my day off

A full day off. Michael had an interview! What was I to do?
Hmmm
I went here and here! Mind you, it was to window shop, but I had a stinkin good time and cant wait for Michael to visit with me! The first place had amazing ideas for nurseries and although way out of our price range, it was fun to dream!!! Then off to Babies R Us which was having a great sale..Don't worry, when you don't have money, you cant spend it!!!

I ended my journey at Rooms to Go for kids where I was looking for a bookshelf. Now, once again, I know I can find it somewhere cheaper but I was just getting ideas.

The first piece of furniture that I want to look at and is actually needed to is a pretty, girly bookshelf. Any ideas, let me know!!!

Lynn Marie will be a well loved child and is prayed for daily, that's for sure!

blogs, baby names and such

I swore I would not post on this one everyday but I am having fun! You guys have given us both such encouragement


You may remember earlier this month, Michael and I came up with our daughters name! If you forgot, let me remind you:

Lynn Marie Christopher

Now, I knew when we announced our name, there would be some drama. We had one family member tell us he/she didn't like it. My favorite person at work doesn't like it because her mother in laws name is Marie and she does not like her. No matter what name we pick, someone wont like it..Honestly, there is nothing wrong with so I don't care!!!

the more I write it, the more I love it. I love to play with fonts and such and my friend Kim gave me the name of a website to get personalized labels for her.

I think Michael and I are going to call her LynnMarie for her first name. If we do a middle name, we will probably use her Chinese name! It just seems so classic.

I have wondered whether to change it or not but Miss Kim said NO WAY! Aunt Kim will always think of her as LynnMarie..She said it sounds kind of southern!!

To clarify yesterdays post, I just went window shopping at the consignment store!! No buying anything yet!!!

Hoping to get Michael to post again soon!!!

Looking forward to hearing about the next referrals!!!

the answer

How did I become so weak? Today, for the first time, I went here, to a Childrens Consignment Shop before Jury Duty. I had the best time. We dont plan on buying things besides our monthly kids book, but this is a place I will visit..They had the cutest things......

Why? Why had I not visited before?

I am weak..I can not believe I did it. More on that later.

For those so frustrated with the wait, you may want to read what one mother to be did..She wrote a letter to her daughter.

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do to get through this!

Check her out here!

Baby Bargains and etc

Our friends gave us this book the other day and during trivia last night I went through it a bit.How fun was this? I learned a lot and although there will be a newer version or 2 before we head to China, looking at this stuff is fun! With Michael out of work, we are not buying anything but dreaming is really fun. Lots of idea went through my head. For those of you who are mommies already, I will be asking you lots of of questions in the upcoming months.

Even Michael looked through it and read me the best clothing to purchase and the clothing you should just skip!!!!

If I do not have jury duty today, I hope to clean the house, hit a fabric store (just to look) for fabric for more quilt swaps and check out the cutest consignment boutique!.

Yesterday I spent some time reading the very early posts of some of the blogs I read regularly! Oh my, everyone has a story! God is awesome! It is so cool to go through this journey with so many new friends!!!

On another note, check out The Hoffmans site. Tymm made an awesome post that really encouraged me!

and I forgot, we got our first international quilt square yesterday..Check it out here!

Tuesday night surprise

Thanks to our friends Michael and Kim for their friendship and encouragement. They knew we were having a down day and called and took us to dinner.

I tell ya when I prayed for new friends 2 years ago, I did not know that God would answer that prayer with international adoption..He is awesome!

When you want this whole thing to seem real, visit a home that's getting ready for a new child. They will be travelling this summer to bring their son home from China.!What an encouragement they were. They shared some experience with us and just made us feel loved. I learned more about adoption resources and websites to find things with Lynn Marie's name. Apparently, Miss Kim likes the name Lynn Marie! Thanks for being so kind to us tonight. We both needed it!!!
This was the most enjoyable evenings I have had in such a long time!!!
Kim mentioned something at dinner and said " I think Amy will be okay during her wait as long as she can see the babies and hear about referrals at First Friday" (forgive me Kim if I misquoted you). Apparently, I am easier to read than I thought. She is sooo right! We have not gotten the chance to spend a lot of time with Michael and Kim, but they really seem to know us well.

