Monday Meditations

I think I have forgotten to post my MM, sooo sorry. But I have been praying and I hope you join me today !!

Praises
Families will be united with their babies soon!!!
People are still adopting
The friendships that have been made and the differences those friendships make

Prayers
the families who are waiting
the babies who are waiting
the caregivers who love on these babies until they get their families. I know their hearts and minds must get sooo attached. I am so thankful for these wonderful people
safety for those who are about to travel
those families making some pretty big decisions and those who are thinking about adoption

For specifics on how you can pray for us and LynnMarie, send me an email over at lovinglynnmarie@hotmail.com

In Love

Can anything else bring tears to my eyes so quickly?? I can not wait to get my hands on her. We got an update today and this picture put my fears to rest..I shouldn't have said fears. It just made me heart melt a little
LynnMarie, you are one loved little chick. Atlanta is waiting for you!!!

what we are up to

Lists,money orders, Visas, copies, organizing, cleaning, organizing, making more lists,, writing thank you cards, emotional breakdowns, these are the things that I have been doing. Thank goodness my Michael is the calm one!

Whats next? WE have our travel conference call next week. We are meeting with our pediatrician next week as well so he will know about LynnMarie and we get ready for specialists when I get back!

Her room- will be getting painted and new carpet. You would think that waiting for a baby for 7 years would make you totally know what you want and motivate you, but no, it just confuses me.

We have wonderful friends who have promised to help with paperwork, question answering and packing. This will help a ton!!

But there is more to this adoption than just going to China (can we say that again, WE ARE GOING TO CHINA)

Life as we know it will change when we get home. The house will be different, schedules will change and there will be much less blogging time.
But back to blogging, many of you have been there done that and have been so helpful in the post below. I know other friends who read this are learning as well!

Did any of you adopt a child with club foot by any chance??

What are some of the things that you bought in China?? What would you buy if you went again or what would you not buy again??

Questions and questions that need answers

This shall be the first of many posts looking for your honest and humble answers from those who have been there and done that.

Lets first say that I have no clue as to what I am doing. I can tell you that we we in fact have a crib, a car seat, stroller and 2 boxes of diapers.

This is real. We are totally going to China and bringing back the daughter we have dreamed about and prayed for for sooooo long. That in itself is a whole other post.

So, here is the beginning of my long and somewhat silly list of questions.

1) what do you do on the plane 17 hours???

2) what do you take in your carry on?

3) VISA's- when do I learn about that? I have seen people recommending certain sites but havent heard anything

4)Should you take food into China?

5)If you had the opportunity to wire the orphanage fee to China, would you?

6) what was on your list of things to do before China???

7) What do you wish you had taken to China?

8) What kinds of things did you give the nannies as gifts?

Thats enough to get you started. See, my mind is crazy and its 2:15 am at work. But today, our LOA arrives and we are sooooo excited..YIPPPEEEEE!!!

Lists

Time to get busy. No matter where you have adopted from, you had to make a list of things to do before the adoption, during travel and afterwards..

So, its time to ask for help. What was on your list?? I don't want to miss anything so add as much as you can, even the simple things..I need lists!

Time to get crazy busy!!

Go

(and thanks a lot)

"New" old pictures

LOA

Guess who is going to China in the next 2 months?? That would be us! We got LOA today!!! We may have LynnMarie in our arms before her 1st birthday
(LOA is the finally approval from China)

Special Needs

Well, most of you know that Miss LynnMarie is from the Waiting Child Program, meaning she has some special needs. There are some friends and family who read this and I don't get to talk to them very often so I wanted to make sure you know whats going on. I won't be too detailed as I want to protect her and her caregivers so if you want to know more specifics, send me an email to be on her prayer team email list over at lovinglynnmarie@hotmail.com

LynnMarie has 2 special needs. She has clubbed feet and a joint problem with her hands. She can't stretch her fingers out completely. Where she is, they have done a fantastic job with her hands and feet and its obvious that she is loved.

When we get home, she will need some therapies and will need to see some doctors. So, we are sooooo excited about this opportunity. LynnMarie may in fact have other issues that we don't know about and will not know about until she gets home. But no matter what, this little girl is loved by so many and I can not wait to pour that love over her. I can't to help her learn and grow and to get her the best treatment as possible. We are researching medical facilities, treatments and learning from others how to share her with others.

