calling, He did bless us abundantly more than we deserved in so many ways.<br />
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The sweet daughter that is sleeping all snuggled in her quilt her Aunt Jackie gave her, with the doll and frog her Grandmommy and Grandma gave her, with her cloth diaper stuffed firmly into her mouth, this precious little blessing is what makes everything we've been through this past year worth it. My world turns because of my four children. These kids are all so unique, and each one comes with a story from before they were even born. Each one is a precious jewel and I can not imagine my life without any one of them in it! I cherish all the time I get to spend with them, and I can't wait to see what each new day brings in the life of our "little" family! I'm looking forward to posting more frequently as we continue to settle into our new life together!<br />
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<span class="text Heb-11-1"><i style="color: #e06666;">"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 NIV</i></span><br />
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And since I couldn't finish this post without adding a few more pictures...here are some more, from the fun time we've had at the creek this past week!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iTrhUW-ryHY/UCxl9a_0l-I/AAAAAAAAB0o/Qqo8GFWT1nc/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iTrhUW-ryHY/UCxl9a_0l-I/AAAAAAAAB0o/Qqo8GFWT1nc/s400/007.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annabella</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kPCunlG18LI/UCxmPxURmYI/AAAAAAAAB0w/zd9laVta6zw/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kPCunlG18LI/UCxmPxURmYI/AAAAAAAAB0w/zd9laVta6zw/s400/015.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nathan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqdLdfxtywY/UCxmpIGTD-I/AAAAAAAAB04/aiNZ1QL0jkY/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqdLdfxtywY/UCxmpIGTD-I/AAAAAAAAB04/aiNZ1QL0jkY/s400/016.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DZq5xGvIFiE/UCxnBOBybDI/AAAAAAAAB1A/ROGos5WSuKc/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DZq5xGvIFiE/UCxnBOBybDI/AAAAAAAAB1A/ROGos5WSuKc/s400/019.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy and the boys, getting ready to make a "tow line" from one side of the creek to the other</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nl4vIbvBZPs/UCxnZ3HigkI/AAAAAAAAB1I/jwD0muDmh3g/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nl4vIbvBZPs/UCxnZ3HigkI/AAAAAAAAB1I/jwD0muDmh3g/s400/023.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andy and Alex swimming to the falls</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXGj_JsOwNE/UCxnt27NzMI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/9aW9_Ga9fTQ/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXGj_JsOwNE/UCxnt27NzMI/AAAAAAAAB1Q/9aW9_Ga9fTQ/s400/030.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3d3gVjq3c5g/UCxoEOQlV_I/AAAAAAAAB1Y/7fHO-20Lrc8/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3d3gVjq3c5g/UCxoEOQlV_I/AAAAAAAAB1Y/7fHO-20Lrc8/s400/032.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nathan securing the second half of the tow line</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vNbPsxAl-7w/UCxoWZZoyVI/AAAAAAAAB1g/9DnHiFVZBD0/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vNbPsxAl-7w/UCxoWZZoyVI/AAAAAAAAB1g/9DnHiFVZBD0/s400/033.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andy with his shovel playing in the sand</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QAJi2-RqwH4/UCxosD8UgvI/AAAAAAAAB1o/49PlqwaAKFA/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QAJi2-RqwH4/UCxosD8UgvI/AAAAAAAAB1o/49PlqwaAKFA/s400/038.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex smiling from the other side of the creek</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vT1WORnWo5o/UCxo8Ahj2ZI/AAAAAAAAB1w/L-VLTZVPfac/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vT1WORnWo5o/UCxo8Ahj2ZI/AAAAAAAAB1w/L-VLTZVPfac/s400/039.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tasting the creek water...ewwww!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LsBFWXUkK84/UCxpO2ner9I/AAAAAAAAB14/vF5pNEV_mU0/s1600/040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LsBFWXUkK84/UCxpO2ner9I/AAAAAAAAB14/vF5pNEV_mU0/s400/040.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annabella</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QzRtbpAbufU/UCxpgS7JJUI/AAAAAAAAB2A/DRD4sYx4YlY/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QzRtbpAbufU/UCxpgS7JJUI/AAAAAAAAB2A/DRD4sYx4YlY/s400/041.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">laughing at getting splashed by her brothers</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WYDfMU1g5aQ/UCxpxKcQ8XI/AAAAAAAAB2I/XVpuRgDW6_Y/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WYDfMU1g5aQ/UCxpxKcQ8XI/AAAAAAAAB2I/XVpuRgDW6_Y/s400/042.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more laughing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-22653ZuViN4/UCxqDEe1RJI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/4it9cTja8uA/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-22653ZuViN4/UCxqDEe1RJI/AAAAAAAAB2Q/4it9cTja8uA/s400/043.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">waiting for the next splash</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lCsbfSp3LVo/UCxqUrl0RjI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/5waqSDbKoxc/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lCsbfSp3LVo/UCxqUrl0RjI/AAAAAAAAB2Y/5waqSDbKoxc/s400/044.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sweet giggles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tgXB-tg2M80/UCxqou84YxI/AAAAAAAAB2g/qRxw5N2fTGQ/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tgXB-tg2M80/UCxqou84YxI/AAAAAAAAB2g/qRxw5N2fTGQ/s400/045.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more sweet giggles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ifEdOIpB6hA/UCxq69sCnqI/AAAAAAAAB2o/ZQ1lRbDHd5Y/s1600/046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ifEdOIpB6hA/UCxq69sCnqI/AAAAAAAAB2o/ZQ1lRbDHd5Y/s400/046.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this smile...it melts my heart!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />Blessedbabshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00294605683577524931noreply@blogger.com1