I am pretty optimistic regarding this adoption. I know the wait is going to be long. It could be 3 years. The way I think about it is, Michael and I have been trying to have a baby for 3 years so we are half way there. I know many people have been discouraged and I pray for my friends daily. I do not know where my positive attitude comes from. Actually I do, God!!!!! Seriously, He is the only one who knows when our wait will end. His timing is so much better than mine!!

Thanks again to our friends! We both ended our days feeling blessed!!

We need your prayers

Michael is getting discouraged and is having a hard time finding a new job. If you have any advice or encouragement, please visit Valtools Box

Please keep him in your prayers!

Please also pray for me that I may remain positive!

On a happy note, we got 2 new squares this week! Check them out here!

Monday Meditations

Good morning!!!
Anyone have anything specifically prayed for this morning?

I am reading Wanting a daughter, Needing a Son right now and its really an informative book.

This morning I am praying for
CCAA- to have more paper ready babies
The birthmoms in China
Adoptive daddies- a lot of us mommies are into the blogging and getting as much information. I pray that the China dads will also find support and encouragement!

Have a great day!

Two Months, a New Book!

Today was the two month anniversary of our LID, and it was pretty much an adoption-themed day.



We had our yard sale today, actually part of a neighborhood yard sale that Amy organized with one other lady in the subdivision.



We did okay, making about $275 for the adoption fund. A lot of that came from the $90 sale of CDs I decided that since I had never listened to them in 3 years or more I ought to sell them. I wanted to make more, but the only offers I got were from people wanting to buy the whole lot with minimal pricing.



We had a mid-morning visit from our friends the Hoffmans. They are also on the waiting list and they enjoyed meeting Lucy, and I gave Tymm a book I liked and thought he would enjoy, Ted Dekker's Blink.



After cleaning up and resting a bit, we went to dinner at Stevie B's Pizza (knockoff of CiCi's) where we both ate the pizza and salad buffet for $9.19 (with our coupon) including drinks and tax.



After dinner we drove across the parking lot to our Barnes & Noble and Amy picked our third book for Lynn Marie....

2 months down baby!

Question of the day

As I look at Jay and Angela and baby Laney at work, I hear "Is that your baby"? Then I have to explain that our baby is not here yet and wont be for quite a while. Its hard to hear their disappointment.

I'm not sure why. I don't know if its that they feel sorry for our long wait or what.

I know that admitting you have a problem is the first step in the road to recovery. Lets get it out! I'm not a neat freak, far from it. I have saved things for years that are so not needed. This weekend is the first step in getting our house ready. Everything I don't want or need is going to the garage. If its not sold Saturday, its being donated. Mind you, we really are doing this to make some money but we are also ready to get organized. Our messy room is quickly emptying out and next year we can start looking at it as a baby's room!!!

Adoption- I dont want to compare Michael andI to the grinch but do you remember the part of the movie where his heart grows 2 sizes? I can not wait for our hearts to grow in love for this precious little one.

Arent yall excited??

Adoption is emotional

I have never rejoiced for other people like I have done since we started this process. I am just thrilled, really thrilled for my friends getting babies and other good news. Laney is with her family and Sheridan and Shelby are hopefully right around the corner.

I love to imagine the moment when our baby is place in our arms. Im sure pregnant families feel the same way.

Oh, our wait will be long, but it will be worth it. I hope our little Lynn Marie will touch many lives. I hope in the process we do to. We have experienced more since last October than we did our first 5 years together. Its just been awesome!

Whats next?
More waiting ( I know that the obvious answer)
Many First Fridays ( an awesome time of encouraging other adopting families)
Continue working on our quilt
eventually start the nursery

Lurkers come out!!

A lot of people visit here and dont post and thats okay!! I have turned on the anonymous posting for those who feel more comfortable with that!

So I ask, if you have visited here before, or have prayed for us before, please post a comment today and let us know what state you are from!!!!!

Thanks for all the prayers

I am work and am continuing to check on Jay and Angela. Today is their Gotcha Day! and I cant wait to see that first family photo!!!!