We know that things will be difficult at times. But we are excited. This is just going to be an awesome blessing. I really can not wait to get this sweet girl home. There is a lot more to special needs than just her physical issues. We have to teach her that she is loved by so many and make her feel accepted. We have so much to learn so if you have any suggestions, advice, books we must read, please share them with us. You guys rock!
We are excited to bring our daughter LynnMarie home and share her with our family and friends. I want her to know God's love. I want her to feel God's love. We are blessed to have a wonderful support system here. We can not wait to go to China!!!!
Keep praying. Pray for those children who are still in China. Pray for those with special needs and their caregivers who are loving on them.

LynnMarie ChunAi

we are home.

I promise to have pics up tomorrow but since I can not find my camera cable thing, this will have to do.

Michael and I got back from a long weekend of celebrating our birthdays and LynnMarie.

Wednesday morning we packed up and headed to Orlando to spend some time with his mom ,his brother and his family. We had a lovely dinner and birthday cake. Thursday we spent the day at the Magic Kingdom. Since we both have the same birthday and Disney is giving everyone free admission to a park on their bday, we seriously saved some money and really had a good time. It was really fun but also exciting to know that the next time, we get on that tram, there will be a stroller with us..HeeHee! My mom also reminded us of our next Disney Cruise..

Anyway, Saturday afternoon, friends and family gathered to shower us with gifts. What a wonderful time put together by my mom and sister. We got to share our adoption story, answer questions about LynnMarie, and just get loved on. We received lots of advice from friends that meant so much to us and I hope to post some of the advice one day here.

Sunday, we loaded up the car (and boy it was loaded) and headed back. We did stop off at an outlet mall and found a Carters and OshKosh store. We found lots of 1.99 and 3.99 racks with a 20% discount on top of that. So a good time was had by all.

We ended the day at Michael's Aunt and Uncles house where they presented us an old blanket that Michael's mom made for her nephew and they wanted to pass it on.
My last surprise was on Sunday morning when I got a phone call from Miss Verna who I had not seen in over 7 years. She was my very first charge nurse at my first nursing job. Her advice was to not spoil our child. I told her not to worry, she would be a very stable, non spoiled child. HAHA!! TOO LATE!
That made it a very special weekend.
I am sorry I don't have pics but what a great way to start our preparations.

So what did we get (this is for you Mandy), we got our stroller, carseat, diapers, clothes, bibs, toys, bathstuff.YIPPEEE

Just a reminder that if you want to be on LynnMarie's prayer email list, email us at lovinglynnmarie@hotmail.com

last weeks date night

Last week, Michael and I were invited on a date night with our friends Tammy and Tony! They are experienced parental units and are also waiting on their sweet little girl from China. It was wonderful to get to know them a bit better and share their "Joy" with them! Thhanks for a wonderful evening friends!

What now???

Ok, so we know who LynnMarie is and where she, what now? I HAVE NO CLUE!!!

Seriously, I am so confused and overwhelmed with every emotion to mankind, I do not even know where to start. I love it!!!! Some of you who have been reading our blog have commented on my honesty. Be prepared for some seriously honesty in posts to come!!

LynnMarie has a story and its a beautiful one. Man, this girl turned our lives around the night before Thanksgiving. Really my thinking has like totally changed, its crazy. The Christopher's really are going to CHINA. More importantly, we are bringing LynnMarie home!

These past few weeks have been more wonderful than I could ever imagine. I hope to one day share with you how God has been all over this. I am not kidding. Every day, I learn something new. God has opened a door or given us a little surprise every single day. Its beyond amazing. Never underestimate what God can do all over the world. As big as this world is, God has shown us some really intimate moments. One day I hope to share, I can not put all of this into words.

GOd is so BIG and wonderful and amazingly cool and has been so gracious to us. Finding LynnMarie is so beyond what I ever dreamed.

So right now, we sit and wait. Just kidding. There is no sitting. We are waiting for our LOA (letter of approval) and then we wait for our TA. We really do not know when these things are going to get here, but we will be waiting for a few months I guess.

OK, thank goodness for friends. Mom, Dad, we do have people who love us here.

Seriously, people are offering car seats and offering to help paint the room and clean our house and showers we are just loving on it. It feels good. I did not not expect as much advice and help and literally walking with us on the journey. People helping with paperwork and other things has really helped.

