The Birthday Bash!

Today was our Riley's birthday party. I can't believe she is already 4! She is so funny and definitely knows what she wants! She had a party at home with some of her little friends from church, and then proceeded to have a total meltdown! I was little embarrassed, however it didn't seem to phase her! She went and had some quiet time and then came back happy as a clam! One of my friends reminded me of the Bernstein Bears book too much birthday, I guess that was poor Riley today! She had a blast otherwise and loved her gifts and the princess carriage cake she had picked out! I will post pictures of her wearing the tutu she insisted on wearing for her big party.

Adoption wise not alot to report. We have another homestudy meeting tomorrow, and I have been doing alot of running around getting paperwork together and sending out cheques etc. I have been still reading alot on attachment parenting. These books I find very intimidating. However we are so very blessed to have a family in our lives that has just adopted from China and has a beautiful 2 yr old who seems to be doing very well! This family is such a wealth of knowledge and inspiration that it is possible! She seems to understand all my uncertainties and excitement! I have to come up with 6 to 8 pictures of our family one that is in front of our house (which I don't have yet) one with extended family , one on vacation etc etc. I thought it would be easy but now I keep second guessing my choices! Well I must head off to Wednesday night kids klub!

Have a fabulous "hump day"

Funny Questions!

Well, this weekend we did our international adoption course. It went well, Iam glad I had done so much reading before hand as it would have been a little overwhelming! We started our homestudy last night with our social worker and good friend Jodi. Poor Howard! He truly is a man of few words! It was nearly impossible to extract info from him ;) And those darn questions are ones you really have to ponder for a few minutes! Thank goodness Jodi is such a good friend of ours or it would be even harder! I will head to the doctors for a physical tomorrow to make sure I am healthy enough to adopt! Also its our sweet little Riley's Birthday party tomorrow! We have 6 kids coming (and Mom's I hope!) Of course its a princess party! What else would it be? I don't know too many 4 yr old girls who don't have a princess party!lol! I can't believe she is already 4! Well thats it for now! Have a wonderful day!

Sometimes Miracles Happen.... Right?

Well I got some news about the little girl we were hoping to adopt and it looks like it would take a miracle for us to ever have her in our arms! I am dissapointed but also believe that there is a little girl for us in China and she is perfect for our family! I am also still trying to remain hopeful we will witness a miracle and this little girl will become ours! However I must remain realistic and prepare for a LONG wait for the little one we will be matched with! Its kinda crazy what we are doing .There are so many unknowns with international adoption, and since I really enjoy having some sort of control I feel a little unerved! We start our homestudy next week and have to "decide" what "special needs" will be äcceptable" and what we couldn't manage! CRAZY!!! How does one decide this? I know that had Howard and I known Nathan had osteogensis imperfecta (brittle bone disease) we would have never thought we could handle all the complications he has been through. Yet here we are thriving and Nathan has been one of the biggest blessings in our lives! And we couldn't imagine life without him! So how does one decide? We also have to decide what age is the oldest we would be willing to consider! I think this whole journey is going to be a huge lesson in faith and trusting that God has good plans for us! Also wait for it.... I am not in control!!!! Hahaha! We hope you will pray that God would open the doors that are meant to be open and close the ones that are meant to be closed. Also for peace and wisdom for Howard and I as we make these "crazy"decisions on what baby would "fit" our family best! We take our international adoption course this weekend. On Sunday I will start getting the paperwork for our dossier to China together! I cannot wait in as little as 6 months or as long as a year we will be posting pictures of our little Addison on this blog! Who knows maybe she was born today! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Here are some pictures of 3 of our miracles!

God Bless

Any book suggestions?

Well, now that I have done all the paperwork part (that I can do for this step) I have started reading books on adoption! I found some great one's and some very "scary"ones! I know not many people check this blog out at this point but if anyone has any suggestions on books that pertain to international adoption we would love the advice! I also have started getting info like special packing lists for our trip to China (yes I know that is months away!) but at least I feel like I'm being productive! I failed at not buying our little Addi clothes today! How can a girl pass up 60% off!?! lol! The kids are so funny about this whole process! Mr N. is all excited and can't wait for another little sis! Mr J. is wishing it would be another boy! And Miss R. keeps thanking us for a baby sister! I 'm sure some of these reactions will be short lived! I have started telling people we run into in the community of our decision to adopt, we have had all sorts of reactions! Some are excited for us, others think we are crazy and still others don't know what to say! Well thats it for now! Hope to have some more news in the next few days!

Have a super fabulous day!

And Things Start to Fall Into Place!!!

We sent out our paperwork yesterday to be approved by the Alberta government to adopt. I am really starting to realize that this is really going to happen! don't get me wrong I get that We have a LONG wait but we are finally taking the steps to get this "slow boat to China"moving!I am trying very hard not to look at any of the cute baby clothes in the stores right now! Any of you who really know me know that is extremely challenging for me! Lol! I don't have much to post right now but I do want to get in the habit of posting so that when things really start to move and we are in China it will be a habit!

Have a fabulous Saturday!

Let's Start at the Beginning!

I guess I should start at the beginning. We have been tossing the idea of adoption around for many years, but never really followed through. I think because we were scared of all the "what ifs" Since Feb this year the feeling that we were being led to adopt was overwhelming. It was taking up my every waking thought and even in my dreams! So finally after a lot of discussion and prayer we have taken the steps do what we believe we have been called to do! We will be adopting from the waiting child program in China. This means we are seeking out a child that has some sort of physical special need. This also means our wait will be less then going the NSN (non special needs route) In the last couple of days we were looking at some lists and found a one year old little girl in China who was burnt in a fire and has had surgery and healing well with little scarring. She will be available to adopt in a few short months. I have told our agency we are interested in her and we are hoping they can help us locate her. We are praying that when she is available to adopt we will have all our paperwork ready for her and we can lock her in and then she will be ours!Adoptions don't usually work this way but if this is the child for us I will trust that the right doors will be opened; if not then there is another little girl in China that is ours either waiting for us, or she may not even be born yet! So at this point I will remain Apprehensively Excited! Well I found this poem posted on another blog and loved it so I thought I would post it.

Every call has a beginning

A quiet moment when God

whispers a promise to a mother's heart

A holy place where a father bows and faithfully accepts

the journey set before him.

A miraculous morning that unexpectedly dawns.....

Casting its first light on a chosen threshold.

A gentle knock... a closed door opens.

A sacred invitation sent by the Father..

Leads to the other side of the world.

Where lonely hearts stare out orphanage windows.

Praying for someone to care...

and then one morning,

On an ordinary day

An orphans life is changed...

God sends them a second chance.... Through you...

Author Unknown

Have super wonderful day!

Our first post!

Well this is my first post in bloggy land! We have started the long and winding path of paperwork to start our adoption! So I guess our journey begins today! I hope you join us in our rollercoaster ride to China!