UPDATE: I can quit hitting the refresh button..Lanie is with her mommy and daddy! How awesome is that??


the Christopher Quilt has been updated

Monday Meditations

Hope you guys like the new look, I do!!

Monday meditations,
Whats on your heart to pray for today?

Today, I ask you to pray for Jay and Angela who are in CHina getting ready for Gotcha Day with baby Laney tomorrow. This is first family we have seen wait for their referral, get the referral, and get their baby..Cant wait to read their experience. This was the family who showed us the referral call video..Happy tears!!

Pray for the wait. Pray the wait shortens. Pray that we will all wait because God's timing is perfect!!!

Hope you love it. Susie over at Bluebird Blogs did it..Doesnt she rock?? More posts to come when I am more awake!!!

BTW, I signed up at bloglines..Can anyone tell me how to add blogs to my list and how to figure out which ones have been updated...thanks

THE BLOG

CHANGES ARE COMING TO A CHRISTOPHER FAMILY BLOG NEAR YOU. HOPEFULLY LATE TONIGHT, EARLY MORNING, THEY WILL BE HERE!!

light bulb went off or something

I'm not sure what happened but..... After we decided on Lynn Marie's name it happened. What you might ask? I immediately started noticing things, baby things. Its crazy. It really is like a light bulb went off. I am now aware of discount clothes. This wait is going to be stinkin fun..Oh now, I am not buying anything, I promise, but looking sure is fun. I spent 2 hours at Kohls and found the 70-80% off rack...That was fun. By the way, Kohls has a whole bunch of pretty ladybug dresses on sale right now (9mo-24 mo). After Kohls, I went to Target and now I am searching for bedding that I know we won't need for a long time. I just can not wait to get her room cleared out. Hopefully I will get a lot done during this garage sale preparation.
Also at Kohls are some beautiful framed prints of Chinese letters with the words love and kind and such..

So no, I am not buying. Looking is fun. Dreaming is fun. Imagining is fun. We are blessed.

Someone had commented that perhaps we should call our daughter Lynn Marie as in a first name and that's really pretty. Gotta talk to hubby about that!!!

BTW, I forgot to mention that my old college neighbor is adopting from China. They are 9 months into the wait!!!

a sock drawer

Baby Lynn will be living in the "white room" which is presently filled with boxes and uhm, junk. We plan on getting rid of everything it that room before our garage sale on the 23rd. I walked into the room this afternoon to get some boxes and had a new mindset when I looked in. All of a sudden I started thinking about colors and where to put the furniture and themes and wall paintings and how we make the closet more useful and for some reason I started thinking about baby socks. I dont know why. I think its because when I used to babysit and would change the babies the first drawer was always full of socks for sweet little baby feet..

I want a full sock drawer!!!

Its cool to have a name. I mentioned to some that I wanted to keep this blog uplifting, joyful and encouraging. I want to be careful with what negativity is on here. I do not want to sugarcoat anything and want this to be as honest as we can.

We are so thankful for the personal emails and posts from today..

We are still a long way to preparing Lynn's homecoming but we are getting ready!!!! Yipee~

Michaels story

I will be composing a post on my blog, www.valtool.blogspot.com in the next few minutes. As much as it brings joy to share our daughter's name with you all, it has also brought pain.

the name annoucement..sorry

Ok, after thinking about this for 6 years and then changing our minds at the last minute, Michael and I 100% agree on what our daughters name will be!! Should I tell you, or make you wait the next 2 years? Hmmm, let me think about it!
Lets start with what we ruled out

Elizabeth
Rachel
Rebecca

All of these were very close possibilities..


So, where is the drumroll.. Baby Christopher's name is (I dont say will be because she is already in our hearts)

Lynn Marie Christopher

Now for the explanation

Lynn - I always said I would never use it as a middle name but we think its very lovely. Michaels moms name is Linda and her mom used to call her Lynn. My beloved sister is Kelly Lynn and I can't think of a more beautiful person. My friend Rebekah is Rebekah Lynn and she is a very special person to me.

Marie- Both of Michaels grandmothers had names of Mary. Mary and or Marie have a meaning of "wished for child" How could we not use it? You know how sometimes a name can make you smile? I got to know a special family while working at our hospital. A very special girl named Catherine Marie quickly entered my heart along with the rest of her family. these names we have chosen are special. The more I say this name, the more I love it..