God's hand has been so obvious in orchestrating events. LynnMarie has already touched lives and there are so many people who love her, that it makes my heart smile.

I will be totally honest. I am beyond scared. I really have no idea what we are doing. I knew this was going to happen, but not this fast. Now, I am reading books, researching doctors, treatment options, window shopping, dreaming, praying and then praying some more, worrying which then leads to more praying and I am so out of my element. I would not change it for the world.

We do know that her room will be yellow! Yeah one decision has been made!!!!

FYI, if you want to be on her prayer email list and learn how you can specifically pray for her and us, email me at lovinglynnmarie@hotmail.com.

New Pictures (source unknown)

more thoughts

SO life is here is going to get crazy. This blog is about to get crazy. Apparently this is all real and it just totally hit me. So here we are with amazing pics and video of this precious little girl who is about to get some serious love. She has no idea. So now we are talking showers, nursery, getting care packages ready, painting, organizing and apparently a trip to China. Needless to say we are overwhelmed but wouldn't change it for the world.

Praying for a speedy LOA

If you are interested in being a part of LynnMarie's prayer and update email list send an email over to lovingLynnMarie@hotmail.com

A Wonderful Surprise

There was a wonderful surprise and thanks to all who viewed the video and commented, but I feel more comfortable taking them down.

Sorry, but we have plenty of pics!!!

Monday Meditations

This week I know of several children who are having their surgeries in China. Pray that they recover fully and they find lots of hugs while they are waiting for their forever families!

Pray that those who need their surgery, get it soon!!


Praying for those waiting!!!!!

the post that follows

So how does one follow up on a post like the one below?? Michael did a great job sharing our story.

As far as I know, this blog will stay the same as of right now. After referral, I guess my mind went into momma thinking and I contemplated how much we will be put on here.

We are in love. Yes to each other and to this sweet baby.

I wanted to share my thoughts on this. Getting LynnMarie's referral was far better than I had ever dreamed of. She has a story. Her referral has a story. From the time I read about her for the first time, God orchestrated events and literally opened doors in front of me the night before Thanksgiving. I do not exaggerate. I could have hear him saying "Hello Amy, Im right here, Could I be any clearer?" For those of you a part of that night and the week that followed, you rock and will always have a place in our hearts. You were more than amazing.

God showed Himself in my house that Wed before Thanksgiving. That is all it could be. I can not explain it but it was far more than I could have dreamed. Over the past few weeks, I have had some fears, some doubts but then those doors close and I have reassurances right in front of me. I can now say that LynnMarie Chun Ai is a Christopher. She is a part of the Waiting Child Program and hopefully next post I will share some of her needs with you.

We love her already. I am totally mentally and emotionally overwhelmed. I have no idea what I am doing but thats what my friends are here for.

Thanks for all of your wonderful comments below. I will be printing them in putting it in her first of many books.

I love the one with her hand in the air. She is saying ROCK ON! Definitely our daughter!!!!

A Most Wonderful Christmas gift

Introducing Miss LynnMarie Chun Ai Christopher Born 3-13-08
PA TODAY!!!!

About 2 years ago Amy and I started a journey.
Today, the end is in sight!

Two days before Thanksgiving Amy received notice that a few babies had been added to the CCAI waiting child list. It was pretty late at night, so she took a look at the website and sent an email requesting to see the file on one of these children. The next day I was at work when Amy called me and said we had a referral. She promised not to open the email until I got home which would be about 2 hours later.

So here we are, the night before Thanksgiving. We gathered together at the laptop and opened the email and the files upon files upon files... there were about 20 pictures and several medical documents. Because of the Thanksgiving holiday, we were given until the following Monday to accept or decline this child. It did not take long to decide.

Our referral is for Lu Chun Ai, born March 13 in the Henan province. She is in the care of an American-run orphanage where she is being treated for two different physical special needs. We have researched these needs and feel the prognosis is excellent for Lu Chun Ai to grow to be a fully-functional independent child. If all goes as planned, she will officially become LynnMarie Chun Ai Christopher in March or April. She will be a year old on March 13th. We would LOVE to be in China by that day, but we'll take what we get.

We ask that you continue to pray for our family, for the people caring for our angel until we can come and bring her home, and for LynnMarie herself.

Here are a few more pictures!