Come on China, bring us baby Lynn!!!!!!!! I dont think you can come up with any nicknames, let me know if you can think of some!!!

Monday Meditations

Hello prayer warriors! What are you praying about today? I am praying for all of us in this waiting stage.. Stay encouraged!!!!!!! What can we pray for for you today?

You thought this was the name announcement, didn't you? haha! Michaels not awake yet, Ill let him post.

The Christopher Quilt has been updated with 2 new pieces

The name.....

.... is coming later today, it's 1:30 in the morning for Pete's sake!

A statement about an announcement

Amy and I have a big/long day tomorrow with church, a trivia tournament, and a walk around the neighborhood to finish passing out fliers for the yard sale. We will talk. We will make a decision. On Monday we will post our daughter's name.

-Michael

more random thoughts on this journey

I am finding more and more websites with referral pictures. Oh how they make me smile! I cant wait until next month now! Yippee!

We received 2 more squares yesterday and I will try to put a new picture up soon.

There are a lot of blogs that I visit that are going back to China for baby number 2. That's another thing that makes me smile.
I have noticed that I see a lot more China items and ladybugs since our LID. Just another random thought. I see them everywhere..I must be careful with this.

BTW, I am sitting here watching Johnny Depp in Willia Wonka. Am I the only person who thought he was a bit odd in this?

Adoption

Hey, why China?
Exactly how expensive is it?
Oh, do you have apicture of your baby yet?
DO you get to pick her out?
Do you have to call her by her Chinese name?
American babies are good too.


These are just a few of the comments I have heard. Most people are interested in the whole process and I enjoy telling them.
I do agree with everyoneho has been talking about this week. Referral times are fun. There is a lot to keep you busy during this wait. Celebrating your LID each month, enjoying the referrals and GOTCHA days of our friends, the different projects our yahoo groups are doing and meeting new friends.

THis is definitely an experience I would not have guessed we would be in 5 years ago. I know our lives will change completely the day we see our daughters picture. I love to imagine that day and how we will celebrate but I also think of ways to get myself out of the sad times, which I am sure will pass by.

Michael and I were able to spend a lot of time during the paperchase together..Doing the autobiography was interesting and I think we both learned a lot about each other. Friends.. We needed friends, not that we were friendless. But, we have met some incredible friends that we now share a common bond with forever..Its so neat! The whole idea just makes me smile..The quilt thing is going well. I am in the middle of a swap and have gotten some squares from different states.. I love getting mail!

Our first garage sale is in a few weeks and its turned into a neighborhood sale. I have met a new friend and walking buddy because of this.

Michael and I have been attending a neat church that we learned about from our adoption support group.
Great things are happening to the Christophers. Sure, there are going to be some trying times. we are blessed beyond measure and this great adventure is going to better than we could have imagined!!!

THanks for your prayers and support!!!!

Quilt

Check out the Christopher quilt. 2 new pieces arrived yesterday!!!

A new family celebrates

Welcome baby Paisley!!!

Its so much fun to celebrate with these families..

they got their call today!

another family celebrates..Michael and Kim are out of the review room and found out they are approved and will be bringing little Sheridan. We can not wait to celebrate with you! THANK YOU GOD!!!!!!

I will try my hardest not to post rumors on this blog. ON that note, I hope referrals come this week. This is a fun part of the month for me (im sure once my wait is almost over, it wont be).. Reading other blogs has helped me pass the time. As you can tell, I added a lot more to my blogroll last night at work.. I still need to clean it up, but there is a lot to read.

We are looking forward to our garage sale and getting the house ready. We have so much time ahead of us, we are really not in a hurry.
I did add the latest quilt square to the blog..Check out the link to the right. Collecting the squares will be another way of keeping me preoccupied.


I hope. I pray. I know that our baby girl will be waiting for us one day. This wait will end. I have not gotten discouraged by what I have read. I will not post the different guesses or estimates.. I know our wait is long and could get longer, but we have been given this time!!!!!

Monday Prayers

Looks like we know what it will called but I will give the poll a chance until later today before we finalize a name?

Every Monday, a small group of us are lift up the entire adoption process in prayer. Want to join us???

Whats on your heart to pray about today? There are so many things and I want to know what you are praying about. A girl at work started talking to me about the adoption and has been so supportive. She said, "What do you know about the attachment process? You realize you are ripping her away from her comfort zone, everything she knows will be gone?" I know this was not meant in a hurtful way but this something I have been reading about..

My list for today

1) our babies- that they are loved and that everyone who is a part of their care will be blessed
2) the families that are getting referrals this month and families that are travelling this month
3) families that are in the review room

My Specific prayers
Michael and Kim- they are in the review room and these are wonderful people. They are adopting a sweet little boy and we cant wait to hear they are out of the review room

Susan and Dan- they are the hosts for our monthly support group and have many couples through the wait period

Can I add you to this list!

Poll

What should our Monday prayer group be called
	Merciful Monday
	Mondays Mercies
	Monday Meditations
pollcode.com free polls

Im cleaning up my blogroll. If your site isnt listed or is listed twice or if its not correct, let me know..Also, let me know if there any other sites that are must reads !!!!!!

Also, we added out next square to the Christopher Quilt blog..Click here to view!

Third Day - Live At Brisbane, Australia (2007)

First Friday

Tonight was our First Friday adoption support at the Chapmans. We began with dinner with the Ladmans and the Perrys. The Ladmans were so encouraging and funny. The Perrys have received a referral but are awaiting a final review. Please pray for Michael and Kim as I know they are very stressed regarding this review. We had a very nice dinner and it was nice to add another couple to our dinner group!!!

To our meeting place we go. We were one of the first to arrive and visited with the early folks. We saw pictures of Shelby, who will be placed with her forever family late this fall. We celebrated with Laneys family as they will be leaving for China in a few weeks to make Laney a permanent part of their family. Laneys mom has a joy that is contagious. I cant wait to read their journal in China and to meet Laney when she gets home

I was able to visit with Laura and Tim, the first friends we met that have log in date near ours.
After visiting for a while, we shared what stage of the process we were in and had the opportunity to ask questions from those who just returned from China and others..It was a nice time. The wait has gotten longer and it seems that this is starting to get to people.

We are still so early in our waiting stage, its impossible to predict when we will get a referral. Until then, we will keep ourselves busy getting our home and lives ready for our new addition. God has a plan for our family. He has guided us to this place, and he knows the perfect child for us. This is such a special time for us, a time of preparation. I pray we use this time wisely.

What now? Well, we have our garage sale here in Kennesaw June 23rd. We are working on collecting quilt swaps for our 100 Good Wishes Quilt. Michael and I are both involved in a yahoo China Wait loss (get it?) group and we are both part of yahoo groups on our own. There is a yahoo group for China dads out there..Just go to http://www.yahoogroups.com/ and type in china dads. We are looking at our finances, working on finding a church and getting our priorities in order. Its an exciting time and although our wait could increase, I want to treasure this time. God is working. Sometimes we do not see it immediately, but I know He has promised me to never leave me and to give me a future!!!

I am going to post a video above this..The song is by Third Day and I am posting the words below. Someone mentioned tonight that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I hope we can all continue to encourage one another!!!

Light at the End of the Tunnel by Third Day!!!
Well I won't pretend to know what you're thinking
And I can't begin to know what you're going through
And I won't deny the pain that you're feeling
But I'm gonna try and give a little hope to you
Just remember what I told you
There's so much your living for
There's a light at the end of this tunnel
There's a light at the end of this tunnel for you For you
There's a light at the end of this tunnel
Shining bright at the end of this tunnel for you
For you
So keep holding on You got your disappointments and sorrows
You ought to share the weight of that load with me Then you will find that the light of tomorrow
Well it brings new life for your eyes to see
So remember what i told you
There's so much your living for
There's a light at the end of this tunnel
There's a light at the end of this tunnel for you
For you
There's a light at the end of this tunnel
Shining bright at the end of this tunnel for you
For you
So keep holding on Keep holding onSo remember what i told you
There's so much your living for
There's a light at the end of this tunnel