Monday Meditations

My prayer for all of us this Christmas is that we remember the real meaning and go back to basics of this Holiday. Had their not been a baby Jesus there would not be this wonderful Holiday. I am thankful for this adoption journey and all the friends we have made. I am thankful for some of you letting us be a part of your journey and watching you bring your babies home from all over the world!

Merry Christmas

I am sooo excited for those of you who are spending your first Christmas with your children.

But I hate thinking about the children around the world that are alone. I really try not to dwell on it. When I begin to get sad about not having LynnMarie home this year, I switch gears and put the focus on those who have much less than we do. It's so heart breaking.

I am so thankful for those of you who have dedicated your blogs to promoting awareness for those in need.

Merry Christmas my friends. You really have made this year of waiting just a little bit sweeter.. You rock!!!

Paperwork Update

Amy received her updated (second) 797 form today. We can hope/assume that mine will arrive tomorrow or Thursday.

Its almost Christmas time for some, its a first. A first Christmas with their new little ones. For others, we hope this is our last without our children.

I am thankful for those whose families have together.

This is not a weekly prayer. I want this to be a daily prayer. That the orphans around the world will find homes. That they will find peace and love.

I have been dwelling on the Nativity tonight and what it was like for that beautiful family. Joseph adopted Jesus as his own and loved him. We saw an awesome video at church that demonstrated some awesome love..

My prayer is that the world will find Jesus, experience Him and run like crazy to Him

Psalm 10:17

17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.

Adoption Option

Our monthly meeting of Adoption Option was this past Friday and it was at our house!!! What a fun time and great turnout..New friends arrived and we celebrated the arrival of 2 new little ones!!!! This months topic was how to incorporated your child's culture into every day life and we had a great discussion. It was a great time, and we cant wait until January to see everyone again. If you live in the Atlanta area, I hope you will join us!!!

Prayers

Praises, The Straight family is complete. Faith found her beautiful, wonderful family today.. Go and see how beautiful this family is here.
I am thankful that friends new and old are going back to China and other parts of the world to make their families complete.

I am praying. I don't think I realized how many orphans there are around the world. Kids that just don't get hugged or played with nearly as much as they should.
Is it too much to pray that everyone finds a family??? I pray that during a dark time in this world, that families will follow when they doors opening in front of them.
I also pray for the birth families of our babies. We may never know their story, but for whatever reason, they had to give up their children. I pray for them today.

I know some of us waiting are discouraged. You have emailed me. We have chatted. I also pray for our hearts that we find a peace that can only come from God!

All I Really Want For Christmas Music Video

Just another reminder how much we have to be grateful for. I can not imagine not having a family!!!!!

Monday or Tuesday meditations

Simple. There are so many orphans out there. All over the world. Orphans who have not experienced the love of a family. Pray that every child finds a forever family!!!

also praying for Faith as she gets her Forever Family soon. Pray for safe travel for all of them

more thoughts

I am so glad to be on this journey. I look back and reflect on this past year and all the things I have learned and how much I have been encouraged by so many of you. Some of you have had a heck of a year. I have seen sorrow, joy, elation,confusion. But I have also seen God glorified by so many of you in regards to your attitudes.

Thank you for being a part of our wait.

happy turkey day

happy thanksgiving my wonderful friend. for those who are celebrating the first holidays with their children, treasure these memories. I hope that everyone has a special moment with God today!!!!

19 months LID

An Orphan's Prayer

Got this from my new friend Renee at Life With Special K's


An Orphan's Prayer
I am waiting…somewhere far…far away
on the other side of the world.
I may not know who you are or what you look like
But some how deep in my heart I know you are out there.
That one day you will come and find me.
It’s a long journey, and it takes a lot of time…
I wish it could be easier.
But I know that the ones who come for me
will not count the cost.
They will only see the joy of finding me.
For now I abide in the fields of the fatherless.
Day by day wondering why I was born here
and not somewhere else?
Asking…why my life couldn’t have been different?
It is so lonely…Even though I am surrounded by
hundreds of other children,
I know that something is missing…
I know in my heart I need a place to call home.
My arms long to be wrapped in a father’s embrace…
I long to be saved by a mother’s love…
Gazing out the orphanage window I offer a
prayer of hope,“Oh God please help them
come quickly.”
Even as I lay in the darkness of each night
somehow I feel assured,
That no matter how lost I appear I am not alone.
Holy hands guard my steps; sacred fingers wipe
my tears, touching my lonely heart.
The one who made me,
The God that knew me before I was born
Hears me every time I call
He whispers His promises in my ear.
I listen with hope to His voice.
But what I worry about most is that no one wants to look for me.
The fields are vast and there are so many scattered all over the earth.
I wonder how one little child, so lost, can be found?
Yet He calms my heart and assures me that He will find you.
That He will make sure that you hear His voice clearly.
He has promised me that He will make a way through the fields,
That He will personally cut a path and lead you right to my orphanage door.
My prayer is…When He speaks…Please don’t forget to listen…
When He calls don’t be too afraid to go
For I am waiting…somewhere, far…far…away

Prayer for the week

So many families are just heart broken over this wait. My prayer for this week is that everyone finds the peace they are searching for and they continue to follow the paths God had chosen. It's hard.

It seems like such a simple prayer but I know how hard this wait can be. Those of us waiting for our first child wonder if we will ever have the family we have dreamed of. Some of you have shared that with me, its okay to be honest.

I am thankful for this journey. I am thankful for the doors that have opened. I am thankful for the seeds that were planted for this journey so many years ago, as I look back I am amazed.

What's on your heart this week?

wishes and dreams

How do you miss someone you have never met? I never understood this. Sometimes at the oddest moments, I long to hold LynnMarie. Michael found some wonderful gotcha day videos the other night and it had me pondering. I love that word, ponder.

Want to know what I was thinking the other day? The fact that there are babies in orphanages in China. Orphanages. Babies sleeping in cribs. Babies who do not get held enough. Babies that lie their crying. Babies who have not experienced the kind of love I long to give. I don't have a picture of LynnMarie yet. There is a great chance that she is born and I pray for her specifically every day.

The day that Michael and I meet her will be like no other. It will not be perfect. She will probably squirm and cry and we will totally be stressed out but there is nothing more that I wait for.

This holiday season will be different. I hope this is our last one without LynnMarie.

It will be filled with hope. It will be full of wishes and dreams and anticipation.

April 2007 we were logged in and before we were logged in I anticipated getting a match December 2008. Boy, was my head in the clouds?

This Christmas will be full of prayers. I pray that she touches the heart of a special someone. Someone that will give her an extra hug......

Family Day

Yesterday (Saturday) Amy and I spent the day together doing fun stuff. First we attended the Basset Hound Rescue of Georgia's (www.bhrg.org) Annual Basset Bash. We hung out in a park with about 100 other basset hounds and a number of other dogs. We had a potlluck lunch and many contests including Longest Hound, Widest wingspan (ears), Chow Hound (what WON'T a basset eat?) and a costume contest. The day was also a fund-raiser for the charity and a great social event.

Speaking of social events, Amy and I participated in a blog party last night. It was organized by Heather Whittaker (www.whittakerwoman.typepad.com) and her friend Stephanie Lee (wife of Third Day guitarist Mark Lee. Heather's husband Carlos has a pretty popular blog as well (www.ragamuffinsoul.com).

We met at a restaurant in historic Roswell, GA and there were about 40 of us there including guitarist/photographer Daley Hake (www.daleyhake.com), friends of Heather's from California and followers of her blog. The really weird connections were plentiful including these two. We learned a few days ago that the sister-in-law of one of Amy's friends from Florida was to be there (the sil lives in Atlanta). The other one came when Amy saw a nametag indicating a blogger from New Smyrna Beach, FL. It turns out it was two ladies from Edgewater, the town just South of NSB and not only do these ladies know Amy's grandparents from their church, they are in a small group with Amy's sister Kelly! It freaked us all out, so we took a picture of Amy with the ladies and sent it to Kelly's phone and nearly immediately got the response WHAT?!? Where are they all together?!?!

more to follow

I WOULD have to say that last week was one of the best of the year. Wednesday, I skipped Bible Study and my weight watchers meeting to spend several hours at the zoo with new friends with Chinese children including my friend Sheridan. Not only had I not been to the zoo in years, this was a perfect day and I had a blast even after being up 24 hours.

Friday was our adoption support group.

Saturday was a family day which is how this post is getting on this blog. Pics and details coming but we did the basset bash and a blog party yesterday which was awesome. Even met a family from our church who is waiting for their daughter from China.

and its time for christmas preparation.....rock on

Adoption Option

Tonight was great. Dinner and fellowship at Donna's. I was able to visit with old friends, get to know some older friends better and celebrate referrals with new friends.
, so m
Tonight's topic was traveling tips and although we will be not be traveling for quite a while, I was able to learn A LOT.


Next month will be at our house, so mark your you calendars now!!!


Thanks again Donna, and hope to see more of you guys next month. Remember, these gatherings are for those who have adopted, those who are waiting and those who are interested in adoption in general. Tonight we celebrated referrals from Vietnam and China!

adoption option support group this friday

For those who are in the area. this Friday ( TODAY)is our first Friday of the month adoption support group. potluck dinner at 630 at Donna's house followed by a short talk and some socializing.

Click on the yahoo group link located down on the right side of the screen ( ya gotta scroll down)

Let me know if you have any questions. hope to see you there!!!! anyone involved in or interested in adoption is welcome. domestic, international or if you just have questions....

monday meditations

NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH

Praises

Many people got their LOA's this week. Awesome. We look forward to more great news and seeing these babies coming home soon!!!!

i am so thankful that so many families have been united this year

prayer request
as the election is almost over, i am praying for our new president and the leaders around the world. i pray our president has a heart for adoption

i pray for the country of China.

i pray for those whose hearts are leaning toward adoption that they will continue to follow.

i pray for those babies with SN that will need medical treatment when they come home. i pray for healthy and a speedy recovery.

what are you praying for?

Bumping into a new friend

This afternoon I was asked to stay late a little at work. My relief was on time, but had about 10 minutes of training to catch up on before coming onto the sales floor. So I was out there, happily putting stock on the shelves (it was truck day) and I saw a woman pushing a shopping cart in which sat a little girl I thought might be Chinese (mom was not).

I walked over and asked how they were doing (as if I was just being a friendly sales guy) and then asked if the girl was from China. The lady confirmed it and I shared that Amy and I are waiting for a match. So the ice was broken and we wound up talking for about 10 minutes.

It turns out I met Georgia and Zoe. They live pretty close to Amy and me and it turns out we have them on our blogroll. Look under December 2005 and you'll find "Waiting for Zoe" (though they are no longer waiting.

We know a few of the same people in the North Atlanta adoption community and I had an exciting bit of news to share when I got home to Amy today. So here is a shout out to Zoe and her mommy. She's a cutie!

and the waiting continues

Let's be honest. I do want the waiting to be over but the again this waiting thing has been happening for over 18 months, I am comfortable with it. Isn't that sad? All I know is waiting.

I was talking to Donna yesterday. I am scared to death of that referral call. Seriously, I have no idea what we are going to do after the call. Really. No Idea. I am very glad LynnMarie has a name and a crib/bed. After that, I think I will be numb. Now I know we will be making phone calls but then what? Get the room finished? Buy clothes? Plan the China trip? Think about schools? babyproof the house? start a college fund? My brain is moving so fast right now that I have no idea. We are going to see that pic and get info that will change our lives forever. I love her already but I know that once we get that referral, my heart will start beating differently.

No, we have no idea when we are getting our referral, these are just thoughts going on in my head. I do know the first thing we will be doing is praying for for. Got that part covered. Blogging friends, you guys have taught me so much from your experiences, I am just totally confused at the moment.

Ya know, when you dream of your baby when you started this process, I started dreaming of her room.I had lots of ideas and wanted to start planning but we didn't. Now, I am beginning to realize if we wait until referral, we will not have much time at all which means we need to come up with something soon. OH I wish I were creative. We have to make a decision. I am hoping we do a "garden" theme so we can include all the ladybug stuff we have been given. I just don't want a total ladybug room or an all pink room.. Any and all ideas are welcome!!!!!

Holy cow, this is intimidating but I would not change these feelings for anything in the world

Monday Meditations

Ok, so I need to start by being selfish. Will you guys pray this week for those of us logged in April 2007? I am waiting to hear if we are officially in the review room. This is the last review before China allows us to adopt. Michael and I made the May 1 deadline, but you just never know. Please pray that review is smooth and if in fact we are questioned, we pray that it will be easy to answer the questions!! Thanks! I am praying for China and the world we live in. I am praying for our children, their birth moms, the care givers and everyone who touches our paperwork.

I'm praying for our friends who are already home. I have heard this journey never really ends. Thanks for giving us a sparkle of hope and making this wait just a little bit easier! I am also praying that LynnMarie comes home soon but then again I do know God's timing is far better than i could ever plan!

A Long Fun Long Awesome Day

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Well, no, I had no troubles yesterday.



9:30 ish - wake-up. Amy woke me up because her parents were on their way over from their hotel to say goodbye before they left back to Florida.



10:30 ish - loaded up the car and headed down to PetCo to hang out with BHRG, the Basset Hound Rescue of Georgia. We helped hang out and hold dogs after first making Autumn our officially adopted rescue Basset Hound. We'll do this as much as possible as they always need people to hold leashes at the adoption events and it's a lot of fun interacting with the people who stop by to look at and meet the dogs. Yesterday we had Pretzel, Hugh, Elijah, Dottie, and about 8 more hounds.



12:00 - we left PetCo and swung by Winston's to drop off the prize from the poker tournament we held two weeks ago (52 free Chick-fil-a sandwich coupons).



12:30 ish - back at the house to grab a blanket and bone and Amy, Autumn, and I loaded back into the car and headed North up to Octoberfest at Helen, GA. Helen is up in the mountains, the southern end of the Appalachians and pretty close to the gold rush town of Dahlonega. Helen was developed as a tourist attraction, where all buildings are required to fit a certain code so they all look like Bavarian Alpine buildings. Basically the town is full of shops selling t-shirts (beer, biker and party-oriented), German-looking nick-nacks, candy (mostly made in the shops), restaurants (mostly overproced but one excellent Mexican restaurant) and a lot of cabins for rent, mostly with hot tubs.



Autumn had a very over-stimulated day. She enjoyed meeting the other bassets at the adoption event, and she rides in the car very well, curled up and sleeping on the back seat. We walked her around Helen and she met other dogs, she got lots of attention from people and kids and she got a little scared by the horses pulling carraiges.


Up close with Autumn

Old barn

Red barn and Fall colors.

The Tomato House

Shopping with pumpkins and gourds

Fresh tomatoes in October!

A boy and his dog

Northbound into Helen

A walk before heading home.

Chattahoochee River in Helen.

Adirondack chairs for sale - very inviting.

Octoberfest always means live music at the International Cafe.

We drove home, arriving right about 8:30pm which was going to be great so I could watch game 3 of the World Series. There was a rain delay, and the game did not begin until 10:06 pm. Taylor Swift performed the National Anthem, country style with her guitar. Tim McGraw read off the Phillies starting line-up. His father is the late Tug McGraw, the star Phillies relief pitcher from the 1980 World Series Championship team. Jamie Moyer, a Philadelphia-area native cut school to attned the 1980 series. He is the oldest pitcher in Major League Baseball and was the starting pitcher for the Phillies last night. His hero from 1980, Phillies pitcher Steve Carlton was there to throw out the first pitch of the game.

Jamie Moyer (45 y/o) reacting to a pitch that was almost hit out of the park.

Game 3 Victory

Hall of Fame Member Steve Carlton threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Peter and I saw him live at game 2 of the 1980 World Series.

It was an excellent game. Three Phillies hit home runs including slugger Ryan Howard who broke out of his month-long slump. A bad call by the 1st base umpire, coupled with a pair of stolen bases and a throwing error caused a tie game in the 8th inning. It remained tied into the 9th when the Phillies came to bat. A hit batter got a runner on first. When he stole second the throw was off and he advanced to third. The Rays then intentionally walked 2 batters to load the bases with no outs and they pulled their right fielder in to be a 5th infielder. The next batter tapped the ball down the third base line. The runner on third advanced to home plate and the 3rd baseman's throw was way off, so the Phillies scored a run, making it a 5-4 final, winning game 3 and taking a 2-1 lead in the best of 7 series. Games 4 and 5 are tonight and tomorrow night in Philadelphia. if the Phillies win both games, they will win the World Series, otherwise it is back to Tampa for one or two more games on Wednesday and Thursday.

18 months LID

We have been LID for 18 months now and its amazing all the things that have happened during this wait!! We can not wait to bring LynnMarie home!

This is our book for the month. It was actually given to us by special friends. A special little friend has reallly enjoyed this one!

Autumn's Forever Family

We have decided to open our home permanently to Autumn the Basset Hound. We have been blessed with her presence as she is as perfect a dog as we have ever met. A friend said no dog will take Lucy's place but may take her space. Well, this is that dog.